A month ago, John McCain, as chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, indicated he wouldn’t use his investigation into Jack Abramoff to target any conservative members of Congress who may have dealt with the corrupt lobbyist. McCain did not, however, exempt conservative groups with ties to Abramoff. Organizations headed by two of the best-known […]
The natural reaction for Dems to news that House Republicans were willing to launch an ethics investigation into Tom DeLay was exhilaration. Finally, Dems were supposed to think, the GOP was caving to pressure and DeLay’s misdeeds would get a thorough review. That may have been the natural reaction, but it was also the wrong […]
Just to follow up on an item from yesterday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) faced swift criticism for insisting that the nation’s immigration policies have grown too lax and arguing that the United States needs to “close the borders.” Yesterday, Schwarzenegger explained that it was a mistake — caused by his difficulties with the language. […]
(Editor’s Note: The Carpetbagger Report, as I’ve mentioned in recent weeks, joined the Coalition for Darfur, a bi-partisan online initiative created to raise awareness and resources to address the crisis. This is the seventh in a series of posts from the Coalition.) In 1994, a genocide took place in Rwanda and it is probably safe […]
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that House Republicans are leaning on House Speaker Dennis Hastert, urging him to do what it takes to resolve the ethics impasse with the Dems. Privately, Republicans say the rules are a greater political worry for the party than the more publicized ethics questions about Majority Leader Tom […]
Clear Channel, the nation’s largest radio station operator and owner of thousands of billboards, seems to have one policy during the election and a different one after it. For example, Clear Channel is now opposed to controversial messages on its billboards. The image planned for the anti-Wal-Mart billboard was unusual — a fire-breathing Godzilla standing […]
Most of the remaining Senate Republicans who have not yet officially said how they’ll vote on the nuclear option are under pretty intense pressure, forcing most to be even cagier when it comes to how they’re leaning, but some of their preferences are becoming clearer. According to Roll Call, there are seven senators left who […]
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: * Hot off the presses, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey with a big lead over Sen. Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum, 49% to 35%. In February, Casey led […]
Despite assurances that he’d seek another term, Vermont Independent Sen. Jim Jeffords is retiring. U.S. Sen. James Jeffords, whose declaration of independence from the GOP four years ago briefly gave Democrats control of the Senate, will not seek re-election next year, The Associated Press learned Wednesday. Jeffords will make the announcement Wednesday afternoon in Burlington, […]
It’s supposed to be an easy yes-or-no question. A reporter asks a presumably sane member of Congress whether he or she will pursue impeachment charges against federal judges who’ve done nothing wrong. The sensible, non-crazy answer is, “No.” With Tom DeLay, the answer consistently seems to be, “Maybe.” Last week, for example, the ultra-conservative Washington […]