The Senate voted 81-18 to end debate on Priscilla Owen's nomination to the 5th Circuit, setting up an up-or-down vote soon (and you can be sure the result will be "up"). Local boys Kennedy and Kerry both voted "no" … [Read more...]
Of “memos” and “minutes”
My post of a few days ago regarding the so-called "Downing Street Memo" led to my receipt of a lengthy email which appears to be mostly a reprint of this Daily Kos diary. The point of the email (and the diary) is that the … [Read more...]
The Deal
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON JUDICIAL NOMINATIONSWe respect the diligent, conscientious efforts, to date, rendered to the Senate by Majority Leader Frist and Democratic Leader Reid. This memorandum confirms an understanding among … [Read more...]
Senate reaches deal to avoid nuclear option
A group of seven Democratic and seven Republican senators have reached an agreement that apparently will avoid the invocation of the nucular option that would have demolished the Senate rules and ended the use of the filibuster on judicial … [Read more...]
Some brilliant reporting in Washington state
Remember the gubernatorial election in Washington state - the unbelievably close one that Republican Dino Rossi won in the first count, won in the machine recount, but then lost in the hand re-recount to Democrat Christine Gregoire? … [Read more...]
What a WHINER!
Conservative guru Grover Norquist, originator of the charming "get [the federal government] down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub" quip, has gotten swept up in DeLayGate. Turns out Norquist was a little too … [Read more...]
New NY Times “public editor” chastises slow coverage of “Downing Street Memo”
The new "public editor" of the NY Times, Byron Calame, has concluded that the NYT was slow on the uptake regarding the "Downing Street Memo," a secret document containing minutes of a high-level intelligence meeting … [Read more...]
Bubble bubble toil and trouble: duuhhhh edition
It's a bubble because ... uh ... people, like, can't afford it:The gap between income and Massachusetts home prices is the widestsince the peak of the 1980s housing bubble, and that gap, intensifiedby rising interest rates, should cause … [Read more...]
Medford still not sold on Green Line extension
There are a couple of articles worth perusing in today's Globe on the proposed Green Line extension. This one has a brief note from "Susan of West Medford" noting that West Medford already has easy access to the commuter … [Read more...]
Romney’s operation coming unhinged
Item: a deal through which Governor Mitt Romney might have been able to walk away from the stem cell debate with something like half a loaf (Sen. Pres. Travaglini was reportedly considering adopting two of Romney's proposed amendments to … [Read more...]