Briefing - January 26, 2006

Posted at 7:46 AM on January 26, 2006 by Bob Collins

Phil Krinkie doesn't hold back. The candidate for Congress in the 6th District comes out swinging on his Web site with the latest on the Alito nomination.

Today's vote was bitter because the left-wing who controls the Democratic Party has now made it clear that they will politicize the judiciary to pursue their extremist agenda. A strictly party-line vote for a clearly qualified nominee based solely on perceived ideological differences is unheard of in these confirmation processes.

MNPublius has particulars on a poll call a reader received regarding sports stadia in Anoka County, with some, well, weird questions.

Minnesota Daily opinion piece, written by the head of the U-DFL, explains why "Mark Kennedy is wrong for students." But the Walker Pilot-Independent has a different view, at least regarding some outdoors issues.

Pete McCloskey is back, according to the LA Times.

he will run against Rep. Richard W. Pombo (R-Tracy), a leading critic of how the government has applied environmental protection laws.

But Swing State Project raises a disputed concern:

I'm appalled at McCloskey's involvement with the Institute for Historical Review, a notorious cabal of Holocaust deniers (something I did not know about when I first wrote about him). In a 2000 speech, he told the group, "I don't know whether you are right or wrong about the Holocaust...." Needless to say, this kind of talk disgusts me in the extreme. McCloskey's remark a few days ago that he "will go and speak to any group" doesn't signal very good judgment or contrition, either.

Red State gives props to Sen. Norm Coleman, who took on George Galloway in hearings into alleged oil-for-food corruption last year.

I am not saying that the House of Commons is made up of hicks: they are, in fact, a political organization with deep and subtle ways, with an institutional history that stretches back since before this continent was discovered by Spain. I am saying that assuming that the techniques that work in your legislative body will work in every legislative body is the hallmark of a hick, and not a very sophisticated one at that. Someone should have explained to him that Senators can be touchy about that sort of thing - and that he didn't have the cover that he'd have back home.

On Real Clear Politics (warning: turn on your pop-up blocker!), Marshall Wittman details why it's "not '94 yet" regarding a minority party sweeping to power.

Quick hits:
>> Robert Byrd has a challenger
>>Democrats get boost from advocacy group
>>Quinnipiac survey: N.J. Senate race is tight

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