At this point in the process, we’ve all heard plenty of reasons detractors oppose Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, but historian Garry Wills, whom I usually find extremely persuasive, offers an argument in the NYT today that doesn’t really work for me. As Wills sees it, if Clinton is elected, her husband is likely to “use […]
Clearly, as Americans, we seem to think that our nation’s presidential race is a pretty big deal, but I’d always assumed that the rest of the world, much of which may no longer consider the job the “leader of the free world,” probably wouldn’t follow the U.S. primary process very closely. I stand corrected. To […]
Just 11 days ago, I offered the Romney campaign a little advice about how best to go after John McCain: “In 2001 — in discussions initiated by McCain, not Dems — the Arizona senator was in talks to leave the Republican Party altogether. Three years later, he reportedly reached out to John Kerry to join […]
Following up on an item from yesterday, the “mystery” surrounding Mitt Romney, Thursday’s debate, and that odd whisper seems to have been resolved. If you’re just joining us, Romney was asked whether he’d follow in Reagan’s footsteps on Social Security policy. When Romney paused to answer, the television audience could hear a distinct, audible whisper […]
By any reasonable standard, the presidential nominating process is a bit of a mess, and badly in need of reform. But there is a calendar in place, there are rules, and everyone agreed to accept the system, as is, at least until after the election. Which is why this statement from Hillary Clinton’s campaign raised […]
Guest Post by Morbo After the Virginia Tech massacre, I wrote a post predicting that the horrific incident would do nothing to change our gun policy. I secretly hoped I’d be proven wrong. Sadly, it looks like I won’t. In Virginia, lawmakers have rejected modest legislation closing a loophole that allows people to buy weapons […]
Guest Post by Morbo Recently a flap erupted over a plan by Radio & Records magazine to give an award to right-wing radio blowhard Bob Grant. The trade journal had second thoughts after a Grant critic named Scott Pelligrino pointed out the inconvenient fact that Grant seems to be a racist. This isn’t just Pelligrino’s […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Lest anyone think the deal over the stimulus package is a done deal, it’s not: “The bipartisan agreement on an economic stimulus package reached by House leaders was immediately undermined by senators intent on ensuring that their ideas get a hearing before any bill becomes law. Even before House […]
Towards the end of 2006, after the president realized he should at least get to know the leaders of the new Democratic majority a little, Bush welcomed the leading Democratic lawmakers to the White House for a chat. According to participants, Bush launched into an explanation of why he’s just like Harry Truman. Instead, Bush […]
At a debate 10 days ago among the Democratic presidential candidates, Tim Russert pressed Barack Obama about his management skills. The senator, who conceded that he keeps a messy desk and loses paperwork, said, “[B]eing president is not making sure that schedules are being run properly or the paperwork is being shuffled effectively. It involves […]