Bloodless Coup

Bresch-Related Things That Make You Go Hmmmm ...

Interesting.

Gov. Joe Manchin's daughter, Heather Bresch, was being considered for at least two posts on advisory boards for West Virginia University about the time her academic credentials came into question. Last fall Bresch was being considered as a potential member of both the WVU Foundation and the advisory board at the College of Business and Economics, indicating WVU officials regarded her as more than just the average ex-student

A Game Changer for the November Election?

Marc Ambinder discusses the implications of the ruling California's Supreme Court is going to issue tomorrow relating to that state's anti-gay marriage initiative.

West Virginia Might Be the State That Looks Least Like America

Racially, educationally, in terms of its economy, in terms of the age of its population, it is an outlier. Something that you'd think more people might have brought up on tv last night when interpreting the supposed larger meanings of West Virginia's vote.

"It's Almost Like She's the Al Sharpton of White People"

Seriously, is there anyone on tv who's more perfect for today's political media environment than Chris Matthews? It's like they popped him out of a network talking head machine.

And, more broadly, why won't the networks say poor white people? That's what they kept implying again and again and again last night. But they kept saying "working class" (apparently no one who makes more than 50k works). Is poor a dirty word or something? It doesn't seem any more negative to me than the implication that no one who earns more than $50,000 a year works for a living.

For Gov. Chris Gregoire (D-WA) Pork-Barrel Spending Comes Before National Security

The governor of Washington state took time out of her busy schedule today to write a diary on Daily Kos in which she attacks Sen. McCain for leading the fight that allowed for a major air tanker contract to be won by Airbus, not Boeing. Now I understand that she has to do things to appease angry constituents, but discussing the tanker contract as "economic stimulus" seems to kind of miss the point, no? The tankers aren't being built to improve the economies of France or Washington, they are being built to provide a vital service that's key to our national security. I don't think there's much debate that the Airbus plane rated better than the Boeing plane, in terms of our military's needs. So, personally, if she feels the need to attack John McCain I wish she would do it on one of the issues on which he's horrible (there are many) and not on an issue on which he can argue he is more concerned with the national security needs of the country than a Democrat.

"Would You Be Vice President?" - The Hill Asks 97 Senators

And happily some of them actually have a sense of humor (predictably, some don't).

Ted Stevens: "No. I've got too many things that I still want to do as a senator. And I don't like the idea of a job where you sit around and wait for someone to die."

Barbara Mikulski: "Absolutely. Absolutely. I think I would be great. First of all, I know how to behave at weddings and funerals. And I know how to be commander in chief. I'd bring a lot of fun to the job. We would rock the Naval Observatory."

Robert C. Byrd: "No, I can already preside over the Senate, and I do not enjoy spending a lot of time at 'undisclosed locations.'"

Roger Wicker: "The chances of that are so remote that I'm more likely to be hit by an asteroid."

Daniel Inouye: "If I were asked, I would say, 'You're out of your mind.'"

James Inhofe: "No. I enjoy life too much."

Chuck Grassley: "I'm too old to be vice president. But I am young enough to be reelected to the Senate." [So he's going to run again, at 77, in 2010?]

Larry Craig: I would say "No, Hillary.'"

Lamar Alexander: "I know already who it will be: the man in charge of the search. There's no need for me to respond. That's how you get to be vice president."

Mississippi's 1st District

Marc Ambinder is arguing that today's important election isn't in West Virginia, it's in Mississippi. And indeed, if the Democrats manage to win a blood-red seat in the Deep South that President Bush won by 25 points in 2004 that'll be a sign that the Republican brand is pretty much toxic at this point. Though of course Democratic pick-ups in Louisiana and Illinois (former Speaker Hastert's seat) earlier this year are already pointing in that direction.

Robert Rauschenberg Has Died

He was long one of my favorite American artists. The New York Times obituary (with links to a few works) is here.

Rumors of my (computer's) demise

Are true.

While in comparison to the havoc wreaked on others' lives and livelihoods, my loss is small, the storms that passed across the country this weekend were responsible for completely soaking my computer. It was sitting near a window that in ten years living in my house has never once been a problem for rain entering. This storm was something different. When I got home and picked it up it felt heavy, and then when I opened the top I saw droplets of water on the keyboard. I thought, "hmmm, did I just dribble from my glass of water?" not thinking that there was an external source.

The bad news is that the laptop is dead. The good news is that I bought a $20 doohickey that has now converted my (former) hard drive to a (now) external drive, and it appears I have lost no data. So, all the Flaming Lips shows and photos of the Drive By Truckers are safe! However it means my access will be spotty until I get a new computer, as I am working on anyone else's who will share.

So, be back soon, hopefully.

The Dirtiest Side of the Bresch Scandal: Intimidating WVU Students

Miles Layton buried the lead in his story in today's Dominion-Post on the climate of fear that's come to exist at WVU. It's well known that those friendly to the Goodwin/Garrison side of things have been putting pressure on certain faculty, especially at the medical center, to openly side with President Garrison, or at the very least not come out against him. But something else that's also gone on is far more disturbing.

Layton notes, several paragraphs into his story, that students who've wanted to take a stand against the mismanagement of the Garrison administration have come under heavy pressure from other students, especially some associated with student government, not to do so. In fact students who had agreed to serve in the new group that is trying to improve the university's reputation in the wake of the scandal, Mountaineers for Integrity and Responsibility, have been pressured out of joining the organization. As to the students in question, it's no great secret who some of them are - while SGA President Jason Parson has publicly backed Garrison, SGA Vice President Tommy Napier and others have been openly critical of the administration's failings.

What Layton fails to report though is exactly what kind of pressure the pro-Garrison students are putting on the critics of the administration - and why that pressure would be enough to silence, at least a bit, students who've spoken out against the misdeeds of some in the administration. Basically, pro-Garrison/Goodwin students (or at least one of them) have conveyed threats from a prominent member of the Board of Governors, telling these students that they will never have careers in this state unless they shut up. That a member of the Board of Governors is threatening WVU undergrads is horrifying. That a WVU student (who will of course deny it) is happily serving as his hatchet man is equally despicable. That WVU undergrads (who obviously can't speak out about it) find themselves in this position for wanting to improve their university is a sad, sad thing.

[NOTE: Mike Garrison is NOT involved in this intimidation of students. But that one his allies on the Board has engaged in it shows that getting back to business as usual is the last thing this state and university needs.]

Mike Garrison Thinks Tenured Faculty Make Around $100,000

Clueless barely begins to describe it. Faculty wanting to voice their frustrations with our clueless monarch are strongly encouraged to come to the special Faculty Assembly being held at 1:30 on Wed. at the Creative Arts Center. I fear turnout is going to be really low (could it possibly be scheduled at a more inconvenient time?), and that would send a bad message.

Obama-???

So since earlier today I brought up the question of McCain's running-mate, I figure I might as well open a thread for any thoughts anyone has about who Sen. Obama should choose. My top choices? Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, former Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, retired Gen. Wesley Clark, and to make it an even half-dozen I'll throw Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona into the mix (since according to Marc Ambinder Obama likes her a lot). Other names have been suggested of course, but many of them have drawbacks. All three prominent Virginians who are often discussed come with some problems, many of the leading senators voted for the war, and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has said he doesn't want it. I think any anti-choice politicians are non-starters, though a few like Sen. Casey of Pennsylvania have some supporters. Any names you like out of that list? Or are there other names that should be thrown into the mix?

Bill Clinton, Still Running on Elitism, Fears and Lies

He was at it again today in Mingo county.

He told them his wife represented "people like you, in places like this", and urged voters to turn out in record numbers on Tuesday to send a message to the "higher-type people" who were trying to force her out of the race.

I wasn't a giant Clinton cheerleader in the 1990s, but any respect I had for the man has been completely erased in this campaign.

Finding the Cabin

"You're certainly not."

I think the most interesting point in Jeff Jensen's recap of this week's (very intriguing) Lost has to do with John and Ben's timelines - how they are related, and how they point to one of them being favored by the island. Now as to which one is really favored, that's not clear yet.

And I'm really not at all clear on what we are supposed to make of Horace's appearance.

Are 10 Republican Senate Seats in Danger?

It might be a little hard to imagine, but as recent polling shows Senators Smith (OR), Cornyn (TX) and Dole (NC) to be in trouble, it's starting to look possible. In contrast, the Republicans are really only contesting 1 Democratic Senate seat at the moment.

Once Again Considering the Question of McCain's Running Mate

So last night Ryan and I were once again talking about who McCain might run with. And I was having trouble thinking of many possibilities. Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah seem like good possibilities, as does former Rep. Rob Portman of Ohio. I think former Gov. (and Homeland Security Secretary) Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania should get more attention than he does, and I find the idea that people are advocating Gov. Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) and Gov. Sarah Palin (Alaska) to be bizarre - both are brand new to their jobs, and so young that it might highlight just how old McCain is. I get the argument in favor of Sen. John Thune of South Dakota (he's young, handsome and very conservative), but I don't find him a likely choice for similar reasons. Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has obviously been hugely helpful to the McCain campaign, but he too is relatively inexperienced. And of course a lot of people are speaking up for Mitt Romney, but I don't get that he adds much to the ticket, and it certainly appeared during the primary campaign that Romney and McCain weren't fond of each other.

So am I leaving anyone off the list? If not, does that make Pawlenty the heavy favorite? Personally, if I was McCain, I'd take Ridge or Huntsman. But he's close to Pawlenty, who's quite conservative, young but not too young, an experienced governor of a "purple" state, and of course the host of this summer's convention.

Publius Argues That Clinton Lost Because of Iraq

He makes a pretty good case.

Spring Throws Up on Angie Harmon

Think Angie Harmon can pull off most any outfit? Think again.

Lightning + Erupting Volcano

Some amazing pictures involving the eruption of Chaiten in Chile.

Hezbollah Turns Against Fellow Lebanese

Awful news from Beirut.

The battles spread within moments of a rare news conference by the leader of the Shiite Hezbollah movement, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, who effectively endorsed the use of violence by his supporters against fellow Lebanese. This is a first in the history of the group, which had always declared that it is armed only to defend Lebanon against Israeli aggression.

They've already seized control of much of West Beirut. A couple of things to keep an eye on for how they affect the response to this - Hezbollah's leader Nasrallah has become extremely popular in many areas of the Arab world since the 2006 war, so some regional governments may incur domestic costs by taking him on, and Israel may very soon (very soon) be going through a transition in its leadership.

Trauma Mommas

In honor of Mothers Day, "10 Horrifying Moms from Non-Horror Movies". Damn I love some of these characters.

ARG Has Clinton Up 66-23 in West Virginia

And 45% of likely Democratic primary voters in WV say there's no way they'd vote for Obama in the fall.

Hillary Clinton Praises Her Support From "White Americans"

I'm a lot less worried about the racial tinge to what she said than the fact that what she said flies in the face of reality. Over time Obama's been becoming more and more popular in those voting blocs that Clinton seems to think matter more than others. I noticed that yesterday as I was looking over exit poll data, prepping for a radio interview. Kos has numbers on the trend here.

Fred Kaplan's Daydream Believers

It's a good book on why US foreign and national security policies have gone off the rails in recent years. The core point seems to be this (p.192):

The great divide in thinking about American foreign policy today is not so much between Realists and Neoconservatives; it's between realists (with a small r) and fantasists. The split lies not in what is desirable over the long run but in what is possible here and now.

In telling the story of the (at least temporary) triumph of the fantastists Kaplan recounts the dangerous influence of Wohlstetter and his followers, Reagan's push for SDI, our bizarre policies relating toward North Korea, Rumsfeld's prioritization of transformation above all, and of course the Bush administration's policies toward the Middle East. It's a disheartening tale, but one filled with valuable and informative detail. And one that's in the end somewhat hopeful. US decision makers may finally be back on the road toward being reality-based.

Prince Caspian

So since I'm feeling sickly this week and can only talk for limited periods (allergies - bad bad allergies) I figured it was a good night to stay in and read Prince Caspian again in preparation for next week's release of the film adaptation. And what I remembered turned out to be true. I think it's the weakest of the Chronicles of Narnia. There's remarkably little from which to base a summer release - much less one whose trailer makes it out to be part IV of The Lord of the Rings. The story's brief, and not much happens. So now I'm actually kind of more interested to see the film than I was earlier because I'm wondering what they'll do to make it interesting.

While I get making the films in order, books 3 and 4 are should make much better movies.

Garrison spends the day on politics with Heather's dad

A bold move, no?

Love this picture.

Accompanying story here.

"Gosford Park meets Paranoid Park"

The new Brideshead Revisited looks well worth seeing. Of course Emma Thompson in a great role is always worth seeing, and it's based on an excellent novel. But I've got to say that this trailer, while it looks a bit like the book, doesn't feel like the book (which I've always taken to be principally about the role of religion in people's lives - well, in addition to all the usual constraints on those who live in gilded cages stuff).

When Governors Were Lauded for Militias Gunning Down Striking Workers

The fight for labor protections didn't only turn deadly in the famous conflicts in West Virginia and the Rocky Mountain States. It happened in mild-mannered Wisconsin too.

Short Link-Round Up on Garrison Tonight

Some of these are repeating from comments, but these are the relevant stories covering the WVU Faculty Senate vote that recommended that WVU President Garrison resign:

The basic news blurb from our local AM talk radio station.

Commentary from one of the bigger local-only talk radio personalities.

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette has a brief article (I suspect something longer tomorrow).

And, of course, the best news/gossip/rumor is on the ever-changing comment threads at Fifth Column (the most recent discussion is here).

I haven't linked to Garrison's statement (below, and easily found) or the AP newswire report of the faculty vote (the links above have more information). The Charleston Gazette seems to be avoiding the story (they have the AP blurb on the site, but you have to search for it). I haven't bothered to check the local newspaper (they only update their website once a day, with a copy of their printed newspaper).

Garrison is clearly going to try to hang on. The entire faculty will (presumably) vote on May 14 (just before graduation; should be interesting timing), but that vote will have no more legal weight than this one. It will ratchet up the pressure on Garrison, but accomplish nothing directly. The graduation ceremonies themselves migth also: if the students take the opportunity to make their feelings known, that could be interesting.

The vote just happened a few hours ago, so more detailed analysis, commentary, and reaction are likely to come tomorrow.

Mike Garrison says "Fuck you, faculty"

Or thereabouts. Either he writes quickly or he had this prepared before the faculty vote.

Since my appointment as President of WVU, I have worked with hundreds of students, faculty members, and staff who have stepped forward to address the challenges and opportunities which face us as a University. We have accomplished great things together - and we will continue to do so - by focusing on the future of the University.

The essence of all the motions presented in the Senate today contains a clear message: we at WVU must work to create an environment that assures everyone that this will never happen again.

I have also heard from scores of students, from faculty across the university, from staff, from alumni, and from people across this state. Many have voiced their concerns. Others urged me not to allow a climate of anger and confusion to distract us from our mission. Many have urged me to press forward for the good of the university.

But on one thing we are united: We all love this University. We must continue the great work we do for our students and for our state.

The faculty are the heart of the University. I've said many times before, my faculty mentors are among the people who had great influence on my life. I will continue to work closely with faculty members, particularly those who have already demonstrated a commitment and willingness to work with others across campuses, across disciplines, and across differences of opinion, on each of the challenges that face us.

Our love for this University binds us together in our work.

Our hardest work is ahead.

The Board of Governors has asked me to implement the changes recommended by the committee, and to continue the momentum we have developed on the campuswide and statewide priorities for the past year. It is the work I have been asked to do. It is the work I love to do. It is the work I intend to do.

And pardon me, but "confusion" my ass. The only confusion seems to have been among the administration on which made up story they were going to select to justify their favor.

77 to 19: Garrison "must resign"

"The WVU Faculty Senate has voted to call on WVU President Mike Garrison to resign "for the good of the institution" as a result of the Heather Bresch scandal. The motion passed 77 to 19 with one abstention during a special meeting of the 114-member Senate.

The Senators rejected a second motion that would have simply censured Garrison and a third that recommended no action against the President. "

Why Isn't McCain Apologizing for Liddy?

If Obama has to apologize for Ayers that is. The answer is of course abundantly obvious. The media likes McCain, has decided his character is not campaign issue, and has told the public how great McCain is for a good decade now. So the public is likely to assume the best of McCain and not think he really approves of Liddy's past actions. But if all 3 presidential candidates were held to the same standard, as Steve Chapman notes, John McCain's praise of Liddy and associations with Liddy might be a problem.

Garrison Doesn't Know If Bresch Earned Her Degree?

Pardon me while I bang my head against the wall. Mike Garrison still says he has no way of knowing if Bresch earned her degree or not? Was I imagining it when he said he accepted the Bresch report - which stated conclusively that she did not earn her degree? No wonder 110 faculty have publicly called for his resignation (no doubt many more feel that way but are declining to take their opinions public, give that the hacktastic Garrison may hold it against them in the future). Can it be any clearer that he considers this entire matter simply an inconvenience? Garrison has to go if WVU is to maintain its integrity.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

So last night I got around to watching Schnabel's much lauded film from last year. I can get the accolades for the direction, and it is indeed a nice film, and definitely something anyone looking for a "triumph of the human spirit" story will enjoy. But I don't get the calls by some to name it 2007's best film. It was good, no question. But best of the year, that I don't see.

Hillary Clinton - Still Dishonest and Threatening the Obliteration of Millions

Yup, that headline is sure to piss some off, including perhaps some of the other members of the Coup. But when she insists on restating her threats against Iran and her call for a gas tax holiday ... well, c'mon. They're both true statements. Hilzoy engages what her behavior on the gas tax says about her character and decision-making processes here. On that issue Mark Kleiman says she's Bushian - appealing to ignorance and parting company with the reality based community. But perhaps its her morning affirmation of her "obliterate Iran" comment that's more disturbing. Of course there is the troubling morality of the statement. But there are also the very real, tangible policy results that engaging in such "cowboy diplomacy" produces - results that harm US interests and US foreign policy goals, as Kleiman discusses here.

Things That Annoy Armand - #253

Having to write a scathing review on a beautiful Spring day, because someone actually thinks that crappy manuscript X, which would be lucky to get a B- in a grad seminar here, should be published by what's arguably the top journal in the field. I'm sometimes a fan of ambition - but delusions (and not having the slightest clue about appropriate research designs) are something else entirely.

Iron Man

I'd only give the film a B/B-, but that's not bad for a summer blockbuster, and Robert Downey Jr.'s performance makes it well worth seeing. He's loads of fun, as one would expect. And since I was cooler on the film as a whole than Baltar was, well, I think I can say all of us would recommend it.

Ah, Robert Downey Jr. - love him. Go watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang if you haven't already. Oh, and sure, this too.

Coolness

One of my favorite cool things vanished from the web, but on a lark I searched again and found it: organic html. It's back in the blogroll under diversions.

By the way, just playing with different sites, the one that is the most fun is Norbizness. Try it.

Obama Wins Guam

The least important contest of the primary cycle? Perhaps. But at this point both campaigns want every delegate they can get. There's still 1 precinct (out of 19) outstanding, but his lead should be secure as he's up by 6-7% at the moment.

The Woods Fund

Ari Berman investigates what it does, and how it connects Obama and Ayers (this link goes out to Morris, given his Ayers fixation - and to the Clinton campaign which keeps pushing the Obama-n-Ayers smears).

Race and Democrats' Favorability Ratings of Clinton and Obama

Charles Blow points out some interesting data. Despite all the pundits' analysis and hyperbole, over the course of the presidential campaign (since last July) white Democrats' opinions of Barack Obama haven't changed much - both his favorables and his unfavorables have increased by 5%, with his favorable ratings still far higher than his unfavorables. On the other hand Hillary Clinton's favorable ratings among black Democrats have collapsed. Her favorables are still well ahead of her unfavorables, but they've fallen by 36%.

Back last Christmas my #1 DC connection argued that the race would be decided by black women (they'd be the key demographic - where they went and how they shifted would shape the outcome). More and more it's looking like that was an accurate prediction.

The Most Intriguing EW Speculation About This Week's Lost

Is Claire a ghost?

Bill Clinton Continues to Be a Divisive Ass

Oh please.

"The great divide in this country is not by race or even income, it's by those who think they are better than everyone else and think they should play by a different set of rules," he said. "In West Virginia and Arkansas, we know that when we see it."

If there's one group that wants to play by its own set of rules it's the Clinton campaign.

And while at least he didn't come right out and say "pointy-headed-intellectuals", am I reading to much into this when I read it as implying that Obama supporters aren't real Americans or hard-working people?

Garrison Scandal Around the World

Now picked up in the Economist.

HT

Baltar's doppleganger takes London

And Labour takes a beating all over.

Entire Oklahoma Legislature to go to prison

Well, at least according to the Oklahoma Statutes on forcible sodomy, and forcible sodomy being what they have legislated. And given that they have just proposed to "[force] another person to engage in the detestable and abominable crime against nature" multiple times, they're all going for life without parole.

See also Salon and Shakesville for more on how Oklahoma decided to legislate rape.

Getting Pakistan Back on Track

60 judges, including the chief justice, are to return to their jobs. That would seem to be bad news for Musharraf - but good news for a freer Pakistan.

Soccer moms ruining the environment

Or at least just pissing me off.

I am sitting here on my porch, trying to take advantage of a lovely spring afternoon to do some reading of research articles while sitting in the shade in my nice recycled barrel chair. I live on a narrow, residential street near one of the local high schools, as the attentive reader may recall. Right now I am looking at three, count 'em three, SUVs that have been idling at the curb for 15 minutes. There is one Chevy Suburban (with one female driver) with the windows down, and the woman's (expensively dyed and cut) hair blowing in the breeze of air conditioning. There is another in a Chevy Silverado truck, running with the windows shut and the a/c on, also with one person in the vehicle. That one has been here longer than the other two, so probably idling for more than 15 minutes. The third is a large Toyota minivan, and appears to be turned off. Bonus to that dad for being something less of a gas hog. Each of these vehicles is equipped to carry lots of people and/or stuff, but does not. Plus, they stink. Instead of flowers and grass (and, I admit, a whiff of dog poop every now and again since the pets have been busy while I am reading) I smell exhaust. And, they are parked in front of resident's driveways.

Argh! My street is not your parking lot! Especially not if you are going to sit there are idle and stink the place up!

The Kentucky Derby, 2008

So several weeks ago I looked at the possible field, and settled on 5 horses to keep my eye on - Pyro, Big Brown, Fierce Wind, Elysium Fields and Georgie Boy. Now that we are actually one day from the Derby 2 of those horses (the first 2) are in the race, and indeed they are 2 of the 3 favorites. Between the two I'd put money on Big Brown. No offense to Pyro who's still a nice horse, but Derby winners don't come in 10th in their final preps. So at this point I'm not really thinking Pyro has much of a shot. Who do I have my eye on? Big Brown and Colonel John of course, plus Z Fortune, Gayego and Recapturetheglory. And since the horse with the best work often wins I suppose Denis of Cork should be thrown into the mix.