2003

Opposition to O’Hare

ArchPundit August 13, 2003 No Comments

Jeff Trigg makes an excellent point about O’Hare expansion and the sleazy contracts that will likely be issued. As it stands now, there will be far fewer safeguards against the contracts being legitimate.

However, I’ll blame this on Fitzgerald because instead of working a federal bill that would have demanded some accountability and put Durbin in a corner to support such measures, Peter has refused to offer any constructive way to expand O’Hare while keeping it clean. O’Hare expansion is vital and he thinks it shouldn’t happen. So now it will happen and happen with few safeguards.

Why Dick Won’t And Shouldn’t Be President

ArchPundit August 12, 2003 No Comments

Steve Chapman has a great column on Dick’s protectionism and the political consequences.

In presidential politics, the only thing worse than not getting the AFL-CIO’s endorsement is getting it. The last two candidates to get its blessing early in the race were Walter Mondale and Al Gore, neither of whom spent the following four years being serenaded with "Hail to the Chief." Bill Clinton won even though the labor organization didn’t get behind him until he already had the 1992 nomination sewn up.

Gephardt was one of the most responsive Members of Congress I’ve ever had–up there with Jim Leach which is high praise from me. And his staff say he is truly a great guy, which I don’t doubt.

I’m sympathetic to some sort of environmental riders on some free trade agreements despite that I am unsure if they can be effective. Howard Dean has been discussing this issue in relation to how he disagrees with Robert Rubin over including such protections. I tend to side with Rubin thinking they won’t do much good, but also recognize the problem.

That being said, free trade benefits the poor in the developing world more than anything else. Having been in Nicaragua just post embargo and their strong desire not for aid from the U.S., but for trade brought home the importance of this. Secondly, it benefits consumers. Third, free trade stops the U.S. from favoring some businesses over others. Despite cheaper labor in the U.S. many of Chicago’s candy makers are moving to Canada because the cost of sugar is closer to world market rates. But the US chooses to support corn producers because of ADM: Supermarket to the Politicians.

Gephardt is a decent man and I have a great deal of respect for him, but I can’t endorse in a primary someone so mediocre on such an issue.

It’s Like I Wrote It

ArchPundit August 12, 2003 No Comments

The Trib covers forest policy and points out all three major problems with fire and forest policy.

1) We are subsidizing timber–often to environmental harm
2) We are using proctectionist policies to exclude cheaper Canadian lumber and thus hurting consumers
3) We are protecting homes in high risk areas, despite that they are in high risk areas

Who says good environmental policy is opposed to good economic policy.

Tari Renner in the 11th

ArchPundit August 12, 2003 No Comments

Tari Renner is running to unseat Jerry Weller in the 11th CD.

Several people I know speak highly of Tari Renner, making him highly unlikely to do much besides be a gnat bothering Weller. Other than Mike Kelleher, there aren’t many Democrats who have made strong runs in the area and with redistricting it only got harder. Interestingly, Kelleher is in the 11th now as he was redistricted into it by less than a block.

Weller pushed to have his District come south so his parents could vote for him. I still can’t believe we have a vanity CD of this nature and few redistricting stories surprise me anymore.

How Did I Miss This

ArchPundit August 12, 2003 No Comments

Rich Miller has two relatively recent stories up that I haven’t commented upon, but the best is What’s Good for the Goose…

WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE… (excerpt) Mayors and city councils throughout the state have been complaining about the new fee on wastewater discharge. The fees, running as much as $10 per resident, have hit small farming communities particularly hard.

Most communities are paying under protest, most are furious that they didn’t find out about the fees until they received a bill from the state, most are also disgusted that the fees will be immediately transferred into the state’s General Revenue Fund and not spent on improving or inspecting the facilities, and most are also complaining that the Metropolitan Water and Sanitary District’s fees are capped at a very low rate.

But the southern Illinois town of Hillsboro found a way to get even – and make a small profit in the bargain. . . .

But, after Hillsboro received a bill from the state for $21,000, angry town leaders decided to slap a wastewater fee on the [state] prison – for $24,000. from

Heh.

Also good is his coverage of the Illinois Commerce Commission–go see it at his site, but it essentially reports on a hidden news story in which the current ICC Members are pushing down refunds to consumers. How would you react if George Bush had appointed such a commission? I thought so.

Calling Jeff Trigg

ArchPundit August 12, 2003 No Comments

Errr…I’m all for easy ballot access, but this is ridiculous.

Just kidding in one sense, but it opens up an interesting question of how to have orderly elections that discourage candidates who aren’t serious.

Is There Such A Thing As A Satirical Lawsuit?

ArchPundit August 12, 2003 No Comments

Because the suit filed by Fox News against Al Franken might qualify–after all being unsuccessful at being funny isn’t a barrier to calling something satire.

Fox said in the suit that Franken flew into a rage near a table of Fox News personalities at a press correspondents’ dinner in April and acted "either intoxicated or deranged."

It said Franken has become "increasingly unfunny."

"Franken is neither a journalist nor a television news personality. He is not a well-respected voice in American politics; rather, he appears to be shrill and unstable," the suit said.

Fox claims it registered the phrase "fair and balanced" in 1997 and that it "was created as a specific alternative to what its founders perceived as a liberal bias in the American media."

Franken worked as a comedy writer in the 1970s and has appeared frequently on "Saturday Night Live."

But I’m sure Al will thank them for boosting his sales…

It’s the Gay Supremacy Hour

ArchPundit August 8, 2003 No Comments

Brent Bozell is a moron.

I’m moving on…

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 …