News Analysis - After Vote, Debate Shifts to New European Leader - NYTimes.com

News Analysis - After Vote, Debate Shifts to New European Leader - NYTimes.com:

"LONDON — Ireland’s vote to ratify the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty has finally cleared the way for the creation of a powerful new president, intended to elevate the 27-nation bloc’s standing on the global stage.

But do European leaders actually want one?

Ahead lies a difficult discussion about how much power and influence a new European Union president should have and whether the post should fall to a political star — like former Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain — or one of his grayer, more technocratic rivals.

The leaders of member countries will decide, probably this month, and their decision could determine whether the union really seeks the bigger role it says it needs to try to match the influence of the United States and that of rising powers like China, Russia, India and Brazil.

The Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making and reform the bloc’s ramshackle structures, lays down a two-and-a-half-year term for a full-time president of the European Council,"

This is GREAT news! GO EUROPE!

Think Progress » In just one hour, Sotomayor asked more questions than Thomas has in years.

Think Progress » In just one hour, Sotomayor asked more questions than Thomas has in years.:

"McClatchy also observed that in just an hour, she actually asked “more questions than Justice Clarence Thomas has asked over the course of several years.” Thomas has gone three years straight without posing a question during oral arguments."

Why would he need to? When you share a brain with Justice Scalia, you don't have to talk--you speak as one!