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Category: Politics Page 30 of 73

Regulatory D’Oh

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On November 12, 2008

In Law, Politics

If this holds up, a lot of the work that’s been going on in DC in the past couple of months will be for naught:

Last May, White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten instructed federal agency heads to make sure any new regulations were finalized by Nov. 1. The memo didn’t spell it out, but the thinking behind the directive was obvious. As Myron Ebell of the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute put it: “We’re not going to make the same mistakes the Clinton administration did.”

President Bill Clinton finalized regulations within 60 days of the 2001 inauguration, meaning Bush could come in and easily reverse them.

It could take Obama years to undo climate rules finalized more than 60 days before he takes office — the advantage the White House sought by getting them done by Nov. 1. But that strategy doesn’t account for the Congressional Review Act of 1996.

The law contains a clause determining that any regulation finalized within 60 days of congressional adjournment — Oct. 3, in this case — is considered to have been legally finalized on Jan. 15, 2009. The new Congress then has 60 days to review it and reverse it with a joint resolution that can’t be filibustered in the Senate.

Ouch.  Bonus point?  The CRA was a product of the Contract With America.

(For those of you interested in the mechanics, this appears to be a good summary.)

Obama’s Toast

By

On November 12, 2008

In Politics

No, really.

There’s a whitebread joke somewhere in there, too.

(Thanks to P.)

The More Things Change . . .

By

On November 11, 2008

In Politics

Back to the familiar Democratic circular firing squads:

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) has called his challenger for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), an “anti-manufacturing, left-wing Democrat”.

So comforting.

Rescuing Public Discourse

By

On November 11, 2008

In Personal, Policy, Politics

This touches upon one of the benefits of last Tuesday’s election that I’ll most enjoy:

I now have the luxury of debating only thoughtful, sane conservatives who argue in good faith, and I intend to enjoy it.

There’s much more to it than that, though.  Go read the rest.

If the Taiwanese Can Do It . . .

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On November 11, 2008

In Law, Politics, Society

Yesterday, in Taiwan:

Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian was led away in handcuffs Tuesday after investigators questioned him for more than five hours in connection with a lengthy money laundering probe.

This post over at Booman Tribune – Treat DC as a Crime Scene – has been linked a lot, mostly in bitter amusement.  But I’d take its prescriptions as an entirely reasonable start.  Some might read this and think that I’m overreacting, or that perhaps we’d be better off with more magnanimity in victory.  No.  There is no shortage of reasonable suspicion pointing to real and actual crimes by this Administration (up to and including the President).  Further, what we’d be better off with – both now and in the future – is a clear demonstration that we are a nation ruled by laws, not men.  Fear of prosecution for breaking the law should be universal – whether you’re a member of the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration, or any future administration.

Adding It Up

By

On November 10, 2008

In Politics, Virginia

1 + 1 = 2?

In this case 2 = the utter ridiculousness that is the claim that “netroots” have any effective influence in Virginia elections.  Sure, there are some talented individuals that both blog *and* are involved with some VA campaigns, and Webb was certainly given a helpful platform in the beginning, but an active and effective influence on Virginia politics that does not make.

With God On Our Side, 2008 Version

By

On November 10, 2008

In Politics, Society

Bob Dylan’s With God On Our Side recently reentered my regular music rotation when Vivian Paige linked to this thoughtful piece on the election – and peculiar reception, by some – of Barack Obama.   So, of course, it was that song that immediately came to mind today when Boing Boing posted this video of a Greek v. Armenian monk smackdown in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8g1YFlBX1Y[/youtube]

According to the BBC:

Dressed in the vestments of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian denominations, rival monks threw punches and anything they could lay their hands on.

The Greeks blamed the Armenians for not recognising their rights inside the holy site, while the Armenians said the Greeks had violated one of their traditional ceremonies.

Personally, I find
who-would-win-in-a-fight-between-Superman-and-Spiderman speculation far more useful.  Alas, folks like these monks prefer the live-action version of that argument.

(I do admit to wondering, though, what would have happened if some Turkish Orthodox monks were rolling by when this went down.)

McAuliffe?

By

On November 10, 2008

In Politics, Virginia

Why?

(The answer certainly isn’t here)

Republican Party of Virginia: Political Party or Party Entertainment?

By

On November 10, 2008

In Politics, Virginia

Waldo, as always, does an excellent job of highlighting the sorry state of affairs in the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV).  Now, considering their reliably absurd politics, the damage that they’ve done to Virginia, and my own partisan bent, you’d think I’d get nothing but joy out of his.  And really, there is quite a bit of joy at the moment.  But at some point (and that point will come sooner than later), Virginia’s Democrats will need the discipline that comes from competition with a serious and viable political alternative.  So long as these current jokers over at the RPV are in charge, Virginia’s Democrats won’t get that competition.  And that’s bad for everyone.

Holding Obama to His Word

By

On November 10, 2008

In Law, Policy, Politics

Looks like the ACLU is on the job, planning to run a full page ad in the New York Times reminding everyone of Obama’s promise to shut down the Guantanamo Bay prision system.  There are years upon years of damage inflicted by the Bush Administration that an Obama Administration will have to carefully unravel.  Much of that will take time and care to ensure that good work isn’t destroyed, and other parts will take money that simply doesn’t exist right now.  Shutting down Guantanamo, however, is rather simple and should occur almost immediately.  There will be no shortage of politicians who will urge Obama to keep it open, and will find excuses to delay the shutdown.   It’s good to see the ACLU step out in front with a reminder of a promise that Obama can make good on right away.

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