"The federal commission charged with commemorating 250 years of American independence in 2026 is at war with itself over allegations of featherbedding, favoritism and misappropriation of taxpayer funds."

The Wall Street Journal reports, in "Planners Battle Over Marking U.S. 250th Anniversary/The federal effort to commemorate 2026, mired in dissension, faces allegations of impropriety."

Featherbedding, favoritism, and the misappropriation of taxpayer funds? That's America! Perfect concept for this celebration.

By the way, had you noticed this thing was coming? I lived through the buildup to the bicentennial in 1976, so it's déjà vu for me. I don't remember its being corrupt, just commercial and tedious. I certainly remember they got Warren Burger to step down from the Chief Justice position to run the event, which seemed crazy at the time. Maybe John Roberts can be wooed into a reenactment of that misguided job change. That would be cause for celebration in some quarters.

ADDED: From the morning texting at Meadhouse:

CORRECTION: "I certainly remember they got Warren Burger to step down from the Chief Justice...." No, that's not right. He left the Court to take the lead position celebrating the bicentennial of the Constitution. It did seem crazy at the time.

How the Supreme Court decided the draft evasion case against Muhammad Ali.

It's hard to remember the details, and today's obituary's don't linger on this topic. For example, the NYT obituary just says: "As Ali’s draft-evasion case made its way to the United States Supreme Court, he returned to the ring on Oct. 26, 1970, through the efforts of black politicians in Atlanta."

But Ali had been convicted in 1967 and sentenced to 5 years in prison. The Supreme Court case that ultimately kept him out of prison came in 1971. What did the Court decide? Here's the very unusual inside story, found in "The Brethren" by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong:

Apart from the complicated war and draft issues, there were racial overtones to the case.... Public sympathy was growing for Ali, but at the same time the Black Muslim faith had been portrayed as separatist, antiwhite and bizarre....