For some, every crisis is an opportunity in disguise. Exhibit A: the Republicans’ policy agenda and Hurricane Katrina. It didn’t take long for the GOP machine to see the possibilities. Almost immediately after the devastation became clear, House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) suggested Congress might take up an “economic stimulus package,” with more tax […]
About a week ago, the Washington Post ran a report noting that Karl Rove was illegally taking a homestead deduction and property tax cap on his home in DC, and owed the city back taxes. It hardly seemed worth mentioning — not only was there more important news to consider, this apparent clerical error would […]
There have been any number of excellent articles published in recent days offering detailed step-by-stop reports on how the government responded to Hurricane Katrina. I’m partial to Evan Thomas’ piece in Newsweek, however, because it touches on the underlying problem that affects everything the White House does: Bush’s bubble. When did the president realize the […]
The awkwardly-named “America Supports You Freedom Walk” went off yesterday largely as expected. Participants were “screened” by the Pentagon, over-the-top and cynical props were used (organizers distributed military-style dog tags to marchers), and “extraordinary measures” were in place to control participation. In all, the media reported that an unspecified “thousands” of participants took part in […]
It’s been four years since the day that, especially at the time, was supposed to have changed everything. As Condoleezza Rice put it in October 2003, “No less than December 7, 1941, September 11, 2001, forever changed the lives of every American.” Today’s topic: Did it? Four years after the worst attack in American history, […]
Guest Post by Morbo You have to love the optimism of the European media. As the floodwaters in New Orleans slowly recede, some commentators are speculating that this time, President George W. Bush might actually be held accountable. The disaster and the utter failure of the Bush administration to address it are being treated as […]
Guest Post by Morbo The response from the fundamentalist Christian nut right over Hurricane Katrina has been strangely muted. The Carpetbagger noted a few examples of real bottom-feeder groups saying insane stuff about the wrath of God, but the major players like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell have been silent. Thankfully, we have Pastor Rick […]
Guest Post by Morbo The imprisonment of James Traficant left the position of biggest maniac in the House of Representatives wide open, and competition for the coveted slot has been fierce. Tom DeLay has put in a strong bid, while still managing to serve as Majority Leader. Oklahoma’s Ernest “Jim” Istook can always be counted […]
Guest Post by Morbo I know it’s not considered polite to say mean things about someone when they die. But when that person was kind of jerk, I see no reason to lard on the hagiography either. Consider recently deceased Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. The man was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1971, […]
It’s too soon to tell exactly how much the federal government will have to spend in Hurricane Katrina’s wake, but it’s obviously going to be in the range of hundreds of billions of dollars. At this point, every penny will be added to an already-enormous deficit. To be sure, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. […]