Some of the details on Massachusetts’ [tag]health-care[/tag] reform initiative apparently still need to be ironed out, but the new program that achieves near-universal coverage in the state has a series of political upsides. First, of course, is Gov. Mitt Romney’s (R) victory lap, which instantly makes him the flavor of the month among 2008 aspirants. […]
I know former [tag]FEMA[/tag] Director [tag]Mike Brown[/tag] has been looking for work, but I didn’t expect him to end up in New Orleans. “Former FEMA director [tag]Michael Brown[/tag] might be joining St. Bernard Parish as a paid [tag]consultant[/tag]. Brown, who resigned his FEMA post last September in the wake of stinging criticism of the agency’s […]
The extent of the government’s domestic spying of law-abiding Americans is still unfolding, but surveillance on critics of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” seems particularly odd. The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that the Defense Department surveilled groups opposed to the military’s “[tag]Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell[/tag]” law banning openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members, RAW STORY has […]
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 the closely-watched special election in California’s 50th congressional district, [tag]Francine Busby[/tag] (D) easily came in first with 43.9% of the votes, but will now face former Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) in […]
I’m not quite sure why, but some conservative [tag]Republicans[/tag] seem excited about the fact that that their constitutional amendment to [tag]ban[/tag] [tag]gay marriage[/tag] will lose this year, but by a smaller margin than last year. A majority of the [tag]Senate[/tag] this year will support the [tag]Federal Marriage Amendment[/tag], an outcome that both the left and […]
Usually, advocates of a certain policy push for a [tag]constitutional amendment[/tag] when they disagree with existing law and want to establish a right that does not already exist. Some conservatives in [tag]Missouri[/tag] seem to have things backwards. The Missouri House of Representatives has voted to place on November’s ballot a proposed constitutional [tag]amendment[/tag] that would […]
Just a couple of months ago, as the Abramoff scandal was picking up steam and lawmakers were anxious to recast themselves as champions of reform, the Republicans’ “[tag]K Street Project[/tag]” was seen as Exhibit A in the culture of corruption. John Boener campaigned to be House Majority Leader on an anti-K Street Project platform, telling […]
I remember a year ago I stumbled upon a website, which is no longer online, called “[tag]Draft[/tag] [tag]Chris Matthews[/tag].” The site had all the appropriate elements — a petition, an explanation of Matthews’ “qualifications,” etc. — and explained why the Philadelphia native should take on Sen. Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania in 2006. It was good […]
At a certain point, one starts to wonder if anything Bush has said about Iraq is true. The latest: On May 29, 2003, 50 days after the fall of Baghdad, President Bush proclaimed a fresh victory for his administration in Iraq: Two small trailers captured by U.S. and Kurdish troops had turned out to be […]
With the president’s support in freefall, it’s fascinating to see his media allies step up with comeback plans. [tag]Fred Barnes[/tag] offered his four-part “keys to a successful comeback” two weeks ago. Yesterday, National Review’s [tag]Rich Lowry[/tag] unveiled a seven-point plan of his own. Here’s an abbreviated version: * “Accept an enforcement-only immigration bill” and abandon […]