Washington Affairs

15 December 2003


Gore Endorses Dean -- Yawn
The "big" political news of the last week was Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean. The move sent shock waves through talking-head land as the chattering classes tried to tell everyone what it means. If the move has any meaning, it is that Mr. Gore still believes himself to be a factor in presidential politics. Nothing could be further from the truth. Click here to read more.

Supreme Court Upholds Campaign Spending Limits
The US Supreme Court voted 5-4 last week to keep most of the campaign finance restrictions passed as the McCain-Feingold bill. This means that special interest groups won't be able to funnel "soft money" to political parties the way they used to do. The idea is to cut down on donors buying influence. Good idea, but perhaps Washington should try an approach that actually might work. Click here for more.

Senator Paul Simon Passes on at 75
"He isn't Art Garfunkel's partner." It is a pity that such is the way Senator Paul Simon often had to be introduced, but it never seemed to bother the Illinois liberal. He died last Tuesday, at the age of 75, one of the few remaining good guys from American politics. He was the best kind of politician, not because he was a lefty, but because he believed that a public servant should serve the public. Click here to read on.