Politics and other nightmares

It's not surprising that Paula Hughes won the GOP mayoral primary, but did anybody else expect it to be a much closer race, especially considering the recent poll showing a statistical dead heat?

The number of people around the world who have access to free and independent media has declined to the lowest level in more than a decade, says Freedom Watch:

In this year's annual index of global media freedom of 196 countries and territories, Freedom House says it rated 68 as "free" and the remaining two thirds as "partly free" or "not free."

Paul Ryan is such a scary man that he terrifies even members of his own party:

House Republicans may have voted to pass Rep. Paul Ryan's budget plan. But Republican leadership is still wary of Rep. Paul Ryan's budget plan, which includes an overhaul of Medicare and Medicaid.

Is the state of federalism in our republic in a state of flux, or are officials just confused by the concept?

 Several states have started reassessing their medical marijuana laws after stern warnings from the federal government that everyone from licensed growers to regulators could be subjected to prosecution.

Today's Journal Gazette editorial is one of their typical hysterical anti-gun editorials in which lawmkers are chastised for giving in to those evil "paid gun lobbyists" from the National Rifle Association instead of serving the interests of the public:

Gee, do ya think?

Barack Obama has had many defining moments as U.S. president. The death of Osama bin Laden may become the most significant for him politically.

Obama, a Democrat, announced late on Sunday that U.S. forces had killed the al Qaeda leader and recovered his body. The death handed Obama a major national security victory just as he begins campaigning for re-election in 2012.

A group that wants Donald Trump removed as this year's Indianapolis 500 pace car driver has a Facebook page "liked" by thousands of people:

The page says the pace car driver honor is typically bestowed on people involved in motor sports or people considered national heroes. The page contends Trump is neither.

I dunno. That'll be a few minutes at least when he won't be able to spout nonsense.

A hint from Massachusetts of things to come:

From Mayor Bloomberg of New York, here's the oddest suggestion from a major political figure we're likely to hear this week:

This is a country that was built by immigrants, this is a country that became a superpower by--because of its immigrant population. And unless we continue to have immigrants, we cannot maintain as a superpower.

Well, all right then:

The taxpayer refund was among the few sticking points between the House and Senate version of the budgets. House Republicans supported the governor's idea, but Republican Senate leaders said it was more responsible to use any excess money to pay down unfunded pension liabilities.

The compromise budget proposal announced Thursday would meld the two ideas together.