Putting principle ahead of something that I guess isn’t principle but I’m not quite sure what it is, Kendrick Meek and Charlie Crist go into to-the-finish, long twilight struggle for third place in Florida Senate race.
TPM Reader JB looks to the big picture …
This post keys into many of the themes that you have emphasized over the past decade. In the TPM construct of politics, Periello is violating the typical “meta” relationship between Republicans and Democrats by remaining strong and true to his convictions. As Bill Clinton made clear, Strong and Wrong trumps Weak and Right. In this case, Periello, isn’t screaming or making vague threats to look tough, but is being tough by standing up for what he believes. Respect is earned when you take responsibility, if not pride, for your actions. Running away from your actions only makes you seem easily swayed by the crowd without a solid core on which to rely.
On CSPAN today, members of the Republican-packed US Commission on Civil Rights discuss their extreme displeasure at whoever leaked a couple of their draft report on the New Black Panther Party case to TPM. In this case, we are identified by what I take to be our nom d’net “that liberal blog.”
At one point, Commissioner Todd Gaziano says: “I would certainly call upon the liberal blog to inform us of who provided that copy in violation of its (sic) rules.”
Commission Chair Gerald Reynolds then takes a rather more level-headed view of the matter.
The consulting firm of Jennifer Carroll, now the Republican nominee for Lt. Gov in Florida altered documents to make the firm appear eligible for lucrative city contracts, according to an investigation by the Florida Times-Union.
TPM Reader KA is headed to DC from Philly this morning:
Apparent rally attendees swarmed the Megabus/Bolt bus depot at sunrise this morning. Passengers outnumber the buses that can hold them. Most are college age. I am next to a family from Lancaster with their daughter who attends Temple U. For anyone not savvy to PA – yes we have Pennsyltucky, that vast Republican land between Philly and Pittsburgh. Though Lancaster is a slice of Oregon on the east coast: an organically grown, sustainable haven.
I’ve heard of a lot of young adults — 20somethings — bringing their parents along to the rally. Or maybe it’s the parents bringing their 20something kids along. Either way I’m not sure what it signifies but it does seem notable.
The search is on for as many as 26 other packages that are allegedly part of the plot, a Yemeni official tells the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, via the Wall Street Journal, more details on the package found in Dubai yesterday:
Dubai police, in the statement Saturday, said that the package contained a computer printer, loaded with a toner cartridge that contained explosives. The explosives–including PETN, an explosive ingredient also used in the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt–were loaded in a professional way and connected via an electric circuit to a mobile-phone chip hidden inside the printer, according to the statement, posted on the United Arab Emirates’ state news-agency website.
Preliminary tests on the package found in England also indicated the substance in that package was PETN.
TPM Reader JB checks back in on rally demographics:
Saw the posts about the occasional folks older than the 18-34 group, but I think the average age may be higher than you expect.
My wife and I flew in from Chicago and we’re mid-40s. We’ll go with my brother-in-law and his fiance, early 40s. I hope to meet up with one of my DC-based bosses and her husband 50+, an old boss coming down from NYC, early 40s, and yes, a couple of 20-something friends. Will try to update the demographic report when I get to the Mall.
Our report previewing the Rally4Sanity, including the schedule of events.
Lots of reports from Twitter, our reporters, and elsewhere that DC transit system is straining this morning to accommodate the ralliers, which is pretty much par for the course for mass events in DC.
Here’s TPM Reader KM:
I live in takoma, which is as far out on the red line as you can be before you cross into maryland. Its absolutely jammed. Busier than it is during rush hour. My friend lives in greenbelt, the last stop on the green line out in maryland. The line to buy fare cards and get into the station is out to the parking lot. Another friend is in gridlock traffic on a bus downtown
I didn’t see this many ppl in the city during the beck rally over the entire weekend.