links for 2010-01-13

According to Lyle Denniston on SCOTUSblog, the Supreme Court, following up on its earlier interim order, has just issued an order barring broadcasting of the anti-Proposition 8 trial in California. The vote was 5 to 4.
The majority (the Chief Justice and Justices Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito) rules that Judge Walker’s broadcast order should be stayed “because it appears the courts below did not follow the appropriate procedures set forth in federal law before changing their rules to allow such broadcasting” and because irreparable harm would result from the denial of the stay
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No show trial for Proposition 8.

As a result of culture and geography, Mr. Obama's Afghan surge will likely fall short of its objectives while spending $40 billion per year. Employing conventional forces in pursuit of terrorists and guerrilla forces is always an expensive proposition. Attempting to build nations on soil not yet fertile to the concepts of democracy and national unity is even more problematic. Neither is needed to produce the result we want: deadly consequences for attacking Americans. This can be done with special forces, drones and better human intelligence.
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Sounds like Pat Buchanan's America First foreign policy or maybe a combination of Buchanan and Ron Paul with open ended questions as to not appear extreme.

Given DeVore's support from the conservative grassroots, his non-interventionist position could indicate a switch in party position as President Obama is approaching a year of ownership of this war. Liberal Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer also opposes the Afghan surge. His primary opponent, Carly Fiorina — who is often called a "RINO" — supports the president's surge. The Republican consensus thus far has been to support the surge.
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An isolationist Ron Paul type stance which is dangerous. And, strikingly similar to Senator Barbara Boxer's position.

76. Jeb Bush (86)

Jeb Bush; The most influential US conservatives

Former Florida Governor

With the slow but steady rehabilitation of the Bush name, the Bush brother who many say was the one who should have been President remains a potential national candidate. A very popular former governor of a major swing state and with proper conservative credentials, if his name hadn’t been Bush, he might have been the ideal candidate for the party in 2008.

Since leaving office in 2007, Bush toyed with running for the Senate seat to be vacated by Mel Martinez and has been active in the think tank Project for the New American Century. Along with Mitt Romney and Eric Cantor he launched the National Council for a New America, designed for Republican leaders with to listen to voters across the country and will remain a powerful voice behind the scenes. Whether he moves to the front of the stage again remains to be seen.

A new Rasmussen survey finds Sen. Harry Reid's (D-NV) support among Nevada voters plummeting since his remarks about President Obama were reported in Game Change.

Reid gets just 36% of the vote against his two top Republican challengers. That's a seven-point drop from 43% a month ago.

However, the poll also shows that neither of the Republicans — Sue Lowden (R) and Danny Tarkanian (R) — gained any ground in the new survey, "highlighting the fact that the race continues to be a referendum on Reid rather than an outpouring of support for either of the top GOP hopefuls."
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Look for the GOP to coalesce around one candidate to run against Reid

Las Vegas and alcohol probably aren't the first two things that come to mind at the mention of Sarah Palin, but the former vice presidential candidate is about to change that.

At least that's according to Craig Wolf, the president and CEO of the Wine and Liquor Wholesalers of America, who announced Tuesday that Palin will keynote the group's annual convention and and expo in Las Vegas in early April.

"Governor Palin is a great supporter of America's free enterprise system and understands that industries like the beverage alcohol industry play a key role in driving our national economy. We're proud and honored to welcome her as a speaker," Wolf said in a statement. "We expect she will share with the convention attendees her analysis of the current political environment and her vision for America's future."
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On the road with Sarah Palin