Non-Paper Daily, 1.12.2009

*After all the tug-of-warring, it looks like Roland Burris will indeed fill Obama's vacated senate seat. Other than him appearing to be a bit of a quack, I think, legally, this is the right move. However, let it be known that, if I ever blog about him again, he will henceforth be referred to as "The Magic Man."

*Obama asked Bush, and Bush complied, to release the second half of the initial $700 billion economic stimulus. I have lots of thoughts ranging around my head about this, more than shall be put in this post, but mainly it's this: Throwing money at the situation won't solve anything unless and until Americans stop consuming more than they produce. The root of this problem goes far deeper than a bunch of consumer and government spending can cure.

*This is fantastic news. Obama's transition team reasserted their word to fulfill a campaign promise to close the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. For six years there have been hundreds of prisoners detained there without due process, a fundamental right in the United States. Thanks to years of mismanagement and illegal maneuvering by the Bush Administration, figuring out what to do with those prisoners will be hard, but this is a positive step.

*And so is this. The Obama team has unequivically said they will get rid of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule for military service. Currently, you cannot serve in the military if you are openly gay. This ridiculous Clinton-era policy needs to be headed for the nearest trash dump. Since when does who you like to make out with have anything to do with your ability to serve?

Non-Paper Daily, 1.9.2009

*Michelle Obama's mom, Marian Robinson, is moving (it looks temporary) into the White House with the Obama family to help take care of the kids. Strikes me as a good message for Americans: Family helping family and sticking together is a positive thing.

*Dude ate his eye. I guess he won't be needing it soon. Sounds like a sad story.

*It looked like Roland Burris (guy who is supposed to replace Obama in the Senate) was not going to be seated, then it looked like he would, now it looks iffy again. The Illinois Secretary of State is refusing to certify his appointment and the US Senate won't seat him until "his credentials are in order." Time will tell. BTW The basic argument against seating him is that he was appointed by a guy who previously tried to sell the senate seat to the highest bidder. Here's the case in favor of seating him.