The logic about contraceptives encouraging pre-marital sex, particularly among teens, has never really made any sense to me. First, there are ample studies that prove otherwise. But putting actual evidence aside, the logic behind the argument seems fundamentally flawed. If a teenager is told, “Don’t have sex, but if you do, protect yourself,” the right […]
I noticed that TV weatherman Al Roker was on Capitol Hill yesterday to help support the Anti-Bullying Act (H. R. 284), a bill that’s starting to generate some support from teachers and law enforcement groups. As education policies go, this one hardly seems like a big deal and appears to be something of a no-brainer. […]
Just to clear up any confusion, there were two pieces of legislation on stem-cell research on the House floor yesterday, and both passed. But everyone should be clear on the differences: one is a serious bill to undo Bush’s restrictive policy on potentially life-saving research, the other was offered as political cover for Republicans. The […]
As everyone has no doubt heard by now, the House of Representatives easily passed a measure (H.R. 2520) to undo the president’s 2001 restrictions on federal funding of stem-cell research. For me, there are two important angles to yesterday’s progress that warrant attention: the politics of the vote and the policy arguments offered on the […]
Conservative outrage over the Gang of 14’s deal on judicial nominees was in bloom yesterday, with plenty of activists playing the blame game. Naturally, most of the ire was reserved for the senators who played a direct role in the negotiations, but I was surprised to see how many on the right are placing some […]
Let’s take a quick look at the list of things I’d love to see happen right now. * Bush losing stature and public support? Check. * Congressional Republicans with the lowest poll support in a decade? Check. * And perhaps most importantly, the dormant fissures dividing the GOP coming to the surface? One big check. […]
The president was in up state New York this morning for yet another scripted Social Security event for loyal sycophants. He took a moment to explain the political problem with privatization as he sees it. “I fully recognize some in Washington, you know, don’t particularly want to address this issue,” Bush said in an auditorium […]
Conservatives were launching a crusade against Newsweek, introducing House resolutions condemning the magazine and suggesting congressional boycotts in members’ offices, but that is so last week. Now, there’s a new target: Bill Maher. A congressman says comedian Bill Maher’s comment that the U.S. military has already recruited all the “low-lying fruit” is possibly treasonous and […]
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: * Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro (R) said Monday she will seek statewide office in 2006, but no one’s sure which office. State GOP officials have described her as their “dream candidate” […]
When the president traveled to Wisconsin last week to tout Social Security privatization, reporters decided it wasn’t worth their time to even make the trip. In March, when Bush visited New Mexico for the same reason, Kiva Auditorium was sparsely attended, with hundreds of empty seats. In February, Bush went to New Hampshire for a […]