Thursday’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: * According to a new NBC/WSJ poll, Sen. [tag]John McCain[/tag] is “facing unexpectedly formidable challenges,” and now trails [tag]Rudy Giuliani[/tag] in a head-to-head match-up by 20 points nationally. The WSJ adds, “All told, […]

Easter under attack (again)

Guest Post by Michael J.W. Stickings No, not really. It’s just that Fox News is at it yet again with more paranoid fearmongering about how secularists are going after major Christian holidays like Easter. Year after year it’s the War on Christmas, and then, when that dies down, the War on Easter. I’m curious to […]

The Khmer Rouge on trial… or not

Guest Post by Michael J.W. Stickings A couple of months ago I wrote about the tribunal that has been set up in Cambodia to examine the genocidal crimes committed by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge three decades ago — and to judge the perpetrators. There was criticism of the process, but the government seemed […]

The loyalty and legacy of the Bushies

Guest Post by Michael J.W. Stickings Creature — my assistant editor at The Reaction and the head honcho at State of the Day — had this to say in response to the Libby conviction: I say the pardon will come sooner rather than later. Libby will never spend a day in jail. The only thing […]

Housekeeping note

My schedule has a few unusual twists and turns today, some of which will sporadically keep me away from my desk. I’ve recruited The Reaction’s Michael J.W. Stickings to, once again, help out. I will, however, have some posts today. And now, back to the news….

Wednesday’s Mini-Report

Today’s edition of quick hits. * John Edwards has become the first presidential hopeful to announce that he will not participate in a Fox News-sponsored debate in Nevada later this year. “We will not be participating in the Fox debate,” deputy campaign manager Jonathan Prince said. “We’re going to make lots of appearances in Nevada, […]

McClellan apparently feels liberated, at least a little

I caught former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan on The Daily Show a few weeks ago, and he was surprisingly … different. He no longer seemed quite as ridiculous defending the indefensible. Asked about Cheney, McClellan described the Vice President as “competent,” which isn’t exactly the most complimentary word White House flacks are supposed […]

Hagel mentions the ‘I’ word

I know it’s not going to happen, and I know it doesn’t have the votes to pass, but it’s nevertheless striking to hear a Republican lawmaker use the “I” word in reference to the president. (via TP) “The president says, ‘I don’t care.’ He’s not accountable anymore,” [Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.)] says, measuring his words […]

‘Bag it?’

OK, one more follow-up on Coulter’s latest outrage and then I’ll stop mentioning it. In this case, I feel compelled to mention the funniest of all possible responses. Now, the right has offered a variety of defenses for Coulter having referred to John Edwards as a “faggot,” but Concerned Women for America’s J. Matt Barber […]

Another letdown from the WaPo editorial board

I’ve come to expect the Washington Post’s editorial board to be misguided when it comes to the war in Iraq. It was wrong before the invasion, it’s been wrong ever since. I’m no longer disappointed because I no longer have high expectations. But today’s editorial on Scooter Libby’s guilty verdict is just embarrassing. Media Matters […]