The House v Turkey

Congressman Tom Lantos appeared on the NewsHour tonight and tried to explain his committee's action in accusing Turkey of Armenian genocide nearly 100 years ago. It didn't help. He had no coherent explanation. His committee was just meddling. Pelosi is responsible because she could have blocked it but chose not to, again demonstrating poor judgment.

Grassley on the AMT

Senator Chuck Grassley has a piece in today's Wall Street Journal arguing that the AMT ought to be repealed regardless of the Democrat "paygo" rules. All he says is true. The income that the AMT produces for the federal government is like booze to an alcoholic. The alcoholic thinks he can't do without the booze. Congress thinks the government can't do without the AMT. Both are wrong. The cure for both is to quit cold turkey.

Democrat meddlers

Democrats seem to be compulsive meddlers. A Democrat legislature in California puts more than 900 bills on the governor's desk in one year. But they couldn't pass a budget on time. In Washington, a Democrat House proposes an anti-Turkey resolution concerning events that happened 90 years ago. It serves only to antagonize an ally in the war on terror. But the Democrat Congress has yet to pass a budget for the fiscal year that began October 1. Instead of doing the work they are paid to do, Democrats are meddling.

Michael Gerson: Why Fight For Anyone's Freedom?

Michael Gerson has a piece in today's WaPo that shouldn't be missed. It's a superb defense of Bush's democracy agenda.

Larry Sabato on the constitution

Larry Sabato says we need a new constitution but the reasons he gives in an opinion piece in today's LAT aren't sufficient to make the sale. In fact, of the four ideas he mentions none seem likely to gain majority support. Sabato needs something better if he expects people to agree to a constitutional convention, where anything could happen and probably would.

California's prolific legislature

The LAT says in an editorial today that the governator has 900 bills on his desk to either sign or not sign by Oct 14th. It's time the legislature had a time out, maybe for a year, maybe two. It would be interesting to see what would happen if they stayed home instead of going to Sacramento. It's a reasonable bet that California would be just fine without them.

Republican debate

Some Republican presidential candidates seem to think the U.S. has an awful lot of problems. Those candidates don't deserve to be nominated and can't be elected. The Gipper must be turning over in his grave.