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: * Though several recent polls show Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race running very close, a new Quinnipiac poll shows some distance between Gov. [tag]Ed Rendell[/tag] (D) and former football player [tag]Lynn Swann[/tag] (R). According to […]
We learned in January that the [tag]Bush[/tag] administration and congressional Republicans are directing a large percentage of federal grants to combat [tag]AIDS[/tag] directly to religious groups, which, of course, emphasize disease prevention through [tag]abstinence[/tag]. [tag]Contraception[/tag] is downplayed in these publicly-funded programs, if it’s mentioned at all. So, how’s that working out? Surprise, surprise, not terribly […]
I mentioned Peter Beinart’s piece on Russ [tag]Feingold[/tag] a few weeks ago, but it’s relevant again in light of the senator’s comments yesterday on [tag]gay marriage[/tag]. As [tag]Beinart[/tag] explained, Feingold is taking chances by staking out bold positions on controversial public policies, but in the process he’s helping Dems make incremental progress. The conventional wisdom […]
Last week, the [tag]president[/tag] sounded rather [tag]impatient[/tag] with the lack of political progress in [tag]Iraq[/tag]. Bush said that he wanted “the Iraqi people to hear” that “pretty soon it’s time to shut her down and get governing.” He did not, however, set any conditions, establish any deadlines, or explain whether there would be any consequences […]
Every time the [tag]president[/tag] talks about the war in Iraq, without fail, he speaks passionately about promoting [tag]democracy[/tag] in the region. It’s the ultimate defense for his disastrous [tag]war[/tag] — democracy is such a powerful force, [tag]Bush[/tag] argues, that it will make all the sacrifices worthwhile. But for a president who claims to cherish democracy […]
How can we forget our good friend Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, the deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence? As you may recall, eyebrows were raised around the world when NBC discovered that Bush had asked a man to coordinate our military intelligence in the war on terror who also happened to be an anti-Muslim […]
[tag]Tom DeLay[/tag] is clearly thinking ahead right now and, at least on the surface, is encouraged by what he sees. Whether it’s misplaced confidence or empty bravado, [tag]DeLay[/tag] seems convinced that he’s going to remain a powerful force in politics for the foreseeable [tag]future[/tag]. It’s probably the same arrogance that led him to ask, “What […]
Somewhat unexpectedly, the common thread of the last 24 hours for [tag]Tom DeLay[/tag] is [tag]religion[/tag]. The man who’s been up to his ears in political corruption and ethical transgressions throughout his political career seems to believe that it’s not his lawyers who’ll get him through the next several months; it’s his faith. And he’s milking […]
Unfortunately, I have a few meetings this afternoon that I couldn’t get out of. They were scheduled weeks ago — I know, bad timing — and I’m going to be away from my desk for a little while. So, here’s an open thread in which all of you can do my job for me discuss […]
I finally watched [tag]Tom DeLay[/tag]’s official resignation announcement and saw how much DeLay struggled to smile as if today were a crowning achievement of his political career, instead of the day that saw him give up and run away to prepare his pending legal defense. Reading over the [tag]transcript[/tag], DeLay clearly wanted desperately to strike […]