We all have certain words and phrases we use frequently, but White House Press Secretary Tony Snow has one that stands out for me. Consider this exchange from yesterday’s briefing. Q: Why did he decide to give enemy body counts? That’s something that they’ve generally tried to stay away from. SNOW: Well, that’s a good […]
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: * Barack Obama got his chance to make a good first impression in New Hampshire this past weekend, and Hillary Clinton will get her chance very soon. The state Dem Party confirmed yesterday […]
It took about a week for the Iraq Study Group’s recommendations to go from toast of the town to totally irrelevant. Apparently, the White House was a little concerned the ISG report would be well received, but now that it has no genuinely enthusiastic backers anywhere in politics, the president has been “emboldened by criticism […]
For the middle of December, it’s been a surprisingly busy news week, but I think “Operation Wagon Train” has been seriously underreported. Shakespeare’s Sister emailed me about this yesterday and she’s right; this new Homeland Security crackdown is unwarranted, excessive, and frankly, kind of scary. Federal agents targeting illegal immigrants raided meatpacking plants in six […]
The latest news on Sen. Tim Johnson’s (D-S.D.) condition continues to be encouraging. Following surgery Wednesday night to drain the bleeding and repair the circulatory defect that caused it, Johnson began to regain consciousness Thursday. “Specifically, he has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch,” announced Admiral John Eisold, attending physician of the U.S. […]
There are plenty of advocates offering a variety of arguments for leaving U.S. troops in Iraq, all of which I disagree with, but some of which have a reasonable basis in reality. This, from the president, isn’t one of them: (via Dan Froomkin) “I met too many wives and husbands who have lost their partners […]
Apparently, towards the end of the last several years, the President and First Lady sit down with [tag]People[/tag] magazine for an annual chat. No one really expects any breaking news from People, but this year’s interview produced an interesting comment. People’s interviewer also mentioned that readers had asked if he takes sleep aids. Bush said […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * The latest statement from Sen. Tim Johnson’s (D-S.D.) office: Admiral John Eisold, Attending Physician of the United States Capitol said, “Senator Tim Johnson has continued to have an uncomplicated post-operative course. Specifically, he has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required.” […]
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow’s list of gems is already impressive, but last week included a particularly noteworthy one. NBC’s David Gregory read verbatim quotes from the Iraq Study Group and asked for the White House’s response. Snow accused Gregory of being “partisan.” Gregory followed up, “Are you suggesting that I’m trying to frame […]
Late last week, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), a top-tier 2008 presidential contender, ran into a little trouble. Apparently, when running for the Senate in 1994, and governor in 2002, Romney was pro-choice and pro-gay rights. When running for president now, he’s pro-life and anti-gay rights. Not surprisingly, some of the same far-right groups and […]