Chapter 63.47: Is Daddy Running?

Damn, this is inconvenient. Young Al Gore III was arrested for zipping along in his Prius at around 100 miles an hour while reportedly on pot and various pills -- or at least pills were reportedly in his car when he was stopped. Funny thing happened on the way to the prison cell. No one came to pick him up. Kinda makes me wonder whether letting him out early would get in the way of dad's silent running at the presidency. Sure, he's out of town to be a responsible talking head for the Earth Summit, but certainly someone could have bailed the boy out.

Chapter 63.45: Funny Meeting You Here

I find this interesting. Apparently, one of the lawyers for Marc Rich, whom President Clinton pardoned (controversially) on his final day in office, used to be represented (from 1985 to 2000) by a lawyer named Libby. Yes, Scooter Libby -- the same man whose sentence was just commuted by President Bush. Funny how things move around Washington, D.C.

Chapter 63.4: Albatross!

So, President Bush has commuted the sentence of Scooter Libby. I think that tells us that the president knows he has limited power and is in his lame duck period. And this will be one more nail in President Bush's legacy coffin.

The president's decision was praised by conservatives for his decision, and vilified by Democrats. But I'd like to know what other Republicans say about this. What's Arlen Specter's opinion in this matter? He's the former chair of the senate judicial committee, what does he think? I've not read enough stories to determine whether he's been interviewed, but he certainly wasn't the first of the Republicans to advance an opinion.

The president has another albatross around his neck. It's not as big as Iraq or Katrina, but in some ways it's a worse thing to be remembered for; it could be argued that he flouted judicial authority, thumbed his nose at the system. Does he even care anymore?

Chapter 63.2: My Cat Made Me Do It

I saw this report last week, but the New York Times has included an opinion piece on it today. Apparently, cats chose to be domesticated; it was their decision more than ours. Since I'm owned by a cat, I can completely understand the relationship.