If you’d given up following the Senate Judiciary Committee weighing its next move against White House aides who blew off its subpoena, you’re not alone. There was some sporadic movement on this over the summer, and then a few other issues — namely the confirmation process for a new Attorney General — put the matter […]
How Giuliani made $30 million without even trying
Rudy Giuliani has quite a few questionable relationships with a motley crew of dubious characters, but Hank Asher, a former drug-runner, business partner, and “close friend” of Giuliani’s, bears special attention right now. Giuliani and Asher met in 2002 when Asher demonstrated his Matrix database software for the former mayor, who was reportedly impressed enough […]
Gore fingers Bush admin. at U.N. global warming conference
The United Nations has been meeting this week in Bali to negotiate steps industrialized nations will take to reduce emissions and combat global warming. Predictably, the Bush administration’s delegation is doing what it always does — block progress, stall for time, and undermine the process. It’s reached the point that our European allies are prepared […]
Republican ‘re-branding’ effort stumbles badly
Two months ago, congressional Republicans quietly announced that they were crafting a comeback plan, which would get the party back on track. It would include new attacks on Dems, a new GOP policy agenda, and a series of new bills. The whole package was going to be awesome. So, how’s that coming along? Apparently, not […]
Thursday’s political 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: * Bill Shaheen, the co-chairman of Hillary Clinton campaign in New Hampshire, caused a quite stir by tackling Barack Obama’s teenaged drug use yesterday. In response, the Clinton campaign quickly distanced itself from […]
Don’t look up ‘President’ in the ‘Christian Yellow Pages’
Given that he worked with Jerry Falwell to create the Moral Majority a quarter-century ago, conservative commentator Cal Thomas, who remains an outspoken evangelical, would seem to be an unlikely voice on making the presidential election more secular. And yet, the far-right Republican commentator did just that in his most recent column, insisting that candidates’ […]
Immigration policy drives GOP presidential hopefuls over the edge
Mike Huckabee used to be fairly reasonable on immigration. He supported in-state college tuition for children of illegal immigrants and opposed an immigration raid of a poultry plant that led to the deportation of illegal immigrants. More recently, he endorsed Bush’s immigration policy, denounced in right-wing circles as “amnesty.” Huckabee insisted that he supports measures […]
Dem lawmaker: Impeachment would break legislative logjam
In the vast majority of instances, Senate Republicans won’t allow lawmakers to vote on popular pieces of legislation. In those rare instances in which Dems can overcome GOP obstructionism — war funding, stem-cell research, healthcare for low-income children — the legislation draws a Bush veto. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) thinks he knows how to fix […]
GOP obstructionist agenda paying dividends
Following up on an item from yesterday, Senate Republicans have decided to effectively hold Congress hostage, refusing to allow up-or-down votes on practically everything. Bills may enjoy the support of the majority of the House, majority of the Senate, and majority of the country, but the GOP has decided to embrace obstructionism in a way […]
I watch debates, so you don’t have to
Yesterday’s debate for Republican presidential hopefuls is, thank goodness, the final debate before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. However, with 22 days between the event and the results of the first contest, this was the last chance for candidates to hammer their rivals, undermine the frontrunners, and draw “distinctions” with the rest of the […]