Nearly four years ago, when Bush finalized his restrictive policy on stem-cell research, he told reporters, “I laid out the policy I think is right for America, and I’m not going to change my mind.” Congress may have overlooked this pledge, because a bipartisan group of lawmakers — which continues to grow — appears ready […]
During his first run for the White House five years ago, Bush positioned himself as a “different kind of Republican.” When the House GOP, led by Tom DeLay, pushed a bill that would cut benefits low-income families rely on, Bush embraced triangulation and told reporters that the Republican Congress shouldn’t try to “balance their budget […]
The Washington Post’s E. J. Dionne Jr., who’s nearly always excellent, had an interesting column today about Thomas Suozzi, a county official on Long Island, a Democrat, a churchgoing Catholic, and someone trying to find “an authentic middle ground on the abortion issue.” [Suozzi] believes that abortion should remain legal. He is also a Democrat […]
As much as I’d like to believe otherwise, it seems the ethical and legal scandals surrounding Tom DeLay still aren’t quite cutting through. DeLay is clearly better known than he was a year ago, but according to the latest study from the Pew Research Center, the public remains largely unaware of DeLay’s ethical and legal […]
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers: * As if the Dem primary for Minnesota’s open Senate seat weren’t crowded enough, wealthy real estate developer Kelly Doran has thrown his hat into the ring. For many in the state, there’s […]
I can appreciate that it’s a debatable point, but the consensus in many Dem circles is that national security issues, not “moral values,” were the driving force behind Republican successes over Dems in the 2004 elections. With this in mind, I’m encouraged by new party efforts to strengthen the Dems’ standing on the issue. Senate […]
There are any number of reasons to challenge abstinence-only programs, but generally criticism focuses on the fact that the programs are completely ineffectual. In one ongoing study in Texas, students were more sexually active after undergoing abstinence education. In another study of the programs’ curricula, researchers found that many youngsters were taught “false, misleading, or […]
Why would anyone contribute $5,000 to a campaign that ended two years ago, to a candidate who finished a distant fourth? It makes more sense when the donor is Bill Frist and the candidate is Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. Last December, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) cut a $5,000 check to a […]
There were widespread reports yesterday that Bill Frist and Harry Reid have been engaged in intense negotiations since late last week, trying to find some compromise to steer away from the looming nuclear option showdown. Yesterday, those discussions came to an abrupt halt. Talks by the Senate’s top two leaders to try and avert a […]
Literally just a month ago, almost no one in the political world would have even recognized the name of Kenneth Tomlinson, the new chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. But in just a few short weeks, he’s become a high-profile target for intense progressive criticism. It’s well deserved. The New York Times reported a […]