I think everyone wants to better understand how two-thirds of the public has no problem with a secret [tag]Bush[/tag] administration program that collects records of our domestic [tag]phone calls[/tag]. I talked about a couple of possibilities earlier, but let’s also consider the importance of the “[tag]fear[/tag]” element. Last night, for example, [tag]Fox News[/tag]’ [tag]Neil Cavuto[/tag] […]
John McCain’s much-discussed appearance at Jerry [tag]Falwell[/tag]’s [tag]Liberty[/tag] University is tomorrow morning. Chances are, more reporters will be on hand for this than any other [tag]commencement[/tag] in Liberty history. At a minimum, the political world will be watching to see the extent to which McCain is willing to sell out for a shot at the […]
It’s been a few days since we learned that [tag]HUD[/tag] Secretary [tag]Alphonso Jackson[/tag] said publicly that it’s “logical” for the administration to deny federal contracts to those who don’t like the president. While several Dem lawmakers have called for Jackson’s [tag]resignation[/tag], and several legal experts have noted that Jackson’s comments were [tag]illegal[/tag] if accurate, the […]
I know better than to take [tag]Fox News[/tag]’ [tag]John Gibson[/tag] too seriously, but his “My Word” segment from last night, brought to my attention from reader D.S., was even more disturbing than usual. Make more [tag]babies[/tag]. That’s the lesson drawn out of two interesting stories over the last couple days. First, a story Wednesday that […]
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: * Pennsylvania Gov. [tag]Ed Rendell[/tag] (D) recently spent some of his huge campaign war chest on a TV advertising blitz, which appears to be paying off in a big way. A new Quinnipiac […]
Kentucky Gov. [tag]Ernie Fletcher[/tag] (R) was [tag]indicted[/tag] yesterday, stemming his alleged direction of an “illegal conspiracy to place his political allies in state jobs at the expense of those who might oppose him.” The indictments charge Fletcher with one count each of criminal conspiracy, first-degree official misconduct, and violating the prohibition against political discrimination. It […]
Earlier this year, most polls showed [tag]Americans[/tag] largely split on the issue of the [tag]Bush[/tag] administration conducting [tag]warrantless[/tag] [tag]search[/tag]es. I had suspected that the public would be far more concerned about yesterday’s revelations because, unlike warrantless wiretaps, this NSA program deal with everyone’s phone calls. Apparently, I was wrong. Americans by nearly a 2-1 ratio […]
The difference between a 31% [tag]approval rating[/tag] and a 29% approval rating isn’t much, but there seems to be something psychologically significant about breaking into the 20s. It’s the tier at which Nixon was driven from office. It’s the level that [tag]Carter[/tag] and [tag]Bush[/tag] the elder never reached. Earlier this week, ABC News’ The Note, […]
It’s not unusual for progressive activists to express frustration when it seems congressional Dems aren’t responding with appropriate [tag]outrage[/tag] to the latest Bush scandal. When it comes to the administration collecting [tag]records[/tag] of our [tag]domestic[/tag] [tag]phone calls[/tag], this isn’t the case; Dems on the Hill issued sweeping condemnations yesterday and demanded answers. But what about […]
So, why are most American [tag]telecom[/tag] companies turning over [tag]phone[/tag] records to the [tag]NSA[/tag] without a warrant? As Slate’s Eric Umansky noted, the companies apparently believe we already gave them [tag]permission[/tag] to do so. One government lawyer who has participated in negotiations with telecommunications providers said the [tag]Bush[/tag] administration has argued that a company can […]