Akkam’s Razor

From the Department of Karma (KDKA via Keystone Politics):

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum’s right to vote in Penn Hills has been challenged — and election officials will not count his absentee ballot (or that of his wife) until the matter is resolved, Allegheny County Elections Department director Mark Wolosik confirmed.Erin Vecchio, chairman of the Penn Hills School Board and chair of the Penn Hills Democratic Party, says she challenged the Santorums’ right to vote in Pennsylvania this morning because they really live in Virginia. …

Vecchio, who has had a long-running dispute with Santorum over his residency, says the former senator and his family live in “an undisclosed location” in northern Virginia and that his attempt to vote here is “voter fraud.”

Voter fraud.  It’s not just for brown people.  ACORN had no comment.   I wonder if he’s registered and voted in VA?

Pony.  Not yours.

Popularity: 4% [?]

There’s a Democratic-sponsored attack ad that is somewhat unfair to Ridley Park native, University of Pennsylvania graduate, and Army veteran of both Iraq and Bosnia that makes somewhat unfair and groundless criticism of 26-year old baby-faced Miccarelli.

The ad, which I’ve only seen aired once on local (Delco) cable-TV hits Miccarelli for inaction regarding actions, both Congressional and Presidential that had effect on Delaware County.  The ad knocks Miccarelli for not taking action, either by advocating as leader of the College Republicans or as a campaign aid to intervene.  Of course, this is unfair.  In 2004, Miccarelli, although already a veteran, was merely 23, and serving on a variety of campaigns.  Although he made have had access to a handful of political decisionmakers, the influence of Miccarelli was essentially no more than that of the average Delco constituent.  Furthermore, the need to burnish his political resume and cultivate ideological bonafides means that he in no way could deviate from the company line.

Conservative pundit, columnist, and Bush #41 veteran Michael Smerconish’s Sunday Inquirer piece advocates for Tom Ridge as McCain’s Choice for Vice President.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Atrios points to a little piece of opening commentary from the trial of Osama Bin Laden’s driver that contradicts the accepted folklore behind Flight 93.

“If they hadn’t shot down the fourth plane it would’ve hit the dome,” Stone, a Navy officer, said in his opening remarks.

The tribunal’s chief prosecutor, Col. Lawrence Morris, later explained that Stone was quoting Hamdan in evidence that will be presented at trial. Morris declined to say if the “dome” was a reference to the U.S. Capitol.

“Virtually no one knew the intended target, but the accused knew,” Stone said.

A couple of semesters ago, I read a Businessweek article on Home Depot then-CEO Bob Nardelli’s plan to turn around Home Depot.  BW glowingly reported on Nardelli’s personnel changes and differing style, with his strong preference for hiring former-military persons in key rolls.  Anecdotally speaking, a masters program classmate who was also a Naval Academy graduate mentioned that Home Depot had indeed made a push for hiring employees who were formerly Officer Grade to run their stores, casting the opportunity as entrepreneurial.  Businessweek gave several hints as to what was coming in their description of Nardelli’s style:

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What does the primary mean? What learnings can be taken away? Did Hillary really win? Did Barack really lose? And what about John McCain?

There are two things to take away - the primary means NOTHING, and the primary means EVERYTHING.

Popularity: 9% [?]

As stated, it appears Hillary is the winner (as declared by FOX - unsure whether that is the national network or local channel).

Sadly, all that talk of Pennsylvania’s primary finally meaning something really means that Indiana’s primary will finally mean something. It appears that Hillary’s win will likely result in a net-gain of a dozen or so delegates, still putting her behind Obama in total delegates.

The electoral math essentially remains unchanged. As Eli at Firedoglake mentions, Hillary is still 144 delegates behind (requiring 63% of the 566 remaining delegates to seize the nomination), and that her financial situation is precarious.

Some learnings from the chicken entrails exit polls:

Popularity: 8% [?]