The strange politics of small gestures
On a slow news day, Speaker Perez grandiosely announced he would transfer a $1.2 million surplus from the Assembly’s budget to, of all places, the Secretary of State’s Office to "confront the massive delay in the processing of business filings," by helping the office tackle a backlog of nearly 200,000 documents. The Speaker’s putative reason […]
Charlie, Please Be My Daddy
News item: Charles T. Munger Jr. — who spent $14 million backing campaigns to establish the citizens redistricting commission — said last week that he considers himself "a bit of a proud father" now that the commission has done its work. Reaction: Charlie, please adopt me. Because, Dad (if I may), I can guarantee you […]
For High-Speed Rail, It Looks Like the End of the Line
Cross-posted at NewGeography. With its vote on September 21, the Senate Appropriations Committee ended the rail boosters’ hopes of getting a meaningful appropriation for high-speed rail in the new (FY 2012) fiscal year. It probably also dealt a decisive death blow to President Obama’s loopy goal of "giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed […]
Killing Anwar al-Awlaki – Before He Sends People to Kill Us
"Some folks just need killin’." – Sling Blade (1996) ————————– Our nation’s finest killed U.S.-born, al Qaeda preacher and propagandist of hatred and murder extraordinaire, Anwar al-Awlaki, in Yemen in Sept. 30, using Hellfire missiles shot from multiple Predator drones that hovered over his convoy. Another American terrorist was also killed – Samir Khan, who helped with […]