Odds and Ends

A few days earlier, while traveling to Marco Island, Fla., on official business, Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans stopped in Daytona Beach to attend a large prayer meeting, where he praised Mr. Bush as "a leader you can trust 100 percent of the time." ...

The combination of official business and politics is neither illegal nor unusual in an election year, though Bush administration officials were reluctant to provide details. In fact, the Bush administration is using techniques refined by President Bill Clinton. The difference is that in the Clinton years the White House was often trying to add and expand domestic programs, not cut them.

- President Bush Takes Credit For Stuff He Cut or Opposed; the article also sounds a tad bit cynical. See also, here (thanks to Legal Fiction).

The Defense Department announced the creation of a new administrative system today which will periodically review the status of detainees being held at Guantanamo bay to see if they merit further detention in America's war on terrorism.

- Not So Sure About That Supreme Court Victory?

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Also: Talkleft cites a powerful dissent by Judge Alex Kozinski on the importance of grand jury discretion. Well worth reading; it's short and well written. Also, the Bush Administration agreed not to make any more judicial recess appointments to supersede Democratic filibusters, thus the Dems called off filibusters on noncontroversial nominees. This is appealing, both as an example of how things should be done anyhow (Carter and Clinton combined had as many recess appointments of this sort than Bush did), and what happens when the Dems show backbone. It's a small victory, but a good one.

How about those Mets? Another come from behind victory! Congrats to Randy Johnson. Last year, the Yanks were no-hit by the Astros; now the Braves (though doing poorly) were victims of a perfect game.