About a month ago, right-wing talk-show host and writer [tag]Dennis Prager[/tag] became something of a laughing stock by arguing that Rep.-elect [tag]Kieth Ellison[/tag] (D-Minn.), Congress’ first Muslim, will literally “undermine American civilization” and “embolden Islamic extremists” if he takes the oath of office on a Koran instead of a Christian Bible. Prager’s Townhall piece, despite […]
After nearly four years of a disastrous war in Iraq, it would seem the last thing the Bush White House has to worry about is high public expectations with regards to the crisis. But as it turns out, that’s exactly the problem the president is facing right now. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. […]
I’m afraid I was a little young to have any memories of [tag]Gerald Ford[/tag]’s presidency — when he took the oath of office, I was a year old — and, regrettably, I’m more inclined to think of Chevy Chase’s Saturday Night Live impression of a bumbling president than Ford’s actual performance in office. That said, […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * According to an AP count, the number of U.S. military service members killed in Iraq has exceeded the number of victims in the attacks of 9/11. The unfortunate milestone came yesterday, on Christmas, when six more American soldiers were killed in Iraq. * Great quote from Rep.-elect Keith Ellison […]
Sen. Joe Lieberman applies some standards before accepting campaign contributions. For example, when Richard Mellon Scaife, who helped orchestrate the anti-Clinton Arkansas Project, wanted to support Lieberman’s re-election bid, the senator’s campaign returned the money. A Lieberman spokesperson said a Scaife donation “would be inconsistent for our campaign.” And speaking of inconsistencies…. It has become […]
I don’t doubt that Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is a nice guy. By all indications, he has a specific worldview that shapes his beliefs, he’s earnest and sincere, and he’s clearly passionate about liberal causes. But the notion that he’s going to be elected president is terribly far-fetched. It’s almost ceratinly not going to happen. […]
The WaPo reported yesterday that “health care is set to return to the national political stage in 2007, setting up partisan clashes in Congress that could end with rare vetoes from President Bush and help to define the 2008 presidential campaigns.” It’s about time. Democrats have been trigger-shy about making serious changes to the system […]
Late last week, U.S. News’ Paul Bedard noted that key congressional committees, in both chambers, have begun “hiring lawyer-investigators whose job will be to probe the administration.” Issues reportedly on top of the oversight agenda include the war in Iraq and energy policy. This isn’t about witch-hunts, of course, it’s about checks and balances — […]
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: * Barack Obama’s first foray into New Hampshire seems to have paid dividends. Two weeks after his initial trip, Obama finds himself nearly even with Hillary Clinton in a statewide poll of 2008 […]
The NYT has a fascinating piece today on Democratic strategist Mara Vanderslice, and her 2-year-old consulting firm, Common Good Strategies, which aims to help the Democratic Party and its candidates appeal to theologically conservative voters. I found most of what Vanderslice had to say compelling, but not of all it. Vanderslice reportedly helped Dems make […]