Voter ID law upheld

In a blow to Democratic opponents of state's efforts to enact voter ID laws, the Supreme Court upheld a voter ID law out of Indiana. Probably because of a glaring legal problem:

But the Democrats who sued to block Indiana's law in 2005 did not name a single plaintiff who had been barred from voting because of the law. And that failure doomed the legal challenge.

I'm no lawyer, but from how I understand lawsuits to work, someone has to have something to complain about that's actually happened, right?

It is a bit confusing, though, that at least one Justice seems to have no problem excusing the partisan roots of the law:

Stevens acknowledged the Indiana law may well have been "motivated by partisan concerns," but that alone is not enough to make it unconstitutional, he said. The challengers failed to show the voter ID requirement would pose a "severe burden" on many voters, he said.

That alone? Well, if you can point to it as a motivation, shouldn't that lead you to potential harm? How confusing.

Plot

It wasn't suicide that drove a man to drive his SUV on the Metrolink tracks, it was anger - and a plot to get back at, or just get back, his wife.

It's all too crazy and too tragic.

They claim the defendant had a history of suicide attempts beginning when he was 8 and tried to hang himself. They said he changed his mind about suicide only minutes before the train approached. After he saw the devastation he ran to a friend's house, got scissors and stabbed himself, they said, and was hospitalized for his wounds.

There doesn't seem to be too strong an argument in the article that this incident was caused by the defendant's mental illness. But that seems likely, no?

Afraid to fly, and it shows

So they can now check the content of our laptops at the airport without batting an eye. The courts say probably cause isn't required because its a matter of border security. Really? So, can they check it only at the Bradley International Terminal, or anywhere in the airport? I can't believe what we're allowing these days.

I don't want someone peeking at my laptop and I don't even have any of the stuff they're worried about - like kiddie porn. Don't look at my photos or read my email. Don't laugh at my bad poetry.

So do we just stay home now?

Drinking with Clinton

Over at MayorSam, they suggested a drinking game for Clinton-Obama interactions.

Take a shot or beer for every reference of "out of touch," "elitist," "bitter," "win-at-all-costs," "kitchen sink strategy," "Bush Republican," "beer and guns," "chose my words badly," "Bosnian sniper fire," and "small town America."

A bit like Clinton's whole bonding with the average guy through drink thing:

The Republican Farm Team

The Republican Party is forming a group to groom future Republican superstars.

You know, because they weren't creepy and self-congratulatory enough.

Don't worry, though.

We are seeking winners, and winners come in different shapes. There is not a total template that they have to fit," Wilson said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday.

Given the option, would they fight?

The reaction shots during this debate are priceless. You can almost hear the cameraman and directors licking their chops whenever one candidate swipes at the other as they quickly go for the B-roll shot of the attacked candidate's reaction.

I get the feeling that, given the chance, they'd just start slapping away at each other. Literally.

Maybe it would help voters decide between the two, who knows.

It doesn't look like these two are going to be exchanging Christmas cards in the future.

Don't lower taxes if it makes you have to borrow money?

Novel!

Obama just gave a great response about structuring taxes and saying - realistically - that John McCain's plan to effectively take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children and grandchildren while giving irresponsible tax breaks is bad business. Amen!

A little bit of fiscal realism would be amazing. I love that it comes from our party and never from the supposedly fiscally responsible GOP.