It was expected Monday morning. The morning passed? OK, Monday afternoon. No? OK, Tuesday for sure. Um, Wednesday, no doubt. Maybe Thursday? The political world keeps looking to Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, whom we’re all sure is definitely going to retire, waiting for word that he’s stepping down. This was supposed to be […]
I noted yesterday that members of the House approved another boost in their own pay this week, because, in the immortal words of Tom DeLay, lawmakers needed “an adjustment so that they’re not losing their purchasing power.” I noted that these pay increases, which bring congressional salaries to $165,200, come at a time when the […]
I’m trying to think of the reasoning behind these efforts, but I’m having a little trouble. House Republican leaders promised yesterday to hold a vote as early as this summer on adding personal accounts to Social Security, but said they might do it without any effort to stave off the system’s insolvency. The leaders also […]
For about a month now, the religious right and other conservative activists have been waging an uphill battle to convince the Senate not to do what the House has already done — approve a measure to greatly expand federal funding for stem-cell research. Now, they’ve reconsidered the political landscape and are giving up on the […]
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: * A new Field Poll in California suggests more voters in the state are ready for a new governor in 2006. Just 39% of registered voters are inclined to give Arnold Schwarzenegger a […]
The Washington Monthly ran an article a few years ago about the Bush White House and the lengths it went to a) use polling; and b) pretend it didn’t. Josh Green’s piece included an amusing anecdote from late 2001 in which the press secretaries from every recent administration gathered at the White House for a […]
Listening to most of the political rhetoric in the Senate, you’d think Dems are solely responsible for blocking qualified Bush nominees for a variety of posts. This conveniently overlooks the fact that Sens. Richard C. Shelby and Jeff Sessions, both Republicans from Alabama, blocked confirmation of a top Army official; Trent Lott blocked a Senate […]
With ethical transgressions in the House piling up, people keep looking to the House Ethics Committee to get to work. But for recent months, the panel hasn’t been able to operate or even hold a hearing because it’s chairman, Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), insists on hiring his political aides to oversee committee operations, despite an […]
Way back in 2003, Dick Cheney, using the kind of rhetorical slight of hand that’s made his mendacity famous, said that “it’s not surprising that people make” the “connection” between Saddam Hussein and the attacks of Sept. 11. Unfortunately, considering the ridiculous claims that Republicans continue to make, it’s still not surprising. A Republican congressman […]
Stop me if you’ve heard this one … the Bush administration hires independent experts to conduct objective research, the researchers rely on facts and evidence to prepare a report, and because the reality-based information conflicts with the White House political agenda, the research is suppressed. Yep, it’s happened again. The Labor Department worked for more […]