Flotsam & Jetsam

This has been a no news week as far as I concerned. Not much has been worthy of individual posts, so here is a flotsam and jetsam dump of various points of interest.

You know it is a slow news week when the three major stories of one day involve three different members of the palin family. Sarah claims she can beat Barack Obama in 2012. I like the prospect, but am not yet sold on the reality. Bristol is doing well on Dancing with the Stars and it is just killing progressives. Willow used a homophobic term on her Facebook page. Have any of her critics ever seen a typical internet flame war between teenager/ Compared to most, Willow sounded like a miffed Veggie Tales character.

Charles Rangel shed some crocodile tears while begging for mercy, claiming he may not live much longer. What a tawdry, blatantly manipulative move. It is further evidence of his low character. My advice--if he really is on his last leg, expel him from the House so he can spend his final days in blissful retirement away from our tax dollars.

If we could just racially profile like the Israelis do, we would not have to debate full body scanners or pat downs. But as long as we value political correctness over national security, we cannot whine much about what happens to our junk before boarding a plane. Sorry to depart from many of my civil libertarian brethren there. If it makes you feel any better, I only feel that way in general principle. I am confident these safety measures violate the Fourth Amendment.

jim DeMint is a gentleman, but I hope he does not make amends with Lisa Murkowski. not that he has any to make. Politics is a tough game, Princess Lisa. Deal with it.

There are journalists in the united Kingdom who sole job is to be a “royal watcher.” I thought there could not possibly be a more uselessly offensive career than a sports agent, but I was wrong. Royal watchers take the cake. How can they sleep at night knowing the oxygen they suck up could go to someone more important/

Speaking of sports agents, Dan Uggla’s landed him a spot as the new 2nd baseman for my beloved Atlanta Braves. The Florida Marlins could not afford to keep the power hitting, gold Glove winning, All Star. Or any other decent player, for that matter. Yet the team has been tweeting the arrival of its new players like they are all All Stars. Kind of pitiful, really. But I am happy to have Uggla as a Brave. The team’s power really petered out there at the end.

I cannot think of anything else interesting.

When January Comes: Why American Politics is About to Become Far Worse

It is Election Day in America! Everyone should et out and vote--unless you are planning to vote Democrat. In that case, I hope you will consider cuddling up with your DVDs of The West Wing and quietly sob over the failure of fantasy progressivism as real public policy.

I am sticking with my prediction of 62 new House Republicans and seven new GOP Senators. We may e in for a few surprises, but I suspect they will all go in favor of Republicans. If events turn interesting, I may live blog or at least write up a post or two tonight regarding whatever caught my attention.

But I do not want to talk about that yet. Regardless of the actual numbers, it is safe to say the Republicans are going to have a good night. Ergo, Barack Obama is going to have a ad one. So the real question is what comes next? It is not counting chickens before the eggs have hatched to even declare te Senate lost for Obama even I republicans gain only six or seven seats. They will have enough influence with the Democrats running for reelection in 2012 to curtail much of the Obama agenda.

Which begs the question--what is Obama going to do now?

My prediction is fall apart. He is not the politician Bill Clinton was. He could not make a good enemy out of John Boehner even if Boehner had a firebrand personality like Newt Gingrich’s, as he most certainly does not. The next couple years are not going to be a repeat of ’94-96. None of the players have it I them, least of all Obama.

I am singling him out because he is about to face the biggest opposition of his life and it is very clear he does not know how to handle it. His inexperience at the political game is the key. He was a novelty act in 2008 at ust the right time when the Republican brand was at its lowest. Now we are familiar with im and Republicans are on the rise, albeit by default, since the Democrat brand is tanking. The consequence is that he now has to rely on politicking. But he is no good at it.

He is not yet fighting for his political life. I doubt he will have to. I do not see a primary challenge in his future regardless of what happens. All he has to fear at the moment is an opposition Congress. Yet look at his panic and, more importantly, his reaction. He told Latinos to vote or their enemies would win. E told gay hecklers to attack Republicans instead. He ha blame sagging Democrat fortunes on fearful, stupid voters. He has even divisive an insulting over potential Congressional race losses. How bad will he get when it is his own agenda at stake?

The answer is embarrassingly worse. He does not have it in him to use much tact or savvy when faced with opposition. I say brace yourselves. Obama is going to be addressing smaller an smaller crowds of increasingly progressive admirers who hate the ew conservative majorities and whom he will have to cater to, competently or not. Expect even more divisive, unwise rhetoric. Not to mention a more vicious media propping him up in his endeavor. Celebrate tonight while you can. American olitics is about to get even nastier than it has been in recent years.

My Lack of Enthusiasm Regarding the Midterms

For about two weeks now, half the blogs I follow have been obsessively dissecting Tuesday’s midterm election while the other half’s output has slowed to a trickle with next to no political coverage. I am guessing the latter finds blogging over elections rather than issues tedious. I am in that category myself. Blogging about specific candidates, many of whom will likely fall into irrelevance win or lose, cannot hold my attention. Hence, the lack of political blogging lately from the Eye.

Not that indifference to specific races will stop me from making big picture predictions:

1. The GOP will gain 63 seats in the House.
2. The GOP will gain seven seats in the Senate.
3. Nancy Pelosi will resign with hopes of falling off the radar.
4. Steny Hoyer, who should have been Speaker, will suddenly preach the Gospel of Bi-partisanship.
6. John Boehner will become Speaker. No one will be able to explain exactly why.
7. The excitement will soon pass as gridlock sets in, probably until at least 2012.

In the long term, Barack Obama will be completely flummoxed by his new opposition, even though the Republican house will not be anything impressive. The scenario may be similar to 1994, but the players are not up to it. Say what you wish about their personal politics, ill Clinton was brilliant at politicking itself and newt Ginrich was a hot headed revolutionary rimming with new ides. They lead the troops into some exciting times. Obama and Boehner pale in comparison.

Those two are not the only ones. One of the biggest problems congress faced in general after the last two drubbings the GOP received is a lot of inexperienced rookies they were too green to hold. Hence, you got a lot of emrrassig gaffes at town hall meetings with constituents, classless statements to the press, and a whole lot of them bullied into unwise votes by more experienced Democrat leaders who knew they would be driven out as fast asthey came in, so who cares about their seats? The same problem is going to plague the GOP House.

I do not believe there is an iceberg in the Sahara’s chance that Christine O’Donnell will wi her Senate seat in Delaware because she has said too many dumb things in public. The only reason you know about her is because theSenate is far more high profile than the House. For every O’Donnell ditzy enough to believe she was once a witch because that was the only way she could get a fellow in high school, there are ten Tea Party faorite House candidates whom have ideas just as silly, but will likely win for lack of media attention to them

I am not predicting buyer’s remorse necessarily, but a definite dampening of enthusiasm once reality sets in. How much enthusiasm for the electio can I muster when I believe that way?

What is the Big Deal About Christine O'Donnell?

Seriously, what is the big deal with Christine O’Donnell? Both the left and right sides of the political blogopshere were dominated by posts about her primary victory. It was next to impossible to find any other news to blog about amid all the various fits pundits and bloggers were making over her victory. To which I have to wonder--why?

I chalk much of the left’s trashing of her character ad puritan views on issues like pornography ad masturbation to the general hatred progressives have for women conservatives. In their viewpoint, a woman who is unwilling to slaughter unborn children is not a woman at all and therefore worthy of nothing but scorn. Even casual observers of of the political is well aware of this, even if they would never confess to it. But what about the right?

Let us look at the broad picture first. Delaware is not friendly territory for conservatives. Mike Castle, the presumptive GOP nominee, was a 70 year old with a full fledged record as a RINO. He was just taking a shot at the unlikely prospect of winning the seat. Perhaps he would have been a more viable general election candidate, but only marginally so. Was anyone really excited at the prospect of a 70 year old freshman senator, especially in a left leaning state? Of course not.

Now look at more specific details. Even some Republicans think O’Donnell is a little nutty in her views, particularly regarding sex. I have to confess, the only thing I know about O’Donnell is her appearance on MTV’s Sex in the 90’s regarding her anti-masturbation crusade back in 1996. Watching a clip online yesterday, I was reminded I had seen that episode, either when it first aired or in the umpteen repeats MTV used to schedule. I remember marveling then how attractive she was. In my experience, anti-sex crusaders are usually ugly folks projecting their frustration at not getting laid. So I do not exactly have the most flattering first impression of O’Donnell.

Even if Republican observers are right bout her kookiness, is is not the first wacky candidate the party has nominated to run for statewide office in a hopelessly blue state. Alan Keyes’ career as a hapless senate candidate spans Maryland a couple times and Illinois once. He is someone who is just way too conservative to be running in said states. That does not take into account some of the embarrassingly lieral Republicans throws good money at in hopes that, in the remote chance they when, will not cause too much damage once they are seated.

The bottom line is could do worse than nominate O’Donnell and has may times over. Pulling hir out over it in frustration now seems incredibly dumb.

Lisa Murkowski Concedes Divine Right of Senators

Lisa Murkowski finally conceded the republican nomination for Senate to at party and Sarah Palin backed Joe Miller towards the waning moments of the recount last night. The final stack of ballots would have had to fall in Murkowski’s favor by 55% in order for her to eke out a victory. It did not seem likely and ultimately did not turn out that way, so she gave up her death grip on power.

The conventional wisdom said Miller would win when the absentee ballots were counted because, since Alaska is a solidly Republican state, the people are going to vote for the republican nominee regardless. If a voter is motivated enough to file an absentee ballot in the primary, it is because he has strong emotions about a candidate. Usually, incumbents do not generate such emotions, so absentee voters are either angry at the incumbent or truly excited about the challenger. Whichever the rationale, the newcomer is favored.

But that particular lesson in political cience is not the important one to take away from the Alaska GOP primary or Senate. What you should observe is the desperation with which Murkowski clutched onto power. She was defeated, fair and square, yet she looked into legal options, ruing on other party tickets, and probably considered a Charlie Crist independent run she was blocked from all of them by money, ballot access, or technicalities, but reasons beyond her control were the only ones keeping her from pursuing each one of them until she found one that worked.

Murkowski is a RINO, but for the sake o argument, I am going to consider her a faithful Republican solely because I think all politicians have this aggressive sense of entitlement to power once they have held it for even a small length of time. Progressives wear the idea on their sleeves since they consider being part of the ruling class a holy calling, but it pays to note how fast conservatives will embrace the idea, too. At the expense of the people’s will, no less.

Lisa Murkowski is a Sore Loser

Incumbent Lisa Murkowski narrowly trails opponent Joe Miller for the Republican nomination for Senate. Insiders say she has no shot at winning because she would need 60% of the absetee ballots in order to do so.

While it is conceivable, one wonder why, in a solid Republican state, that many people would bother voting for the incumbent if they are going to vote GOP in the general election anyway? Surely most of those motivated to send in an absentee ballot are doing so because they are either excited about Miller or are not thrilled with Murkowski. Either way, it does not look good for her.

So what is a good RINO to do? Why, run independent, of course.

Not just independent, but on the Alaska Independence Party ticket, which has yet to select a nominee. You may recall that is the party Todd Palin caught flack for being associated with at one point. I will bet you since Miller is a Sarah Palin backed candidate and Democrats have no shot at winning the seat, pundits will forget they ever had a problem with the party as long as Murkowski gets on the ballot.

Linda McMahon Exposes Democrat Snobbery and Hypocrisy

You could not pay me to watch professional wrestling. I think it is The Jerry Spriger Show with spandex. But since I have a long history with comic books and science fiction as well as a allergic reaction to hypocrisy, I try not to judge fans harshly. Nor do I critique politicians for exploiting the fan base of potential voters. The rock showed up at the 2000 Republican National Convention, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton recorded messages for WWE fans during the 2008campaign, and some local wrestlers have shilled for candidates I my home state.

But going back to my allergic reaction to hypocrisy, I do find it annoying the Democrats are now snobbishly attacking the Republican nominee for Senate in Connecticut, former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, for her association with professional wrestling.

It is not like the lady is talking about braining her opponent with a metal chair. McMahon is a smart businesswoman who helped build the WWF/WWE from a regional carnival act to an international business. She knows what running a business is all about. She is also running a respectable, legitimate campaign with tons of cash on hand to do so.

Bottom line: McMahon would make a far less embarrassing senator than baggy pants comedian Al Franken. He has an incredibly difficult time faking class under any circumstances. McMahon has proven she can be appropriately serious when the situation calls for it. Democrats should take note.

Elena Kagan Confirmed by Senate: 63-37

No surprise.

Our most embarrassing politician--and that saying something--Lindsay Graham voted yes, while Kagan's home Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts voted no. Figure that one out.

Kagan joins the Court as a polarizing figure, but she strikes me as your typical bland progressive jurist more interested in suiting her sense of social justice than in accurately interpreting the law. Considering the previously appointed Wise Latia had a case overturned during her confirmation hearings, you have to wonder if Barack Obama has not dumbed down the Court for the ext two or three decades.

The pair are certainly a step down from John Roberts and Samuel Alito in terms of judicial acumen.

Senate Democrats Lack Support to Reform Filibuster Rules

A quiet victory for minority rights, that.

I never supported the idea of ending the so called “nuclear option.” it has been aroud for decades. I its lifetime, it has well served its purpose--tempering the more excited passions of populism.

That is what the Senate was supposed to do in the first place. Senators were originally intended to be intellectual, elder statesmen types appointed by the state legislatures to keep the more prone to populist whims House in check.

The Seventeenth Amendment allowed for the popular election of Senators, so the filibuster is about the only throwback to the Founding Fathers’ original intent.

I hate to sound like an elitist, but I would advise repealing the Seventeenth Amendment today’s Senate is full of a bunch of rich ladies and gents who won statewide popularity contests, not any professional seal of approval. The sheer fact some root loop like Alvin Greene has the nomination for Senate from a major state party is enough to make one consider getting rid of popular elections for the office.

The Elena Kagan Confirmation Hearings

I have not commented on the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings because I am not watching it. Much like Al “Baggy Pants Funnyman” Franken, I have trouble staying awake during such things. Law school was a long time ago. Anything that ight produce flashbacks of those dark days of trial brief and oral arguments is to be avoided like the Ebola virus.

Let us embrace reality. Yes, Kagan is a progressive whose judicial philosophy I, as a strict constructionist, am not going to like. She would replace John Paul Stevens, another judicial progressive I did not like. When she is approved--and she will. Even with Robert Byrd no longer being in the Senate to bloc a filibuster, I do not see oe happenig anyway--she will pretty much be swapping out.

I predict a lot of the same 5-4 decisions along ideological lines with the occasional Kelo or Casey extreme disappointment with Kagan on the Court.

If anyone honestly thinks her anti-military or pro-abortion stance is going to torpedo her confirmation, I would be interested in hearing why. I would also like to know if anyone fears her presence will tilt the Court farther to the left than Stevens managed. Please feel free to explain in the comments. Perhaps you will give me food for thought that may result in a more thorough follow up post.

UPDATE: Scratch that last paragraph. Kagan was asked a question about Twilight. There is nothing you can say to get me to further comment on this farce.

Robert Byrd (1917-2010)

De mortuis nil nisi bonum.

Robert Byrd (1917-2010)

De mortuis nil nisi bonum.

Financial Reform Bill Finalized; No One Has Any Clue What It Does

A 2,000 page financial reform bill which will completely change how money flows through the economy even though no one has any clue how it works has been finalized.

The logical question to ask is why pass a bill that no one knows anything about since, in ignorance of the bill's effect, no one has any idea whether it will make things better or worse. but sice i am certain the answer would make blood splurt out of my nose, let us just skip it like everyone else apparently has.

Oh, wait--we know the bill gives thefeds more power to seize financial institutions. I imagine that is the only part they were interested in anyway.

Carry on, folks. They will make therest up as they go along.

Financial Reform Bill Finalized; No One Has Any Clue What It Does

A 2,000 page financial reform bill which will completely change how money flows through the economy even though no one has any clue how it works has been finalized.

The logical question to ask is why pass a bill that no one knows anything about since, in ignorance of the bill's effect, no one has any idea whether it will make things better or worse. but sice i am certain the answer would make blood splurt out of my nose, let us just skip it like everyone else apparently has.

Oh, wait--we know the bill gives thefeds more power to seize financial institutions. I imagine that is the only part they were interested in anyway.

Carry on, folks. They will make therest up as they go along.

Alvin Greene Has a Felony Charge Pending

Looks like I am definitely off the hook with that fried earthworm. Yesterday, the democrats nominated Alvin Greene, an unknown who has no website or raised any money, to run against Republican Jim DeMint.

But what Greene lacks in money and recognition, he makes up for in felony charges. The Democratic Part chairman has already asked Greene to suspend his campaign less than 24 hours after winning the nomination.

What did supposedly Greene do? He allegedly showed obscene photos to underaged University of South Carolina student back in November.

Frankly, I do not know why Democrats would not want him to run anyway. He fits right in with the rest of the Democrats in South Carolina: crooked, shortsighted, and hapless. Who better to carry their torch in a futile effort to unseat DeMint?

Alvin Greene Has a Felony Charge Pending

Looks like I am definitely off the hook with that fried earthworm. Yesterday, the democrats nominated Alvin Greene, an unknown who has no website or raised any money, to run against Republican Jim DeMint.

But what Greene lacks in money and recognition, he makes up for in felony charges. The Democratic Part chairman has already asked Greene to suspend his campaign less than 24 hours after winning the nomination.

What did supposedly Greene do? He allegedly showed obscene photos to underaged University of South Carolina student back in November.

Frankly, I do not know why Democrats would not want him to run anyway. He fits right in with the rest of the Democrats in South Carolina: crooked, shortsighted, and hapless. Who better to carry their torch in a futile effort to unseat DeMint?

Arlen Specter's Political Career Sputters to an End

I am not certain at the moment whether there is an anti-incumbent or anti-Democrat wave coming over the electorate or if it means the Tea Party is on the rise, so I am going to hold off on big picture commentary for a while. But I cannot let yesterday’s primary results pass without comment on Arlen Specter.

In some ways, I have to give him credit. He was well into his 70’s when he was beig treated for a brain tumor and barely missed a beat. I am 47 years his junior and just got laid out by hernia surgery often done on an out patient basis, so I have to give him some credit for being physically tough.

Politically…that is another matter. I never cared much for the RINO. He stabbed too many people in the back over the years devoting himself exclusively to staying in power. One cannot continually hook one’s wagon to whoever is currently winning and expect to ride all the way to victory every time. One has to show some loyalty, even in a profession as infested with careerist sociopath as politics.

Specter tried to cling to his career by switching parties to avoid a certain defeat I the Republican primary and wound up being defeated in the Democratic primary he is eighty years old. He could have just retired as a Republican and probably had some respect as an elder statesman. But no, he had to be a selfish backstabber. Now he has paid the price for it.

Here is some advice for specter from Alanis Morissette:

Arlen Specter's Political Career Sputters to an End

I am not certain at the moment whether there is an anti-incumbent or anti-Democrat wave coming over the electorate or if it means the Tea Party is on the rise, so I am going to hold off on big picture commentary for a while. But I cannot let yesterday’s primary results pass without comment on Arlen Specter.

In some ways, I have to give him credit. He was well into his 70’s when he was beig treated for a brain tumor and barely missed a beat. I am 47 years his junior and just got laid out by hernia surgery often done on an out patient basis, so I have to give him some credit for being physically tough.

Politically…that is another matter. I never cared much for the RINO. He stabbed too many people in the back over the years devoting himself exclusively to staying in power. One cannot continually hook one’s wagon to whoever is currently winning and expect to ride all the way to victory every time. One has to show some loyalty, even in a profession as infested with careerist sociopath as politics.

Specter tried to cling to his career by switching parties to avoid a certain defeat I the Republican primary and wound up being defeated in the Democratic primary he is eighty years old. He could have just retired as a Republican and probably had some respect as an elder statesman. But no, he had to be a selfish backstabber. Now he has paid the price for it.

Here is some advice for specter from Alanis Morissette:

Senate Candidate Richard Blumenthal Lied About Vietnam Service

Moron. Not only is it a despicable act to lie about military service, in this day and age of 24 hour news and blogs, it is stupid to think no one will ever discover the truth.

Presumably, this revelation will kill his chances, but Blumenthal plans to stay in the race anyway.

Senate Candidate Richard Blumenthal Lied About Vietnam Service

Moron. Not only is it a despicable act to lie about military service, in this day and age of 24 hour news and blogs, it is stupid to think no one will ever discover the truth.

Presumably, this revelation will kill his chances, but Blumenthal plans to stay in the race anyway.