Today’s edition of quick hits. * The Senate is expected to vote on ending a GOP filibuster on the Webb troop-support amendment any second now. If someone could mention the final tally in comments, I’d appreciate it. * In the latest twist in the Blackwater controversy in Iraq, two injured Iraqis, one of whom is […]
Looking over today’s posts thus far, a trend emerges — Republican blocked a habeas corpus bill from coming to a vote. They also blocked a bill to give DC residents a voice in Congress from coming to a vote. Jim Webb’s amendment to give troops equal time off for the time they spend in combat […]
As serious as the controversy in Jena, La., is, there’s no reason for a veteran civil rights leader to accuse an African-American presidential candidate of “acting white” simply because he hasn’t emphasized the issue to the leader’s liking. And yet, that’s exactly what’s happened with Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama. The Rev. Jesse Jackson sharply […]
The Senate took up a measure yesterday to expand the House of Representatives by two, to 437. One seat, which would probably go to Republicans, would be awarded to Utah, which was arguably short-changed by the last census. The other seat, which would probably go to the Dems, would be for the District of Columbia, […]
In Augusta, Ga., a Republican Party official on the city housing authority board sent an email touting a plan to “make the downtown whiter.” The ensuing controversy forced the official to resign from the housing board — but his position with the GOP remains secure. (thanks to reader J.C.) A release from [Augusta Mayor Deke […]
By any reasonable measure, Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-Va.) amendment seems like a no-brainer. As he explained yesterday, “Traditionally, when American military units are sent overseas, they are allowed twice as much time at home as they spent deployed. Today, that ratio has gone below one-to-one. So, after four-and-a-half years of an occupation in Iraq, our […]
A year after lawmakers abandoned American principles on the rule of law and stripped detainees of their right to challenge their detentions in court, the Senate today turned back an effort to return some sanity to our rule of law. A bipartisan majority supported restoring habeas corpus, but Republican obstructionism wouldn’t allow a vote. The […]
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: * With the GOP’s top tier missing, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) easily won the religious right’s “Values Voters” straw-poll this week, winning 64% of the vote that followed the movement’s debate […]
Later this month, PBS will host a Republican presidential candidates’ debate at historically black college in Baltimore — and all of the top four GOP candidates have decided to skip it. Earlier this week, Univision was slated to host another Republican debate in Miami on Latino issues — but it was cancelled when all but […]
Federal agencies have Inspectors General as a kind of internal check on abuse. The point is to have an independent “watchdog” with oversight authority who can ensure agencies’ integrity, while preventing fraud and mismanagement. When it comes to the State Department’s IG office, things haven’t gone according to plan. Instead of a watchdog that prevents […]