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: * Rudy Giuliani acknowledged yesterday that he still believes, as he’s said publicly before, that there should be public funding for some abortions. When asked directly Wednesday if he still agreed with his […]
The bipartisan congressional delegation House Speaker [tag]Nancy Pelosi[/tag] is leading in the Middle East this week has come under fire for a variety of reasons, all of them misguided. The right (and the White House) said Pelosi shouldn’t visit Syria, but didn’t criticize a Republican delegation that arrived in Syria shortly before the Speaker. The […]
The prosecutor purge scandal has offered an opportunity of sorts to congressional Republicans. Are they going to be serious lawmakers, concerned about accountability, or are they partisan hacks, unconcerned about the administration’s scandals? Some have been up to the challenge — many GOP lawmakers have called for Alberto Gonzales’ resignation, and during Kyle Sampson’s recent […]
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, accompanied Speaker [tag]Pelosi[/tag] and a bi-partisan House delegation to the Middle East this week. Asked about the administration’s criticism of their trip, Lantos said, “We have an alternative Democratic [tag]foreign policy[/tag]. I view my job as beginning with restoring overseas credibility and respect for […]
A week after the election, all the rhetoric from the White House was sweetness and light. The president pledged cooperation and bipartisanship. On Nov. 15, Dan Froomkin asked the right: “Is Bush’s claim that he wants to work in a bipartisan manner a genuine change — or a ruse? Watch what he says — but […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Remember the Baghdad market John McCain was bragging about? The one that was a model for safety and security in Iraq? Horror struck the same market yesterday: “A newborn baby was one of at least 14 children and adults killed when a suicide bomber detonated a lorry laden with […]
At an Alabama fundraiser for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) earlier this week, Dick Cheney started his speech by telling the same joke he tells at all of his recent events. “Thank you,” the VP said over the applause. “A reception like that is almost enough to make you want to run for office again. (Dramatic […]
As impressive as Barack Obama’s first quarter fundraising is — and really, it’s astonishing — it’s also worth taking a step back and looking at how both parties are stacking up, in addition to the candidates. I was going to tally the numbers, but it looks like Eric Kleefeld already pulled the data together. Democratic […]
Slate’s Fred Kaplan listened to the president’s press conference yesterday and heard “statements of extraordinary cynicism even by his considerable standards.” The Democrats, he said, are “more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than providing our troops what they need”—a remarkable accusation, given his administration’s tardiness in supplying those troops with adequate armor and […]
Finally, some good news out of Iran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has met with some of the 15 British military personnel held in Iranian custody for almost two weeks, shortly after pardoning the group and vowing to set them free. Iranian state television showed footage of Ahmadinejad shaking hands, smiling and chatting with the detainees […]