Speaking of this terrible debate, don’t miss my article on why Tim Russert is whack in the current issue of The Washington Monthly. Sadly, it’s not online.
UPDATE: Here it is.
Injecting Race
I’d been a bit concerned that this race/gender business was tearing progressives apart, but I think all decent people can come together now in loathing of Tim Russert and his refusal to ask questions about actual issues in the campaign.
UPDATE: Twenty minutes in, still no substantive questions!
Mitt Mania
My man wins in Michigan. Heck of a race on our hands on the GOP side. Dare I start the speculations about a brokered convention?
Clinton Wins!
It helps to not have an opponent.
Romney declared winner in Michigan primary,
Michigan Economy
I’m a little baffled about all these people on TV reporting with baited breath that the exit polls in Michigan are showing a ton of concern about the economy. Had they not realized that the Michigan economy was in the shitter before this? I feel like this whole “entire auto industry in collapse” story has been pretty widely reported.
Multimedia
Megan McArdle podcasts with Josh Green. As you can tell, we’re experimenting with more and more multimedia concepts here at The Atlantic.
Kansas may be torn but it should trust Gov. Sebelius
Kansas is no stranger to controversy, to being pulled in opposing directions. During the Civil War, Bleeding Kansas, as the state was called, was trapped in the middle of the country – at the tender border between the Confederacy and the Union – and regularly a witness to bloody raids and battles over slaves.
Today, the state finds itself caught at the intersection of an aging, dirty energy habit and a clean, prosperous energy future. In that sense, the differing visions of the state’s legislature and the Governor are a microcosm of the national (and global) debate on climate and energy.
In an op-ed today, written on behalf of the editorial board of The Wichita Eagle, the local paper (in a city that typically keeps the pulse of the heart of truly red conservativism) essentially declared its support for the bold energy vision of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, articulated clearly in her State of the State address earlier this week.
Gov. Sebelius has devoted her most recent political endeavors to moving Kansas to the forefront of energy pioneers, despite the kicking and wrestling of some internal forces stuck clinging to the past. But if the legislators really know what’s best for the state, they will work with Sebelius to realize her vision, stated the paper’s editorial board.
What is her vision?
[To] again lead an American transformation — lead America to energy security by tapping our fertile resources, our workers, and the ingenuity of Kansas entrepreneurs. We can — and we must — reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and increase our economic competitiveness by using our natural resources.
Overall, I got a better feel for Sebelius’ earlier policies on education than her idea of Kansas’ energy future from the op-ed. But what I also took away from the piece is that Sebelius is a courageous and trustworthy leader for the cause. And some of our strongest leaders emerge when conflict keeps them on their heels, but they perservere.
Hats off to The Wichita Eagle editorial board for recognizing Sebelius’ (and Kansas’) potential and for coming out in support of a leader willing to take worthwhile political risks.
NV Supreme Court blocks Kucinich from debate.
MSNBC reports that the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that NBC can block Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) from tonight’s presidential debate in Las Vegas, overturning an earlier ruling by a Clark County District Judge. NBC had uninvited Kucinich after changing its participation criteria.
UPDATE: AP reports more on the court’s decision:
The state Supreme Court’s unanimous order said that blocking the debate unless Kucinich got to participate would be ”an unconstitutional prior restraint” on the news network’s First Amendment rights. The justices also said the lower court exceeded its jurisdiction by ordering Kucinich’s participation even though he first requested and was denied relief from the Federal Communications Commission.
Mittmentum
The Fox News guys are heavily — indeed, to a somewhat unprofessional extent — hinting that Mitt Romney is going to win tonight.
