Arlen Specter’s rise to Judiciary Committee chairman was presumptive. He was next in line, Senate term-limit rules prevented Orrin Hatch from keeping the gavel, and Specter was facing no challenge for the slot. It was a foregone conclusion, right up until Nov. 3. The burden, however, has clearly shifted. Whereas his right-wing critics were taking […]
Freedom is allegedly “on the march” in Iraq, but freedom of the press isn’t exactly going in the right direction. Iraq’s media regulator warned news organizations Thursday to stick to the government line on the U.S.-led offensive in Fallouja or face legal action. Invoking a 60-day state of emergency declared by Iraq’s interim government ahead […]
I noticed that Jimmy Cater was asked, during a recent Newsweek interview, whether today’s political climate reminds him of any other time in American history. I found his response discouraging. “I don’t remember any time in my lifetime when there was this much antagonism and as sharp a division between the political parties or the […]
Since Bush’s inauguration, Congress has, by lawmakers’ own admission, given up on any pretense of administrative oversight. Indeed, I was foolish enough to think it couldn’t get any worse. As the DCCC’s Jesse Lee noted, I was wrong. As President Bush prepares for a second term, his Republican allies on the House Government Reform Committee […]
The aspirants for the ’08 GOP presidential nomination started in earnest at the Republicans’ convention over the summer, but at least one prominent lawmaker is already aiming for the number two slot. It’s not too early to start whispering about Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s moves to run for vice president, say friends. Allies claim she’s got […]
At some point, one has to consider whether “coalition” is really the right word to describe the countries participating in the war in Iraq. The latest country to drop out of the “coalition of the willing” is the Netherlands. The Dutch cabinet has decided to bring home the 1,350 Dutch troops in Iraq in March […]
Just to follow up for a moment on an earlier post, the LA Times piece on evangelicals’ growing influence included one tidbit about Jerry Falwell that warrants extra attention. Falwell said he had spoken to Rove three times since the election, and that Specter called him this week to offer assurances that he would not […]
John Ashcroft’s resignation was expected, so Alberto Gonzales’ nomination has been in the works for some time. Of course, if Gonzales becomes attorney general, who’ll take his place as chief White House counsel? There appears to be a frontrunner for that job, too. Several Republicans said no decision had been made on filling Mr. Gonzales’s […]
Karl Rove doesn’t seem to make many mistakes, but he may regret admitting over the weekend that the Bush White House is “indebted” to evangelicals for their support on Election Day. First, it’s not clear just how big a role the religious right had in Bush’s success. Second, as the White House will soon begin […]
Last July, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist first expressed support for the long-rumored “nuclear option” — unilateral change to the chamber’s filibuster rules that would prohibit Dems from blocking the most extreme of Bush’s judicial nominees. He apprently hasn’t forgotten about it. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Thursday urged Democrats to stop blocking President […]