The political crisis in Pakistan has been rather humiliating for the Bush White House. A president who claims to cherish a “freedom agenda” has been backing an undemocratic military dictatorship. For seven years, Bush simply misjudged Pervez Musharraf and his government. The U.S. president saw a democracy where there wasn’t one, and embraced a dictator […]
For practically the entire year, Hillary Clinton has had the benefit of being the Democratic frontrunner, and staying above the fray. Aside from a few random spats here and there, Clinton hasn’t felt the need to go after her primary rivals at all. Why should she? Going on the offensive raises the profile of your […]
Yesterday’s announced breakthrough on stem-cell research is obviously good news for medicine, public health, and scientific advancements. Scientists from the United States and Japan have successfully been able to reprogram skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. If the promise of these results is true, experts can move forward on embryonic stem-cell research without […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * So much for political reconciliation in Iraq: “Iraq’s prime minister lashed out at the country’s Sunni Arab vice president in an interview published Tuesday, drawing attention to a bitter rift between two key politicians from rival sects at a time the U.S. is pressing for Iraqi unity…. In the […]
It’s hard to believe that after over two centuries, the Supreme Court has never definitively ruled on whether the 2nd Amendment protects an individual’s right to “keep and bear arms.” But that’s about to change. The Supreme Court announced this morning that it will hear a DC case that will probably settle the question, at […]
When the Plame leak scandal broke, and Americans first began to learn that the White House has outed an undercover CIA agent during a war, it was then-press secretary Scott McClellan who had to lie. He told reporters (and the nation) that leaks of classified information just wasn’t “how this White House operates,” and more […]
In his first six years in office, the president has made little mention of Thanksgiving, beyond the ceremonial turkey pardons, but yesterday Bush traveled to Charles City, Virginia, for his first speech devoted specifically to the holiday. “[O]ur nation’s greatest strength is the decency and compassion of our people,” he said. “As we count our […]
At this morning’s White House press gaggle, press secretary Dana Perino, before the questions even began, took a shot at Congress over Iraq war funding. “Congress, as you know, is away for its two-week break. They did not approve funding for our troops. Deputy Secretary Gordon England has said that these delays will result in […]
Every election cycle, political candidates rush from house of worship to house of worship, hoping to curry favor with the faithful while demonstrating their religious convictions. Also every election cycle, religious leaders go to great lengths to make clear to parishioners who they should vote for. I’ve heard plenty of arguments that this is the […]
When Jordan Fox was serving in Iraq, his mother helped organize Operation Pittsburgh Pride, which sends thousands of care packages to U.S. troops from his hometown, which prompted a personal “thank you” from the White House. When Fox was seriously injured in Iraq, the president sent what appeared to be personal note, expressing his concerns […]