Pacific Views

Monday Blog

Benedict gives us his election briefs.

Byte Back has more on the proposed constitutional amendment, thank you Sen. Hatch, to allow naturalized citizens to run for president. I'll note without further immediate comment that it's called the equal opportunity to govern amendment.

Body and Soul brings us a personal perspective on the nature of poverty. If you've ever wondered why the government should be asked to pay for 'frills' like glasses and dental visits, read her post, and the related article she links to.

Calpundit finds that the Bush administration has gotten so desperate, that it's blaming the economy on Clinton, that Bush did not volunteer to go overseas, and says that it should astonish no one that more things don't make people happier. Additionally, Kevin pointed to a piece by David Neiwert examining the Christian Reconstructionist legal agenda which bears a not insignificant resemblance to calls for the implementation of Shari'a law.

Corrente tells us that the Pentagon is concerned about global warming, and finds more disgruntled Republicans.

Crooked Timber's Micah talks briefly about a year of blogging.

On Daily Kos, it's noted that the electable Mr. Kerry is getting increasingly hostile media coverage. By June, he'll have been compared to everyone from George McGovern to Karl Marx, and accused on several counts of hating America and the troops. He'll also be painted as angry, a 'self-reinventor', a stiff, possibly a fibber, and definitely a waffler. I'll have popcorn at the ready.

Dunne IV finds an astonishing incident of Pat Buchanan sounding reasonable. An occurrence that seems to have become more frequent since the country first began discussing the possibility of an Iraq war. I still find it a little jarring.

James MacLean has been following the situation in Haiti.

Notes on the Atrocities collects information on Bush's latest judicial recess appointment. I keep reminding myself that recess appointments aren't permanent, though it doesn't entirely get rid of the worry.

A Political State Report poster from NY notes that New York's City Council has recently joined the growing list of municipalities to reject the PATRIOT act.

Retrogrouch has the goods on Kerry, or at least, what would pass for the goods using contemporary standards of journalistic fluff. Thanks to Dunne IV.

Riverbend post about a shelter full of women and children destroyed in GWI, and below that, the story of a cousin's abduction and ransom.

The Sideshow has some things you should read, including a good bit on Filegate.

Suburban Guerilla highlights Helen Thomas vs. Scott McClellan, the rematch.

TalkLeft highlights a principal who planted marijuana on a student.

At Wampum, Dwight writes about the irresponsibility tax, and then looks for cracks in Bush's base.