In the debate for Republican presidential candidates the other day, John McCain had a canned, prepackaged zinger that garnered a standing ovation. “In case you missed it, a few days ago, Senator Clinton tried to spend $1 million on the Woodstock Concert Museum. Now, my friends, I wasn’t there. I’m sure it was a cultural […]
Yesterday, the Blackwater scandal claimed its first administration victim. Richard Griffin, the State Department’s top diplomatic security official, agreed to resign, effectively taking the fall for the department’s non-existent oversight. (A month ago, Griffin was asked by a House committee to explain why State helped Blackwater evacuate a contractor who’d drunkenly killed an Iraqi vice […]
Even before the president vetoed the bipartisan bill to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), Democratic leaders said this legislation wouldn’t quietly fade away. They would bring the bill back up, over and over again. Apparently, that starts today, with another vote on the $35 billion plan. The bill isn’t exactly the same […]
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: * Let there by no doubt that Hillary Clinton plans to fight hard to win Iowa, and possibly land a knock-out punch: “Sources tell First Read the Clinton campaign is making a push […]
In recent weeks, it appears that Rudy Giuliani has changed his campaign strategy a bit. Over the summer, the former mayor positioned himself as a pragmatic choice for Republicans, billing himself as a candidate who could compete in “blue” states and win a national election. It quickly became an awkward pitch, and Giuliani frequently came […]
So, where are we with the Senate surveillance bill, which has already garnered the White House’s blessing? The key sticking point remains retroactive immunity from lawsuits for the major telecommunications companies that cooperated with Bush’s warrantless surveillance program. Chris Dodd took the lead, responding to the netroots’ concerns, and vowed to filibuster the bill. Joe […]
The sharp reduction of U.S. fatalities in Iraq is obviously encouraging, but it’s also surprising. The administration has sent more troops into combat, which suggests the death rate would go up, not down. But the numbers have dropped steadily over the last few months, to the point that 29 servicemen and women have died in […]
Sure, Stephen Colbert is a comedian who has never held elected office. And sure, he’s running for president as a fictional, bombastic character. And sure, he said he’s limiting his campaign to just one state, in part because the whole “presidential campaign” is just an amusing little stunt for entertainment purposes. But it’s probably worth […]
Following up on an item from Tuesday, Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has faced criticism this week after it was discovered that one of the musicians in a South Carolina campaign gospel concert this weekend is homophobic. Donnie McClurkin, a Grammy-winning singer, claims to have been “cured” of homosexuality, and believes other gays can overcome their […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * A fourth brutal day in Southern California: “The devastating wildfires in Southern California have caused at least $1 billion in damage in San Diego County alone, officials said Wednesday, as easing wind gave firefighters hope that they could begin to gain ground against the flames…. The announcement of San […]