Of push polls and haircuts

Greg Sargent had an interesting report yesterday afternoon about Mark Penn, the pollster for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, and a message-testing poll he has in the field right now. The story started when Jason Eness-Potter, an Iowa resident, said he received a call from Penn’s polling firm. Greg followed up with him about the questions […]

Wednesday’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: * As part of his trip to Virginia Beach yesterday, Rudy Giuliani sat down with David Brody of Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network. Brody noted a 1993 Giuliani quote in which the former […]

Reining in Dick ‘4th Branch’ Cheney

Efforts on the part of congressional Dems to cut off funding for Dick Cheney’s office may sound like a bit of a stunt. That’s because, well, they probably are. It’s a great stunt, which makes for highly entertaining political theater, and Dems are absolutely right to justify this as a legitimate tactic, but it’s still […]

The kids are alright

Bush’s presidency is the gift that keeps on giving. Young Americans are more likely than the general public to favor a government-run universal health care insurance system, an open-door policy on immigration and the legalization of gay marriage, according to a New York Times/CBS News/MTV poll. The poll also found that they are more likely […]

Elizabeth Edwards confronts Coulter

In the highly unlikely event you haven’t seen it, I hope readers will take a moment to watch Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards’ wife, call into MSNBC yesterday to confront Ann Coulter during her “Hardball” appearance. Yesterday on ABC’s Good Morning America, Coulter said, “[I]f I’m gonna say anything about John Edwards in the future, I’ll […]

Giuliani’s visit to Pat Robertson U.

Rudy Giuliani was in Virginia Beach yesterday, making an appearance with TV preacher and bona fide nut Pat Robertson at the televangelist’s Regent University. Giuliani tried to make some news by going after Bill Clinton for not launching a war on terror after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. “Many people think the first attack […]

The Bush gang comes up with a new one

So, the Vice President exempted himself from an executive order on the handling of classified materials. To rationalize the decision, Dick Cheney and the White House want people to believe that the Vice President is not part of the executive branch of government. No one, anywhere, is buying it. Yesterday, Cheney’s lawyers rolled out Absurd […]

Tuesday’s Mini-Report

Today’s edition of quick hits. * The Senate voted 64-35 to revive the immigration compromise bill that appeared dead last week. A similar test-vote earlier this month found just 45 supporters (7 Republicans), while today generated 64 voted (including 24 Republicans). In other words, after a massive push from the far-right GOP base, the Republican […]

Even when he loses, he wins

There’s been considerably less attention given to the latest installment of the WaPo’s massive Dick Cheney profile, “The Angler,” in part because the first two were so dramatic, the third pales in comparison. Today’s edition describes the Vice President’s role in shaping the White House’s domestic agenda, including tax policy. As Jo Becker and Barton […]

She’s back

When we last heard from Ann Coulter, she was telling a large right-wing gathering in DC that former Sen. John Edwards is a “faggot.” Yesterday, the hateful clown appeared on Good Morning America, and followed up on her remarks. “I’ve learned my lesson; if I’m going to say anything about John Edwards in the future, […]