Lawyer-Wearing-Yarmulka

In an otherwise unremarkable editorial today about Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, the NY Times really dropped the ball in the last two paragraphs.

Hovering over Monday’s decision was a case that was not mentioned: Bush v. Gore. In 2000, the Supreme Court took seriously the claims of one individual — George W. Bush — that his equal protection rights were being denied by a state election system, and the court had no hesitation about telling the state what to do.

On “60 Minutes” on Sunday, Justice Scalia yet again told the public to “get over” that ruling. There are many good reasons to remember Bush v. Gore, and Monday’s ruling was a reminder of one of them. Seven years after it invoked the Constitution to vindicate what it saw as Mr. Bush’s right to fair election procedures, we are still waiting for the court to extend this guarantee with equal vigilance to every American.

Slight problem- Bush v. Gore was not about GWB's equal protection rights. It was about Florida voters' equal protection rights. From the pur curiam opinion:

The recount process, in its features here described, is inconsistent with the minimum procedures necessary to protect the fundamental right of each voter in the special instance of a statewide recount under the authority of a single state judicial officer.

I don't really blame the editorial board for misunderstanding the case. I bet, seven years later, most lefties don't know anything about Bush v. Gore except for the result; that Bush became President. The case has become an empty vessel for those suffering from BDS to pour in all their rage. But it would be nice if the Times reread the case the next time they cite it in an editorial.

"The only thing worse than a government bureaucrat is a bureaucrat working for a government fee- for-service contractor."

-Lawyer-Wearing-Yarmulka

Rich Lowry on Bittergate/ Clinggate:

Obama prides himself on his civility, but it has to go much deeper than dulcet rhetoric. A fundamental courtesy of political debate is to meet the other side on its own terms. If someone says he cares about gun rights, it’s rude to insist: “No, you don’t. It’s the minimum wage that you really care about, and you’d know it if you were more self-aware.” But Democrats have an uncontrollable reflex to do just that. Since the McGovernite takeover of their party, they have struggled to work up enthusiasm for Middle American mores. (Since 1980, only Bill Clinton managed it, which is why he was the only Democrat elected president in three decades.)

When the liberal reflex is coupled with a Ivy League–educated candidate who seems personally remote and uncomfortable with everyday American activities, it’s electoral poison. After the likes of Al Gore and John Kerry, Republicans had to be wondering, “Could Democrats possibly nominate yet another candidate easily portrayed as an out-of-touch elitist?” With Obama, Democrats appear to be responding with a resounding “Yes, we can!

I'm sure I'm not the only one that really doesn't look forward to the second day of Pesach.

Now, I generally don't mind the whole two-day Yom Tov thing. (Three days, however, that's just too much). Pesach, however, is different. It's the second Seder that really bugs me. The way I see it, it's a complete waste of time. There's always that feeling of "didn't we just do this last night?" There's no real variation in the Seder except at the end, by Nirtza. It's the same thing, all over again, which is not terribly exciting, in such a highly structured meal. Ma Nishtana is great the first night. Second night, not so great. Eating marror is unique the fist night. Second night, it's just annoying.

And to preempt some of the comments, yes I know that I should move to Israel....

I was sworn in today in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Second Judicial Department. I am now officially a lawyer. (Yes, I was admitted to practice in New Jersey months ago, but New Jersey doesn't count).

One thing I must mention. Right after the judges came in, everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance. As far as I can remember, this was the first time I've ever recited it, and yet I still knew the words.

9/11 Conspiracy Theories 'Ridiculous,' Al Qaeda Says

"I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply doesn't work".

Today's credit panic isn't some "crisis of capitalism" that needs a vast new layer of regulation. We are living through the aftermath of a societal credit mania fueled by excessive money creation. The regulators are as much to blame as the regulated, and Adam Smith is providing more punishment and reform than Washington ever will.

-Wall Street Journal Editorial