DeLay’s been a busy boy

It’s a relatively minor point, but I’ve seen several news outlets note today that [tag]Tom DeLay[/tag] has been rebuked “three times” by the House Ethics Committee for improper conduct. That’s just not so. Tom [tag]DeLay[/tag] has been [tag]admonish[/tag]ed by the House [tag]Ethics[/tag] Committee five times, not including other instances in which he was investigated but […]

What’s next for DeLay’s district

With [tag]Tom DeLay[/tag] [tag]resigning[/tag] from Congress in disgrace, Texas’ 22nd congressional district is suddenly in disarray. Since DeLay just recently won a Republican primary in the district by a smaller-than-expected margin, what happens now? DeLay told Time yesterday, “This is a very strong Republican district. It’s obvious to me that anybody but me running here […]

Tom DeLay cuts and runs

Remember all that bravado about [tag]Tom DeLay[/tag] never backing down from a fight? About how confident he was that he’d crush anyone who got in his way? About how his constituents loved him so much that he never worried about the criminal and ethical charges swirling around him? Well, never mind all that; DeLay is […]

The ‘let-Bush-be-Bush strategy’

The WaPo’s Peter Baker reported over the weekend that the White House, left with no real alternatives, has decided to try a new, more relaxed style for the president. As he takes to the road to salvage his presidency, Bush is letting down his guard and playing up his anti-intellectual, regular-guy image…. Call it the […]

‘Lock and Load’ for Christ?

Just to follow up for a moment on the “War on Christians” conference in DC last week, my friends at People for the American Way published a terrific report on the event’s panel discussions and forums, which included some eyebrow-raising rhetoric. I was particularly struck by the remarks of Rod Parsely, pastor of the Columbus, […]

Bush gets reprieve from high court on Padilla case — for the most part

The Bush administration heard most of what it wanted to hear from the Supreme Court today, when the justices announced that it would not hear the Jose Padilla appeal. The decision was a victory for the White House, but only a partial one. The Supreme Court handed the Bush administration a significant victory today when […]

I guess a silver medal isn’t bad

Just so readers know, the Koufax Award winners were announced this morning and it looks like I came up a little short. As the announcement post explained: We almost had a four-way dead heat in this category among The Carpetbagger Report, Crooks & Liars, FireDogLake, and Hullabaloo. Switching little more than a handful of votes […]

Monday’s political round-up

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: * Rep. [tag]Katherine Harris[/tag]’ (R-Fla.) Senate campaign endured a “staff revolt” over the weekend, with lead strategist Ed Rollins, campaign manager Jamie Miller, and spokeswoman Morgan Dobbs all moving on. Florida Today reported, […]

So long to Stonewall Scottie?

CNN is reporting that changes among the president’s top staff may include the end of Scott McClellan’s tenure in the briefing room. Presidential press secretary [tag]Scott McClellan[/tag] and Treasury Secretary [tag]John Snow[/tag] could be next in a [tag]shake-up[/tag] in the Bush administration, according to White House and GOP sources. The possible departure of both men […]

About that ‘earmark reform’…

Last week, when the Senate passed a massive “[tag]lobbying reform[/tag]” measure, one of the more notable provisions was language that would lessen the “[tag]earmark[/tag]” appropriations that have flourished under GOP leadership. According to the Congressional Research Service, earmarks in spending bills for fiscal year 2006 totaled $64 billion. The reform bill approved by the Senate […]