August 2003

The Ashcroft

ArchPundit August 8, 2003 No Comments

We got our priorities straight, yes we do, let’s attack pornography while fighting a war against terrorism. Hell, let’s be like the extremists we are fighting and worry a lot about what people do in the private lives!

For a second, I thought maybe Ashcroft hadn’t completely lost his mind (not that he ever had one) and was going after child porn-a worthy endeavor. Or maybe the organized crime connections to the porn industry.

Nope.

"Today’s indictment marks an important step in the Department of Justice’s strategy for attacking the proliferation of adult obscenity," Ashcroft said. The department will "continue to focus our efforts on targeted obscenity prosecutions that will deter others from producing and distributing obscene material."

I have an idea for a sex toy that I’m making widely available today to anyone who wants to make it–and you don’t have to credit me or pay royalities—a big old dildo named Ashcroft.

The only other upside the great satire it brings. Royko wrote one of his finest columns on if pornography is so bad, why isn’t anyone watching the members of the Meese Commission who watched so much of it to come to their conclusions? huh?

Issa and The Horse’s Head

ArchPundit August 8, 2003 No Comments

Josh Marshall captures the essence behind Darryl Issa’s withdrawal from the California Gubernatorial Campaign:

According to press reports, Issa had to fight back tears when making his announcement today. Now at first I figured Issa was tearing up because he’d spent such a big chunk of change on what’s turning out to be someone else’s party. But then I realized that wasn’t it at all. He was just thinking how much more money he’s going to have to spend to replace that sheet set and mattress and that fancy duvet because of the mess from that decapitated horse head he found in his bed this morning.

I mean, where do you think the call that got Issa outta this race came from? Yeah, me too …

Coming Attractions….

ArchPundit August 8, 2003 No Comments

I’m setting up a page that will be a sort of Go To place for the 2004 elections in Illinois. It isn’t quite ready to unveil, but it will be less blog like, more resource like. There are some great resources out there already and they’ll be highlighted. If you know of any, drop me a comment.

Also, thanks to Marie and Jeff for dropping comments on the Senate Roll Call–I’m going to use those and probably on Monday. It will be here, but tied into the new page. I’ll have another comment thread first.

There will be some new stuff today, but expect the site to be pretty slow until Monday.

Missouri Post at the Political State Report

ArchPundit August 6, 2003 No Comments

I’ve guest blogged for Missouri at the Political State Report covering the curse put on Mayor Slay and recent reform efforts within the Saint Louis Public Schools.

Smite the Mayor

ArchPundit August 5, 2003 No Comments

Yes, the SLPS Board chaos just notched up another level with a letter from Rochell Moore to Mayor Francis Slay that places a curse on the Mayor (registration required). I’m not kidding.

The open letter, sent to the press and signed by board member Rochell Moore, is filled with Biblical references. It says the Lord would smite Slay and anyone who helps him because of the position he has taken against the city’s public schools. It says, in part, that "the angel of the Lord shall pursue Francis Slay until he perishes."

I believe the full document might be available tomorrow, I’ll link to it once it is.

That’s 40,000 Hits

ArchPundit August 5, 2003 No Comments

Thanks everyone–I find it a bit bizarre that I have had that many in less than a year. It looks like the visit from was either
Daily Kos, to whom I owe a ton of traffic overall, or Crooked Timber which has also sent a lot of traffic my way. Thanks to both Markos and Henry and the gang.

Oh, and don’t let me forget those anonymous tipsters out there! They make this site interesting.

One Shortfall that Wouldn’t Have Happened Under G-Ryan

ArchPundit August 4, 2003 No Comments

Pharmacists would get their bills paid–why? George Ryan was at one time a pharmacist.

* The average member responding to the survey is owed over $181,000 in back Medicaid reimbursements from the state. Some independent pharmacies are owed as much as $1.8 million. According to an accompanying article in the Belleville News-Democrat, about 20 percent are owed between $50,000 and $99,000, and another 28 percent are owed between $100,000 and $199,000.

* The average waiting period for state payment is now 110 days – about four months. A year ago, it was 56 days.

The pharmacists say they are being paid much more slowly than hospitals and nursing homes, which have more political pull in Springfield. They don’t expect to be paid again until the end of August for expenses incurred through June.

The state borrowed $750 million to pay off its backlog of Medicaid bills, which triggered matching federal money. But that still left the state $500 million short of paying off its entire backlog, and, as it turned out, the vast majority of that $500 million was owed to pharmacists.

That hurts small businesses especially and such a practice is wrong.

Not much analysis, but the Percentages are Fascinating

ArchPundit August 4, 2003 No Comments

Crain’s runs a column on the primary outlook for the 2004 Senate race.

What is most interesting is that 47% of the GOP vote will come from the lower 96 counties. The rural-urban split is certainly showing itself here and it is problematic for the GOP if it allows such places to dominate the race. They need to concentrate on attracting and retaining collar county and suburban voters to win.

The Big SLIDE!

ArchPundit August 4, 2003 No Comments

Marie has a pic up of the Big Slide at the Illinois State Fair.

Looks Like Rauschenberger is In

ArchPundit August 4, 2003 No Comments

Bernard Schoenburg is reporting his campaign staff is taking shape,

DAVE KELM of Springfield has been tapped to be campaign manager for the U.S. Senate bid of state Sen. STEVE RAUSCHENBERGER, R-Elgin.

"He’s the one right now with the most elected experience, and the most, I think, knowledge of the issues," Kelm, 34, said of Rauschenberger’s entrance into the field of Republicans interested in the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. PETER FITZGERALD, R-Ill.

Rauschenberger just won a four-year term to the Senate, where he’s known as an appropriations whiz. He’s also proven willing to speak plainly about his differences with folks, including Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH.

Kelm lost a nonpartisan race for Springfield Ward 6 alderman last spring to Ald. MARK MAHONEY and was laid off from his job at what was the Department of Nuclear Safety. He said Rauschenberger planned to file paperwork to establish an exploratory committee this week for a possible 2004 federal run.

I think Rauschenberger and Borling are the strongest general election candidates for the Republicans. As a note on Borling, he just announced he is pro-choice.

Given the nature of the Republican Party I’d say that is generally a liability in the primary, but with a fractured field it might play well to be the only pro-choice candidate.