Karl Rove Takes on Joe Biden as Pirates Hold Captain Hostage

Our daily look at stories and topics that are lighting up the Internets:

Avast! Piracy Debate

With an odd mix of news coverage and semi-analysis, the blogosphere is lit up today with talk about the latest pirate attack. As of now, the American captain of the Maersk Alabama is "being held hostage by pirates in a small boat adrift off the coast of Somalia." Further details have been less than forthcoming. Liberal blogger Jeralyn thinks "the pirates will release the Captain." Elizabeth Dickenson wonders: "Just how exactly have pirates managed to out-scramble the world's top navy?" Conservative Ed Whelan wants to know what piracy really means: "Those folks some nativists disparage as 'pirates' are really just transnational law entrepreneurs who are helping us absorb into American law a more enlightened understanding of their economic and cultural rights." And conservative Ed Morrissey thinks the only reason pirates exist is moral relativism: "When we decided that evil no longer exists and all became Freudians, we stopped defending civilized behavior and started excusing uncivilized behavior. The piracy issue is just the latest example of that trend."

The Treaty of Tripoli

It's been at least since elementary school that we last thought about the Treaty, so here's the Wikipedia link if you'd like to familiarize yourselves... Now that your back, bloggers have been getting all historical about the pirate attacks. Tom Wilkerson thinks we need to learn from Thomas Jefferson and attack the pirates on land and not by sea. Philip Klein agrees. Conservative Jonah Goldberg writes: "It's worth remembering that we owe the existence of our Constitution in part to the existence of Muslim pirates." Conservative Rick Brookhiser outlines the history of early America's fight against piracy, touching upon, interestingly, the connection between the Treaty and the secular basis of the U.S. government. Andrew Sullivan emphasizes the point. And conservative David Freddoso writes this piece contextualizing whether pirates should be tried in the United States.

Rove vs. Biden

The current VP is getting into a yelling match with Karl Rove, and the blogosphere is trying its best to amplify it. Conservative blogger Allahpundit gives the background. "Rove pulls out the kitchen sink on Biden," writes conservative Ed Morrissey. "If anyone knows all about a Vice President of the United States who exaggerates and lies, it's Karl Rove," says liberal Steve Benen. "As I recall, he has quite a bit of experience on the issue." Blogger Patrick Edaburn gives his take: "In this case though I would have to lean towards Rove over Biden only because of a point made by another Bush aide on MSNBC. He pointed out that it would be very unusual for a President of either party to meet with anyone, let alone a member of Congress, without staff members in the room." Michael Muskal chimes in too.

... Meanwhile ...

Christopher Hitchens debates America's Christian foundations... Breath easy: the recession's already over... Iranian President reacts to Obama's olive branch... And Meghan McCain gets a six-figure book deal.