Long time readers may recall that I’ve been following the bizarre tale of Janet Neff, a Bush judicial nominee for a federal District Court judge in Michigan. Generally, it’s Senate Dems who object to the president’s court nominees, sparking howls of “obstructionism!” by the GOP, but in this case, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) has blocked […]
For a variety of reasons (terrorism, crumbling infrastructure, boycotts, fear), Iraq’s parliament doesn’t meet very often to govern, but that doesn’t mean lawmakers don’t have noteworthy things to say. A majority of Iraqi lawmakers have signed onto draft legislation calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq and demanding a freeze […]
National Journal’s investigative reporter Murray Waas has been digging into the White House’s role in covering up its involvement in the prosecutor purge. This one looks like a doozy. The Bush administration has withheld a series of e-mails from Congress showing that senior White House and Justice Department officials worked together to conceal the role […]
The latest AP article about the White House’s position on war funding is filled with interesting tidbits, but lacks a few details. Let’s fill in the gaps. President Bush, under growing political pressure, said Thursday the White House will seek agreement with Congress on benchmarks to measure progress in Iraq. What the AP article didn’t […]
War supporters frequently try to focus in on “indicators” to suggest progress in Iraq is much further along than most Americans believe. When congressional Republicans fly over Baghdad and see some lights on, they say, “See? There’s progress.” When a delegation can travel from the airport to downtown in a heavily-armed caravan, they say, “See? […]
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: * ABC News reported last night that Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, donated $150 to Planned Parenthood in 1994. “Her positions are not terribly relevant to my campaign,” Romney said in response in Iowa […]
Last fall, after a series of questions emerged about Bush administration policies violating Americans’ privacy rights, White House officials insisted there was nothing to worry about. After all, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board has been keeping a close eye on all of the administration’s decisions, the Bush gang said. If there was anything […]
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who testifies before the House Judiciary Committee today, believes he has “weathered the storm.” He was caught in the midst of a massive scandal he still can’t explain, his Justice Department is divided and dysfunctional, and he’s lost the trust of pretty much everyone who has objectively considered the facts, but […]
Rudy Giuliani’s handling of abortion-related questions the past couple of months has varied between awkward and embarrassing. He’s annoying both sides of the divide and making himself appear foolish in the process. Giuliani has apparently decided to stop playing games and admit the truth. After months of conflicting signals on abortion, Rudolph W. Giuliani is […]
Indicative of the growing unrest among congressional Republicans on the president’s war policy, multiple news reports note that 11 House Republicans met with Bush and his senior aides in the White House on Tuesday for an “unvarnished” conversation. House Republican moderates, in a remarkably blunt White House meeting, warned President Bush this week that his […]