In the recent Feller decision, the Supreme Court struck down a fairly long-standing gun ban in the District of Columbia, holding that the 2nd Amendment in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution protects an individual right to keep and bear arms of a sort in general common use.

The "More Like This" tag above applies to the Maryland Conservatarian who has administered a well-timed, well-aimed scolding to those who, with lameness overflowing, have challenged the natural-born citizenship of Senator John McCain, who was born in the Canal Zone in a military hospital back when the Canal Zone was unambiguously U.S. territory.

On hearing from Media Matters that Arianna Huffington would be at Politics and Prose talking about her new book "Right is Wrong," I decided to make the trek to Chevy Chase.

Unfortunately, the northbound L series of buses up Connecticut Avenue from Van Ness Metro to Chevy Chase Circle were shockingly absent, gone, not there, failed to post, whatever. The buses run for that stretch about 7 times an hour in late rush hour, but I (and 15 other angry passengers) waited at Van Ness close to half an hour. Arianna was scheduled to start her talk at 7 PM, which is when I punch out. I was just hoping to hear the last 20-25 minutes or so. Of course, when the bus finally did arrive, it brought me to Connecticut and Nebraska just in time for me to hear, in her lovely, unmistakable Greek accent, "Thank you all for coming." Out marched the hordes of applauding liberals both old and ancient, nearly mowing me down. On my child-support oriented budget, there would be no chance I would buy this book new in hardcover, so I did not bother to stand in line. Instead, I caught one picture of the lovely author from in between several liberal hordelings, and rushed out the door just in time to catch a timely arriving M4 bus quickly crosstown a few blocks to Tenleytown, to check out computer printers and storage doodads.

The Bag of Health and Politics, "What It Means to Be a Pro-Life Democrat", March 31, 2008:

My reasons for being pro-life are many. First, I was born out of wedlock to an unmarried, mentally ill, 39 year old woman. My mother's pregnancy was considered high risk. She signed me over to the state when I was 3 days old, feeling that she was incapable of caring for a baby. She had settled on adoption during her pregnancy. I know very little about her, and I've never met her.

Minister and controversial supporter of Senator John McCain's presidential campaign, John Hagee: "The Catholic Church is the Great Whore... [of Babylon, from the Christian Apocalypse.]"

Next Frame: Disgraced NY Governor Eliot Spitzer, wheeling in a Brinks Armored Car of cash with hand signal lights like on the airport tarmac, "As if you'd know from great whores. At this price, they'd better be great." It is alleged that the services of one of the ALLEGED prostitution agencies implicated in ALLEGED connection to Governor Spitzer cost up to $4,500 an session, that's four thou five hunnert.

Better be a great whore. Eliot would be right to be pissed off if they tried to pass a "budget" $2,800 whore. maybe some toothless, high-mileage leatherbeaten retread from Beirut, off on him at that price.

Welcome to the March 9, 2008 edition of the Carnival of Maryland. A warm welcome to all referred visitors from BlogCarnival.com!!

Our first-among-equals "Ecumenical Pillagearch" Attila is first up, though let it be noted than in matters scatological and flatulent, he clearly has no equal. Pillage Idiot presents Taking the Green Line, not the 7 Train, to Flushing posted at Pillage Idiot, saying, "There's nothing that says "GUY" quite like a synchronized flush of the toilets at a new baseball stadium. Why didn't they invite me?" Attila, please never get civilized. It would break my heart if you ever started walking upright, or discovered fire or the wheel.

I have enjoyed the exchanges between Isaac Smith of Free State Politics and Mark Newgent of, inter alia, Red Maryland regarding global warming and the ecological and economic effects of possible policy responses to them.

I do not claim to have the knowledge of either of these gentlemen on the topic, but I will throw out a few thoughts.

On Saturday, Crablaw Maryland Weekly will post about the life of this most central figure in American politics, conservative advocacy and letters.

I may be going to Eschacon, blogger Atrios' blogger get-together in Philadelphia at the end of March, but have not decided. Philly is close enough that renting a hotel room seems a bit of a waste of money; I would probably go up and back same-day, maybe even by bus to save automobile wear-and-tear (and to kick in some nostalgia from my Princeton days when I was too cheap and broke to pay Amtrak fares up and down the NE Corridor.) Am not committing yet due to cash flow and other more personal issues.

I would consider carpooling it if there are other Maryland/DC bloggers doing likewise.

Soccer Dad has a post up about the praise that George W. Bush is getting from unexpected corners regarding his support for the fight against AIDS in Africa. Also, check out his excerpts regarding the retirement of Fidel Castro from his long-time role as Boss of the Castro Crime Family President of the Republic of Cuba.

I am too exhausted after a long sick day of posting to go through the whole story, but HAT TIP to Moe Lane at RedState for his piece on explicit antisemitism and racism in a Memphis Congressional race, this time a "Black Christian" minister calling for the ouster of Congressman Steve Cohen on the alleged ground that he and "the Jews" "hate Jesus." Offensive flier here, WaPo article here. I liked Moe's take but am just too tired to manufacture the will to march on.

Allan Uthman of The Beast: America's Best Fiend, "Dumb as Dixie", February 2008:

But why is it really that presidential campaigns pull out their dirtiest, most detestable tricks in South Carolina? Why, after all, do they reserve their metaphorical brawn only for this one primary?

Baltimore Sun, February 13, 2008:

Comptroller Peter Franchot today accused Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller of plotting to slash the tax collector's budget and eliminate two senior advisers as "political payback" for Franchot's outspoken opposition to slot machine gambling and other legislation passed in November's special General Assembly session.

Moments later, Miller dismissed Franchot's claims as an "outrageous" public relations stunt designed as a "pre-emptive strike" against necessary budget scrutiny of all state agencies. He attacked the comptroller as "an embarrassment to the state of Maryland."

...

It's quite important to reward boldness and courage. Donate to Equality Maryland. I recommend donating multiples of $5.01 as that donation amount is increasing the marker of netroots activists (e.g. $50.10, $25.05, etc.)

I feel that we liberals should help our fellow conservatives in their darkest hour.