McCain is still adjusting to the ‘new rules’ in which people scrutinize his words

A week ago, Newsweek asked John McCain about remarks he made during his infamous, widely-panned “lime Jell-O” speech near New Orleans, in which he criticized the media for not having been fair enough to Hillary Clinton. When Newsweek brought it up, McCain immediately denied it, “I did not [say that] — that was in prepared […]

Jindal’s VP ambitions continue to pick up supporters

The latest to join the far-right chorus of Republicans who want Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) to be John McCain’s running mate is Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who said yesterday that Jindal “would be far and away the best candidate.” Gingrich, who appeared on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” heaped praise upon the former congressman, […]

Clinton-turned-McCain voters — a vocal minority?

The anecdotes are plentiful, and for those of us who want to see the nation improve, kind of scary. Hillary Clinton supporters, Democrats all, insist that they really are going to give up on the issues important to Clinton and the party in order to vote for conservative Republican John McCain. For news junkies, these […]

‘They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it’

On this holiday of sorts, I extend best wishes to all the Dads checking in on the site today. In light of the occasion, I thought it appropriate to note this terrific speech Barack Obama delivered at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago today. “Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, […]

McCain vs. himself

For all of the enormous differences between Barack Obama and John McCain, running second are the differences between John McCain and himself. It’s a little long for TV, but with a little snip here and there, this would make quite an ad.

Rove engaged in more than just ‘chit chat’ with McCain campaign

For several weeks, a variety of political observers, most notably ThinkProgress’ Amanda Terkel and Matt Corley, have highlighted Karl Rove’s connections to John McCain’s campaign. And for several weeks, Bush’s former chief strategist — the man the president affectionately calls “Turd Blossom” — has been arguing that there really isn’t a relationship. Just a couple […]

If it’s Sunday…

Mike Allen highlighted today’s episode of “Meet the Press,” coming less than 48 hours after the unexpected death of its host, Tim Russert. On a memorial edition of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” moderator Tim Russert was remembered in his studio as a friend of politicians who prepared rigorously for the powerful show and was “offended” […]

When it’s easier to con voters than convince them

Several years ago, Jeb Bush and Florida Republicans created the nation’s first state-wide voucher scheme, disregarding language in the state Constitution that prohibits state funds from going to private religious schools and institutions. The program sparked a lawsuit, and the voucher system was struck down by the Florida Supreme Court. So, before Republicans and voucher […]

McCain believes ‘it’s tough’ sometimes to be ‘proud’ of the U.S.

This Michelle Obama quote, uttered back in February, is probably the Republicans’ single favorite development of the presidential campaign. “What we have learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback. And let me tell you something — for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am […]

Scrutiny prompts media mea culpas

We saw an interesting political/media controversy this week when Fox News characterized Michelle Obama as “Obama’s baby mama.” (The phrase is slang for an unwed mother who gets no support from a baby’s father.) The Wall Street Journal had a good item the other day putting the flap in the broader context of media scrutiny […]