"I'm smart enough. I'm nice enough. And gosh darn it, liberal people like me."
Former SNL writer and performer Al Franken got a nice writeup on Newsweek’s site this week. In an article by Michael Hirsh his road to the senate floor is lauded for his willingness to study hard, keep his head down and listen. Lots of senators should take this advice.
Franken’s political leanings probably started with his book, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Liar, but he honed them when he toured with Ben Stein and the two of them debated topics from the left and right. Franken came to those “debates” with a briefcase full of notes that he regularly referenced to counter Stein’s points. He does his homework.
The one thing I wish this article had referenced was a moment when during the healthcare debates, Franken was again sitting in the chair seat and Joe Lieberman was droning on in some fence-riding way. Lieberman had used his alotted 10 minutes and asked for extended time without objection, etc. Now keep in mind there is almost no one else there during these speeches. Franken (serving as chair) looks at him and says, “in my role as senator, I object.” You should have seen Lieberman’s face. It was priceless.
P.S. If you have not seen Franken draw the map of the U.S. freehand yet, you need to. Click here.
Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan started the process of being confirmed to the United States Supreme Court. If confirmed she will become the third woman on the current court. In the first day, she sat through each member of the committee’s opening speeches. Late in the afternoon she gave her own opening statement.
Tomorrow Kagan will face questioning from the committee. She more than likely will have to face tough questions from ranking Republican Jeff Sessions who has already expressed that he feels she has less judicial experience than any nominee in 50 years. Kagan will also have to defend her actions as Dean of the Harvard Law School when she attempted to ban military recruiters due to her interpretation of a Harvard Policy that disallows groups that do not treat all people equally. She did this based on the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy which she called “a moral injustice of the first order.”
She will also have to defend her (perhaps flippant) comment that SCOTUS hearings are a “hollow charade” and “ritual dance.” The toughest part of doing that will be the fact that she was critical of how little is brought out by the questions. Meanwhile she will more than likely avoid general case questions about things like abortion, gays in the military and gun rights.
In fact, today the Supreme Court struck down a 30 year old handgun ban in Chicago. Kagan will likely have to defer opinion on this case too. She will very plausibly state that she has not read the case or opinions.
If you weren’t paying attention to the election cycle in Arkansas recently, you missed one of the more despicable acts of political desperation in recent years.
I’m not unmindful of the fact that all is fair in love, war and politics, but Linda Poindexter Chesterfield, who beat Jay Barth to win the Democratic nomination for the Senate District 34 seat took dirty politics to another depth to help get it done.
Chesterfield ran a deplorable radio ad ( barthad) that first aired last Thursday (four days before the election). The spot starts by trumpeting Barth’s sexual orientation, but worse than that, ends by accusing Barth of playing to a racial stereotype that blacks are lazy–because Barth had the gall to point at her voting record as a legislator (Chesterfield is black).
Per an article in today’s Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Barth claimed during the campaign that Chesterfield missed almost 1,300 votes at the Capitol.
Ironically, in addition to being unconscionable, the ad very well may have been completely unnecessary. Chesterfield received 4,578 votes to Barth’s 2,763, despite being outspent through early May by Barth’s campaign by a whopping $193,712 to $42,353.
A couple things: Barth knows politics, and he had to know his sexual orientation would be in play at some point. What he could have anticipated, but may not have really believed, is that Chesterfield would not only play the Race Card but would play the whole deck.
I am sorry, but if Chesterfield did, indeed, miss that many votes, and didn’t have a serious illness as an excuse, then Barth wasn’t playing to stereotypes–he was simply relying on Politics 101 and hammering his opponent with her record (which makes sense, as Barth is a Professor of Politics at Hendrix College in Conway. Ironically, Chesterfield was the first black graduate of Hendrix College).
No, the only stereotypes I see at play here are the ones that Chesterfield–through her actions–has fostered–that black people are homophobes who play the race card at the drop of a hat.
Those stereotypes are ugly, asinine and untrue and that’s why Chesterfield’s actions are so reprehensible.
She could learn a thing or two from Joyce Elliot–a true difference-making Arkansas legislator (and black woman) who is running (well) for the 2nd Congressional District seat and is doing so on her record. But clearly, she lacks a characteristic of which Elliot has an abundance–class.
Circuit Judge Chris Piazza pulled the trigger on Initiated Act 1 of 2008 which was written to deny family rights to gay people but had to be expanded to include all unmarried people.
The Arkansas chapter of the ACLU worked with local claimants to overturn the Act.
“Piazza, a former prosecutor, agreed with claims by families who said the ban lessened the number of available adoptive and foster parents to the point where thousands of children could go without homes. He said the ban cast ‘an unreasonably broad net’ and did not serve the state’s interest. Holly Dickson, a lawyer with the Arkansas chapter of the ACLU who represented the families, said Piazza’s ruling opens many homes for children who need them.”
Judge Piazza made a tough decision that will set him up to be skewered by pundits and policiticans for months maybe years.
“Due process and equal protection are not hollow words without substance,” Piazza said. “They are rights enumerated in our constitution that must not be construed in such a way as to deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.”
In the wake of Justice John Paul Stevens’ announcement that he is retiring President Obama is working on his list of candidates to replace the court’s longest serving active member.
Given the hard fight for health care, many think that Obama might try to name a moderate so as to make this battle a little easier. Frankly, considering the climate right now unless Obama nominates Clarence Thomas’ wife (reputedly more conservative than him (if that’s possible)) there will be a fight and maybe even a filibuster.
in this case, President Barack Obama himself, for being sports fan posers.
I mean, how does someone who is as good on his feet as President Obama get stumped by Rob “Ron” Dibble (a former “Nasty Boy” who an Ichiro tattoo on his butt)? Did he not learn from the controversy that ensued from Hillary Clinton’s baseball bigamy?
You would think a savvy politician would realize that sports fans would rather their politicians not be sports fans at all than to claim to be something they’re not.
John, They're calling me a Flip-Flopper. What do I do? Oh, Nevermind. You probably aren't the best person to ask."
for yesterday on “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” (SEE BELOW). Olbermann got in this zinger–”I used to think she (Lincoln) was just a bad Senator. Now I know the terrible truth–she’s a bad liar.” Ouch.
I bet ole BLL wishes Bill Simmons would make some ridiculious comparison between Nelson Mandela and Plaxico Burress to enrage K.O. and get her off the hook.
Oh, and on this clip you get a great added bonus of a (non) apology from Rush Limbaugh (on an issue regarding insurance companies and kids with preexisting conditions): “I wasn’t wrong, I was just uninformed. But now, I am properly informed.” I love it. That’s just great on so many levels.
he’s more than happy to find the closest Democrat so that he can wipe his hands clean of the Domestic and International issues facing America. No, really, I mean it….LITERALLY.
from Harris Interactive. I’m not sure which is more frightening–that 23% of of the 2,320 adults polled believe President Obama is the Antichrist–or that 23% of the adults polled actually believe there is, or will be, an AntiChrist.
Not suprisingly, the less educated people among those polled held the most radical views:
The less education people have had the more likely they are to believe all of these statements. Consider these differences between those with no college education and those with post-graduate education:
He is a socialist (45% and 20%)
He wants to take away Americans’ right to own guns (45% and 19%)
He is a Muslim (43% and 9%)
He was not born in the United States so is not eligible to be president (32% and 7%)
He is a racist (28% and 9%)
He is anti-American (27% and 9%)
He is doing many of the things Hitler did (24% and 10%).
After reviewing these findings, John Avlon comments, “These new numbers are shocking but not surprising – they detail the extent to which Wingnuts are hijacking our politics. This poll should be a wake-up call to all Americans about the real costs of using fear and hate to pump up hyper-partisanship. We are playing with dynamite by demonizing our president and dividing our country in the process. Americans need to remember the perspective that Wingnuts always forget – patriotism is more important than partisanship.”
It sure seems like Lincoln is the proverbial sinking ship and Arkansas’ Democratic voters will ultimately want to cast their vote for Halter–you know the guy who actually has a chance of winning the election.
From the piece:
The Democratic numbers are particularly salient given the primary — Halter’s (thus far) positive campaign has done wonders for his own approvals. That’s why the Lincoln campaign was, today, the first of the two to go negative, sending out a direct mail piece (PDF) attacking Halter for serving on the board of two biotechnology firms who ran into legal troubles (even though he had nothing to do with those troubles). Weak stuff, and certainly the actions of a campaign that is feeling the heat.
The Texas Board of Education has apparently succeeded in injecting conservative values and notions into some of the state’s Social Studies standards. Textbook companies will now take those standards and change the way that they describe America’s past. For example:
1. The U.S. government must be refered to as a “constitutional republic” not as “democratic.”
2. Add Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America to history books.
3. A proposal to mention in passing that numerous Tejanos were also killed at the Alamo was defeated.
As a teacher, I have been through numerous standards revisions. It is always contentious. Everyone wants to add their own spice to the stew but I’ve never heard of this level. Textbooks that come from this will be sold all over the nation. Companies will not bother making an Arkansas version for example. Also, Texas has what are called TAKS tests. These are summative exams that are given state-wide similar to Arkansas’ End of Course Tests. The difference is that Texas is ahead of Arkansas in terms of success on these tests being required for graduation. So in the next decade, Texas is going to be producing millions of kids who are required to learn that the founding fathers were Christian but not so much about the separation of church and state… or they don’t graduate.
Chief Justice John Roberts told University of Alabama law students that the Supreme Court should skip the State of the Union. Apparently they can’t handle being called out for controversial decisions.
It cracks me up that they claim that tradition bars them from showing emotion or even interest. I really don’t think that anyone actually thinks they are disinterested parties that look at all cases objectively. Justice Thomas flat out said that he doesn’t think they should even hear arguments anymore. I mean why be open to others’ opinions when you are programmed to vote the way you promised?
Thank to our guy BK for the tip. Brett works for Mr. Halter, see. That’s why he has been absent for so long.
Lt. Governor Bill Halter has officially announced his decision to run for the United States Senate in the Democratic Primary against incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln. The video on his website explains why. Lt. Gov. Halter is expected to file official paperwork tomorrow at the state capitol.
appears to be eyeing a run for U.S. Senate per conservative political blogger Jason Tolbert and others.
Roby Brock of talkbusiness.net breaks down the potential replacements for Boozman, if he makes the leap and the most formidable, and recognizable name on the list is former Congressman and one-time gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson.
Congressman Williams?
Could BlogHawg.com friend and longtime Northwest Arkansas radio personality Jon Williams be considering a run? When contacted, Williams’ said he could neither confirm or deny his interest at this time.
As if there was any doubt, lawmakers took no action yesterday on the ridiculous proposal to suspend the new Arkansas lottery. Your proposal has to be pretty far out there for it to not even be considered for an Interim Study. That did not stop state Sen. Sue Madison (D – Fayetteville) from urging her fellow lawmaker to either abolish the system or place severe legislative limits on the lottery.
“My first preference would be to repeal it. I think it’s that bad,” Madison told the panel today. “But failing that, let’s do everything we can to minimize its effect on people that might be hurting.”
Just to be clear, this is a program that will produce $100 million in scholarship money for Arkansas students in its first year. And Sen. Madison represents Fayetteville, home to the state’s largest institution of higher learning.
Oh, and the voters of Arkansas approved the measure by an almost 2-to-1 margin.
thanks to Maurice Clemmons, the former Arkansas Department of Corrections inmate and accused cop killer whose prior sentence in Arkansas was commuted by then Governor, and now on-and-off presidential hopeful, Mike Huckabee.
Blake Rutherford has been all over this story, the spin, and the political fallout on his superb blog, Blake’s Think Tank.
Today in Little Rock, state Sen. Sue Madison (D – Fayetteville) will make her pitch to get rid of the lottery. That’s right; 13 months after 63% of Arkansas voters approved the measure Sen. Madison wants to impose her will on the state. It makes absolutely no sense to me.
“The important message that I’m really wanting people to get … is that this is something the Legislature can change,” Madison said today. “I mean, it does not take a vote of the people. The vote of the people merely authorized and gave the Legislature the authority to have a lottery. It did not mandate a lottery.”
I believe that’s called parsing. While she may be correct by the language of the law, the people who voted for the measure last year did so believing a lottery would be instituted. Thankfully the vast majority of legislators at today’s hearing understand that concept.
The Freshman Senator from Minnesota is Recognized by Newsweek
Posted by Jeff on July 6, 2010
"I'm smart enough. I'm nice enough. And gosh darn it, liberal people like me."
Former SNL writer and performer Al Franken got a nice writeup on Newsweek’s site this week. In an article by Michael Hirsh his road to the senate floor is lauded for his willingness to study hard, keep his head down and listen. Lots of senators should take this advice.
Franken’s political leanings probably started with his book, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Liar, but he honed them when he toured with Ben Stein and the two of them debated topics from the left and right. Franken came to those “debates” with a briefcase full of notes that he regularly referenced to counter Stein’s points. He does his homework.
The one thing I wish this article had referenced was a moment when during the healthcare debates, Franken was again sitting in the chair seat and Joe Lieberman was droning on in some fence-riding way. Lieberman had used his alotted 10 minutes and asked for extended time without objection, etc. Now keep in mind there is almost no one else there during these speeches. Franken (serving as chair) looks at him and says, “in my role as senator, I object.” You should have seen Lieberman’s face. It was priceless.
P.S. If you have not seen Franken draw the map of the U.S. freehand yet, you need to. Click here.
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