In 1993, most Americans believed the national health-care system was at or near a crisis. With that in mind, I wonder what the right word would be to describe that same system in 2006 (thanks to Hark for the tip). The percentage of working-age Americans with moderate to middle incomes who lacked [tag]health insurance[/tag] for […]
[tag]Patrick Fitzgerald[/tag]’s [tag]Plame[/tag] [tag]grand jury[/tag] met on Friday morning, sparking a new round of speculation about indictments, [tag]Karl Rove[/tag], and what might happen next in the ongoing White House criminal investigation. There’s new grist for the mill this morning. CNN’s John King reported: CNN is told by three force sources familiar with the investigation that […]
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: * The good news for Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[/tag] (R) is that she still enjoys some support among Republicans in Florida. The bad news is, it’s fading fast and primary voters are open to […]
It’s sometimes easy to believe there are a handful of powerful, wealthy interests who work, outside the spotlight, to ensure Congress represents their greedy interests. It’s even easier to believe when it’s true. As the Senate nears a planned vote on abolishing the [tag]estate tax[/tag], a leading government-watchdog group yesterday released a report cataloging the […]
With so many retired [tag]generals[/tag] calling for [tag]Donald Rumsfeld[/tag]’s resignation, Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee got an idea: why not hold a hearing to explore why these decorated veterans feel so strongly about the issue. As [tag]Hillary Clinton[/tag] suggested in a letter to Chairman [tag]John Warner[/tag] (R-Va.), an open discussion “can help ensure […]
The WaPo hasn’t offered too much in the way of behind-the-scenes insights regarding [tag]Mary McCarthy[/tag], [tag]Porter Goss[/tag], and the [tag]CIA[/tag], but the paper did the right thing today by highlighting the odd priorities of the director of central intelligence. [Goss] has taken no disciplinary action against CIA personnel identified by his inspector general as having […]
Nearly two years ago, an [tag]FDA[/tag] advisory panel voted 23 to 4 to approve over-the-counter access to Plan B [tag]emergency contraception[/tag]. One FDA panel member called it the “safest drug that we have seen brought before us.” The scientific evidence was overwhelming and access to [tag]Plan B[/tag] would curtail abortion and unwanted pregnancies. This was […]
News reports made it clear this was going to happen this morning, and now it’s official. Bush introduced Fox News’ Tony Snow as Scott McClellan’s replacement just moments ago. After Snow thanked the president for the honor, Bush and Snow left the podium without taking questions. (NBC’s David Gregory shouted, “Mr. Preisdent, what do you […]
Reading over the coverage of the [tag]White House[/tag]’s new-found interest in [tag]gas prices[/tag], one thing seems clear: no one actually thinks Bush’s measures will do anything to make gas cheaper. Yesterday, the president emphasized that “every little bit helps,” but I don’t think [tag]Bush[/tag] appreciates the nuances of this political game. Amid growing Republican unrest […]
Republicans must have done some internal polling and found gas prices to be their biggest vulnerability this year, because the moves to do something about it have been fast and furious. Yesterday, it was Hastert and Frist. Today, it’s Bush. President Bush, faced with rising public discontent over high fuel prices, today directed his administration […]