And the GOP veil of moderation didn’t just slip on economic policy yesterday: Southern conservatives actually spiked a renewal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act in order to protest multilingual ballots, as well as the (well-earned) perception that the South still disenfranchises African-Americans. “Barbara Arnwine, executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said a bipartisan commission found evidence of recent voting rights violations in Georgia, Texas and several other states. ‘These are not states that can say their hands are clean,’ she said.“
Author: KcM
Hastert’s House of Pork.
“The sound bites from politicians have always been that they’re doing what’s best for their districts, but we’re starting to see a pattern that looks like they might be doing what’s best for their pocketbooks.” As part of their continuing series on earmarks, the WP examines how several GOP reps seem to have been profiteering from their pork projects, including Ken Calvert (R-CA), Gary Miller (R-CA), and Speaker Denny Hastert. To wit, “House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) made a $2 million profit last year on the sale of land 5 1/2 miles from a highway project that he helped to finance with targeted federal funds.”
Whence the Joementum?
“If Lamont has been unconventional and smart, Lieberman so far has been conventional and dumb.” Slate‘s John Dickinson reports in from the Connecticut Democratic primary, where Joe Lieberman is finding his pro-war Republicrat schtick isn’t playing too well with the Dem grass roots and amid the blogosphere. “The challenger clearly has the momentum. He’s doing so well that Lieberman has had discussions with political advisers about running in the general election as an independent.”
In Our Country, there is Problem.
In the trailer bin, Sasha Baron Cohen channels everyone’s favorite’s Kazakhstanian in the new teaser for Borat (a.k.a. “Cultural Learnings for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” — Take that unwieldy subtitle, “The Last Stand.”) Respec’.
Iorek, Norrin, & Co.
AICN posts some pics from the big licensing show in NYC, which includes some impressive looking bears from The Golden Compass, as well as posters for Spiderman 3, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (apparently, the ’70’s hair is out), Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda, and (gulp) Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer.
The Heat is Rising.
A hearty congrats to the Miami Heat on the completion of their forceful comeback over the flailing Dallas Mavericks last night. (Can you hear that? Somewhere, Kobe is seething.) A few years ago, at the height of the Knicks-Heat rivalry, I’d have hated to see this outfit win a championship. But these days, I have to admit, it’s kinda nice to aging stars Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning (who had a monster Game 6) get rings, to say nothing of J-Dub, ‘Toine, and, of course, the league’s new #1 guy, Dwyane Wade. As for Dallas, it looks like they — and particularly Nowitzki — basically just lost their nerve. As their dive deepened after the Game 3 collapse, they all looked more and more stressed (Avery Johnson’s aggro coaching style probably didn’t help), and nobody ever stepped up thereafter to get ’em out of their tailspin. Still, don’t fret, Mr. Cuban: there’s always next year (In fact, it’s already begun: the Spurs just dumped Nesterovich to Toronto for cap room…) And, now, my full sports attention (research time notwithstanding) goes to the World Cup…
E for Escapist.
“Quick answers (as of this date): Golem: yes. Antarctica: yes. Gay love story: yes. Ruins of World’s Fair: no. Long Island: no. Orson Welles: no. Salvador Dali: yes. Loving reference to Betty and Veronica: no. Stan Lee: no.” Author Michael Chabon blogs in to say, among other things, that Natalie Portman is likely Rosa in the forthcoming film version of Kavalier & Klay, to be directed by Stephen Daldry.
Borderline Personality Disorder.
Something in their eyes is makin’ such a fool of he…In a “decision [that] was widely seen as a slap both at the Senate and the president,” the House GOP punt on the proposed immigration reform bill, likely until after the 2006 elections. “House Republicans have long frowned upon the president’s approach, passing instead a bill that would tighten border controls, clamp down on employers who hire undocumented workers and declare illegal immigrants and those who assist them to be felons. Their position solidified this month after a California special election to replace jailed former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R). Republican candidate Brian Bilbray won the seat, beating back a tough Democratic challenge by running hard against the president’s approach.“
Safavian Out.
We’ve seen several guilty pleas and resignations — Now, the ballad of Casino Jack has brought a conviction the hard way. Former White House procurement head and Abramoff flunky David Safavian is found guilty on 4 of 5 counts of lying and obstruction of justice. “Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.” So that takes care of Safavian…which GOP luminary will face trial next? Ralph Reed, perhaps? Or will it be Bob Ney?
Blue England Patriots.
“Talking about the national political outlook, Democratic pollster Mark Mellman said, ‘A very heavy anti-Republican wave is building and it’s going to hit against a very stable political structure. And what is unknown is which will be more important in November — the size of the wave or the stability of the structure.’” Salon‘s Walter Shapiro offers up another Election 2006 preview, with a brief breakdown of the electoral math for the Dems and a focus on the quandary of moderate New England Republicans such as Lincoln Chafee and Chris Shays.