ThinkFast: October 2, 2006

The Supreme Court begins its term today, with abortion and race dominating the agenda. “Conservatives want the court to uphold a 2003 federal law banning the procedure opponents call ‘partial-birth’ abortion, and to strike down local integration policies that distribute students by race.”

Bob Woodward’s new book paints a devastating picture of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld “as an arrogant, indecisive bumbler who won’t take responsibility for his mistakes — or even admit any.” Asked if Bush still supports him, Rumsfeld said, “Oh, my Lord, yes.”

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft is set to publish a memoir of his time in office, “lashing critics of the Bush administration’s strategy in the war on terror.” The book reportedly has particularly harsh words for some of the members of the 9/11 Commission.

3,000: Aug. 2006 total of Iraqi civilian deaths from violence, up from 2,000 a year ago. Five thousand Iraqis have been displaced. “[T]his year’s violence was the worst since liberation, and probably the worst over all since 1991,” concludes the Brookings Institution.

Texans are unhappy about the border fence. “From Laredo to Brownsville, a meandering 200-mile stretch of the Rio Grande that would be walled off if President Bush signs, as expected, the bill to fence 700 miles of the border, reaction was overwhelmingly negative.”

Wal-Mart “is pushing to create a cheaper, more flexible work force by capping wages, using more part-time workers and scheduling more workers on nights and weekends.” A 2005 company memo noted the benefits of this switch, saying it would “lower Wal-Mart’s health-care enrollment.”

In the worst fighting since a peace deal was signed in May, “[f]ierce clashes between rival African groups in south Darfur have left up to 40 people dead and prompted most foreign aid workers to abandon Greida, one of the world’s largest camps for displaced people.”

Softer Voices, a conservative political group, is “shelling out nearly $1 million to soften the image” of Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) in the hopes of boosting his popularity with female voters. The group has received funding from John Templeton, who has been an outspoken advocate for intelligence design.

And finally: Tony Blair meets Kaiser Soze. Before his speech last week to the speech to the Labour Party Conference, the Prime Minister received speaking tips from actor Kevin Spacey. “He got Blair to pause a lot more than he usually does and did some work on his posture. He also wanted Blair to use his eyes to a much greater effect.”

What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.