Mark Obbie has this article in Slate with the subtitle, "Nothing can stop the bipartisan coalition pressing for criminal justice reform. Nothing, except maybe Bill Otis."
The title of the article is "Meet the last man standing." The thesis is that Bill is the only voice opposing the movement to soften sentencing. It is good to see Bill's prominence as an advocate recognized, particularly by a partisan outlet for the other side. The assertion that he is the only one is, of course, preposterous. The exaggeration is even greater than the earlier National Journal article about me and the death penalty.
Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey is a stronger advocate in this fight than the article lets on. As noted in this post, the Association of Assistant United States Attorneys has done significant work in this area. CJLF is also an important voice, although we have focused more on California than on the present federal controversy.
Despite the article's deficiencies, Bill's forcefulness and effectiveness as an advocate makes him a force to be reckoned with, and the recognition of that fact is well deserved.
The title of the article is "Meet the last man standing." The thesis is that Bill is the only voice opposing the movement to soften sentencing. It is good to see Bill's prominence as an advocate recognized, particularly by a partisan outlet for the other side. The assertion that he is the only one is, of course, preposterous. The exaggeration is even greater than the earlier National Journal article about me and the death penalty.
Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey is a stronger advocate in this fight than the article lets on. As noted in this post, the Association of Assistant United States Attorneys has done significant work in this area. CJLF is also an important voice, although we have focused more on California than on the present federal controversy.
Despite the article's deficiencies, Bill's forcefulness and effectiveness as an advocate makes him a force to be reckoned with, and the recognition of that fact is well deserved.
My story's actual thesis is that all the talk of reform momentum ignores the political power of Bill's advocacy and the reality, so far, that no meaningful changes have been made in federal laws. I wrote that Bill's positions, while increasingly rare inside the Beltway, represent a popular strain of thinking and rhetoric that the reform community has failed to answer. Call it "preposterous," "exaggerated," or "deficient," but I think I made a pretty good factual case for this that can't be explained in full in a headline's few words.
Seconded, Kent!