The Sixth Circuit is well-known for its ideological divides and sometimes-nasty dissents in habeas cases, but the dissent in Tucker v. Palmer last week from Judge Damon Keith seems to set a new standard. The issue in the case was whether under the deferential AEDPA standard, the state court had unreasonably determined that there was […]
Author Archive | Jim Lindgren
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Docket:
Crime & Consequences has a list of the criminal cases the Supreme Court is hearing this fall. Kent’s list reminds me that the Fourth Amendment cases this Term are front-loaded: there will be three in the first two weeks. I have blogged already about one case, the fascinating Herring, and I plan to blog more […]
McCain leads Obama in RCP composite.
In the Real Clear Politics composite, McCain now leads Obama for the first time since March: 46.7% to 45.7%. This is in part because the Gallup / USA Today Poll switched in one week from Obama up 7% to McCain up 10% — a staggering increase for McCain of 17%.
Pajamas Media Debunks Another False Obama Rumor.–
Pajamas Media has done the work shooting down another false Obama rumor, this one spread by the notorious pro-Hillary website, No Quarter. It questioned whether Obama had registered for the draft, and thus whether he was allowed to serve in the executive branch. PJM reporting: After contacting the Selective Service System for an answer several […]
Obama Slip of the Tongue Reignites False Claims That He is a Muslim.
According to the Washington Times, some anti-Obama people (not the McCain Campaign) are spreading the “Obama is a Muslim” falsehood — again (tip to Althouse). Obama, who seems awfully gaffe-prone recently, referred to “my Muslim faith” on ABC this morning. Obviously, that was a simple slip of the tongue. Ironically, it happened while Obama (who […]
Most Asian Stock Markets Up Sharply After Fannie/Freddie Takeover.
Some VC readers were wondering what the US Stock Market is likely to do on Monday, the day after the federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. While the opening on the New York market is still 12 hours away and anything can happen, right now Dow Index futures are up 244-249 points, SP […]
Palin on Creationism.
About nine days ago, shortly after Sarah Palin was announced as the VP candidate, I mentioned in passing what I termed Palin’s “ridiculous and embarrassing approach to creationism.” At the time, I had seen only left-wing attacks on her statement that both should be taught in public schools. Not surprisingly, I was immediately attacked in […]
Palin Supports Contraception, Not Abstinence Only.
The LA Times has a good story on Palin’s views on sex education and contraception: Palin appears to disagree with McCain on sex education. The Republican vice presidential candidate says students should be taught about condoms. Her running mate — and the party platform — disagree. Palin’s running mate, John McCain, and the GOP platform […]
Government Takes Over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The AP reports a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Government assumes control over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration, acting to avert the potential for major financial turmoil, announced Sunday that the federal government was taking control of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. […]
Gallup Tracking Poll Shows McCain Ahead 48-45%.
In the 3-day Gallup tracking poll released today, McCain leads Obama by 3% — 48% to 45%. This is a 5-point jump from yesterday’s tracking poll, which means that Saturday’s respondents were a staggering 14-16% more favorable to McCain than Wednesday’s respondents (polled before Palin’s speech). The Rasmussen tracking poll showed a smaller, but still […]
Obama bounce now gone in Rasmussen Tracking Poll; both tied at 48%.
As I suggested might happen a few days ago, Rasmussen is now reporting that McCain and Obama are tied in the 3-day tracking poll, each at 48%. This represents a 3% jump from yesterday’s results. Thus, Saturday’s respondents favored McCain by 8-10% more than Wednesday’s respondents, just before Palin’s Wednesday speech. The Obama bounce, which […]
They broke John McCain.
The most affecting part of John McCain’s acceptance speech was also the most surprising: McCain’s admission that he was broken by torture. I had read a little about this before on the internet – suggesting that McCain had illegally collaborated with the enemy. More generally, I had heard that virtually no one is actually able […]
Wassily or Wasilla.
At Tim Blair’s blog, some are speculating about why Barack Obama might have mispronounced “Wasilla” as “Wassily.” Most of us would make more slips of the tongue than the candidates do. And it’s only natural that he would use a name he’s probably more familiar with (Wassily) than one he’s less familiar with (Wasilla). I […]
Obama’s favorite TV show is MASH; among McCain’s is The Sopranos.
Ana Marie Cox (tip to Tim Blair): Obama told Entertainment Weekly last month that his favorite television show is the wartime sitcom “MASH,” which, while solidly entertaining, was not exactly free of heavy-handed moralizing and liberal pieties. (It’s instructive to note here that McCain’s favorite shows include the decidedly, and admittedly, amoral dramas “The Sopranos” […]
Apparently Fraudulent Palin Bookbanning List.
In 1996, when Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, she asked her town librarian how she would respond to censoring books. According to the librarian at the time, three inquiries had been made by December 1996. Palin also asked for resignation letters from some department heads and high appointments that she inherited from her predecessor […]