Politics Tuesday – May Day grab-bag

I ended up getting distracted by a number of things (a great soccer game, the need to do laundry, a far more elaborate than planned dinner, etc.) so I don’t really have the time to do the post I meant for today. Instead, you’ll just have to settle for some links and my brief musings.

I’ve already complained about Glenn Beck in the last couple months, but this one just cannot go without mention. Yesterday, he compared Al Gore to Hitler. No, seriously, he did: “Al Gore’s not going to be rounding up Jews and exterminating them. It is the same tactic, however.” Read the rest at Media Matters. How does this guy still have a job?

The best quick summary of the ridiculousness of the recent Carhart decision on so-called “partial birth” abortion can by found at Lawyers, Guns and Money. I still find it astonishing and thoroughly depressing that this “women don’t know their own mind” canard found its way into the majority decision of a Supreme Court case. For the best takedown on this absurd justification for banning abortion, check out Reva Siegel and Sarah Blustain’s article from The American Prospect last year. Another great read on it is from Emily Bazelon in the New York Times.

The big news for today is that Reid and Pelosi finalized the Iraq funding bills and sent them to the president, on the four-year anniversary of the infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech. Bush promptly vetoed it, even while stating how important it was to get money to the troops. The symbolism is powerful, of course, but the best thing I read about it is from Think Progress, where they simply let the numbers speak for themselves.

Finally, it’s May Day, the real Labor Day. As a perpetually in denial Marxist, it’s worth recognizing. It’s less well-known that May 1 is also Law Day. From the New York Times: “President Dwight Eisenhower established May 1 as Law Day to co-opt the biggest day on the socialist calendar.” Isn’t that nice?

May Day – Elvis Perkins
I Fought the Law – The Clash

Oh, and that soccer game…the second leg of the semifinals of the European Champion’s League. After 180 minutes over two legs, Liverpool and Chelsea were tied at 1-1. 30 more minutes didn’t produce a goal, so it went to penalty kicks. I know it’s a rather silly way to resolve a hard-fought match, but you can’t deny they’re exciting. Especially when you’re watching with a big group of other people. The other semifinal match (Manchester United v. AC Milan) is tomorrow. Should be fun.

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