As far as I can tell, there are reasonable arguments against the REAL ID Act stemming from likely invasions of privacy. But some small-government activists, anxious to defeat the legislation, have found that they can broaden their coalition by reaching out to religious groups with, well, unusual concerns about the bill. Critics of federal legislation […]
This is only tangentially a political story, but it’s probably the most bizarre report on the [tag]immigration[/tag] debate I’ve seen. Recently, [tag]students[/tag] from several schools in southern [tag]California[/tag] staged a [tag]walk-out[/tag] as part demonstrations against congressional efforts to curb illegal [tag]immigration[/tag]. One elementary school was so worried about the kids joining the protest, it took […]
Right on schedule. In the third week in February, speculation about Al [tag]Gore[/tag]’s future picked up considerably with high-profile columns from Roger J. Stone Jr. and Dick Morris. In the third week in March, a cover story for The American Prospect renewed talk about another [tag]presidential[/tag] [tag]campaign[/tag] for Gore, which prompted the former VP to […]
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out[tag] Robert Dreyfuss[/tag]’ stunning American Prospect story on Dick [tag]Cheney[/tag]’s hyper-secretive, strikingly powerful White House operation. Speculation about how Cheney controls an insular group of ideologues is, if anything, understating the case. (via Kevin Drum) Notoriously opaque, the Office of the [tag]Vice President[/tag] ([tag]OVP[/tag]) is very difficult […]
You’ve got to be kidding me. At the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, children from the stricken Gulf Coast region serenaded First Lady Laura [tag]Bush[/tag] with a [tag]song[/tag] praising the beleaguered Federal Emergency Management Agency. To the tune of “Hey Look Me Over,” about 100 young children from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama sang: “Our […]
If you’ve driven by a gas station recently, you probably noticed prices surging a little. OK, more than a little. What’s more, prices will go up even more over the summer. As for what this means politically, congressional Dems seem to believe this will be the straw that breaks the Republicans’ back this year. Led […]
At first glance, this seems too bizarre to be true, but it’s unfortunately real: the Bush administration’s Department of Health and Human Services has established guidelines that effectively call for celibacy for everyone except straight married couples. Earlier this year, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human […]
Sure, the president’s national support has dropped precipitously in recent months, but through it all, he can be thankful for one thing: at least his approval rating is higher than Congress’. Public approval of the job Congress is doing has dipped to its lowest level of 2006, and is now the worst Gallup has recorded […]
Just to follow up on an item from last week, it’s worth noting that the [tag]phone-jamming scandal[/tag], in the midst several other [tag]Republican[/tag] scandals, seems to be holding on. In particular, Dems in New Hampshire and DC continue to raise a fuss and ask pesky questions such as, “Why did the regional chairman of Bush’s […]
[tag]Time[/tag] magazine put together one of those subject lists that serve as fun conversation pieces, this time focusing on “[tag]America’s Best Senators[/tag].” There is no fixed journey to greatness in the [tag]Senate[/tag]. Instead there is a whole variety of skills that America’s Senators have developed over 218 years to help them raise and spend tax […]