Conservative Wanderer

“A troubled and afflicted mankind looks to us, pleading for us to keep our rendezvous with destiny; that we will uphold the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and, above all, responsible liberty for every individual that we will become that shining city on a hill.” — Ronald Wilson Reagan

Daily Archives: 9 November 2008

Stevens Must Go

It appears clear that Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) has won his re-election bid. While I congratulate him on his victory, he now needs to step aside. His conviction and the continuing scandal around it make him a drag on the revitalization of the GOP.

Unfortunately, what would happen if Stevens does resign is not clear:

In most states, the governor can appoint a senator to finish out an unexpired term, but in 2004, Alaskans passed a ballot initiative that bars the governor from naming interim senators because many were angered over Gov. Murkowski’s appointment of his daughter to the Senate in 2002.

But some legal scholars say that the Alaska initiative would contradict the 17th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants state legislators the power to give governors their choice of senators in the case of resignation or expulsion.

The amendment says: “Provided, that the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.”

If the courts rule that the initiative does indeed contradict the constitution, Gov. Palin could appoint an interim senator until a special election was held, which, according the Alaskan constitution, must take place within 60 to 90 days of the resignation or expulsion.

Regardless of the difficulty of replacing him, Stevens is a damaging liability to a party that needs to shake off the scandals of the past. He’s gotta go.

Whites Didn’t Lie to Pollsters

Looks like another lefty meme is dead: the Bradley Effect.

Whether whites supported Barack Obama or not, they don’t seem to have lied to pollsters about it.

Mr. Obama’s election triumph on Tuesday presented no evidence of the so-called Bradley effect, in which whites who oppose a black politician mislead pollsters about whom they will vote for. Instead, national and state pre-election polls were generally accurate in reflecting voters’ preferences in the presidential contest.

Just more evidence that whites aren’t the racists the left always wants to paint us as.

Of course, it’s pretty clear that they’ll keep trying. I predict that just about any criticism of The One’s policies, far from being the sign of patriotism the lefties told us it was during the Bush years, will now be seen as evidence of racism.

Obama’s Chief of Staff Pick Benefited From Wall Street Donations

I guess it’s not just Obama who has profited mightily from Wall Street “Fat Cats”:

(CNSNews.com) – President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for White House chief of staff is one of the biggest recipients of Wall Street money in Congress, according to a Washington, D.C.-based “money-in-politics” watchdog group.

The Center for Responsive Politics has issued a report highlighting millions of dollars in campaign contributions that Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) has raised from individuals working in the hedge fund industry, private equity firms, and large investment firms.

Emanuel has raised more money from individuals and political action committees in securities and investment businesses than from any other industry.

This comes after a presidential campaign that saw Obama frequently criticize Wall Street and blamed lack of government regulations for the economic crisis that hit the country in mid-September.

In short, Obama’s got one set of rules for his political opponents and another for his political allies.

Is anyone surprised?