MA poll on gay marriage

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According to today’s Boston Globe, “Massachusetts residents, by a solid margin, said they supported the Supreme Judicial Court’s landmark decision legalizing gay marriage, according to a Boston Globe/WBZ-TV poll. The poll of 400 people, the first survey of Bay State residents since the court’s historic ruling, indicated that 50 percent agreed with the justices’ decision, … Read more

The politics of fear

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A lot has been written about the Republican ads in Iowa in New Hampshire, which begin, “some are now attacking the President for attacking the terrorists.” I don’t really have much to add about that line; I think you all can guess what my reaction was. But this line, via Maureen Dowd’s column today, was new to me:

” ‘It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known,” Mr. Bush says, in a State of the Union clip.”

I don’t usually have much patience for Dowd, but she has it right. This is fear-mongering for no good purpose. Experts generally agree that biological and chemical weapons kill people in horrible ways but are not any better than conventional weapons at killing large numbers of people (if it’s not done right, they’re probably worse). So one vial or one canister would not be very likely to bring a worse day of horror than 9/11. Nuclear weapons are a different story, but there was no serious nuclear threat from Iraq in the short or medium term, and we knew it.

And of course, it seems increasingly clear that Iraq had no biological or chemical weapons either.

They have a history of this sort of thing.

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Finally, We have An Answer…

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… to an age-old question. And there was much rejoicing. (Via Volokh.) UPDATE: I have had the Plasma Physicist Who Lives In The Basement Of My House* look at this, and she confirms that the numbers and stuff seem to check out. She doesn’t do biophysics, though. *Of course, from her point of view my … Read more

Now, THIS Is What A Proper Protest Looks Like

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Via Balloon Juice we see that a showdown was brewing in Georgia – the one in Eurasia – over a recent election that has everybody going, “Yeah, well”. Well, oh my droogies, the showdown has come, and with a vengeance. I hereby invite every person who has ever voluntarily engaged in the more … colorful … Read more

Updating the Blogroll…

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… which will not be normally subject to such fanfare. Actually, maybe it will be; we’re all making this up as we go along. Tonight’s additions are Sacred And Inane, Matthew J Stinson, A Fistful of Euros and James Casey. Alphabetization will commence… apparently not until somebody lets us do that. Moe PS: Von, old … Read more

Because, really…

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…there’s no point to writing for a blog if you can’t do egoboo for it. Well, in this case, girlfriend egoboo: she wrote out this particular piece after watching the Real Version of The Two Towers (some people call it the Extended Version, but we all know better, right?). Fair warning: she’s as much a … Read more

actual good news!!!!!

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Thabo Mbeki seems to have finally, and dramatically, reversed his heretofore disastrous AIDS policy. South Africa is going to begin providing free anti-retrovirals. Bill Clinton apparently helped negotiate it. Funny that he’ll have done more for Africa as an ex-President than as President, but either way, I’ll take it. I wrote my college thesis on … Read more

40 years on

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It’s after midnight. So, as we know from the parade of TV specials this week, John F. Kennedy was killed forty years ago tomorrow. Obviously, I was not alive. It had a profound effect on my parents, especially my mother, the liberal Irish Catholic college freshman. My father went through a (fortunately brief)* Goldwater phase … Read more

Bring me the head of….

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I thought I’d continue the tradition of bloodthirsty late night posts, in this case combined with junior high journalism class: WHO: Tom Daschle of South Dakota WHAT: should resign as majority leader, or be voted out WHEN: at his earliest convenience WHERE: in the Capitol building WHY: 1. Because with the exception of Jeffords’ party … Read more

No Canyoneros in Canton

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China is about to impose more stringent fuel economy standards for new cars, and especially for light trucks, minivans, and SUVs, than the United States. This is good news, but the contrast makes metaphorical smoke come out of my ears. We have abdicated, so completely. The world has given up on us, and decided that … Read more

Bored Now…

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… I dunno, I was expecting something a bit more exciting so far from the English antiBush protestors. More in your face, more edgy and hip, more… well, people. However, I have been assured and reassured by those presumably in the know that Thursday’s demonstrations will be everything* that we’ve come to expect from the … Read more

9/11 Memorial Proposals

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They unveiled the eight finalists today. Lots of gardens, reflecting pools, named inscribed on walls, light effects. Here’s an AP story with a brief description of each. The NY Times has a slide show on its main page, which I can’t figure out how to link directly. And the Lower Manhattan Development Corp has more … Read more

Money and Death

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There will be light posting from me, the putative centrist of this fun bunch, until after the weekend. Work, travel for work, more work, blah, blah, blah. I promise a post on “Why I Hate Howard Dean” early in the next week, which should spice things up since I’m blogging with certified-Dean-Lover Katherine. In the … Read more

Technical advice…

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1) If somebody who also uses TypePad can tell me how to alphabetize blogroll lists, I’d appreciate it. 2) If somebody could explain this ‘pinging’ thing, and how to do it, that’d be great, too. 3) If somebody wants to give any other techy advice, this thread’s the one to do it.

“Igor! Attend me!”

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“Yeth, mathter?”

“I have become bored and petulant, Igor. I grow weary of tormenting baby harp seals in front of chained ecoterrorists and stealing the ozone layer, all the while framing Noam Chomsky for the crime. I think that it is time to feed the commentgators.”

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Bloggety Blog Blog-blog…

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That’s what my girlfriend says when I announce that I’m off to the computer and tap-tap-type my way into the night when all sensible human beings are asleep. BAH! Sleep is for the WEAK!

Err, right. Anyway, I was going to go find a convenient internet cafe or Kinko’s or something over my lunch break and fire off a quick nonpolitical post, except that, well, I saw my local Barnes & Noble bookstore. It had the latest Orson Scott Card Alvin Maker book. That threw all thoughts of lunchblogging out the window.

It also had the Extended Version (henceforth known as the ‘Real’ version) of The Two Towers. That’s why I’m posting so late. And, let me tell you:

(For the three people in the USA who read blogs and have skipped the LotR series: spoilers below)

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Obligatory Music Post

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Harley wants a Democrat in the White House! Harley wants to see Karl Rove frog-marched from his subterranean lair! Harley demands a music post!* Well, one out of three ain’t bad. “Death Cab for Cutie,” high-pitched emo-rockers that they are, have always found a soft spot in my heart. But I fear they’re starting to … Read more

Gay marriage, ctd.

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First, I may have been mistaken about Baker. The general counsel of the Massachusetts Bar Association thinks the ruling does not allow civil unions as a solution, via the NY Times: “The court essentially stayed its order for six months “to give the Legislature a chance to respond to regulation of same-gender marriage in terms … Read more

Massachusetts (kinda) approves gay marriage

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As Katherine notes in the open thread below, Massachusetts’ highest court ruled Tuesday that same-sex couples are legally entitled to wed under the state constitution, but stopped short of allowing marriage licenses to be issued to the couples who challenged the law. The blogosphere has not exactly erupted in debate (yet), but the usual suspects … Read more

Gay marriage decision

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Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court has finally decided their gay marriage case. AP story here. The headline is somewhat misleading; they leave the remedy to the legislature with a 180 day deadline, much like the Baker court in Vermont. This is probably bad for Dean’s campaign. I don’t care. It’s the right thing to do, and … Read more

The Energy Bill

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Here is what my friendly neighborhood environmental lawyers have to say about the Energy Bill. At least it doesn’t include this provision. As far as I know. While I think liberal diagnoses of Bush as the “Worst. President Ever”* are exaggerated (or at least premature), my guess is he will have the worst environmental record … Read more

When it rains, it rains prescription drug benefits.

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Despite the desire of some Democrats for war, the fight over prescription drug benefits is over. The AARP has given its blessing to the GOP’s version of the bill. Expect much hand-wringing, impassioned speechmaking, and rallying-of-the-base-ing in the next few months, but mark these words: The die is cast, this goose is cooked, its fate … Read more

Spinmeister hat ON

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One of the Democrats’ main critiques of Bush’s foreign policy is “unilateralism.” I have a suggestion for a better word to use: isolation. Not isolationism, but isolation.

Three problems with “Unilateralism”:
1) It is technically not true, as a reporter can point out by asking “What about England”? Denouncing “bilateralism” doesn’t work as well.
2) It is very wonky sounding.
3) It will not automatically be regarded as bad–“We’re not letting the French be the boss of us.”

Instead, you phrase it in these terms:

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Got It!

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I have it! New Feature from the VRWC, all you hep cats and kittens (crikey, but 50’s slang is just chock full of subtle inequities and sexism, eh?). A fun one… well, fun for me, at least.

That’s right: it’s time for a

GRATUITOUS INSTAPUNDIT SHOT!!!!!

(pause)

A shame I can’t increase font size.

Still, what is a GRATUITOUS INSTAPUNDIT SHOT!!!!!, I hear you ask? Simple: I go look at Instapundit, find something that he’s linked to and talk about that. Unlike Frank over at IMAO (a sometimes guilty pleasure of mine), I am above attempting to leech links from the Zombi Mast… excuse me, ‘Instadude’. Not that I’d object if Loyal Minions started boostering this site, mind you.

(pause)

I said, NOT THAT I’D OBJECT…

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Blog, Blog I Must Haf Blog!

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…as the creaaaakkking coffin lid opens and the dread Right Wing Death Beast comes out, eyes already alight with unholy fire as he seeks out the blood of the liberal… Well, not exactly. Perceptive readers may note that the ideological flavor of this site will be subject to regular shifts, for the simple reason that … Read more

Sometimes the best defense is a good defense

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Esteemed co-blogger von just wrote: “We know the Bush plan: all offense, all defense, all the time.” I disagree. If anything, I’d characterize it as “all offense, no defense.” The administration has consistently neglected ways of protecting us from terrorism that do much more, in the short run, to keep us safe than invading Iraq–that … Read more

Fear not, unbeliever. You need not fail.

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It is not often that one goes to the head of Amnesty International for sound, practical advice regarding political campaigning. But, here you are: It’s a serious problem. It means that human rights advocates are seen solely as harping critics. We certainly need to be that; it’s a very important role. But if we fail … Read more

Clark on Rwanda

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As a follow up to my post Saturday about the Democrats and genocide, I’ve found some quotes from Clark. From the Meet the Press transcript that von just linked to: “But I’d been on the Joint Staff, Tim, when we sat by and we let happen the slaughter of 800,000 people in Rwanda, hacked to … Read more