Miscellany

Three quick items:

• Yes, the filibuster sucks, but I agree with both Ezra Klein and Bruce Bartlett that the tradition of Senate holds is even more odious. But if it’s not possible even to do away with holds, I’ll reiterate my suggestion that the Senate scale way, way back on the number of officials that it has to confirm. Maybe the top two officers in each executive department, appellate judges and above, and a few others of similar rank. The rest should just be straight presidential appointments.
• Can we all, please, chill out about the failed plane bombing, chill out about Janet Napolitano’s “the system worked” gaffe, and chill out about Obama remaining in Hawaii? Just. Chill. Out. We don’t have to go completely cuckoo every time something like this happens. Instead, let’s find out where the system failed instead of hysterically guessing about it, and then figure out what we ought to do about it.
• For decades now, the initiative process in California has primarily been a tool of the rich and powerful, not the grassroots. Here’s the latest outrage.

That is all. You may now return to Monday Night Football.