The Iago of It All: The New York Times Launches Masked McCain Attack in Shakespearean Saga

The New York Times, having undergone a transgender experience from its former existence as the good Gray Lady, is now appearing as Iago.

Under fire for its savage smear attack on John McCain about his relationship with a woman lobbyist, the Times today fielded David Brooks in an op ed column . In a grand display of passive-aggressive hand-wringing, Brooks manages to lay the whole mess at the feet of McCain staffers.

Cunningly, he also gets in a whack at McCain campaign manager Rick Davis, dissects the personalities of Davis and former staffer John Weaver, and declares at what point McCain's presidential hopes will be over. Waving Desdemona's handkerchief, Brooks, pandering relentlessly for the Times, declares McCain to be a hopeless romantic who likes death under fire but who is "a fine man."

Brooks does everything but directly parrot Iago's famed quote about the warrior Othello: ""I follow him to serve my turn upon him." Yesterday, the Peanut crew, no stranger to Shakespeare, asked if the Times had endorsed McCain only to later knock him down. And so we come to act II, Scene 3:

"When devils will the blackest sins put on,
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows.

Now the meaning of the Times' endorsement of McCain as the best Republican candidate becomes clear. Here, we need to page Dr. Freud, because Brooks, either knowingly, jabbing at someone in the McCain camp, or unknowingly, takes on Iago's own language of poisons: "the poisons have yet to be drained."

Here's an out-take from Brooks' column:

"But while calling around to a dozen senior McCain friends and advisers Thursday, what struck me was the enormous tragedy of the rift. They all love McCain. They all say it is absurd to think he abused his power in the way that is alleged.

But the rift is like some primal sore. It affected every conversation I had Thursday, as it has infected McCain efforts again and again over the past many years.

At his press conference Thursday, McCain went all-in. He didn’t just say he didn’t remember a meeting about Iseman. He said there was no meeting. If it turns out that there is evidence of an affair and a meeting, then his presidential hopes will be over. If no evidence surfaces, his campaign will go on and it will be clear that there were members of his old inner circle consumed by viciousness and mendaciousness.

But lingering over everything is the bitterness of the rift, which has caused duplicity and anger to seep into the campaign of this fine man. The poisons have yet to be drained."

Having done everything but posed downstage to proclaim "Oh, notable strumpet!" about lobbyist Vicki Iseman (without even a handkerchief as proof), the Times has revealed--perhaps too quickly?--its Iago strategy in endorsing McCain.

"Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains.
Yet, for necessity of present life,

I must show out a flag and sign of love, which is indeed but sign. "

Senator McCain: don't pick up any more handkerchiefs with the initials NYT embroidered on the edge, no matter how perfumed.

CSI Daytona: Cops Using DNA Testing to Hunt a Serial Killer

In Daytona Beach, FL, police are using high-tech in their quest to stop a serial killer before he strikes again. They're collecting DNA samples on the scene during prostitution stings and from "persons of interest" found during traffic stops.

A special task force hit the streets in January. Police Chief Mike Chitwood and profilers have warned that "no woman" is safe even though those killed so far have been connected to prostitution, drug use, or a borderline existence.

Authorities say that the killer, who may also be linked to a murder in nearby Sanford, FL, will appear normal, seem trustworthy, and probably is married or in a relationship. They caution that his ability to blend in, like that of Ted Bundy, is a mask for a monster.

Bundy, whose killings began in 1974 in Washington State, was executed in Florida in 1989. After escaping from prison in the Northwest, Bundy killed two students and battered tow more during a bloody rampage at a Florida State University sorority house in 1978.

A few weeks later, he kidnapped and killed 12-year-old Kimberly Leach in rural Lake City, FL. Bundy confessed to more than two dozen killings, and police across several states believe that there were more victims, possibly up to a hundred. Experts say that Bundy's first kill may have occurred when he was 15 years old..

Ironically, Bundy's last arrest was during a traffic stop--as was his first arrest. In gathering DNA samples gathered during traffic stops, Daytona police are effectively using one of the most common ways in which criminals get caught. Known to be one of the most dangerous things a police officer does, traffic stops routinely yield felons, those fleeing warrants, drug users, and other wanted persons. The DNA will be compared to samples from the killer's prior murders.

Police also are going cyber in their manhunt. They're checking blogs and discussion boards, and recently subpoenaed The Daytona Beach News-Journal to gain information on a person who'd posted several comments of interest.

Four women have been killed execution-style since 2005. They range in age from 30 to 45, and include one black and three white victims.