Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Friday, January 05, 2007
What A Day
First we have children purposely stunted in their growth to keep them under control. Then we have an admiral appointed to lead the U.S. land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And now this:
The Post fronts newly released FBI documents that reveal the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist suffered from paranoid delusions as a side effect of a powerful sedative he started taking after an operation. He became dependent on the sedative and continued taking it during his first 10 years in the Supreme Court. The former chief justice tried to escape from a hospital, thought he heard voices, and imagined there was "a CIA plot against him." The documents also show the FBI was used both when Rehnquist was appointed to the court and when he became its chief justice to question and investigate witnesses who were planning to testify against his confirmation.
Nuthin' like a junkie Supreme Court Justice to keep the Constitution safe, eh? And hey, why not use the FBI to protect him from scrutiny!

The comparison of politcs/governing to making sausage doesn't begin to cover the reality of the United States government. But never fear. The candy desk will be safe!:
The WSJ wonders on Page One what will happen with the U.S. Senate's famous "candy desk," which dates back to 1968. Sen. Rick Santorum from the candy-filled state of Pennsylvania always kept the desk full, courtesy of some of his state's big companies, such as Hershey's. Ethics rules forbid lawmakers from accepting gifts worth $100 or more a year from one source but there are exceptions for items from a senator's home state. Problem is, Sen. Craig Thomas will take over the desk and he's from Wyoming, not exactly candy central. Regardless, Thomas says "the candy desk has been my favorite for a while" and insists he'll continue the tradition somehow.
Sheww. That was close. Having an out-of-control Preznit and a junkie leading the Supreme Court are nothing, NOTHING compared to losing the candy desk!

Like I said, what a day. And I've only just started trolling the nets!