Reality-BasedTM Political Numbers from Nicholas Beaudrot
Electoral Math
Reality-BasedTM Political Numbers from Nicholas Beaudrot
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Dare I say it, things are looking up for the pro basketball team in the ATL.
Locally, it's obviously very nice that the Sonics have Kevin Durant. But Seattle was a good team as recently as three years ago. The Hawks, for the first time in ages, might be able to put a decent lineup, with Joe Johnson, Josh Childress, Shelden Williams, Al Horford and Acie Law on the floor. It's a little small, with Horford playing center at a short 6-10, but it's more talent than the Hawks have seen in ages.
It was pretty obvious these were the right picks for the Hawks, since they fill the team's two biggest needs at the one and five. The only other alternative would have been to take Mike Conley and then whichever big man was left at number 11, which would have been BC's Sean Williams. On paper, Horford & Law seems like a much better combination.
Is your school district trying to prevent re-segregation? Too bad:
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected school assignment plans that take account of students' race in two major public school districts. The decisions could imperil similar plans nationwide.
...
Louisville's schools spent 25 years under a court order to eliminate the effects of state-sponsored segregation. After a federal judge freed the Jefferson County, Ky., school board, which encompasses Louisville, from his supervision, the board decided to keep much of the court-ordered plan in place to prevent schools from re-segregating.
Look, I appreciate the conservatives desire for a color blind society, I just disagree that it's feasible in the short-term. Chief Justice Roberts "commented that the legacy of the [C]ourt's landmark ruling Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 outlawing state-sponsored segregated schools should be race blind programs". I wholeheartedly agree. But I will be shocked if we reach the point where race blind programs do not result in de facto discrimination in John Roberts'slifetime.
Justice Kennedy left the door open, stating that only these race-based programs were illegitimate, and that perhams some race-based program to establish diversity might be found constitutional. So, there is a glimmer of hope, but that's all.
The newest Democracy Corps poll dishes out some very good news. Currently, district maps heavily favor Republicans—there are many more House Democrats in districts Bush carried than there are House Republicans in districts that Kerry won. After the 2006 election, this situation got even worse. There was some real worry that Democrats would not have any elections where they could play offense, and that their majority couldn't grow any more.
However, polling shows that in "Tier 1" Republican-held districts, Democrats hold a tiny advantage. At the very least, these seventeen or so seats appear to be competitive, though obviously a lot can change in twelve months.
I had no idea that Transformers and Voltron were the tools of the devil:
But I guess that explains why I turned out to be such a ne'er do well. Via Lawyers, Guns, and Money.
Obviously I have some bias here, since If Hell Freezes Over And I Decide To Run For Public Office [hint: not going to happen], my record of speeding as a teenager and late MVET payments will come hit the press, going after a candidate's driving record from fifteen years ago seems like a bit of overkill.
That said, other events in Mr. Szwaja's record make it clear he's not exactly the kind of guy I'd want to represent me. And of course, the fact that he couldn't be bothered to get his paperwork in order while on the Madison city council is another strike against him.
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updated by Nicholas Beaudrot on 08:57 07 June 2007
