A tax by any other name…

If there’s one thing all political observers know for sure, it’s that Bush opposes any and all tax increases, right? Well, it depends on what the meaning of “tax” is. President Bush hates new taxes, that’s for sure. But tell that to airline passengers, higher-income veterans and owners of freighters using the St. Lawrence Seaway. […]

Pat Robertson, still hearing voices

I haven’t mentioned any of TV preacher Pat Robertson’s recent insanity — I was tempted last week, when Robertson talked about Europe committing “racial suicide” — because I don’t want to overdo it, but I’m compelled, again, to point out just how unhinged the man really is. Marvin Olasky profiled Robertson in the latest issue […]

It’s hard to defend Cheney/Libby leaks, so Allen won’t try

Last week, we learned that Scooter Libby told a grand jury that he was authorized by his “superiors” to disclose classified information to reporters about Iraq’s weapons capability in June and July 2003. Obviously, it’s a pretty startling revelation if accurate — for all the recent complaints about the scourge of classified leaks, Libby’s account […]

Monday’s political round-up

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: * The latest Quinnipiac poll in Pennsylvania continues to show Treasurer Bob Casey (D) with a big lead over Sen. Rick Santorum, this time by a 15-point margin — 51% to 36%. Moreover, […]

‘I never thought him an honest, frank-dealing man’

I don’t mean to belabor the Cheney-shooting-incident story, but there’s one more angle to mention. As you may have heard, this weekend’s accident was the first time a sitting vice president has shot someone since Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel on July 11, 1804. With this in mind, I found this to […]

Cheney believes tax cuts pay for themselves

In some conservative circles, the idea that tax cuts can pay for themselves through stronger economic growth is popular, despite having been discredited. Intellectually-honest Republicans will acknowledge that the idea is bizarre, and has even been rejected by the president’s own economic advisors. But that, of course, won’t stop Dick Cheney. Consider, for example, the […]

Pat Roberts sees no limit on presidential power

Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) has been embarrassing for quite a while in his willingness to play the role of partisan hack, but yesterday, on Meet the Press, I was surprised at just how far Roberts was willing to go. Russert: Senator Roberts, let me ask you a very serious question. Do […]

‘It’s not in their option whether they’re going to abide by this law or not’

A key member of Congress has been watching the controversy unfold over the president’s warrantless-search program and has some serious concerns. In fact, appearing on Meet the Press yesterday, the lawmaker suggested crimes have occurred. “Congress has outlined the laws by which this will happen…. It’s not in their option whether they’re going to abide […]

The first (of many) Bush-Abramoff pictures

Over the weekend, Time and the New York Times published the first-ever picture of President Bush and Jack Abramoff together. Sort of. The picture does not exactly show the two as chummy — it shows the president talking with Chief Raul Garza, then-chairman of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, while Abramoff is in the […]

The gang that can’t shoot straight

There are any number of interesting angles to the story surrounding Cheney’s hunting incident, but I still think the one that raises the most questions is about the delay in public notification. Given what we know, it almost seems as if the White House was never going to tell anyone that the Vice President shot […]