An awful story has managed to get even more pathetic. (via K.Z. and K.M.) Rev. Ted Haggard emerged from three weeks of intensive counseling convinced he is “completely heterosexual” and told an oversight board that his sexual contact with men was limited to his accuser. That is according to one of the disgraced pastor’s overseers, […]
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: * As part of his ongoing pandering to the religious right, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) recruited Guy Rodgers, a former national field director for the Christian Coalition, to serve as deputy director of […]
Last summer, the Washington state Supreme Court upheld a ban on same-sex marriage in a ruling that emphasized procreation as a rationale. The 5-4 opinion, written by Justice Barbara Madsen, concluded that “limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples furthers the state’s interests in procreation and encouraging families with a mother and father and children biologically related […]
Just yesterday, I mocked a top GOP aide for accusing Dems of “stealing” Republican ideas. As it turns out, I may have been too hasty. Just days after disclosing his affair with a staff member married to one of his top political aides, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom admitted Monday he has a drinking problem […]
The WaPo’s David Broder is frequently called the “dean” of the Washington media establishment. He’s moderate to a fault, tepid in his criticism, but influential enough to help reflect and shape the conventional wisdom. With this in mind, it was disheartening to see Broder take a cheap and unnecessary shot at the Democratic Party in […]
I have to admit, several Senate Republicans really had me going there. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) sounded sincere when he decried Bush’s escalation plan and said he’s at “the end of [his] rope.” Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) seemed absolutely genuine when he expressed support for a resolution condemning escalation. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) appeared serious […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey’s (R-Texas) new McClatchy interview included some pretty stunning responses from the far-right Republican. He bashed Tom DeLay (“I don’t believe he’s a good person”) and he lamented the 2002 Iraq war resolution (“Had I been more true to myself and the principles I […]
I’ve resisted the temptation to turn bashing Joe Klein, blogging at Time’s Swampland blog, into a parlor game, but one of his items from today was just too breathtaking to ignore. McCain, whether you agree with him or not, has been entirely consistent about the war. I disagreed with him about going to war in […]
Rep. Scott Garrett’s (R-N.J.) office, hoping to get a better sense of the House GOP caucus’ mood and perspective, conducted a wide-ranging, seven-page survey last month, the results of which were presented at the annual GOP retreat last week. Roll Call obtained a copy of the original survey, which ended up shedding some interesting light […]
In April 2006, National Journal asked lawmakers on both sides of the aisle whether they believe the evidence shows that global warming is a man-made phenomenon. 98% of Dems said yes, as opposed to 23% of Republicans. Last week, the same magazine asked the same question. The results were not at all encouraging. National Journal […]