Even after congressional intervention, politically-inspired misdiagnoses, and widespread slander, the Terri Schiavo matter lingered on when Florida Gov. Jeb Bush asked a prosecutor to investigate why Schiavo collapsed 15 years ago, under the notion that her husband may have called 911 too slowly. Thankfully, this lunacy came to an end yesterday when the prosecutor told […]
Slate’s David Plotz happened to be in London this morning, promoting a book and preparing for an interview on BBC Radio. He had an interesting report about what he saw and the reactions from Londoners. The natural state of the English is a kind of gloomy diligence, which is why they do so well in […]
Looking back over the last few hours, I realize that I’ve been treating today like a normal day. I had some of the usual political items on tap, wrote them up, and posted them, as if it were just another day. I now regret that. Today isn’t a day for political updates and observations; it’s […]
Jesse Taylor posted a helpful list this morning that I want to pass along. Hotlines The British Transport Police has set up a telephone number for those concerned about a friend or relative. The telephone number is +44 (0) 20 8358 0101. The Metropolitan Police also have a general hotline number set up; this is […]
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: * According to Kos, a new poll from the Feldman Group shows Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) in a lot of trouble in advance of next year’s election. Only 31% of Ohio voters believe […]
If we use the framework of a full-fledged political campaign to consider the Supreme Court nominating fight, I think it’s fair to say that Alberto Gonzales is, at a minimum, acting like a candidate. As speculation swirled in recent weeks about a vacancy on the Supreme Court — and the potential that Mr. Gonzales might […]
Guest post by Ed Stephan How about bringing back the “Fairness Doctrine“? Except for Air America virtually all radio and much of TV — though federally licensed to broadcast over public airwaves — seems to be little more than a propaganda arm for the GOP. For many years, television and radio stations were required to […]
In light of recent developments with Matt Cooper and Judith Miller, lawmakers are suddenly interested in discussing a federal shield law for journalists. The Senate Judiciary Committee could be the next stop for the those involved in the federal probe into who exposed undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame as it weighs a bill that would […]
The Bush administration took a lot of well-deserved flack for intervening in the Justice Department’s case against Big Tobacco, insisting that the industry pay $10 billion, instead of the $130 billion previously recommended by a government expert witness. But less well known is the administration’s bizarre handling of the international tobacco treaty. Considering the fact […]
Just to follow up quickly on yesterday’s post, Karl Rove’s claim that “throughout the history of the republic, Supreme Court nominations receive an up-or-down vote,” is terribly untrue. I noted that Republicans filibustered LBJ’s nomination of Abe Fortas, but David Greenberg had an item in Slate yesterday explaining that Senate problems with nominees goes back […]