The Bad News That Netanyahu's Visit Overshadowed

One result of Bibi Netanyahu's speech to a joint session of Congress was the wave of bad news that coincided with the media rush to cover the Israeli prime minister's remarks. Here is a sampler of today's bad news rush:
*  Former CIA director and US Army general David Petraeus became one of America's most highly decorated felons. The man credited with the success of the Iraq troop surge thought it was perfectly fine to share highly classified information with his biographer-lover. A different style of pillow talk surely was in order.
*  Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton used private e-mail to conduct State Department business. That's against the spirit of governmental transparency. It's true that former Secretaries of State have used private e-mail; it's also true that someone who intends to swear to uphold the laws of the land should take leadership to promote their spirit as well as their letter.
*  The Department of Justice alleged that Ferguson, Missouri police demonstrated systematic racism in its law enforcement practices. The greater bad news is that the Ferguson situation is far from unique and  remains a national embarrassment.
*  Major League Soccer players are threatening to strike, jeopardizing the league's season openers. Does anyone really care?
*  A recent New Jersey poll shows that Governor Chris Christie's job disapproval rating hit 51%. Mitt Romney is probably enjoying a good laugh at the Soprano State's chief executive's expense.
*  The "all-Republican" Alabama Supreme Court has halted same-sex marriages in the state, according to an Associated Press report reposted on foxnews.com. The right-wing is notably silent when it comes to the fairness and balance of its own judicial activism.
* Wisconsin governor and GOP presidential hopeful Scott Walker is in favor of banning abortions after 20 weeks. Walker can now add pregnant women to offending groups he would firmly handle, along with ISIS and public union employees.
*  The Miami Herald reports that Florida's computerized K-12 testing program, known as the Florida Standards Assessment, encountered substantial snags in its first day of operation. High tech's use of the American population as experimental animals for its products continues; its shameless, relentless use of children for profit is a disgrace.