Is Paris Burning?

Not yet; in the meantime there's just lots of random violence on buses and other public transportation. A generalized sense of anxiety pervades society. It's called anxiogène. Lovely. Click on the title of this post to read all about it.

Coleman's Spin & Cringe: Three Judges Didn't Understand Us

The pathetic Coleman legal team abased itself even further today when in a conference call Ben Ginsberg (who never appeared pro hac vice, ie, as an attorney of record from another state, hmmm, why not?) said that the three judge panel "misunderstood" their arguments. But of course! It's the judges' fault, not Tony Trimble's or Fritz Knaak's.

He went on to say that the panel did not address several arguments; in fact, he claimed that it avoided them. Having bored himself to tears of frustration, one half of MC who spent the late afternoon reading the carefully written 68 page decision must disagree. The panel did address both equal protection claims and due process claims. Ben may not have liked the panel's analysis (the losing side rarely does) but it's beneath his paygrade to say otherwise, even if one is a hired gun. Posturing for a federal court case is sheer hubris: the certificate of election will most likely issue after the Minnesota Supreme Court has heard this appeal. MC's hunch is that it will affirm.

The recount was not stolen. It was lost through legal incompetence (not Ginsberg's).

Repeat as needed.

Click on the title of this post to see a summary of the conference call.

Contest Court Panel Rules Franken Won Senate Election

In a decision that could surprise only those who had not been paying attention, the three judge contest panel decided today that Al Franken won more lawfully cast ballots than did Norm Coleman. Click on the title of this post to read the decision. The election was not stolen: Norm Coleman's frightfully incompetent legal team lost it. Reversal on appeal seems unlikely.

Why Israel Will Bomb Iran

Doesn't everybody already know? Click on the title to this post to read David Samuels in Slate discuss rational reasons for attacking Iran. MC always thought self-preservation was extremely rational but Israelis are always treated differently, aren't they?

Paglia: Obama's Painful Missteps

We'll say!

Click on the title of this post to see Camille Paglia's take.

Our Unexceptional President

In Which We Let The Cartoon Speak For Itself

Tiny Dancer

Rahm Emmanuel, ballet dancer. Because MC can be snarky if we want to be. Today, we do. Hat-tip: Barack Obama's Teleprompter Blog. Click on the title of this post to go there.

The Day Obama Fell To Earth

Click on the title of this post to read a piece in The Daily Beast (MC hasn't made up its mind whether it loves or loathes Tina Brown) in which some counter-programming is offered to the "triumph" meme peddled by the lazy American press regarding Obama's European trip. We don't agree with everything in this article (America needs to get used to its diminished status?) but the analysis as to how Obama got very little out of the EU and the rest of the world is a valuable counterpoint to the fawning American press reportage. MC is still appalled the clueless Obama bowed before the Saudi dictator; the video is worse than the still picture. We were heartened, however marginally, by Carla Bruni, wife of the French President Sarkozy, who pulled back from a kiss by The One and instead offered a Gallic handshake. Picture here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2359022.ece

Words Fail: Obama Bows To A Dictator

President Obama bows before King Abdullah at the G-20 summit. MC's thoughts are not fit for print.