A CZAR IS BORN
So now Bill Richardson has a "security czar" (his words) at the Department of Energy. Fine with us--but didn't the czars come up short the last time they fought communism?

COVER UP
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so we should probably be flattered. But sometimes it's awful hard to avoid feeling ripped off. Take a look at the July 12 issue of The New Republic, with its picture of Madeleine Albright in full Patton regalia on the cover. Now put it next to NR's May 31, with its Clinton-as-George C. Scott-as-Patton cover. Look familiar?

REBIRTH OF SCHOOL CHOICE
The Ohio legislature again has passed inner-city school choice in its education budget, only weeks after the state Supreme Court affirmed the plan's constitutionality but invalidated it on technical grounds. The program began three years ago in Cleveland for kids in grades K-3, this year covers children through the 5th grade, and will expand to the 7th grade next fall. Gov. Bob Taft is expected to approve the package. "I hope that after three years of litigation, the special-interest groups that challenged this program finally will leave these kids alone," said Clint Bolick of the Institute for Justice, which has defended the plan in court.