Dear Yahweh no…:
It looks as if Fred Thompson is getting ready to run for president. Friends of the former Tennessee senator turned actor (anonymous to protect their relationship) say he’s increasingly tempted to enter the 2008 Republican primaries, fueled in part by new polls that show he’s got a serious shot at the White House. A Gallup poll released last week found Thompson ranked No. 3 behind front runners Rudy Giuliani and John McCain with 12 percent support among Republicans—all before he’s even formally launched a campaign.
Dumb. Just dumb…
I hate it when people cite polls about non-candidates as if it’s indication they’d win if they did run. See, the speculators in the media don’t realize that people who aren’t active politicians virtually always have elevated positives. It’s the reason why Gore is getting whispered about in some circles, when someone isn’t going through the standard song and dance to get elected they come across as somewhat human, people like that.
Interesting thing is, his potential candidacy could provide a case study in how dumb the attempts at election reform have been…
One longtime Thompson friend, who declined to be named while discussing the former senator’s personal life, tells NEWSWEEK that Thompson is looking into his contract obligations to “Law & Order” and talking with producers about how his run could affect the franchise. Election law requires equal air time for candidates. If enforced, the law could mean that more than 100 episodes over the past five seasons of “Law & Order” and its various spinoffs might have to be removed from the airwaves during Thompson’s run—or other candidates could demand equal air time. (emphasis mine)
If he runs, and they demand this, they’re smoking crack, period. It’s a fictional TV show, one that was around long before he joined the cast, treating it as if it were a soapbox for his campaign would be nuts. It’d be like if Carlos Mencia were running for congress and people complained about his show (for reasons other than it not being funny).
We have all these rules, seemingly a new one every minute, but do we get better candidates and more reasonable campaigns? Nope.
10 months later, and the Supremes have made their decision:
In a defeat for the Bush administration, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a U.S. government agency has the power under the clean air law to regulate greenhouse gas emissions that spur global warming.
The nation’s highest court by a 5-4 vote said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “has offered no reasoned explanation” for its refusal to regulate carbon dioxide and other emissions from new cars and trucks that contribute to climate change.
Waitaminute, something’s not right about that…
The court had three questions before it.
- Do states have the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decision?
- Does the Clean Air Act give EPA the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases?
- Does EPA have the discretion not to regulate those emissions?
Heh…the opening part is inaccurate. It wasn’t about whether they have the authority to do it, it was about whether they can be FORCED to. How odd…
My previous view of the central question still stands: pollution is an issue of market externalities, not whether a line drawn is being crossed, apply the costs of pollution to the polluters and the problem solves itself. However, I suspect the implication from how this ruling was reached will lead to future “make them DO SOMETHING!!!” lawsuits on almost any issue now — don’t think the State is involved enough in something? Just sue ‘em into action!
New service from Google: “Gmail Paper“
At this rate, we’re going to get to a point where I’m the only person NOT running for president. Here’s another name:
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson on Sunday joined the crowded field of Republicans running for the White House in 2008 and proclaimed himself the “reliable conservative” in the race.
Thompson, who was health and human services secretary during President Bush’s first term, also said he is the only GOP candidate who has helped assemble both a state and federal budget.
Eh, whatever.
Found a couple things in his “promises” laundry list interesting though. For one, Tommy gave a hint he showed up late when the wingers were handing out the Koolaid:
Thompson said he would “demand” that the Iraqi government vote as to whether it wanted the U.S. to remain in the country. If the answer were yes, “it immediately gives a degree of legitimacy.” If the answer were no, “We would get out, absolutely. It’s a duly elected government.” (emphasis mine)
You know the answer would be no, so in a way Tommy just called for withdrawal. A yes would be suicidal on their part, especially so considering their election amounted to official sanction of sectarian violence. What little legitimacy they have depends on their ability to undermine the occupation, the only reason they haven’t openly said “get out” already (which the Iraqi people have already said rather loudly) is they have no reason to believe we’d actually leave if they did.
Of course, this means Tommy has no chance in hell of winning the nomination. The lunatic fringe has veto power, and for them any suggestion of withdrawal before the return of Halley’s Comet is “spineless hippie lefty crap”.
Then again, maybe he plans to make up for that with sheer naivety…
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has made “terrible mistakes” in the handling of the fired federal prosecutors. “I would not have appointed Mr. Gonzales. I would have appointed somebody that was loyal to me,” Thompson said.
Umm…wasn’t that the problem? Who the hell could you nominate more loyal to you than Gonzo is to Bush? Your wife?
