CandyBullets

Cross-posted to MyLeftWing

You can thank me later, for now -- pass this on!

The tenth Republican debate will begin in twenty minutes. Can Gingrich sustain his momentum? Will Rick Perry die of embarrassment? This has to be the closest nominating process that can possibly be this uninteresting.

Cross-posted to MyLeftWing and firefly-dreaming

On July 2, 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson did something he could not possibly have understood the full implications of -- he signed the Civil Rights act into law. For a long time prior, the political landscape of America had looked a great deal different; great sweeps of Presidential elections were more common, and in many ways it helped solidify the partisanship seen today. Paradoxically, however, the parties it helped Presidential candidates align with were the enemies.

1968 was the year the south left the Democrats. For a long time, the north was Republican and the south was Democratic; in 1936 the two states to hold out for Landon against Roosevelt’s sweep were Vermont and Maine. In the senate it was Republicans who worked across lines to pass the Civil Rights act, and the Filibustering of the Civil Rights act was led by 18 Democratic senators and one lone Republican. Seeing what has happened is not complex, in 1968 Richard Nixon ran on a “law & order” (no need to remind you what that’s code for) platform, and a block of southern states (Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia) -- still perhaps not able to bring themselves to vote for a Republican (though they’d learn) -- voted for Dixiecrat George Wallace on the American Independence ticket. Hubert Humphery lost every state south of West Virginia except Texas (which was just white enough to not be too concerned about Civil Rights matters) -- and began an odd precedent of Democratic control up in New England.

Cross-posted to firefly-dreaming and MyLeftWing

We join our heroes today...

Ratings For 2012 Senate Races, Part II

All races will be rated safe D/probable D/lean D/tossup/lean R/probable R/safe R.

(all fundraising numbers are for the 3Q.)

I have not been blogging lately (I am not even counting my last "post"); this is partly because, as most of you know, I am writing a book and ultimately it's hard to get in my work on the book and this blog, partly however it's also because I recently started a binge through the 25 episode anime "Saki" -- and there's really no excuse for neglecting for my blog for that. Another problem is that I spend a great deal of time writing reviews -- you might this confusing because I never publish them, instead I fuss endlessly. As such I'm just letting those few who read here know that, yes, I'm still out here and will be back doing real, substantial posts starting Wednesday when I will liveblog the Republican debate and do my (now biweekly) "Victory Road Elections News Roundup", after that I will be doing another piece on Ohio redistricting and I'll be covering how Oregon's obscenity law was ruled unconstitutional, hopefully I'll also begin posting some of my reviews as well.

“As our nation faces challenging times, it is appropriate for Members of Congress and our nation — like our predecessors — to firmly declare our trust in God, believing that it will sustain us for generations to come,” Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) said.

Just because he didn’t save you last time doesn’t mean he won’t this time! What is the definition of insanity?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein, (attributed)
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

Ah, yes.

It’s not just that I think is insane, and insensitive and useless I also think it’s breathtakingly condescending. That God will save you. When these people get up in the morning and look in the mirror I wonder what they see that makes them think, yes, God will save me, personally. He favors my country. God will save us. Not the Christians in Britain, Spain, France, Italy or Japan. Certainly not the atheists or Buddhists. Us. Because we’re worth it.

The U.S.-led free trade deal, the “Trans-Pacific Partnership” (TPP) may have a new member -- Japan.

Cross-posted to MyLeftWing, firefly-dreaming and WildWildLeft

We join our heroes today...

(Sorry I missed last week)

Ratings For 2012 Senate Races, Part I

All races will be rated; safe D/probable D/lean D/tossup/lean R/probable R/ safe R. I’ll also be doing the Governor’s races when we complete our look at the senate.

(all fundraising numbers are for the 3Q.)

Cross-posted to MyLeftWing, The Stars-Hollow Gazette, firefly-dreaming and Docudharma

If you follow my website you’re probably well aware of the threat posed by the “IP PROTECT ACT” known more commonly as the Internet Blacklist bill. You’re may also be aware that this bill was recently halted in the Senate by the true Democrat Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) who prevented the bill from coming up for a vote in the Senate (where it would doubtless pass) however a House version will be introduced this week with help of Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) -- probably tomorrow. If you’re not familiar with this bill then I suggest you become acquainted (the full text of the bill may be found here.)

Cross-posted to MyLeftWing

Imagine traveling to another country and having your comic books and electronic devices seized. Then, you’re arrested because of the books you read. This may seem like a horror story, but for one comics reader, it’s come true.

An American computer programer who was attempting to visit an ailing friend in Canada has been abusively jailed, when he went attempted to go through customs he was stopped (he “looked like a pervert” -- reasonable suspicion is currently not required by Canadian law), invasively searched, and all his possessions were seized. Upon browsing through personal documents on his laptop (yes, they have a right to do that to anyone attempting to cross the border) customs agents decried two (legally owned and purchased) comic books as “Child Pornography” (one of which was entirely comprised of stick figures) and he faces a “mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail.” Christopher Handley all over again. Wouldn’t Orrin Hatch be proud? Canadian customs agents have been cracking down hard on comic books coming over the border (this could be anything driven, flown, boated or otherwise brought into Canada, excepting U.S. mail, which apparently has stricter standards when it comes to "reasonable suspicion" and requires a warrant -- not so for vehicles owned by private companies, which can be -- and are -- searched much more easily).