Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is on a bit of a roll lately. She just cruised to re-election in a 20-point landslide (she won by over 2 million votes), she was the only Senate Dem to stand up and challenge the electoral vote count over irregularities in Ohio, and she’s led the fight against Condoleezza Rice’s […]
It’s a pretty common argument. Dems had a congressional majority for the better part of 40 years. By the late ’80s and early ’90s, they ultimately took this status for granted and abused it, foolishly thinking they were invulnerable and above accountability. Republicans took over in ’94 and quickly proceeded to follow in their rivals’ […]
It’s not exactly the same situation as Armstrong Williams’ $241,000 contract, but Maggie Gallagher’s work with the administration is troubling nevertheless. In 2002, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher repeatedly defended President Bush’s push for a $300 million initiative encouraging marriage as a way of strengthening families. “The Bush marriage initiative would emphasize the importance of marriage […]
I’ve been fascinated by the various reactions to Bush’s second inaugural, particularly from the right, where the opinions were hardly unanimous. But two conservative responses, from sycophantic supporters of Bush, stood out for me in their inanity. First up is U.S. News & World Report’s Michael Barone, who wrote a column emphasizing Bush’s line: “By […]
Though doubts persisted, it seems Dems, particularly in the Senate, have learned how to make the most of their status as the opposition party. Trying to show that they remain a force despite their reduced numbers, Senate Democrats on Monday threatened new hurdles for President Bush’s cabinet choices and expressed deep misgivings about the planned […]
NBC snuck a camera into some of the inaugural balls paid for by corporate cash and found the kind of routine corruption that hardly raises an eyebrow anymore. We caught up with Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who was talking to a lobbyist for telephone company MCI. “Nothing wrong with a few corporate sponsors,” said Rep. […]
Bush’s address to the “March for Life” on the National Mall yesterday raised a couple of interesting problems for the president, one substantive, the other political. The speech insisted, for example, that the anti-abortion movement is making progress under his leadership. “The America of our dreams, where every child is welcomed in law — in […]
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s embrace of victimhood suggests the guy has lost touch with reality. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Saturday that people of faith should not fear being viewed by “educated circles” as “fools for Christ.” The justice was in Baton Rouge, La., to address the Knights of Columbus Council 969 centennial […]
If I were one of the 477 members of the party who could vote for the next DNC chairman, I’d support Simon Rosenberg. That said, I’m starting to think the panic over Howard Dean’s chances is getting ridiculous. [W]ith the DNC meeting approaching on Feb. 12, party insiders have been conducting an urgent, so far […]
Usually, the Republican Party’s “marriage” to the religious right movement is one of convenience. Lately, it’s become increasingly inconvenient for both. The GOP’s base is frustrated because the party has ignored most of the movement’s initial, post-election demands — Arlen Specter was confirmed as the Judiciary Committee chairman with unanimous GOP support, the new co-chair […]