It’s tempting to shrug off the various battles between the White House and top House Democrats as so much pointless politics. For example, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, termed the House Judiciary Committee’s new lawsuit against the Bush administration over the firing of U.S. attorneys as “pandering to the left-wing fever swamps of loony liberal activists.†But this lawsuit reportedly is history making — the first time Congress has been a plaintiff in a civil case against the executive branch over executive privilege. And the constitutional issues at stake — the power of the presidency and separation of powers — are bigger than one White House. Why don’t more Americans care?
Barack Obama made a couple of good points in slapping down suggestions by Hillary and Bill Clinton that he would make a good vice presidential choice. “I don’t know how somebody who’s in second place is offering the vice presidency to somebody who’s in first place,†he said. That is audacious — and condescending. But he also noted how Hillary’s main line of argument of late has been that Obama isn’t ready to be commander in chief. Yet Bill has said in the past that the No. 1 priority in picking a vice president is that the person be ready on day one to be commander in chief, in case something happens to the president. So, Obama asked: “If I’m not ready, how is it you think I would be such a great vice president?â€
And we thought Paul Morrison’s downfall was spectacular.
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer held a press conference Monday to address reports that he was involved in a high-priced prostitution ring. He apologized to his family and the public.
“I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself,†he said. “I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.â€
Better block out some time for that. This sounds like a career-ender for Spitzer, especially given his past high-profile crusades as attorney general against public corruption and scandal, including a 2004 case against, um, a prostitution ring.
What makes otherwise smart politicians think they can get away with these shenanigans?
The November election is expected to produce record turnout — and provide the first real test of Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Bill Gale’s drastic reduction of polling places from 208 to 63.
Is it an Election Day fiasco in the making, as some worry? Probably not. But the concerns are valid and deserve another close look.
Walt Chappell and a coalition of voting rights groups, including the League of Women Voters, told the Sedgwick County Commission last week that as many as 20 more polling sites could be needed to meet demand.
Overall, Gale’s streamlined system has worked pretty well, especially with the expansion of early voting sites from two to 16. And Gale argues that the new touch-screen machines could be supplemented with paper ballots if long lines form.
Still, it’s good that commissioners scheduled a March 25 workshop to take a closer look at the concerns. They shouldn’t hesitate to add a few more polling sites in high-volume districts if needed to ensure the new system can handle turnout.
Abortion remains a difficult private decision for parents and a polarizing political issue, but increasingly, both sides of the public debate agree on the need to reduce the number of abortions in this country. A bipartisan effort to encourage alternatives to abortion in cases related to genetic disorders is a good step toward that goal.
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a staunch abortion opponent, and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who is pro-choice, have co-sponsored legislation that would set up a registry of families willing to adopt babies with conditions such as spina bifida, Down syndrome and dwarfism.
Brownback said in such cases, the answer “isn’t to abort the child. The answer is to have the child and put the child up for adoption.â€
This is an encouraging effort to get past partisan rhetoric and find common ground that’s in the best interests of families and children.
The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com:
CALLING HILLARY A MONSTER ‘OFFENSIVE,’ MONSTERS SAY: Prominent Miscreants Outraged Over Remark
‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ ABANDONS COMEDY FORMAT TO FOCUS ON ENDORSEMENTS; Change in Mission for Venerable Late Night Show
BUSH SAYS HE LETS RED PHONE GO STRAIGHT TO VOICE MAIL; ‘Baffled’ by Clinton Campaign Ads, President Says
CLINTON, OBAMA SPAR OVER DENTAL PLANS; Nomination Fight Shifts to Voters’ Mouths
CASH-RICH OBAMA BUYS YAHOO; Outbids Microsoft for Internet Giant
It’s tempting to shrug off the various battles between the White House and top House Democrats as so much pointless politics. For example, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, termed the House Judiciary Committee’s new lawsuit against the Bush administration over the firing of U.S. attorneys as “pandering to the left-wing fever swamps of loony liberal activists.†But this lawsuit reportedly is history making — the first time Congress has been a plaintiff in a civil case against the executive branch over executive privilege. And the constitutional issues at stake — the power of the presidency and separation of powers — are bigger than one White House. Why don’t more Americans care?
