Given the partisan circumstances, you’d think congressional [tag]Republicans[/tag] would be thrilled that the [tag]FBI[/tag] [tag]raid[/tag]ed Rep. [tag]William Jefferson[/tag]’s (D-La.) House office as part of a serious corruption investigation. As it turns out, just the opposite is true. It’s not the federal investigation GOP lawmakers mind — it’s the trespassing. After years of quietly acceding to […]
At a certain level, it seems [tag]Fox News[/tag] is intent on offering [tag]Al Gore[/tag]’s [tag]An Inconvenient Truth[/tag] as much publicity as the network can muster. For a movie with an initial run of a few hundred theaters, FNC is acting awfully nervous. For example, there’s the right’s inevitable [tag]Nazi[/tag] comparison. [tag]Sterling Burnett[/tag] is a senior […]
A couple of months ago, when Maryland Republican gubernatorial hopeful Michael Steele decided not to appear in public with the president, the Bush gang scoffed at the notion that GOP candidates would distance themselves from the president. The RNC’s [tag]Ken Mehlman[/tag] insisted that the [tag]White House[/tag] received more [tag]invitations[/tag] for [tag]president[/tag]ial appearances than [tag]Bush[/tag] could […]
In his speech to the National Restaurant Association yesterday, the [tag]president[/tag] almost addressed the inherent contradiction between balancing the budget and making his irresponsible tax cuts permanent. “We’re absolutely committed to making the tax cuts permanent. The argument you’ll hear is, well, how can you possibly balance the budget if you make the [tag]tax cuts[/tag] […]
This isn’t particularly political, but I thought it was hilarious. According to TV preacher [tag]Pat Robertson[/tag]’s website, Robertson “can [tag]leg-press[/tag] [tag]2000 pounds[/tag]” thanks to an “age-defying [tag]protein shake[/tag]” that [tag]Robertson[/tag] personally developed. I’ve heard Robertson make the claim many times on [tag]The 700 Club[/tag], but not knowing much about exercise, I never thought much of […]
Over the weekend, the WaPo ran a hard-hitting op-ed by [tag]Richard Viguerie[/tag] in which the legendary far-right consultant lambasted Bush and the congressional GOP, and ultimately encouraged conservative activists to start working outside the party’s framework altogether. It’s hardly surprising to hear that the [tag]Bush[/tag] [tag]White House[/tag] wasn’t pleased with the Post piece, but it […]
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: * Florida’s Senate race isn’t looking very competitive, but the state’s gubernatorial contest is still in play. According to a new Rasmussen poll, state Attorney General [tag]Charlie Crist[/tag] (R) leads Rep. [tag]Jim Davis[/tag] […]
In his speech to the [tag]National Restaurant Association[/tag] yesterday, [tag]Bush[/tag] was asked about his brother’s possible political future (Jeb, not Neil). The president said he’d let others speak for themselves, but added that he wished the political environment in DC didn’t discourage participation. “[T]here’s too much [tag]politics[/tag] in [tag]Washington[/tag] these days. There really is. And […]
Republicans were apoplectic a few months ago when Sen. Russ [tag]Feingold[/tag] (D-Wis.) suggested a [tag]congressional[/tag] [tag]censure[/tag] is warranted for George W. [tag]Bush[/tag]. Some have even used the censure resolution in a campaign context, arguing that Dems will push the measure if they take back the congressional majority. As conservatives see it, one would have to […]
When it comes to Rep. [tag]William Jefferson[/tag] (D-La.), there are two angles to consider: his individual [tag]criminal[/tag] [tag]scandal[/tag] and how (or whether) it fits into a broader system of [tag]corruption[/tag] in [tag]Congress[/tag]. On the prior, there isn’t much doubt that [tag]Jefferson[/tag] has to go. It takes a particular kind of nerve to be filmed taking […]