Last chance to vote

OK, one last desperate shameless casual reminder that Koufax Award voting ends tonight. From the looks of the voting thus far, I’d say it’s a close contest and could use some closing-hours support. In other words, those of you who have not yet voted can still do so — and I’d sure appreciate it. It […]

Sunday Discussion Group

Tomorrow, some of the leading ultra-conservative figures in the religious right movement will kick off the “War On Christians” conference in Washington, DC. Attendees will learn — or rather, be told — about America’s moral decline, and why liberals, gays, the cultural elite, the media, and the federal judiciary are responsible. Perhaps most importantly, the […]

Play to your weaknesses

As election strategies go, most consultants suggest candidates and parties play to their strengths. The Bush gang seems ready to do the opposite. Bush and Cheney separately went on the offensive yesterday against the Dems, delivering heated remarks that highlight the issues they’ve screwed up the most. Vice President Dick Cheney also was on the […]

Single payer grows in popularity, just not in name

I get the sense that more Dem politicians would be willing to acknowledge the obvious benefits of a [tag]single-payer[/tag] [tag]healthcare[/tag] plan if they weren’t absolutely convinced that Americans would balk at the increased federal spending. After all, that’s what single-payer healthcare is — people get medical care, the government pays for it. I’m convinced Americans […]

A new openness to an ‘unemotional’ minimum-wage increase

In 1996, congressional Republicans were a little concerned about losing their majority control of both chambers, to they struck a deal with the Clinton White House to increase the minimum wage. It undermined Bob Dole’s message — Newt didn’t care; he realized the presidential race wouldn’t be close — and it took away a Dem […]

This Week in God

First up from this week’s God machine is news that should get Bill O’Reilly and the Fox News gang very excited: a war on Easter. (thanks to reader M.C. for the tip) The Easter Bunny hopped into St. Paul (Minn.) City Hall, but was quickly bounced out Wednesday. A sign with some Easter decorations in […]

One last push

Many thanks to all of you who have voted for The Carpetbagger Report in the Koufax Awards. The voting is nearly complete — the “polls” close tomorrow night — and I thought I’d make one last request. Those of you who have not yet voted can still do so. It takes 15 seconds, max. Here’s […]

‘How to Be a Lobbyist Without Trying’

We’ve all heard about the high-priced, lobbyist-only meetings at which senators like Conrad Burns (R-Montana) spends so much of their time, but have you ever wondered what it was really like inside? Not just for the average schmoe, but for the lobbyists themselves? Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi snagged an invitation to a Burns birthday party […]

Tom DeLay, disarmed

We’ve all heard the firearm-enthusiast saying about gun control: “You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hand.” In Tom DeLay’s case, it may have to be modified to: “You can have my gun now since I’ve been indicted for a felony.” Apparently, under Texas law, those Texans who’ve been […]

The conventional wisdom shifts — in Feingold’s direction

The conventional wisdom on Russ Feingold’s censure resolution seemed to shift rather suddenly about a week ago, when the first of a few national polls showed considerable public support for the effort. This “crazy,” “radical,” and “over-the-top” idea had broad national support. That same conventional wisdom shifted a little more this morning, when The New […]