Dahlia Lithwick's column on the "yes man" nature of the future attorney general provided an opportunity for me to toss in my .02. This includes my annoyance at those who target President Bush's agents, including a few Republicans who want Rumsfeld to be fired. Why not target Bush himself? Well, for one reason, the chances of firing Bush is unlikely ... though credible arguments can be made that we should by the one means left. See also here. Sorta something that shoulda mattered last month, but I guess it didn't really. After all, Kerry didn't really make an issue of it either.
Meanwhile, a couple good entries by Stephen Waldman over at Gadflyer. First off, he provides a strong separationist view on the issue of singing Christmas carols, answering some critics in the process. Second, he discusses the recount in Washington State, which currently appears to have gone the Democrat's way. The Democrat in this case had the guts and wherewithal to stick it out and demand every vote to be counted, even in the midst of opposition and early accounts that appeared to suggest she would not win. Given the margin, who knows if she will win even now, but the experience suggests how sad the 2000 fiasco truly was.
The Flight of the Phoenix was on a movie channel all day long. The remake received lackluster reviews, one saying it was "pointless," which I find amusing. What exactly is the "point" in making any number of films, except for a few hours of enjoyment? We aren't talking deep meaning here, and sometimes when a mainstream film tries to have a "point," it doesn't turn out that well. So, yes, Dennis Quaid (in the James Stewart role) and the rest have a point in the remake: not to have one.
Here we go again:
The president nominated highly qualified individuals to the federal courts during his first term, but the Senate failed to vote on many nominations," today's White House statement said. "Unfortunately, this only exacerbates the issue of judicial vacancies, compounds the backlog of cases, and delays timely justice for the American people.
Bush again plans to re-nominate all the nominees (except for Judge Pickering, who is retiring) to the bench that the Democrats blocked, including Judge Owen (blocked twice) and Brett M. Kavanaugh (late 30s, no judicial experience, but was on Kenneth Starr's staff). The rate of confirmation was quicker than most and the forces who "exacerbate" the issue at hand is the side that refuses to follow previous practice. Said practice by the way was not the "obligation to vote up or down on a president's judicial nominees." Nor is an "independent judiciary" all what is on their mind.
The timing ... late 12/23 ... of the announcement follows the Bush tradition that watchers of West Wing might call "take out the trash" -- light news day, when people's minds are on other things.
Like the holidays. Have a happy one, one and all.