I know that every blog with a pulse had this yesterday, but I don’t care. It’s a comment that’s so stunning, it speaks volumes about the lawmaker who said it and the party that encourages such twisted thinking. Senator John Cornyn: “I don’t know if there is a cause-and-effect connection but we have seen some […]
For anyone interested, I’ll be doing a nationally-syndicated radio show this afternoon, talking about the latest news from the world of politics. The show is “Culture Shocks,” hosted by the always-great Barry Lynn. I’ll be on from 5 to 6 Eastern. (Regular readers may notice that this will be my fifth appearance on the program. […]
In one sense, I should admire and treasure the few sincere Republican centrists left. They’ve largely been run out of their party on a rail, so perhaps it’d be wise to cut them considerable slack and support their efforts to drag their party back away from the right-wing fringe. In truth, I’d like to. I’d […]
Bush was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, last week for another campaign stop “town hall” meeting to discuss privatizing Social Security. As usual, tickets were distributed through a local Republican office. But in a move that may be less common, the GOP office quizzed would-be attendees before making the free tickets available. (via Froomkin) A spokesperson […]
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: * Tom DeLay, fresh off the weakest re-election support of his career, is continuing to slip in popularity at home. A Houston Chronicle poll published over the weekend found 45% in DeLay’s Texas […]
Looking back at Bush’s first term, there wasn’t much the White House requested but didn’t receive. Even when there was some initial hesitation and skepticism, it was usually only a matter of time before Bush leaned on some GOP holdouts and got what he wanted. This term is starting out a little differently — and […]
Robert Novak spoke to a GOP lawmaker recently and seemed surprised to discover that the Republican was thoroughly unimpressed with the Bush White House’s congressional relations. A senior Republican senator who avoids the headlines and tries to help President Bush as much as possible was discussing with me two weeks ago the problems of seeking […]
When RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman spoke last week at Howard University, one of the nation’s most prestigious historically black colleges, it seemed like another step in the Republicans’ half-hearted campaign to woo African-American voters. As it turns out, Mehlman’s speech wasn’t even that. The American Prospect’s Garance Franke-Ruta was on hand for the event and […]
I was born and raised in Florida. Spent my first 21 years there, went to college there, even met Mrs. Carpetbagger there. I mention this because when I see pieces that marvel at Florida’s unique ability to thrust itself into the national headlines, as the New York Times did yesterday and Tom Tomorrow does today, […]
If you missed Michael Kinsley’s column yesterday, and you’re looking for the kind of information that can come in handy at family barbecues with that annoying right-wing uncle, I think you’ll find it’s the kind of piece that can come in handy. At the outset, let me acknowledge that comparing economic data across decades can […]