Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Great Inside Joke

Posted on October 30, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

One of my (heretofore) secret vices is that I read Kevin and Kell online every day (via the Herd Thinners Incorporated site). It’s a very funny Internet-themed online comic strip, but really getting the jokes sort of requires that you go back and read Kevin & Kell from the start.

I mention this because today’s strip’s daily sponsor ($5 donation) is Larry Niven (or someone pretending to be Larry Niven), and the message of the day is “Kzinti Diplomatic Corps/let’s do lunch.” Which will be very funny to some, and incomprehensible to everyone else…

(Note to super-purists: Yes, I understand that if Hroth is invited too then it’s not as funny.)

Posted in Internet | 2 Comments

Further Proof that Jeb! is Smart — and Dangerous

Posted on October 30, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

I’ve been saying for some time that if Jeb Bush is smart he’ll want the VP nomination in 2008 — not the Presidential nomination. The GOP presidential nomination in 2008 will be a poisoned chalice (unless the Dems do something suicidal like nominate Sen. Clinton, and maybe even then if voters see the Senator as a stalking horse for the ex-President). I figure that Jeb! (as he likes to be known) is too smart to want the role of sacrificial lamb. Plus if anyone would inherit all the tar of the current administration it’s surely a relative. No, the nomination is for someone else.

But the Vice Presidential nomination is perfect: If the ticket wins, you are heir apparent. If the ticket loses you are not blamed, and are on the inside track for 2012. More importantly, by being the Veep nominee, Jeb! prevents any rival from having that pole position in 2012. It’s a no-lose proposition.

And it looks like Jeb! gets it: In State: An interview with an upbeat governor he doesn’t rule it out:

The only thing I have said is I’m not running for the United States Senate, I’m not running for president.”

Pressed about whether he’d be as clear in ruling out a vice presidential run, the governor demurred: “That’s a nuance. . . . I just told you what I said.”

Posted in Florida, Politics: US: 2008 Elections | 2 Comments

McCain’s Belated Redemption

Posted on October 30, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

I have been very critical of Sen. John McCain in the past (see, for example, Why John McCain Does Not Deserve to be President. Ever.), so it’s only right that I should note McCain’s (belated) very good deeds on the torture front. Sen. McCain not only sponsored and got overwhelming Senate support for an amendment to ban torture by the United States, but he is also holding fast against numerous administration end-runs to try to water down his amendment in the secretive conference committee [a conference committee reconciles differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill, prior to presenting the revised version to both houses for re-passage]. The administration, headed by VP Cheney, wants the bill changed so that it only applies to the military; the result would be to allow (or, perhaps, to continue to allow) the CIA to torture people; McCain is pushing back. (See, e.g. Truth About Torture).

It remains unclear what will emerge from the conference. A majority of the House and a large majority of the Senate support McCain’s amendment, but the conferees are stacked with people who are keen to support the administration’s position. We’ll see if they dare. The insiders I hear from are sounding very pessimistic.

Posted in Torture | Comments Off on McCain’s Belated Redemption

$9 Billion, A Few Times Over

Posted on October 30, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Kevin Hayden of The American Street offers up some quotes and links on the subject of $9 billion dollars. More than one set of $9 billion at that.

Yes, Sen. Dirksen, it’s real money.[1]

And it used to be ours, too.

—-

1. Did Sen. Dirksen ever say, “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money”?

Posted in Politics: US | Comments Off on $9 Billion, A Few Times Over

Big Lies

Posted on October 29, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Marty Schwimmer is not a happy camper: The government has been lying to him. (It’s not about the Plame affair despite the title)

Posted in National Security | Comments Off on Big Lies

So True

Posted on October 29, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

A New Moment of Truth For a White House in Crisis:

John D. Podesta, who was chief of staff to Clinton, said Bush may be more constrained by his troubles than Clinton was by his. Noting that Clinton’s approval ratings remained above 60 percent throughout the impeachment battle, while Bush’s are in the low 40s, Podesta said, “When Clinton said, ‘I’m going back to do my work,’ people cheered,” Podesta said. “When Bush says, ‘I’m going to do the job I’ve been doing,’ people say, ‘Oh, no.'”

It’s the gang that can’t shoot (or even lie) straight. People are fairly mad at FEMA down here, although the screwups being reported are just upsetting not life-threatening.

Posted in Politics: US | 1 Comment