At this point, the only thing about this story is why anyone might find it surprising. The Bush administration increasingly emphasized partisan political ties over expertise in recent years in selecting the judges who decide the fate of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, despite laws that preclude such considerations, according to an analysis by The […]
The WaPo had a front-page item on Saturday about U.S. forces, in several instances, aligning themselves with Sunni sectarian militias — including insurgents that have attacked Americans in the past — who are anxious to battle al Qaeda. The Maliki government (and Bush administration policy) has always been that the militias need to disarm, and […]
Bush at a press conference on Saturday: Q: And on the deadline [for Kosovo independence]? Bush: In terms of the deadline, there needs to be one. This needs to come — this needs to happen. Now it’s time, in our judgment, to move the Ahtisaari plan. There’s been a series of delays. You might remember […]
Just when it seemed Joe Lieberman’s neocon qualities couldn’t get any more offensive, he manages to kick things up a notch. This morning on CBS’s Face the Nation, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) strongly advocated preparing for a strike against Iran. “I think we have to be prepared to take aggressive military action against the Iranians […]
The Senate is scheduled to consider a no-confidence resolution condemning Alberto Gonzales tomorrow, but even if it passes, don’t expect too much of a reaction from the White House. Whether the Senate trusts the Attorney General or not is of no interest to the president. The White House on Sunday dismissed Senate plans to hold […]
Pardon, or no pardon, that is the question. In this political climate, the Republican base is already angry with the president over immigration policy (among other things), and far-right voices are making clear that they not only want Bush to pardon Scooter Libby, they expect it. Already, major conservative and neoconservative organizations, magazines and Web […]
For a while, part of the administration’s war policy in Iraq was disarming sectarian militias. Now, U.S. forces are trying a different tack — the opposite tack. The worst month of Lt. Col. Dale Kuehl’s deployment in western Baghdad was finally drawing to a close. The insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq had unleashed bombings that […]
From the president’s press conference this morning in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Prodi: Q: And the deadline for the Kosovo independence — BUSH: What? Say that again? Q Deadline for the Kosovo independence? BUSH: A decline? Q Deadline, deadline. BUSH: Deadline. Beg your pardon. My English isn’t very good. (emphasis added) He said it; […]
Rep. Zack Wamp (R-Tenn.), one of Fred Thompson’s boosters on the Hill, recently suggested the actor/senator/lobbyist would make a good president, in part because of his speaking voice. “He has a commanding voice,” Wamp said. “He has a commanding presence. He makes people feel secure. He makes us feel confident.” Sen. George “Macaca” Allen (remember […]
Just two weeks ago, U.S. News reported on how happy presidential aides were for a change. After having a rough time, Bush’s West Wing finally believed they’d turned a corner and were optimistic about the future. Relieved White House officials say President Bush has finally broken the cycle of bad news and political setbacks he […]