Today’s edition of quick hits.<\/p>\n
* CNN spoke to White House aides who described Gonzales’ performance today as “going down in flames<\/a>.” One prominent Republican described the AG’s testimony as similar to “watching a clubbing of [a] baby seal.” Ouch.<\/p>\n * We know that far too many on the right have been blaming Virginia Tech students for this week’s tragic shootings, arguing that the students didn’t do enough to defend themselves. Meteor Blades explained<\/a> how wrong the right is: “What we now know is that some of those who faced the gunman at Virginia Tech did<\/b> selflessly risk their lives to save others.”<\/p>\n * Interesting timing<\/a>: “President Bush gives speech on the War on Terror during Gonzales testimony.”<\/p>\n * It’s safe to say Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) has a very serious problem on his hands. The FBI has raided his home<\/a>, he’s had to resign his seat<\/a> on the House Appropriations Committee, and he’s throwing his wife under the bus<\/a>. The GOP’s Culture of Corruption continues, even after losing their majority.<\/p>\n * How ridiculous have things become at the DoJ? “Apparently you can’t even get considered for the intern program<\/i> anymore<\/a> if you’ve demonstrated any identifiable liberal traits.”<\/p>\n * If you read one only one piece on yesterday’s abortion ruling from the Supreme Court, read Dahlia Lithwick’s take<\/a>: “Kennedy invokes The Woman Who Changed Her Mind not once, but twice today. His opinion is a love song to all women who regret their abortions after the fact, and it is in the service of these women that he justifies upholding the ban. Today’s holding is a strange reworking of Taming of the Shrew, with Kennedy playing an all-knowing Baptista to a nation of fickle Biancas.” <\/p>\n * A deputy to Paul Wolfowitz urged the World Bank chief on Wednesday to resign<\/a> in the interests of the institution. Good idea.<\/p>\n * Speaking of the World Bank, Wolfowitz’s policies on family planning<\/a> alone should be enough to get him fired. * For all the far-right ranting and raving about “amnesty,” a national consensus seems to be emerging<\/a>: “A USA TODAY\/Gallup Poll taken last weekend found that 78% of respondents feel people now in the country illegally should be given a chance at citizenship. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who is drafting legislation to grant illegal immigrants an opportunity to stay in the USA, said: ‘As with so many issues, the American people are ahead of Washington on immigration reform. They know that only a plan that offers a path to earned citizenship will fix our broken system.'”<\/p>\n * Michael Froomkin wonders why the nation isn’t throwing a bigger fit<\/a> over the politicization of the rule of law. He has several options to choose from, though my guess is that people just don’t realize what’s happening in their own country with their own government.<\/p>\n * For the one millionth time, Bob Casey was not denied<\/a> a role in ’92 convention because of his views on abortion. It’s one of politics’ more annoying (and enduring) myths.<\/p>\n * Civil unions got a big boost in New Hampshire yesterday thanks to an endorsement<\/a> from Gov. John Lynch (D).<\/p>\n * Former Washington Post columnist Colbert King thinks<\/a> the paper’s editorial board needs to make some serious improvements.<\/p>\n * Charles Krauthammer is still trying to link Cho Seung Hui to Islamic terrorism<\/a>. Pathetic.<\/p>\n
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\n* The NRA really should be more careful about using imagery from Mein Kampf<\/a> on the cover of its magazine.<\/p>\n