In the run-up to the November midterm elections, the National Republican Congressional Committee launched a $2.1 million campaign to make it appear as if Democrats were spamming callers with telemarketing calls. The GOP’s “robo-call” operation harassed thousands of voters and represented the worst our political system has to offer. So, naturally, it’s being exported to […]
It’s been several years, and by now we all know the weapons-of-mass-destruction story pretty well. Except, once in a while, a new tidbit will come to light, such as this one. (via Ron Chusid) The Government’s case for going to war in Iraq has been torn apart by the publication of previously suppressed evidence that […]
Regardless of Barack Obama’s merits as a presidential candidate, I can’t help but notice that the right really wants to attack him, but hasn’t quite figured out how. There’s ample room for criticism of Obama and his likely presidential ambitions — his inexperience is obviously at the top of the list — but his limited […]
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 […]