Apparently a deal has been reached on the filibuster: Reuters.
I am certainly not happy that it appears that two of the most activist and anti-consumer judges will be appointed to the beach: Priscilla Owen and Janet Rogers Brown. Brown certainly will be in a position to roll back consumer and privacy protections at the D.C. circuit court of appeals — as this venue reviews almost all issues arising from federal legislation. Yet, I am somewhat relieved. If Sen. Reid would have lost the vote, the Reverends Robertson and Dobsin would be picking the next supreme court justice.
I am curious, however, to see if the deal holds. At this point no one seems to be doubting that it will, but tomorrow is another day.
From our Coffee House:
On May 24th the US senate will take of the issue of eliminating the use of the filibuster to block judicial nominees. We find this to be an unacceptable abuse of power which only serves to stifle debate and serve the interests of extremists partisans.
We understand that many in the blogging community will be following these events closely. Therefore, Pickacup will be offering a free wireless Internet Services and a free bottomless coffee to any blogger needing a base on May 24th.
http://www.pickacup.com/index.php?page=Blog-for-Coffee
I have decided to begin blogging once again, under this new site — thanks WordPress.
I suppose some type of introduction is necessary: I work as a CTO for a small ISP and consulting firm in Chicago, IL., and my wife and I own a coffeehouse in Evanston, IL. Under no circumstances should anyone construe the ideas expressed here to be those of the firm I am employed by. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
During my lifetime I have held the following positions, in no particular order: machinist, electrician, recording studio engineer, adjunct professor, tobacconist, telecom engineer, and inter-networking engineer. I have been a member of two labor unions, the AFL-CIO, and the UAW, and I hold degrees in Political Science and Literature. I mention all of this in an effort to offer some perspective on my writings, an maybe to lend authority as well. As illustrated above, I have a very eclectic and broad series of interests and thus opinions.
Politically, I am a liberal - probably more liberal then most; however, I have, my entire life, believed in the American process. Until recently, I always believed that the process tempered extremist views and policies on both the right and the left — at times to my dismay. Yet, I believed the process was necessary to protect us as a whole. In the past few years this process seems to have broken down. Many of us find ourselves living in a country and time we don’t recognize and barely fathom. A friend of mine suggested that this blog simply document, as he said, “The dying days of America”. I, for some reason, am more hopeful. I hear the multitude of voices on online and in the coffeehouses and believe that somehow we will right ourselves. For that reason, I add my voice to the growing murmur.
–sjk
