They’re not opposites

I usually reserve my media criticism for the “Single Storyline” project at the Daou Report, but this one was too egregious not to share. Sheehan’s T-shirt made reference to the number of soldiers killed in Iraq: “2245 Dead. How many more?” Capitol Police charged her with a misdemeanor for violating the District of Columbia’s code […]

Even Bush’s modest oil-import goal was a charade

In an otherwise-boilerplate State of the Union, Bush’s approach to oil imports was one of the more memorable elements of his address. “Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the […]

Tempest in a T-shirt ends in an apology

The most engaging angle to the State of the Union — Cindy Sheehan’s arrest — drew plenty of attention, but fortunately, the controversy ended yesterday in an apology. Sheehan, of course, was arrested Tuesday night when the Capitol Police spotted Sheehan wearing a T-shirt that read “2,245 Dead — How Many More?” Around the same […]

Stop the presses, Norquist is saying something sensible

When conservative scholars denounce the president’s warrantless-search program, that’s one thing. When conservative lawmakers raise serious doubts about the surveillance, that’s something else. But when Grover Norquist, perhaps the most powerful conservative activist in DC, takes an aggressive, principled stand against Bush’s domestic spying, it should raise eyebrows throughout the political word. (via TP) Norquist, […]

A ‘Tale of Two Presidents’

Newsweek’s Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey had an interesting item today in response to the president’s State of the Union. Ultimately, I think they’re at least half-right. The State of the Union was a tale of two presidents. One was gracious about his opponents, seeking common ground for the sake of the nation’s future. The […]

I wonder what those emails said?

Josh Marshall noted today that the New York Daily News had an interesting nugget in its story about Scooter Libby (remember him?), his legal defense, and Patrick Fitzgerald’s prosecution. Fitzgerald, who is fighting Libby’s request, said in a letter to Libby’s lawyers that many e-mails from Cheney’s office at the time of the Plame leak […]

Monsters, monsters everywhere

Earlier this week, David Stevens, executive director of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, said medical professionals need to be able put their personal beliefs ahead of their professional responsibilities because of new scientific advances that could “violate their consciences.” What are these advances? “We are moving into a brave new world of cloning, cyborgs, […]

We may not have to wait long before Alito makes his mark

Literally within hours of being sworn in as a Supreme Court justice, Samuel Alito sat alongside his new colleagues at the State of the Union. His impact as on the high court itself may not be quite that quick, but we may not have to wait too long before Alito makes a lasting impression. Justice […]

Wednesday’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: * Republican billionaire Tom Golisano announced yesterday that he will not run for governor in New York this year, despite pleas from several party leaders. Golisano’s decision boosts former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld’s […]

The T-shirt scourge on America

Think whatever you want about Cindy Sheehan; there isn’t much of a defense for this. Peace activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Tuesday in the House gallery after refusing to cover up a T-shirt bearing an anti-war slogan before President Bush’s State of the Union address. “She was asked to cover it up. She did not,” […]