Links and Minifeatures 07 31 Tuesday

Calif. plan could sway 2008 race



I like it, and not just as someone who tends to vote more for the elephants. I think it would be equally good in right leaning Texas, the second largest number of electoral votes.



Because California hasn't voted Republican since 1984 (When Reagan, who was a former governor, won 49 states), we're basically ignored in the national elections. With the preponderance of people who'd pull the lever for the Democratic candidate even if they ran Pol Pot against Mohandas Gandhi on the Republican side, California as a whole is just not in play. Typically, the networks are calling California for the Donkeys within seconds of the polls closing, making it a waste for Republicans to campaign here and pointless for the Democrats, so neither party pays any attention to the state with the most voters. This would change that, and make it worthwhile and necessary for candidates to campaign here - and it might just cause them to modify their platform a bit, to try and win the toss-up districts. 20 electoral votes is over 7 percent of the number needed to win.



In short, this appears to be in the interests of the people of California, never mind one party or the other.

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First the bridge to nowhere. Now the FBI has searched Senator Stevens' home for evidence of corruption. Amazingly, it took them until the sixth paragraph to mention that he's Republican.



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Victor Davis Hanson has some perspective we should remember.



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Wizbang on how not to fix health care



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Captain's Quarters on the Washington Post's measurement of which party is really more partisan? (in the 110th congress)



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Volokh Conspiracy on short-sightedness in the confirmation of judges.



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"Spacial Profiling" over at Scrappleface. As a Space Cadet myself, I resent this and demand that law enforcement everywhere put an end to this vile practice!



And yes, I'm kidding, albeit not with Mr. Ott's brilliance.



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In case you didn't know: 'Cool' Icon Che Guevara Was a Murderous Thug