Duck Season

Consider this one blogger who's taking this post very seriously. Kevin Drum calls into question the relationship between the republican leadership in Washington and the absolute nuttiness found in their electoral base in Texas.

I'm opposed to every single item Kevin reprinted from the Texas GOP Party Platform, but whether or not these policy goals accurately reflect the direction of this country remains an open question in my mind.

Mr. Lincoln, give us some help: "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it."

Those words are from his "House Divided" speech, and Lincoln's analytical frame would suggest that Kevin Drum doesn't have as much to fear as he believes. In his speech Lincoln was able to show that we are tending towards an all slave nation thanks to the Lecompton Constitution, the Dredd Scott decision (which he believed was part of a conspiracy to allow James Buchanan to take the presidency), the Nebraska Bill, and the lack of concern for the violation of previous boundaries set for the slavery issue.

Paul Krugman aside, I haven't yet seen any substantial policy decisions thrusting us towards any of the policy goals set by the Texas GOP. Yes, we have deficits, but without being able to prove sinister intent, these defects are no more evident of an attempt to "starve the beast" than the defects of prior presidents. We also had an Iraqi war, but the liberation of Iraq is a far cry from invading Panama to liberate the canal zone. The two just aren't rationally connected.

X-Files Moment 2: There's a lot to be said for the fact a Supreme Court Justice has not yet stepped down from the Court. We all know that the liberals are holding out for a Dem. in office, but why hasn't the Chief Justice chosen to step down yet?

Perhaps Rehnquist and the other conservative judges have been asked not to step down. I doubt there's a single issue that could divide the administration more than the war over a Supreme Court nominee that would be fought between the Texas GOP base and Mainstream America. By all accounts, The Scary Rightwing considers the SCOTUS a real litmus test for their support, and if unhappy with the proceedings, they could very well chose to not bring out the vote in 2004.

Fair and Balanced Moment: Kevin Drum's comment section seem to be a bastion of liberal nuttiness. Check out the above link and scroll down through the comments, and especially note the messages of E. Avedisian who proclaims "The Republican Party has become the American version of the Taliban. Different scripture, same mind set."

That's really odd E. Avedisian, because where I live soccer fields are still filled with little girls playing soccer, not "immoral" girls being stoned to death.