Today’s edition of quick hits. * For the first time in four years, the U.S. economy lost jobs last month: “The job numbers for August were released this morning, and they show that the economy actually lost 4,000 jobs last month. It’s the first time in four years that the economy has actually lost jobs […]
The release of the latest video notwithstanding, I am a little confused about the Republicans’ attitude when it comes to Osama bin Laden. Take Fred Thompson’s reaction to today’s news, for example. (via the DNC) “Bin Laden is more symbolism than anything else,” he said. “I think it demonstrates to people once again that we’re […]
A couple of weeks ago, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) traveled to Baghdad and received a briefing from Gen. David Petraeus, in which he acknowledged his belief that in order to “win” in Iraq, U.S. forces would have to stay in the country for “nine or 10 years.” This was hardly reassuring. Indeed, for every pundit […]
Osama bin Laden hasn’t had much to say in a while, but the terrorist has released a new video that, given the content, appears to have been made sometime since May. OBL seems to have quite a bit to say about domestic affairs in the U.S. He says President Bush’s words echo “neoconservatives like Cheney, […]
Media Matters reported this afternoon that David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network will be offering insights and analysis on Sunday, marking the third time in as many months that Brody will be seated in one of the venerated chairs of the nation’s most-watched Sunday morning show. Now, I occasionally check in on Brody’s blog, […]
I suppose it would be blogging malpractice if I let Paul Krugman’s latest gem go by without mentioning it. Here’s what will definitely happen when Gen. David Petraeus testifies before Congress next week: he’ll assert that the surge has reduced violence in Iraq — as long as you don’t count Sunnis killed by Sunnis, Shiites […]
It looks like the political world no longer needs to debate who’s writing next week’s report on the administration’s war policy and conditions in Iraq. ThinkProgress noticed this Washington Times piece that highlighted a minor detail: there is no report. A senior military officer said there will be no written presentation to the president on […]
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: * John Edwards and Hillary Clinton continue to pick up union endorsements, with each earning the support of a major transportation union yesterday. The 200,000-strong Transport Union Workers threw its weight behind Edwards’ […]
Upon arriving in Australia for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum earlier this week, the president set a dispiriting tone. Asked about progress in Iraq, Bush said, “We’re kicking ass.” Oddly enough, the president’s visit appears to have gone downhill from there. Take this morning’s events in the Sydney Opera House, for example, when it took […]
I’ve seen the polls, watched the debates, and read the fundraising reports. Rudy Giuliani, for reasons that continue to escape me, is at or near the front of the Republican presidential field, based almost entirely on the belief the former mayor is strong on counter-terrorism policy based on the events of Sept. 11. About a […]