In Beck's Fox News TV show yesterday, he starts out by blasting Brown over his 1982 appearance in Cosmopolitan (and subsequent selection as "America's Sexiest Man"). You know, Glenn Beck, if you can ever keep your hands out of the M&M jar on national television, you might appreciate a fit man whom played college basketball at Tufts University and has been a champion triathlete. The nude photograph was reasonably modest; I wonder if Glenn Beck similarly questioned former Governor Sarah Palin's participation in a filmed swimsuit competition during her own beauty pageant days as a young adult. The bottom line is, why is Glenn Beck talking about something that took place almost 30 years ago?
Second, Beck also decided to criticize the fact that Scott Brown teased his two college-age daughters by noting at his victory speech they are available. In fact, Ayla Brown is a celebrity in her own right, having finished in the top 13 four years ago on American Idol, and is a starter on her Boston College basketball team; she is a tall, beautiful young woman and obviously has no trouble attracting guys on her own. The family is close, and word is that he's flying back home today so he can cheer on Ayla in her basketball game.
Beck goes on later to warn Brown that he'll be watching him like a hawk. Glenn, put away your copy of Cosmopolitan...
Barney Frank Upset with Filibuster Closure Threshold
Yes, the gay progressive Congressman who serves my parents' childhood district is clearly unhappy that a Republican upset victory for the Senate seat once held by Ted Kennedy has taken away the Democrats' attempt to muscle through a partisan health care reform bill past the filibuster has issues with the very concept of a filibuster. I don't exactly remember him jawboning the Senate Democrats between 2003 to 2006 abusively and unconventionally using the filibuster of qualified judicial nominees from securing a floor vote, despite majority support, but now he does resent the rightful, traditional use of the filibuster for matter of policy...
What he refers as a violation of democratic principles is part of the checks and balances under our system of federalism protecting minority rights from tyranny of the majority. What goes around, comes around, Rep. Frank: the 60-vote majority of Democrats today may become the 60-vote majority of Republicans within a few years, and Democrats could get a taste of their own medicine if the GOP attempts to similarly ignore Dem inputs for national policy legislation.
I was happy to see McCain and the rest of the bipartisan Gang of 14 which sought to defuse the crisis by Republicans agree to block a rules change in exchange for Dems' agreeing to let some held nominations get to a floor vote. Where is today's Gang of 14, defusing the partisan logjam over health care reform by negotiating key differences on reform between Democrats and Republicans?
Minority rights (i.e., the GOP in this context) are important as the political equivalent of the medical dictum of physicians to "do no harm", in this case, partisan legislation without even the pretense of bipartisanship and compromise. I oppose disabling of the filibuster for the same reason I don't favor direct election of the President (versus the traditional electoral college). It subverts the very concept of federalism and the very approach of campaigning. Why consider the concerns of less populated farm states? We would soon see dysfunctional election strategies aimed more at cities and densely populated states. Ironically, Thomas Jefferson (who founded a precursor of the Democratic Party) himself was concerned over the scope of the national government relative to state government.
No, Rep. Frank; the reason that you have a problem attaining 60 votes in the Senate reflects an unprecedented abuse of power rejecting legitimate bipartisanship on a major policy issue, just like Senate Democrats a few years ago attempted to abuse the filibuster power to prevent floor votes on judicial nominees enjoying majority support. The answer is not modifying Senate rules to make it easier to jam a partisan measure down the throats (or the Constitution to avoid the rare circumstances when a winning candidate by the electoral college doesn't win the popular vote).
Political Cartoon
IBD cartoonist Michael Ramirez points out how patriotic political independents sent a warning shot, the election of underdog Republican Scott Brown, to the progressive tyranny, corruption and cronyism in Washington DC; seems obsessed with imitating European socialistic anemic economic growth, sticky high unemployment, bureaucratic health care, punitive taxation and regulation and abusive spending, and the implementation of the Nanny State.
Musical Interlude: My Favorite John Lennon Remakes
I have two favorites. One of the first albums I purchased was a copy of the Lettermen's Greatest Hits. One unfamiliar track that immediately jumped out at me was a mesmerizing cover of John Lennon's "Love". Then there is one track on a mid-90's tribute album, covered by country singer Mary Chapin Carpenter, called "Grow Old With Me", the opening verses of which are borrowed from a Robert Browning poem, "Rabbi Ben Ezra".
The Lettermen, "Love"
Mary Chapin Carpenter, "Grow Old Along With Me"
