Call It A Comeback
From the New York Times today:
Although no Democratic incumbents retired, four Republican incumbents in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas chose not to seek re-election.
Oops.
Showing up for a rare guest appearance in my hometown paper, Dick Devine makes a reasonable case. Archpundit is against the death penalty on religious grounds. I understand good people disagree, and Dick Devine is good people. Because of that, I think he is right about clemency hearings. Mass clemency is a bad idea because it subverts the law and it will produce a backlash against any meaningful reform. Commutations ought to go through a process.
The problem is Blago and J-Ry, well let’s be honest about who matters–Blago, has shown no committment to serious death penalty reform. Devine could have solved this problem by running for governor. Unfortunately he bowed out even though Costello promised him Southern Illinois.
Perle goes out on a limb that should collapse underneath him. This is inexcusable garbage towards one of our closest allies. Clinton didn’t even go this far when he inappropriately supported Labor over Likud in Israel. Either Perle is “off the reservation” and needs to be severed from the administration or the administration needs to get a grip. For an administration that prides itself on discipline this is assinine.
Via Eschaton
And has another good column. He makes an important point about the role of the President and his language. Whipping up the wingnuts might be good domestically in the short run, but it is bad for the United States in the long run.
Keith Olberman takes on AVOT. I’m actually for the war on terrorism and the potential war in Iraq, but I’d appreciate being added to the AVOT list. I figure it is always a good thing to be considered a subversive by such windbags.
I’m glad someone else has my perverse fascination with religious wingnuts. Via Scoobie Davis Jack Chick’s latest. Can you say hack! Good, I knew you could.
Steve Neal finds the rock Blago has hidden Quinn under.
Groan…so they can find a job outside that doesn’t involve taking my stuff. Mitch Daniels disagrees.
The Trib continues its editorials on the Death Penalty.
The New Jersey Supreme Court just sided with the Democratic Party and ordered Toricelli replaced with Lautenberg. The decision is here.
Overseas and military ballots are given precedence and the Dems have to pay. The decision was 7-0 so I imagine this is inline with how the New Jersey Courts have dealt with similar situations in the past.
Republicans are claiming they will take this to the Federal Courts, but it is hard to imagine what the Federal Courts would be asked to decide. For the life of my I can’t figure out what federal question is involved. I don’t see any due process or equal protection claims of any substance.
ArchPundit