Morning News Round-Up

I've given a lot of criticism to Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) recently, most notably for his egregiously thoughtless comments about President Obama not loving America, and then saying that there was no racial intent by suggesting that Mr. Obama was, in some odd convolution, white.  But I believing in being fair and giving proper due when people get it right.  And when it comes to the nomination of Loretta Lynch for Attorney General, which Republicans have been holding up for one of the longest periods in the last 30 years -- over 130 days at this point -- Mr. Giuliani is getting it right. 

While he made positive statements about Judge Lynch in the past, he not only continues to do so, but ratcheted it up a level on Friday.  

"The confirmation process has been really tremendously distorted," he told reporters in a phone call.  "t's become Republicans torture Democrats, Democrats torture Republicans. Who started it, God knows.  But as a Republican and looking at the Constitution, I find Loretta Lynch not only to be an acceptable appointment, but I find her to be an extraordinary appointment."

Good for him.

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After Gov. Mike Pence (R-IN) signed the "Intolerance Bill" last week that many suggest can open the door to legally allowing sexual bias in Indiana, there was a great deal of outrage across the country (and even some within the state itself, with some businesses now putting up signs, "This Business Serves Everyone").  Large corporations made public that they don't plan to do business in the state, to protect their employees.  A major convention organizer said it would re-visit its contracts with the state and consider pulling out.

Lost in the shuffle is attention to the current NCAA basketball tournament.  Now that the Final Four teams were decided over the weekend, the competition moves to its last destination for the semi-finals and finals.

That destination is...Indianapolis.

Which is the home base of the NCAA.

This hasn't been completely ignored.  The NCAA has made some public statements about its displeasure with the law, and there's been a bit of coverage, though not much.  And in that little coverage, no one is suggesting that the tournament will pull out this year -- they won't, and they can't.  

(Well, okay, the wonderfully-outspoken Charles Barkley did tell USA Today:  "Discrimination in any form is unacceptable to me.  As long as anti-gay legislation exists in any state, I strongly believe big events such as the Final Four and Super Bowl should not be held in those states’ cities.”  This year's tournament, starting in five days, is not switching locales, but it's good and not surprising to see "Sir Charles" at least address it.)

But even if not moving this Saturday, it will be interesting to see what public reaction crops up during the last two rounds, whether there are protests outside the arena...and inside.