Vilsack signed the bill banning protestors from military funerals yesterday. This comes just in time for the funeral of Daniel Sesker, a soldier killed in Iraq who happened to be homosexual. I think this is a slippery slope on free speech, without which we wouldn’t get to enjoy the irony of quotes like this: “The church issued a statement Monday critical of the Legislature for passing the law, saying protesters also planned to picket the ‘ignominious, Bible-dumb, pandering demagogic Iowa Legislature.’” The First Amendment Center offers a discussion of the legal background.
The Register irritated me with this headline: “GOP’s Lamberti bests Boswell in fundraising.” The fine print/article? Boswell is still way ahead. I have a very love-hate relationship with horse races.
Yepsen blabbers on about taxes. He sure seems to do that a lot.
I apologize in advance, as this post has a 60/40 rant to news ratio.
John “I didn’t inspire you last time but now I think I run the party” Kerry sent out an e-mail today titled “10 days that will get their attention,” outlining the Kerry Iraq Plan, which he will launch 4 days from now:
If Iraq’s leaders can’t move past their infighting and endless delays to form a new government by May 15, we should immediately withdraw all of our troops. If they meet the May 15 deadline, we’ll bring America’s combat troops home by the end of the year and put the future of democracy in Iraq where it belongs — in the hands of the Iraqi people.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about withdrawing from Iraq, much less immediately, and the e-mail is full of irritating gems like this:
In these and many other ways, because of citizens like you, the wheel is slowly, but surely, turning on the question of Iraq. Over the next ten days, we’re going to give it another huge push. But, before I tell you more, please take a moment right now to sign in support of the Kerry Iraq plan.
Before I tell you more? At any rate, here’s the petition, if you’re into that kind of thing.
