A few days ago, Clinton strategist/pollster Mark Penn raised a few eyebrows when he argued that Barack Obama’s primary and caucus victories weren’t especially impressive, because he “hasn’t won any of the significant states.” Yesterday, Penn kept it up, with a related point. “Winning Democratic primaries is not a qualification or a sign of who […]
The strangest McCain praise ever
The NYT’s Nicholas Kristof’s column today is so odd, I had to read it a few times to see if he was kidding. I realize media adulation for John McCain is often embarrassing, even to the point of sycophancy, but this piece just doesn’t make any sense. Even for those of us who shudder at […]
Maybe the Clemens hearings served a purpose after all
I should admit from the outset that I don’t watch baseball, and I have no emotional investment in any of the players who now stand accused of steroid use. In fact, in light of the House Oversight Committee’s high-profile hearing this week, featuring pitcher Roger Clemens and his principal accuser, I tend to think Congress’ […]
The GOP closes ranks; it always does
As recently as a few weeks ago, disgraced former congressman Tom DeLay clearly positioned himself in the “no McCain, no way” contingent of the Republican Party, alongside luminaries such as Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, James Dobson, and Rick Santorum. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) lambasted Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) Thursday for “betraying” the […]
Myth vs. fact vs. comedy
I mentioned the other day that I’ve looked, in vain, for a reasonable and compelling defense of the Bush administration’s position on the FISA revisions. So far, I haven’t come up with much. In fact, I haven’t come up with anything but bogus talking points predicated on misleading assertions. John Cole asked the other day, […]
Why McCain’s public-financing attacks don’t make any sense
The good news for Barack Obama is that John McCain is already acting like he will be the Democratic presidential nominee, which in turn may feed the “inevitability” narrative. The bad news for Obama is that McCain has decided to kick off his general-election strategy by picking an incredibly dumb fight. John McCain is accusing […]
This Week in God
First up from the God machine this week is the latest disconcerting evidence that the intersection of religion and the U.S. military is growing increasingly uncomfortable. Since his last combat deployment in Iraq, Jeremy Hall has had a rough time, getting shoved and threatened by his fellow soldiers. The trouble started there when he would […]
Come on people now, smile on your brother; everybody get together
Guest Post by Morbo Special note from Morbo: On Tuesday, I fell on a patch of ice and broke my left wrist. Thankfully, I live in a place where people value good government services. My 13-year-old daughter remained cool and calm and called 911. She tended to me until some EMTs came, and an ambulance […]
Friday’s Mini-Report
Today’s edition of quick hits. * The tragic massacre in DeKalb: “The 27-year-old gunman who killed five students and himself in a university lecture hall was known as “an outstanding student” but had stopped taking medication a couple of weeks ago and had been behaving erratically, police said Friday.” * Additional details: “Law enforcement officials […]
So, what’s with the administration shooting down that satellite?
Malfunctioning satellites aren’t really on my beat. But Bush administration officials misleading the country about their decisions is very much on my beat. I saw a few news items yesterday about the Pentagon’s announcement that it would shoot down an “out-of-control” spy satellite that no longer works. The thing is reportedly the size of a […]