The nomination of Samuel Alito promises to cause many pajamas to be wrinkled as bloggers stay up until the wee hours of the morning, writing posts and more posts about it…particularly as the issues swirling around him become more heated. Bloggers on the left, right and center see blogs as potentially playing an influential role in the ongoing debate. Here’s a fascinating, must read post on what’s being discussed by some bloggers and how they see their role, in accordance with their...

…in Cincinnati

This just in: Shaun O’Mac, host of a great Internet talk show: SUBJECT2DISCUSSION Wednesday November 2 at 7pm PT 9pm CT and 10 pm ET welcomes Colby Buzzell author of My War about his experiences as a soldier in Iraq. As well as Justin Gardner of the Donklephant centrist blog and Andrew Evans of the American Centrist Party. To listen to the program go to www.LVROCKS.com click on LISTEN and click on CAM/CHAT. For those who cannot join us LIVE, you can listen to the PODCAST version with or...

NPR Politics & Society: Listen to this story… Talk of the Nation, November 1, 2005 · Next Tuesday, voters in Ohio and California will consider redistricting reforms. The measures would take the power to draw the district lines away from politicians, and put it in the hands of independent bipartisan commissions. Guests: Rob Richie, executive director of the Center for Voting and Democracy Ed Cook, legal counsel for the Legislative Services Bureau of Iowa Ken Rudin, NPR’s political...

Charles Lane: Nominee’s Reasoning Points to a Likely Vote Against Roe v. Wade As far as anyone yet knows, Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. has not made any public declaration calling for the overruling of Roe v. Wade , the 1973 Supreme Court decision that recognized a constitutional right to abortion. At least on the surface, Alito’s record as an appeals court judge contains something for everyone. In 1991, he voted to uphold a Pennsylvania law that would have required married women to notify...

They say it’s wise to pick and choose your battles, and amid news reports suggesting that Democrats are increasingly hesitant to use the filibuster against conservative Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, Minority Leader Harry Reid gave the GOP a sucker punch that reminded everyone that a minority party can still pack a political wallop. Seldom has a political leader pulled off such a well-timed and well-executed maneuver. And seldom has any political leader looked as genuinely outraged —...

From TMV’s favorite poet, Wall Street Poet Michael Silverstein: Asked to shepherd the young master, Was a faithful old retainer, His role this to shirk the limelight, While assisting a slow learner. “See my boy through his first hard days,” Those instructions he received. “You’ll be rich rewarded later, When, in time, you’ve been relieved.” Who could guess this sly factotum, Backup guy and service render, Had his own worldview in waiting, Had his own full-blown...

MANY THANKS! Because if you read this site you know TMV is the ultimate journalist freed from the DISCIPLINE of an editor — who can write what he wants, and make it as long as he wants to make it (he has agreed to have Holly from Cincinnati proofread for him, much to the relief of one of our nicest readers in Texas). That violates most blog rules, but what the heck… However, due to killing travels and over the past week some serious health problems he has been limited in his usual wisdom-filled...

E. J. Dionne Jr. in the Washington Post Has anyone noticed that the coverup worked? In his impressive presentation of the indictment of Lewis “Scooter” Libby last week, Patrick Fitzgerald expressed the wish that witnesses had testified when subpoenas were issued in August 2004, and “we would have been here in October 2004 instead of October 2005.” Note the significance of the two dates: October 2004, before President Bush was reelected, and October 2005, after the president...

I heard this on NPR earlier but found an article on the BBC’s website: The US military says it believes that a rocket-propelled grenade has been fired at one of its helicopters delivering aid in earthquake-hit Kashmir.

The Democrats forced the Senate into an unusual closed session – sparking tons of news coverage in the wires and on television and raising questions what this portends for the party’s position on other issues — and the size of Minority Leader Harry Reid’s political bag of surprises: WASHINGTON – Democrats forced the Republican-controlled Senate into an unusual closed session Tuesday, questioning intelligence that President Bush used in the run-up to the war in Iraq...

While I was out for an appointment, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has pulled the US Senate into a secret session. This is a big deal. John at AMERICAblog is covering it as follows: Harry Reid blasts the Republicans, and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS specifically), on the Senate floor by John in DC – 11/01/2005 02:55:00 PM Holy sh*t, put on CNN by John in DC – 11/01/2005 03:00:00 PM More info on secret Senate sessions by John in DC – 11/01/2005 03:21:00 PM UPDATE FROM NPR’S...

Tuesday, November 8th at 9pm (check your local listings) The abortion issue has divided the country for over thirty years. FRONTLINE investigates the steady decline in the number of physicians and clinics performing abortions, and focuses on local political battles.

A first hand account of viewing the civil rights great with some impressions, thoughts — and a lingering question.

The nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court has obliterated a seeming “truce” in the the fever-pitch build up of polarization that was seen this year with the Terri Schiavo affair, “nuclear option” filibuster threats, and preparation for all out political war once President George Bush began to get ready to announce his Supreme Court picks. What changed it? Schiavo’s death plucked much of that issue off the nation’s front burner, the U.S. was smacked...

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Arlen Specter is all but waving a written sign saying he’s likely to back Judge Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court: Time and again Specter used his Monday afternoon press conference to defend President Bush’s nominee to the high court and to justify some of his controversial rulings. “I think he’ll be an excellent witness,â€? Specter predicted. Drawing an implicit contrast with ex-nominee Harriet Miers, who withdrew last week...

The End of the Raven by Edgar Allan Poe’s Cat from POETRY FOR CATS by Henry Beard On a night quite unenchanting, when the rain was downward slanting, I awakened to the ranting of the man I catch mice for. Tipsy and a bit unshaven, in a tone I found quite craven, Poe was talking to a Raven perched above the chamber door. “Raven’s very tasty,” thought I, as I tiptoed o’er the floor, “There is nothing I like more.” CONTINUED….

And you can download it here. (We’re sure there are also similar masks available this year for those who support him as well…although since Halloween is apparently the devil’s work, that may thin out the rank of partisans a bit…) TMV thanks Rick in Miami for the tip.

FOX News: I am normally reluctant to write about the highly charged issue of abortion, but this time is an exception. For those of you who consider all abortion to be murder, you should stop reading now. These remarks are directed to the rest of the population that considers abortion appropriate in at least some circumstances — a clear majority of the American public. Two noteworthy events occurred recently that are critical to further discussion of this very important public issue: publication...

Bull Moose has a prediction: The Moose expects that the President will never again betray his lovers. Indeed, it’s hard to believe that we’ll see Harriet Miers The Sequel. TMV agrees with Bull Moose here: The Bush Administration needs the enthusiastic support of the right now more than ever as it moves into the upcoming crisis period. That is why they will replace Harriet with a true believer. And the White House wouldn’t mind a judicial fight that could be a diversion from their...

Due to illness TMV was unable to post much yesterday but he will be posting a bit more today. It’s a bit hard to post when you have to be in bed (and hopefully asleep most of the time). Keep checking back. And remember that our always independent co-bloggers will have their own take on things.

Today’s New York Times: President Bush appears to see little need for a wholesale housecleaning following I. Lewis Libby Jr.’s indictment….

This morning’s Chicago Tribune suggests that GWB will nominate either Samuel Alito or Michael Luttig perhaps as early as this afternoon.

It sounds as if President George Bush and his administration learned some lessons from the ill-fated nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court: With President Bush expected to pick a new Supreme Court nominee within days, several sources close to the selection process said the White House is focusing on a short list of appellate court judges vetted this summer before he nominated John G. Roberts Jr. to the high court. The administration has backed away from any insistence that the nominee...

Can President George W. Bush recover from the latest thunderbolt hurled down from the political heavens (or, as some partisans would say, hurled up from a more fiery place) in the form of the indictment of Vice-Presidential aide “Scooter” Libby in the Plamegate case? Clearly, a lot is going to depend on what more comes out, whether Bush’s right hand man (and some say “brain”) Karl Rove is truly under the microscope and in danger of facing future legal problems and whether...