politics

Republicans running for governor in a handful of states could block, or significantly delay, one of President Obama’s signature initiatives: his plan to expand the passenger rail system and to develop the nation’s first bullet-train service.

John Badman/The Telegraph, via Associated Press

Crews with the Union Pacific Railroad removed piles of old wooden ties for disposal during construction of the new high-speed rail in Plainview, Ill.

I am not in favor of Ohio’s current system of amending our Constitution. I hate it when proposed Amendments are on the ballot that I oppose. I even hate it when there are measures that I support.

Popular vote just doesn’t cut it with something so important. We just end up with a special interest with enough money to gather signatures to put their pet project on the ballot. That’s how we got Casinos (which in principle I do not oppose, but I voted against because (1) it was a monopolistic Amendment and (2) I HATE AMENDING OUR CONSTITUTION THIS WAY). That’s how we got the defense of marriage thing passed a few years back. It’s basically Amendment by FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt).

cc Photo by Piez

Bernie Madoff will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the biggest crooks ever to walk the earth.

My cousin Dean is an amazing writer. After all, he’s a former reporter and editor. Today I got this amazing e-mail about libraries. He doesn’t mention the Save Our Libraries campaign. But we all know what it’s all about.

Enjoy.

Libraries are cool. That’s right, cool. I chose the word carefully.