For the past couple of weeks, too many Bush supporters have defended the president’s warrantless-search program by replying, “Clinton did it too.” The claim is wrong, but it’s been surprisingly common. Today, the Big Dog himself addressed the approach his administration took. When asked if the president should have constitutional authority to order domestic surveillance […]
I have to admit, as a Dem watching the leadership races among House Republicans, I’m a little disappointed that there hasn’t been more viciousness. This was supposed to be a time for GOP fissures to surface as members attacked one another for personal gain. And yet, there are two top contenders for the Majority Leader […]
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: * This year’s gubernatorial race in Iowa is shaping up to be one of the more competitive in the country. A new Rasmussen poll shows U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle (R), the likely GOP […]
USA Today ran a lengthy piece today about one of the stranger culture-war lawsuits in the country. To quickly summarize, a Christian high school and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) are suing the University of California system, because it won’t accept credits from private high school courses that don’t “adequately teach the subject […]
The similarities between Republican officials in DC and the mob are unkind, but nevertheless noticeable. Operating in secret, punishing enemies, circumventing the law, demanding for total loyalty, striking shady and corrupt deals … Tom DeLay hasn’t shot anyone, but there is a resemblance. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) knows a little something about organized […]
Tapped’s Sam Rosenfeld suggested yesterday that Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), who is currently vying to replace Tom DeLay as the House Majority Leader, isn’t receiving nearly enough ridicule for his “For a Majority that Matters” platform (.pdf). If you read it, you’ll see why. Many GOP caucus members suggested that Boehner and his rival for […]
It hardly came as a surprise that the Bush administration announced yesterday that it expects the federal budget deficit to soar in 2006, topping $400 billion again after dipping into the $300-billion range in the fiscal year that ended in September 2005. Officials blamed the high costs associated with hurricane relief, which could have been […]
OK, just one more post about Pat Robertson and his comments arguing that Ariel Sharon’s massive stroke was divine punishment for pulling Israel out of the Gaza Strip. Now that the infamous TV preacher has put a serious business deal in Israel at risk with his lunacy, Robertson wants everyone to know he’s really sorry. […]
It seems like a pretty big deal. The Washington Times, a far-right newspaper created by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, reported yesterday that a Justice Department investigation into congressional corruption, stemming from Jack Abramoff, is focusing on a “first tier” of lawmakers and staffers. Specifically, five lawmakers, the Times said, are under scrutiny: Sens. Conrad […]
This may be the rumor of the day, but I’m a little skeptical. To summarize the buzz, Joe Lieberman met with some activists from Democracy for America yesterday, and when the subject of the Alito nomination came up, Lieberman “said that a filibuster was on the table for him.” (The quote reflects the DFA rep’s […]