Following up on an issue we first discussed six months ago, [tag]Reading First[/tag] is not just another grant program in the [tag]Department of Education[/tag]. According to the cabinet agency’s website, it is “the academic cornerstone of the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act.” Reading First, the Department of Education has argued “is a prime example […]
During the recent semantics debate over whether to refer to Bush’s new Iraq policy as a “surge” or an “escalation,” part of the discussion focused on duration. As Spencer Ackerman explained, a surge is “a temporary infusion of troops.” This didn’t appear to be what the Bush plan had in store. With this in mind, […]
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 if there weren’t enough big states moving their presidential primaries up to early February, Pennsylvania lawmakers reportedly considering a plan to do the same thing. The likely date would be Feb. […]
As further proof that the entire 2008 presidential race is accelerating at a stunning pace, we’re poised to have our first major withdrawal. CNN, AP, and National Journal are all reporting that former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who was the first candidate to enter the race, will be the first candidate to leave the race. […]
John Murtha’s “readiness strategy,” which would insist that only troops with adequate training and equipment be sent to Iraq, seems to be losing favor with enough Democratic lawmakers that passage seems unlikely. House Democrats have pulled back from efforts to link additional funding for the war to strict troop-readiness standards after the proposal came under […]
I continue to be amazed at the extent to which high-profile conservatives rail against Americans. The latest is Glenn Beck. “You know, there’s a new poll out that Muslims, the higher educated Muslims in the Middle East are more likely to be extremists? More and more Muslims now hate us all across the world, and […]
This one’s been percolating for about a week now, but with Speaker Pelosi’s office weighing in yesterday, it’s a good time to review one of the Bush administration’s more embarrassing new scandals (not to be confused with the multitude of old ones). It starts with Steven Griles, a former lobbyist who’s due to be indicted […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Filmmaker Robert Greenwald has a great new project. It’s called Fox Attacks. As part of the project’s first endeavor, Fox Attacks highlights the way in which the network has smeared Barack Obama of late. Take a look. * Don’t expect a verdict in the Libby trial anytime soon — […]
I have to admit, I’m a little surprised the Alishtari story isn’t a bigger deal. If the DCCC had accepted money from an accused terrorist financier, and kept the money, it seems safe to assume it’d get quite a bit of attention. For those of you just joining us, here’s a quick review. Abdul Tawala […]
As debates go, my favorite of all possible mediums is trading essays. On television, rivals don’t have time to organize their thoughts. In forums, there’s a strict time limit on how long someone can address a topic. But in print, particularly online, people can organize their thoughts, respond carefully to the other side’s claims, and […]