About two weeks ago, John McCain, in a high-profile speech, unveiled his response to the mortgage crisis. Despite the seriousness of the issue, the GOP presidential nominee unveiled a classic YOYO policy: “You’re on your own.” As the New York Times noted shortly after the speech, “The real core of his speech was his argument […]
Thursday’s Mini-Report
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Pelosi vs. Bush: “House Democrats handed the White House a stinging defeat Thursday over a free-trade agreement with Colombia, rejecting President Bush’s bid to force a vote on the deal before the end of the year. But even as they did this, the Democrats held out an olive branch […]
McCain’s bizarre reluctance on the new GI Bill
You’ve got to be kidding me. On ABC’s The View this morning, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was asked about the great strain placed on U.S. troops due to the Iraq war. McCain recognized the strain and said that in order to motivate Americans to join the military, the government should provide stronger “educational benefits”: “[O]ne […]
The financial costs of war
With increasing frequency, I’ve noticed that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton make a point of emphasizing the extraordinary financial costs associated with the war in Iraq. The message must be resonating with voters because this morning, the president offered a detailed response to the charge. Indeed, I’ve been listening to Bush’s speeches on Iraq since […]
Why ‘significant progress’ sounds kind of familiar
This morning, speaking from the White House, the president boasted, “American and Iraqi forces have made significant progress” in Iraq. It got me thinking, haven’t we heard that phrase before in relation to Iraq? * White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan on October 27, 2003: “In the north and south [of Iraq], we have made […]
McCain’s misguided role model on deficit reduction
Just a couple of months ago, John McCain acknowledged, “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.” For some reason, he’s been trying to prove this point ever since. Yesterday, for example, McCain made a campaign stop at an investment firm in Westport, Conn., where a voter asked how […]
One candidate, two camps, one direction
The LA Times ran a solid report about a month ago, noting that when it comes to foreign policy, John McCain’s record is littered with “mixed signals” and contradictory positions. That’s true — foreign policy “realists” who are looking for signs of hope can point to McCain’s opposition to extending Reagan’s troop deployment in Lebanon […]
Thursday’s campaign 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: * Hillary Clinton’s campaign coffers got a $2.5 million boost last night, thanks to an event with Elton John at Radio City Music Hall last night. Tickets for the sold-out event ranged from […]
Huckabee to follow in Robertson’s footsteps?
In 1988, TV preacher Pat Robertson launched a Republican presidential campaign predicated on a vaguely theocratic, right-wing platform. He actually fared well in a couple of contests — he even came in second in the Iowa caucuses, ahead of George H.W. Bush — before a poor showing on Super Tuesday forced him from the race. […]
Progressive Media USA has some money and a plan
Following up on an item from Monday, Ben Smith reported that there were multiple independent efforts underway in progressive circles to help “define” John McCain while the Democratic nominating race continues, but they fizzled over the last month or so. The “soft-money groups don’t have the soft money,” in large part because Democratic investors are […]