Random Thoughts

(He was) aware that one thought linked strangely on to another in the concatenation of worthy ideas, Like Orient pearls at random strung...
Sir Walter Scott. (1771–1832). Guy Mannering.


It must be the humidity.

Perhaps the moisture interferes with the ectoplasm. At any rate, I find my mind jumping from issue to issue, rather like crossing a river on ice floes – a soothing image, that.

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Has it struck anyone that the first beneficiaries of the new Supreme Court decision regarding eminent domain takings on behalf of private entities may well be cellular phone companies? Everyone has a cell phone, everyone wants better service – and they fight tooth and nail when a carrier tries to build a tower in their community. No longer public utilities, cellular companies are indeed private corporations. It was not long ago that a church on the outer Cape signed a contract to have a cellular tower disguised by their steeple, only to be thwarted by those who are convinced that the rays emanating from the tower are a health hazard (for the benefit of those people, I give you here the web site that gives instruction on how to build tin-foil beanies for protection – and remember, always wear them shiny side out! - http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html). How long will it be before the solons on Beacon Hill realize they can’t get decent cellular reception in Truro and decide such a taking is in the ‘overwhelming public interest’?

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Speaking of the Supreme Court, the selection by President Bush of John Roberts seems like a solid choice. Right of center, but not too far off the edge, Judge Roberts would seem like a good candidate for confirmation. It was remarkable that Bush was able to keep the nomination secret until about 50 minutes before is formal announcement. In a way, after the Associated Press released its breathless report of the name at about 8:10, Porcupine was somewhat hoping that Bush would announce the name of a different qualified jurist just to flummox them. Already, it has been reported that conservatives have raised between $70 and $80 million to run ads urging his confirmation, and a friend of Porcupine’s received a solicitation last week from Mass NARAL, before the nominee was announced that explained that no matter who Bush nominated, the nomination would need to be fought. It is also reported that the left has raised about $50 million for similar reasons. Since about fifty Senators have already made up their minds to vote for whomever Bush might nominate, and about forty have made up their minds to vote against whoever might be nominated, it seems staggering that over $120 million will be spent to change 10 minds. That is the way of politics today.

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On the subject of political financing, Porcupine would like to recommend an excellent book by Peter Bearse, “We, the People – A Conservative Populism”. A large part of Mr. Bearse’s argument is that the current popularity of attack ads, targeted mailings, etc., will continue until the paid political consultant is dispensed with, as much of their salary is accounted for by a percentage of their media ‘buys’, causing them to suggest foregoing such old fashioned techniques as actually meeting the populace and making speeches to them in person, in favor of more and more media buys. Mr. Bearse has encountered much hostility from the paid political and media establishment – I can’t imagine why….

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Speaking of media, Mr. Schectman of the Cape Cod Times has left us one final gaffe before he leaves us for good. On page two of the July 19th Cape Cod Times, waaay below the story with the photo of Karl Rove headlined ‘Bush Raises Bar for Firing Leakers’, in the tiny print of the For The Record corrections, is the note, “A headline on Page A-1 of yesterday’s Cape Cod Times gives an imprecise description of accusations against White House deputy chief of staff [note – not capitalized!] Karl Rove. Reports indicate that Rove did not directly ‘name’ an undercover CIA agent but rather revealed her identity by describing her as the wife of Ambassador [capitalized!] Joseph Wilson IV.” The headline for the preceding day splashed in the boldest of type across the front page, a.k.a Page A-1, of course was Mr. Schectman’s responsibility. Even his grudging retraction is inaccurate – Valerie Plame was not an undercover agent, for instance. Perhaps the Daily KOS will benefit from Mr. Schectman’s headline-writing skills in the future. At least he ends his career on the same inaccurate note as he began it, consistent to the end.

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Any takers that Judith Miller’s source is a Democrat, so she has chosen to languish in jail rather than admit it?

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Another blast of the miasma of heat – I’ll drift away for a bit….