Mine Safety The Chicago Tribune
ArchPundit
Mine Safety
The Chicago Tribune did a great series on Mine Safety. Remember, the administration is trying to cut funding for monitoring of mine compliance.
ArchPundit
PRETTTTTYYYYYY PLEEEEAAAAAASEEEEEE Josh Marshall reports
PRETTTTTYYYYYY PLEEEEAAAAAASEEEEEE
Josh Marshall reports rumors that the Torch will pull out of his reelection campaign. The seat is lost, now the Torch can get lost.
Ay, Ay, Ay, Goodbye…..please….
More Torch Dousing Report here
More Torch Dousing
Report here sounds positive, and possible replacements including Menendez, who could mount a quick and successful challenge.
Update:
This story indidcates that Torch might have to resign to get someone else on the ballot. Will he eat his pride for the party? One can hope.
Counterspin Central claims this is bad for the Dems. I respectfully disagree. Torch is going to lose anyway, and if he can figure out a way to bow out and get someone else on the ballot, the Dems do better. The best choice is Menendez for the long term benefit of the Democratic Party, or Lautenberg to simply rub Torch’s arrogance in his own face. He once told Lautenberg he (Torch) would cut his (Lautenberg’s) balls off. Lautenberg would probably start off with name recognition greater than Forrester and have a good shot this late in the game.
The last good thing Torch did was to support Jennifer Harbury. Other than that he is a wholly owned subsidiary of drug companies.
For those who don’t remember the many faults of Torch, he tried to push McGreevey out of the way for the 2001 Governor’s race. He was cocky and arrogant and started telling local chairman to make way for him. They shot back that McGreevey had worked his ass off since his loss to Whitman in ’97 and they wouldn’t leave him. Bully for them. Now bring on Lautenberg or Menendez.
Update 2:
NPR is reporting he may resign–meaning he is thinking of who to get on the ballot.
That is a stab and
That is a stab and twist for Mr. Torch
Josh Marshall notes the intense dislike for the Torch. You live by hardball, you die by hardball. Torch is getting nothing more than he deserved. Perhaps I should send my Claritin bills to him since he extended the patent with my former home state twit, John Aschcroft.
He was, errrrrr…is arrogant, obnoxious and everything Democrats say they hate in the form of a Democrat. Save Jennifer Harbury, he should be remembered as a cautionary tale.
Moderates on the Block The
Moderates on the Block
The NY Times has a good article on Morella and the future of the Republican Party. The Democratic Party is largely run from the center. Partisans can dispute this, but comparing the leadership (especially with Bonior gone) demonstrates the difference. One of the larger problems in the Republican Party is no one doing anything about the problem as many in the 80s did in the Democratic Party. Boehlerts, Shays, Leach and others exist, but there is no corresponding DLC. Adding to the thesis of the Emerging Democratic Majority, this bodes poorly for Republicans in the long run. Not only are they moving away from the center, they aren’t doing anything to moderate themselves.
Historical Air Pollution The Times
Historical Air Pollution
The Times does a good job describing the historical patterns of air pollution. It is a good rejoinder to the more chicken-little approaches to environmental regulation on both sides. However, it also demonstrates the remarkable effectiveness of government regulation.
Who’d a thunk it, Broder
Who’d a thunk it, Broder is a Goo-Goo
A goo-goo with a good column on a recent report by Brookings on hiring of appointees.
Cruz Case Redux The Sun-Times
Cruz Case Redux
The Sun-Times does a good job covering the details of the Cruz case and how it relates to Jim Ryan and Birkett.
While I’m happy to make fun of the Illinois Circular Firing Squad Team, the particular slate put up this year is disturbing in relation to their actions in the Cruz case.
Vilsack, Texieria and Judis all
Vilsack, Texieria and Judis all up
The Des Moines Register reports Vilsack is opening up a lead.
File Under: Life is rough
File Under: Life is rough all over
The Sun-Times offers up a tear jerker about affluent districts having to pinch pennies–er sort of.