I’ll give Dick Cheney credit for one thing: when it comes to his authoritarian impulses, he’s entirely consistent. Returning to the White House after the Memorial Day weekend in 1975, the young aide Dick Cheney found himself handling a First Amendment showdown. The New York Times had published an article by Seymour M. Hersh about […]
As presidential campaigns go, most aides have historically been invisible and irrelevant. One might occasionally find a human-interest profile in a local paper about a hometown native getting a job with a big-time candidate, but the general rule has always been that behind-the-scenes types were of no real interest to the public, better yet to […]
About a month ago, we talked about Barack Obama creating a presidential exploratory committee, and today, Obama made it official, giving a strong speech in front of what appeared to be thousands of very cold supporters in Springfield, Ill. The Obama campaign’s website has the video, but it seems to be facing quite a bit […]
In talking to reporters yesterday about Iran providing weapons or technology for Iraqi militants, Defense Secretary Robert Gates sounded a little vague. Referring to “pretty good” evidence, Gates said, “I think there’s some serial numbers, there may be some markings on some of the projectile fragments that we found” that point to Iran.” For those […]
I’m starting to get the impression that Dr. James Dobson, of Focus on the Family fame, isn’t terribly concerned about the integrity of academic research. (via Ron Chusid) Truth Wins Out unveiled a new video today on YouTube featuring a Yale professor who claims Focus on the Family leader James Dobson “cherry picked” his research. […]
From time to time, many of us, including me, suggest congressional Democrats aren’t nearly forceful enough in taking on the GOP. To help demonstrate the fact that there’s still plenty of fight in these guys, I offer this terrific clip of Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), on the House floor, speaking on the Republicans’ mind-numbing whines […]
First up from the God Machine is an interesting religion story that stirring some hard feelings in Virginia. The College of William and Mary, one of the nation’s oldest public universities, decided to remove an 18-inch brass cross that had been displayed on the altar of an on-campus chapel. [College President Gene R. Nichol, who […]
Guest Post by Morbo Remember the days when conservatives supported law enforcement? Those days are gone. Hard-working police officers are now fair game for lies and slander if it’s part of a larger kook right campaign to smear House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. For the past two weeks, the Family Research Council has been sending out […]
Guest Post by Morbo This country could use a few more preachers like John Leland. Leland, a contemporary of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, was a Baptist minister and powerful advocate for religious freedom under girded by the separation of church and state. Here are some cool things Leland said: “Government has no more to […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * E&P: “A young woman met a sudden and tragic end, it was reported on Thursday, leaving her family and people who knew her in great distress. No, it’s not Anna Nicole Smith. Her name is Jennifer Parcell, and she died in Iraq. But you’d be lucky if you could […]