Rowhouse Logic - Breathtaking Inanity

I really like what Ben Waxman has to say here:

Anti-corruption legislation, while commendable, is simply a reaction to an age-old problem and won’t do very much by itself. People with large amounts of money will always figure out how to influence the political process. There will always be corruption. However, I believe it is possible that the seeds of a new movement can be found within the efforts to reform Philadelphia politics. To save our city, it cannot just be a reactionary movement. It must be an effort with bold vision, offering new solutions to familiar problems. I want to build a city where economic and social justice is the cornerstone of social policy. Where City Council is a laboratory for new ideas and innovative programs. Where social services are fully funded and all jobs pay a living wage.

I wonder if pay-to-play legislation moves us down that path? I’m not sure our energies couldn’t be better spent in other places.

While I personally support the Pay To Play legislation Ben is referring to, and signed the petition myself, he’s right in saying that this really isn’t enough. Listen, we need reform and we need it badly, but in order to really produce a great and socially equitable city (that’s the goal, right?), we need more than piecemeal efforts and reactive legislation. We need a sea change in the way our city is governed and an attitude adjustment with regards to what is possible. Quite a lot is. Until then, those of us with little or no power are stuck with petitions and babble and hope. My feeling is that in order to really shake the machine we need to start with the mundane - the ward leaders. More on that later.

As if feeling the pain of those who would like commit violent acts against judges wasn’t enough, Will Bunch lists a few additional reasons you may find this Texas senator troublesome.

Senator John Cornyn(R-TX)feels the pain of those who wish to kill Federal and State Judges:

“I don’t know if there is a cause-and-effect connection but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. Certainly nothing new, but we seem to have run through a spate of courthouse violence recently that’s been on the news and I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters on some occasions where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in - engage in violence.” [Senate Floor, 4/4/05]

This goes beyond even Tom Delay’s reprehensible statement of a few days ago. Clearly this is a person who needs to resign his office immediately. His party needs to realize that it currently governs this nation, that this sort of statement by a U.S. Senator is beneath contempt, and it needs to kick this sick individual overboard. I won’t hold my breath.

(Via AmericaBlog)

Josh Marshall:

…Tom DeLay is the Republican majority — extreme on a few key ‘culture’ issues and, beside that, on the block for the highest bidder.

When Democrats go corrupt, they betray their principles. And certainly it’s happened enough times. With someone like DeLay, there are no principles to betray. It’s just money and power from the git-go. And really that means just power. A cash-and-carry operation.

Nothing changes from the alpha to the omega save that you eventually run afoul of the law.

Last night I went to the ADA candidates’ forum to see the candidates for Philadelphia District Attorney speak. I’m pleased to say that, upon hearing him speak, my enthusiasm for Seth Williams’ candidacy is well warranted. Mr. Williams is the real deal. He discussed his proposal to change the way the District Attorney’s office operates with the implementation of community based prosecution. The idea would basically assign prosecutors to specific police districts where they would handle all criminal cases of all types from start to finish. The current system reassign criminal cases to different groups of District Attorneys as they move through the system. Community based prosecution would allow District Attorneys to get to know the particular neighborhood they serve and would keep the same prosecutor on a case from arraignment to verdict. As it stands now, over 50% of all cases in Philadelphia are dismissed prior to trial because the District Attorney’s office is not ready to go to court. That figure includes all crime types from vandalism to homicide.

Beyond policy, and there is quite a bit of policy left to discuss, Mr. Williams struck me as just the sort of person the Philadelphia desperately needs in public office. He is bright, articulate, extremely qualified, passionate about the issues and about Philadelphia, and he is not part of the Philadelphia Democratic machine. He discussed, with eloquence, the ecology of crime and, what struck me, as a holistic approach to crime prevention that involves not just the DA’s office and the police department, but also education and economic development. I was impressed with his enthusiasm for answering questions very directly, not just in the context of the forum, but approaching individuals who did not get the chance to ask their questions due to time constraints. What impressed me most, however, was that he communicated a vision for a better, safer Philadelphia than the city we have today, an enthusiasm for achieving it, and a firm belief that it is possible. Philadelphia needs people like Seth Williams in public office.

John Danforth:

The problem is not with people or churches that are politically active. It is with a party that has gone so far in adopting a sectarian agenda that it has become the political extension of a religious movement.

When government becomes the means of carrying out a religious program, it raises obvious questions under the First Amendment. But even in the absence of constitutional issues, a political party should resist identification with a religious movement. While religions are free to advocate for their own sectarian causes, the work of government and those who engage in it is to hold together as one people a very diverse country. At its best, religion can be a uniting influence, but in practice, nothing is more divisive. For politicians to advance the cause of one religious group is often to oppose the cause of another.

Via Just Between Strangers

If you are so inclined and have entirely too much time on your hands, you can go to a forum featuring the candidates for both Philadelphia District Attorney and City controller tonight. I’m not certain that Lynne Abraham will be there but, as of now, Seth Williams will. The event is at 7:30 PM at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church at 22nd & Spruce Streets. If I can get myself untwisted and in some sort of reasonable condition I’ll be there to check it out and support Seth.

Krugman:

America isn’t yet a place where liberal politicians, and even conservatives who aren’t sufficiently hard-line, fear assassination. But unless moderates take a stand against the growing power of domestic extremists, it can happen here.

From Roll Call Via DSCC and Susan:

Erasing any doubts that they will wage a protracted, scorched-earth campaign to win a Senate seat in Pennsylvania, Democrats and their allies wasted little time last week highlighting what they see as Sen. Rick Santorum’s (R) hypocrisy on the issue of Amtrak funding.

A group of union leaders fired off a letter to Santorum accusing the Republican of flip-flopping and ignoring the needs of his state by recently voting against restoring more than $1 billion in funding for the national passenger railroad corporation in next year’s budget.

Sensing the potential volatility of the issue, the Senator penned an opinion column in Friday’s Philadelphia Inquirer expressing his support for Amtrak funding.

The March 23 letter was signed by 10 national and local labor leaders, most of whom represent transportation trades.

“Simply put, an Amtrak bankruptcy would be a disaster for Pennsylvania, and your vote brings us a step closer to that,� the leaders wrote.

The letter was in response to Santorum’s vote a week earlier against an amendment that sought to restore $1 billion in operating subsidies to Amtrak. The measure, introduced by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), failed by a vote of 52-46.

President Bush proposed in his fiscal 2007 budget that Amtrak’s federal funding be eliminated and that the rail line be placed in bankruptcy as a prelude to restructuring.

…

Amtrak service is an essential part of the state’s economy and transportation system. Philadelphia is Amtrak’s third-busiest station and the company employs more than 3,000 workers in the state. Additionally, eight commuter railroads operate on Amtrak-owned or operated tracks in the Northeast Corridor.

Rick Santorum - Soon to the head of one of any number of right wing think tanks. Don’t be sad Rick - I hear the pay is excelent.

The Poor Man:

Asking oneself “why do they keep playing me for a chump?� is a question that chumps are always asking themselves, a question which answers itself, chumps. Yes, the Republican Party is primarily concerned with A) diminishing the government’s power over large corporations and the very rich, and B) pandering to a sizeable constituency who want to increase the government’s power over every other facet of American life, and over the rest of the world, in accordance with God’s Holy Bible, a book they have not read. Here is the platform of the Texas Republican Party, the party of Bush and DeLay, a platform which proposes to “dispel the “myth� of the separation of church and state�, oh, and eliminate the IRS, the ATF, the EPA, the DoE, HUD, HHS, Education, Commerce, Labor, and the Surgeon General, evict the UN, and teach Creationism in science classes, praise Jesus. That’s the Republican position - or at least the position of those Republicans currently in charge of the party - and it will remain the position of the party, like it or not, until such time as it stops winning elections. Until such time, in other words, as y’all stop acting surprised every time they do what they say they want to do, and stop supporting them.

Mithras Adds:

…You may have thought your interests and the interests of the rich were identical, but you don’t own large chunks of multinational corporations…The fact is, only one side of the aisle is interested in that “make the country a better place” thing, and it’s not the side you are currently on.

I add nothing. Typical.

Have a look at the email that Liberal Avenger sent to Donald Sensing of One Hand Clapping. It’s at the bottom of the post.

The Liberal Avenger says it better than I ever could, so I’ll just steal:

Republicans have become caricatures of the worst liberal fantasy demons they could possibly conjure up. Nanny-state, politically correct, big government, lying, wasteful, intrusive… holding up signs that say “Auschwitz” outside Terri Schiavo’s hospice. They’re everything they’ve been accusing us of being that we never were. Imagine the pride they must feel tonight being part of a confused, cannibalistic, apocalyptic movement with lying sacks of shit like Tom DeLay and Dennis Hastert at the helm.

Wow, they suck.

Note: I’m just reposting this from January to keep the noise level up a little. I’ll have new material up soon.

In case you missed it, Seth Williams officially announced his candidacy for Philadelphia District Attorney on Saturday, at Vernon Park in Germantown. He will be running in the primary against Lynn Abraham, America’s deadliest D.A., or so they say. In the last primary, Abraham was opposed by Alex Talmadge, who I believe had no prosecutorial experience but managed to receive 41 percent of the vote, despite running a severely underfunded, and largely unnoticed campaign. Unlike Mr. Talmadge, Seth Williams has a great deal of experience as a prosecutor and if he runs a good campaign, should have an excellent chance of winning the primary.

In the July 16, 1995 edition of The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Lynn Abraham was quoted saying she didn’t care “how many millions it costs” to put somebody to death. She also stated, in that same article, that “when it comes to the death penalty, I am passionate.” That’s some pretty ugly stuff. According to that same article (sorry no link, you have to pay to read it), her office seeks the death penalty in greater percentage of cases than any other District Attorney’s office in the United States. Although I haven’t seen any recent data, I would assume that is still the case.

Even if you aren’t opposed to the death penalty, you should be disturbed by the attitude displayed in those quotes. The application of the death penalty consumes many times the resources, both financial and human, consumed by prosecution and execution of life sentences. Philadelphia’s criminal justice system can scarcely afford the burden placed upon it by Abraham’s enthusiastic pursuit of the death penalty. That burden may be one reason that 50 percent of felony prosecutions in Philadelphia are thrown out due to the unpreparedness of the District Attorney’s office.

It should be noted that Mr. Williams also supports the death penalty but has said that “It should be the exception, not the rule.”. A refreshing if, in my mind, imperfect change.

Seth Williams’ campaign website is up and running. You can view it here. If you are at all interested in Philadelphia’s future, Please consider contributing to his campaign and/or signing up as a volunteer. It’s doubtful too many prominent Philadelphia Democrats will stick their necks out on Williams’ behalf, so he will need all of the grassroots support he can get.

[Update] Click here to have a look at Seth Williams proposals for reorganizing the DA’s office and implementing community based prosecution. The file is in PDF format and is campaign material. When I have some more time I’ll try to give a breakdown of my thoughts on his proposals which, at first glance, look quite promising.

I shudder at the thought of putting this out in public.

I sometimes think that one solution to the political craziness in America is personally attacking Republican activists.

And I mean real, hardcore, heavy-duty attacks.

You’re a Republican, and you’re sleeping around? In the name of family values, we tell your wife. And your neighbors.

You’re in favor of renewing restrictions on civil liberties? In the name of public safety, we publish everything publicly known about you on the web. Maybe even a few interviews with a few former friends and colleagues about what a jerk you are.

I know someone who is a Republican activist who is divorced. He put his kids in a special school because they have a few problems. It’s not their fault, and it’s probably not his fault. Hey, he’s probably a good father. But I feel so isolated from folks like him and his ilk.

I don’t think I would feel much guilt if I said to him “Hey, you are a real stupid fuck, and since you’re telling the Shiavos how to run their lives, why don’t we take your kids from you since you obviously fucked them up?”

Publicly.

Repeatedly.

If you haven’t taken the time to read this Joe Hoeffel post on MYDD, you should really take the time to do so. He discusses a rather peculiar encounter he had with John Bolton and a few of the reasons the man is unfit to serve as our nation’s UN Ambassador. As for the bomb - Stop Bolton.

Susan:

I’ve never felt apologetic or defensive about not having a degree, but it sure does seem to bother other people. How many times have I heard: “You don’t have a degree? But you’re so articulate and intelligent!”

To which I always reply, “Interesting assumption. Has it really been your experience that every college graduate you know is both articulate and intelligent?”

When it comes to political news, we’ve sanctified the wonk stuff and labeled good old common sense the province of wingnuts and morons. No wonder so many people don’t bother to interpret the news - we’ve already explained to them why they can’t.

This really hits home for me in a number of ways. Unlike Susan I did graduate college but I never did graduate from High School. Actually, I never made it past the eighth grade and even that was a struggle though not, I hope, because I’m unusually slow. Credentials are important to some, most especially employers, because it’s an easy and accepted way to judge a person without really knowing the first thing about them. In my own case, I don’t get too many questions anymore, for the simple reason that once you have a bachelor’s degree most people don’t concern themselves with things like how well you did in high school. Naturally, being a fairly self conscious person, my typical concern is that my lack of formal education will be evident to those I’m speaking to. That’s never actually happened (I hope) but the concern always lingers in the back of my head and can, from time to time, present self imposed barriers, even here on my own blog, with regards to what I’m comfortable discussing. Self deprecation aside, I wonder how many Interesting and insightful and inspiring voices we are not hearing because of the importance placed on formal education and even social status. Quite a number I would imagine and our political discourse is poorer for it.

Susan discusses the dearth of working class voices far more coherently than I ever could, so go read the whole thing.

Athenae wrote this last Friday. It’s well worth repeating.

Get a life. I’m not kidding. Find something to do with your time other than to insert yourself as a protester on either side of this case. Because it’s not about a woman who needs defending, it’s about you needing to be part of some larger drama, it’s about you wanting to be where the TV cameras are. It’s about you, you, you, you. It’s about the self-satisfied expression on your fat fucking face as you sit in your lawn chair, you fat white well-off slob taking a vacation from your job so you can be part of the spectacle.

It’s about your need to take a stand on something. It’s about your need to hear your own voice talking about how moral you are. It’s about you wanting to feel good about yourself, because you stood up for something. And it’s not that I don’t sympathize with that urge, but can’t you see, it’s unseemly when it’s about some person’s death. You don’t get your own way just because you feel something ought to happen. You don’t get to insert yourself into someone else’s life and demand that they live it or end it according to your rules.

And this goes for people who want this woman to be allowed to die as much as it is for the people who want to keep her alive.

This is a family tragedy. This is a dispute between parents and spouses over the life and death of someone they loved. Let them settle it between themselves. Let them work it out or not work it out. Let them do what they choose. They love her, they know her, they are bound by blood or marriage. There is a reason kin decide these things.

Opinions are like assholes, and a lot of you are acting like it today. You don’t get to have an opinion about everything. You don’t get to decide everything. You don’t get to go to Congress and demand they enact laws because you read about something or saw it on TV. You have no say in this. You shouldn’t.

I have utterly no idea if Terri Schiavo should have her feeding tube removed. And it would be beyond presumptuous to assume I should form an opinion. Who am I? Her friend? Her spouse? Her mother? Who am I to get to even say what I think should happen? What possible basis do I have for such determinations? How dare I even consider the question in light of my own desires?

There are people outside Terri Schiavo’s hospital with placards who are praying.

I hope it’s for humility.

Katha Pollitt:

Sexism, which is what we are discussing here, often justifies itself by assuming that women don’t want the thing that is being denied them.

I’ll admit to being overly simplistic here. The Liberal Avenger pointed out this Christian Science Monitor article which discusses a national conference held at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida aimed towards “reclaiming America for Christ.” The article discusses some of the ideas, strategies and historical beliefs of the religious right with regards to our nation’s governance. This paragraph from the first page of the article is what piqued my interest:

Their mission is not simply to save souls. The goal is to mobilize evangelical Christians for political action to return society to what they call “the biblical world view of the Founding Fathers.” Some speak of “restoring a Christian nation.” Others shy from that phrase, but agree that the Bible calls them not only to evangelize, but also to transform the culture.

It makes me curious if they are fully aware the biblical views of at least a few of the founding fathers. Let’s take Thomas Jefferson who wrote this in 1820:

I say, that this free exercise of reason is all I ask for the vindication of the character of Jesus. We find in the writings of his biographers matter of two distinct descriptions. First, a groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things impossible, of superstitions, fanaticisms and fabrications. Intermixed with these, again, are sublime ideas of the Supreme Being, aphorisms and precepts of the purest morality and benevolence, sanctioned by a life of humility, innocence and simplicity of manners, neglect of riches, absence of worldly ambition and honors, with an eloquence and persuasiveness which have not been surpassed. These could not be inventions of the groveling authors who relate them. They are far beyond the powers of their feeble minds.

The biographers and authors with the feeble minds to which he refers are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Perhaps they’ve heard of them? I wonder if they would agree with Jefferson’s assessment of the Gospel? I doubt he could get elected dog catcher today. I’ve placed the full text of that letter in the extended entry as it really in quite a read. Many more quotes of this nature can be found here.

My point here is not to harp on one group of religious activists or another, it’s to point out that there often is a historical disconnect present when discussing the alleged “Christian” quality of our nation’s founding. A profound misreading or willful misinterpretation of our nation’s history seems to be one of defining characteristics of the Christian Right. This is unfortunate and more than a little alarming given that the Christian Conservative wing of the Republican Party is currently wielding a great deal influence over our government and our nation as a whole.

The Rage Diaries has a more on this same article.
Read the rest of this entry »

Washington Post:

When the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a rule last week to limit mercury emissions from U.S. power plants, officials emphasized that the controls could not be more aggressive because the cost to industry already far exceeded the public health payoff.

What they did not reveal is that a Harvard University study paid for by the EPA, co-authored by an EPA scientist and peer-reviewed by two other EPA scientists had reached the opposite conclusion.

That analysis estimated health benefits 100 times as great as the EPA did, but top agency officials ordered the finding stripped from public documents, said a staff member who helped develop the rule. Acknowledging the Harvard study would have forced the agency to consider more stringent controls, said environmentalists and the study’s author.