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 showed Sen. Rick Santorum (R) closing the gap against Bob Casey (D) in Pennsylvania, new data shows the gap getting bigger again. A new Quinnipiac poll showed Casey […]
Just a couple of months ago, as the Abramoff scandal was picking up steam and lawmakers were anxious to recast themselves as champions of reform, the Republicans’ “[tag]K Street Project[/tag]” was seen as Exhibit A in the culture of corruption. John Boehner campaigned to be House Majority Leader on an anti-K Street Project platform, telling […]
One of these days, one of these studies will lead political leaders to seize a national policy opportunity. So what do Americans want when it comes to health care? Two things, according to a citizens group created by Congress: protection for all from high medical expenses and guaranteed coverage for specific checkups and treatments. The […]
The recent leaks about the National Intelligence Estimate set up a straightforward scenario: news reports said the NIE offers proof that the war in Iraq is making terrorism worse; the Bush administration said the NIE was being taken out of context. Fine, critics said; declassify the NIE (with appropriate redactions) and let’s see the facts. […]
Earlier this month, CBS’s Katie Couric had a one-on-one interview that produced no news whatsoever. It was a rather embarrassing display, with Couric telling the president that “people admire so much your ability to adhere to your principles” and adding gems such as, “I know you care so much about the soldiers in Iraq.” The […]
Last week, the Bush administration’s “compromise” with Senate Republicans on detainees was bad enough. Now we learn that the Bush gang, with support from House Republicans, have quietly altered the deal, apparently making it slightly worse. Republican lawmakers and the White House agreed over the weekend to alter new legislation on military commissions to allow […]
Every day, there are tons of items that I’d like to do posts on, but I run out of time, or feel like they’re smaller stories that may not warrant a post of their own. I may not be able to do this every day, but here are some items that may be of interest. […]
In a twisted sense, I have an odd admiration for Dick Cheney. Most conservatives no longer have the ability to surprise me, no matter how inane their rhetoric gets. The Vice President, however, has just the right combination of gall, arrogance, and idiocy to astound me. Take today, for example. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney […]
I have to admit, the Democratic Policy Committee’s series of hearings have been one of my favorite things Senate Dems have done since the 2004 elections. Republicans, obviously, have given up on exercising their oversight responsibilities in 2001. Anxious to ignore every Bush administration-related controversy that came up, the majority party simply gave up on […]
Jill at Feministe has a good item on some interesting abortion-related legislation that’s going to be unveiled this week, both of which are worth paying attention to. Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.), who opposes abortion rights, on Wednesday is scheduled to announce he is introducing a bill that would aim to reduce the number of abortions […]