The irony is, this guy ran for governor on a platform that emphasized ethical behavior in government and implored state employees to steer clear of receiving unethical gifts. Ohio Gov. Bob Taft (R), a member of one of the most distinguished families in American politics, was indicted yesterday on four criminal misdemeanor counts for failing […]
Last week, the Washington Times noted that Bill Frist wants Americans to learn the significance of the Purple Heart. On a similar note, Dick Cheney will be in Missouri tomorrow to address the national convention of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, following House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, who spoke yesterday. I’m delighted that […]
Following up on last weekend’s unintentionally amusing Justice Sunday II event, Rob Garver noted in The American Prospect that there was one theme that tied all the speakers together — the religious right movement is feeling sorry for itself. In the imaginary world painted by the leaders of “Justice Sunday II,” conservative Christian Republicans may […]
New York magazine has a really interesting article in its current issue on Bill Clinton and what’s he’s been up to lately. There’s no ground-breaking news in there — sorry, no hints about Hillary’s plans — but the piece shed light on Clinton’s ongoing role as an international leader. Five years after his presidency, Clinton […]
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: * Republican leaders in Florida are trying to lure former Rep. and MSNBC blowhard Joe Scarborough to challenge Katherine Harris in a GOP primary next year in Florida’s Senate race. Scarborough has not […]
In case you missed it, Maureen Dowd noticed the president’s recent rhetoric has a familiar ring to it. How could President Bush be cavorting around on a long vacation with American troops struggling with a spiraling crisis in Iraq? Wasn’t he worried that his vacation activities might send a frivolous signal at a time when […]
Shortly after the last election, the competition among would-be committee chairmen (and women) grew intense on Capitol Hill. Apparently, the number one factor had nothing to do with merit and everything to do with cash. Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.), for example, wanted desperately to be House Appropriations Committee chairman, so he contacted Speaker Dennis Hastert […]
I don’t know when (or if) The New Republic will make it available to non-subscribers, but Jonathan Cohn has a fascinating look this week on Rep. John Shadegg’s (R-Ariz.) Health Care Choice Act (via Kevin Drum). Considering the right’s general hostility to almost every proposal to reform the nation’s health care system, this legislation is […]
This week, Murray Waas reported that John Ashcroft, while he was still attorney general and before he recused himself from the matter, requested and received detailed briefings on the Plame Game investigation. In fact, Ashcroft seemed particularly interested in the details of at least one FBI interview with Karl Rove, who just so happened to […]
It seemed like yet another conservative op-ed column with the usual harangue against unions and in support of Wal-Mart. The piece in yesterday’s Boston Globe, however, has a bit more of a back-story to it. On Aug. 10, the National Education Association, the country’s largest teachers union, participated in a nationwide back-to-school boycott of Wal-Mart. […]