So the Republicans want to threaten a filibuster on the stimulus package. Why not let them?

Let's get real: Democrats are riding high on election wins, people want the stimulus, and they are pretty much anti-Republican still after eight years of Bush. So let's call their bluff and make them filibuster the bill if they want to stop it.

That's exactly what the American people would loathe to see: Republicans grinding government to a halt, reading the phone book into the record, while thousands lose their jobs. If they played it right, the Democrats could look like the saviors of the economy while the Republicans stand in the doorway, blocking help for poor people. Yeah, that's the image the Republicans want to put forward.

Unfortunately Harry Reid doesn't seem to have a pair and would never force the Republicans to actually carry a cookbook up to the dais. If he did this would be easier. Eventually the Republican support would crack, and since it only takes two Senators in states where they have a 50% chance of losing next election (see Arlen Specter [R-PA]) the Republican caucus will crumble in about a day and a half.

My message: call their bluff, Senator Reid. Make them do it. Let them grind the government to a halt and embarrass themselves. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

10:36 am | Comment (2) | Print | Categories: Economics, Politics

A friend of mine went to a party last night hosted by Rebuild The Party, a group that is taking the Republican Party to task over its recent electoral failures and promising change. This younger, internet-based group of conservative activists have put forward their own plan, and I promised him that I would provide some ideas about how I think the Republican party can once again be a force in American politics.

As someone who started college a conservative and graduated a liberal, I have a unique perspective. I didn't change my mind because of some voodoo magic, but because facts were presented to me and our President behaved so badly that I simply couldn't justify supporting his party. But I'm not immune to good reason, and I like many of the ideas regarding self-sufficiency. So here are my ideas, in no particular order.

1. Adopt some humility. The biggest problem America had with George W. Bush was his unapologetic approach to things. It was his way or the highway; that's not how it works in the real world. Six years of a Republican President and Congress together produced both some of the most lopsided legislation in history AND the longest string of bills ever to be presented without a veto by the President. Was this string because there were no Democratic ideas in those six years? No; it was because leaders like Bush and Tom Delay refused to accede to Democratic demands, creating a toxic congressional enviornment and angering the liberal base enough to rise up - the effects of which you saw in your crushing in November 2008
2. It has got to be about community. In good years, it's hard to sell people on the need for national service or for community involvement. This task becomes easier in lean years, but in all years it is important. For a long time the Republican party has stood as the party for less government and more self-reliance, but has missed a critical aspect: the community. Republicans have long ignored the fact that people are not an island but a member of a community and that the power of the community is greater than the power of the government to effect change. Self-reliance only works when you give people a safety net - that has typically existed in communities but in an increasingly interconnected but isolated world where people know others in foreign countries but not their own neighbors, fostering community becomes essential.
3. It has got to be about helping people. A recent expose in the New York Times faulted the Bush administration for failing to remember that people needed to be able to afford their homes, but it missed one of the most compassionate things Bush ever did: he made home ownership possible. Bush may have failed dramatically at making continued homeownership possible, but he did believe (and I think correctly) that a large part of self-sufficiency was having an asset, like a home. Why didn't he sell this better? Conservatives have always had a hard time explaining how their policies will help people. Usually they explain it in abstract terms, requiring a complex understanding of economics or the Federal regulatory structure to understand. But Americans understand things like making it easier to buy bread or own a home or go to college. They understand those things. Rather than presenting things in abstract terms ("reducing regulation on lenders will lead to new lending products") why not put it in terms people get ("reducing regulation makes it easier to buy a house.")? But one caveat...
4. It must both be slow change and it must work. The Bush administration was famous for ignoring experts who predicted things they disagreed with. Most famously is the crisis we're now in, and what spelled disaster for your party. Bush rushed to deregulate the government but the rule-changing was not done with any sort of acceptable rule that would prevent the meltdown we're experiencing. Change must happen, but it must happen with caution and it must be proven to work before going full speed.
5. Experts are not bad people. From the enviornment to health care, the Bush administration chose ideology over facts and provable statistics. Don't do that. People are smart, and especially the people you need to convince to vote for you. You know the type - middle class, middle-of-the-road voters that actually elect you to offices (your base isn't responsible for that, so stop pandering). There's no fear in taking something from an expert and understanding it and then deciding that a policy you were pursuing was wrong and changing course - and then telling people that.
6. Drop the social issues for goodness sake!
Seriously. Being staunchly pro-life anti-gay gun-fanatical moose-hunting rednecks may appeal to your base but it turns the rest of us off. Stop it. The American Dream is financial. Stick to that. Stick to talking about freedom and liberty and being happy and staying alive. The Founding Fathers didn't care about the social issues of their time - in fact they even edited out lines regarding slavery in the Declaration of Independence. The greatest social issue of its time and they didn't even address it. Yes, if you drop the social issues the right-wing Christian part of your base will flip out. Let them. They don't win elections for you. The middle-class middle-of-the-road voters do, and they really care about their pocketbook. So speak to that issue.
7. It's about governing, not winning. Remember when you put John Murtha's war resolution to vote? You know, back when you controlled Congress? The smug smiles you wore said that you were really pleased that it crashed and burned. You even got large numbers of Democrats to vote against it and used that as a reason to beat him up on television and the morning shows. But you know something? That really didn't work out well. Americans were starting to sour on the war; now more of them oppose it than originally supported it - and you have only yourselves to blame. Americans want leadership. They want people who are going to debate the tough issues, not hold a sham vote preceded by a sham 20 minutes of "debate." Winning the vote is not governing. And Americans know better. Instead, be willing to talk about the hard issues, debate the tough stuff. You may win, you may lose, but that's governing - making tough choices.
8. Stop cutting taxes. Start cutting spending. Republicans love tax cuts. But they hate spending cuts. The truth is that deficits do matter. They matter a lot. Ignoring this fact makes you look stupid. And cutting taxes is pretty much an economic theory that most economists will disprove in about 45 seconds, so that angle doesn't work either. So let's try this: get spending cuts. Get spending cut so that the government has a surplus. THEN tell people that they've overpaid the treasury - and what would they like you to do with it? Chances are they'll ask for it back. In the form of - you guessed it - tax cuts! How can Democrats oppose giving people back their money? But they can oppose running huge, irresponsible deficits that will force tax hikes later on. And that's where you're losing the battle.
9. Liberal isn't a bad word. Being a liberal doesn't make you a bad person or a freedom-hating bastard. It just makes you think differently. It's your job to point out that it's okay to think government solves all problems - and then to prove it wrong. With facts. And evidence. This is where you erred for so long: you painted the opposition as a bunch of wusses, incapable of standing up to a flea let alone terrorists and recessions. But I think America saw through that smokescreen. Democrats may not have their fingers on the trigger button but it was a Democrat who led us through World War II. Keep that in mind.
10. Stop running douchebags. Seriously now. You need to start running some people who actually make Republicans sound intelligent, compassionate, and responsible. Moose hunters from Alaska are bad choices. So are people who run ads in Georgia accusing World War II veterans who lost limbs of terrible things. Norm Coleman makes my skin crawl and that's before I hear him speak. You need to run guys like Michael Steele who was a great candidate for Senator in Maryland. I disagree with his record but he was warm, inviting, and friendly. You need to find people that speak to the core of America, sound intelligent but inviting, and most of all, don't conduct themselves like brutal dictators. Sure, behaving that way might win you elections, but only because you make the other guy look impossible. The second someone true comes along, you're done.

11:42 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics

The National Mall hours before the inauguration. Many people spent the night.

Obama delivers his inaugural address to the masses.

Bush boards Executive One for the ride to Andrews Air Force Base.

10:03 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics, Washington, DC

In a little more than 11 hours, the Bush administration will come to an end.

In a tribute to the power of term limits and peaceful transitions of authority, Americans everywhere will witness one leader stepping off the stage and another of a different party stepping up. Without a fight.

The transition will mean the end of perhaps the worst presidency in American history, too. The drubbing given to Bush's party was the final disgrace for a man who spent a third of his presidency on vacation, but missed a hurricane, ignored dire warnings of terrorist attack, failed to see faulty intelligence on weapons of mass destruction, limited the civil rights he claimed to be protecting, and dismissed the warning signs of a groaning economy ready to collapse. But America has term limits, and tomorrow none of that will matter.

The viewing stand where President Barack Obama will view the parade down Pennsylvania avenue. This is right in front of the White House.

12:14 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics, Washington, DC

The automobile industry is going to press Congress for $50 billion in loans. The automakers insist that the loans are necessary, with high fuel prices and low demand for profitable SUVs and trucks eating profits and running up huge losses.

In an election year, it will be hard for Congress to say no to protecting American jobs and innovating right here.

But saying no is exactly what Congress should do.

The American automobile industry is famous for claiming market principles should drive the auto industry when Congress tries to increase fuel efficiency or safety standards. And this is not the first bailout of the American auto industry that taxpayers have funded.

The truth is that the market is doing what the market does - killing old industries and rewarding new ones. American automobile manufacturing has been in decline for years. The truth is that the Europeans and the Asians are much better at producing cars than we are.

The human face of these industry losses are the people who find themselves unemployed. Congress should spend the $50 billion in training, business investment, and other aid, rather than pouring it into an industry that will eventually fail.

When automakers from Detroit tell Congress that we're "shipping American jobs overseas" they should be quietly reminded that Toyota produces many if not most of the vehicles it sells in America, in America. So does Honda, Hyundai, and others. VW produces its cars in North America, primarily in Mexico. They should also be reminded that Ford Motor Company, which will make such a claim, produces most of its parts in Mexico, then ships them to Detroit for assembly. For Asian car makers, manufacturing the cars here is cheaper than shipping them overseas, and good, high-paying American jobs come from these investments.

Ford may have invented the assembly line, but his Japanese and European competitors invented better automobiles. That's how markets work. Propping up a failing industry will only prolong the inevitable, cost the taxpayers billions, and do nothing to encourage innovation. It may be unpopular to say no in an election year, but it is right.

Auto industry to press Congress for $50B in loans ~ AP, 9/7/2008

1:20 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Economics, Politics, Washington, DC

Republicans on the floor of the House of Representatives revolted and refused to leave Washington, despite a vote to close the House session for the August recess. Arguing that high gasoline prices required that Congress not take a vacation, Republicans have stayed on the floor, debating the issues with one another, to the embarrassment of the Democrats.

The revolt started last Friday, with Democrats ending the session but some Republicans refusing to leave. More than 100 Congressmen are expected to return by the end of the week, and hosts like Rush Limbaugh have put enormous pressure on Democrats to bring the chamber back into session.

There's a good article here that explains what's going on:
House Republican Rebellion Continues.

9:58 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics

Greenpeace.org homepage.

11:56 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: DC PHP, Politics, Washington, DC

The House of Representatives authorized Amtrak for another five years, and did so by a veto-proof margin today, marking a stiff rebuke to those like John McCain who would see Amtrak's demise.

Over the objections of the White House, the House passed the bill offering $15 billion over five years to Amtrak. The Bush administration threatened a veto, but the increasing popularity of passenger rail and the ever-decreasing popularity of President Bush limits the relevancy of the President on this issue.

The vote also means that should the bill become law, and John McCain wins the White House, he will be unable to veto Amtrak funding from the budget, as the money was appropriated before he took office. Since McCain will likely be a one-term President (he will be 76 at the end of his term), this means Amtrak will survive his "non-negotiable" position.

The House vote was 311 - 104.

7:09 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Metro, Northern Virginia, Politics, Rail, Washington, DC

Gigaom.com has published an interesting article about how tiered internet service is likely due to the fact that cable companies recognize that unlimited broadband connections end up putting them out of business.

Here's how it works: unlimited internet lets people have access to high quality video through Netflix, iTunes, and other services. Companies like Comcast charge exorbitant rates for lower-quality programming, and as more consumers become tech-savvy, they're realizing they can buy episodes off iTunes and watch movies off Apple TV for much less than what Comcast and others want.

The solution? Cable companies need to limit how much you can download. Gigaom.com speculates that the tiers are designed to limit most people to about 75 minutes of Standard Definition video a day - not nearly enough to satisfy most television watchers. This means cable companies can remain secure in their video connection subscription rates, and help put P2P out of business to boot.

Congress needs to investigate and punish these innovation-crushing monopolies. The internet is the closest we've ever gotten to unlimited free speech, and to let cable and phone companies dictate what and how much of it people can download and utilize is unconscionable and contrary to our best ideals.

1:35 pm | Comment (5) | Print | Categories: Law, Politics, Washington, DC

Honesty is very important to law enforcement. Police officers routinely testify in court, and their word often outweighs that of a defendant, especially in cases where the officer is the only one to see the offense. So you would think that it would be easy to fire a police officer who lied to their superiors.

Nope.

Continue Reading...

4:11 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Bizarre, Civil Rights, Crime, Politics, Washington, DC

Take another page from the Republican playbook for Hillary Clinton. In her premature victory speech to Indiana, she declared that she could "keep us safe" and "make this economy work." But wait...aren't those the same promises of John McCain?

The truth is that Hillary Clinton let slip her true colors tonight. Hillary Clinton doesn't represent the change America needs, because she's in the breast pockets of special interests. The words "keep" and "make work" indicate continuing along the same path, the Bush-McCain path, the failed strategy that has us mired in two wars with a foundering economy and flailing middle class.

Clinton's error will likely go unnoticed by the mainstream media as they talk about how close Indiana will turn out to be. Her speech paled in comparison to the heartfelt and presidential speech given by Obama earlier in the night, and I think it will start to show in later races. But it's increasingly clear that a vote for Clinton is just like a vote for McCain: more of the same, failed, flawed, foolish policies of the last eight years.

11:21 pm | Comments Disabled | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

But conventional thinking in Washington lined up for war. The pundits judged the political winds to be blowing in the direction of the President. Despite - or perhaps because of how much experience they had in Washington, too many politicians feared looking weak and failed to ask hard questions. Too many took the President at his word instead of reading the intelligence for themselves. Congress gave the President the authority to go to war. Our only opportunity to stop the war was lost. ~ Barack Obama

7:59 am | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

Take the following scenario: a relatively inexperienced, young, attractive Presidential candidate of ethnic decent with a young family runs for President against a party establishment. He wins a number of contests, some unexpectedly, but trails his establishment colleagues, forcing the Democratic convention into deadlock.

Sound like the Democratic race to this point? It was also the plotline in the 6th and 7th seasons of the West Wing. Continue Reading...

8:51 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

In chess, an end game is a period of time where there are few pieces left on the board and you have limited means with which to win. A well positioned end game can mean the difference between winning and losing.

A friend of mine made me sit down and strategize my "end game" for my life. She made me sit down and work out four major goals, and then milestones in reaching those goals. Accomplishing them is my "end game" - my life well lived.

The goals that I set are as follows:

• Earn a law degree.
• Run a successful technology-focused business.
• Bring honesty into politics.
• Maintain a healthy, happy, loving family.

5:12 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Business, Jobs, Politics, Relationships

If you're from Tennessee you had better get on defending your southern border! No, not from an influx of illegal immigrants but from the grabby hands of Georgian politicos who are hell-bent on stealing part of the Tennessee river to relieve their drought.
Continue Reading...

11:30 pm | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Bizarre, Funny, Politics

A few weeks back, I met a young conservative female and we hit it off. We enjoyed talking about lots of non-political things, as well as debating politics. You'd think that someone like me, who believes in government regulation of insurance companies, forcing Wal Mart to allow unions, and all the other positions I have, and her, a libertarian who believes that there ought not be a minimum wage, we wouldn't be able to get along very well.

But surprisingly, not so. Continue Reading...

11:54 am | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Politics, Relationships

The Constitution gives each person the right to speak freely their viewpoint without fear of government interference. Though we place some limitations on that speech, the ability to speak on political topics is generally protected above all others. Justice William Brennan said in Texas v. Johnson that "If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable"

I am of the opinion that blogs in general and my blog in particular serve as free speech zones where I may speak and receive responses, and individuals may engage in civil discourse that is logical, reasonable, and factual. I blog about many controversial issues and I do so expecting and welcoming comments in response. I enjoy a good debate, as the points made by those who disagree with me help make my arguments better, and I hope my arguments help make theirs better.

But what I cannot permit is personal attacks by anyone who reads and comments here. I expect that discourse here will be of a higher level, one that is dignified and among friends - my friends. While I treat this blog a a free speech zone, I know that it is exceptionally easy for written word to spiral into deep, hurtful insult, much faster than spoken word has the ability to do so, and when such personal and deeply held beliefs are involved, it becomes that much more difficult. Written words have started wars, begin revolutions, led to interviews at Weehawken, and destroyed friendships.

When I built the code for this blog, I included two functions: the first to bar comments on specific entries and the second to bar specific individuals from commenting without approval, or from commenting altogether. Thus far I have not used the first feature, and the second has been used only twice. It would be a terrible day where I would have to use either to control a debate spiraling wildly downward, and I implore my readers to carefully consider the comments they post.

8:26 pm | Comments Disabled | Print | Categories: History, Politics

As if the first time wasn't enough, Clinton was caught in another lie. This time, she claims that on a trip to Bosnia, she landed under sniper fire and was whisked away to safety...in her words she said:

"I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base."

4:55 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Humorous, Politics

Highlights since March 1st - enjoy!

1. The worst plan. Ever. Why charging tolls to drive in the city is a bad idea.
2. Cheap Eats Food for $5 per serving? It's possible even with rising prices.
3. The Death of Customer Service Good customer service is hard to come by these days. An experience worth reading.
4. Obama Wins Texas! Maybe? Sort of... Not really? A look at the Texas "primus" (primary + caucus).
5. Mac Secrets A look at exciting new software from the makers of Quicksilver.

1:03 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Apple, Blog Roundup, Business, Economics, Election '08, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Pet Peeves, Politics, Technology, Traffic, Travel

Hillary Clinton - Liar.

9:05 am | Comment (6) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

In elections, there is usually a clear winner...I mean, occasionally Florida has trouble finding an abacus big enough to count their votes but generally we have a clear winner, and that's the person who gains more support overall. That's how it's supposed to work. Right?

Not if you're from Texas, apparently. Continue Reading...

9:03 am | Comment (2) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

Reversing his order from February 15th, Judge White, who felt it was necessary to use draconian orders not seen since the British closed Boston Harbor and had closed a website, has finally come to his senses and apparently picked up a copy of the Constitution of the United States.

The website, wikileaks.org, has several web aliases around the globe, making the effect of the judge's prior order almost impotent. However, the judge admitted that his order had serious First Amendment implications. From the New York Times:

In reversing himself at a hearing here on Friday, Judge White acknowledged that the bank’s request posed serious First Amendment questions and might constitute unjustified prior restraint. He also appeared visibly frustrated that technology might have outrun the law and that, as a result, the court might not be able to rein in information once it had been disclosed online.

"We live in an age," Judge White said, "when people can do some good things and people can do some terrible things without accountability necessarily in a court of law."

6:01 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Law, Politics

Anyone who really knows me knows that I used to develop roleplaying games for an international stage. I'm excited because I just finished writing new rules for a new game, and the rules are in review by a couple of old players who I trust. I'm excited about it because I think it's some of the best work that I've ever done - so much so that for those of you geeky enough to enjoy reading about political games I've posted the rules as a PDF for you (after the jump).

It's worth noting that these rules are very rough and do not consider a number of scenarios that I am still thinking about. However, they do encompass the general rule of the game, where players act as leaders of their nations.

And hey, if you read them and want to participate, feel free to let me know! I'm always game for players...

Rules (PDF)

8:40 pm | Comment (2) | Print | Categories: Adventures, Entertainment, Politics

Few people have ever heard of Judge Jeffery S. White. But right now, Judge White is the biggest threat to the United States Constitution, specifically the First Amendment, since the Alien and Sedition Acts in the 1790’s and the PATRIOT Act in early 2002. See, Judge White decided to ignore the First Amendment and order a website shut down because of content posted to that website by a user. It’s not a surprise that Judge White was appointed by the Bush administration, and even less of a surprise that he shares their hatred for the Constitution, but few have been so blatant about ignoring the amendment as Judge White.
Continue Reading...

9:02 am | Comment (4) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

7:02 pm | Comment (4) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

By now, the media has made a complete mess out of the Super Tuesday results, with conflicting information and way too much coverage. Our collective primary and caucus system is complex, to be sure. Here is my analysis of the race for the White House...
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9:02 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

7:27 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Crime, Election '08, Politics

The Senate is currently considering the the Patent Reform Act of 2007 (presumably to be renamed to 2008), which essentially places limitations on patent litigation, most significantly in the amount of damages that can be awarded for patent infringement. Particularly, the legislation would limit damages to being calculated using a formula that would take into account the amount of importance and the part of an invention that relies on the infringed patent.
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8:21 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Pet Peeves, Politics

Whether fair or not, New Hampshire's place as the first primary following the first caucus has always given it a unique impact on the Presidential campaigns. In some years, it has shifted the momentum from one candidate coming from Iowa to another; in other years, it has approved the Iowa nominee who then went on to be President. But whatever the outcome, there has always been a unique result out of having such a small state with such a prominent place in the national discussion of Presidential candidates. Last Tuesday provided no exception to this rule.
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5:02 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

11:48 am | Comment (2) | Print | Categories: Phones, Politics, Technology

9:51 pm | Comment (3) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

Iowa holds it's first-in-the-nation caucus this Thursday, and the races are tight. Since it's the general consensus among most pundits that regardless of the nominee, if the election were held today, the Democrats would win it. But if that's true, then why is it that the state of Iowa, population 2,892,085, gets to decide for the rest of America who the next President will be?
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12:15 pm | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics, Washington, DC

In 2001, at the height of the anthrax attacks that happened right after the September 11th attacks, two postal workers in DC died as a result of handling anthrax-laced mail. And thus began the demise of the Washington, DC postmark.
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9:30 pm | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Politics, Washington, DC

With oil's seeming unstoppable march forward, many of you (my friends) have asked me about what it means to the global economy and to our economy in particular. I am writing this as a hopeful way to avoid the questions that I receive and to provide a clear example of exactly why the economy is in its current state of affairs.
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9:59 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Economics, Politics, Washington, DC

Anyone that knows me knows that I favor almost unlimited free speech. I'm uneasy with restrictions on what you can say and when you can say it; I'm all for allowing protesters to protest even if I disagree with their causes; I know that the outrageous idea today might be the banner for tomorrow. But even I find the protest of military funerals to be a despicable and unpatriotic act, outside the realm of the 1st Amendment and it's intentions.
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11:20 pm | Comment (3) | Print | Categories: Bizarre, Politics

Washington Post has an article about constituent services in the District of Colombia, discussing how many council members receive requests from constituents who are asking for more than the filling of potholes and replacement of street lamps. These constituents are asking for help paying for some of life's necessities: rent, groceries, and even funerals.
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7:57 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics, Washington, DC

in 2008, China will host the world for a series of Olympic games. These games will generate millions if not billions in tourism dollars for China, as well as legitimize a totalitarian regieme. It is for these reasons that the United States, and all freedom-loving nations in the West, should boycott the Chinese games.
Continue Reading...

8:51 am | Comment (2) | Print | Categories: Olympics, Politics

Steven Colbert, now candidate for President.

11:36 am | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Bizarre, Election '08, Politics

Protesters clash with police in Georgetown on Friday, October 19th. Photo by Washington Post.

9:30 pm | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Politics, Washington, DC

Photo By Chris Morran.

2:31 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics, Technology

Protesters in Manassas, VA. Photo from the New York Times.

11:34 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Immigration, Northern Virginia, Politics

Hey open government fans: if you thought your government was open, think again. At today's Senate Commerce Committee Hearing, lobbyists paid ordinary citizens $60/hr to stand in line so that they could be assured a seat in the hearing on cell phones.
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2:07 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics

A couple of weeks ago, I covered a proposal in California that would change how electoral votes are apportioned in the California general election for President. I described how the system was inherently unfair, and I recieved some remarks regarding the system and how it would be "more" fair than the current system. I wanted to address some of those complaints here.

The Electoral College was a good system for the time it was designed. It was designed to let the states select the President. Our Republic was designed to give the people a limited influence; in fact, the people are limtied to electing the House of Representatives. It is only through history that the people have been given more power to elect Federal leaders; typically the perview of the Federal government was international affairs and the states handled domestic issues.

Our country has changed. We now directly elect our Senators, individuals who were supposed to represent their states' interests to the Federal government. We also directly elect our President, even though the Constitution doesn't require that our state legislators allow us to do so. The electoral college's purpose of providing states the ability to elect the President no longer serves its purpose. Thus, it should be abolished.

I am in favor of a system that would elect a President through the popular vote directly. It would not be such a system where one candidate with 12% of the vote could become President; in the event of a candidate not garnering 50% of the vote, the top two candidates would face a runoff. Surely if we can hold primaries we can hold an election and a runoff.

If we are truly interested in a democratic system that fairly represents the popular vote, we should use the popular vote. The electoral college allows certain states to carry more weight while others carry none at all, rather than all states being in play and a President having to make promises that affect ALL of them, rather than just some of them.

9:04 am | Comment (10) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Politics

Wreckage in California highway accident and fire.

5:28 pm | Comment (1) | Print | Categories: Metro, Politics

Al Gore, recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on global warming.

10:42 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics

The problem with fare increases for services like Metro is that someone always ends up getting the short end of the stick. Always.
Continue Reading...

11:52 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Metro, Politics

Ever heard of the Dozier Internet Law firm? Probably not...rumor has it they're pretty bad at their jobs. In fact, so much so that they don't even understand simple copyright laws. Like ones that make posting a Cease and Desist letter permissible under fair use, if not permissible under the First Amendment.

Dozier Internet Law sent a Cease & Desist letter to InfomercialScams.com, who had posted comments on a retailer known as DirectBuy. You'll probably recognize DirectBuy as those people who tell you that you can save thousands and thousands of dollars by buying furniture directly from the manufacturer, and they'll let you have access to their warehouse for $2,995 a year! Yeah, right.

At the end of the Cease & Desist letter, which itself is absolutely absurd, the law firm claims that "...this letter is copyrighted by our law firm, and you are not authorized to republish this in any manner. Use of this letter in a posting, in full or in part, will subject you to further legal causes of action."

Apparently Constitutional Law isn't taught at whatever law school this guy attended. Not only is a Cease & Desist letter NOT copywritten, the copyright is not registered with the Copyright and Trademark Office here in Washington, DC. Good luck with that one, buddy.

If you want a good laugh, feel free to read the letters and posts below:

DirectBuy's C&D
The Public Citizen Litigation Group's Response
Donning Copyright Cloak, DirectBuy Forbids Posting Of Cease And Desist Letter Sent To Consumer Opinion Site (Consumerist.com)
Consumer Law & Policy Blog

5:32 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Bizarre, Politics

The New York Times has a good article about a bad proposal in today's edition. The proposal is a proposition out of California that would change the presently unfair winner-take-all system into an almost-equally unfair Congressional district apportionment system.
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12:03 pm | Comment (3) | Print | Categories: Politics

There's no doubt about it: America is a materialistic nation. We are enthralled with greed and lust after bigger and better things. We've defined our American dream as a big house with lots of cars and beautiful women (or men, or both, depending on your preference). Where did we go wrong?
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9:02 pm | Comment (2) | Print | Categories: Politics

Many interesting events have taken place lately, and I thought that I would comment on them. They are in no particular order, and most of them are of a political and/or current event nature.
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8:19 pm | Comment (4) | Print | Categories: Politics, Random

The Washington Post has an article this morning that's fairly interesting, especially considering that it talks about the man who runs the office that my contract serves. While our contract is not in jeopardy, I would presume that his position is, especially given the contents of the article.
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8:38 pm | Comment (3) | Print | Categories: Jobs, Politics, Washington, DC

Under a proposal by New York City's Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, a permit would be required for people taking pictures in New York City.
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8:40 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Politics

8:42 pm | Comment (5) | Print | Categories: Graduation, Jobs, Politics

I'm often asked by friends and associates why I choose to be a Democrat. Really, the answer is very simple. It comes down to a question of what type of America I want to live in. I will explain.
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10:30 pm | Comment (3) | Print | Categories: Politics