The NYT offers an illuminating comparison of the three Democratic frontrunners today: Mrs. Clinton has a tendency to use the “when I’m president” construction, as opposed to “if I’m elected.” She prefers the pronouns “I” and “me,” whereas Mr. Obama is more prone to use “we” or “us” and Mr. Edwards “them.” The paper continues, “In a sense, the candidates’ chosen pronouns reflect their varied messages. Mrs. Clinton’s “I” is a proxy for her message of experience. She is thorough in conveying her litany of accomplishments – all the things ‘I’ve worked for.’…” Mr. Obama’s “us’” and “we” reflect his unity campaign, the so-called new kind of politics. His “we” constitutes a prospective coalition of anyone bent on changing the political system – as opposed to “playing the game” within it, a tacit reference to the Clintons and their political mastery. “Instead of sending someone to Washington to play the game, we need someone to change the game plan,” Mr. Obama said. “We are not a nation divided as our politics suggests.” That last line is for you, angry BMG readers! And here is your candidate: “They have infiltrated everything,” Mr. Edwards shouts, right hand clenched in a fist around [...]
What If Spartacus Ran The Justice Department? …The Bush administration’s dumbest legal arguments
Today’s a day where you can expect to be bombarded by “Year-End” lists, and such, growing out of newspapers, magazines and the World Wide Web like The Blob.
However, we have a keeper for you.
Two candidates drop out of 23rd Middlesex special election for Representative
Susan Lovelace and Suzanne Gordon were not able to get the required signatures and have dropped out. See story at: http://www.yourarlington.com/j… And there will be further updates, I am sure.
John Thompson to receive award – a courageous bar advocate
Some of you may know of John’s work – some not. He represented Rosemary Cooper, in the case where she fought against conscription of bar advocates, pro bono, all the way to the Supreme Judicial Court. In the Mass Lawyers Weekly which will hit the stands Monday, with his picture and notice of the award, John is quoted as follows:
Q. You ultimately were unsuccessful last year at the SJC in representing Rosemary Cooper, a bar advocate who was challenging the ability of a regional administrative justice to assign her to a “duty day.” Were you surprised by that ruling?A. I was extremely disappointed in the SJC’s disinterest in this case. The message it gives the court-appointed attorneys is that, when the chips are down, we’re on our own. We have to find some way to protect ourselves because the judges used [Cooper] like a rented mule – and not just her.
Airline Security – Time to Reconsider
If you’ve ever traveled through Heathrow Airport, you’ve probably watched the evolution of U.S. airport security with some skepticism. I worked behind an airline ticket counter before 9/11, and I know that the notion of liquid explosives was not new in 2006 – only the ban on toothpaste and water bottles was new. Read this NY Times op-ed for a brave and cogent discussion of the lack of true security at airports, in combination with random inconveniences and insults to our intelligence and freedoms. Let’s hope this leads to a re-examination of the so-called system for security that has been created in recent years.
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet 16! Go PATS!
Per the Globe: “Randy Moss caught a long pass from Tom Brady for his second touchdown of the game.” Excellent Globe Staff Photo by Barry Chin. Per AP: “The Pats got their perfect regular season, but it wasn’t without a fight. New England rallied from 12 points down in the second half to beat the Giants, 38-35, and finish the regular season 16-0.”
OINK! Straight talk: Romney a muddy pig? (With animal poll)
Did McCain call Romney a pig?
The Boston Globe’s Political Intelligence column reports the following conversation on the McCain Straight Talk Express.
As Senator John McCain rolled down a New Hampshire highway today in his "Straight Talk Express" campaign bus, he listened to a description of the latest attack on him by his chief rival in this state's primary, Mitt Romney.He smirked as he heard the former Massachusetts governor's assertion that McCain wanted to allow illegal immigrants to remain permanently in the United States.
Asked how he intended to respond, the Arizona Republican said: "Never get into a wrestling match with a pig. You both get dirty — and the pig likes it."
