Fred Thompson has gone from being an unofficial candidate for the Republican primary nomination to being a semi-official candidate. He says he's waiting for July 4th to make the whole thing official.

This makes me wonder yet again why it is that the only people from the entertainment industry who run for office seem to be Republicans. I wrote about this subject last October, which has a full list from both sides (as full as I'm aware, let me know if I missed anyone).

Continue Reading »

Do you support the concept of gay marriage?

That used to be an unimaginable question. Not "unimaginable" in a negative sense, but "unimaginable" in the original, neutral definition of the word: "unable to be imagined," or "not imaginable." The concept of two people of the same sex being married wasn't even raised in the American conscience until the 1990s (or perhaps late 1980s -- I haven't researched the actual date, this is from my own recollection). After that point, of course, the idea has grown in prominence in the American political debate, both pro and con.

But now, mostly due to a Mormon running for president, the issue of polygamy is also inserting itself into the political debate. So the question must also be asked: Do you support the concept of polygamy? If so, why? If not, why not?

Continue Reading »

Amidst the weeping and wailing and the chest-beating and garment-rending which is currently emanating from the anti-war crowd, I would like to interject some optimism about ending the war in Iraq.

It is cautious optimism, to be sure... but optimism nonetheless.

Now, I do not make light of the fact that Congress just voted to give Bush a few more months' funding for the war, and that during that time period hundreds of U.S. soldiers (and thousands of Iraqis, no doubt) will die. That is a tragedy which cannot be made light of in any way, shape or form. But this tragedy should be laid squarely at the feet of President Bush, and (to a lesser extent) Republicans in Congress. Yes, the Democrats acquiesced in the end, too... but make no mistake about it, this is Bush's fault -- just as the entire war has been, all along.

But I remain optimistic that, during the next round of funding (which will begin debate in Congress as early as July), things will be different. And the difference will be a widening split within congressional Republican ranks. Which will make all the difference.

Continue Reading »

Wouldn't it be fun to have real national party conventions next year?

By "real" I mean, of course, presidential nominating conventions that actually do the work of nominating a party candidate, instead of wasting four days of America's time to certify an already-foregone conclusion. Some may call me crazy for saying so, but I think there is truly a possibility we could have at least one up-for-grabs convention next year.

[Although I have so far resisted the urge to comment on the presidential race, I must admit that I find the prospect of open conventions too tempting to pass up. Besides, it's nearly summer, and I've got to start sometime....]

Continue Reading »

To paraphrase Mark Antony: "Friends, Americans, countrymen, lend me your web-surfing eyes. I come to bury Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, not to praise him. For he is not an honorable man."

[OK, that's one heckuva mangled quote, I admit, but it's Monday morning, so give me a break.]

Alberto Gonzales really should be packing up his personal effects from his office by now. For months, bloggers have been prematurely predicting his demise (I think I read the first "Gonzales will be gone in a week!" blogpost about three months ago). Although I avoided making such concrete predictions, I did write a slightly tongue-in-cheek article about Gonzales myself.

Continue Reading »

This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. Well worth reading both of them:

Top 20 Democrats for President

Top 20 Republicans for President

Warning: at some point you are going to bust out laughing when you read these.

Continue Reading »

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

In these days of Alberto Gonzales and the National Security Agency, I thought I'd begin with that review. But, unlike the massive and widespread trampling of the Fourth Amendment by both Gonzales and the NSA, I would like to draw your attention to a smaller and more limited attempted abuse of the Bill of Rights.

When I first read the story, I had to check to see that I wasn't reading The Onion. But, no, this story is straight from the Associated Press.

Continue Reading »

Maybe it's just me.

During a press conference with Tony Blair this morning, President Bush interjected some comedy in his opening remarks. The joke we're supposed to focus on (the White House transcript helpfully tells us it was greeted with "Laughter") was a self-depreciating joke Bush told which reminded everyone of his recent gaffe in front of the Queen. Here is how Bush opened his remarks:

"Thank you. I'm pleased to welcome Tony Blair back to the White House. He is a good friend. He has led the British people for a long time, since 1797." (Laughter.)

Continue Reading »

It must be clearly stated that the Bush administration just doesn't really have a good track record when it comes to predicting what the Iraqi government is going to do (or when it'll get done, for that matter). This may ultimately prove to be the Iraq war policy's undoing. Because of this inability to see Iraqi political realities clearly, President Bush is about to get blindsided by the Iraqi parliament. This will a be a "one-two" punch (it should be noted), since immediately afterwards, a growing wave of Republican congressmen are going to do some Bush blindsiding of their own -- by jumping ship on his Iraq policy, and voting with the Democrats to end the war. But more on that in a moment.

Continue Reading »

[Apologies for not posting yesterday, I was attending the military funeral of a friend's father. No political statement here -- this was not an Iraq war vet, just a Navy E3 from long ago -- but I just didn't feel like posting yesterday.]

Two things to mention today.

The first is to strongly urge you to watch PBS' "Frontline" tonight (if it airs tonight in your region), as the title is "Spying on the Home Front." From a New York Times article on the show:

[The show] suggests that the domestic surveillance begun by the Bush administration after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, redefines the legal standards on which the United States was founded. Old standard: Law enforcement's job is to seek out a specific suspect and/or investigate a specific crime. New standard: Everyone is a suspect, and the crimes will be specified when those in charge are good and ready.

Continue Reading »