Friday, July 22, 2005

John Roberts:  King Me   Justices are the closest to royalty we get.  That Clarence Thomas disparaged the United States Senate for closely scrutinizing him said, as nothing else has, just how much contempt he has for this country.  Some are talking about John Roberts as reasonable in comparison to Roy Moore, who the President could have nominated.  For myself, I wish the President had nominated Roy Moore.  We could have an honest discussion of the issues, and Republicans would have to defend, or not, the legal abominations that Moore supports.    Because Moore cloaks his hatred for minority freedoms and opinions in religiosity, it's an open question whether or not he'd lose, but at least it would been a real and open fight over real things, which would not be forestalled, like Roberts, because the guy went to the right school (Harvard) and has the right manners and knows the right secret handshake, and knows the right salad fork to use. If Roberts passes through the Senate without a battle that's hard fought, I'll know that the Senate is even more of a country club than I thought. 5:06:17 PM    comment []

Hey, Ho!  Libby and Rove Have Got to Go!   Both Scooter Libby and Karl Rove appear to have claimed before the grand jury that they received Valerie Plame's name from reporters.  So far, all of the evidence, including that of the accused reporters, suggests that was wildly untrue.  There is another word for lying under oath.  It's called perjury.  When Bill Clinton did it about an inconsequential affair, Republicans sought to throw him out of the Presidency.  These guys were involved in a conspiracy to undermine national security for partisan political gain; kind of like the 9/11 conspirators, only worse, because the potential consequences are more severe.  I'm not saying that the President should be thrown out of office for hiring them; but, now that you mention it, that's not a bad idea. I am saying that Libby and Rove should be fired, and thrown in jail, preferably under some part of the Patriot Act that involves them getting no lawyer and being tortured by Saudis. That's no worse, I'm sure, than what happened to covert sources of ours in Saudi Arabia because these guys were out to get Joseph Wilson. 2:25:37 PM    comment []

Steve Poltz   Steve Poltz is playing at the Nomad World Pub on the West Bank of Minneapolis tonight.  Also playing are J. Eastman and Dan Israel.  Doors are at 8 p.m.  Steve Poltz used to be the lead singer of the Rugburns, a 90s alt-country band.  Poltz's solo work is more wide-ranging in sound.  He's a gifted singer-songwriter who's best known, unfairly, for co-writing Jewel's #1 hit, "You Were Meant for Me". Granted, this is last minute, but if you want to check out some of his music before the show, here goes.   Steve Poltz-You Remind Me  This song is just pretty. Steve Poltz-Stax  A break-up song, and a tribute to the great R&B labels. Steve Poltz-Nice Guys Finish Last  Another pretty song. Steve Poltz-Allison (live)   The sound's a little muddy, but this is a good cover of the great Elvis Costello tune. Steve Poltz-Friendly Fire  "Friendly Fire" and "Chinese Vacation" are the most rocking of these tunes. Steve Poltz-Chinese Vacation Steve Poltz-Every Hour  This song is the most country of the solo works, and the most like the Rugburns' oeuvre. The Rugburns-Single Life  This is a funny, albeit gloomy, song. The Rugburns-Dick's Automotive  This song runs 8:41.  Now that's value.  This is not a friendly song. 11:05:02 AM    comment []

The "Certain" Victory   People are suggesting that John Roberts will have no trouble being confirmed because Democratic Senators are saying that they see no reason...now...why he should not be confirmed.  They probably actually mean that.  But in addition to whatever they mean, it would be a tactical error of the first order to come right out and state opposition to a Supreme Court candidate before he comes before the Judiciary committee.  This guy is about as extreme as Robert Bork was, though admittedly without the scary beard.  To keep from building massive opposition to himself during the hearings, he's going to have to lie, which judicial candidates tend to feel they're somehow above, unlike all other Presidential appointees; or he's going to have to refuse to answer a truly massive number of questions.  If he actually states his beliefs before the committee, tens of millions of Americans will line up against him in short order, and his nomination will either die, or hang around the necks of the confirming Senators, rather as Clarence Thomas did.  That's probably as good an outcome as actually defeating Roberts. (Yes, I expect him to vote against Roe.  But for all that I support abortion rights, I've long thought Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided; I think it should be settled in the political arena, by legislatures or ballot initiatives around the country, and not by the courts.) 9:43:36 AM    comment []

Quote for the Day, 7/22/2005   "You think I'm too old for you?" "No...I collect antiques."   -Richard Gere (Will Keane) and Winona Ryder (Charlotte Fielding), Autumn in New York 9:10:24 AM    comment []