My Only Thought On Redistricting

11:06 pm EST June 28th, 2006 | Politics | 10 Comments

Upon reading the story about the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the mid-census gerrymandering the Texas Republicans did, I thought the following: Hey, Democrat-dominated Maryland legislature – we’ve got two Republican representatives in congress. Fix that, won’t you? I think Roscoe Bartlett and Wayne Gilchrest could do with some time off.

The Do Nothing Important Congress

5:06 pm EST June 28th, 2006 | Politics | 23 Comments

In recent weeks, folks have begun comparing this congress to the congress of the Truman era, which the president labeled as “do nothing”. But things are different nowadays. The Republican congress is doing something, just nothing important.

So far:

Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage: it failed
Constitutional amendment to ban flag burning: it failed
Spent 40 hours debating faulty, non-binding resolution on Iraq
Repeal the estate tax to help out Paris Hilton and Bill Gates: delayed because they likely don’t have the votes
Keeping “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance: it failed

Going forward:

Banning Internet gambling (won’t pass)
“Fetal pain” bill
A bill to loosen restrictions so we have more guns on the street

They’re not a “do nothing” congress. They’re a “do nothing important” congress.

UPDATE: Our bold congress is invoking the tradition of Lincoln, Washington and the forefathers as they… have an emergency meeting to create legislation to slam the New York Times. BOLD!

Are Immigration Extremists Marginal Even In The GOP?

4:06 pm EST June 28th, 2006 | Politics | 17 Comments

Chris Cannon was running in solid-red Utah as a supporter of Bush’s version of immigration reform versus someone more in line with the Minutemen, and the challenger lost badly

U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon said his solid victory in Utah’s Republican primary is good news for President Bush and those seeking a consensus on immigration policy this year.

“I hope what it means is Republicans look at this and realize we don’t have to be divided on the issue of illegal immigration,” Cannon said.

Curt Weldon: Wacko

3:06 pm EST June 28th, 2006 | Politics | 3 Comments

Decided to go to Iraq and look for WMD on his own.

Ehrlich Sliding Away

2:06 am EST June 28th, 2006 | Politics | 3 Comments

Per the new WaPo poll he’s down 40-51 to O’Malley with registered voters and losing 39-55 to likely voters.

Expect him to gear up his major league smear campaign any moment now.

Poll Shows Ehrlich Lagging As He Opens Reelection Run

Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. starts his reelection campaign today significantly trailing Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, according to a new Washington Post poll. Although the state’s voters give the governor good marks for the job he’s done, they also appear inclined to return a Democrat to the governor’s mansion.

Ehrlich kicks off his campaign today at his boyhood home in the Baltimore suburb of Arbutus, attempting to become the state’s first Republican governor in 50 years to serve a second term. But the poll shows why he is preparing to spend a record amount and why he is considered one of the nation’s most endangered Republican governors.

You WILL Believe A Man Can Fly

1:06 am EST June 28th, 2006 | Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Superman Returns: 4/4 stars.

Practically perfect.

More later.

UPDATE: Atrios charitably notes that I’m the only critic that matters on Superman Returns, it should be true but it isn’t. Heh. I do intend to write a more detailed review coming up soon, however.

Topic: Michigan

FYI

9:06 pm EST June 27th, 2006 | News | 3 Comments

I’m blogging from the line outside the theater for the late night early showing of Superman Returns. Unsurprisingly it’s geek central.

This better not suck.

Topic: Superman

No Surprise

4:06 pm EST June 27th, 2006 | Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman		100%
Green Lantern		80%
Spider-Man		65%
Robin		65%
Supergirl		63%
The Flash		55%
Hulk		50%
Catwoman		45%
Iron Man		45%
Wonder Woman		43%
Batman		40%

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Topic: Michigan

If He Only Applied That Theory Universally

4:06 pm EST June 27th, 2006 | Politics | 28 Comments

Paul Mirengoff of Powerline intones: “I lack the expertise to weigh in on this issue”.

For those not in the know, Ezra Klein has the best summation of Powerline around:

They get nothing right. Their fact-checking skills are atrocious. They neither report nor call experts, it’s just whatever they invented twenty seconds ago. Watching them work is like attending a high school debate match in the impromptu event. Arguments are created on the fly, accuracy is unimportant so long as the product accuses the “MSM” or Democrats of some cardinal sin that’ll leave Powerline’s sycophantic readers moaning with the exquisite pleasure that comes only from having one’s biases expertly stroked.

The Fake Outrage Vs. The Times

3:06 pm EST June 27th, 2006 | Politics | 12 Comments

It’s all about getting the base upset to help the right win the election this fall. Froomkin excerpts this relevant information in his column today.

On MSNBC, Chris Matthews spoke with Ron Suskind, author of the new book “The One Percent Doctrine.” Matthews noted that Suskind specifically wrote in his book that Al Qaeda got wise to electronic transfer surveillance after a while.

Matthews: “So in other words, the bad guys figured out how we were catching them.”

Suskind: “Right, it’s a process of deduction. After a while, you catch enough of them, they’re not idiots. They say, ‘Well, we can’t do the things we were doing.’ They’re not leaving electronic trails like they were.’ “

Once again, the right wing plays the rubes for the suckers they are.