For members of the Senate Judiciary Committee considering Samuel Alito’s Supreme Court nomination, there are clear and specific responsibilities — weigh Alito’s qualifications, review his record, ask pertinent questions, and decide whether he’s earned a lifetime position on the highest court in the land. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) seems to misunderstand how this works. Instead […]
I’m a little surprised to see more than a couple of writers live-blogging the Samuel Alito hearings today, if only because they’re dreadfully dull. Senators who’ve already made up their minds give the speeches everyone expects them to give, while Alito pretends to listen intently as he everyone expects him to do. I love political […]
With Tom DeLay’s reign as House Majority Leader officially over, the race to replace him is on. If House Speaker Dennis Hastert steers clear of the leadership shake-up, which is by no means a certainty, the fight to fill DeLay’s shoes will likely boil down to two Republicans: Reps. Boy Blunt of Missouri and John […]
I’d like to report that there were a series of stunning surprises at yesterday’s “Justice Sunday III” gathering in Philadelphia, but I’m afraid it was predictable tirades from the usual suspects. If there was one theme that dominated the speeches, it was “hyperbole.” * Rick Santorum said the elevation of Alito to the top court […]
A few polls released over the last week or so suggests a small majority of the public supports Samuel Alito’s Supreme Court nomination, which Republicans on the Hill and in the White House have been anxious to use to intimidate Senate Dems. The message is straightforward enough: the public backs this guy, so block him […]
Tom DeLay is facing multiple charges in Texas, possible charges stemming from the Abramoff scandal, on top of the five separate controversies (so far) that have led to admonishments from the House Ethics Committee. Facing a difficult future, DeLay has reached within, done some soul searching, and now believes he recognizes the real problem behind […]
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: * Assuming he can overcome a primary fight, Rep. Ted Strickland (D) looks well positioned at this point for Ohio’s gubernatorial election in November. According to a new Rasmussen poll, Strickland leads Ohio […]
When the Bush White House decided it would no longer seek warrants for its surveillance efforts, the president and his top staffers wanted approval from some lawyers. Any lawyers. Ashcroft and the DoJ balked; the administration bypassed the National Security Council’s “lawyers’ group,” which review top-secret intelligence programs; and the decision ultimately went to Alberto […]
The White House is subtly suggesting that Bush is prepared to turn over a new leaf — by embracing the same phony, cynical masquerade used in the 2000 campaign. Climbing his way out of low public ratings and facing a bruising battle to maintain Republican control of Congress, President Bush is seeking to resurrect his […]
Samuel Alito’s Supreme Court nomination raises any number of compelling angles (will Dems filibuster? will GOP centrists bolt?), but the one that seems to be on the minds of many Republicans has less to do with Alito and more to do with political timing. Republican officials say they are so worried about the Abramoff problem […]