I've yakked enough. TChris and J, schedules permitting, will surely follow with some interesting posts on criminal law and politics.

For now, it is your turn.

One last thing, CA Pol Junkie apparently has some gizmo that projects the result of the MN Sen recount based on returns as they come in. Right now, with 18% recounted, he projects Coleman winning the recount by 21 votes. But the trend is our friend I think.

This is an Open Thread.

Via Glenn Reynolds, the the Right's brief against Holder - it is the Marc Rich pardon. Interestingly, it does not focus on the Clintons, but on Holder himself:

Steve Benen has a good post on it and what it means. As I have said repeatedly, not knowing a damn thing about health care policy, I leave commenting on this to those who do.

Update (TL): The New York Times reports Pritzger has taken herself out of the running for the position.

Politicial Wire:

CNN reports that Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker is President-elect Obama's choice to become Secretary of Commerce.

I do not know what the Secretary of Commerce does. I do know that Pritzker was possibly Obama's largest fundraiser. Still and all, it is good to see another woman in the Cabinet.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

So sez Politico:

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Obama, Democratic officials said. Napolitano is a border governor who will now be responsible for immigration policy and border security, which are part of Homeland Security’s myriad functions.

I've never really understood what the Department of Homeland Security does so I will not venture to comment if she is a good choice. I am pleased to see a woman chosen for a high profile post.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

When I discuss Clinton Derangement Syndrome, this is what I mean:

Mr. Clinton pledged the same without elaboration. “Whatever they want,” he said. He added that it was between the president-elect and his wife. “You should talk to them. I’ll do whatever they want.” . . . Some in the Obama camp are bristling at what they see as strategic leaks by the Clintons aimed at boxing in the president-elect and forcing him to offer the post.

Excuse me? As I have seen the story, the Clintons were minding their business when, last Thursday (yes, it has only been a week) President-Elect Obama asked Senator Clinton to come see him in Chicago. President Clinton has offered to remove any impediments he may cause. And "some in the Obama camp bristle?" What in the hell? Meanwhile, it turns out Tom Daschle did some negotiating of his own:

They have a strange way of doing things in Texas, at least in Willacy County where the prosecutor persuaded a grand jury to indict Dick Cheney and Alberto Gonzales. Usually the indicted person has to be hauled in front of a magistrate for an arraignment. In Willacy County, they have to go get the district attorney.

In the latest bizarre development in the case, the lame-duck prosecutor who won the indictments was a no-show in court Wednesday. The judge ordered Texas Rangers to go to Willacy County District Attorney Juan Guerra's house, check on his well-being and order him to court on Friday.

Cheney and Gonzales, on the other hand, get to stay home. In a disappointing bit of news, Presiding Judge Manuel Banales said that Cheney, Gonzales and the other indicted defendants will not be arrested. Banales' decision is understandable. Wouldn't you be a little worried that signing an arrest warrant for Dick Cheney would be a lot like signing your own death warrant? [more ...]

The California Supreme Court today agreed to decide whether voter approval of Prop. 8 repealed the state constitutional right to same sex marriage that the court recognized earlier this year.

The court agreed today to review two related arguments by opponents of Prop. 8 - that the measure exceeds the legal scope of a ballot initiative by allowing a majority to restrict a minority group's rights, and that it violates the constitutional separation of powers by limiting judicial authority.

The supreme court's direct action will eliminate the need for litigation to work its way through trial courts and intermediate appeals before reaching the state's highest court. [more ...]

Yesterday it became clear to people who had mastered arithmetic that Ted Stevens lost his Senate race. Today, on his 85th birthday, Stevens conceded. No recount.

How nice that the senator is giving us a present on his birthday. Thank you, Tubes. If I were your judge, I would recommend your release to a halfway house 30 days before your prison sentence ends.

Actually, if Stevens would volunteer to serve 10 days in Guantanamo, I'd call it even.

For once I agree with Josh Marshall, "[he ] needs help[.]" (Speaking for me only.)

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network doesn't sound much like a terrorist organization, does it? It does to the Maryland State Police. The executive director and three staff members were entered into the agency's terrorism database, apparently because the group held a nonviolent protest at a high school where Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. was speaking about the need to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants. The Network didn't believe Ehrlich's proposals were adequate, so its members let him know. In less troubled times, this was known as petitioning the government to redress a grievance, or was recognized as the exercise of free speech, both protected rights under the First Amendment.

Newly released files reveal previously unreported details about the actions of the Maryland State Police, a topic discussed in earlier TalkLeft posts here and here. The decision to label the Network's Executive Director as a terrorist seems odd since he didn't attend the protest. [more ...]

Tom Daschle, according to a "source close to Daschle," has been offered and has accepted the cabinet position of Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Update by BTD - As is well known by now, Daschle's wife is a lobbyist. Presumably she will not be working as one now.

Update by TChris - confirmation from Reuters and CNN. The latter source adds this: [more ...]