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: * Now that Republican officials have come up dry looking for Senate candidates they can support in Florida, they’re prepared to re-embrace Rep. Katherine Harris. Harris acknowledged yesterday that she’s had some difficulties […]

An island unto himself

The Washington Post reported this week that when it comes to tolerating torture, Dick Cheney is not the leading voice, he’s the only voice. A State Department official described Cheney’s camp as a “shrinking island.” Condoleezza Rice isn’t on the island, and as of yesterday, neither is intelligence czar John Negroponte. Yesterday, this isolation became […]

The guy who needs the ethics class most won’t get it

Late last week, Bush ordered the entire White House staff to attend mandatory briefings on ethical behavior and the handling of classified materials. The Bush gang made a point of emphasizing that everyone has to take the refresher course; the memo to the staff specifically explains, “There will be no exceptions.” Unfortunately, it depends on […]

The Frist-Hastert stunt goes awry

I suspect Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert thought they had come up with a clever little plan. They saw Harry Reid pull an adroit stunt last week and thought maybe they could turn the tables a bit. Instead the gang that can’t shoot straight pulled another Keystone Kops routine. As I mentioned briefly yesterday, Frist […]

Election ’05 — Why Mark Warner is smiling

If yesterday produced one big winner — outside those whose names were actually on ballots — it’s outgoing Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D). In fact, let the Warner ’08 hype begin in earnest … now. Tim Kaine tied himself to Warner, telling Virginia that if they’ve liked the last four years, he’ll carry the progress […]

Election ’05 — A mixed bag for the ‘culture war’

Yesterday produced four major “culture war” headlines, two on modern science, two on discrimination against gays. The results were split right down the middle. In Maine, yesterday produced a rare victory against intolerance. Maine voters on Tuesday upheld a law that gives protection from discrimination to gays and lesbians, a reversal of two previous votes […]

Election ’05 — Believe the Hype

So this is what it feels like to have a good election year. I’d almost forgotten. Just 24 hours ago, National Journal’s Charlie Cook, a non-partisan election analyst, said, “For Republicans, pulling out a statewide victory anywhere would at least slow the snowballing anxiety and pessimism that is pervading the beleaguered GOP.” That sounded about […]

Election Results

Today is a big Election Day in some parts of the country. If you’re looking for results as they’re available, here are the links you’ll want to reference throughout the evening. * In Virginia, election results will be available at the state’s official elections page. * In New Jersey, official results will be available here. […]

Taking pardons off the table

The only real talk about a presidential pardon for Scooter Libby (or anyone else in the Plame scandal) has been coming from the left — the White House won’t comment on the possibility at all — but that’s all the more reason for Dems to get out in front of the issue. That’s what Harry […]

Selective enforcement from the IRS?

The story about the All Saints Episcopal Church in Southern California made the rounds a bit yesterday, and in light of my background on the issue, I wanted to weigh in. Rector J. Edwin Bacon of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena told many congregants during morning services Sunday that a guest sermon by the […]