Blog Stories 2008: #2 - The Presidential Campaign

We're not used to waiting.

As dark fell on February 5th, the polls closed and the waiting began. Most of the bones readers knew how things would throw down. Obama and Huckabee would win Georgia. But this was not the usual election - the grass was blue and the sky was green.

For six years, Georgia had been an ardent red state. As sure as the sun coming up, Republicans win and the winner is pre-ordained. We had become so boring, the national press hardly bothered to notice. On primary night, they started to come back.

Obama did win but it was how he won. As the numbers rolled in even the hardest of political warriors were staggered. 66% of the total vote. An astonishing 90% of the African-American vote. For the first time in years, more Georgians pulled Donkey than Elephant tickets.

And this time it was the Republicans, those starch shirted, never get into a nasty fight Republicans, who had to wait. Deep in the night, Mike Huckabee won Georgia but a resurgent John McCain placed second and placed the final nail in the coffin of Mitt Romney.

The next day the whirlwind left Georgia. There were bus trips to the convention. The occasional rally. But after our brief, shining moment, Georgia became more swing-through than swing state.

All that remained was November but even as it approached, inevitability set in. Not even the Obama wave could crack the red state. All that was really left was the party.

Music boomed from the basement to the suites in the Hyatt Regency as Democrats danced to the sounds of history. Georgia's part had been small but no one cared. It was the moment. And the moment was so grand that even a noted cynical independent leaped into the arms of another man and they danced round and round.

But after the lights faded and the music quieted, Georgia awoke to the realization there was one chapter left unfinished.

The Election - The President

On paper, I should have voted for Hillary Clinton.

But I didn't.

On paper, I should vote for Bob Barr or even John McCain.

But I won't.

We stand at one of those moments which will live forever - a point of divergence. It is an instant where the usual fodder of elections - tax policy, spending policy, big vs. small government - must be put aside in order to view life in a greater perspective.

We are at a time where America's standing in the world has a chance to be restored. We can begin to undo the damage of eight years of disastrous foreign policy. We can reinforce the entire planet's belief that America is a place where although we tend to show our flaws right out in the open, we eventually do the right thing.

Also, there is a political party in our system which must be forced to endure the soul searching it so desperately needs. It must reflect on what it once was, what it has become and what it may become. Our system works best when both parties display strength tempered by reason and one party faces the abyss of obscurity if it is not reminded of this balance.

It is time for a fundamental realignment.

It is simply time.

VOTE Barack Obama

My Morning Wooten

Calm and reasonable Jim makes a rare re-appearance today. Well, mostly.

Exposing American troops to Iraqi justice when they are accused of crimes unrelated to war, as proposed in a draft agreement, is a tolerable compromise. Never should troops under U.S. military command be subjected to prosecution by international courts or by other countries. But if you rape the barmaid at a downtown hangout or murder a shopkeeper in a dispute over the tab, it’s a crime unrelated to military service. Fair enough.

Tolerable compromise? Be still my beating middle of the road heart. Prepare to roll out the fainting couch, cause later, we might all get the vapors. But not yet...

John McCain did make a good point when he said to Barack Obama in Wednesday’s debate: “I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago.” Obama is a Monday morning quarterback, an expert on what the team should have done yesterday.

Jim, you tell me which is more relevant to this election - the last eight years or the 60s?

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute is a group dedicated to more spending on social programs. It’s concerned that, although Georgia has spent $90 million on anti-smoking programs since 2001, it’s less than the CDC-recommended amount of $116.5 million annually. Georgia, as is its option, chooses to spend the bulk of the $1.5 billion tobacco settlement riches on cancer-related research and treatment, as well as other health-care programs, and on OneGeorgia grants.

Agreed. Pull out the fainting couch - it's about to get worse.

No surprise that children’s health improves as income rises, as discovered by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Solutions identified by one expert: better access to prenatal care, stopping smoking during pregnancy, requiring physical education in schools and providing “appropriate” school lunch programs.

Yes, yes, yes, yes. But wait a minute...

One other suggestion: Encourage marriage.

Jim, let's stick to the things where we agree - things like good nutrition and physical fitness instead of muddying the waters with the right's version of social engineering.

We now pause for intermission in today's lengthy entry. I am against the death penalty but probably not for the reasons you would guess. If someone ever convinced me my reasons were wrong I would probably switch to a support of the death penalty. And that's all I've got to say about that.

Now back to the show.

A third of recent Atlanta Police Academy graduates have been arrested or cited for a crime. More than a third had been rejected by other law enforcement agencies. And half admitted using marijuana. Holy Toledo! What a commentary on the state of the city’s recruiting efforts.

Admittedly the city's vetting of recruits is sketchy. It's difficult to not make a snide comment about how the "war effort" has so badly wrecked the armed forces, they've also been forced to lower their recruiting standards. Instead, let's talk about pot. Wherever you are, stand up, look around. There is at least one person in the room with you right now that has smoked the weed. More likely at least a half dozen people you are looking at have burned one. If you work at Fellini's it's 100%.

It's time to admit as a society that marijuana is no more damaging than alcohol and unless someone is actually fried on the job, it shouldn't matter what natural medication they use in their private life.

The Atlanta Regional Commission is weighing whether to recommend to Congress that it end the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, perhaps replacing it with a tax on miles driven. Next suggestion, please? The better recommendation is to give that taxing capacity back to the states so that gas-tax revenues can be used to add capacity and reduce traffic gridlock in places like Metro Atlanta.

Yep. Not only do I need my couch but perhaps my Turkish water pipe as well.

Look, I can spot a tax increase disguised as something else a mile away. And I assure you Alpharetta’s policy requiring reimbursement from cops who use their patrol cars on off-duty jobs is not, as one officer alleges in a complaint, a tax on public safety employees. Nobody anywhere should have a license to use public property for private gain.

Yep. We may be breaking records today.

The last blurb is a voting rights issue that's far too complex for a simple counterpunch, so I'll leave that one for another day.

But one final comment. Jim and I agreed on a lot today. I'm not so filled with hubris to believe either of us in our little silos represent bigger pictures, but I think it is enlightening that when people stop the demonization of those with whom we disagree and start talking about how government can be made more effecient, generally better, we start to meet on common ground.

It's an idea John McCain used to understand.

Selah.

My Morning Wooten

World upside down.

Jim does debate prep for his candidate without mentioning ACORN, Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright or any other recent right wing boogers.

Instead we get this.

It’s a good time to remind voters of — or more precisely, introduce them to — Herbert Hoover, a Republican who occupied the White House during the 1929 stock market crash, which ushered in the Depression. “The last president to raise taxes and restrict trade in a bad economy as Sen. Obama proposes was Herbert Hoover,”

Astonishing. A decent, honest argument. How refreshing this campaign could have been if the national conversation had been elevated instead of anchored by the sewage peddlers.

Welcome to the side of the Lord, Jim.

My Morning Wooten

Jim doesn't have a lot to say today so I will also be brief.

His newly aggressive efforts to highlight Barack Obama’s association with Wiliam Ayers, the 60s radical is useful, but some Republicans are questioning whether such efforts turn off the Independents and moderate women who are needed to close the gap.

I can only speak for the independent sitting at this keyboard, but I'm more turned off than a grandpa who misplaced his viagra.

A month ago, I began to swing back to McCain. Despite his canoodling with the creationists, despite his lovefest with the Falwells, the old John seemed to emerge - the level headed voice of true conservatism seen in the tragic 2000 election.

Then came Sarah Palin. Nothing will turn off an independent quicker than a brazenly craven political stunt. Witnessing a stunt of filling the second chair of the Presidency was flooring.

Possibly the vague mass of the swingers could have been mollified. Perhaps if Palin had done a tour de force showing her wit, candor and grasp of the issues, all would have been well. Instead, we were treated to a Rovian roll of the craps dice to shelter the new candidate and if anyone dared question the motive, simply gin up the "press hates Republicans" canard. The office of the Vice Presidency was reduced to the basest of politcal strategy.

Jim asks his readers to provide the McCain camp with advice. The answer is there is none. The time for advice has long past.

And it makes me sad. Very sad.

My Morning Wooten

Meh

Bill Clinton demonstrates why he succeeded in politics. He understands voters. His explanation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s popularity — her family, including the children, a husband who stayed in the 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmobile race, going 500 miles with a broken arm. “Why say, ever, anything bad about a person? Why don’t we … just say that she was a good choice for him and we disagree with them?”

Even people who like Bill Clinton are getting tired of Bill Clinton. But isn't it funny how the people who blame every problem of the last 8 years on the big dog (could've caught Bin Laden, caused the recession, now caused the mortgage crisis, etc.) suddenly embrace his candor and honesty?

Meanwhile, after the trainwreck Katie Couric interview, another conservative wonders what the hell McCain was thinking. Are you simply getting deaf from the echoes in your chamber, Jim?

Why not to fly with famous people — or even the niche famous. You become the fine print. Two pilots and two passengers died in a South Carolina plane crash. Headline: “Performers hurt in fatal jet crash.” The celebrities were the former drummer for Blink-182 and a disc jockey.

Copy editor Jim returns! Jim, do you ever worry the the headline writers will one day just wander over and beat the hell out of you?

You know I make a lot of fun of Copy Editor Jim but I do not want to gloss over a more serious point. Jim's continued insistence on criticizing his own coworkers efforts is actually a carefully thought out strategy the right has used for years - you can't trust the press because they are obsessed with celebrity to the detriment of the common man. So, in a time where his own coworkers are being shown the door, Wooten fancies himself some half-ass ombudsmen here to save us all from the elitist copy editor probably making about 30K a year. And that's really not very funny at all.

Requiring specially-refined designer gas for the 45 counties in Metro Atlanta, even when pumps are running dry is not a government that serves us. It’s one that toys with us, intentionally inflicting pain on motorists. The federal Environmental Protection Agency yielded to pleas for relief from Gov. Sonny Perdue, but it should be automatic whenever a hurricane is headed toward refineries.

The irony meter just broke.

Designer gas? Where do I buy this special gas that turns my midsize into a blinged out sex machine? Actually, our fancy gas is "designed" to contain detergents so that during the summer months the layers of smog caused by the bajillion cars on our ever expanding road net do not smother us all.

As far as Governor Perdue's pleas, why didn't he make the request before last week? Surely he could also see the impending crisis as Ike loomed off the coast of Texas. Or is outrage over a Governor's dawdling with requests for Federal assistance while disaster lurks limited to Democrats who run Louisiana?

Think health insurance is unaffordable now? Wait until businesses are required to provide the same level of coverage for mental health as they do for physical. That was part of a massive tax bill the Senate passed 93-2 this week.

93-2. Hmmmmm. Methinks there might have been a few Republicans in that bunch.

John McCain afraid to debate Barack Obama? You’re kidding, right? Remember Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church forum and Obama’s declaration that questions about when a living being acquires human rights are above his pay grade? Obama off TelePrompTer is an uh and ah, off-message journey into trouble.

It seems some forget Obama "uhhhed" and "ahhhed" his way through multiple debates in the primaries. But no, let's focus on one muddled answer given in a evangelical mega-church. Or we could just return to discussing the high flying oratory of one Sarah Palin.

Selah.

My Morning Wooten

Nonsense.

Barack Obama, faced with the opportunity to reveal himself as presidential-in-crisis, flunked. He’s a stand-around kind of guy. Oh, if they need him, he’ll be there where the administration and Congress are attempting to save the nation from possible financial meltdown. But the campaign is more important and, besides, a President has to demonstrate that he can do two things at once — presumably campaign and save the nation by phone. He is, after all, talking daily with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others.

I'm going to cheat a bit this morning, dears, since The Atlantic's Clive Cook says it better than I.

I do think Obama is handling the crisis much better than McCain--not because he is suggesting better remedies (he continues to say little), but because his instinct to reflect before opening his mouth and his impeccable taste in advisers are both working to his advantage.

The "others" Jim fails to name are the same advisers to whom Cook refers and include two former Treasury Secretaries and a former chair of the Federal Reserve.

You tell me which shows leadership - quick action based on what you believe is correct and standing by it, consequences be damned or surrounding yourself with really smart people and after hearing all they have to say, making the final call.

I'll give you a hint. We've already had eight years of the former.

My Morning Wooten

The Left and their allies in the press hate Sarah Palin and will do anything to destroy her. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Ad Nauseam. Sorry Freeman but I think the well is about tapped.

Wait a second. There is one new morsel here.

Former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan, now a commentator, offers free but sound advice to the Obama campaign: Aim for the old guy. Palin’s trouble...They can do the gotchas. They can make sport of her observation about the proximity of Alaska and Russia, as Saturday Night Live amusingly did. They can dig for dirt. But they’d be smarter to take Noonan’s advice and ignore her.

Peggy Noonan, in a moment of unguarded honesty when she didn't know her mike was still on, recently gave some other free advice regarding Palin.

The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives --

So Wise Wooten - which utterance from the Oracle Of Noonan should be followed?

Sad

The only emotion I felt last night as John McCain finally accepted the Republican's nomination was incredible sadness. Sadness since I think even he realized this was his one shining moment - a political apex. Sadness for what could have been in 2000. Sadness that there are those within his own party who it seems are still uncertain of what to make of this genuinely good man.

What a terrible beast is this thing called politics.

Percentages

4 sitting Vice Presidents have on their own been elected to office. That's less than 10 percent.

9 sitting Vice Presidents have been thrust into office because of death or resignation of the current President. That's over 20 percent.

Yet, for some reason, we obsess about potential running mates as inheritors of the office 8 years later instead of more immediately.

This is what we should be talking about instead of all this other mess. We are told that McCain would make a better executive yet we are told to not consider his first swipe at the decision making process every executive of every business in the world has to consider - the ability of a potential successor. Really.

I'll be on Wilson's show in the morning. Wonder what we are going to talk about.

My Morning Wooten

We're gonna have some fun today.

Oh, yeah, Shirley, sure. Cut the check. Atlanta taxpayers and utility customers are at the limit of their tolerance on taxes, and therefore the feds should cut a check. People want to know, she told a U.S. Senate committee, “why didn’t the federal government help us more?” The Atlanta mayor also thinks Georgia should raise the gas tax to help. Don’t tax me; tax thee to help me. Spend.

Hey Jim, I'm a spending-hawk too. So, instead of carping the same old line about "tax, tax, tax", tell me your list of spending cuts and let's get to work. Maybe we can start with Chastain which Atlanta subsidizes and is enjoyed greatly by many a freeloading suburbanite. I bet we can come up with a whole list of cuts composed only of services cherished by many a Cobbite and Gwinettian.

Oh, goodness. Barack Obama’s in trouble with the lefties. He smokes. Cigarettes. He can’t be president. Hillary declared the White House a smoke-free zone in 1993.

Next - the political perils of toe-picking.

Wall Street Journal reporters generally know what they’re hearing when conducting interviews about taxes, business and the economy. The outlook Barack Obama offers “appears like a return to an older-style big-government Democratic platform skeptical of market forces,” news reporters write. Change. To yesterday. But then those who have listened to him already know that.

Darn that liberal media! They've even managed to brainwash some fine conservatives into the belief that this election is too important for the old scare mongering. Wait a minute...

Raul Castro, in what is being called his “boldest break yet from socialism,” directs state companies to develop a salary structure that pays hard workers more than slackards. Pay for performance. What a novel idea. One day even the teachers unions in this country will take the bold break from socialism. The view of the National Education Association is that merit pay “undermines the collegial relationship among teachers.” It will in Cuba, too, when the loafers discover that the performers have bigger paychecks. They’ll either work harder or organize.

We always knew those shepherds of our children were really communists! Organized labor has always been a front for infilitrators of the Red Menace! Send the company men to the coal mine to root out those troublemakers!

Seriously though. If you haven't noticed the right's predilection for rolling out the golden oldie called the "red scare" this election cycle, you aren't paying very close attention.

Hmmm. Would we prefer to have the third term of George W. Bush, as Obama refers to the McCain candidacy, or the second term of Jimmy Carter, as McCain describes an Obama presidency? Easy call.

Actually, most of us prefer living in 2008 with all its possibilities. Most. Not all, but most.

But it’s true. The effort by Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia to restore voting rights to felons is an effort to kick up the Democratic vote. Except for former state school Superintendent Linda Schrenko and former state Rep. Robin Williams, both Augusta-area Republicans, all the people in jail are Democrats, wrongly convicted, too. I’m sure of it.

Yes, yes. Nothing but Democrats packed into the hoosegows. Enron. Duke Cunningham. Scooter Libby. Jack Abramoff. Etc., etc., etc. Lord, how the Democratic Party will swell when felons are allowed to vote!

Pike Family Nurseries has to be kid-friendly. Its former CEO is one.

Huh? An ironically childish riposte regarding the former executive's arrest for sexual battery (must be a Democrat!)? Well, at least we get a little criticism of a local company by the AJC - more than we ever hear about a certain sugar water slinger.

Selah.

Playing In Georgia

It's the question rolling around the addled minds of all political junkies - is Georgia in play?

A month ago I painted a scenario where Virginia plays the Florida/Ohio role in 2008. I'm sticking by that prediction but in the past year I also predicted Hillary Clinton would easily win the nomination and James Marlow would make the runoff in the 10th. So you have been warned.

But let's look at Georgia for a moment. Can Barack Obama flip a state which voted overwhelmingly for George Bush in 2004?

For your consideration, four factors which could be difference makers.

Vice President

Pro - It's only a pro for Obama if it is former Sen. Sam Nunn. Otherwise, Georgians probably won't care.

Con - South of Cordele most Georgians receive a mix of Georgia and Florida media. If John McCain selects popular Florida governor Charlie Crist as a running mate, a large portion of the state will see a face on the ticket which may be more familiar than their own Governor.

Bob Barr

Pro - Barr is the biggest name the Libertarian Party has ever nabbed. A native Georgian, he is polling somewhere between 3% and 5%. Some fevered Democrats have actually predicted he could pull 8%.

Con - No Libertarian has received higher than 1.6% of the vote in the last 20 years. Enough said.

Turnout

Pro - Despite a hotly contested Republican race, almost 100,000 more people pulled Democratic ballots in February.

Con - February is not November. A brutal campaign, disaffected Clinton supporters plus the possibility of an October surprise in the form of a Willie Horton style ad campaign gives McCain plenty of ground to gain.

African Americans

Pro - Almost 500,000 African Americans voted in the February primary and almost 90% voted for Obama.

Con - Only about 550,000 African Americans voted in the 2004 general election. It is a huge question whether the primary turnout can be maintained - particularly if Jim Martin knocks Vernon Jones in the July primary.

The first two factors are fairly clear but turnout is the more difficult beast to wrestle. Obama's ability to get so many new voters to the polls blows up most traditional political equations.

So is Georgia in play? Definitely. Maybe. I don't know. But the strange swirl of syncronicity certainly makes it intriguing.

Why Should We Believe You Now?

John McCain appears on The Daily Show.

The hideous hypocrisy of Jim Wooten's article this morning has nearly left my tank empty. So just follow the link, watch the video and if you are of the Republican persuasion answer this question.

Why should we believe your predictions of the future when you predictions of the past have been so catastrophically wrong?

You want to be the party of accountability? Be accountable.

Quote Of The Day

Pretty early for a Quote of the Day but this one is a doozy. Describing McCain's candidacy, admittedly in context of the Iraq War and in comparison to Hillary Clinton, CNN's Amy Walter said:

They are both trying to position themselves as sort of straight talkin', I'm not just going to sit here sticking my finger in the wind kind of politicians.

HAH! How enlightening to see the "straight talk express" myth still exists in the bobblehead media.

Happy Valentines Day, Screw You.

You stepped on my ass

You're breaking my glasses too

You won't drive my car, might be a star

I've had enough of you

There no one to blame, so f*ck you

Be my Valentine, Rep. Steve Davis. It warms the cockles of my heart to know there are still people in the world who believe the only image of family is Leave It To Beaver. Love obviously runs deep in your household and neighborhood where the "wifes" handle the chilluns, the gays keep their love that shall not be named in the closet and poor people are limited to cheery hobos who ride the rails and dream of the big rock candy mountain. Be my Valentine Rep. Davis, screw you.

Be my Valentine, John McCain. Now not only do you vaguely look like a Pander bear but you actually act like one. Your love holds no bounds as your give a big ol' expedient bear hug to religious nuts like Jerry Falwell and Jonathan Wells. My blood warms at the sight of brave politicians who will blatantly take the easy road to power. In an age of cowardly leaders chasing publicity whoredom by going against the grain, you are the epitome of the Hemingway hero, quietly showing true leadership by demonstrating good ol' fashioned pandering as the new radical. Be my Valentine Sen. McCain, screw you.

Be my Valentine, Glenn Reynolds. When I first read the Libertarian Party platform regarding war back in 1992, I was puzzled by its stance of defensive war only. My heart remained cold for over a decade until you and other "libertarians" explained it's a new world and we didn't really mean all that about defensive war. Pre-emptive war is the new libertarianism! Many called you stealth Republicans but you remained strong in your conviction to support President Bush even as the Iraq venture spiraled into doom. And when people accused you of being Republican shills, you quickly responded nuh-uh, I'm a libertarian! It makes me think of Valentine's Day back in elementary school when little boys were asked if they liked certain girls and they responded, nuh-uh, girls are icky! Be my Valentine Glen Reynolds, screw you.

Be my Valentine, Jim Wooten. Your proclivity to pass along rumors and straight out lies shows you are truly one of the libertine "new media" lotharios. You understand that fact checking, editorial filters and any possible validity of dissent are as stale as a 20 year old "Be Mine" candy heart. The love practically spews forth daily as you call out the unpatriotic, the anti-capitalist and all those dirty, smelly hippies who dare associate themselves with the Democratic Party. With so much affection pouring out of the Thinking Right column, it's surprising the AJC even needs Dear Abby! Be my Valentine Jim, screw you.

Be my Valentine, Christopher Horner. I was impressed with your appearance last night on The Daily Show. I was astounded at the quality of your jacket. I wonder if you have to shop at a special store to find pockets so big they can hold all that Exxon money. Your denial of global warming was not enough to cool the heat in my heart for your glib stories of attacking icebergs and thieving socialists. Since you are a lawyer, I immediately call to mind creationist Phillip Johnson who is also a lawyer that plays a scientist on tv. Then again, your sly manner and coy glances mostly reminded my of nutjob Kent Hovind. Be my Valentine Chris, screw you.

More Valentines to come as the love fills my heart. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

Done. Absolutely Effin Done.

On February 23rd, John McCain will speak at the creationist Discovery Institute.

Any shred of a thought of my supporting this "maverick" is now gone. I will do everything within my power, including my editorial decisions on this blog, to ensure McCain never gets close to the Oval Office. Biased? Not objective? You bet your ass. As Rusty once said, your running a blog not a democracy. So you run my future posts on McCain through whatever sensey thought filter you want. The sonofabitch is on my list and he will not be removed.

Is It All Just An Act?

It's all just an act. This defense is the usual suspect when a talk radio host goes down some dark path and utters something completely bat sh*t crazy. For some I am sure it is true but for others my feeling is not likely, bubba. On ABC News This Week, Torrie Clark confirms my suspicions:

In the fall of 2004, I had not one, not two, several conservative radio talk show hosts off the air say to me, you know we're going to be okay with McCain this fall because he's being good to the President and on Iraq, but don't let him think we've forgotten and he's not one of us.

So John? How's all that right-wing mollycoddling going?

Maverick McCain In McTrouble

Let's run the roll.

First there was sniffing Falwell's butt.

Then there was the approval of torture.

Then the weird waffleness on the gays.

And don't forget to take a swipe at the bloggers!

Where does all this lead? To possibly the biggest pooch screw in American political history. Polls coming out of New Hampshire show McCain's lead either evaporating or dangerously stagnant. The Granite State is known for its indepedent snarkiness. A seemingly perfect witches brew for the darling of the independent crowd. However, New Hampsherites are not easily fooled and it appears they smell a rat. Perhaps as Joe Gandleman writes they have doped out "The Straight Talk Express has been replaced by Finger In The Wind Airlines".

Maverick McCain and My Comments Section

McCain wants to protect the chilluns and rights of artists from the mean, nasty bloggers.

– Commercial websites and personal blogs “would be required to report illegal
images or videos posted by their users or pay fines of up to $300,000.”
– Internet service providers (ISPs) are already required to issue such reports,
but under McCain’s legislation, bloggers with comment sections may face “even
stiffer penalties” than ISPs.

Considering the majority of blogs are like mine, run by individuals who don't have a spare 300k sitting around., the real world impact is I would likely have to shut off my comments section. So much for furthering the discourse.

And exactly who would enforce these new laws? Most likely it would be some segment of the Justice Department. Are you seriously going to tell me that we are going to take manpower and resources away from the section of government responsible for ferreting out real threats to surf the web for trolls?

Welcome to wonderland, Alice.

A Withering Quote

Reagan Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein on John McCain:

A profile in courage can become a profile in unrestrained ambition," says former Reagan White House chief of staff Ken Duberstein, who was one of the few G.O.P. establishment figures to support McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. "He has to remember who his friends are and not spend his integrity on one-night stands with those who will never fully trust him.

An interesting perspective from a staffer of a President who brought such "one-night stands" as the Christian Coalition into the Republican party, paid them lip service for eight years and pretty much ignored them in practicality.

Other than that, he's spot on. McCain may have gone too far in toadying to the worst elements of the right to come back to the side of light. Time will tell.