...and not one that the Reps are going to enjoy a whole lot.
The House will be starting up the 111th Congress on Tuesday. The planned agenda for Tuesday looks to be devoted to the sort of housekeeping activities needed to start up the new session (quorum call, swearing in members, etc.)
On Thursday, there will be a joint session of both the House and the Senate to count the Electoral College votes for President and Vice-President. Expect some sour pusses on the faces of John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, John Shadegg, and the rest of the Republican leadership of both chambers.
During the rest of the week will be taken up with consideration of two pairs of related bills.
The first pair should have an impact on George Bush's aspirations for a presidential library, the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act and the Presidential Records Act. While the text of each is as yet unavailable, previous (and unsuccessful due to Senate inaction) bills with those names have addressed full disclosure of contributions to presidential library committees and sought to create more open access to presidential records, something Bush strongly opposes.
Both will probably pass the House again, though it remains to be seen if they can get by any Senate filibusters.
Also likely to pass, but more likely to create an uproar among House Republicans are a pair of gender equity in employment measures - the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (allowing more time to sue in the event of pay discrimination) and the Paycheck Fairness Act (which would require employers to show that pay inequalities are job-related, not gender-related.)
"Uproar" may be putting it mildly. :))
Over in the Senate, they'll have their own fun, though the Reps will probably enjoy it more there than in the House (other than the joint session thing. :) ).
In the race for Minnesota's Senate seat, Democrat Al Franken will finally be declared the winner, though incumbent Republican Norm Coleman is expected to sue to prevent Franken from being seated. In addition, the Rep leadership in the Senate is expected to try to block Franken from their end, though they may be limited in effective options in that regard.
In regard to the turmoil surrounding the Illinois Senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama, Senate Democrats are twisting themselves in knots over Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris, a spectacle the Reps are probably enjoying thoroughly.
Still, with both the House and Senate reconvening with larger Democratic majorities, the certification of the Presidential election, and the gender equity bills, this should be a miserable week for Congressional Republicans.
Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch. :))
Have a good week...
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Light Rail Impressions
On Friday afternoon, I finally had the opportunity to check out metro Phoenix's new light rail line. The rail line runs from Sycamore and Main in Mesa (roughly Dobson and Apache to Tempeans) to Montebello and 19th Ave. in Phoenix (aka - Christown Mall).
While the crowds were smaller in size than those reported for the opening day festivities (and the free rides), the trains were still full. A number of riders were like me and just checking it out, but there were also a large number of actual users, people using the train to commute from point A to point B and back again.
My impressions, both good and bad -
...The system was clean (not surprising given its brand spankin' newness), but more importantly, it was bright and visually friendly.
...The station ticket kiosks could be a little more user friendly. I wanted to purchase an "all day pass" ($2.50), but couldn't figure out how to make the kiosk even get to the mode to go there.
...The stations need more signs (that are readable from the trains) to indicate what station you are at - right now there is one sign, and if you miss that one as your car pulls by, you are out of luck. Yes, the PA systems announces the station, but if the car is full and you can't hear the PA over the conversations around you... :((
...The route is really well-placed for going to/from downtown Phoenix, going by or through the Arts District, Chase Field/U.S. Airways Center, Phoenix Convention Center, etc.
...The route is also convenient for students attending either ASU's main campus or the campus in downtown Phoenix. In addition to the Phoenix locales in proximity to the route, it goes right by Wells Fargo Arena and Sun Devil Stadium on ASU's Tempe campus.
...The crowded passengers, were, well...*friendly*. People talked to each other and were polite, especially when seated passengers gave up their seats to elderly passengers or to other passengers with small children.
...Not sure what it says about the folks running Phoenix's light rail system, but at least in the cars I was in, the signage for the "don'ts" (no open containers, no eating, no weapons, no loud music (even on headphones), etc.) was in both English and Spanish.
The signage for normal and emergency procedures (location of bike racks, how to open the doors in an emergency, etc.)?? Not so much.
In fact, not at all. Those signs were all in English and were text-only.
While the likes of Russell Pearce and JT Ready might object, upgrading the signage would definitely be appropriate. At least make them English with visual cues.
...In addition to the number of cultural and sporting destinations that the rail route is close to, there is one less obvious but far more vital destination that can be easily accessed via train -
While the crowds were smaller in size than those reported for the opening day festivities (and the free rides), the trains were still full. A number of riders were like me and just checking it out, but there were also a large number of actual users, people using the train to commute from point A to point B and back again.
My impressions, both good and bad -
...The system was clean (not surprising given its brand spankin' newness), but more importantly, it was bright and visually friendly.
...The station ticket kiosks could be a little more user friendly. I wanted to purchase an "all day pass" ($2.50), but couldn't figure out how to make the kiosk even get to the mode to go there.
...The stations need more signs (that are readable from the trains) to indicate what station you are at - right now there is one sign, and if you miss that one as your car pulls by, you are out of luck. Yes, the PA systems announces the station, but if the car is full and you can't hear the PA over the conversations around you... :((
...The route is really well-placed for going to/from downtown Phoenix, going by or through the Arts District, Chase Field/U.S. Airways Center, Phoenix Convention Center, etc.
...The route is also convenient for students attending either ASU's main campus or the campus in downtown Phoenix. In addition to the Phoenix locales in proximity to the route, it goes right by Wells Fargo Arena and Sun Devil Stadium on ASU's Tempe campus.
...The crowded passengers, were, well...*friendly*. People talked to each other and were polite, especially when seated passengers gave up their seats to elderly passengers or to other passengers with small children.
...Not sure what it says about the folks running Phoenix's light rail system, but at least in the cars I was in, the signage for the "don'ts" (no open containers, no eating, no weapons, no loud music (even on headphones), etc.) was in both English and Spanish.
The signage for normal and emergency procedures (location of bike racks, how to open the doors in an emergency, etc.)?? Not so much.
In fact, not at all. Those signs were all in English and were text-only.
While the likes of Russell Pearce and JT Ready might object, upgrading the signage would definitely be appropriate. At least make them English with visual cues.
...In addition to the number of cultural and sporting destinations that the rail route is close to, there is one less obvious but far more vital destination that can be easily accessed via train -
The headquarters of the Arizona Democratic Party, and next door to it, the HQ of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, are at the corner of Central and Thomas in Phoenix.
There is a light rail stop at Central and Phoenix.
What that means is that Democratic volunteers from LDs 18, 17, 16, 15, and 14 (and 13, 12, 11, and 10 are close) are able to journey in air-conditioned comfort to downtown to help out at the headquarters without having to spend money on gas or having to deal with traffic.
:))
...Overall impression - It's nice to see metro Phoenix moving boldly into the mid- to late-20th century (Hey, this isn't exactly cutting edge technology. It's still a big step up for a place like AZ).
I just hope that after the gawker riderships fades that people still use and appreciate what has begun here.
The impressions of AZ blogger Shrimplate here; EV Tribune columnist Mark Scarp offers up his take here.Governor Bill Richardson withdraws as Commerce Secretary-designate
From the Washington Post -
This is unfortunate (I am a big fan of Richardson's), but it's the right thing to do. Given the ongoing issues with Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, even though that is totally out of the control of Barack Obama or his transition team, it means that any appointments by the president-elect (or other things that they *can* control) need to be beyond reproach.
I'm sure that once he is cleared in this matter, Governor Richardson's stellar career of public service will continue unabated, with a move into the Cabinet or a significant ambassadorship likely (God knows that the the U.S. could use a diplomat of his stature in the Middle East).
While this is a bit of a hiccup, Obama and his team can be comforted by the knowledge that they're going to head into their era with one of the best coming out of the bullpen.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name from consideration as commerce secretary for President-elect Barack Obama, citing an ongoing investigation about business dealings in his state.
This is unfortunate (I am a big fan of Richardson's), but it's the right thing to do. Given the ongoing issues with Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, even though that is totally out of the control of Barack Obama or his transition team, it means that any appointments by the president-elect (or other things that they *can* control) need to be beyond reproach.
I'm sure that once he is cleared in this matter, Governor Richardson's stellar career of public service will continue unabated, with a move into the Cabinet or a significant ambassadorship likely (God knows that the the U.S. could use a diplomat of his stature in the Middle East).
While this is a bit of a hiccup, Obama and his team can be comforted by the knowledge that they're going to head into their era with one of the best coming out of the bullpen.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Russell Pearce wants to suspend the Bill of Rights
...Ahhh...the calendar turns...a new year begins...change is in the air everywhere...but the ever-reliable Russell Pearce (R-National Alliance) is there to bring us back to those glorious days of yesteryear when people could be forced to give evidence against themselves...which goes back at least 220 years to the year before the U.S. Constitution was ratified.
Perhaps he doesn't think America's declining economy has done enough to discourage undocumented immigration or perhaps he's disappointed that his vaunted employer sanctions law has thus far claimed zero victims, or perhaps it's just payback for the business community's backing of Kevin Gibbons in the LD18 Republican primary last fall.
Whatever his motivation may be, Pearce is now proposing to suspend the Bill of Rights, specifically the Fifth Amendment, in his never-ending jihad against immigrants in Arizona (and America).
From the AZ Republic -
Under current law (as I understand it - any lawyers reading this are welcome to correct anything I misunderstand in a comment), prosecutors can get a criminal investigation subpoena for records, one that requires a little nicety like probable cause. Under Pearce's proposal, prosecutors would basically only need to say to a judge "We want to go fishing" to force businesspeople to give up their records and thus give evidence against themselves.
Just a reminder of the applicable clause of the Fifth Amendment -
And while Pearce has a long history of disregard for the U.S. Constitution (particularly the parts that protect people that he doesn't like from government persecution), that same phrase is contained in Article 2, Section 10 of the Arizona Constitution.
He may want to disregard or even suspend that document, too, but that is the same document that authorizes the existence of the lege and defines its powers (Article Four).
He may find that suspending that particular document would put a crimp in his plans.
Yup.
Perhaps he doesn't think America's declining economy has done enough to discourage undocumented immigration or perhaps he's disappointed that his vaunted employer sanctions law has thus far claimed zero victims, or perhaps it's just payback for the business community's backing of Kevin Gibbons in the LD18 Republican primary last fall.
Whatever his motivation may be, Pearce is now proposing to suspend the Bill of Rights, specifically the Fifth Amendment, in his never-ending jihad against immigrants in Arizona (and America).
From the AZ Republic -
...In the coming year, Pearce plans to ask the Legislature to revise the law so that prosecutors can have civil subpoena authority, a prospect that critics of the law said would be an unnecessary expansion of prosecutors' powers...
Under current law (as I understand it - any lawyers reading this are welcome to correct anything I misunderstand in a comment), prosecutors can get a criminal investigation subpoena for records, one that requires a little nicety like probable cause. Under Pearce's proposal, prosecutors would basically only need to say to a judge "We want to go fishing" to force businesspeople to give up their records and thus give evidence against themselves.
Just a reminder of the applicable clause of the Fifth Amendment -
"No person...shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself..."
And while Pearce has a long history of disregard for the U.S. Constitution (particularly the parts that protect people that he doesn't like from government persecution), that same phrase is contained in Article 2, Section 10 of the Arizona Constitution.
He may want to disregard or even suspend that document, too, but that is the same document that authorizes the existence of the lege and defines its powers (Article Four).
He may find that suspending that particular document would put a crimp in his plans.
Yup.
State Rep. David Schapira back home safely...
State Representative David Schapira (D-LD17) spent the bulk of the holiday season visiting Israel with his family to celebrate his grandfather's 80th birthday. He ended up experiencing firsthand what most of us have only read about, the escalation of tensions and violence in the Middle East.
From AZCentral.com's Political Insider -
He went on to explain that in Jerusalem he and his family were pretty safe, though they had to deal with some travel restrictions.
Now we'll find out how safe Rep. Schapira (and the rest of the state!) feels once the new session of the legislature convenes.
As we all know, when it comes to scaring people, missile attacks and air strikes have nothing on the Republican caucus of the AZ legislature.
Apparently, I've already failed at my "no snarkiness" New Year's resolution. :)
Later!
From AZCentral.com's Political Insider -
"We were actually in the Muslim Quarter in the Old City in Jerusalem when the first strikes hit Gaza," Schapira wrote in an email. "All the shops closed immediately in protest. The tension was palpable. I can tell you that I've never been happier to see soldiers with M-16s."
He went on to explain that in Jerusalem he and his family were pretty safe, though they had to deal with some travel restrictions.
Now we'll find out how safe Rep. Schapira (and the rest of the state!) feels once the new session of the legislature convenes.
As we all know, when it comes to scaring people, missile attacks and air strikes have nothing on the Republican caucus of the AZ legislature.
Apparently, I've already failed at my "no snarkiness" New Year's resolution. :)
Later!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Senator Claiborne Pell passes away at 90
From AP -
My deepest gratitude goes out to Senator Pell for his decades of public service (in addition to serving as a U.S. Senator, he was in the Coast Guard in WWII, seeing service in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, and he also worked as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department), and my deepest condolences go out to his friends and family on their loss.
Information on the Pell Grant programs is available here.
Claiborne Pell, the quirky blueblood who represented blue-collar Rhode Island in
the U.S. Senate for 36 years and was the force behind a grant program that has
helped tens of millions of Americans attend college, died Thursday after a long
battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 90.
My deepest gratitude goes out to Senator Pell for his decades of public service (in addition to serving as a U.S. Senator, he was in the Coast Guard in WWII, seeing service in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, and he also worked as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department), and my deepest condolences go out to his friends and family on their loss.
Information on the Pell Grant programs is available here.
Predictions for 2009
Kevin at Exurban League did one of these, and inspired something of a counter-post...then I found a similarly-themed post by Eli Blake at Deep Thought that was a lot funnier than Kevin's or mine...
...What with fines for license plate frames and the transformation of I-10 and the rest of the state's freeways into one massive photo enforcement zone, the Arizona Department of Public Safety will change its name to the "Arizona Department of Revenue Enhancement."
...The newly-emboldened Republicans in the Arizona legislature will seek to cure the state's revenue shortfall by cutting revenue...oh wait...Sen. Jack Harper (R-Surprise!) has already proposed doing just that...how about...
...Harper's scheme passes the lege, but soon-to-be governor Jan Brewer ticks off the Club for Growth/Goldwater Institute wing of her party by merely thinking about vetoing the proposal, saying "Yes, I want your support when I run for state Governor in 2010, but I want there to be a state left to govern if I actually win. I have to think about this."
...Comedians are *really* going to miss George W. Bush. They're going to have to start writing their own material again.
...Scottsdale's wags, who have been stridently opposed to allowing a light rail line within sight of Scottsdale, much less *in* Scottsdale (the "West's Most Western City"), will see the crowds of people spending money in businesses near the light rail route in Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix while Scottsdale's sale tax revenue continues to plummet.
Then they'll mutter something about the railroads being a vital part of the Old West's character and start making plans for a spur right up the middle of Scottsdale Road.
...State Sen.-elect Russell Pearce will find out that there is a place right next to AZ called "New Mexico" and that there is traffic across the border between there and AZ on a daily basis. He will then call for the deployment of the AZ National Guard there to stanch the flow of green chiles into the state. When informed that New Mexico is a state, and that it has been a state even longer than Arizona has been a state, Pearce will reply "New or Old, it doesn't matter. If the federal government won't do its job and protect the sovereignty of our cuisine, we're going to have to do it ourselves."
...Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will hear that, nod his head, and deploy his volunteerBrown Shirts Posse to the easternmost reaches of Maricopa County. Upon discovering that there are no TV cameras there, he will send 200 of his deputies and some armored vehicles into Mesa to conduct raids upon some small, locally-owned restaurants (i.e. - the kind that don't have corporate legal departments backing them up), searching for suspected non-native Arizona chiles.
...There will be a proposal to rename the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors as "The Montagues" and the offices of the County Attorney and County Sheriff as "The Capulets."
After some discussion of how most products of Arizona's chronically underfunded education system won't understand the Shakespearean reference, the County will settle on the names "The Crips" and "The Bloods."
...In a related note, the actual Crips and Bloods will sue, saying that the County is infringing on their trademarks, and doing so in a way that diminishes them. From a press release from the lawyers handling the case, Wolfram and Hart -
...Those same Reps will be vacationing at their mountain lodges or in air-conditioned resorts in July when that same Phoenix temp hits 120 in the shade.
...Of course, any AZ Reps who do acknowledge the reality of climate change will blame it on some combination of Barack Obama, Janet Napolitano, gay people who want to get married, undocumented immigrants, and union workers.
...That same combination will also take the blame for the bursting AZ's real estate bubble, lightning strikes during the monsoon season, male pattern baldness, simple chronic halitosis, and pretty much everything else that the Reps don't like and/or don't want to take responsibility for.
...The Cardinals will lose in the NFL playoffs to a team that can run the ball, and the Bidwills will respond in the offseason by firing Ken Whisenhunt and hiring 84-year old Don Coryell to pump up Arizona's passing attack.
...And in a year, some wiseass blogger will sit down and do this again.
:))
Later!
...What with fines for license plate frames and the transformation of I-10 and the rest of the state's freeways into one massive photo enforcement zone, the Arizona Department of Public Safety will change its name to the "Arizona Department of Revenue Enhancement."
...The newly-emboldened Republicans in the Arizona legislature will seek to cure the state's revenue shortfall by cutting revenue...oh wait...Sen. Jack Harper (R-Surprise!) has already proposed doing just that...how about...
...Harper's scheme passes the lege, but soon-to-be governor Jan Brewer ticks off the Club for Growth/Goldwater Institute wing of her party by merely thinking about vetoing the proposal, saying "Yes, I want your support when I run for state Governor in 2010, but I want there to be a state left to govern if I actually win. I have to think about this."
...Comedians are *really* going to miss George W. Bush. They're going to have to start writing their own material again.
...Scottsdale's wags, who have been stridently opposed to allowing a light rail line within sight of Scottsdale, much less *in* Scottsdale (the "West's Most Western City"), will see the crowds of people spending money in businesses near the light rail route in Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix while Scottsdale's sale tax revenue continues to plummet.
Then they'll mutter something about the railroads being a vital part of the Old West's character and start making plans for a spur right up the middle of Scottsdale Road.
...State Sen.-elect Russell Pearce will find out that there is a place right next to AZ called "New Mexico" and that there is traffic across the border between there and AZ on a daily basis. He will then call for the deployment of the AZ National Guard there to stanch the flow of green chiles into the state. When informed that New Mexico is a state, and that it has been a state even longer than Arizona has been a state, Pearce will reply "New or Old, it doesn't matter. If the federal government won't do its job and protect the sovereignty of our cuisine, we're going to have to do it ourselves."
...Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will hear that, nod his head, and deploy his volunteer
...There will be a proposal to rename the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors as "The Montagues" and the offices of the County Attorney and County Sheriff as "The Capulets."
After some discussion of how most products of Arizona's chronically underfunded education system won't understand the Shakespearean reference, the County will settle on the names "The Crips" and "The Bloods."
...In a related note, the actual Crips and Bloods will sue, saying that the County is infringing on their trademarks, and doing so in a way that diminishes them. From a press release from the lawyers handling the case, Wolfram and Hart -
...On that day in December when the Phoenix temps inevitably journey below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the state's Republicans will proclaim that global warming is a hoax...oh wait, they already do that on any day ending in "-y.""While our clients are known for...unjustly of course... known for narcotics, murder, assaults, robberies, vice and worse, but that's still better than the raging bigotry, rampant corruption, petty backbiting, and the complete unprofessionalism of the elected officials in Maricopa County."
...Those same Reps will be vacationing at their mountain lodges or in air-conditioned resorts in July when that same Phoenix temp hits 120 in the shade.
...Of course, any AZ Reps who do acknowledge the reality of climate change will blame it on some combination of Barack Obama, Janet Napolitano, gay people who want to get married, undocumented immigrants, and union workers.
...That same combination will also take the blame for the bursting AZ's real estate bubble, lightning strikes during the monsoon season, male pattern baldness, simple chronic halitosis, and pretty much everything else that the Reps don't like and/or don't want to take responsibility for.
...The Cardinals will lose in the NFL playoffs to a team that can run the ball, and the Bidwills will respond in the offseason by firing Ken Whisenhunt and hiring 84-year old Don Coryell to pump up Arizona's passing attack.
...And in a year, some wiseass blogger will sit down and do this again.
:))
Later!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Take a deep breath...
...and try to keep the appointment of Roland Burris to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat in perspective. Yes, Governor Rod Blagojevich is under a *dark* cloud of suspicion and may be as corrupt and self-serving an elected official as there is in this country, and Burris is a longtime ally and fundraiser for the Governor.
He's 71 and hasn't won an election since the early 90s. And even if people ignored those facts, he is so tainted by his association with Rod Blagojevich and the mess surrounding the filling of this seat, he doesn't have a snowball's chance in Phoenix (in July! :)) ) of winning election to a full term in 2 years.
In other words, he's a placeholder and nothing more.
And after the furor dies down, cooler heads will realize that anyone appointed to fill the seat right now would have credibility issues, both with their Illinois constituents and with their D.C. colleagues. Some of the other schemes to remove the appointment from the hands of the Governor (special election, appointment made by the IL lege, etc.) are fraught with their own issues that would tend to undermine the validity of the appointment (twisting the law tends to do that).
The appointment of a placeholder now actually clears the way for a legitimate race in 2010 (OK, "legitimate race" in Illinois politics equals "arm-twisting, rabbit-punching, eye-gouging back alley brawl" anywhere else, but I digress...).
Both the eventual winner and the citizens of Illinois will thank God for Burris' appointment.
Later!
He's 71 and hasn't won an election since the early 90s. And even if people ignored those facts, he is so tainted by his association with Rod Blagojevich and the mess surrounding the filling of this seat, he doesn't have a snowball's chance in Phoenix (in July! :)) ) of winning election to a full term in 2 years.
In other words, he's a placeholder and nothing more.
And after the furor dies down, cooler heads will realize that anyone appointed to fill the seat right now would have credibility issues, both with their Illinois constituents and with their D.C. colleagues. Some of the other schemes to remove the appointment from the hands of the Governor (special election, appointment made by the IL lege, etc.) are fraught with their own issues that would tend to undermine the validity of the appointment (twisting the law tends to do that).
The appointment of a placeholder now actually clears the way for a legitimate race in 2010 (OK, "legitimate race" in Illinois politics equals "arm-twisting, rabbit-punching, eye-gouging back alley brawl" anywhere else, but I digress...).
Both the eventual winner and the citizens of Illinois will thank God for Burris' appointment.
Later!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Short Attention Span Musing
...Think the Palins aren't good* Republicans? Read on...
From the Washington Post -
Anybody who would name their son/grandson after Linda Tripp definitely qualifies as a hardcore Republican.
* = In this context, "good" means "freakin' loony."
...The U.S. Senate's Democratic leadership can posture all that they want, but they're kind of screwed here.
Also from the Washington Post -
In this letter from earlier this month, Sens. Harry Reid (NV) and Dick Durbin (IL), the Senate's Majority and Assistant Majority leaders respectively, threatened to not seat anyone appointed by Blagojevich.
Too bad for them that the Supreme Court has said that the Congress can only judge if members meet the Constitutional qualifications for their chamber.
From Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution -
So unless Burris or whoever Blagojevich appoints to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat fails to meet those basic criteria, the Senate Democrats (and the Senate as a whole) probably aren't going to have much choice about seating the appointee.
More later...
From the Washington Post -
Bristol Palin gave birth to her much-anticipated baby son on Saturday, People.com reported this evening.
The first grandchild of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, weighing in at seven pounds, four ounces.
Anybody who would name their son/grandson after Linda Tripp definitely qualifies as a hardcore Republican.
* = In this context, "good" means "freakin' loony."
...The U.S. Senate's Democratic leadership can posture all that they want, but they're kind of screwed here.
Also from the Washington Post -
Two Chicago newspapers are reporting that scandal-tarred Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans this afternoon to appoint 71-year-old former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.
In this letter from earlier this month, Sens. Harry Reid (NV) and Dick Durbin (IL), the Senate's Majority and Assistant Majority leaders respectively, threatened to not seat anyone appointed by Blagojevich.
Too bad for them that the Supreme Court has said that the Congress can only judge if members meet the Constitutional qualifications for their chamber.
From Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution -
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.
So unless Burris or whoever Blagojevich appoints to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat fails to meet those basic criteria, the Senate Democrats (and the Senate as a whole) probably aren't going to have much choice about seating the appointee.
More later...
Monday, December 29, 2008
The John Sydney McCain Memorial Crappie Award
This edition of the award goes not to an individual or even a group of politicians, but instead to an entire federal Cabinet department.
From AP via AZCentral.com -
Umm...so the Department of Justice is prosecuting an American citizen for torturing others (the appropriate section of the US Code here). Sounds great, except that the reason the guy has been prosecuted isn't that he is a torturer, but that he wasn't a torturer for the Bush Administration.
On the other hand, when those who are ordering or performing the torture are doing so at the behest of the Bushies, the FBI and the rest of the Department of Justice turn a blind eye to those crimes.
Torture is wrong, period.
It's one topic where that widely-held moral position matches up with long-established U.S. law and international treaties.
And for hypocritically forgetting that fact just because it's convenient merits bestowing a Crappie Award to the entire Department of Justice.
Note - just to be clear here, my problem isn't with the sought-after sentence for Taylor (147 years). If anything, it's far more merciful that he deserves. Nope, my problem is with the double standard that says torture is OK if it's practiced to further the Bush Administration's agenda.
From AP via AZCentral.com -
MIAMI - U.S. prosecutors want a Miami judge to sentence the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor to 147 years in prison for torturing people when he was chief of a brutal paramilitary unit during his father's reign.
Charles McArthur Emmanuel, also known as Charles "Chuckie" Taylor Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9 by U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. His conviction was the first use of a 1994 law allowing prosecution in the U.S. for acts of torture committed overseas.
A recent Justice Department court filing describes torture - which the U.S. has been accused of in the war on terror - as a "flagrant and pernicious abuse of power and authority" that warrants severe punishment of Taylor.
Umm...so the Department of Justice is prosecuting an American citizen for torturing others (the appropriate section of the US Code here). Sounds great, except that the reason the guy has been prosecuted isn't that he is a torturer, but that he wasn't a torturer for the Bush Administration.
On the other hand, when those who are ordering or performing the torture are doing so at the behest of the Bushies, the FBI and the rest of the Department of Justice turn a blind eye to those crimes.
Torture is wrong, period.
It's one topic where that widely-held moral position matches up with long-established U.S. law and international treaties.
And for hypocritically forgetting that fact just because it's convenient merits bestowing a Crappie Award to the entire Department of Justice.
Note - just to be clear here, my problem isn't with the sought-after sentence for Taylor (147 years). If anything, it's far more merciful that he deserves. Nope, my problem is with the double standard that says torture is OK if it's practiced to further the Bush Administration's agenda.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Something to keep an eye on...
Thanks for the heads-up on this go out to Seeing Red AZ (of all places! :) ) Evidently there is at least one thing that both Democratic and Republican bloggers can agree on...
From the Idaho Statesman -
Yes, this loon is from the land of Larry Craig, survivalists, and white supremacists, which means that one of the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed types on West Washington could pick up on the notion and try to run with it here.
Note that I'm not specifying party here - any one of our state's finest is capable of coming up with the idea of encouraging free expression by restricting it.
Later...
From the Idaho Statesman -
State Rep. Steve Hartgen, a former newspaper publisher, says he might introduce a bill to force people to use their real names when posting comments on the Internet.
"A modest proposal that simply required the posting of a true name with respect to comments and blogs would go a long way," Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, told the Times-News, adding that the absence of such a provision "discourages people from participating in civil life. To me, it reflects a coarsening and cheapening of public debate, which I think is not healthy for Idaho."
Yes, this loon is from the land of Larry Craig, survivalists, and white supremacists, which means that one of the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed types on West Washington could pick up on the notion and try to run with it here.
Note that I'm not specifying party here - any one of our state's finest is capable of coming up with the idea of encouraging free expression by restricting it.
Later...
Friday, December 26, 2008
In today's GOP, this guy's a shoo in...
From the Washington Post:
Salsman is a Tennessean who was the campaign manager for Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential run.
Tennessean status notwithstanding, Saltsman could fit right in with the AZ branch of the GOP.
And Tennessean or not, he and the rest of the national GOP need to accept that Barack Obama won. Resoundingly.
Time to grow up and move on.
Chip Saltsman, a candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee, sent committee members this month a holiday music CD that included "Barack the Magic Negro," a parody song first aired in 2007 by talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
Salsman is a Tennessean who was the campaign manager for Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential run.
Tennessean status notwithstanding, Saltsman could fit right in with the AZ branch of the GOP.
And Tennessean or not, he and the rest of the national GOP need to accept that Barack Obama won. Resoundingly.
Time to grow up and move on.
Christmas in Marina Del Rey
Non-political post ahead...
It wasn't a traditional Christmas, and it certainly wasn't a white Christmas (the snow was hitting farther north and in higher elevations), but it was fun.
And it''s been years since I've visited the ocean, any ocean.
This pic is of the waves and rains rolling in toward the beach in Santa Monica, CA (immediately north of the Santa Monica Pier)
Other things done on this rather non-traditional holiday - breakfast at IHOP (decent, but packed!), lunch/dinner at a sports bar named "Yankee Doodles" (decent, but packed!), and the new Adam Sandler movie "Bedtime Stories" (decent, but definitely targeted toward a young audience [the Disney brand showing through]). The adults in the theater liked it though, as there was a round of applause for the movie at the end.
Later...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Colors - Green, Red, and...Pink???
From AP via AZCentral.com -
Something tells me that when history looks back at the Bush legacy, even more than failed state building and undermined international credibility, it's going to be the ravaged economy that most people associate with the presidency of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and their lackeys.
The fact that he (and they!) have been mailing it in since the election will just blend in with the overall eight years worth of incompetence and corruption.
New claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, the government said Wednesday, as layoffs spread throughout the economy, more evidence the labor market is weakening as the recession deepens.
The Labor Department reported that initial requests for jobless benefits rose to a seasonally adjusted 586,000 in the week ending Dec. 20, from an upwardly revised figure of 556,000 the previous week. That's much more than the 560,000 economists had expected.
Something tells me that when history looks back at the Bush legacy, even more than failed state building and undermined international credibility, it's going to be the ravaged economy that most people associate with the presidency of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and their lackeys.
The fact that he (and they!) have been mailing it in since the election will just blend in with the overall eight years worth of incompetence and corruption.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Civil War on West Jefferson continues...
From the EV Tribune -
The Phoenix New Times is also covering the ongoing feud that has the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors facing off against County Attorney Andrew Thomas and County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (with County Treasurer Charles Hoskins apparently uninvolved in this latest conflict, but generally opposing the supes).
Ray Stern of the New Times has perhaps one of the most apt description of Maricopa County's Republicans in his coverage of the latest events -
"...Cannibalistic Republicans..." is perfect - they're eating their own.
As a Democrat, normally I'd just grab some popcorn and sit back to enjoy the carnage (with an eye toward some pick ups in 2010 and 2012), but with the county's finances in the toilet (as are the state's and pretty much every municipality in the state's), we can't afford this kind of petty squabbling. There's too much important work to be done.
Of course, this bunch was pretty bad in good times; there's no reason to believe that tough times will inspire them to competence and professionalism.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again -
Can both sides lose this one? Puhleeeze?
Later...
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas was stripped of his power to handle civil cases for the county by the Board of Supervisors during a short but feisty special meeting today.
Supervisor Don Stapley, whose indictment by Thomas' office was announced earlier this month, was among the five supervisors who voted unanimously to allow the board to hire outside lawyers.
The Phoenix New Times is also covering the ongoing feud that has the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors facing off against County Attorney Andrew Thomas and County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (with County Treasurer Charles Hoskins apparently uninvolved in this latest conflict, but generally opposing the supes).
Ray Stern of the New Times has perhaps one of the most apt description of Maricopa County's Republicans in his coverage of the latest events -
Maybe we're heading to a big showdown that will end with Thomas giving the sheriff the okay to arrest the supervisors. In this town, with this group of cannibalistic Republicans in charge, anything's possible.
"...Cannibalistic Republicans..." is perfect - they're eating their own.
As a Democrat, normally I'd just grab some popcorn and sit back to enjoy the carnage (with an eye toward some pick ups in 2010 and 2012), but with the county's finances in the toilet (as are the state's and pretty much every municipality in the state's), we can't afford this kind of petty squabbling. There's too much important work to be done.
Of course, this bunch was pretty bad in good times; there's no reason to believe that tough times will inspire them to competence and professionalism.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again -
Can both sides lose this one? Puhleeeze?
Later...
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