This may be a little off-topic for me, but I’m a big fan of Arrested Development and Jon Chait explained today why there’s an important political angle to the show. In one episode, a photograph emerges that the authorities believe shows secret bunkers in Iraq. The Army — whose manpower shortages have forced it to […]
The Senate Republicans’ plan to kill the chamber’s filibuster rules — the “nuclear option” that would stop Dems from blocking the worst of Bush’s judicial nominees — has been in the works for over a year. Bill Frist has given several hints that he’d be willing to try the approach — consequences be damned — […]
More than simply acknowledging that Bush’s second inaugural failed, it’s worth considering why. It wasn’t the writing; Gerson’s prose was once again poetic, and it wasn’t the delivery; Bush, despite his limitations, has become quite adept at reading the words others prepare for him. The problem, however, rested in the speech’s message. It outlined an […]
For months, reporters seem to have keyed in on a little parlor game: if you ask White House officials to name a mistake they’ve made, particularly in Iraq, they hem and haw, pretending not to understand the question. It’s become quite entertaining. Dick “Go F— Yourself” Cheney, meanwhile, seems to have learned to expect the […]
Bush’s inaugural speech today was effective enough in hammering away at its point (Bush thinks “freedom” is good for the world, so he used the word 27 times this afternoon) and emphasizing the president’s faith (allusions to God were frequent). And to be sure, Mike Gerson wrote a well-worded, if not altogether memorable, speech. But […]
Throughout Bush’s first term, the president was surrounded by officials who refused to admit mistakes and were loath to share information with anyone. In his second term, he’ll be surrounded by different officials who’ll do the same thing. President Bush and his Cabinet nominees have been sending a firm message as they kick off a […]
Its future looked bleak several months ago, but Air America’s future is looking better all the time — particularly with their favorite target for criticism getting another four years. The Wall Street Journal reported today that the liberal radio network’s expanded reach is coinciding with Bush’s second inaugural and Air America will now be heard […]
Some may see this is a little aggressive on a day that supposed to be about celebration and temporary hope for the future, but at this point, it’s hard to see what the Dems have to lose by playing a little hardball. Today, a new TV ad, titled “Ready,” will be airing during the cable […]
The public relations firm who subcontracted with Armstrong Williams to flack for Bush’s education policy was kind enough yesterday to announce what the rest of us already know: they screwed up. The public relations firm that arranged for pundit Armstrong Williams to promote the Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind education program admitted Wednesday that […]
The most liberal Republican in Congress, Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, has flirted repeatedly with the idea of changing parties. He ruled out support for Bush in the campaign, he said he couldn’t think of a single area of agreement with the president, he admitted that he went to bed at night wondering how he […]