FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog

Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard speculates that Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will step down next week.

Moroever,Kristol further speculates that President Bush will appoint Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, to replace her.

(1) There will be a Supreme Court resignation within the next week. But it will be Justice O’Connor, not Chief Justice Rehnquist. There are several tea-leaf-like suggestions that O’Connor may be stepping down, including the fact that she has apparently arranged to spend much more time in Arizona beginning this fall. There are also recent intimations that Chief Justice Rehnquist may not resign. This would be consistent with Justice O’Connor having confided her plan to step down to the chief a while ago. Rehnquist probably believes that it wouldn’t be good for the Court to have two resignations at once, so he would presumably stay on for as long as his health permits, and/or until after Justice O’Connor’s replacement is confirmed.

(2) President Bush will appoint Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to replace O’Connor. Bush certainly wants to put Gonzales on the Supreme Court. Presidents usually find a way to do what they want to do.

Flap handicaps this a definite possibility with no change in the Supreme Court’s Liberal vs. Conservative Balance.

Flap’s original handicap is here.

Glenn Reynolds, Virginia Postrel and Steve Forbes are worried about Bush LEGAL Immigration policy.

First, the Instapundit:

VIRGINIA POSTREL points to this editorial by Steve Forbes on immigration policy. Forbes is right: It’s asinine.

We have the worst of all worlds in our current immigration system — it’s demeaning, unpredictable, and contemptuous toward would-be legal immigrants, while being porous toward illegals. And it’s the main experience most foreigners have of dealing with the United States government. When my Nigerian sister-in-law, before she married my brother, passed her citizenship test, my brother said he was glad that the person who swore her in was so nice, because it was the first time in the entire process that the process wasn’t run by a jerk.

This is a mess, and the Bush Administration isn’t fixing it. It should.

And, Glenn what do you propose? Kindness classes for government bureaucrats? Please!

I agree it is porous for illegal immigration and that will be changed with the next President, but not before.

Virginia Postrel:

Steve Forbes has tough words for the Bush administration’s post-9/11 visa policies, which are hurting business (the Forbes concern) and alienating otherwise pro-American foreigners. Here’s a bit of the editorial:

The Bush administration is doing the economy long term harm by not reforming our post-9/11 immigration and visa policies. Since the terrorist attacks, foreigners have had to go through considerably more hassle to enter this country. No one is arguing about the mortal necessity of tightening our screening procedures. But it defies belief that this, the most technologically advanced of nations, can’t come up with software and hardware to expeditiously assist in determining who should and should not gain entrée.

Despite the weak dollar, the number of visitors from overseas during the past three years is down 23%. International conventions and seminars are not taking place in the U.S. because organizers can’t be sure their delegates will be allowed into the country.

More alarmingly, foreign students are increasingly turning to non-U.S. universities. Australia, Canada and other nations have been effectively luring these students by assuring them that if they qualify, they won’t have to undergo repeated, humiliating hassles at their borders. By contrast, foreign students now in the U.S. know that when they go home for summer vacation or holidays, their probability of returning to school is no sure thing.

Read the rest here. The visa hassles are no small thing, even for permanent residents and foreign-born citizens whose families want to visit them. “For the first time, I feel like a foreigner in this country,” one of Professor Postrel’s Indian-born colleagues told us at at recent party. We are needlessly alienating people who enrich our country and culture–and who would otherwise spread pro-American sentiment to their home countries. Bravo to Steve Forbes, for raising an issue most politically active people would prefer to ignore.

Flap could care less about Professor Postrel’s Indian colleague. If he is already needlessly alienated then he should return to his country of origin.

Lastly, Steve Forbes:

Steve, Flap is more concerned with America being an insane asylum for terrorists than technology companies desiring cheap immigrant labor for their “code shops”. The solution here is obvious and the market will provide it without government subsidy of off-shore labor.

Or, for state supported college and universities giving away subsidized education to foreign nationals while native born Americans whose parents have paid taxes for years cannot afford such education (albeit they subsidize it with their very own tax dollars).

Steve, I really prefer to be safe from terrorism in the United States rather than worry about the number of foreign visitors to Disneyland or Las Vegas.

Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, D-Nevada, has pledged not to block the nomination of United Nations nominee, John Bolton, if the White House supplies the Democrats all of the information it requested.

“If the President turns over the information … not part of it or a summary of it … but turns over all the information requested, the White House will get their up or down vote on Mr. Bolton,” Democratic leader Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada said on the Senate floor.

Yeah right, then will come the request for additional information.

The President should bypass the Senate with a recess appointment and be done with it.

Newly released California Field Poll results are out and the MSM are already beating up on the Governor and the ballot measures:

California voters oppose two of three controversial ballot measures Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is backing in a special November election, according to a Field Poll released on Wednesday.

The Republican governor recently called a special election to put his policy priorities to voters as ballot measures after failing to persuade the state’s Democratic-led Legislature to support them.

Why Did Schwarzenegger Fall So Far So Fast?

You have only to come to the Chinatown Health Center in San Francisco to get an earful about why Arnold Schwarzenegger has lost popularity.

A new Field Poll finds only 37% of the state’s registered voters approve of the governor’s performance, while 53% disapprove. That’s an 18% drop in the governor’s approval rating since February, and it makes Schwarzenegger one of the state’s least-like governors in recent history.

Martha Hawthorne, a public health nurse at the center, says the fall in fortune stems from Schwarzenegger’s choice of opponents.

“He’s chosen the wrong people to trash,” said Martha Hawthorne, a public health nurse. “He’s chosen nurses and teachers, who are the public workers most visible and most responsible for our immediate needs of our families in California.”

Schwarzenegger humbled

With polls showing tepid support for his performance and his agenda, a conciliatory Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger conceded Tuesday that he shares some of the blame for Californians’ discontent.

“I guarantee you that all of us in this building can share blame. All of us, including myself,” Schwarzenegger said at a Capitol event where he wanted to talk about the budget, but was peppered with questions about his lackluster poll numbers. “People make mistakes sometimes, and I think that we learn. These are very clear messages that we must work together. And so I am looking forward to that.”

Schwarzenegger’s comments came as the independent Field Poll found that about one in three Californians approve of his performance — sobering news for a governor accustomed to public adoration. Since embarking on a series of controversial government-overhaul efforts in January, the Republican governor’s numbers have plunged, even as he called a special election for Nov. 8.

Notice the Spin yet?

Notice the Made with a Union Label Commentary and the Democrat Talking Points!

Notice Arnold is an elitist and is picking on the little guy, notwithstanding California has major budgetary problems and just recently recalled a Governor who sold out to these special interests.

Protests Expected In Schwarzenegger Silicon Valley Appearance

The opinion polls are wayearly and there are more folks in California planning their vacations than contemplating a November off-year election.

The races for each initiative, except teacher tenure (which will win handily) will tighten, millions will be spent on ad campaigns and the Governor is already a winner.

Cross-Posted to The Bear Flag League Special Election Page

Political Teen has the video and transcript of Senator Dick Durbin’s non-apology apology.

But, two hours later he is laughing it up with Howard Dean at a Democrat fundraiser in Washington. Laura Ingraham has the audio and Flap will post the audio and a transcript when it becomes available. Durbin does not sound contrite and weepy at this event. An amazing transformation of emotion. What a phoney!

The MSM will try to bury this story. Remember Trent Lott’s comments at a birthday party did not die and he resigned from his leadership position and so should Durbin.

Others who are weighing in with this story:

Michelle Malkin: DURBIN WATCH: THE TEARS OF A CLOWN

Captain Ed at Captain’s Quarters: Durbin Apologizes Weakly A Week Later (Updated!)

Outside the Beltway: Dick Durbin Gitmo Nazi Apology Roundup

Hugh Hewitt: A Gitmo veteran’s comments.

So, who is buying this Smear America First Non-Apology of Durbin’s?

Not Flap