With Brian Schweitzer’s decision not to run for Senate in Montana, Nate Silver thinks Republicans have an even chance of gaining enough seats to have a majority. Republican strategists are optimistic.
Joe Concha thinks that the media sensationalized the trial of George Zimmerman to create an impression of the world that is inaccurate. To no one’s surprise, Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote a great response to the verdict.
Estonia puts its e-voting source code on the internet.
Kevin Williamson notes that Draco wasn’t that bad.
“Draconian” refers not to the political structure of a race of Doctor Who? aliens, but to theAthenian lawgiver Draco, who lived during the seventh century b.c. and gave the Greeks an important innovation: written laws. Prior to Draco, the Athenian law was only an oral tradition subject to ad-hocracy and producing blood feuds. Draco had the laws carved on tablets and displayed in public, so that nobody would be ignorant of them. This was an enormously significant milestone in Western culture, an important move toward what we now call the rule of law, away from the code of arbitrary power and might-makes-right justice. Draco’s laws contained some important innovations, such as distinguishing between murder with malice aforethought and other kinds of homicide. That was a pretty big deal in an era during which the inhabitants of the British Isles, under whose culture the rule of law would reach its most sophisticated expression, were still a good ways away from writing much of anything at all.
A teacher turned Congressman had a fun response to a statement by Boehner.
Chris Christie remains a good ambassador for Republicans.
Putting aside 2016 questions, simply having Christie maintain a presence on the national scene would seem to be a good thing for Republicans right now, so it’s a good thing for them he isn’t camera-shy. Appearances on late-night shows, the early morning circuit and elsewhere are not just good for Christie. They are good for the GOP, too.
The Fix rates the 15 most vulnerable Governors in the country.
Jim Geraghty considers conservative efforts in pop culture.
Norm Ormstein thinks a problem with the Republican party is that is so splintered, with some subgroups that have different incentives and priorities than others.
What Would Spidey Do? 