Timing is Everything

This month's New Republic contained a story that high-ranking intelligence officers in Pakistan had reported that, after two years of ignoring the issue, the Bush administration had begun to put enormous pressure on them to capture a high value al Qaeda target - and that they were adamant that such a capture should take place so that it could be announced during the period between July 27 and 29 (i.e. the Democratic National Convention).

Surprise, Surprise! It seems their dreams came true! I mean, how lucky can you get!

I just can't stay cynical enough to keep up with these people.

The Crusaders

Have I mentioned recently that Frank Murkowski is full of crap?  He could have won his election without lying, but his tremendous lack of respect for the democratic process and voters in general simply would not allow this. 

This is, of course, nothing but an attempt to mollify the anti-abortion zealots backing his daughter's Senate primary opponent.   Look for more kowtowing to that particular constituency on a regular basis as the primary heats up - they'll need the party faithful to show up for Lil' Lisa, and they're not too proud to eat as many buckets of s--t as that requires.

Baby Hulk Redux

Baby Hulk just couldn't get the word "apologize" out of his mouth, it seems.  Well, when you've never known consequences of any sort, you might come to believe you can do no wrong (for most folks, a general lack of ability leads to lack of success - but not for a Baby Hulk!).  And if you can do no wrong, why apologize?

Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry has a positive take on some national election issues that's worth checking out. 

"Look Mama, a Baby Hulk"

So the "Valley Trash" comments of our estimable Senate Majority Leader seem to have become ensconced in the local culture.  Good.  I hope this particular turd stays in Mr. Stevens' pocket where it belongs, and that people begin to notice its singular stench.

I've thought it odd that the nepotism barb sticks so well to Little Lisa, but not so well to Baby Hulk.  Of the two (although this is setting the bar quite low), Little Lisa is clearly the more intelligent and competent.  Put differently, Baby Hulk is an obvious mediocrity whose only accomplishment appears to be that he's managed the difficult task of ending up a snarling, mean-spirited jerk, despite having been given every advantage the world could offer.  Not to put too fine a point on it, but he's incompetent, ill-mannered, small-minded, and intellectually incapable of even understanding good public policy (much less the meaning of the phrase "appearance of impropriety.")  Alaska's own little George W.  ... ok, that's enough.  Anyway, the point is that, although Baby Hulk is clearly the bigger loser, Lil' Lisa gets tagged much harder with the nepotism label.

Would this be the case if their genders were reversed?

Minister of FEAR!!!

As always, Mark Fiore hits the nail on the head.

Little Lisa's Fish Slurry

I'll admit it - I've been (in a very minor way) conflicted about my opposition to Lisa Murkowski's Senate campaign.  When the estimable Sen. Lisa was in the Alaska legislature, she was one of the few of that breed I could stand - indeed, she was the kind of Republican I'd like to see more of.  She had a genuine interest in policy issues, and seemed to make good faith efforts to actually find solutions to the problems that confronted state government.  I did not agree with her some of her fundamental ideological approach, but she was consistent and both interested in and responsive to the facts (as opposed to the dogmatic "government bad, drilling good" bleating constantly emanating from the (unfortunately dominant) Vic Kohring wing of the party).

Of course, it is that very same reasonableness and integrity that now has her in trouble with the party faithful and facing primary challengers ranging from the extremist (Miller) to the unhinged (Shea).  And there is a part of me that wonders whether she would have to deal with any of this if she were not a reasonably intelligent, educated, and well-spoken woman.  All of this annoys me, and almost makes me want to toss a line of support her way -  almost.

In the end, though, Lisa will have no sway with the big boys in the Senate - she's new, she needs their money and influence, and she will owe a lot of markers after this campaign.  There is simply no chance that she will be able to stand up to the Senate leadership on any issue of consequence, and little chance that she will be able to steer important projects our way - she'll simply be another vote in the bag for Bill Frist. And, frankly, nothing could be worse for our country than additonal power in the hands of THAT particular venal ideologue.

So, sorry Lisa - you seem nice enough, and I'd like to see more Republicans like you, but it's Tony all the way. 

Revealing Comments

Hot Dang! My very first post and I get to comment on that aspect of the modern Republican party that is the most repugnant; that its complete antipathy toward the poor and underprivileged (i.e. others) is wedded to an obsequious servility toward the wealthy and powerful (i.e. themselves). 

Today I read that Murkowski vetoed about $60,000 for Legal Services, the paltry amount that the State was giving that worthy organization, accompanied by some ideo-illogical bloviation about how this was not a "core" service of government.  This is simply wrongheaded on every conceivable front. 

Nobody can deny that maintaining and effective civil and criminal dispute resolution system is a "core" aspect of government.  Nor can it be denied that the legal system is too confusing and intimidating for most people to navigate effectively on their own.  This is especially true for the poor and undereducated, yet, because they are poor and undereducated, they lack the means to pay for legal help.  So, when the poor are victimized or forced (through divorce or other issues) to go to the legal system, they either get rolled over by the system, clog it up with confusion, or both. 

That's where Legal Services steps in - what it does is to provide the poor with meaningful access to the legal system.  Without it, many people would simply be cut off from any such meaningful access.  What's more, Legal Services helps the system operate more efficiently and fairly through its counseling services.  It is, simply put, an indispensible aspect of the legal system, and it is simply wrong to say that it is not a "core" government service.

But it serves the poor, and if you're a modern Republican like Frank Murkowski that paltry $60k would surely be better spent paying a mechanic to keep to keep the Gubernatorial Jet it good working order.  Because surely providing wealthy, connected Republicans with the trappings of power and prestige is a "core" governmental function, right?