Washington Affairs

4 August 2003


Gephardt is the Teamsters' Choice
Congressman Richard Gephardt's struggling campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination got a shot in the arm last week when the Teamsters endorsed him. Owing to the games played by union leaders, this won't be official until 9 August, but it is a fact nonetheless. The question remains whether it is worth anything to a politician to get such an endorsement. Click here to read more.

Texas Democrats in New Mexican Exile
Texas has a little problem in its state legislature. It seems the Democrats in the state senate are in Albuquerque and refuse to leave. For readers outside the US, or for those in the US whose knowledge of geography is shaky, they are in the state of New Mexico and cannot be compelled to return. The result is that no business can be done because there is no quorum. State Republicans are outraged that elected officials are declining to turn up and vote, but charges that the Dems are not doing their jobs is just wrong -- by not turning up, they are doing what they were elected to do. Click here for more.

Arbitrary Government by Judges
Frederick Gannett is a judge in the sleepy mountains of Colorado where, unfortunately, basketball star Kobe Bryant is on trial for rape. Judge Gannett is probably a fine jurist for the sort of law Eagle County needs, but he's clearly in over his head when it comes to dealing with a case like this. On the one hand, he has permitted cameras into the courtroom while on the other, his "decorum" order bars journalist from using cell phones and tape recorders and from interviewing people inside the courthouse. No photos or video may be taken of witnesses, potential jurors and Bryant’s accuser and her family. But to be fair, the problems are less his and more those of the American judiciary in general. Click here to read on.