Centerfield

Dem Win All About Complacency

UPDATE: OK, screed revoked in favor of an eye-rolling - see the thread.

Here we go again. The (D) win was all about complacency, because everyone knows we Dems are just complacent, wimpy bin-Laden-servants:

In the most affluent, and leisured age in the history of Western civilization--never more powerful in its military reach, never more prosperous in our material bounty--we have become complacent, and then scared of the most recent face of barbarism from the primordial extremists of the Middle East.

He must've missed the bits about half the new Dems in power coming from Indiana and other red states, and about Murtha being defeated for House leadership. Maybe he should be less complacent about paying attention to what Ds are actually doing instead of just lumping us all in as antiwar.

And, if Western Civilization depended solely on the Republican Party, then why were they so, er, complacent? I mean, isn't that why y'all lost?

A partial list of GOP complacency:

War on Christmas Update

The forecast calls for everyone to go into high dudgeon. Volleys back and forth. Here's a salvo:

Parental Alert for Video Games

This list helps parents identify the games they ought not buy their kids if they are concerned about video gore, sex, misanthropy, misogyny, and so on. Ironically, it probably also provides a nice shopping list for amped-up adolescents who have clueless parents, indepependent means, or a modicum of savvy and ingenuity.

Parents Don't Buy/Kids these are the most over-the-top list:
Gangs of London
The Sopranos
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Reservoir Dogs
Mortal Kombat: Unchained
Scarface: The World is Yours
The Godfather: Mob Wars
Saints Row
Dead Rising
Just Cause

Parents ought to buy/Not for the Cool Kids List:
Lego Star Wars II : The Original Trilogy — * Rated E 10+
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 — * *Rated E
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz — Rated E
Roboblitz — Rated E 10+
Madden Football '07 — Rated E
LocoRoco — Rated E
Dance Factory — Rated E
Brain Age — E
Nancy Drew: Danger by Design — Rated E
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: The March of the Minis — Rated E

So Much For Obama '08

In case his skin color and lack of experience are not enough to doom a presidential run, the guy's full name is Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.

Hurricane season is almost over!

Well, this coming Thursday is the end of hurricane season. Fortunately for my state and others, this season was nothing like last season. Barring any last minute surprises, the total number of hurricanes was 5, with another 4 named tropical depressions, a total of 9 named storm systems.

We had an official prediction thread last December. Those who were so confident in their doom and gloom scenario should remember that the historical data (which we argued about at length here) suggests wide variability from year to year in the number and intensity of Atlantic storms. But those Centerfielders who predicted a record number of storms this year shouldn't feel too bad; the experts were wrong, too.

Hurricane scientists say that the number of storms was muted by extra dust from the Sahara, greater pressure from El Nino, and an eastern movement of a high pressure zone which normally hangs around Bermuda.

Chocolate - Best Eaten Room Temperature Or Cold?

The Profesora likes her chocolate room temperature, so it dissolves quickly in her mouth for the greatest immediate enjoyment. I like my chocolate cold, because I prefer the drawn-out, delayed enjoyment of having it warm in my mouth before it dissolves. Also, we each prefer the flavor in that different way.

"It just doesn't taste as good cold," she protests.

We heard a chocolate lover on the Food Channel agree with the Profesora.

How about you guys?

Republican Senator Calls for Phased Troop Withdrawal From Iraq

In yet another rebuke to the ongoing war in Iraq, Chuck Hagel, Republican Senator from Nebraska, has written an op-ed for the Washington Post in which he calls for a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq and delivers his harshest critique to date of this war:

The time for more U.S. troops in Iraq has passed. We do not have more troops to send and, even if we did, they would not bring a resolution to Iraq. Militaries are built to fight and win wars, not bind together failing nations. We are once again learning a very hard lesson in foreign affairs: America cannot impose a democracy on any nation -- regardless of our noble purpose.

We have misunderstood, misread, misplanned and mismanaged our honorable intentions in Iraq with an arrogant self-delusion reminiscent of Vietnam. Honorable intentions are not policies and plans. Iraq belongs to the 25 million Iraqis who live there. They will decide their fate and form of government . . .

And the clincher:

The United States must begin planning for a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq. The cost of combat in Iraq in terms of American lives, dollars and world standing has been devastating. We've already spent more than $300 billion there to prosecute an almost four-year-old war and are still spending $8 billion per month. The United States has spent more than $500 billion on our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And our effort in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, partly because we took our focus off the real terrorist threat, which was there, and not in Iraq.

Chuck Hagel's outspokeness in criticizing the Iraq War is nothing new. Last June, he delivered a speech on the Senate floor in which he criticized both Democrats and Republicans for politicizing the Iraq War and took specific aim at members of his own party for resorting to "focus group tested buzzwords and phrases like 'cut-and-run.'" And last August, he appeared on Fox News to defend his criticism of the Bush administration and took Chris Wallace to task for questioning his loyalties to the Republican Party.

Open Football Thread

I'm hoping the Texas Longhorns beat the Aggies.

So what happened at K State? Well, of course, K State is a good team, with a thoughtful coach.

I noticed at the beginning of the season that the Horns' new QB, Colt McCoy, is fairly similar to a predecessor of his that got lots of yardage, one Major Applewhite (including hard-to-live-up=to names).

K State noticed, too, and brought the same system they used to beat Applewhite a few times: LOTS of really good blitzing, successfully putting him in the dirt time after time.

On the O side, they took careful advantage of Longhorn injuries to pass the ball.

Hopefully McCoy will get better at scampering than Applewhite did; IMHO, he'll never be as good at that as Vince Young is, but Applewhite never got good because he had an early ACL and always had running troubles after that.

I'm only miidly worried that the Aggies'll capitalize on that - it takes a really good and focused D to get past the Horns' O-line. The Horns have had an excellent O-line since, well, Applewhite. The Aggies never beat Applewhite except once when he played sick.

Open Tasty, Dead Fowl Thread

After much discussion of eating at a restaurant today, we're being conventional and doing the turkey thing. And not-stuffing and gravy and cranberries. And, of course, the best bit - the pie.

Just got back from a long bike ride along some nice bike trails I found by Google Maps' satellite feature. I love Google Maps.

In the midst of a civil war

In the midst of the Civil War Abraham Lincoln declared that Thanksgiving should be celebrated each year in late November.

In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity...peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict;...No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy...(We) fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

And may it be so this year. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

The Moose

When The Moose said he was going into hibernation last week, I said:

Pure but reasonable speculation--the Moose, a seasoned Beltway/Congressional pro staffer, has found some fresh employment inside the Beltway with the new Congress.

I told you so.

Game On

Last Sunday on This Week, Senator McCain stated his position on gay marriage. IMO it is the same position he took in 2000 and the same position he has taken since, which is that he personally opposes gay marriage but believes the issue should be left up to the states. He also stated his support for Civil Unions and has in the past opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment. All in all this seems to be the mainstream position of the day, and the one that is taken by most elected officials who are closest to the middle.

McCain's recent statements have earned him some early campaign shots from Governor Mitt Romney who opposes gay marriage and supports an amendment to the Constitution that would ban it, or at least he does now that he is running for President.

Romney recently stated:

"Look, if somebody says they're in favor of gay marriage, I respect that view. If someone says -- like I do -- that I oppose same-sex marriage, I respect that view.... But those who try and pretend to have it both ways, I find it to be disingenuous."

This is one big reason I will not mark my ballot for Mitt under any circumstance in the primary or general election, the other is that he is the most greasy of the Republican contenders. Mitt is the George W. Bush of the 2008 elections in that he is attempting to take a complex issue and explain it to the American people like we are a bunch of idiots, and we have had enough.

McCain's position isn't disingenuous, and it isn't having it both ways. In fact, it is in line with current policy under the Defense of Marriage Act that leaves the issue up to the states. The same Defense of Marriage Act that was passed by a conservative Republican Congress.

What gets to me the most is that Romney's obvious pander is just the first of many rhetorical shots that we will see from the right in an attempt to label McCain what he is not, a liberal. When you think about it, McCain's position is historically consistent with Conservative Republican principles that value state right's, while Mitt and social conservatives are proposing government over the individual.

Let me make this logic clear. They see a problem and are proposing a government solution to the problem by pushing for the biggest regulations of them all, an amendment to the Constitution. Why are they doing this? To stop activist Judges from redifining marriage, so they say, yet that has only happened in states where voters immediately turned around and voted to ban gay marriage. In fact, I don't remember a state where the issue has come up that has voted in favor of legalizing marriage for gay couples. Seems sort of knee-jerk to me, and we are supposed to believe that John McCain is the liberal.

For the record, I agree with the Senator that the issue should be left up to the states, but support gay marriage where he opposes it. However, I can tell the difference between a politician that takes an ideologically consistent stand on an issue and one that is taking a stand solely for political gain.

McCain's Call for More Troops

Much has been made of Senator McCain's recent call for and additional 20,000 troops in Iraq, which really he has been saying for going on three years. I agreed with him from the beginning that we didn't have enough troops to adequately prepare for the post-Iraq invasion phase of the war, or as Tully puts it, the nation building that has gone on after the war. I also believe the Senator makes a lot of sense when he says we should be sweeping and holding ground rather than leaving in those areas that insurgencies (and I know we are not calling them that anymore) have held. However, after discussing this issue through the years on this site, I have come to some conclusions.

1. We don't have the troops to increase our numbers in Iraq even if we wanted to, and;
2. Even if we did, the difference it would make is not clear.

On one front, I like what McCain is doing. He is quite possibly the only politician in Washington D.C. that is still talking about victory in Iraq rather than a reasonable solution that justifies failure. Furthermore, his call for more troops goes to the core of what I love about the man in that he often makes his case regardless of its popularity with the American public. That been said, I can't help but wonder if this is an attempt by a Presidential candidate to please the base of his party and rally the troops here at home for the primaries, only to jump on the withdrawal band wagon once he can claim he has "exercised all of his options" and has no other choice.

Don't get me wrong, I hope McCain is right. Those who would argue that we need to have a political and not a military solution in Iraq are simply ignoring history IMO. One has never happened without the other, and to rely solely on politics will only mean that we will absolutely fail to complete the mission in Iraq. I hope we do have enough troops to send more and I do think that the best goal is outright victory, as I believe it is vital in regards to our foreign policy and position in the world. I'm just not convinced it is possible and am not willing to watch Americans die continuing to hope for what is never going to happen. This country has done that once before and we do not need to go there again.

Kos Looks Worried

Markos seems to be worried about the reality that the Democrats took control of Congress because his party moved to the center, not to the left, and his true colors are starting to show. He lashes out at Blue Dog Democrats and trips his way through a post on the subject...

First, he states:

Out of 29 Democrats that have won thus far (barring further recounts), a grand total of five might be ideologically lined up with the Blue Dogs...

Second:

I've just heard that Patrick Murphy in PA-08 will join the Blue Dems. Even if the Blue Dogs get 10 new members out of the 30+ new Democrats (which include pickups and Dems replacing retiring Dems), that's still not "most if not all".

Third:

Ah, I realize I misunderstood Browder's point -- it's true, our 15-seat majority in Congress probably wouldn't exist without white Southern Democrats in the House. There's more than 15 of them (though not much more).

Let's see, that is 5 to 10 to 15 all in one blog post.

The biggest shocker, in a post that could only be assessed as damage control from the Netroot Coordinator in Chief, is his statement that all but suggests Democrats should abandon the 50 state strategy that the Kosites pushed aggressively upon the election of Howard Dean as DNC Chair...

He states:

We don't want to abandon the South and we won't. But the short-term path for a Democratic progressive majority runs through our coastal strongholds, and then through the swing Midwest and purpling Mountain West. The South is a long-term reclamation project.

In other words, let's hold off on electing Democrats that might not be as liberal as we like them here in Berkeley. One must wonder after reading this if Chairman Dean and his troops are truly in line with one another? Kos seems to be lashing out at the Blue Dogs and supporting an ideologically narrow Democratic Party, while Howard seems to be embracing those voters who drive pick-up trucks with confederate flags on them and accepting the reality that there is such a thing as a pro-life Democrat.

Reading Kos's comments, seeing Nancy get trounced by her own caucus in the Majority Leader's race, watching the debate over who should chair the Intelligence Committee, and listening to his own party laugh at the new Ways and Mean Chairman's idea to reinstitute the draft, one must wonder if the weeds are starting to expose the cracks in the pavement? Political power is a difficult thing to manage, indeed.

A Real War On Christmas

Seeing bk's recent great post made me sit up and notice when I read last week about a real War on Christmas. Soldiers were actually even sent to stop the that nasty Christmas. It wasn't just a media invention to bring eyeballs.

It was in Britain, during the reign of Oliver Cromwell, a military dictator who seized power in the English Civil War.

Cromwell was a Puritan, and alot of Puritans helped Cromwell get to power; he reciprocated once he got to power. From Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Volume 2:

The feast days of the Church, regarded as superstitious indulgennces, were replaced by a monthly fast day. Christmas excited the most fervent hostility of these fanatics. Parliament was deeply concerned at the liberty which it gave to carnal and sensual delights. Soldiers were sent round London on Christmas Day before dinnertime to enter private houses without warrants and seize meat cooking in all kitchens and ovens.

As the Profesora said, when soldiers seize your Christmas meat, now, that's a War on Christmas!

They also established a system of fines for swearing, graded by rank, and tore down Maypoles all over the country "lest old village dances around them lead to immorality or at least to levity." (gasp!) Walking abroad on the Sabbath, unless to go to Church, was punished.

Of course, Parliament during Cromwell's regime was selected more by Cromwell than by the people. In any Anglo-culture-descended democracy, in most elections, coming out against Christmas is a good way to lose.

More Excited About the Democrats?

When I started blogging here before the 2004 election I did so as a moderate Republican who believed my party, although too conservative, was the best place for centrists who stood for a strong national defense, free trade, and fiscal responsibility. Almost three years later we are losing a war under a Republican President, we have created record deficits, and I am not so sure that the GOP is the place for those of us in the middle any longer. Furthermore, Democrats are giving moderate Republicans some good reasons to switch sides:

1. The influx of moderate Democrats in the 110th Congress, including Senator elect Jim Webb and Senator-elect Jon Tester who were outstanding on Meet the Press this week.

2. Steny Hoyer's victory over Jack Murtha and the likelihood that the new Majority Whip's legislation to ban earmarks as well as all gifts from lobbyists will be put on the agenda after the new Congress convenes.

3. The Blue Dog's passionate campaign on behalf of Congresswoman Jane Harman to chair the Intelligence Committee.

4. Howard Dean's 50 state strategy which has forced Democrats to move toward the center to win races in the redder states.

5. The likelihood that the Democratic nominee in 2008 will be one of three prominent members of the Democratic Leadership Council, or if not, an extremely exciting junior Senator from Illinois that continuously preaches bipartisanship, respect for religion, and cooperation between the two main ideologies in American politics.

There are some concerns that centrists should have with the party of FDR. The base of the party, those that we see at the Daily Kos, are eager to set the agenda and I fear that populist isolationism may rear it's ugly head; however, Markos and his netroots regularly claim that it isn't about liberalism versus moderation, but rather Democrat versus Republican. The last time Democrats had this sort of attitude, Bill Clinton won the Presidency and his party controlled both houses of Congress under a middle-of-the-road mandate.

I have to admit it also bothers me that it appears Republicans, even the centrist ones, have abandoned any recognition that there are those that are not living in the same America that most of the rest of us live in. These are the single mom's working $8-10 an hour jobs, the families whose jobs have been outsourced, the homeless on the streets of our major cities, the illegal immigrants farmers looking for a better life, the handicapped, the mentally ill, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the Democrats are much better on the issue of protecting our most vulnerable citizens, mostly paying them lip service, proposing band aid solutions like raising the minimum wage, or going out of their way to point fingers at big corporations who are major part of our economy, but in my view there is better comprehension of these problems on the more liberal side of the aisle. Senator McCain did make an attempt to bring up these issues in his appearances on This Week and his speeches at GOPAC and the Federalist Society, which he should be commended for, but I am hoping to see more discussion and substantive proposals from both parties in this area leading up to 2008. That been said, I have to admit that for the first time I may be more optimistic about the Democrats.

Does Iran Have a Motive For Delivering Nuclear Weapons To Terrorists?

I was glad to see Saddam Hussein fall, because I felt he had motives sufficient to hand nuclear weapons to terrorists - he clearly felt himself at war with us.

Of course, such a strike would've engendered an investigation and possible counterstrike, but people seeing themselves to be at war are often willing to take big risks to hurt the enemy. Like Pearl Harbor or 9/11. Certainly Hussein would've taken a big position in the history books. Especially the Middle Eastern history books.

From a dictator's point of view, trying to assassinate a former President must appear to risk war (some say that's exactly that happened).

So far, I'm less convinced that Iran has a likely motive to hand nuclear weapons to terrorists - and no, Iran's leadership isn't crazy. In fact, their behavior's a remarkable fit to just about every other evil oligarchy in recent history.

Think of that other late, unlamented, evil oligarchy, the Soviet Union. Even the relatively moderate leader Khruschev was always talking big talk about Western confrontation; he banged his boots on tables at the U.N.. But he and all other Soviet leaders strictly limited their actions to to the Third World.

They carefully did NOT consider themselves to be at war with us, and we never saw them hand nuclear weapons to terrorists or even develop an appropriate delivery format. The suitcase nukes appear to be strictly rumor.

Do you see evidence that Iran feels itself to be at war?

Note, despite the post, I haven't made up my mind on this issue yet.

Of course, there's also the issue of how their support for terror effectively dooms the region to low-level war so long as it continues.

Like a Business?

Congressman John Boehner will remain House Republican Leader and Congressman Roy Blunt will remain House Republican Whip. Policy Chair Adam Putnam is getting a promotion. If I hear how Republicans want government to run like a business one more time, I am going to drop dead from hysterical laughing. Remember the calls for Bill Clinton's head because if a CEO had sex in his office with an intern he would have been fired? Usually when you do as poorly in business as the Republicans did in the last election, people lose their jobs.

My favorite quote of the day, via Redstate:

Congratulations to Represenative Roy Blunt on his re-election to the Whip post. May he be as effective in stopping bad Democratic bills as he was in pushing bad Republican ones.

Bummer

The Moose is signing off.

Consider this an open thread.

Target practice anyone

In preparation for our upcoming Democratic congress I thought it might be worth looking at what industries might be in the crosshairs. Which industries need more government regulation. Well, a good start would be to find out what John Q. Public wants. (You wouldn't want to pass unpopular legislation.)

As a start I found this recent Harris poll. A represenatative sample was asked which industries (of a list of industries, currently 17) they think should be more regulated by government.

"Survey says...

48 percent of adults favor stronger regulation of "pharmaceutical and drug companies," down from 57 percent, 55 percent and 51 percent who felt this way in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. While Republicans (40%) are less likely than Democrats (54%) or Independents (51%) to favor stronger regulation, the difference is not very large

Closer to home (I work for the devil incarnate, managed care), I heard good news and bad news. First the bad news

The differences between health insurance and managed care companies have eroded somewhat as almost all major health insurance companies are also in managed care, and managed care organizations are a form of insurance. Public perceptions - using both descriptions – are similar, still very negative but, like attitudes to pharmaceuticals, somewhat better than they used to be. This year 48 percent of adults want stronger regulations of health insurance and 41 percent want stronger regulation of managed care.

However, these are down, respectively, from 59 percent and 60 percent in 2003, having declined every year since then.

So who's your favorite target?

Scoop Jackson Democrat Beats Nancy

Steny Hoyer beat Jack Murtha in the race for House Majority Leader... The only bad thing about blogging is that you cannot see me laughing out loud. This is good for centrists since Hoyer:

1. Is more pragmatic on Iraq than Murtha.
2. Trounced his opponent despite the endorsement of the liberal Speaker-elect, ticking off the nutroots... Anything that makes the Kosites sad makes me happy.

One must wonder what kind of power Nancy really has within her caucus. For your amusement here is the Kos comment section after the news hit.

Commas Count

The ranks of those eager to argue that punctuation and grammar don't matter as long as you get the gist of things have just been thinned. No contract lawyers on that bandwagon, for sure:

million dollar comma

Canada's telecommunications regulator said the case hinged on the placement of the second comma in this clause:

"This agreement shall be effective from the date it is made and shall continue in force for a period of five (5) years from the date it is made, and thereafter for successive five (5) year terms, unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party."

Rogers had insisted the contract was good for at least five years; Aliant said the comma denotes that the deal can be terminated at five years -- or before, as long as one year's notice is given.

The ruling commission said that the comma should have been omitted if the contract was meant to last five years in its shortest term.

I'm not a lawyer, but I AM an editor, and Aliant is right. The 2nd comma means that the portion of the sentence which follows it applies to both parts which precede it. That's how commas work. So next time someone tells you that "plain meaning" is manifest, remember this story. In the eyes of the law, a contract doesn't necessarily mean what you meant to communicate when you wrote it.

Mind your p's and q's? Indeed. One comma can provide a million bucks worth of wiggle room.

2008 Update

My old boss from HHS and the former Governor of Wisconsin, Tommy H. Thompson, has announced that he is forming a committee to explore a run for President. Thompson, among other things, was implementing Welfare Reform in Wisconsin before it was cool. He is an incredibly talented executive and had he been allowed to have more influence on the Medicare/Prescription Drug debate, seniors would have gotten a better deal. A major theme from the former Bush Cabinet member is putting more of a focus on health prevention rather than treatment. Tommy is a long shot at best, but has many good ideas that will add substance to the process. He could be an interesting choice for the second spot on the ticket, given that he is a popular former Republican Governor from a blue state.

Ron has an interesting point regarding Hillary and Vilsack:

Both Rolling Stone and the New York Times seem to be implying Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack's campaign for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President may actually be a tactical blocking maneuver coordinated with and intended to help Hillary Clinton's likely White House bid. His candidacy diminishes Iowa as a key contest state, allowing Clinton to skip the state's famed "retail politics" in favor of big budget media campaigns in larger media market states.

Hmmm.... You have got to love the drama in it all.

McCain's effort has a website.

A Lott of Crap

Trent Lott is back... I'll contain my enthusiasm.

It isn't the Strom Thurmond racial references that bother me about this, although the references themselves bother me. He made a dumb mistake, apologized, and I have no problem on that front alone with the Senator from Mississippi. What bothers me is that he wasn't a very good Senate Leader to begin with, accomplishing little, and losing seats in every election after 1994 and eventually the majority in 2001. What really gets me is that Republicans, by one vote, chose a mistake from the past to be the Minority Whip over the more centrist and pragmatic Lamar Alexander from the Volunteer State.

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was chosen as Minority Leader. Again, is this the best they could have done? John Thune, Norm Coleman, Liddy Dole, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and these two are the Republican leaders?

Tie Score Early in War on Christmas

Once again this year, I'd like to jump in early on the War on Christmas by warning folks about battles to come over the next month and some, including the evergreens that get reliably trotted out. Consider it an open thread on the subject of the seasonal ramping up of the culture wars as well as a recounting of same tired faux controversies that get ramped up when the christmas spotlight flickers to life. Chime in with your most and least favorite holiday evergreens, and vent away. What sticks in your craw or warms your heart? Is it the list of dangerous toys, or the sheer volume of formula tearjerkers that go "it's going to be a hard christmas for family x and especially sad kid y because of horrible tragedy z?" Let us know!

So far, in the early going in the war on Christmas, there's a time out on the field 2 minutes into the first quarter with the score tied 1-1. The religious right scored first last week when Walmart reported it had felt the pain of last season's protests and was henceforth determined to greet customers with Merry Christmas early and often. No word on whether this policy applies to folks wearing a turban or a yarmulke. The recounting by Snopes of the ongoing yarn aspect has not been updated to reflect this development.

But the secularists quickly evened the score when the Marines Toys for Tots program turned down Free Jesus Dolls. My suspicion is that the coach of the RR team is going to ask to have that score reviewed. He's reaching for the red flag. Stay tuned.

By the way, check out the photo of the Jesus doll. The savior looks good...buff and well-fed. He must be working out. Quite a change from the gaunt and sad depictions I'm used to seeing around here in New England. Looks like someone was taking notes during the film Dogma when Cardinal Glick introduced the Buddy Christ.

Bu Bye

JD Hayworth has finally conceded. Though not my congressman, I can't tell you how much I hoped he'd go down in defeat. To me he was the worst of politics: bombastic, self-centered and frankly, a light-weight. Apparently, others saw what I saw

In September, Washingtonian magazine reported that Hayworth had ended up in second place among House members in its annual survey of congressional staffers - in the "Biggest Windbag" category.

I look for Harry Mitchell to take over the mantle of Jim Kolbe: quiet, competent, consensus-building. And although you wouldn't know it from some of his campaign ads, this heartens me

When asked what his earliest priorities as a lawmaker will be, Mitchell said, "We've got to do something with illegal immigration

UPDATE JD won't go gently in that good night according to this AZ Republic article about fellow Arizonan John Shadegg's loss for Minority Whip.

Shadegg would not say so Friday, but his efforts to defeat Blunt may have been hindered by fellow Arizona GOP Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who is steamed over his defeat last week by Democrat Harry Mitchell. In angry comments to fellow House Republicans this week in Washington, Hayworth has been pointing to what he views as involvement by Shadegg and fellow Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake in negative pre-election depictions of him and other Republicans in some media.

Top Billing for US Good Guys

The Pew Center says that it was Centrists who drove the results of the 2006 midterms:

Centrists Deliver for Democrats

So are we getting the credit, or the blame? :-)

I know one thing, get ready to have your feet massaged and your butt kissed in the run up to 2008. I officially declare we centrists to be the kingmakers for 2008. Yes, that's right. If you are running and want to win in 2008, ignore the partisans and listen to us. Are you hearing us Rudy, John, Hillary, and Barack?

We're already plotting to show up in the primaries of our choice, in droves, and to overwhelm all the principled folks who are loyal to their parties!

Out of the wilderness and into the heartlands of all 50 states, both blue and red. It's been a long time. We're dirty, smelly, hungry, and feeling unmerciful. No one is safe. Hide your children, lock up the brie and the shiraz. Hide your wallets and hide your entitlements. Sacred cow barbeque next Friday.

Mel Martinez and the GOP

President Bush has appointed Senator Mel Martinez to head the Republican National Committee... I like the historic signficance of picking someone in the Hispanic community, but I can't help but see this as another blatant pander that lacks substance.

Martinez, who I used to be a fan of, was a moderate HUD Secretary in the Bush Administration before going ultra-conservative, running a bitter campaign to win a Senate seat, and playing a lead role in the inappropriate Congressional overreach regarding the Terry Schiavo matter - a move that he now claims he regrets. This is my problem... Martinez doesn't seem to have much of a backbone.

On the day after the election the RNC posted the words "recommitting our party to conservative reform" on their site... Pat wrote an excellent post at Stubborn Facts outlining a blueprint for Republicans to do just that. Adam at Redstate also correctly states:

"Republicans must return to policies that unite conservative and moderates as Reagan did and the 1994 Revolution did. These are usually good governance, small government efforts that win over people who are suspect about the intentions of government... Instead of attacking lobbyists, Republicans should be attacking Congressmen and limit their abilities to distribute money in shadowy earmarks. Republicans lost the mantle of good governance and they must win it back to win over centrist voters."

I would only go further and say that the party of Lincoln needs to also stop pushing a social agenda that doesn't represent the values of most Americans, or many in their own party for that matter.

Although I disagree with them on social issues, the party is going to need tough leaders in Congress like Mike Pence and John Shadegg who will keep their colleagues honest on spending, government waste, and corruption. The GOP also needs the type of leadership at the RNC that can articulate a consistent message and avoid the politics of the past six years. The jury is still out, but I am not confident that Martinez is the right guy.

Early Analysis: Is the "Gay" Marriage between Evangelicals and the Republicans Over

By now I'm sure you've all heard that the Democrats did ok on election night. Out there in Christendom the question is: Did the Dems make gains with "value voters"? There are plenty of thoughts on this. Here's a nice summary of the issues (done just after the election).

The nexus of religion and politics is the most persistent and controversial storyline in American public life since Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980 with massive support from the newly mobilized “religious right.” Democratic victories in the 2006 midterm elections may open a new era by redefining the relationship between religious faith and political policies and campaigns.

Some other tidbits (below):

Pew Forum weighs in.

While the national voting patterns of religious Americans were not significantly different from the last midterm elections, Democrats turned the tide among white evangelicals and Catholics in both states, according to John Green, a senior fellow at the Pew Center on Religion and Public Life

Jim Dobson is po'd at the GOP.

Values Voters are not going to carry the water for
the Republican Party if it ignores their deeply held convictions and beliefs

And Jim Wallis gloats (a bit)

This is the way forward: a grand new alliance between liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, one that can end partisan gridlock and involves working together for real solutions to pressing problems.

So who cares? Well if you believe this analysis of the electorate then we're talking about up to a third of the electorate.

Totten on New Lebanese Crisis

Totten, of course, being right there, and not being filtered by editors, gives us an excellent grasp on events there.

His latest post about the current crisis.

UPDATE: Whoopsie! Totten kindly came and pointed out he isn't in Lebanon at the moment.

Nancy the Pragmatic Bipartisan

The Speaker to-be reaches out to those moderates in the West, Midwest, and South, who won the Democrats their majority, and smacks them right square in the mouth by endorsing Crazy Jack for Majority Leader... Talk about a blantant pander to the anti-war, leftist winguts.

Good move Nance! Way to smash the crap out of debate and show America your narrow view of the world by abusing your power, inserting yourself into a process that should be decided without your input, and opposing a more pragmatic and centrist leader who was your number two in the minority and helped put you where you are.

The Moose makes the case for sticking with Steny.

Rudy Explores

America's Mayor has taken the first steps to become America's President. I am strongly leaning towards Giuliani lately. First, out of the possible Republican contenders he is the the closest to me on the issues... You can't go wrong with a broken windows theory, tough on crime, pro-gay, tax cutting, moderate, urban Republican. Second, Giuliani's experience as the executive of the Big Apple may make him the right man at the right time.

I recently heard the Mayor answer a question regarding immigration reform where he emphasized the need for better technology and cited an example of the NYPD using online databases to put police officers in the right place to stop crime. How many of the current Presidential contenders can say I know it will work because I have done it? Did you ever wonder what the Katrina disaster would have been like if it had been handled like Rudy handled NYC on September the 11th?

Don't get me wrong, I would walk on coal for Senator John McCain, and on matters of foreign policy he no doubt has one up on Rudy. However, politics is a reality, and if the goal is to get Republican primary voters to pick a centrist, my money is on Giuliani.

Man's Vote for Himself Missing In E-Vote Count

Yet another apparent e-vote whoopsie.

The basic problem amounts is that, though it's not well understood, the computers are givn an innopropriate level of trust. States may call recounts, but, in fact, whether they realize it or not, there is no equivalent to a recount for current evote systems, though there's no reason why they can't happen, and in fact they should be something like that. It's just as much a problem for evotes as old-style ballots, with even more chances for mistakes for mistakes and fraud, because it's also a switch to a new kind of system.

What's needed is not just a system that prints out ballots for human verification (optical-scan ballot would be a good choice of printed format). But the voter also must put that ballot in a traditional ballot box, for recount purposes.

Because human programmers make mistakes, too, in, say, 1/30th of precincts, chosen randomly, the optical-scan ballots should be checked against the computer results.

E-vote system contracts should have provisions for the vendor paying the costs for reverting to some other system if mismatches from random checking are as high as 2%.

Feingold Not Running

Populist Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, the favorite to carry the torch of the Howard Dean wing of the Democratic Party in 2008, is not running for President. This is a surprise. I have liked Feingold's honesty and independence for a long time and thought his presence would make the race interesting on the Democratic side. Who is going to lead the Deaniacs now? Will it be this guy?

Note: Two of the early favorites at the Daily Kos, Mark Warner and now Russ, are not running. Hmmmm.... Could they have determined, like Ned Lamont learned, that the nutroots aren't really a significant base of support?

McCain to Explore

They are waisting no time... McCain starts an exploratory committee and will announce either way in December.

Friday open thread

Better late than never.

Elections and Our Foes

I keep reading about how al'Qaeda tells us to vote Republican, and we'll regret not listening.

No. We decide whom we want to run our governments, including to manage our wars. That's the big issue of this election, not whether or not to wage war. Yeah, I know the GOP was saying different, but that didn't make it true, and it's not how the electorate saw it, either.

Al'qaeda is free to think differently. If they do, they'll soon come to regret their error.

UPDATE: I was trying to be too clever. What I actually saw was people saying al'Qaeda would interpret a Democratic victory as weakness, and other people saying only Republicans could secure victory.

Both of those claims would amount to ending democracy with Republicans conveniently in office indefinitely - e.g., it would amount to Al'Qaeda telling us to vote Republican.

Of course, that wasn't atall clear. Yet another incidence of being far less clever than I think I am.....

Centrist Democrat to Run for President

It begins... Vilsack is running. I hope the DLC Democrats are smart enough to not split the moderate votes in the Democratic nomination process. Along with Bayh and Hillary, who will probably run, the former Iowa Governor makes three.

"Revenge of the center"

Dionne.

This election was the revenge of the center no less than it was the revenge of the left. The decisive votes cast on Tuesday came from moderates and independents whom the exit polls showed favoring Democratic House candidates by margins of about 3-to-2. . .

[M]any of the party's successful candidates ran as moderates, and Democrats hold power on the basis of a loan of votes from middle-of-the-road Americans who simply could not stomach Bush Republicanism anymore. The loan can be recalled at any moment. . .

This election creates an exceptional opportunity to move away from blind ideology to problem solving and from stupid divisiveness to a politics of remedy and reconciliation. The Democrats had better make it work.

A Hitchens / PajamasMedia interview.

It's spooky how right Hitchens is sometimes. Maybe it's because he was drunk (of course). In this case, it's his #1 choice for whom he wanted to lose Tuesday, Gov Perry of New York, oh, whoops, no, Texas.

Rummy Out

Here's a box, it's been real, don't let the door hit you in the ass...

Robert Gates will be the replacement.

I thought Scarbourough said it best about the election last... In 1994 Republicans made the mistake that they were elected because the American people thought they were the better option, the Democrats would be wise to not make the same mistake. It was about Bill Clinton then and is about the political incompetence of George W. Bush and Congressional Republicans now. The difference is that Bubba learned from it and adapted. The Gates nomination, a left over from daddy's administration who once didn't make it through a Senate confirmation process due to uncertainty over his role in Iran Contra, to me says that this administration is never going to get it. Let the lame duck years begin.

Election-Day Punch Thrown at Central Texas Legislator

A punch has been thrown here in Central Texas, at TX House Rep Patrick Rose (D), by former House Rep Green (highly-conservative-R). Yes, the puncher was the former holder of the same seat, and the punchee the man who defeated him.

A somewhat nasty political campaign was involved. Green was under criminal investigation, and a partner of his was indicted. Rose wasn't too nasty, but he did make sure people understood about the investigation.

Green said in the film that he felt that the investigation was opportunistic, done by Democrats because he was a conservative, at that time because elections were at hand, and he definitely felt his defeat was thus unfair.

The Profesora used to live in that district until she moved to Austin; it used to be LBJ's.

A good documentary was done on that very race, Last Man Standing.

UPDATE: Clarification: the election in which Rose beat Green was awhile back, in 2002.

Election Day open thread

It is going to be an interesting day (and night).

Pre-Election Blog

My guess is that us Ds will take back the House, but by a narrow margin, 10-20 seats. The Senate will stay in R hands, but be pretty close to 50-50 again.

It's about what you'd expect when you take the combination of six-year corruption levels and not much in the way of alternative programs put forth by Ds.

Some miscellanous other projections and pontifications. The Moderate Voice is cranking out posts. Oh, and check out the Economist's fairly new Democracy in America blog if you haven't already.

Remarkable Coincidence of the Day

Saddam Hussein has been convicted and sentenced to death:

Hussein convicted, condemned.

Is the timing a pure coincidence? You be the judge.

CNN, MSNBC, and the Boston Globe all seem to lack a small straight conviction story, instead telling about the conviction in the context of mixed public reaction and a lockdown in the capital. Mea culpa, the link above was the best I was willing to hunt for.

I am sure most Americans are pleased. Kurds? Yup. Shi'ites? Check. Sunnis? Not so much. Does this change how you'll be voting tomorrow? Tip O'Neill and the poll below say no:

Does Saddam's execution affect how you'll vote?"

I'd like to talk to the 6% of people who are thinking, well yesterday I thought Deval Patrick would be a better governor for my state, but with Saddam convicted, now I like Kerry Healey better. What's up with that? It might be nice if they first asked people whether they were going to vote, and then only ask people who said yes whether Saddam's conviction mattered. Not holding my breath though.

No More U.S. Draft, Ever?

I bet the draft never returns to the US. Due to the increasing effectiveness of individual fighters, the size required for our armed forces, even in wartime, has declined to the size of the pool we get from volunteers.

The fact that the armed forces want to be there also improves their morale and also their effectiveness/person still farther. Nobody at the Pentagon wants to give those up.

It looks to me like the only people who want the draft back are people who wish they could have it as an antiwar campaign issue. Never mind that if they got their way, well, the draft is inherently pretty illiberal.

It's an Anniversary!

Today marks the 27th anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

'Tis Appropriate...

...to offer up the so-clichéd open thread on National Cliché Day!

Hoover, Nixon...Bush?

In an "open thread" state of mind, I throw this out for your consideration. In spite of the extreme pre-election hyperbole, it seems to me that more and more I hear the words "Bush", "President Bush" and the "Bush Administration" as the new all-encompassing pejorative of our times. Coming of age in the 70's, I came to hear "Nixon" as a word that conjured up "instant negatives". To have been in the "Nixon Administration" required a follow up explanation (it justified Chuck Colson's redemption and Kevin Phillips' insider knowledge of the dark side of Republicanism). ... So what's my point.

Have we reached that same point with the name "Bush"? Does the very word stop rational discussion and divert us to a back and forth of condemnation and justification?

The Greatest Nation

Bill Maher:

New rule: America must stop bragging that it's the greatest country on earth and start acting like it.

Well put. Worth quoting in full:

Now, I know — I know this is uncomfortable for the faith-over-facts crowd, but the greatness of a country can, to a large degree, be measured. Here are some numbers: Infant mortality rate, America ranks 48th in the world; overall health, 72nd; freedom of the press, 44; literacy, 55th. Do you realize there are 12-year-old kids in this country who can't spell the name of the teacher they're having sex with?

Now, America, I will admit, has done many great things: making the New World democratic comes to mind, the Marshall Plan, curing polio, beating Hitler, the deep-fried Twinkie. But what have we done for us lately? We're not the freest country. That would be Holland, where you can smoke hash in church, and Janet Jackson's nipple is on their flag.

And, sadly, we're no longer a country that can get things done, either. Not big things, like building a tunnel under Boston or running a war with competence. We had six years to fix the voting machines. Couldn't get that done. The FBI is just now getting email!

Prop 87 out here in California is about lessening our dependence on oil by using alternative fuels, and Bill Clinton comes on at the end of the ad and says, "If Brazil can do it, America can, too." Excuse me, since when did America have to buck itself up by saying we could catch up to Brazil?! We invented the airplane and the lightbulb. They invented the bikini wax, and now they're ahead?!

In most of the industrialized world, nearly everyone has health care. And hardly anyone doubts evolution. And, yes, having to live amid so many superstitious dimwits is also something that affects quality of life. It's why America isn't going to be the country that gets the inevitable patents in stem cell cures, because Jesus thinks it's too close to cloning!

Oh, and did I mention we owe China a trillion dollars? We owe everybody money. America is a debtor nation to Mexico! We're not on a bridge to the 21st century. We're on a bus to Atlantic City with a roll of quarters.

And this is why it bugs me that so many people talk like it's 1955 and we're still number one in everything. We're not. And I take no glee in saying this, because I love my country, and I wish we were. But when you're number 55 in this category and number 92 in that one, you look a little silly waving the big foam "Number One" finger.

As long as we believe being the greatest country in the world is a birthright, we'll keep coasting on the achievements of earlier generations and we'll keep losing the moral high ground. Because we may not be the biggest or the healthiest or the best educated. But we always did have one thing no other place did. We knew soccer was bulls***.

And...and we also had a little thing called the Bill of Rights. A great nation doesn't torture people or make them disappear without a trial. Bush keeps saying the terrorists hate us for our freedom. And he's working damn hard to see that pretty soon that won't be a problem.

Righties Can't Take Joke; Thousands of Leftie Stone-Faces Split With Grins

I think this is pretty funny. After all those rightie blog-comments about how too many of us lefties are humorless and can't take a joke, it turns out plenty of y'all can't, either.

Excuse me now - I've gotta go do a bit of e-shopping, and order a replacement stone-face before they run out.