And Grover Norquist is, er, Grover Norquist (doesn't get much worse than that).

Posted at June 27, 2008 1:50 PM in response to Conservative Activist Grover Norquist: Obama Is "Kerry With A Tan"

While it is correct that one major impetus in securing Telco immunity is to keep executive criminal activity out of court, the other major motivation is money. If class actions were permitted to proceed against the Telcos, only one would have to hit to bankrupt the major companies. And remember, at least one of the majors - Qwest - had the stones to say no when the feds came calling asking for extra legal access to your phone records. This, by itself, is great evidence of the other Telcos breach of their duties to you, the phone customer. If Qwest could insist on warrants under the same legal regime, why couldn't Verizon and the rest?

Posted at June 26, 2008 2:45 PM in response to Rendell On Bill Clinton's Alleged Hard Feelings Towards Obama: "Get Over It," "Shake It Off"

I have an idea: Let's let all of HILLARY'S supporters pay HER debts, and all of OBAMA'S supporters pay HIS!!

Posted at June 25, 2008 4:04 PM in response to Obama Making Private Calls Appealing To Hillary's Top Fundraisers -- And Sometimes Hearing Criticism In Return

Yes, we saw the same primary, in which HRC was behind by 100-150 for the last three months, with absolutely zero chance of closing the gap during the entire period.

Posted at June 25, 2008 4:00 PM in response to Obama Making Private Calls Appealing To Hillary's Top Fundraisers -- And Sometimes Hearing Criticism In Return

Obama will enjoy the enthusiastic support of the overwhelming majority of HRC's 17 million-some voters, regardless of whether the big money HRC donors get their way or not. This play will work about as well as HRC's trying to force her way onto the ticket a few weeks back - which is to say not well at all.

If Mr. Patricof, Harriet Christian, and the several dozen PUMA types at 2 or 3 websites wish to allow the train to leave without them, that is their right. They could, of course, pledge their support to Mr. McCain, and see what good that will do them. Since even republican donors don't seem very enthusiastic about pouring good money down that bad hole, I'm sure the support would be welcomed, too. And it would be great fun to watch HRC's big donors bet on the wrong horse twice in a single campaign season.

Posted at June 25, 2008 3:55 PM in response to Obama Making Private Calls Appealing To Hillary's Top Fundraisers -- And Sometimes Hearing Criticism In Return

In making not-so-veiled threats such as those above, Mr. Patricof and the "unnamed source" are displaying precisely the type of obtuseness and repulsive sense of entitlement that lost Hillary the nomination. I suspect it will get them about as far as it got them with Pelosi and Dean. The trick, of course, will be getting them to think that going to pound some sand was their own idea. Methinks Obama, Axelrod, et. al. are up to the task.

Posted at June 25, 2008 3:47 PM in response to Obama Making Private Calls Appealing To Hillary's Top Fundraisers -- And Sometimes Hearing Criticism In Return

Leave Britney alone!!

Posted at June 24, 2008 3:26 PM in response to Bill Clinton Endorses Obama

Actually, the welcome page to Hillary's website says nothing about hillary for president, but instead says support Obama for President, with a video of Hillary's real concession speech.

Posted at June 24, 2008 3:23 PM in response to Bill Clinton Endorses Obama

As a former Hoosier, I am amazed. But what I really want for Christmas is Arizona.

Posted at June 24, 2008 3:03 PM in response to Poll: Obama And McCain Tied -- In Deep-Red Indiana!

The real question, as Greg suggests, is whether the public would rally round the flag, as ususal, or ditch the republiks wholesale. This time, for once, I think the answer is that voters would exile the rethugs once and for all, since another attack, especially on our soil, would effectively destroy the only semi-lucid argument in favor of republiks at this point - no foreign attacks on US soil since 9/11 (and anthrax?).

But we won't have to speculate much longer, since I fully expect Bush-McCain to do something totally provocative just prior to the election - whether it's blowing up Iran or a continental US target. The neocon-petroleum-military-crony complex simply has too much invested in Iraq and the rest of the neighborhood to just let the dems get elected and disassemble their little project without a fight.

Posted at June 23, 2008 4:07 PM in response to McCain Distances Himself From Top Adviser's Claim That Terror Attack Would Help McCain