Your Weekly Rush - Just so you know

"I have empathy, my friends, that's one of the primary ingredients for success at doing this, and I can hear some of you saying, ‘He's changed since he got back.’ Of course, I don't think I've changed at all . . . "

"I'm telling you folks, my program today is what it has always been, and tomorrow it's going to be what it has always been: irreverence and the serious discussion of issues in one package, with credibility on both sides, but even the humor and irreverence has a point."

"I'm just saying, folks, that there are so many things on this program, you think it's changed and it hasn't, and I don't want to get defensive about this, I really don't because I don't have any reason to be defensive, and those of you that are saying the program's changed, I don't think your perspective is correct here."

"So, I mean, feel free to call, don't misunderstand, but I mean this notion that the program is different, it's not. It's impossible to be different."

"You know, this is the way I look at it, my friends. I'm not trying to diminish you, but there's a reason you are listeners and I am host. And it always has been. There are countless of them. Now, you must know that I am very solid in my self-esteem."

"Well, I'm not defensive, of course - but I do want to play some best of shows to go on the offense. I mean, you people are complaining that "he's just different since he got back," but you're still listening and I know it."

Just so you know it, Rush Limbaugh has not changed since he got back, he's not defensive, and his fans are stupid if they think that he's changed.

Candidate Review - Capturing Saddam Hussein - Wrap Up

Couldn't anything on Carol Mosley Braun's site, and Al Sharptons is apparently down. So here it is.

Candidate Review - Capturing Saddam Hussein - Senator Joe Lieberman

Joe Lieberman has a surprisingly religious take on the capture.

"Hallelujah, praise the Lord. This is something that I have been advocating and praying for for more than twelve years, since the Gulf War of 1991. Saddam Hussein was a homicidal maniac, a brutal dictator, who wanted to dominate the Arab world and was supporting terrorists.

He caused the death of more than a million people, including 460 Americans who went to overthrow him. This is a day of glory for the American military, a day of rejoicing for the Iraqi people, and a day of triumph and joy for anyone in the world who cares about freedom, human rights, and peace.

This evil man has to face the death penalty. The international tribunal in The Hague cannot order the death penalty, so my first question about where he's going to be tried will be answered by whether that tribunal can execute him. If it cannot be done by the Iraqi military tribunal, he should be brought before an American military tribunal and face death."

Candidate Review - Capturing Saddam Hussein - Representative Dennis Kucinich

No big surprise from Representative Kucinich, he is in favor of getting us out of Iraq, and sees the capture of Saddam as the signal. Anyway here's his official statement.

"With the capture of Saddam Hussein the Administration's stated goal of removing him from power has been accomplished. Now the focus must be on ending the occupation. International law must be followed and Saddam Hussein must be held accountable for his actions.

The United States must seize this moment and end the occupation of Iraq. The United States must reach out to the world community with a new plan to stabilize Iraq, bring UN peacekeepers in, and bring US troops home."

Candidate Review - Capturing Saddam Hussein - Senator John F. Kerry

Here is Senator Kerry's Official Statement.

"This is a great day for U.S. forces, the Iraqi people, and the world. Capturing Saddam Hussein and ensuring that this brutal dictator will never return to power is an important step towards stabilizing Iraq for the Iraqis."

Let’s also be clear: Our problems in Iraq have not been caused by one man and this is a moment when the administration can and must launch a major effort to gain international support and win the peace. We need to share the burden, bring in other countries, and make it clear to the world that Iraq belongs to the Iraqi people."

Today is another opportunity to invite the world into a post-Saddam Iraq and build the coalition to win the peace that we should have built to win the war.”

Kerry is also apparently trying to push himself as the Anti-Dean. So we'll see how that goes.

Candidate Review - Capturing Saddam Hussein - Representative Dick Gephardt

Here is Representative Gephardt, who has apparently christened himself the comeback kid, on the capture of Sadddam Hussein.

"Today is a great day for our troops, the Coalition forces and the people of Iraq.

I supported this effort in Iraq without regard for the political consequences because it was the right thing to do. I still feel that way now and today is a major step toward stabilizing Iraq and building a new democracy.

For many years, we will be confronted with a war on terrorism that is unfinished. This will be a long and difficult struggle and we need a president who has the credibility to unite the American people and our allies in an effort to make our nation and our world safe."

And here is his reaction to Governor Dean's foreign policy address.

"Yesterday, Howard Dean said that Saddam Hussein's capture was 'above politics,' but today he delivered a speech described by the Washington Post as 'repositioning' himself to the center.

Let's be clear. Howard Dean has been playing politics with foreign policy for over a year and his repositioning is just the latest Howard Dean political game. Despite issuing contradictory statements on Iraq over the last year, Governor Dean has used this issue to constantly attack his Democratic opponents and to seek political advantage."

I would caution against using the Comeback Kid to figure out what the Dean Campaign is all about.

Candidate Review - Capturing Saddam Hussein - Senator John Edwards

Here is Senator Edwards official statement on the capture of Saddam.

"Today, every American and people all over the world are waking up to the good news that Saddam Hussein is no longer free. But no citizens are happier to learn of his capture than the Iraqi people who endured his torture and oppression for decades. They have been waiting to hear of his demise and we are all grateful that they finally received this welcomed news.

Since last March our men and women in uniform have been working with courage and commitment to help the Iraqi people create the country of their dreams: one that is free, democratic, and free from Saddam Hussein's terrible reign. We are all so proud of their efforts not just today, but every day as they work tirelessly to bring democracy to Iraq.

Our military leaders have accomplished a great success. I hope President Bush will use this opportunity to chart a course in Iraq that will bring in our allies in a meaningful way to achieve a democratic and peaceful Iraq."

Candidate Review - Capturing Saddam Hussein - Former Governer Howard Dean

We were down for a bit--so will move a little faster than normal now.

These comments are from Howard Dean's big foreign policy speech, and contain the bit that has some conservatives all a-twitter. Of course placed in a bit more context, it seems a lot less nutty, and actually makes sense.

"First I want to say a few words about events over the weekend. The capture of Saddam Hussein is good news for the Iraqi people and the world. Saddam was a brutal dictator who should be brought swiftly to justice for his crimes. His capture is a testament to the skill and courage of U.S. forces and intelligence personnel. They have risked their lives. Some of their comrades have given their lives.

All Americans should be grateful. I thank these outstanding men and women for their service and sacrifice.

I want to talk about Iraq in the context of all our security challenges ahead. Saddam's capture offers the Iraqi people, the United States, and the international community an opportunity to move ahead. But it is only an opportunity, not a guarantee.

Let me be clear: My position on the war has not changed.

The difficulties and tragedies we have faced in Iraq show that the administration launched the war in the wrong way, at the wrong time, with inadequate planning, insufficient help, and at unbelievable cost. An administration prepared to work with others in true partnership might have been able, if it found no alternative to Saddam's ouster, to then rebuild Iraq with far less cost and risk.

As our military commanders said, and the President acknowledged yesterday, the capture of Saddam does not end the difficulties from the aftermath of the administration's war to oust him. There is the continuing challenge of securing Iraq, protecting the safety of our personnel, and helping that country get on the path to stability. There is the need to repair our alliances and regain global support for American goals.

Nor, as the president also seemed to acknowledge yesterday, does Saddam's capture move us toward defeating enemies who pose an even greater danger: al Qaeda and its terrorist allies. And, nor, it seems, does Saturday's capture address the urgent need to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction and the risk that terrorists will acquire them.

The capture of Saddam is a good thing which I hope very much will help keep our soldiers safer. But the capture of Saddam has not made America safer."

Candidate Review - Capturing Saddam Hussein - General Wesley Clark

Yep, it's time for another trip around the horn. But this week, instead of taking some generalized issue, we are going to focus on their reactions to current events; specifically the capture of Saddam Hussein.

General Wesley Clark, who recently testified against Slobodan Milosevic, had this to say.

"Now, we now have another dictator in custody. Saddam Hussein was responsible for starting two wars in the Gulf. His forces used chemical weapons against the Kurds in Iraq and against Iran. And his government was responsible for massive human rights abuses in Iraq. Saddam's capture is good news for the Iraqi people and for the world.

Our Armed Forces and intelligence community deserves great credit for locating Saddam, tracking him down, and bringing him from his snake-hole to justice."

Clark's article also goes over how he feels the trial should be conducted. He feels that it should be held in Iraq, the sight of Saddam's crimes. Secondly, he feels experts in international law, from both the United States and other nations, should be consulted on the format of the trial. Third, he feels that Saddam should be held accountable for his impact on the international community (particularly Kuwait, Iran and the Kurds). And fourth, he feels that capital punishment should be on the table as a punishment for Saddam.

"Given the heinous nature of Saddam Hussein's crimes, I firmly believe that the death penalty should be on the table as a possible punishment. I believe that the death penalty should be applied to war criminals, those who've used chemical weapons, and those responsible for genocide. And as I believe the proceedings will show, Saddam is responsible for every single one of these heinous crimes and deserves the ultimate punishment."

One quibble. Holding Saddam responsible for his international effect may have the effect of embarrassing the United States and the Bush Administration, as it opens the door to Saddam discussion the source of his poison gas.

Have a Very Cheney Christmas

Dick Cheney's annual Christmas Card apparently contains the following inscription (according to Slate magazine).

"And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probably that an empire cannot rise without His aid?"

It's a quotation from Benjamin Franklin. And it is a bit off our normal message of liberation without conquest. But what do I know.

Take a look for yourself.

Thomas L. Friedman Believes

"I believe the French president, Jacques Chirac, knows something in his heart: in the run-up to the Iraq war, George Bush and Tony Blair stretched the truth about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction — but they were not alone. Mr. Chirac also stretched the truth about his willingness to join a U.N.-led coalition against Iraq if Saddam was given more time and still didn't comply with U.N. weapons inspections. I don't believe Mr. Chirac ever intended to go to war against Saddam, under any circumstances. So history will record that all three of these leaders were probably stretching the truth — but with one big difference: George Bush and Tony Blair were stretching the truth in order to risk their own political careers to get rid of a really terrible dictator. And Jacques Chirac was stretching the truth to advance his own political career by protecting a really terrible dictator."

Say Mr. Friedman how do you know that Chirac was lying when he claimed that a bit more patience on the part of the Bush Administration might have won his support? Oh, you believe it. Hmmm. Well I believe that Friedman, you want us in Iraq because of huge profits that American companies stand to rack up, some of which you might get. Now I don't have any proof of this belief, but I don't need any, do I?

And check out this chilling paragraph.

"We have entered a moment of truth in Iraq. With Saddam now gone, there are no more excuses for the political drift there. We are now going to get the answer to the big question I had before the war: Is Iraq the way it is because Saddam was the way he was? Or was Saddam the way he was because Iraq is the way it is — ungovernable except by an iron fist?

Yep. Either the violence stops in Iraq or you guys will get the dictator you apparently deserve. Friedman's made some good points in the past, but today he feels like a man grabbing at straws ("Everybody still hates the French, right?").

Article here.

Has Saddam's Capture made the world a Safer Place?

No.

And, frankly, I doubt many of you think it has. Saddam's been reduced to hiding for months now. Whatever WMD's he may have once had, he doesn't have now. Nor does he have much to offer terrorists, assuming he ever really considered working with them to stick it to the United States.

I'm not denying that Saddam was a bad man, and that capturing him precludes any possibility of a return to power. So in that sense, you could say the world is a teeny bit safer. But the amount is negligible.

There was a MSNBC poll the other day; when I looked at it it was 60 percent towards this conclusion, with 40 percent or there abouts feeling that we were safer. And of course there's a very serious terrorist warning about Italy that was just released.

Potential Democratic Candidate for President Howard Dean apparently agrees with this analysis. After Saddam was captured, he stated that the capture of Saddam had not made the world a safer place.

And for that the conservative media has declared that he has gone off the deep end.

No doubt Dean would be happier if Saddam were still on the loose, since he, and indeed many in the Democratic Party, had pointed to the inability to capture either Saddam or Osama bin Laden as one of President Bush's major failures in the war on terrorism. But to say that Americans are no safer with Saddam behind bars is just plain strange. - Linda Chavez

Shifting to foreign policy, Dean said, "the capture of Saddam has not made America safer." Perhaps so, perhaps not, but I think it's reasonable to conclude that Saddam's capture will be demoralizing to his terrorist followers and supporters who happen to be waging war against American soldiers. Come on, Howard, can't you express a little jubilation about that? - David Limbaugh (Of course those who read the speech or heard it, know that Dean did express happiness that Saddam was captured.

And there will undoubtedly be other examples.

Do Pro-War Conservatives love our troops? Prove it!

I spent some more time at the Freedom Alliance and found, besides a nice article by Oliver North (who's article starts out "‘Tis the season to be jolly. Unless you’re a Democrat, that is."), another tearing down the United Nations. So it is a conservative partisan site.

To recap; Ben Shapiro berated anti-war Liberals for not supporting our troupes then directs them to a partisan conservative site and asks them to make a donation.

So in response, i'm going to suggest that Ben and all other Conservatives donate to Moveon.Org. I think that anybody who loves our soldiers and doesn't want to see them used in the reckless, boneheaded manner that President Bush and his buddies have pioneered, they should want to support an organization to get President Bush out of power. If they don't want to donate to Moveon.org, well, it just shows that they don't love our troops.

Oh wait, Moveon is a partisan liberal website. So asking them to support it in the name of the troops would be hypocritical.

To sum up, if you want to support the troops--always a good idea--send money to Operation Gratitude. If you want to support conservatism, under the theory that some of the money might to go the troops, send money to the Freedom Alliance. If you want to support liberalism, send money to Moveon.org.

If Only the USA were more like the Third World

Interview at Salon today with Ravi Chiruvolu who is one of the big proponents of moving technology jobs to India. It's kind of a chilling look at how the captains of industry look at the American worker.

"OK. But what would you say to one of these lower-end programmers who lost his job? What would you tell that person to do?

I would tell that person that it's inevitable to the extent that someone is willing to do your job much, much cheaper than the price at which you're willing to do the job, and there just isn't enough demand to hire that other person and you. In tough economic times like today, you're exposed. There's an economic reality to that.

And you could either sit on that reality and wait until the economy gets better, or hope that this problem goes away, or you can basically move up the value chain, and the way that you do that is you gain different skill sets.

Kind of a cold outlook--and ultimately a problematic one. Because the one question is, whos going to buy your programs if everybody goes broke?

Ben Shapiro's Challenge or If you Jump through the Hoops, they'll just come up with new hoops

Ben Shapiro's latest essay is about how lousy we liberals are. Apparently the most generous states are the red states, so that proves that we liberals like to give away other people's money. Also, he mocks the idea that one can oppose the war and support the troops. He then challanges liberals to prove their support to the troops by donating to non profit organizations to suppor the troops.

Now let me take a moment to say that I think both these organizations are good. I felt a bit better about Operation Gratitude, and so they got my money. But the other organization, the Freedom Alliance, might be just as good. They just made the unfortunate choice of putting Oliver North on their front page, which makes me suspect this non-partisan organization might not be completely non-partisan.

But as for Ben's Challenge, if every anti war liberal sent these organizations money, well, Ben and his allies on the right would still be questioning the patriotism of anybody foolish enough to question President Bush. The only way liberals can really get the far right to like them is if they (we) become conservative. I don't know about my fellow liberals, but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen in my case.

A Brief Commercial Announcement

I have recently expanded my commercial empire, and just in time for this time of gift giving.

Many of you, no doubt, have heard of the idea of naming a star after a loved one as a gift. How old-fashioned. The new way to commemorate your loved ones is to name a cactus after them.

Yes, I've recently came into the possession of a field of nearly a thousand cacti in south central New Mexico. For the low fee of $49.99, my assistant, Walter, will find a cactus and with a felt tip pen neatly write the name on the cactus. (We were initially using a knife to carve your name into a cactus but, well, walter wasn't all that careful and the patients kept dying).

Think about that, your special cactus will actually have your name on it. Can those star people claim that? Are they flying out into space and writing your loved one's name on the star of your choice? I don't think so. (That would be pretty cool though). But if you ever travel to south central New Mexico you can actually see your cactus with your loved ones name on it.

So think about it won't you? Naming a Cactus after a loved one is more than just a good idea, it's the law.

Paul Krugman and War Profiteering

Paul Krugman has some interesting and relevent comments on why war profiteering is likely to be a bigger problem under Bush than it has been previously.

"The biggest curb on profiteering in government contracts is the threat of exposure: sunshine is the best disinfectant. Yet it's hard to think of a time when U.S. government dealings have been less subject to scrutiny.

First of all, we have one-party rule — and it's a highly disciplined, follow-your-orders party. There are members of Congress eager and willing to take on the profiteers, but they don't have the power to issue subpoenas.

And getting information without subpoena power has become much harder because, as a new report in U.S. News & World Report puts it, the Bush administration has "dropped a shroud of secrecy across many critical operations of the federal government." Since 9/11, the administration has invoked national security to justify this secrecy, but it actually began the day President Bush took office.

To top it all off, after 9/11 the U.S. media — which eagerly played up the merest hint of scandal during the Clinton years — became highly protective of the majesty of the office. As the stories I've cited indicate, they have become more searching lately. But even now, compare British and U.S. coverage of the Neil Bush saga.

The point is that we've had an environment in which officials inclined to do favors for their business friends, and contractors inclined to pad their bills or do shoddy work, didn't have to worry much about being exposed. Human nature being what it is, then, the odds are that the troubling stories that have come to light aren't isolated examples."

It's almost like there isn't an ultra-powerful liberal media that marches in lock stop, but that's just crazy talk.

What does Capturing Saddam Mean? Part 1

Here's Cal Thomas's take on the issue.

"The critics - political and journalistic - who said the administration's efforts were failing have been proved wrong. These would include not only the United Nations, but also France and Germany and much of the liberal media establishment, especially the virulently anti-Bush and anti-American British press."

Well, conservatives have tried this gambit before, haven't they? After the most powerful military force in history crushed a third world army, Conservatives everywhere rang out the cry that we liberals had been proved wrong. We had, apparently, claimed that the military could never win.

Well, once again we are proven wrong, because apparently we boiled down all the myriad failures of President Bush's administration into one succinct little point; President Bush hasn't caught Saddam, the occupation has failed.

Of course here on planet earth, Mr. Thomas's comments aren't all that plausible--the truth is that we've criticized lots of aspects of the occupation. The failure to provide enough troops to prevent rioting for example. Or the pretty predictable rise in anti-American guerillas. So maybe there are still some valid critiques of President Bush, even after we got Saddam.

Candidate Review - Civil Rights

Here's the compilation of all the candidates. Enjoy.

Candidate Review - Civil Rights - General Wesley Clark

As you probably noticed did them in reverse alphebetical order. And I will be doing a page for the left there, to go right above foreign affairs, but I don't know if I will get to it tonight. Have some christmas cooking to do.

Anyway this is from Clark's webpage.

"I saw what could be accomplished when the doors of opportunity are fully opened to all. We had such a system in the U.S. military, through our strong affirmative action program. I was honored to serve with, and serve under, some outstanding African American leaders. I saw many proud young African American men and women thrive when treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. And through their service, they prepared for college and for careers, using their talent and determination to compete fairly and equally with others. As President, I'd do everything I can to make sure that the people of the rest of our nation - in government, in the business sector, in education, in health care - are treated fairly and equally as well.

. . . Throughout my career, I have seen the meaning, consequence, and importance of affirmative action firsthand. I was proud to join a group of retired military officers who filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of affirmative action at the University of Michigan. I think such policies are necessary to facilitate diversity within, and thus the legitimacy of, the nation's leadership. And the Supreme Court agreed on the importance of diversity, relying on the successes of the military model. America cannot be a great nation without the leadership of our very best - of all races, from all parts of the country. Affirmative action ensures that future leaders who might otherwise never get a chance are brought to the forefront. As a result, Americans - all Americans - benefit. "

Candidate Review - Civil Rights - Former Governor Howard Dean

Dean is rightly recognized as being above average in his use and understanding of the internet and I have to agree. His website is pretty easy to use and full of the Candidates own voice.

The following quotes are from his webpage.

"I strongly support well-tailored affirmative action programs. All Americans deserve an equal opportunity to succeed, and these policies help the nation move toward that ideal. They also help strengthen our economy and society. American history is characterized by too much discrimination, intolerance and inequality. But there is also a long tradition of Americans helping each other to overcome adversity and build a better nation, and affirmative action is firmly in that tradition.

. . . When President Bush used the inflammatory word “quota” to describe the Michigan program, I criticized him for distorting the facts. In fact, the Supreme Court rejected that misleading label. It is time for the President to stop using code words that divide Americans by race. With the ink barely dry on the Court’s recent decision, opponents of affirmative action threatened to make the dismantling of these efforts a litmus test for future Supreme Court nominations. As President, I will instead appoint judges who display a commitment to equal rights, and who recognize that affirmative action is a constitutional means to further that goal."

Candidate Review - Civil Rights - Senator John Edwards

Here are comments from a speech on Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birhday , earlier this year.

"We have come far, but we have far to go:

The Constitution now guarantees blacks the right to vote; now we have to put an end to practices that lead to the deprivation of minority voting rights once and for all.

We have laws guaranteeing equal opportunity; now, we have to address the underlying economic conditions that still result in an average African-American income that is barely half that of whites.

We have laws prohibiting segregation in public education; now we have to do something about a school system that is becoming increasingly re-segregated, leaving too many minority children the victims of by inadequate education funding, inferior schools, and indifference.

More than anything, leadership means recognizing that civil rights is not a zero sum game where "we" give something to "them"-whether it's women or minorities or immigrants.

The civil rights movement was not about some "them." It was about "us." All of us. It was about transforming America into a nation so much closer to living out the true meaning of our creed."

Conadidate Review - Civil Rights - Representative Dick Gephardt

Memo to Candidate Gephardt; see my complaints about Kerry's website.

But here is a quote from the candidate.

"I believe affirmative action is an essential tool in expanding educational opportunities. It is our responsibility to continually support diversity in higher education."

And here is a section from his website.

As president, Dick Gephardt will commit his administration to realizing our nation's promise of equal justice and opportunity for all.

Our nation has made great progress in civil rights, but there is still much work left to do. Discrimination in all forms -- from the workplace to the classroom to the voting booth -- must be ended once and for all. As president, Gephardt will work to provide economic opportunity for all Americans, support affirmative action programs, protect voting rights and expand the federal jurisdiction of intolerable hate crimes.

Candidate Review - Civil Rights - Senator John F. Kerry

One critique for the Kerry Web Page. You need to make it easier to find the candidates own words. Instead, on most of the issues, you get the impression the press officer, or someone like that, typed out the candidates view on the issues in the press secretaries (or webpage guys) words. Why not link to speeches the Candidate has given? Anyway we have two quotes from the civil rights part of Kerry's web page. The first is from the candidate himself and the second is from the discussion of Affirmative Action (and unatributed).

“We need to guarantee equal rights and civil rights and say that, here in America, workers have the right to organize -- women have the right to choose - and justice belongs to everyone regardless of race or gender or sexual orientation.”

"John Kerry believes in an America where we take common sense steps to ensure that our schools and workplaces reflect the full face of America. He has consistently opposed efforts in the Senate to undermine or eliminate affirmative action programs and supports programs that seek to enhance diversity, for example, by fostering the growth of minority small businesses."

Candidate Review - Civil Rights - Senator Dennis Kucinich

And here is Dennis Kucinich, speaking during the Minnisota affirmative action case of a couple of months ago.

"America's diversity is a strength, not a weakness, and it is absolutely critical that we nurture programs that enhance opportunities for those who have been historically left behind. To do nothing, to abolish affirmative action, is to use de jure means to fall back into the de facto segregation of the past, which made a mockery of democracy, equality, liberty and justice - the very values on which this nation was founded.

Affirmative action is still essential because a truly level playing field is still an elusive goal, not a reality. Today, we stand united in our support of affirmative action and the University of Michigan. Our nation is at a critical junction; the Supreme Court must not send our nation back into some of the darkest moments in our history, but instead lead our nation to a fair and just future."

Candidate Review - Civil Rights - Senator Joe Lieberman

These are comments Lieberman made at the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of of the March on Washington (August 28, 2003).

Their question is the question that your generation and mine must both ask where is America today, when people of color still struggle for the promise of equal opportunity guaranteed by our Constitution, and their leaders still struggle to even get a meeting in the White House. Where are we, when jobs are going away, poverty is going up, incomes are going down, and affirmative action is under challenge?

The answer is we are not where America's national values and purpose require us to be. So the March on Washington must continue until "justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

Candidate Review - Civil Rights - Al Sharpton

I've liked Sharpton as a candidate. He doesn't have much of a chance, but he's been pretty good in the debates, particularly at focusing on the issues rather than the horse race. However, his website is terrible. There isn't much there, and if he has the standard issues page I haven't seen it. He does have a platform page, but it only has three items. Anyway I'm going to quote from the section on his support for a Voting Rights Amendment.

What are the advantages of fighting for human rights and constitutional amendments? Human rights and constitutional amendments are non-partisan (they're neither Democratic nor Republican), they're non-ideological (they're not liberal, moderate, or conservative), and they're non-programmatic (they don't require a particular means, approach or program to realize them). They're also not a "special interest."

If we pass a new voting rights amendment, the next civil rights movement will emerge fighting for congressional legislation - while also using the federal courts - to implement the Voting Rights Amendment.

Candidate Review - Civil Rights - Former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun

Here we go. Forgot to do one of these Friday so I'm doing one today, starting with Civil Rights and with the candidates I skipped last week.

This is from Ms. Mosely Braun's website, which is pretty well organized.

"The struggle is to get to the point where the relationships exist and the confidence abides in women and minorities to lead our business community. Indeed, the paucity of both in the boardrooms makes clear that many of the 'old boys' are still more comfortable with one another than with racial or gender diversity.

The survival of affirmative action creates hope that opportunity exists for those who have not yet had a chance to lead and that performance and talent will be rewarded. That hope keeps our society on a path toward progress and the fulfillment of the promise of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Supreme Court's recent decision regarding the challenge to the University of Michigan's law school program kept alive the light of that hope. May it guide the district court in its decision-making regarding the pending challenge to the City of Chicago's effort to support affirmative action in contracting."

New Quotes

And a new Quotes Page.

Also for those who don't know it, Saddam Hussein has been captured.