Yesterday, Noam Scheiber made a compelling argument that Dem opposition to Bush’s Social Security scheme should include plenty of arguments based on fact and reason, but also some demagoguery. In light of a new report explaining how Bush is manipulating the Social Security Administration’s employees to parrot deceptive talking points, Scheiber argued Dems will need […]
There’s been sporadic talk that Bush’s second term will be far more accommodating to our international allies than his first, with the president making a more concerted effort to reach out to those who pushed away. Even this morning, Condoleezza Rice pledged to work to mend and strengthen ties with allies frayed by the war […]
In the overwhelming majority of instances, sitting governors enjoy enough party support to stave off a primary challenge. In Alabama, however, a certain fundamentalist theocrat already appears poised to seize the GOP nomination away. A new poll shows Roy Moore with a lead over Gov. Bob Riley in the race for the 2006 Republican gubernatorial […]
As if we needed another reason to question the reliability of touch-screen balloting, Cursor noted yesterday that a new analysis of the systems offers more proof of flawed results. Florida’s touch-screen voting machines performed better in the Nov. 2 presidential election than they did in the March primary, but were still outmatched by older voting […]
I’m trying to be vaguely sympathetic to former Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Ind.) as he continues to struggle in the race for the DNC chairmanship, but he’s not making it easy. Roemer’s policy positions put him squarely to the right of most of the party. He insists that doesn’t matter for the DNC post, and to […]
At least Bush is consistent. At a White House press briefing, March 13, 2002: “As I say, we haven’t heard much from [bin Laden]. And I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don’t know where he is. I — I’ll repeat what I said. I truly am […]
I realize most of the talk about political division is focused among Dems right now, particularly as party insiders debate among themselves about the next chair of the DNC, how aggressive Dems should be in their opposition to the Bush agenda, positioning for ’08, etc. But taking a step back, isn’t the GOP far more […]
Washington Monthly has an amusing, if not all-together serious, piece in the current issue encouraging Dems to consider an outside-the-box approach to presidential candidates. I’m all for creative approaches, so I read it with great interest. Nothing hurts Democrats more than their own aversion to risk. If they are to confront a Republican Party now […]
Remember that wacky state Senate candidate in Kentucky who tried to take office despite not meeting obvious eligibility requirements? I promised to let you know what happened in her court case, which was heard late last week. Surprising no one, she lost. A Republican state senator may not take any official action or get paid […]
The Washington Post’s interview with Bush, published yesterday, is a treasure trove of riches. There are enough bizarre remarks, contradictory claims, and factual errors to keep the blogosphere well-fed for weeks. But the one exchange that summed up so many of the president’s flaws was his twisted belief that his Election Day victory validated his […]