A year ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger was allegedly a political powerhouse. The question was not whether he’d win re-election in 2006, but whether Congress would amend the Constitution to allow him to run for president. Dem opponents? There were plenty of ambitious Golden State Dems, but also plenty of hesitation in taking on the popular movie […]
A month ago, The Hill reported that a House resolution that calls on the president to develop and implement an exit strategy for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq had picked up its 29th co-sponsor. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, a conservative Maryland Republican and decorated Vietnam veteran, joined the diverse group of resolution supporters, including […]
Just a month ago, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) chatted with the New York Times Sunday Magazine, shortly after telling U.S. News that the White House’s policies in Iraq are “completely disconnected from reality.” He added, “The reality is that we’re losing in Iraq.” The NYT gave Hagel a chance to reverse course, but he stood […]
There are any number of reasons not to shop at Wal-Mart. Abhorrent labor policies, financing the conservative movement and right-wing causes, the devastating effect on local retailers, the pressure on manufacturers to build factories abroad, the puritanical sales standards … let’s just say it isn’t my favorite store. But now there’s a new problem with […]
When it comes to technical matters, it’s been an unpleasant week here at The Carpetbagger Report, so I thought I should give readers an update. Last week, after months of constant frustration, I gave up on my previous hosting company and moved the site (it’s actually more accurate to say “my friend Al moved the […]
With the president away in Texas for his five-week break, the White House press briefings have become far and few between. Today, however, the press corps assembled for a rare gathering. Scott McClellan’s also on vacation, so reporters got to chat with official WH spokesperson Dana Perino. There were a few exchanges worth noting. For […]
When assessing responsibility for the catastrophe that is the war in Iraq, most of the blame has to rest solely with the administration. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, et al crafted a debacle for the ages. But is there accountability for Congress? Bob Casey Jr. gave a speech yesterday in Pennsylvania, noting that Rick “Man on Dog” […]
I know it doesn’t make any sense, but it appears congressional Republicans seriously believe it’s a good idea to bring a Social Security privatization plan to the floor for a vote this year. The House will likely vote this fall on a Social Security bill to let workers put part of their payroll taxes into […]
Dems on the Hill, for reasons that are not entirely clear, have been apprehensive about embracing Cindy Sheehan’s cause, which is one of the reasons I was pleased to see that our friend Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) write to Bush today, urging the president to respond to Sheehan’s questions. But another key point raised by […]
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: * It’s become something of a pattern with Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) — get people excited about a possible statewide run, but then back down. Unfortunately, it’s happened again, as Brown announced yesterday […]