Wednesday’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: * A new statewide poll in California this weeks shows that 58% of all Californians disapprove of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s job performance, while only 31% approve. The Field poll data shows a drop […]

The Paris Hilton Benefit Act moves closer to passage

The other day I had a post about what Republicans in DC might try to straighten their ship and get some semblance of an agenda back on track. In the comments section, many of you suggested they’d go with more tax cuts, because, when in doubt, the GOP goes with what it knows. A report […]

Science under siege

It may not be as provocative as the war in Iraq or Social Security, but the Bush administration’s assault on science is about as disturbing as anything this gang has done. With this in mind, it’s encouraging to see the ACLU’s latest initiative. The Bush administration’s response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has […]

Still looking for a Social Security exit strategy

The White House hosted a gathering of Senate Republicans yesterday, and apparently, a couple of lawmakers told the president that they’re moving forward with their own proposals on Social Security — one of which does not include private accounts. Because the president told lawmakers to proceed with their plans, the AP suggested that there’s been […]

At least some private sector jobs are being created

For the first 52 months of the Bush presidency (January 2001 to May 2005), private sector jobs are down 24,000. Since the Great Depression no other president who served at least 52 months has overseen a net loss in private sector jobs through this point. Yet, the news is not all bad. The good news […]

Inexplicable standards when it comes to doling out gavels

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) seems like the kind of guy House Republicans would want as the next chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. He’s conservative, plays ball with GOP leaders, has committee experience, the works. But it appears that Young won’t get the committee gavel — because he voted last week to curtail the FBI’s […]

‘We chose to act, and we rose together’

If you haven’t read Barack Obama’s commencement address at Knox College from earlier this month, you should. It’s not only one of the best speeches I’ve seen since, well, Obama’s DNC address last July, it’s also one of those rare speeches that’s actually important. David Kusnet, Bill Clinton’s chief speechwriter in the early ’90s, wrote […]

The ‘religious left’ gets a little bigger

I admit from the outset that I know literally nothing about this group or who’s behind it, but for those who believe the “religious left” should do more to take on the “religious right,” it appears there’s a new organization committed to doing just that. The success of the Religious Right in appropriating the language […]

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: * With Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham’s career spiraling towards indictment, moves are already underway in San Diego to replace him in the House. The most likely successor is former state Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, […]

It doesn’t sound like they want a consensus candidate

The conventional wisdom is that Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist will retire sometime in the next week or so, kicking off an intense confirmation fight to fill the first high court vacancy in 11 years. It’s led to some speculation about who Bush will tap for the Supreme Court and how the White House […]