Anatomy of a bogus talking point

While chatting with NBC’s Matt Lauer yesterday, Bush touted Harriet Miers’ qualifications for the Supreme Court by noting the praise she’s won from others about her skills as an attorney. “I would remind those, one, that Harriet is an extraordinary, accomplished woman who has done a lot. As a matter of fact, she has consistently […]

Dobson’s dodge

It had the makings of an interesting broadcast. A week after James Dobson raised bi-partisan eyebrows by claiming to have secret insights into Harriet Miers’ Supreme Court nomination, the religious right leader announced he’d tell all in a scintillating national radio broadcast. In what can only be described as an anticlimactic letdown, Dobson didn’t have […]

Plame-related program activities

News, updates, and conjecture about the Plame Game scandal has been pretty intense over the last half-day or so. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know: * The inimitable Murray Waas wrote another key update on the scandal for National Journal, this time reporting that Scooter Libby may very well face an obstruction […]

Cheney’s lucrative Halliburton ties

About two years ago, Dick Cheney told a national television audience, “[S]ince I left Halliburton to become George Bush’s vice president, I’ve severed all my ties with the company, gotten rid of all my financial interests,” Cheney said. “I have no financial interest in Halliburton of any kind and haven’t had now for over three […]

Clark strikes a Southern chord

I noticed that Wesley Clark was in Alabama yesterday, speaking at a local party rally and a state Dems’ fundraiser. According to a news report of the event, Clark was very well received, but more importantly, I think he used language that can resonate in the region. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, former and possible future […]

They’re going about this all wrong

Last week, in a bid to smooth over right-wing outrage over Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination, the Bush gang invited several leading conservative activists to the White House for what turned out to be tense closed-door meetings. At one point, White House adviser Ed Gillespie suggested that some of the unease about Miers “has a […]

Dobson promises to tell all — on the air

As the what-did-Rove-tell-Dobson-about-Miers controversy works its way towards a second week, and the Focus on the Family chief is poised to get himself subpoenaed to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee what “confidential” information he knows about this nomination, Dobson claims to be ready to set the record straight. At least, that is, on his terms. […]

Tuesday’s political round-up

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 poll conducted late last week in Alabama highlights the inherent difficulty in taking on an incumbent governor in a primary. Gov. Bob Riley (R) may have some political troubles, but in […]

Michael Moore’s new target

Love him or hate him, filmmaker Michael Moore seems to have a knack for making conservatives nervous, angry, and usually both. Moore hasn’t been in the spotlight very much of late, but as it turns out, it’s because he’s found a new target and is already working on his next project. Any information about a […]

Bush’s Hackocracy, redux

Now that Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt has said the likelihood of a human flu pandemic is “very high,” I thought it might be worthwhile to check back with The New Republic’s latest article on Bush’s “Hackocracy” — a fairly comprehensive review of the administration, looking for the next Mike Brown (incompetent crony […]