Exactly one year ago today: “I think we may well have some kind of presence there over a period of time. But I think the level of activity that we see today, from a military standpoint, I think will clearly decline. I think they’re in the [tag]last throes[/tag], if you will, of the insurgency.” — […]
I’ve been enjoying the speculation about [tag]Al Gore[/tag]’s future as much as anyone, but there are clear and unambiguous signs that he really isn’t going to [tag]run[/tag] for [tag]president[/tag] again. Ever. Time magazine, for example, reports this week that Gore has been “quietly telephoning some of his biggest fund raisers and telling them to feel […]
What do you know, the national AP wire now has a story on TV preacher [tag]Pat Robertson[/tag]’s alleged ability to pull off super-human [tag]leg presses[/tag]. Religious broadcaster Pat [tag]Robertson[/tag] says he has [tag]leg-press[/tag]ed [tag]2,000 pounds[/tag], but some say he’d be in a pretty tough spot if he tried. The “700 Club” host’s feat of strength […]
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: * In the race to take on Gov. [tag]Arnold Schwarzenegger [/tag](R) in California, a Los Angeles Times poll shows two Dems practically tied, but with state Treasurer [tag]Phil Angelides [/tag]making recent strides. According […]
The political world is abuzz over a major “scoop” from the [tag]AP[/tag] about [tag]Harry Reid[/tag] and some alleged improprieties. As congressional [tag]scandal[/tag]s go, it’s about as vapid and meaningless as a story can get. The AP should be embarrassed for running it. Senate Democratic Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) accepted [tag]free[/tag] [tag]ringside[/tag] [tag]tickets[/tag] from the […]
In the [tag]New Hampshire[/tag] [tag]phone-jamming[/tag] [tag]scandal[/tag], [tag]Charles McGee[/tag], the former executive director of the state [tag]Republican Party[/tag], pleaded guilty to conspiracy and served seven months in jail for his part in the scheme to have a telemarketer to tie up Democratic and union phone lines in 2002. Now that he’s served his time, where does […]
Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that Henry M. [tag]Paulson[/tag] Jr., the chairman of [tag]Goldman Sachs[/tag], did not want to become [tag]Treasury Secretary[/tag] because they saw how [tag]John Snow[/tag] and [tag]Paul O’Neill[/tag] had no “substantial role in shaping economic policy.” I guess they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. President Bush nominated […]
Maybe I just need to lower my expectations when it comes to what qualifies for a front-page story in the [tag]New York Times[/tag]. Last week it was a 2,000-word piece on how many weekends Bill and Hillary Clinton spend together. Today, [tag]Nancy Pelosi[/tag] makes the front page with a largely unflattering piece that mocks the […]
The president’s [tag]Memorial Day[/tag] remarks yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery were largely fine, but like Michael [tag]Froomkin[/tag], I found one sentence in particular troubling. “In this place where valor sleeps, we are reminded why America has always gone to [tag]war[/tag] [tag]reluctantly[/tag], because we know the costs of war.” Maybe Bush meant we used to go […]
As with most Memorial Days, there are a number of compelling, well-written pieces published today on the value of [tag]sacrifice[/tag], the valor of American [tag]soldiers[/tag], and the meaning behind honoring those who serve and don’t come back. Today, however, the New York Times’ [tag]Bob Herbert[/tag] does a fine job of suggesting that “we take a […]