Tony Blair to appear on The Simpsons

Finally, a chance to write about two of my favorite topics at the same time: politics and The Simpsons. The BBC is reporting that British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a long-time fan of the show, recorded three lines of dialog this week for an upcoming episode. Apparently, he will be appearing on the show as […]

Nine years and $20 million later…

In the 1980s, Henry Cisneros was a rising star in American politics. He was a popular, successful mayor of San Antonio, and was recognized by many party leaders as a young, handsome, energetic politician who may one day be perfect for national office. (Personal note to Maverick: remember when we met Cisneros at the White […]

Howard Dean “supposes” the fall of Saddam Hussein is a good thing

John Kerry generated a whole lot of criticism for suggesting we needed “regime change” here in the U.S. But Wednesday, as the now famous Hussein statue was being torn from its foundation, Howard Dean made a comment that seems at least as bad as Kerry’s. Speaking at a forum hosted by the Children’s Defense Fund, […]

Army to investigate baptizing military chaplain

I guess today is “Updating Other Stories Day” here at The Carpetbagger Report. On Monday, I expressed outrage about the story of a Southern Baptist military chaplain, the Rev. Josh Llano, who was forcing troops in Iraq to get baptized if they wanted access to his pool of clean, cool water. ”It’s simple,” Llano explained. […]

Cubin racism controversy — Day 2

Just as the Rod Paige flap continues, so too does the controversy surrounding Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.). To review, Cubin was opposing a measure to prohibit drug addicts or people undergoing treatment for drug addiction from purchasing guns. She asked, “So does that mean that if you go into a black community, you can’t sell […]

Rod Paige’s church-state controversy — Day 3

I mentioned yesterday that Education Secretary Roderick Paige might get raked over the coals for a little while longer, and sure enough, today’s papers didn’t let me down. Three major dailies published angry editorials today lambasting Paige for the controversy and his seeming intolerance for religious diversity. The LA Times, for example, criticized Paige for […]

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf’s 15 minutes of fame

War is hell, but furiously spinning a war you’re losing can be hilarious. Like many people, I’ve grown quite fond of watching Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf give media briefings during which he’d try and convince everyone that the Iraqi military is really kicking some serious U.S. butt, despite all evidence to the contrary. […]

Rod Paige gives church-state story a second day of headlines

Yesterday I talked about Secretary of Education Roderick Paige causing a stir by saying, “All things equal, I would prefer to have a child in a school that has a strong appreciation for the values of the Christian community, where a child is taught to have a strong faith, where a child is taught that […]

The context doesn’t help Cubin

Just to follow up on the Cubin controversy, I’ve reviewed the transcript of the Cubin-Watt debate from the floor yesterday, wondering if the context of her remarks might be helpful in elucidating her intentions. After reading the actual recorded text, Cubin still looks pathetic. In case you’re interested, here’s exactly what was said: Cubin: I […]

Barbara Cubin pulls a Trent Lott on the House floor

I have a feeling you’ll be hearing a lot about this one. Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) was engaged in a heated debate yesterday with Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) on the floor of the House yesterday over a gun control bill. Watt was urging lawmakers to support an amendment to the legislation that would prohibit drug […]