Buck Naked Politics

More on the Indiana Voter ID Case and the Probable Long-Term Effects of the Supremes' Decision

Posted by Damozel | Now that SCOTUS has held that Indiana can require voters to produce government-issued identification (BN-Politics), expect more states to pass similar legislation, says The New York Times.  Oh, and expect more litigation over the limits of the states' ability to require it.

“The court’s opinion is likely to perform the same function for the photo ID debate as the Pennsylvania primary did for the Democratic presidential nomination — hardening positions while doing little if anything to illuminate a path to resolving the conflict,” said Doug Chapin, director of the Pew Center on the States Web site, electionline.org....

Reflections on McCain's Anger Management Issues & his Much More Important Hard Right Turn

Posted by Damozel | Let's cut to the chase:  we all know that John McCain is, let us say, irascible.   Is this a problem?  Should we worry that he'll unleash the whirlwind on slight provocation?   As Christopher Hitchens --- who I'd consider an expert in anger--- points out, we know what people mean when they talk about McCain's anger problem (he also has a blurting problem, as I discussed here). 

"[A]nger," make no mistake about it, is the innuendo for instability or inadequacy. What if McCain doesn't really have both oars in the water or is either too tightly wrapped or not tightly wrapped enough?  (Slate)

Supreme Court: Not Unconstitutional for States to Require Gov't-Issued Voter ID

Posted by Damozel | Yes, citizens of Indiana, the states can require voters to produce photo identification without violating their constitutional rights.  So saith the six of the Supremes 'in the most important voting rights case since Bush v. Gore,', thereby validating 'Republican-inspired voter laws.'(AP) 

In a splintered 6-3 ruling, the court upheld Indiana's strict photo ID requirement, which Democrats and civil rights groups said would deter poor, older and minority voters from casting ballots. Its backers said it was needed to prevent fraud. (AP)   

The McCain Non-Option (Krugman on McCain's Tax Policies)

Posted by Damozel | Krugman writes:

As the designated political heir of a deeply unpopular president — according to Gallup, President Bush has the highest disapproval rating recorded in 70 years of polling — John McCain should have little hope of winning in November. In fact, however, current polls show him roughly tied with either Democrat....  For the most part... it probably reflects the perception, eagerly propagated by Mr. McCain’s many admirers in the news media, that he’s very different from Mr. Bush — a responsible guy, a straight talker.  (NYT)

As Krugman explains, this perception does not reflect the reality. 

Pentagon to Investigate Military Analysts

by D. Cupples |   Last week, the New York Times ran a story based on newly released documents indicating that the Pentagon might have fed pro-war propaganda to so-called "military analysts" who had monetary interests in our nation's invasion of Iraq.

In response to the Times story, the Pentagon is reportedly taking some sort of action.  Stars and Stripes reports:

Obama on Fox: a Self-Styled Progressive Who Voted for Tort Reform & Dislikes Govt. Regulation of Business

by D. Cupples |   Economist Paul Krugman indicated months ago that Barack Obama is not really that progressive.  Yesterday, during a Fox interview with Chris Wallace, Obama made his lack of progressiveness as clear as a crystal Champagne flute. 

I don't know if Sen. Obama was being disengenuouis (trying to score Fox viewers' votes)  or if he really meant what he said about having voted for tort reform and opposing some forms of government regulation of industries.  Neither option reflects well on him.  Below are pieces of the show's transcript:

Obama Helped Donor Get State Grant

by D. Cupples |   Most lawyers are familiar with the notion of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety.  It's a cliche in political circles, too.  That said, I don't understand why Barack Obama publicly pushed to get grants from the State of Illinois for a political donor (and paying client).  The Los Angeles Times reports:

"After an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 2000, Illinois state Sen. Barack Obama faced serious financial pressure: numerous debts, limited cash and a law practice he had neglected for a year. Help arrived in early 2001 from a significant new legal client -- a longtime political supporter."

Senator: Bush Adminstration Lied about Veterans' Suicide Attempts

by  D. Cupples |  For some time now, we've learned that the U.S. Veteran's Administration (VA) has failed to adequately take care of the men and women who've served our nation.  Our politicians and bureaucrats have failed to see that they get proper health care and proper treatment for PTSD. A few moths ago, President Bush actually pocket-vetoed an appropriations bill that included raises for our troops and better veterans' benefits.

Now, apparently, the VA is failing to accurately report statistics that are important to elected officials who actually want to solve problems.  McClatchy reports:

ABC Ignores Obama's Misleading Message about Lobbyists' Money

by D. Cupples |   Some bloggers are upset with Barack Obama for giving conflicting responses about the flag-pin non-issue (Little Green Footballs via Memeorandum).  Aside from admiring Nancy Pelosi's pearls, I don't care about politicians' jewelry.

I do care about mainstream media's repeated failure to cover the more substantive misleading statements that Sen. Obama has made: chiefly, those about where he gets his campaign funding. 

Today, ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos presented a prime opportunity to spotlight this important issue, but George and his guests chose not to.