Everything is Happening

I apologize again for my absence this week. Here is a roundup of recent political news:

-Obama has announced former General Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veteran's affairs. Shinseki is known for his role in the lead up to the Iraq war, when he was highly critical of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's approach to the war. Shinseki is the first Asian appointed to Obama's cabinet.

-Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) of Illinois has been arrested for trying to sell the appointment to Barack Obama's senate seat. For those of you who don't know Blagojevich he could best be summarized as an idiot schmuck who gives both the democratic party and the state of Illinois a bad name. He has consistently been one of the most unpopular governors in the country and was only reelected in 2006 because the republicans nominated someone just as bad (voters were so disgusted in the choice that the Greens got 11% of the vote.) Regarding this senate seat Blagojevich reportedly said the seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing,” Trying to sell a senate seat while under investigation is a rather stupid thing, and Blago will hopefully soon be in prison. The Illinois state senate seems likely to soon consider legislation striping the governor of his power to fill senate vacancies and instead hold a special election. Illinois is weird. It elects fantastic senators (Obama and Dick Durbin are top notch,) but its governors are terrible (Blago's predecessor, George Ryan, is in prison for corruption)

-The final races in the U.S. House of Representatives have concluded. In Louisiana two delayed general elections produced wins for the republicans. In the 4th district John Fleming (R) apparently defeated Paul Carmouche (D) by a tiny margin for the seat of outgoing congressman Jim McCrery (R). In the New Orleans based 2nd district the republicans scored an upset as Joseph Cao beat corrupt congressman Bill Jefferson. The results shocked the political world, as the democrats normally win the district with 70+ percent. In Ohio's 15th district Mary Jo Kilroy (D) was declared the winner over Steve Stivers (R) after the final ballots in Kilroy stronghold Franklin County were voted. In California's 4th Tom McClintock (R) was finally declared the winner over Charlie Brown (D) (for the record, I despise McClintock wholeheartedly and am very disappointed about this) There is still a recount going on in the Virginia 5th, but democrat Tom Perriello has enough of a lead over incumbent republican Virgil Goode that it seems highly unlikely that Goode will win.

-Caroline Kennedy has emerged as a front runner to replace Hillary Clinton in the senate. It is unclear how interested she is in the job, however.

-In Canada, Parliament has been suspended so that Prime Minister Stephen Harper of the conservative party can delay a vote of no confidence in his government. The newly minted Liberal-NDP coalition, with the support of the Bloc Quebecois, will likely topple Harper when parliament reconvenes, though its unclear if the coalition will take power or if another election will be held. Meanwhile, the Liberals appear likely to replace their leader, Stephane Dion, with Michael Ignatieff. Mr. Dion, a wonky Quebecer, lead his party to a record low number of seats in an election in October. Mr. Ignatieff is smart and seems politically skilled, but is criticized by some because he spent most of his life in the United States. Some in the NDP fear that the coalition may collapse, as Ignatieff was not as strong of a supporter of the coalition as Mr. Dion. Ignatieff's path to the leadership was made clear today when former Ontario Premier Bob Rae stepped aside. The other main challenger for the leadership, Dominic LeBlanc, dropped out several days ago. It is unclear when exactly Ignatieff will become the party leader, or if he will subsequently become Prime Minister if Harper falls to a vote of no confidence in January.

-In Ghana, votes are still being counted in an election held on December 7th. It appears as though it will head to a runoff between John Atta-Mills and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the 28th. The world is holding its breath, hoping for a clean and fair election after a year that saw questionable or fraudulent polls in Zimbabwe and Kenya. Hopefully, if there is a runoff, is will be a refreshingly clean election.