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: * Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) will formally enter the Senate race today, but starts off trailing his most likely challenger. In a poll conducted by Gonzales Research & Marketing, Rep. Benjamin […]

A brand new ‘war room’

Shortly after the presidential inauguration in 2001, Dick Cheney vowed, “The days of the so-called war room and the permanent campaign are over.” That, of course, was before the White House was engulfed in scandal. President Bush’s damage-control handlers are plotting a sophisticated war room offensive to fight back against possible indictments in the CIA […]

Timing is everything

I have no strong feelings about Ben Bernanke’s nomination to replace Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve. I’ve seen several trusted sources say positive things about him — including Prof. DeLong, Max Sawicki, and Angry Bear — so I’m inclined to say he’s a good choice. I am, however, intrigued by the timing […]

‘Together, We Can Do Better’

As part of the ongoing drive to nationalize next year’s elections, and prepare the party for a consistent, positive message for congressional candidates, Dems have been toying around with a new slogan. House Democratic leaders are holding a closed-door meeting with members of their caucus this afternoon to discuss a new slogan for the 2006 […]

DeLay’s fortunes go from bad to worse

In the last couple of weeks, the Republicans’ drive to distance themselves from Tom DeLay has only intensified. A few weeks ago, Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.) announced he’d return contributions he’d received from DeLay; Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) did the same. A week later, Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) said he was not only giving back […]

Cheney and Libby’s little chat

Last week we learned that the president knew about the Plame leak (and the Plame leakers) all along. Today, we learn the same about Dick Cheney. I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, first learned about the C.I.A. officer at the heart of the leak investigation in a conversation with Mr. […]

The Wurmser turns

Last week, reports surfaced that David Wurmser, during his tenure as Dick Cheney’s Middle East advisor and an assistant to then-Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs John Bolton, became integrally involved with the Plame leak and ultimately struck a deal with Patrick Fitzgerald’s office. Today, Raw Story follows up with […]

Plame, Niger, and forged documents … oh my

How broad are Patrick Fitzgerald’s interests? This broad. The CIA leak inquiry that threatens senior White House aides has now widened to include the forgery of documents on African uranium that started the investigation, according to NATO intelligence sources. This suggests the inquiry by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald into the leaking of the identity of […]

Who’s a ‘vile, detestable, moralistic person’?

Been waiting patiently for the Bush gang to go on the offensive against Patrick Fitzgerald? Wait no more. As the White House and Republicans brace for possible indictments in the CIA leak probe, defenders have launched a not-so-subtle campaign against the prosecutor handling the case. “He’s a vile, detestable, moralistic person with no heart and […]

The coming fight over Miers’ documents

During John Roberts’ confirmation process, there was a minor skirmish over releasing his documents and memoranda from his service in the solicitor general’s (during H.W. Bush’s term) and his Reagan-era work as an aide to Attorney General William French Smith and as an aide to White House counsel Fred Fielding. Dems wanted more, the Bush […]