The Wire: February 25, 2011

Commentary
12:56 p.m.
WOLF: Organized medical fraud in Wisconsin
“Primum nil nocere.” First, do no harm. This bedrock principle in medicine is a foreign language to most politicians and, sadly, to some Wisconsin doctors, who have violated their oath and the public trust as they have defrauded Wisconsin taxpayers.
Commentary
4:47 p.m.
NUGENT: When the going gets tough, Democrats run
The Democrats’ new playbook says to run away and hide when they don’t get their way. Good.
Entertainment
9:00 p.m.
Jeffrey Tambor pulls out of 'La Cage aux Folles'
Jeffrey Tambor has pulled out of Broadway’s latest revival of “La Cage aux Folles,” (lah-KAJ’-oh-fahl) citing complications from a recent hip surgery.
Entertainment
9:00 p.m.
Oscar producers promise Shrek, sun, short speeches
A giant green ogre will be part of Sunday’s Academy Awards.
Entertainment
9:00 p.m.
Chefs Love, Besh: authentic food has staying power
Personal pride may eclipse economic and health concerns in driving the local food movement, but so could participation by corporate America, chef Tim Love said Friday during a discussion of food geography at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival.
Entertainment
9:00 p.m.
Phil Spector won't appear in person at civil trial
Prison officials won’t allow music producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector to attend a civil trial in which he is trying to recoup $1 million paid to celebrity attorney Robert Shapiro, a lawyer told a judge on Friday.
Entertainment
8:45 p.m.
Barnum Museum repair project to cost up to $17M
A Connecticut museum celebrating flamboyant showman P.T. Barnum will need to raise up to $17 million to renovate and repair its historic building damaged by a tornado last year.
Racing
5:00 p.m.
Bayne trying to drum up sponsors
Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne is still working on finding sponsors for his Sprint Cup and Nationwide cars.
Letters
11:39 a.m.
TWT
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Inevitability of sacrifice
Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s Wednesday column, “Florida ups the Wisconsin ante” (Commentary) reminds me of the adage that sometimes it’s necessary to backtrack to get ahead.
Letters
11:37 a.m.
TWT
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Policy of equanimity, not anomaly
Hopefully, Moammar Gadhafi will get his wish to die rather than leave Libya. Dictators at his level are always offered safe haven, particularly because they carry billions of dollars with them. If he leaves, Col. Gadhafi should be indicted, tried and convicted for his crimes. It’s an anomaly that the Obama administration, while condemning our former and current allies in Egypt, Bahrain and Yemen, has had only muted criticism of Col. Gadhafi, with no demands that he leave.
Letters
11:35 a.m.
TWT
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Mounting interest in Tesla
The Feb. 11 editorial “House spending revolt” (Comment & Analysis) incorrectly cites a $456 million loan awarded to Tesla Motors as an example of how the Department of Energy will “lose $1.4 billion.” As with most loans, Tesla must pay it back - with interest. The government does not lose, but gains, from the transaction.
Letters
11:33 a.m.
TWT
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Shutting out the din of radical Islam
I have watched as politicians and media entities have gone out of their way to insist that everything about the recent demonstrations in the Middle East has revolved around “democratic reform” and no Islamic agenda is involved.
Letters
11:32 a.m.
TWT
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Illegals a burden to legal citizens
The problems that this great nation faces regarding immigration are being created by politicians. Could it be that they see illegal aliens as a potential voting bloc, a way to keep the liberal agenda in play?
Soccer
5:00 a.m.
FIFA rules Yemen unsafe for Olympic qualifier
FIFA has postponed Yemen’s home qualifying match for the 2012 Olympics against Singapore for a second time because of pro-democracy protests in the capital.
Security
8:42 p.m.
Saudi suspect in terror plot appears in U.S. court
A college student from Saudi Arabia accused of buying chemicals online as part of a plan to blow up key U.S. targets, including the home of former President George W. Bush, appeared in federal court in Texas on Friday.
Technology
12:15 p.m.
New UK guidelines: Eat less red meat
Bringing home the bacon might not be such a great idea, according to stricter new dietary advice from the British government issued Friday.
Commentary
9:37 a.m.
TWT
BOOK REVIEW: Turning to founding document
“American exceptionalism” has found one of its best explainers in James W. Ceaser. His “Designing a Polity: America’s Constitution in Theory and Practice” is written with verve, erudition and a wide-ranging eye on the political world.
Hockey
7:30 p.m.
Penguins get reinforcements, but still no Sid
Having completed two trades to add three players to the injury-depleted Pittsburgh Penguins lineup, general manager Ray Shero is looking forward to seeing how good his team might look once its healthy in time for the playoffs.
Golf
4:30 p.m.
Bubba on a roll as the kids go home
Bubba Watson overpowered two-time champion Geoff Ogilvy on Friday and rolled into the quarterfinals of the Match Play Championship with a performance so dominant he has played only 43 holes in three days.
Basketball
3:30 p.m.
Several Pistons miss pregame shootaround
Several Detroit Pistons missed at least part of the team’s shootaround before Friday night’s game at Philadelphia, the latest incident on what has been a difficult season for the proud franchise.
Entertainment
2:18 p.m.
Kathleen Parker leaving CNN show with Spitzer
Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker said Friday that she’s leaving CNN’s prime-time “Parker/Spitzer” talk show, which will be renamed and continue with former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and others.
Technology
7:30 a.m.
Developers showcase hummingbird-shaped drone
A project manager has demonstrated a tiny spy plane with flapping wings like a hummingbird.
Entertainment
6:30 a.m.
This year's Drama Desk Awards to be seen on cable
The Drama Desk Awards ceremony is getting a little more glitzy.
Baseball
4:45 a.m.
White Sox need more support from Floyd, Jackson
Chicago White Sox pitchers Gavin Floyd and Edwin Jackson tend to fly under the radar when it comes to news about the team’s starting rotation.
Sports
4:30 a.m.
Holy Family loses without coach
Just a few hours after embattled coach John O’Connor officially announced his resignation, his Holy Family University team fell to Felician College, 79-71, in the Tigers’ regular-season finale.
Entertainment
3:15 a.m.
Have TV viewers seen last of Charlie Sheen?
As Charlie Sheen continued to rant on, his bosses at “Two and a Half Men” seemed prepared Friday to move on. The network’s decision to stop production of television’s most popular sitcom this season _ and maybe for good _ has multimillion-dollar implications for CBS and producer Warner Bros. Television, but it’s hardly fatal.
Hockey
2:00 a.m.
Huselius put on IR by Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed left wing Kristian Huselius on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 18.
Sports
11:45 p.m.
O'Connor moves on without Holy Family
John O’Connor had his reputation forever stained by 40 seconds of videotape.
Sports
11:45 p.m.
OSU volunteer assistant strength coach dies
A volunteer assistant in Ohio State football’s strength and conditioning program collapsed and died while playing in a pickup basketball game in the team’s practice facility on Friday.
Technology
10:45 p.m.
Demonstrator showcases hummingbird-shaped drone
A project manager has demonstrated a tiny spy plane with flapping wings like a hummingbird.
Editorials
10:19 p.m.
TWT
EDITORIAL: Rolling Stone's war on our troops
“Rolling Stone magazine is engaging in a psychological operation trying to brainwash the American public,” says an expert in military information operations. The magazine’s Feb. 23 article, “Another runaway general: Army deploys psy-ops on U.S. senators,” by Michael Hastings, is a confused attempt to create an issue where no issue exists, and a potentially libelous smear on the record of a senior military officer. This is what passes for reporting among the anti-war left.
Entertainment
8:30 p.m.
Actor Kelsey Grammer gets hitched on Broadway
Kelsey Grammer has tied the knot for the fourth time in a familiar place.
Entertainment
8:00 p.m.
Report: Fox News boss told exec to lie about Kerik
Fox News chairman Roger Ailes told a former publishing executive to lie to federal investigators who vetted now-disgraced ex-New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik for a Cabinet post in 2004, according to court documents cited in a news report Friday.
Editorials
7:33 p.m.
TWT
EDITORIAL: Shutdown showdown week
By week’s end, we should know whether the House majority has what it takes to stand up for fiscal responsibility against President Obama and Senate Democrats. As the stopgap measure currently funding the federal government runs out Friday, the House is proposing to vote Tuesday on a two-week extension that includes $4 billion in cuts, but Democrats appear insistent on maintaining the current inflated spending levels. Failure to reach a settlement by the weekend would result in a shutdown of the non-essential functions of the federal government. That wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Commentary
7:16 p.m.
TWT
DECKER: Michigan's reform storm
A blizzard slammed the Great Lakes region this week, with blankets of snow and sheets of freezing rain closing roads and taking out power lines. Hundreds of thousands were left without electricity, heat and water (read: no toilets). With no utilities and temperatures in the single digits, my family’s lakehouse in south-central Michigan felt like a log cabin in “Little House on the Prairie,” with the little house being dropped into the frozen tundra of Sarah Palin’s Alaska. This torrent, however, was nothing compared to the storm of controversy surrounding new Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s new budget.
Entertainment
7:15 p.m.
ABC names new 'Good Morning America' chief
ABC News said Friday that current “Nightline” executive producer James Goldston will slide over to take control behind the scenes at “Good Morning America.”
Entertainment
7:15 p.m.
Medical exam ordered for ailing singer Etta James
A Southern California judge has ordered an independent medical evaluation of ailing Etta James after her son’s attorney contended that the “At Last” blues singer could be in “very serious danger” under the care of a live-in doctor.
Technology
7:00 p.m.
Injured astronaut aboard space shuttle 'in spirit'
An astronaut who was bumped from space shuttle Discovery’s final flight following a bicycle crash told his orbiting friends Friday that he’s with them “in spirit.”
Sports
7:00 p.m.
Calhoun on violations: 'Buck stops with me'
Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun took responsibility Friday for recruiting violations committed under his watch, apologizing to the university and his current players in a lengthy statement issued by his representative.
Commentary
6:58 p.m.
TWT
KNIGHT: Obama to God and America: You're Wrong About Marriage
It’s a good thing Barack Obama is not in charge of defending the law of gravity, or we’d all be floating up to an airless death. Allow me to take off the gloves. As one who helped draft the first version of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), I regard Mr. Obama’s order to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to abandon DOMA’s legal defense as lawless, reckless, arrogant and a violation of his oath of office. I think it is an impeachable offense.
Commentary
6:56 p.m.
TWT
LEAVITT & BARKER: Fix competitive bidding, don't kill it
Years ago, Washington was rocked by revelations that no-bid contracts were causing the government to pay outrageous prices for routine purchases. One famous example was the $600 toilet seat that inspired then-Sen. William Cohen to quip, “It gives new meaning to the word throne.”
Commentary
6:49 p.m.
TWT
KENDALL: Haley Barbour's golden opportunity
Mississippi’s Republican Gov. Haley Barbour has hit a bit of a rough patch on the road to the White House. A Weekly Standard cover story made this Yazoo City native look oblivious to civil rights struggles, albeit, who can begrudge him being more interested in girls as a teen?
Sports
6:45 p.m.
Florida paying nearly $3M to assistant coaches
Florida is spending more on assistants than it is on first-year head coach Will Muschamp.
Entertainment
6:30 p.m.
South Beach wine, food festival heads to LA
The man who has orchestrated the South Beach Wine and Food Festival for the last decade is close to finalizing plans for a West Coast version. But after that, future expansion will be someone else’s job.
Entertainment
6:15 p.m.
Ted Allen: food fights shouldn't be political
Ted Allen wants to keep politics out of the kitchen.
Golf
6:15 p.m.
Yang continues amazing ride in Match Play
Rickie Fowler and Ben Crane followed big wins with losses in the Match Play Championship.
Baseball
6:00 p.m.
Tigers beat Florida Southern
Miguel Cabrera met with his Detroit Tigers teammates for the first time this spring and said he felt welcome.
Baseball
6:00 p.m.
Tigers' Leyland expects big things from Cabrera
Detroit manager Jim Leyland says it’s doubtful Miguel Cabrera will play when the Tigers begin their spring training schedule this weekend.
Sports
5:45 p.m.
Florida paying more than $3M to assistant coaches
Florida is spending more on assistants than it is on first-year head coach Will Muschamp.
Politics
5:42 p.m.
TWT
Government shutdown solution appears near
Congress appeared to be closing in Friday on a short-term spending bill to prevent a government shutdown next week, with House Republicans proposing a two-week extension that would cut $4 billion from last year’s spending levels.