You know, this should be a perfect time to be a Democrat. Solid electoral victories, a promising presidency ahead, etc. But, as Democrats are wont to do, there’s someone spoiling it for everyone else. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is an assclown of the highest order and seems to be committed to taking the Ted Stevens path out of power, swinging and swearing all the way to the chopping block. Blagojevich’s little appointment trick today was fairly clever, tho’, essentially using the rule of law to give everyone the finger on the way down. His pick, Roland Burris, strikes me as an entirely decent fellow who is probably a good choice. Except for the part where Mr. Burris accepted an appointment from such an obviously corrupt figure. That he would willingly take the spoils from such an obviously corrupt process makes me wary. I’m even more skeptical, however, of this Really Bad Idea of the Senate rejecting the appointment. I’m not interested in the Senate deciding who gets to be a part of their club. A complete mess, and everyone looks an idiot. Hopefully, that covers it for now.
Category: Politics Page 26 of 73
Could have told you this was coming:
Sixteen appointees and advisers helping president-elect Barack Obama’s Justice Department transition efforts all recently sat on the board of an organization little known outside legal circles: The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy.
I suspect we’ll hear more about this Big Liberal Plot in the coming years. To put it kindly (and honestly), the American Constitution Society (ACS) was a very late response to the conservative Federalist Society. Like the Federalist Society, it’s not a nefarious secret conspiracy – it’s a simple organization of like-minded lawyers who believe that supporting the organization can help advance their ideas about the law and government. I’ve been a member since the outset (2001), but haven’t participated all that much. There are lots of campus-based events, and (in DC, at least) ACS sponsors the occasional forum or lecture. I think the last one I attended was this forum on human rights (co-sponsored with with Center for American Progress – you can view video of it here, if you like). ACS also maintain a blog (natch), which you might find interesting. I write all that in the hope that the next time you hear about “that liberal ACS”, you’ll have some measure of reality to compare to what will almost certainly be a mythologized version of the organization.
The Washington Post has an article on the reaction to Sen. Webb (D-Va) and his plans to introduce legislation aimed at reforming the US prison system. Webb – unlike just about every other politician – isn’t interested in grandstanding by adding penalties on top of penalties. Rather, he’s interested in reducing prison population, improving conditions in prisons, and seeing better outcomes for those that are released from prison.  Of course, this doesn’t go over very well in Virginia:
It is a gamble for Webb, a fiery and cerebral Democrat from a staunchly law-and-order state. Virginia abolished parole in 1995, and it trails only Texas in the number of people it has executed. Moreover, as the country struggles with two wars overseas and an ailing economy, overflowing prisons are the last thing on many lawmakers’ minds.
But Webb has never been one to rely on polls or political indicators to guide his way. He seems instead to charge ahead on projects that he has decided are worthy of his time, regardless of how they play — or even whether they represent the priorities of the state he represents.
State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax), who is running for attorney general, said the initiative sounds “out of line” with the desires of people in Virginia but not necessarily surprising for Webb. The senator, he said, “is more emotion than brain in terms of what leads his agenda.”
Some say Webb’s go-it-alone approach could come back to haunt him.
“He clearly has limited interest in the political art, you might say, of reelection,” said Robert D. Holsworth, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
I think most long-time readers will recall that I’ve got problems with Webb. But on this, I’m 100% behind him.
Oh, that the man himself could know about this:
The Vatican is recasting the most famous victim of its Inquisition as a man of faith, just in time for the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s telescope and the U.N.-designated International Year of Astronomy next year.
[ . . . ]
It’s quite a reversal of fortune for Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), who made the first complete astronomical telescope and used it to gather evidence that the Earth revolved around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.
The church denounced Galileo’s theory as dangerous to the faith, but Galileo defied its warnings. Tried as a heretic in 1633 and forced to recant, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, later changed to house arrest.
What is it they want to do?
In May, several Vatican officials will participate in an international conference to re-examine the Galileo affair, and top Vatican officials are now saying Galileo should be named the “patron” of the dialogue between faith and reason.
Irony is alive and well in Rome, I see.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RiU2T4Psyc[/youtube]
Washcycle’s got a great idea:
But biking into the city is just not something everyone will do. Many people lack the experience to know how to go. Others lack the confidence to deal with the traffic.
What if bike-only routes were established? This would allow people to find a way (by following the route) that doesn’t scare them. There are many people who are confident enough to ride in BikeDC, but not confident enough to ride the 50 States Ride or even on Bike to Work Day.
I’d certainly pitch in. C’mon, WABA, get Fenty to move on this.
The Richmond Democrat makes an excellent connection between Veruca Salt and Virginia Republicans.
(I should admit some ambivalence about this. My own Veruca Salt impressions are not exactly unknown, amongst my friends.)
Vivian Paige has an interesting take on her meeting with Terry McAuliffe. Any time Vivian shares an opinion about a Virginia Democrat, I listen. So should you, if you’re interested in Virginia politics. She’s thoughtful, measured, and very in tune with the Commonwealth.
The bitingly cold part of DC winter came a lot earlier this year. I blame that, in advance, for my increasingly bitter mood over the next three months.
Majel Barrett, Gene Roddenberry’s wife – and voice of Star Trek ship computers – died yesterday. I had no idea. She just finished up the voice work for the upcoming movie a few weeks ago.
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Here’s another illustration of why South Carolina is one seriously screwed up place that no person should have to live in, voluntarily. Short version of the story at the link: batshit insane South Carolina state politician thinks he’s entitled to his seat, despite losing the election, and the South Carolina legislature appears to be considering giving it to him. I am not even half joking when I say we should set up an Underground Railroad system to help kids escape from that whackjob state.
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Speaking of batshit insane and kids who don’t deserve it, here’s a story about three undercover cops who bumrushed a 12 year old girl on her front lawn, calling her a prostitute and generally manhandling her. She fought back, of course, and her parents finally got the police to release her. You know what comes next, right? The girl is arrested for assaulting a police officer.  Full story and court case (against the police officers) here.  Great job, guys.
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BoingBoing DDOS’d itself. Amusing. (And if that isn’t reason enough to follow the link: more Iraqi Shoe Tosser Animations!)
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It’s not the most technical of explanations, but this is still a neat walkthrough of how Google Earth images are constructed.
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We’re coming up on the ten year anniversary of the adoption of the Euro. Nice summary history of it here, along with a look at the impact of the adoption of the Euro on Ireland. A few of you will have noticed (quite painfully, in some cases) that the Pound and Euro have been dancing around parity, lately. I wonder if Brown’s brave enough to change course and move Britain onto the Euro in such a chaotic economic time.
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James Fallows has a meandering – but quite informative – interview with one of China’s top bankers. The take away? “Be nice to the countries that lend you money.”
