Notes From D.R. | Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene

Boston Mayor Tom Menino creates a civilian review board for Boston Police. 

Can you imagine going to CVS and hearing someone say, "Price check on the abortion pills?"

In a shocking political/cultural development, hip-hop mogul and hardcore Democrat Russell Simmons endorses Maryland GOP Senate candidate Michael Steele. Wow.

So let me get this straight. Violence is increasing in Boston’s inner cities. The minority achievement gap has not narrowed. Babies are giving birth to babies. And instead of doing anything about these problems, African-American Bostonians are bitching about the cancellation of a third-rate black-themed radio station? Lord love a duck!

UPDATE: If these guys will flip out over a freakin’ radio station going out of business, can you imagine how they’ll react if Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick is soundly defeated by Republican candidate Kerry Healey in November?

Paramount Pictures gives Tom Cruise the Joe Lieberman treatment. More from the Hollywood Reporter and the Wall Street Journal.

Iran rebuffs the UN.

I’ve always believed there was something manifestly naive about the idea that the threat of terrorism will be reduced if we simply bail out of Iraq ASAP. Nice to see that President Bush agrees with me. 

I’ve always believed there was something manifestly naive about the idea that the threat of terrorism will be reduced if we simply bail out of Iraq ASAP. Nice to see that President Bush agrees with me. 

Is prominent political commentator Juan Williams starting to move to the right? If so, awesome!

Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney on illegal immigration. More from the Washington Times.

I don’t care how many positive reviews it receives from PC critics, I wouldn’t watch Spike Lee’s Katrina documentary if you paid me $10 million to do so. Do you honestly think he would have made this thing if Katrina had occurred under a Gore, Kerry or Clinton Administration? It’s sad, though unsurprising, to see Spike do the wrong thing and pander to the Kanye Wests of the world.

Snakes on a Plane slithers to #1.

Civil rights legend Andrew Young sticks his foot deep into his mouth.

Will "civil rights activists" push for racial quotas at exam schools in New York City?

A Carter-appointed US District Judge strikes down a critical element of President Bush’s counterterrorism initiative. Lord love a duck…More from the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and Human Events.

UPDATE: More from the Washington Post and New York Times.