(Completely earned, though. Good to have such a clear example that Obama’s okay with some kinds of bigotry.)
Category: Politics Page 27 of 73
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTjKWq9Gges[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duLds-TZMGw[/youtube]
Looks like Illinois is certainly living up to its rep:
Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning.
[ . . . ]
A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned.
This quote – apparently caught on tape – would be funny, if it weren’t so, you know, utterly appalling:
“I’ve got this thing and it’s [expletive] golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And, and I can always use it. I can parachute me there.”
Okay, Illinois, let’s set a record for how quickly an incumbent has been ejected from the governor’s mansion.
Update: If it seems that I’m being a bit hasty (and truly, given the demonstrated willingness of the DOJ to do the Republicans’ political dirty work, that would be a fair concern), I urge you to check out the DOJ release itself, or read TPM’s evolving summary coverage of it. Convincingly damning.
You’ve almost certainly heard the news already if you’re interested in Virginia online politics, but I’ll repeat it here – the New Dominion Project is open for business. It’s a collaborative effort by three . . . hmm, I can’t exactly call them “fresh” voices, considering that each of them has been at this for a while. Let’s go with “refreshingly youthful” voices. I expect good things from them.
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Ah, the holiday season, where we all get to reflect upon and celebrate our priorities and values.
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I had forgotten that Italy will be taking the EU G8 Presidency [ed. note – d’oh] in short order, making the corrupt disaster that is Silvio Berlusconi [slightly] more relevant to our lives
Italian president and media baron Silvio Berlusconi said today that he would use his country’s imminent presidency of the G8 group to push for an international agreement to “regulate the internet”.
Speaking to Italian postal workers, Reuters reports Berlusconi said: “The G8 has as its task the regulation of financial markets… I think the next G8 can bring to the table a proposal for a regulation of the internet.”
Thanks, Italy.
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Vivian Paige laments the loss of her weekly milk & eggs delivery from Yoder Dairies. I’m with her, if only in spirit. The last place I had milk delivery was in Nottingham in the mid-80s.
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I am shamed to say that I didn’t lift a glass in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition last Friday (to be clear, I was lifting several glasses in celebration of other things – the anniversary just got lost in the shuffle). Amit Singh had a brief note about it up at Bearing Drift. That post kicked off a discussion that turned into an amusing reminder that the (remaining) Republican rank and file are more concerned with the fact that someone somewhere may be enjoying themselves than actually living up to that small government and personal freedom gloss they love to claim.
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Oh, and a begrudging congratulations to the dolts in Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, who finally ousted that crook, Rep. William Jefferson (D). It’s begrudging because that district’s voters apparently weren’t smart enough to do it the last time they had the opportunity. Anyway, it’s good to see him gone, and terribly amusing to see Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner hold up the Republican winner of that race as “the future” of the Republican Party.  If relying on the Democratic incumbent to get found with a freezer full of cash and indicted is the Republican plan to win, well, I can live with that. Note also that the winner – Ahn Cao – will be gone in two years. He may be an entirely competent and decent fellow, but there’s no way a Republican wins reelection in a D+28 district.
It’s something of a horror show, but Shaun Kenney’s doing a good job (from my perspective, anyway) of capturing the goings on at the Republican Party of Virginia’s annual “Advance” meeting at the Homestead. Waldo points out that Shaun’s blog has been blocked at the Homestead. That, in itself, is a great illustration of the RPV. Backward, ignorant, and working hard to keep it that way.
TPM catches this Barney Frank quote:
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA): “[Obama’s] going to have to be more assertive than he’s been. At a time of great crisis with mortgage foreclosures and autos, he says we only have one president at a time. I’m afraid that overstates the number of presidents we have. He’s got to remedy that situation.”
I do not want an Obama holiday fleece. I do not want an Obama mug. I do not want an Obama victory t-shirt. And you do not need any more of our money. Give it a rest, please.
It’s confirmed that the Mall will be open to the public on Inauguration Day:
The Presidential Inaugural Commission announced today that the entire national mall, from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, will be open to the public on Inauguration Day. Large screens will be set up along the Mall to allow to allow those in attendance to see and hear the event.
[ . . . ]
With the mall open, there might just be room enough to accommodate everyone, but it will be tight. According to CNN, if 5 million people show up, each person would have about one square foot of ground to stand on. If you’re planning on coming to Washington for the big day, be prepared to get cozy with your neighbors!
Should be intertesting.
So says Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, desperately trying to prolong his power:
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean has granted a request from Stephen Harper to suspend Parliament until late next month, the prime minister announced on Thursday, a move that avoids a confidence vote set for Monday that could have toppled his minority government.
Perhaps George is wondering why he didn’t think of that?
(Background here.)