Report Shows Justice Department Illegally Discriminated Hiring

Internal investigators have revealed that the Justice Department illegally rejected hiring lawyers and law students based on ideological and political views. A report by Justice Department investigators found that applicants with high credentials were denied because of memberships to Planned Parenthood or the American Constitution Society.

Apparently the American Constitution Society posed an ideological threat to the Justice Department. I wish that I had read this in the Onion and not the LA Times.

Tom Brokaw Succeeds Russert on Meet the Press

The New York Times reports that former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw will take over Meet the Press following Tim Russert, who passed away earlier this month.  Brokaw volunteered for the position.

Don’t Worry Michelle Obama, McCain Didn’t Always Love America Either

I thought it was a pretty good stretch depicting Michelle Obama as anti-American after she said “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback.”

Now, John McCain will have to answer for a similar statement:

This comes at a bad time for the McCain campaign who just dispatched Cindy McCain to combat Michelle’s media makeover (the View appearance, US Weekly cover ). Cindy said of Michelle’s controversial statement: “Everyone has their own experience. I don’t know why she said what she said. All I know is that I have always been proud of my country.”

Correction: Earlier I quoted Michelle Obama incorrectly, in bold no less: “for the first time in my adult life I am proud…” not “really proud.” Apparently this is significant, but I did consult several sources and with Fox News’s spin I got mixed results and missed ‘really.’ Thank you for the correction, Terri.

Barack Obama–First to Forgo Public Financing

Barack Obama has become the first major candidate ever to forgo public financing.  He expressed distrust of the public finance system, saying it put him at a disadvantage to Senator McCain.  Obama also criticized McCain for his taking public financing:

“The public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken, and we face opponents who’ve become masters at gaming this broken system,” he said. “John McCain’s campaign and the Republican National Committee are fueled by contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs. And we’ve already seen that he’s not going to stop the smears and attacks from his allies running so-called 527 groups, who will spend millions and millions of dollars in unlimited donations.” (NY Times)

Here Comes Gore!–Al Gore Endorses Obama

Al Gore will appeared with Senator Obama tonight, marking the Democratic icon’s debut as chief cheerleader for Obama.  The former vice president announced earlier today on his blog that he officially endorses Obama; a pretty convenient choice after the big decision between Clinton and Obama.  I would have liked Gore to have come out earlier for the sake of unifying his party, but better late than never.  Gore’s support will legitimize Obama’s win in the eyes of a lot of fringe voters who see the Democrats as divided and unorganized.

NBC’s Tim Russert Dies

Tim Russert died Friday, Dr. Michael A. Newman found in the autopsy that Russert had an enlarged heart and significant coronary artery disease.  He was 58, and was working at his desk. (1)

NBC offers a fitting tribute remembering an excellent journalist.

Supreme Court Gives Detainees Right to Civilian Courts

The Supreme Court handed down a ruling today that rejected the Bush administration’s stance toward terrorism suspects.  The Court ruled that detainees held in Guantanamo Bay have a right to trial in a civilian court; a right that has previously been denied.  The decision has dealt a major blow to the Bush administration’s legal justification for the detention facilities, but Guantanamo Bay is not expected to close anytime soon.

At least there is a legal debate surfacing, hopefully it enters the presidential debates.

The Three Trillion Dollar War

What’s three trillion dollars between friends?

Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes authored The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict. Despite Stiglitz’s reputation as a brilliant economist who worked as an economic adviser to President Clinton, his recent estimate that the war in Iraq will cost at least three trillion dollars was originally laughed at by Bush-loyalists. CNN reports today that the war could cost taxpayers $2.7 trillion, making Stiglitz’s prediction very feasible.

Al Gore May Again be Vice President for Obama

Democratic strategist James Carville suggested that Senator Obama select Al Gore as his vice president. It is no coincidence that Gore has not been top on the list of possible running mates for the Democrats. Carville believes that Al Gore would be an ideal vice president because he would “serve as his vice president, his energy czar, in his administration to reduce our consumption and reliance on foreign energy sources.”

The argument that Gore’s varied experience qualifies him as the best choice for Obama would be correct, if the general election was already an expected landslide in Obama’s favor. Al Gore served respectably as Clinton’s Vice President, but he will not attract many new voters in the way that some other potential running mates could. Obviously the “dream ticket” of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would be a way of capturing that potential loss; but I prefer another strong female candidate like Kathleen Sebelius or Janet Napolitano. But the Huffington Post reports that he may not have to worry too much over bitter Clinton supporters, as many are getting behind the Democratic candidate.

The real problem with adding Gore is that it would be a redundant move. Gore’s global warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, harnessed strong support from liberal Democrats as well as youth voters. Gore would only solidify Obama’s strength among voters that he already does well with. I suppose if Carville really wants to stretch it, Gore would counter the one credential that McCain has been praised for by liberals. Al Gore is synonymous with energy and global awareness, and McCain has made it a point to show that he is different than stereotypical Republicans in this matter.

Another problem is that Al Gore is not likely to consider the subordinate role, especially for a second time.

Overall, Obama is better off finding a strategic running mate that can help him secure the presidency, and then building a strong cabinet.

Oil/Gas Price Rises, McCain Offers Same Bad Solution

McCain again has called for a gas tax holiday, giving Americans a break at the pump after this month’s rise to a current average of $4.023. Senator Obama rejected this idea when both McCain and Clinton promoted it.

John McCain said “I don’t pretend that it’s an answer to our energy problems.” Then why push for it? Why not focus on more concrete solutions and build a feasible solution to the energy problems? This proposal has been lambasted as a political stunt with little economic benefit, and it’s hard to see it any other way. Clinton suffered this revelation when she was pressed to name one economist that supports the gas tax holiday and she flippantly replied “I am not going to put my lot in with economists.”

Okay, so let’s say we go crazy and look at this from an economic perspective: hugely increase demand by lowering gas prices, increasing consumption (which is not breaking our “oil addiction”) and driving up the post-holiday gas prices and exhausting supply. Sure, maybe there could be a tiny benefit to the proposal–and that’s a huge maybe–but overall it is a stunt to grab some working Americans’ votes who are suffering and therefore vulnerable to idiotic get-rich-quick schemes like this one. This is “bitter Americans” (myself included) who are desperate for a solution to this recession and the high gas prices. I suspect McCain will continue to pump out these economically stupid instead of telling people the hard truth: you have to drive less–car pool, bike, take public transit etc.

McCain once confessed to the WSJ “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” and he has proven this with this confused attempt to capitalize on suffering voters.