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This post is in: Outrage
My state, West Virginia, gets enough bad press as it is. So why does one of our 3 members of the House of Representatives have to vote AGAINST condemning the UN giving Libya the Human Rights Chair?
Glad to know I have my own personal Barbara Lee or Dennis Kucinich here in West Virginia. Blech.
by John Cole| 6 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads
TalkLeft links to the Sentencing Report’s new study titled Big Prisons, Small Towns: Prison Economics in Rural America.
I have not read it yet, but apparently Jeralynn has, and states that “rural prisons produce no positive economic benefits for local communities.” Once I read it, I will comment more, but you should go check it out.
Regardless of your political affiliation, it should be clear that we have a problem in this area. No one comes out of prison a better person (Shawshank Redemption be damned), and unless we intend to just start locking everyone up for life, we have a serious problem. We need education programs, drug rehabiliation, and programs that SUCCESSFULLY transition inmates who have served their time and paid for their crime to become full, productive citizens once again. There are others who can speak more eloquently about this than I can, but I think the notion (and reality) of prisons serving only a punitive function is helping no one.
This post is in: Politics
I think it might be the Hallelujah Chorus. Drudge is reporting that Carol Moseley-Braun is forming an exploratory committee to run for President.
You never can tell with Moseley-Braun, though. She might just be broke and planning on raping her campaign funds for personal benefit again.
At any rate, this should be great for the GOP. Sharpton, Moseley-Braun- hell, was Mel Reynolds too busy to run this year? Think we can convince Nader to run?
by John Cole| 11 Comments
This post is in: Politics
Ted Barlow and Matt Yglesias both make similar comments about this Instapundit posting on the Estrada nomination. Here is what the Instapundit said:
DEMOCRATS THREATEN RACIST FILIBUSTER! That’s the message of this commercial on the Estrada nomination, anyway. Hmm. And just as the controversy over Russell Long heats up.
I sense a disturbance in the Force, one that I have not felt since, well, the last time Karl Rove pulled one of these sucker-punch operations.
When I read that this morning, I thought he was actually making fun of the people who were airing the commerical, because this is so clearly not about race. This is about ideology, this is about the Democrats asserting some power to appease their base, this is about Democrats making a stand- to prove to themselves that they can. Even if this nomination passes, they will consider it a success, because they have become somewhat more united.
At any rate, I thought the Instapundit was making fun of the commerical because this is so clearly not about race- that it was the kind of race-baiting the other side normally engages in when you say something bad about any black Democrat. Make fun of Sharpton- you are a racist. It has nothing to do with the fact that he is a flaming idiot (albeit a charismatic one). That is what I thought the Instapundit meant- particularly when you throw in the ‘disturbance in the Force’ comment- meaning, something is not right- the Republicans are squealing racism.
Here is what Matt had to say:
So why is it that when Republicans absurdly accuse the Democrats of racism for not confirming Miguel Estrada that Glenn Reynolds links approvingly to the charge? Aren’t conservatives (er … libertarians, I mean) supposed to be opposed to “playing the race card” no matter who’s doing the playing?
and Ted:
The conservative grasp for victim status in the Estrada nomination is really galling. I’d like to say that it will come back to haunt them. But who’s going to call them on it? Christ, even Glenn has swallowed the Kool-Aid.
I don’t think Glenn has swallowed any kool-aid, but maybe I am wrong. Regardless, if you want to know who is to blame for all this, you should look in the mirror. When you endorse candidates, political operatives, and cheer people like Atrios, who manage to find a racist behind every tree, you devalue the discussion on race. Essentially, calling someone a racist anymore is an empty charge- it is like calling them white.
*** Update ***
John Cole says I’m misconstruing InstaPundit’s comments about the GOP ad accusing the Democrats of racism for failing to confirm Miguel Estrada. Maybe I am, but I really don’t think so. The larger points stands, however. If the Democrats were running an ad making a clearly false accusation of racism against the Senate GOP, conservatives would be all over it. I’m not hearing anything this time around. Note that even John can’t really bring himself to say he doesn’t approve of this ad, instead to him it’s just another example of how liberals have poisoned the political discourse.
To be fair, I can see how he could interpret that, but I thought my position was clear. I think this ad is stupid, wrong, and indicative of everything that is evil and divisive about today’s racial politics. This filibuster has NOTHING to do about race (well- it does now- but only because of these wrongheaded claims by some in the GOP), and I don’t approve of people playing games like this, regardless of their political affiliation.
*** Update #2 ***
I sure am not being very clear today. I am not in favor of the filibuster, either. I think it is cynical and stupid, but I expect that from Leahy and CO. Check out this letter from all the living former Solicitors General (spelling?) stating that Leahy’s request for info is out of line.
This post is in: Excellent Links
Never, ever write stupid things in the Vodkapundit’s comments section. It gets ugly.
This post is in: Open Threads
Austin City Limits on PBS is showing Stevie Ray Vaughan outtakes, and it is just spectacular. I saw him in the 80’s when I lived in Poughkeepsie, NY and he was just amazing. I have seen A LOT of concerts (the majority of them Dead shows), but Stevie Ray was the best I have ever seen.
Stevie Ray Vaughan is dead, and Eminem is up for an Oscar. I think I am going to cry.
This post is in: Politics
Has anyone heard a peep from Terry McAuliffe since the elections? Normally, it seems like not a week goes by without him releasing some sort of noxious bile in the form of a press release. The former DNC head guy, Ed Rendell, is now the governor of Pennsylvania- maybe the donkeys did learn something, after all. Anyone know of any big construction sites or deep concrete fills in PA?