Mark A. Kilmer (the weblog)

I watched part of the Russ Feingold censure hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee this afternoon (C-SPAN re-air). I’ll relate first that my wife, a devoted FNC viewer, tells me that she has heard of Russ. She had not heard of Russ that she remembered before this years censure stunt. Russ wants to be President, he says, and he thus has to get his name know beyond the land of cheese. This is his gimmick.

He called out Watergate felon John Dean to testify: worse than Nixon, Watergate could have bee prevented with censure, yakk, yakk, yakk. Dean’s meme was that the President wanted to grab all the power he could, usurping it from Congress, and concentrate it in the Executive. Senator Hatch challenged him on this.

Dean: “I have evidence.”

Hatch: “You have no evidence.”

Dean: “I have a lot of evidence…”

Hatch: “No you don’t.”

Hatch moved on to the next witness, showing just how seriously Dean was taken.

Another witness was Robert Turner, General Faculty Associate Director, Center for National Security Law JD, University of Virginia School of Law. He posited that the President was trying to restore the balance of power between the executive and the legislature to its levels pre-Vietnam and Watergate.

For his part, Russ complained that the Attorney General had refused to testify at his little freak show. This was a sign, he said, of: COVERUP!

They haven’t determined that the President broke any law, though Pat Leahy and other low-level thinkers spout occasionally about “ignoring the law” before they return to mumbling to themselves.

Taegan Goddard says he read in Hotline that Clinton {Bill} digs Howard Dean at the DNC and his delusional 50-State scheme. Clinton promised to help Howard with raising funds (”to help Dean win the attention of donors”).

It is starting to appear more and more likely that they are actually going to go into the election cycle with floppy shoes and rubber noses.

John Dean, convicted Watergate felon, told the Senate Judiciary Committee today that the “tragedy of Watergate might have been prevented” had Congress somehow censured President Nixon. He does not have a clue, despite his white hair and nice suit, and this hearing was part of his book tour.

He was Russ Feingold’s witness, and the committee is hearing Feingold’s censure motion. So they call a convicted felonious liar who’s hawking his book. Disgraceful.

It’s a freak show.

This is Michael Kinsley, writing in Slate this morning about journalistic “objectivity”:

“[N]othing human is alien to Anderson Cooper; nothing alien is human to Lou Dobbs.”

Dobb’s don’t much care for them Mexikins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This quote became a post at Rathergate.com:

Michael Kinsley has a piece at Slate.com this morning, The Twilight of Objectivity which ostensibly deals with opinion journalism replacing journalistic objectivity in the MSM.

CNN’s thrilled with the transformation of lou dobbs, business news guy, to LOU DOBBS, CERTIFIABLE LUNATIC.

The money quote from Kinsley:

Objectivity—the faith professed by American journalism and by its critics—is less an ideal than a conceit. It’s not that all journalists are secretly biased, or even that perfect objectivity is an admirable but unachievable goal. In fact, most reporters work hard to be objective and the best come very close. The trouble is that objectivity is a muddled concept. Many of the world’s most highly opinionated people believe with a passion that it is wrong for reporters to have any opinions at all about what they cover. These critics are people who could shed their own skins more easily than they could shed their opinions. But they expect it of journalists. It can’t be done. Journalists who claim to have developed no opinions about what they cover are either lying or deeply incurious and unreflective about the world around them. In either case, they might be happier in another line of work. [emphasis mine]

One wonders if some journalists are happy at all. Dobbs is not. Jimmy Risen isn’t, and neither is Milibank/Froomkim (a fusion, the borg, etc.).

The above deserves serious comment. The below probably doesn’t, but I thought this Kinsley quote apropos of Dobbs’s latest hijinx from Mexico:

“[N]othing human is alien to Anderson Cooper; nothing alien is human to Lou Dobbs.”

Dobb’s don’t much care for them Mex-ee-kins.

How did I miss this one? One of Bill Clinton’s chauffers is an illegal immigrant. He would not be eligible to become a Guest Worker under anyone’s program, as the Pakistani national “had skipped a residency-status hearing in 2000, and a deportation order had been issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service”

To be fair, it is doubtful Mr. Clinton personally hired the driver, or for how long the alien had been on his payroll, but if he were a nominee to become, say, attorney general, he would have been wise to disqualify himself and step aside.

Editor & Publisher has a burning question for Jill Carroll, recently released alive from terrorist captivity in Baghdad. Their question: Did she meet with Washington Post reporters after her release?

One of her first calls was to a Washington Post reporter she knew well, the Post said. Several sources said she spent an extensive amount of time with Washington Post reporters in Baghdad after her release, possibly even visiting their house/office bureau.

The Post posted a story on its Web site with comments by Carroll, but no indication as to whether she had been with reporters or in their bureau. Jon Finer, a Post reporter in Baghdad, declined to comment on whether Carroll had been with him or his colleagues, saying only “we are not with Jill now. I am not going to be saying much more about this,” he added. “We may be saying more on our Web site.”

Post foreign editors in Washington could not be reached for comment. An assistant on the foreign desk declined to comment when asked if Carroll had been with the newspaper’s Baghdad bureau.

What did Finer know and when did he know it? E&P demands an answer! Did the WashPost learn of this before and the Christian Science Monitor? Why no phone call to David Gregory? What role did Bush have in Visit-Post’s-Baghdad-Bureau-gate? BushLied™, and the Administration is in crisis!

From ABCNews.com: The Man Behind March Madness’ Biggest Cinderella Story: George Mason University’s Jim Larranaga Takes Victories in Stride.

From LexRex.com: George Mason: Writings and Biography.

The first is about a college basketball coach. The latter was one of the finest minds alive in 18th century America.

Justice Antonin Scalia has written a letter to the editor of the Boston Herald:

“Your reporter, an up-and-coming ‘gotcha’ star named Laurel J. Sweet, asked me (o-so-sweetly) what I said to those people. . .,” Scalia wrote to Executive Editor Kenneth A. Chandler. “I responded, jocularly, with a gesture that consisted of fanning the fingers of my right hand under my chin. Seeing that she did not understand, I said, ‘That’s Sicilian,’ and explained its meaning.”

In his letter, Scalia goes on to cite Luigi Barzini’s book, “The Italians”: “ ‘The extended fingers of one hand moving slowly back and forth under the raised chin means: “I couldn’t care less. It’s no business of mine. Count me out.” ’ ”

Here is that woman, Ms. Sweet’s initial report regarding the Justice’s, in her words, “obscene gesture.” Of course, it was not obscene.

Scalia had an explanation for Sweet’s misreporting:

“From watching too many episodes of the Sopranos, your staff seems to have acquired the belief that any Sicilian gesture is obscene - especially when made by an ‘Italian jurist.’ (I am, by the way, an American jurist.)”

Scalia should be used to this, and he probably. It is not surprising. But the Justice is fighting back, and that is refreshing.

After the FEC ruled yesterday to continue to allow political speech on the internet to be free, the House leadership has decided to sit on HR 1606 for the time being. RedState’s Mike Krempasky, the blogosphere’s champion on this issue, has posted on this, noting also that the bill could be reintroduced

If the so-called ‘reformers’ sue - pass the bill. If the “reformers” try to chip away at the regulatory protections - pass the bill. If the regulations turn out to be unworkable for any reason - pass the bill.

From a statement by House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio):

“Both Rep. Jeb Hensarling and House Administration Committee Chairman Vernon Ehlers deserve great credit for bringing the issue of online freedom of speech to the forefront of public debate and for spurring the FEC to take what appears to be a hands-off approach to the Internet.

“The recent action by the FEC, leaving virtually all political activity on the Internet free of regulation, ensures that those engaging in politics online can continue to do so safe in the knowledge that they will not run afoul of our campaign finance laws. In light of this good faith effort by the FEC, and after discussions with the bill’s sponsor, we have postponed floor action on the bill at this time.

This is a victory for everyone who reads and/or writes politics on the ‘Net.

Good morning!

My friend Leon Wolf, over at RedState.com, has an excellent analysis of McCain-Kennedy, the immigration bill. You’ve read my pipe dream in here, perhaps, and McCain-Kennedy could be a realistic step toward that. It could also be a realistic step toward something else.

Either way, in injects some realism into an insane debate. It’s not amnesty by any means, but it is also not Tancredo’s dungeon under Elbert County.

Here’s Tennessee’s Democrat Governor Phil Bredesen today upon returning from “quagmire, quagmire, Vietnam” in Iraq, from the Chattanooga Times Free-Press:

“I did come away probably more impressed with the extent to which the Iraqis had been trained to take over.”

We’re winning.

They’re rioting in France. The Christian Science Monitor called it “systematized revolt:

A predetermined number of buses, subways, and trains did not run. Schools were ostensibly open, although teachers in certain grades had warned parents beforehand that they would skip class. In scores of cities and towns, about 1 million people marched peacefully - with only scattered post-march clashes between youths and police. No one expected to have mail delivered and, for the most part, they were right.

The kids want jobs for lives, by right. This is the product of French socialism, and most saw it coming but the French and other socialists. The French government dismisses it as part of the process.

So was the French Revolution.

I cross-posted this one first at the Swann-Blog:

The future of Ed Rendell’s Pennsylvania, he has said, is in gambling. Lots and lots of slots, he promises Ed promises, will build a new home for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team.

From the PittTrib:

Fast Eddie’s deal: Thursday’s the day that Gov. Ed Rendell tips his hand on his deal to get the Pittsburgh Penguins the publicly funded arena they do not want. The Pens have put all their chips on the Isle of Capri. If the gambling company gets Pittsburgh’s coveted sole slots parlor license, it will build a new arena. Mr. Rendell, however, has been pushing an alternative plan, which has fueled speculation that the fix is in for a competing plan by Harrah’s at Station Square. Pshaw! the governor retorts: “We need to move forward on building a (new) arena regardless.” The timing, we are to believe, is merely a coincidence.

The Post-Gazette tells us that Ed’s ready to unveil his super-secret PLAN B on Thursday, a plan not involving the lots and lots o’ slots in Ed’s panacea. Good thing, too, because Philly State Senator Vince Fumo posits that Ed’s lots and lots o’ slots won’t be here until late 2008 and 2009.

“I cannot believe that the Republicans will allow Ed Rendell to cut the ribbon at any gambling location before the election,” Fumo said. “… There will be some games played somehow, somewhere.”

It’s an election year, and Fumo is going to blame the GOP. For his part, Funo has dropped plans to buy the Philadelphia Daily News from McClatchy, the newspaper chain a scion of which is the managing partner with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

No, Pennsylvania politics do not show signs of inbreeding. Not really.

We need Lynn Swann!

Josh Bolton will be an Administration-refreshing change as Chief of Staff, but what about Club for Growth’s Pat Toomey to replace him at OMB? Toomey’s bona fides as a fiscal conservative a unassailable, He’s worked in the investment industry, opened small businesses (bar and restaurants) in Pennsylvania, and served as a U.S. Congressman. He’s also the man Pennsylvania’s conservatives ran against Arlen Specter in the ‘04 GOP primary.

Getting Toomey on board would enliven a lot of fiscal conservatives who need a reason for excitement. Mr. President, think Pat Toomey.

White House Chief of Staff Andy Card has resigned his post, and OMB director Josh Bolton is in.

Card will be remembered by conservatives as a force of “moderation” in the Bush Administration, dispensing bad advice to the Oval Office. If there be a problem amongst the President’s advisors, Card was half of it. The other half is Karl Rove, who despite his conservativism, has pushed the Administration down some stupid public relations paths since winning the election.

I call on Rove to go next, leaving this President unfettered by some of the human baggage surrounding him. The course has to be righted.

There is no reason to set quotas. There is no reason for either a fence or a dungeon below Elbert County. There is no reason for Tom Tancredo.

I am a conservative Republican. I am a Christian. I am a capitalist.

Let us see what the markets can bear.

If I had my will enacted, anyone qualified could enter this country to work. Nothing would be given them in the way of social services/entitlements. (The same would be true of American citizens.)

To qualify to enter this country, we’d first put the fear of God in these people. If they wanted to come here for a while, earn some money, and go home, they would have to have a job lined up before coming. Companies could recruit. They would be told the laws and subject themselves to punishment under our jurisdiction, forfeiting the chance to be deported to their home country.

These and other considerations would apply to every potential worker from every country, regardless of the type of employment to be held. It would be the same for Canadian doctors as it is for Mexican farm workers.

The madness would end.

I am not claiming that those who favor throwing out the Mexicans are racist, but I am asserting that there usually is a racial component. We’ve suffered the same thing when the Italians, the Irish, the Chinese came to our country to work. The Italians, the Irish, and the Chinese proved themselves to be able Americans, and the Mexicans can do the same.

The welfare state makes me sick, as it breeds ugliness.

Over at RedState.com, one can find the remarks FEC Commissioner Michael Toner at the commissions hearing this morning at which they passed the Final Rules and Explanation and Justification for the Internet Communications Rulemaking [pdf].

I am pleased that it appears we have a consensus today and will establish several important protections for online political speech. This has been a very difficult rulemaking on multiple levels. However, if the Commission adopts the proposed final rules before it today, I think a number of positive things will be accomplished.

First, the proposed rules totally exempt individuals who engage in political activity on the Internet from the restrictions of the campaign finance laws.

Read his entire remarks (linked above at Toner’s name).

This is a natural victory for just liberty over oppression, and though the terms perhaps sound stark and overblown, they are true in their essence.

As Mike Krempasky writes at RedState.com in introducing Toner’s remarks:

The Commission did, indeed, pass the final rules by a vote of 6-0. Congratulations and kudos to the Commission, especially Chairman Toner and Commissioner Weintraub. This is a tremendous win for speech - and the only thing that remains to be seen is whether or not the “reform community” can resist the urge to sue the Commission over these regulations.

Political speech remains free on the ‘Net.

From Reuters;

The U.S. military said Iraqi troops, with U.S. advisers, only returned fire during a raid against militants, killing 16 people, and that no mosque was entered or damaged.

But government-run Iraqi media have portrayed the operation as a U.S. raid on unarmed worshippers in a holy place.

It is dangerous when a government runs even a part of the media in country, especially one with a gullible and easily-instigated segment of the population as exists in Iraq. But they covered the story as would some segments of the American Media, who see generate shades of Vietnam everywhere in order to fulfill their romanticized fantasies of bringing down the war in ‘Nam. These clowns will never shoot straight. Either one.

Time Magazine has gone over the edge with their cover story on ‘global warming.’ This is bad, folks:

But glaciers, it turns out, can move with surprising speed, and so can nature. What few people reckoned on was that global climate systems are booby-trapped with tipping points and feedback loops, thresholds past which the slow creep of environmental decay gives way to sudden and self-perpetuating collapse. Pump enough CO2 into the sky, and that last part per million of greenhouse gas behaves like the 212th degree Fahrenheit that turns a pot of hot water into a plume of billowing steam. Melt enough Greenland ice, and you reach the point at which you’re not simply dripping meltwater into the sea but dumping whole glaciers. By one recent measure, several Greenland ice sheets have doubled their rate of slide, and just last week the journal Science published a study suggesting that by the end of the century, the world could be locked in to an eventual rise in sea levels of as much as 20 ft. Nature, it seems, has finally got a bellyful of us.

We knew glaciers were fast moving. And the rest is part of a natural cycle, not “a planet taken ill.”

Never mind what you’ve heard about global warming as a slow-motion emergency that would take decades to play out. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the crisis is upon us.

No it’s not. It’s an hysterical piece put there for the purposes of frightening people and selling magazines. Truth be told, if they wanted to sell more magazines (and subscriptions), they should start including glossy photographs of naked women. Sex sells, we’re told, and one would think this true especially of people uncurious enough to read Time Mag’s dross.