The Year in Pictures: July-December

The second half of the year in pictures. The first half is here.

July began with a coordinated terrorist attack on the London transit system:













Terrorists (including one caught on camera at right) bombed a bus and the London Underground within minutes of each other. The blogosphere covered this story as well as any they've yet covered with first hand accounts from Britain. The state run BBC tanked.

Within a few weeks of the London Bombings, terrorists attacked a market Egypt killing scores.

Photo courtesy of the excellent Gateway Pundit.

Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for both deadly blasts.

John Roberts was nominated to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Little did we know that he would coast to the position of Chief Justice, succeeding the deceased William Rehnquist. In one of the more brilliant moves of this term, W. nominated him to the Chief Justice position after it was clear that he would sail through the Senate.

We also didn't know that Bush would make among the single worst decisions of his two terms in selecting Harriet Miers shortly thereafter.

August was the month of Cindy Sheehan and the first real talk of avian flu. In other news:

Benon Savan, Kofi Annan's friend, was accused of taking $160,000 in the kickbacks during the UNSCAM scandal. This was the beginning of four bad months that still hasn't ended for Mr, Annan.

Bob Novak walks off the set after muttering "This is bullshit" on air to James Carville. Photo courtesy of Crooks and Liars who also has the video.

Cindy Sheehan lived in a ditch outside the Bush ranch throughout the month of August. Being a slow media month, the media exploited her to the fullest. Below, Sacred Cow Burgers had some Photo Shop fun at Sheehans expense.

At the end of the month, Katrina slammed ashore wiping out large portions of Mississippi and destroying the levees in New Orleans. The blame was laid at the feet of all levels of government, but this picture showed just how poorly New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin prepared for the inevitable. Picture via Hammer of Truth. More at Brendan Loy.

In September, anti-war loonies showed up in D.C. The media ate it up. Jeff Goldstein deconstructed Jennifers Kerr's account of this gathering of PLO supporters and Code Pinksters.

Photo at right courtesy of Global Cop who has great pictures of angry protesters and great ones of anti-protest babes.

Porkbusters attempts to shame politicians into cutting the waste in government. It is soon discovered that politicians have no shame.

In October, Judith Miller was released from jail and the rumors of a Karl Rove indictment were swirling. Sadly for the Donks, the only indictment was for Scooter Libby.

Iraqi's went to the polls again and voted in huge numbers. Photo via The Fourth Rail. Omar has more pictures.

Even GWB's staunchest supporters bailed on Harriet Miers through the month. A trickle turned into a torrent.

In early November, Paris was inflamed (or at least the cars were) by Muslim radicals. Things got heated throughout the first half of the month and the MSM reported nothing until shamed into it by the blogosphere. No-Pasaran ruled.

After three years in custody, Jose Padilla was indicted.

Michael Yon continued his excellent reporting and photoblogging showing the good and bad in Iraq. In other words--balance reporting.

Picking out the best Chris Muir cartoon of the year is like saying which Guinness was the best you've ever had. The cartoon below was my personal favorite.

Iraqi's turned out again to elect a Parliament and the world celebrated Christmas, Hanukkah or other holiday.

One last note: When I started this post, I looked for news showing the year in review. I found a few sites but nothing all that great. I ended up utilizing Instapundit's archives and clicked on each week.

They say (and I paraphrase) that journalism is "the first draft of history". Glenn Reynolds would have to be the first fact-checking of history.