In February 2002, the New York Times reported Bush administration plans for something called the Office of Strategic Influence. Its purpose was simple: misinformation. As an NYT editorial explained at the time: Plans being developed by the Pentagon’s Orwellian new Office of Strategic Influence call for planting false stories in the foreign press and running […]
In the unlikely event you haven’t heard about this elsewhere, I’d like to join the growing chorus of outrage over the decision by CBS and NBC to refuse advertising from the United Church of Christ. If you’re not familiar with the UCC, it’s a progressive and inclusive Christian denomination with a message (and a history) […]
My friend Eugene Oregon noted today that a GOP lawmaker in Alabama is trying to ban books with gay characters from public libraries, including universities. A bill by Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would prohibit the use of public funds for “the purchase of textbooks or library materials that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable […]
There was a memorable exchange in Aaron Sorkin’s “The American President” in which the idea of political capital is explored, albeit briefly. Lewis Rothschild (Michael J. Fox): “Sir, we campaigned on [the handgun-control] issue. Now, I understand we took it out when we were in the low forties, but we can push it through now.” […]
Admit it; after the election, you saw this little graphic about the “United States of Canada” and “Jesusland” and chuckled. In a post-election haze, you may have even wondered about the feasibility of implementing just such an idea. Though I know of no one who has talked about Blue-state sucession as a serious idea worth […]
The conventional wisdom insists that Hillary Clinton is not only a favorite of Dem primary voters, but a virtual certainty among possible Dem presidential candidates in 2008. Yet, there’s a growing body of evidence that the senator may not run for president after all. Is there any other name that creates the political buzz that […]
I will never, ever, understand the appeal of term limits. Thankfully, the gimmick’s appeal has faded considerably since its glory days in the mid ’90s, but we’re still dealing with the consequences of this foolish endeavor. (For a detailed review of term limits’ faults, I’d strongly recommend Vic Kamber’s book on the subject.) Replacing experienced […]
Posted by Fitz This story in the Washington Post does not really need additional comments. I just hope that it brings Iraq Abuse back to the foreground so that Senate Democrats will ask real questions at the confirmation hearings for our new ‘Ashcroft’. Rather Mr. ‘Laws do not apply to the President’ is confirmed or […]
This couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person. After big losses in the stock market, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s campaign committee is short of money to cover a bank loan that was due in August, records show. The committee’s most recent filing shows a little more than $10,000 was paid on the […]
Just to follow up on the Ridge announcement for a moment, I’m wondering at what point we can start to call the shuffling within Bush’s cabinet a “mass exodus.” There were six quick departures immediately after the election (Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Justice, and State). Yesterday, Ridge made it seven. This week, we learned that […]