People who follow these things tell me that the specific changes Attorney General Eric Holder is introducing this morning tied to non-violent drug offenders are more symbolic than substantive. Not that many people are in the federal system on those kinds of charges. But the larger push to ramp back a generation of mass incarceration, driven in large measure by mandatory minimum sentencing laws, is just an incredibly important development. Especially when it comes from the very top of the criminal justice system in the United States.
But to put the news in perspective – not just today’s news but the news of the last half century which has gotten us to this point – you need to look at this chart. Read More
TPM Reader JL asks whether it’s really possible that we’re about to make another run at defaulting on the national debt or whether there really are limits to the crazy.
I was interested to see TW’s comments on fiscal matters. As an investment advisor, I have a keen interest in the topic. Politico joined the conversation this AM and I read that piece with interest as well.
I agree with TW and the Politico piece that the rank and file GOP seems more nihilistic than ever. Not only are they not afraid of something truly untoward–they seem to crave it. So I get that. And certainly GOP leadership has less control over the rank and file than it ever has. I get that too. But the radicalism, nihilism and disarray of the GOP has its limits. If that wasn’t the case, then the effort to use the threat of a government shutdown to defund Obamacare would be on track and I think everyone acknowledges that that crazy idea is going nowhere.
I think we can say Anthony Weiner is officially done. Three quarters of New York City voters now have an unfavorable impression of him. I’m pretty much used to no scandal information ever tanking candidates quite as much as commentators imagining. But this seems like the exception. I think there was a real chance he would have been elected Mayor pre-rescandal. But take two killed him. Politically.