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- David Broder keeps substituting his political preferences for statements of fact: "The Senate tends to be at its best when the party ratios are relatively close -- say 55 to 45 -- rather than as lopsided as they have been during Obama's first two years." What does "at its best" mean? Why does he call a Senate majority "lopsided"? I have an idea: Let's just stop having elections and let Broder designate a legislative body composed of wise men who know how to lead. Then sweet, sweet cupcakes for all.
- Adam Nagourney reports on a dustup between the Nixon Foundation and the National Archives over the content of the Nixon Presidential Library's treatment of Watergate, which the foundation describes as "unfair and distorted." This I expect from people who want to whitewash the legacy of a criminal. But would it kill Nagourney to point out how serious Watergate was? Is he just assuming we know? Instead all we get are a bunch of quotes from flaks who repeat that "all presidents" tape Oval Office conversations.
- "America has already suffered the experience of an extralegal system: Jim Crow. Now sharia looms as an extralegal threat to our freedom." So says a guest post at The Corner. And then a list of horrible things that happen under Sharia law in places "such as Saudi Arabia." But the post claimed Sharia law is a threat to "our freedom," not people in Saudi Arabia. If you're going to claim Sharia law is coming to the United States, having evidence tends to strengthen your case.
- Weekend Remainders: Fareed Zakaria returns his ADL prize, the ADL doubles down on stupidity; the Senate rules reform whip count; Rand Paul favors pointless waiting periods based on the length of legislation; lest you think Sharron Angle is singularly focused on creating an American theocratic dystopia, she's also clueless on health-care policy; Maureen Dowd's patented brand of vapid political "analysis" belongs in Us Weekly rather than The New York Times; the Democratic Party should denounce association with rapacious asshole businessmen like Jeff Greene; and is Mitt Romney doomed?
--Mori Dinauer
