Rambling on...
Well, it's that time of year again. Happy Independence Day to those who care, and Happy Fourth of July to everyone else.
A bit surprised by Justice O'Connor's retirement, but this should take some of the strain off Rehnquist for a little bit--I'm sure it isn't fun to have the public and your colleagues speculating on when you'll collapse.
I am pre-emptively sickened by the nomination fight to come. Let's face it, every single-issue voter in America is going to be pushing for a judge that seems to come down on their side, or pushing against a judge they see as hostile. And just above them are the partisan politics folks on all sides of the aisle.
I have my doubts about which candidates Dubya might field. He's not exactly known for good judgement in political appointments. Then again, Reagan had horrible taste in appointments, and O'Connor turned out okay.
So, any bets on what Bush's strategy will be? Nominate a technically qualified but extremely unpopular fellow as a sacrifice in hopes that the slightly more moderate followup candidate will slide through on exhaustion? Nominate a "minority", preferably female, who will play the "anyone who opposes me is racist and sexist" card? Find the absolute blandest judge possible and watch the Democrats flounder as they try to find something to oppose him on? Or even nominate a good, qualified candidate who isn't necessarily going to do what Bush wants, but really deserves the job?
Of course, Bush has a tin ear for the mood of the country, so he might seriously go ahead and nominate Ashcroft.
Prayers that the president's judgement be enlightened would not be amiss, I think.
In lighter news, I went to ConVergence, which is the big convention that Minicon used to be before the Minicon runners burnt out on organizing big conventions.
I'd forgotten what a really big convention was like. There were a lot, lot more people wandering around. And massive amounts of room parties, instead of only a handful. (Very organized, too. The parties were easy to find and well-supplied.) I got to see a number of interesting panels, spent some time in the anime room, met various folks....
On the other hand, it's much harder to get to see the Guests of Honor outside of their scheduled events. Since I missed both Opening and Closing ceremonies, (long story), I don't think I ever saw Mercedes Lackey, and Len Wein & Marv Wolfman only for a moment. (Not counting the panel I attended with them in it.)
And just talking to other attendees was more difficult. Fortunately, there were a couple of people I know from other cons who were willing to slow down for a moment.
Getting home was a nightmare; I left at three and got home at seven.
A bit surprised by Justice O'Connor's retirement, but this should take some of the strain off Rehnquist for a little bit--I'm sure it isn't fun to have the public and your colleagues speculating on when you'll collapse.
I am pre-emptively sickened by the nomination fight to come. Let's face it, every single-issue voter in America is going to be pushing for a judge that seems to come down on their side, or pushing against a judge they see as hostile. And just above them are the partisan politics folks on all sides of the aisle.
I have my doubts about which candidates Dubya might field. He's not exactly known for good judgement in political appointments. Then again, Reagan had horrible taste in appointments, and O'Connor turned out okay.
So, any bets on what Bush's strategy will be? Nominate a technically qualified but extremely unpopular fellow as a sacrifice in hopes that the slightly more moderate followup candidate will slide through on exhaustion? Nominate a "minority", preferably female, who will play the "anyone who opposes me is racist and sexist" card? Find the absolute blandest judge possible and watch the Democrats flounder as they try to find something to oppose him on? Or even nominate a good, qualified candidate who isn't necessarily going to do what Bush wants, but really deserves the job?
Of course, Bush has a tin ear for the mood of the country, so he might seriously go ahead and nominate Ashcroft.
Prayers that the president's judgement be enlightened would not be amiss, I think.
In lighter news, I went to ConVergence, which is the big convention that Minicon used to be before the Minicon runners burnt out on organizing big conventions.
I'd forgotten what a really big convention was like. There were a lot, lot more people wandering around. And massive amounts of room parties, instead of only a handful. (Very organized, too. The parties were easy to find and well-supplied.) I got to see a number of interesting panels, spent some time in the anime room, met various folks....
On the other hand, it's much harder to get to see the Guests of Honor outside of their scheduled events. Since I missed both Opening and Closing ceremonies, (long story), I don't think I ever saw Mercedes Lackey, and Len Wein & Marv Wolfman only for a moment. (Not counting the panel I attended with them in it.)
And just talking to other attendees was more difficult. Fortunately, there were a couple of people I know from other cons who were willing to slow down for a moment.
Getting home was a nightmare; I left at three and got home at seven.