Miers’ latest should send the right over the edge

Many conservatives have practically begged the White House for any kind of evidence of Harriet Miers’ allegiance to a right-wing agenda. Instead of speeches or articles to set the right’s mind at ease, evidence keeps popping up in the other direction. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers said in a speech more than a decade ago […]

Wal-Mart takes one step forward — and two steps back

At first blush, it seemed like Wal-Mart was making a concerted effort to improve its image by reconsidering its labor policies. The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, for example, that the company will reverse its earlier position and encourage Congress to consider raising the minimum wage. In a speech to Wal-Mart directors and executives, [Chief […]

No more Michael Browns

In right-wing circles, they have a mantra: No more David Souters. It’s intended to be a reminder about what can happen when Republicans let their guard down, take a president’s word at face value, and allow an ambiguous nomination to proceed without due diligence. Similarly, Dems seem to have found a new mantra of their […]

Plame Game end game

So, what have we heard over the last 12 hours? Plenty. * The LA Times reported that federal prosecutors “returned their attention to White House advisor Karl Rove on Tuesday, questioning a former West Wing colleague about contacts Rove had with reporters in the days leading to the naming of the covert operative.” * The […]

Tomorrow’s the day — sort of

In case you haven’t already heard, tomorrow should be a fairly interesting day. Steve Clemons has an “uber-insider source” — and believe me, Clemons knows a lot of key people in DC — who’s informed him that between one and five indictments are being issued in the Plame scandal, though his source believes it will […]

Dem strategery

In terms of media interest, the Plame scandal drives itself; Democrats don’t actually have to do anything. When reporters stake out Karl Rove and Scooter Libby at their homes, it’s not as if a tip from a Dem put them there. In fact, looking back over the last two years, Dems have been largely irrelevant […]

Don’t blame me, I just work here

At an October 2003 press briefing, a reporter reminded McClellan that he personally went to Karl Rove and Scooter Libby to ask if they were involved with the Plame scandal. McClellan said he’d been given every assurance that they were not responsible. “They’re good individuals, they’re important members of our White House team, and that’s […]

Cheney’s Confidence Game

In 2004, there was speculation in some circles that Bush might drop Dick Cheney from the ticket in order to sure up broader support in advance of the presidential election. On April 27, 2004, a reporter at a White House press briefing asked Scott McClellan, “just for the record,” whether the president “continues to have […]

The Miers circus

To help prepare Harriet Miers for her confirmation hearings, the White House has arranged rehearsals in which Bush’s Supreme Court nominee faces practice questions so she’ll be prepared for the real thing. Is Miers ready? Not so much. Behind the scenes, however, the comfort level is very low. Some White House officials are already worried […]

Only one side got inside information on Miers

Roll Call reported today that James Dobson continues to be the subject of great interest to the Senate Judiciary Committee when it comes to what confidential information he was told about Harriet Miers. In fact, it’s not just Dobson, religious right sidekick Gary Bauer is also facing questions from Judiciary Committee investigators in advance of […]