No one will miss the Butcher of Baghdad, and no tears will be shed for his death. In terms of political analysis, though, there are a couple of ways to consider Saddam Hussein’s execution. First, as Josh Marshall noted in an accurate and poignant piece, is the fact that “this whole endeavor, from the very […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson’s (D) 60th birthday is today, and while his condition is no longer front-page news, the latest updates are encouraging. Johnson’s office released a statement yesterday noting that while the senator remains in critical condition, he has improved. According to his neurosurgeon, Johnson is “gradually […]
With Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice having two years under her belt, now’s a good time to step back and consider her overall job performance. David Millikin makes the case that Rice has “few diplomatic successes to show for her efforts and fewer signs she plans to change course to improve the record.” The violence […]
Last week, Paul Krugman offered the incoming Democratic majority some advice: do not place deficit reduction at the top of the priority list. As Krugman explained, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin helped convince the party in the 1990s that deficit reduction was key to fiscal and budgetary policy. At the time, in the midst of […]
When the Military Commissions Act, which among other things suspended habeas corpus for suspected terrorists, went to the Senate floor in September, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) noted, “Surely as we are standing here, if this bill is passed and habeas corpus is stricken, we’ll be back on this floor again” after the courts reject the […]
Last week, we discussed in some detail the media’s interest in Barack Obama’s real-estate “controversy” with Antoin “Tony” Rezko and why it’s entirely misplaced. It’s a bit of a convoluted story, but the bottom line remains the same: for all of the buzz about Obama’s so-called “shady” deal, no one, anywhere, has actually accused 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: * Though the vast majority of likely candidates haven’t even officially kicked off their campaigns yet, the fight over congressional endorsements appears to have already begun. Rep. Trent Franks (R), an extremely conservative […]
Sen. Joe Lieberman (Neocon-Conn.) just returned from a 10-day visit to the Middle East, but it appears the senator didn’t learn much. …While we are naturally focused on Iraq, a larger war is emerging. On one side are extremists and terrorists led and sponsored by Iran, on the other moderates and democrats supported by the […]
Frances Fragos Townsend, assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, was on CNN yesterday discussing the war in Iraq, Saddam’s pending execution, and the Middle East, but CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry had the temerity to ask about the terrorist behind 9/11. Officials from this White House are known for some bizarre […]
I don’t want to belabor the point, but the TPM Muckraker report on the “lonely Kerry” photo that I linked to yesterday needs some follow-up. Justin Rood’s original report noted concerns about the picture that raised questions about its authenticity. Last night, Rood spoke with CPT Benjamin G. Runkle, former Bush speechwriter and staff assistant […]