We’re anticipating a final vote in the Senate on financial reform within the hour. It appears likely to pass on the same 60-40 vote, or close to it, as the procedural vote earlier this afternoon, but there’s no guarantees. Stay tuned …
Late Update (8:30 ET): Voting is underway …
Word leaked late this afternoon, first reported by ABC, that Dennis Blair, the director of national intelligence, was being forced out by the White House.
Blair just issued the following statement confirming his resignation: Read More
They used to say that folks evolved once they got on the Supreme Court. But I’m not sure we’ve ever seen the kind of evolution Rand Paul’s undergone over less than 24 hours.
Let me try to summarize.
1) I don’t support the Civil Rights Act but I personally abhor discrimination.
2) I would not support any effort to repeal the Civil Rights Act.
3) I believe in the Civil Rights Act and the constitutional power to enforce it.
4) If I would have been in the Senate at the time I would have voted for the Civil Rights Act.
Any guesses on number 5?
Say what you want about him, fellow libertarians (small-l and capital-L) say his position is in the mainstream of libertarian thought.
A remarkable theft last night from the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. Five paintings worth half a billion U.S. dollars, including a Picasso and a Matisse (below), were stolen by what security cameras show to be a lone man:
In response to my previous post on this topic, a number of you have written in to ask whether I’m not offering a rationalization of what are simply egregious views. I’m not. I would hope that that is clear.
What I’m arguing is something different: It’s very hard to know what’s in people’s hearts, especially if they’re making no clear efforts to make it clear. And in any case it can be a fruitless endeavor in the realm of public debate. It’s also true that there are libertarians who believe in radical limitations on state power for reasons that have nothing to do with any personal animus on race issues, even if those beliefs dictate policies that would be disastrous for civil rights. Read More
Back in December Rand Paul’s spokesman had to resign over racist comments and a picture of a lynching on his Myspace page.
Sen. Cornyn no comments Brian Beutler about Rand Paul’s take on the Civil Rights Act.
Meanwhile Kentucky Rep. John Yarmouth (D) says Paul has “embarrassed Kentuckians in the eyes of the world.”
Late Update: Wow, now DeMint’s a no comment, and Cantor too.
Later Update: Mitch McConnell is “glad to hear Dr. Paul supports [the Civil Rights Act] as well.”
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