We had a fruitful discussion the other day about Sen. Barack Obama’s speech to “Call to Renewal,” but considering that some, including the WaPo’s E. J. Dionne Jr., believe Obama’s remarks “may be the most important pronouncement by a Democrat on faith and politics since John F. Kennedy’s Houston speech in 1960 declaring his independence […]
After the incidents at Haditha, Ishaqi, Hamandiya, and Samarra, Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki lashed out at the American military, denouncing what he characterized as habitual attacks by troops against Iraqi civilians. That was before this. The U.S. Army is investigating allegations that American soldiers raped and killed a woman and killed three of her […]
Here’s a gem (via Crowley) from Bush’s White House media event this week with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi. “I’ve reminded the Prime Minister — the American people, Mr. Prime Minister, over the past months that it was not always a given that the United States and America [sic] would have a close relationship.” Well, no, […]
I’d love to hear a rational explanation for this. A New Orleans judge sentenced three people who looted liquor from a grocery store after Hurricane Katrina to 15 years in prison, saying he wanted to send a message. They were convicted of attempting to leave the grocery with 27 bottles of liquor and wine, six […]
Guest Post by Morbo Like Godzilla rampaging through downtown Tokyo, [tag]President[/tag] [tag]George W. Bush[/tag] continues to destroy all in his political wake. In another post today, I discuss how Bush’s unpopularity has spilled over on to his brother, Jeb, the governor of Florida. But there’s another politician Bush has helped ruin, one who, unlike Jeb, […]
Guest Post by Morbo With any luck, [tag]President[/tag] [tag]George W. Bush[/tag]’s sagging approval ratings will put an end to the Bush family political dynasty, a reign of mediocrity that, when all is said and done, will have plagued the country for 12 (non-consecutive) years. A recent poll indicates that [tag]Bush[/tag] II’s problems appear to be […]
Liberal hawk [tag]Peter Beinart[/tag] has a fascinating item in the upcoming issue of The New Republic in which he notes what many of us have recognized for a very long time: the [tag]Bush[/tag] [tag]White House[/tag] will always put political gain above everything else. Even winning a [tag]war[/tag]. As Beinart sees it, conditions in [tag]Iraq[/tag] are […]
[tag]Warren Buffett[/tag] is poised, through tens of [tag]billions[/tag] in charitable donations, to literally change the face of international [tag]philanthropy[/tag] and relief efforts. The ability to ease suffering, combat disease, and reduce poverty received an unprecedented boost. It is, by any reasonable definition, a development to celebrate. Naturally, everyone around the world is impressed and inspired […]
I know I should be accustomed to a high degree of administration incompetence, especially when it comes to [tag]domestic security[/tag], but this is just stunning. Nearly five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, [tag]law-enforcement[/tag] authorities around the country say Washington’s efforts to share vital security information with them are in shambles. While […]
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: * In Florida, state Attorney General [tag]Charlie Crist[/tag] (R) is not only leading comfortably in the Republican gubernatorial primary, he’s also building a big general-election lead. In a new Rasmussen poll, Crist now […]