Secret memos are never a good thing

Urge you senators to filibuster against the nomination of Miguel Estrada to the federal appeals court. If the republicans are able to snooker the Senate into letting this man join the court, it will set a precedent that will further hobble the ability of advocates of sanity to keep right-wing ideologues off of the court. It will also set a precedent of non-transparency in appointing judges, i.e. there will be no expectations that senators who must vote on the nominees have access to their professional writings. Chuck Schumer 202 224 6542 Hillary Rodham Clinton 202 224 4451

Voting fraud in the US? I don’t believe it.

The Washington, DC publication The Hill has confirmed that former conservative radio talk-show host and now Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel was the head of, and continues to own part interest in, the company that owns the company that installed, programmed, and largely ran the voting machines that were used by most of the citizens of Nebraska. As reported in: http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0131-01.htm

Once again, I hurl my defiance at the stars.

Futurism is one of the many beautiful ideas that kill.

North Carolina Doesn’t Quit

You'd think Congressional leaders would have learned their lesson. Alas, Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., head of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security endorsed the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. What's worse? Rep. Sue Myrick R-N.C. In a speech to the Heritage Foundation, she candidly disclosed her concern for US readiness against terrorism: "You know, and this can be misconstrued, but honest to goodness (husband) Ed and I for years, for 20 years, have been saying,'You know, look at who runs all the convenience stores across the country.' Every little town you go into, you know?" I choose to not misconstrue that, and interpret it as another example of the racist freakshow that is the Republican leadership. [UPDATE: Fri Feb 7 02:23:18 EST 2003: I neglected to mention the whitewashed lawnjockey.

More Budget Hand-wringing

If you don't know what's going on with the budget, some nice high-level wonkery is made available through PBS -- whose budget is being cut in the President's proposal, by the way.

USA Maxes Out Its Credit Card

Clinton balanced the budget. Bush blew it. The economy sucked, sure. He still blew it. When you're in a hole, you stop digging.

Hernando de Soto Walks Among Us Like A God

Hernando de Soto has always been a hoopy frood -- a well-respected economist, defender of property rights, capitalist running dog and dog owner.

Simon Blackburn on Moral Relativism

Moral relativism is good, or maybe it's not.

WSJ Rolls Its Own News

The eight European leaders that endorsed the Administration's position on Iraq made their views known through a solicited editorial in the Wall Street Journal. What makes this interesting is that the Journal (and many, many others) then turned around and reported it as news. Of course, this happens all the time on shows like Meet the Press and Face the Nation. What's interesting is that it doesn't pass the smell test, for no other reason than because of the importance of the story, it highlights the manufacturing of news. The LA Times ran a piece about this episode, and refers vaguely to ethical questions. The allusions were vague, of course, because there aren't any ethical questions. It's just journalists finding a story and making absolutely sure that they reap the rewards.

Columbia

We will never forget them this morning as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.

- Peggy Noonan