Utah Representatives against (increased) representation

In all of my blabbing about how stupid it was for Rep. Chaffetz to go against the DC/Utah seat bill, I forgot there was an inaugual member of the Utah Representatives against (increased) Representation: Rep. Bishop

New Rep. Jason Chaffetz says the bill is unconstitutional, and Rep. Rob Bishop, who voted present on the legislation last time, questions whether it would even help Utah since the state likely will get a fourth member anyway.

"The value for Utah is well past," Bishop said Tuesday. He said he wasn't sure whether he was against the bill, but ticked off reasons why he wasn't backing it.

Yeah I am sure he will either vote against it or do the brave thing a vote present. I would rather have a sure seat now than wait 4 years for a likely seat. Bishop is even lamer than Chaffetz, who at least is hiding behind a pluasable constitutional law argument.

So why do 20% of the Utah delegation not support a bill that would increase the power of their state? Is it because they don't want competition for running for Governor or Senate when Hatch or Bennett retire/die? Do they hate D.C. that much? Are they afraid that Jim Matheson will run in the redder district and another Democrat will win the bluer seat after redistricting? Someone please explain this to me.

the end is the beginning

s it bright where you are
And Have the people changed
Does it make you happy you're so strange
And in your darkest hour
Now all secrets fade
We can watch the world devoured in its pain

--The Beginning is the End is the Beginning, Smashing Pumpkins.

Remember this time of year eight years ago? Bill Clinton was doing his midnight regulations and pardons, his 11th-hour Middle East Peace attempt had failed, and Yasser Arafat had declared the Second Infidata, and what almost was a lasting peace broke out into all out war right when the U.S. was transitioning from Clinton to Bush.

That following summer, I was an intern for Rep. Jim Matheson, and us lowly House interns got ask Colin Powell some questions. Someone stood up and said, "what about Israel/Palistine?" The Secretary of State gave us the standard B.S. line about how it is a "top priority" of the Bush Administration. Sure was, that's why they never did anything but photo ops for years while the people living in the land of Caanan suffered and died at the hands of Hamas, random terrorist groups, or the IDF.

Hamas is using the people of the Gaza Strip as props in the political moves to gain more power. They approved of more rocket strikes into Israel. And Israel is equally political in this incursion which they admit will not remove Hamas or the rockets or anything else. But hey, an election is comming up for PM, and all of the potential candidates are trying to out Hawk each other, reality be damned.

Obama should dispatch Bill Clinton to get a temporary end to the fighting. I always find it embarressing when the French trump us diplomatically because the U.S. is too preoccupied to get seriously involved.