Aug
12
2008

URLs du Jour

2008-08-12

  • Mr. Mark Ambinder provides the 54-page PDF draft of the 2008 Democratic Party Platform.

    Mr. Michael Kinsley has a number of pungent observations about the draft. For example, on page 10, you'll read:

    We should … remove some of the cost burden of catastrophic illness from employers and their employees …
    Kinsley asks a perceptive question about that burden:
    And borne by? Who’s left? I guess the unemployed.
    It will be interesting if that particular passage survives Kinsley's ridicule and makes it into the final version.

  • A mere 14 days ago:
    With fewer than 20 legislative days before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1, the entire appropriations process has largely ground to a halt because of the ham-handed fighting that followed Republican attempts to lift the moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration. And after promising fairness and open debate, Pelosi has resorted to hard-nosed parliamentary devices that effectively bar any chance for Republicans to offer policy alternatives.

    “I’m trying to save the planet; I’m trying to save the planet,” she says impatiently when questioned. “I will not have this debate trivialized by their excuse for their failed policy.”

    But now, apparently the planet can go straight to hell when Democratic Congressional seats are at risk.
    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday night dropped her staunch opposition to a vote on offshore oil drilling in the House.
    Betsy Newmark is skeptical; the last time Speaker Pelosi indicated a willingness to vote on the topic, she almost immediately "jerked back the football."

  • Trivia question: what single sentence broadcast by a Utah NPR station caused Ken Jennings to turn off his car radio? The answer is here.

  • Sure it sounds simple: See how many of the 100 most common words in the English language you can guess in 5 minutes. (Via BBSpot.)