Something Different.

Sometimes Democrats do get it right. It is rare that Rep. Barney Frank says something rationale or thoughtful, but his recent remarks on legislation to legalize online gambling are drastically better than those of his Republican counterparts:

“Representative Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who leads the Financial Services Committee, has been the legislation’s champion.

“Some adults will spend their money foolishly, but it is not the purpose of the federal government to prevent them legally from doing it,” Mr. Frank said...

…Opponents, who only four years ago, when Congress was controlled by the Republicans, secured a law that banned the use of credit and debit cards to pay online casinos, said they were aghast. “People sometimes resort to drastic things when they are strapped for cash,” said Representative Robert W. Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia, who called the new proposals “unfathomable.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/us/politics/29gamble.html

Sometimes Life And "The Onion" Are Too Close For Comfort.

Compare:

The Onion

with

Democrats in Congress.

An Important Point Of Legalese.

Ed Whelan at The National Review put it as good as anyone can, so we will not add much, but the subtle point covered in this article is an important one. The difference between thoughtful, conservative judicial restraint and devil-may-care liberal activism is noteworthy.

The article is also telling of how Senator Lindsey Graham is not a conservative.

Alvin Greene Talks About His "Friend" Who Has This Problem.

For our 100th post we will take a look at everyone's favorite Democrat from South Carolina. Senate Candidate Alvin Greene, who shocked the nation by winning a state wide primary without campaigning last month, made his first public speech yesterday. He took the time to talk about his "friend" who was having legal troubles:

"In the midst of talking about jobs and education, Greene suddenly departed and started talking about someone he knew who was having a legal problem.

Greene is currently facing an obscenity charge for allegedly showing pornography on a computer to a college coed.

Greene said he had a friend who should have qualified for a pre-trial diversion program but did not.

"That same guy's trial was supposed to be last week but it was put off," he said, before reverting back to talking about jobs and education.

Greene was supposed to be in court last week on the obscenity charge but the court date was continued." http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/SC-Mystery-Candidate-Alvin-Greene-Speaks-to-Hometown-Crowd-98715669.html

(Possibly) The Biggest Election This Year.

November promises to bring much excitement for political types, especially those with small-government and conservative leanings. However, the vote that could very well have the biggest and longest lasting impact on American society is a ballot proposal in California: Proposition 19.

Proposition 19 would legalize the possession of marijuana for adult, non-medicinal and recreational use and (…this is the big part) allow localities to regulate and tax marijuana. Cities such as Oakland have already made plans to license facilitates for the creation of everything from marijuana laced brownies to spa products.

If Proposition 19 passes it will force the federal government to adapt accordingly either by A) creatively tweaking their enforcement scheme and interpretation of the existing federal prohibition of marijuana to allow for California's newly legalized activities or B) ramping up enforcement and in doing so effectively negating the voters of California. We can not imagine what serious politician would actually choose option B), especially in this political climate. Neither the Obama throngs of 2008 nor the tea partiers are very likely to have much interest in devoting more resources to a federal war on marijuana.

American Politics At Its Best.

Below we watch Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee fail Geography 101. This goes to show that if you have the "right constituents," truly anyone can make it to Congress:



Seriously though, it is sad that Rep. Bob Etheridge's impolite and boneheaded, but essentially harmless confrontation with a student was considered a scandal (that may even bring down Mr. Etheridge), but there will likely be little or no negative fallout for Ms. Jackson Lee.

The “Other’ Big Races.

With high profile congressional battles topping the headlines this election cycle, there has been relatively little reporting on the long list of races for state executive offices.  Or more specifically, on the massive nationwide gubernatorial power shift that may occur in November. 

 

Currently, there are 24 Republican Governors and 26 Democrats.  According, to the latest numbers from Real Clear Politics, that could easily shift to as high as 36 Republicans and as a few as 13 Democrats this cycle.  Such a shift would dwarf the gains expected to be made by Republicans on Capitol Hill.