Wednesday Roundup: War On Terror Expansion Pack

No matter what you think, the biggest story in the last 24 hours — and probably in a much larger span of time than that — is the news, reported here by the Washington Post, that the Bush administration is going to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps "as a 'specially designated global terrorist.'"

Increased activity by the Guard in Iraq and Afghanistan is cited as a reason for the designation, which, under an Executive Order signed shortly after 9/11, gives the U.S. government the power to disrupt a designee's business and financial matters. If you're wondering how you can disrupt the business and financial dealings of a national military organization without engaging in passive aggressive economic warfare with that organization's home country, well, you're just as confused as I am.

This is an important event — in my interview with General Wes Clark, he was emphatic about this administration's dogged determination to go to war with Iran, and something like this makes me even more inclined to believe him than I already was. The money war is where it starts these days.

Mitt Romney was in Grand Prairie yesterday at a concert benefiting the families of veterans wounded or killed in combat. He was not alone in presence or in rhetoric: Rick Perry was there, as was Sean Hannity. Lee Greenwood was up in that piece, no doubt rocking his #1 stunner "God Bless The USA." Tell me that this doesn't make our governor sound a little overamped:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry got the crowd on its feet when he took the stage in jeans, a short-sleeved shirt and running shoes. Perry flipped a ballcap to the ground and marched back and forth, exhorting the crowd.

"It's in our DNA to fight for freedom!" Perry yelled. "We did it in 1836 in a place called the Alamo!"

I just... I'm speechless. I wish someone had a video. You can bet I'll be looking for it on YouTube. I can't not imagine him looking just a bit like Mick Jagger.

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is retiring. Insert any number of jokes here.

John Cornyn doesn't exactly take a beating from The Politico, but Gebe Martinez makes the very salient point that Cornyn's positions on immigration are likely to be a liability for him in 2008. Martinez points out that Cornyn's standing among Hispanic voters is lower than their support for Bush, but then also describes some strategic moves by business to not hammer Cornyn on his immigration stance. The story about the GOP losing support among the Hispanic community is not new, and it keeps popping up. Probably because it is true.

If you've been keeping up with the saga of Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht, you know Texas Watch filed a complaint against him in July over some improperly discounted legal fees he received. Now they have filed another complaint with the Judicial Conduct Commission over some funds solicitation activity. If you'd like a crash course in judicial conduct, this case isn't bad.

Finally today: the GOP YouTube debate was finally firmed up for November 28. I think this is a terrible idea for these candidates, and I will watch with glee as they try to answer real questions about Republican policies. Health care? Job security? Pollution? Get ready to watch everyone sweat.