- The news over the weekend that Iran had signed a nuclear deal indicates two things, both dubious. First, it signals that John Kerry and other diplomats involved in the deal think that the Iranian government is acting in good faith. Based on the available evidence, it's hard to see how anyone could come to that conclusion, but I suppose this is yet another example of how critics like me lack the critical ability to discern nuance, at least as John Kerry is fond of describing the term. Second, it sends an unmistakable message to the Israelis: you're on your own, kids. I am certain that Benjamin Netanyahu will get the message and proceed accordingly, inasmuch as there is nothing nuanced about it. Oh, and the Saudis are pissed, too.
- So the Packers and the Vikings played to a 26-26 tie yesterday. The last time the two teams played to a tie was back in 1978, the year the Packers almost returned to respectability in the generally desolate 1970s. The only thing the Packers have going for them now is the general ineptitude of their division rivals. The Bears got humiliated in St. Louis yesterday and the Lions kicked away a game to lowly Tampa Bay at Ford Field. If the Packers can figure out a way to beat the Lions on Thanksgiving, they'll probably win the division once Aaron Rodgers comes back, likely for the Atlanta game on Dec. 8. It sure looks like there are a lot of better teams in the other divisions than anyone in the NFC North this year, but the division winner will get in. Touch luck, Arizona Cardinals, among others.
- I'm a little late to the party on the end of the filibuster in the Senate and what the long-term implications might be. My suspicion is that there's really a short-term goal, which is to get more Obama judges on the federal judiciary while the getting is good. The longer-term implication is that control of the gavel in the Senate becomes even more important and that the Senate races in the 2014 cycle are going to be pretty vicious. There's a lot at stake. It's going to be interesting to watch how Al Franken approaches his campaign, because it suddenly might be a crucial seat for the Dems to hold.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Lightning Round -- 112513
More topics, not enough time.
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2 comments:
D,
On the filibuster rules change, I was blogging pretty regularly in '05/'06 when the "nuclear option" was first discussed, and you would have thought that America was one Paul von Hindenburg away from dictatorship if the rules change passed. The very mention of the concept threw liberal commentators into a full-scale panic - cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria.
Now, we must destroy the filibuster to preserve democracy. Funny how quickly some things fall down the memory hole. I hope someone safely stores every instance of a Democrat taking about why this is a good move for future use. It'll probably be needed sooner rather than later.
Yep, FR. If it weren't for situational ethics, the Dems wouldn't have any ethics at all.
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