That Was The Week That Was

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack!!

A week spent working in southern California and then catching up at home means I haven't had the chance to comment, opine, bluster, and generally add to the vox bloguli about a wide range of events. So, since I know that you were wondering:

• The Alito hearings: It is not about the speeches, it is not about the crying (just what was that all about?), it is not about the all-too-few questions, and it certainly is not about the answers. It is all about 55, as in the number of Republican senators. When you have 55 on your side, everyone knows the drill: The nominee genuflects in the direction of Brown v. Board of Education and Griswold v. Connecticut; throws in a hosanna or two about stare decisis (a Latin term meaning "I am unlikely to reverse any prior case except for Roe v. Wade"); and avoids other common pitfalls, such as remembering membership in a group that opposed (at the least) women attending Ivy League schools. When you have 55 on your side, you can even afford to lose a couple, although I don't think that is likely to happen. The bottom line is simply this: You don't like Judge Alito? Change the number 55. Ralph Neas, Nan Arons, Kate Michelman, and their ilk are shouting against the rain. When George Bush is President and 55 Republicans sit in the Senate, Samuel Alito and John Roberts end up on the Supreme Court. And if that bothers you, it is time you stopped complaining and started working on the next Senatorial and Presidential election in your state.
• The Alito hearings, Part II: Could Ted Kennedy and Joseph Biden be any more dreadful? It just cannot be a coincidence that both of these men have had no meaningful adult employment other than being United States Senators -- both of them took office at the constitutionally imposed minimum age of 30. Memo to both: An Judge Alito bobble-head doll knows more about the law than you do. Please just stop talking.
• The Baseball Hall of Fame: Bruce Sutter? Puh-leeze. Sports Illustrated baseball writer Tom Verducci has it exactly right. Sutter wasn't even the best relief pitcher on the ballot. I hope to more to say about this, and the screwed-up HOF voting process, in the next few days (preview: 1) Sutter was rejected 12 times before blossoming into a Hall of Famer; and 2) Steve Garvey received more votes than Dale Murphy and Albert Belle combined).
• James Frey: If you were dopey enough to buy his book, why do you care whether any of it is true? He says he used drugs and alcohol, then he says he stopped. Wow, never heard that story before.
• Shooting Rockets Into Houses Where You Think Terrorists Are: I'm appalled at the lack of outrage -- or even reaction -- generated by this story. You think or hope, but clearly do not know for certain, that Ayman al-Zawahiri is in a house, so it is OK to blow it up regardless of who else might be there? Like children? At least 13 and perhaps as many as 18 people are dead. Even if one of the deceased is al-Zawahiri, is that OK? WWJD, indeed.
• Wal-Mart and Health Insurance: The Maryland legislature has just overriden a veto and enacted legislation (story describing the act here) requiring each company with 10,000 employees in the state to spend at least eight percent of its payroll on health care. Another example of good intentions producing bad results. Such legislation does nothing to address the real health-care problems both employees and employers face -- primarily costs that increase each year far in excess of inflation -- and only exacerbates one of our major failings -- the linking of health care benefits to employment. While it might feel good to stick it to Wal-Mart, ultimately actions like this work to the long-term detriment of all.
• Why Do Men and Women Figure Skaters Dress Alike: Something to ponder in the days ahead.