Going into the homestretch of the campaign season, the list of factors going in the Republicans’ direction is exceedingly short. A substantial majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end American military involvement in Iraq if they win control of Congress next Tuesday and say Republicans will maintain or increase troop levels to try […]
If [tag]John Kerry[/tag] was forced to apologize for a flubbed joke, and subject to days of intense media criticism, what’s the appropriate response to House Majority Leader [tag]John Boehner[/tag] (R-Ohio)? Yesterday, Boehner appeared on CNN with Wolf Blitzer, who asked the congressman about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Blitzer noted a number of Republican lawmakers who […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * In case his earlier apologies weren’t quite clear enough, John Kerry has apologized again for flubbing one word in a joke a couple of days ago. * Alas, Donald Rumsfeld is apparently staying on through 2008, at least as far as the president is concerned. * I haven’t read […]
I mentioned earlier that I didn’t think Bush had any business appearing on Rush Limbaugh’s talk show today, but since the president didn’t take my advice, it’s probably worth taking a moment to consider what Bush had to say. As it turns out, there was one noteworthy exchange. (via Kevin Drum) The question, oddly enough, […]
I’m having a hard time putting my finger on why the John Kerry flap is bothering me so much. Perhaps it’s the unjustified media attention. The fact that Kerry missed a word in a joke and subsequently apologized has, for no apparent reason, rocked the political world and is generating near-blanket coverage on the news […]
It’s no doubt just a coincidence, but am I the only one who’s noticed that House Republicans have had an awful year with regards to violence against women? In New York: Rep. John Sweeney [R-N.Y.] got into an early-morning fracas with his wife that became so frightening she called 911 for help, the Daily News […]
For weeks, Bush administration officials have taken turns explaining their lack of confidence in Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and insisting that they’re still on the same page as him. Yesterday, however, in a development that seems infinitely more important that John Kerry flubbing one word in a meaningless joke, Maliki started flexing his […]
Chances are, you’ve already seen posts about this elsewhere, but Balloon Juice’s John Cole, who voted for Bush and is a life-long Republican, wrote a pretty powerful item yesterday explaining why he just can’t stay with the GOP anymore. There are at least two important things to consider about this: John’s poignant perspective, and the […]
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 Connecticut, a Quinnipiac poll a few weeks ago showed Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) leading Ned Lamont (D) by 17 points. A new Quinnipiac poll out today shows the race closer, but […]
It’s not quite “last throes,” but Rumsfeld’s Pentagon wants the public to believe that tremendous progress is underway in Iraq. When the Defense Secretary isn’t telling those with questions about the war to “back off,” he’s telling them that conditions in Iraq, including security, are “improving.” Behind closed doors, U.S. Central Command knows better. A […]