my friends cover political hoohaw so I don't have to

1) Via ¡The Jestaplero!: Glenn Greenwald, in Salon, compellingly argues the significance of the 2001 anthrax attacks in amping up an environment of fear in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, as well as pointing out some very dubious reporting (and lack of reporting) on the same. (You may have to click through an ad to read the article.)

2) Steve at Hot Rox points out the idiocy of the laughing boys of the Republican Party, whooping it up at the expense of Barack Obama's remarks that properly inflating our tires would save as much gas as drilling in the ANWR...given that in fact, underinflated tires cause Americans to use more fuel than the ANWR is likely to generate. And that fuel won't hit pipelines for at least another decade. Not that being reality-based has been all that important to the right (or, alas, to those who vote for it)...