In his first six years in office, the president has made little mention of Thanksgiving, beyond the ceremonial turkey pardons, but yesterday Bush traveled to Charles City, Virginia, for his first speech devoted specifically to the holiday. “[O]ur nation’s greatest strength is the decency and compassion of our people,” he said. “As we count our […]
White House blames the wrong party for war funding problems
At this morning’s White House press gaggle, press secretary Dana Perino, before the questions even began, took a shot at Congress over Iraq war funding. “Congress, as you know, is away for its two-week break. They did not approve funding for our troops. Deputy Secretary Gordon England has said that these delays will result in […]
Majority wants to keep pulpit and politics separate
Every election cycle, political candidates rush from house of worship to house of worship, hoping to curry favor with the faithful while demonstrating their religious convictions. Also every election cycle, religious leaders go to great lengths to make clear to parishioners who they should vote for. I’ve heard plenty of arguments that this is the […]
Wounded soldiers asked to return signing bonuses
When Jordan Fox was serving in Iraq, his mother helped organize Operation Pittsburgh Pride, which sends thousands of care packages to U.S. troops from his hometown, which prompted a personal “thank you” from the White House. When Fox was seriously injured in Iraq, the president sent what appeared to be personal note, expressing his concerns […]
Tuesday’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: * A new CNN poll of New Hampshire Republicans shows Rudy Giuliani dropping fast, and Mitt Romney solidifying his lead. As of now, Romney is out in front with 33% support, followed by […]
The ‘gap’ in Republicans’ healthcare plans
Rudy Giuliani was treated for prostate cancer. John McCain has been treated for melanoma, the most serious type of skin malignancy. Fred Thompson was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. And as the LA Times’ Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar explained in a good piece today, all three could be denied healthcare insurance under their […]
Will improved stability in Iraq last?
The New York Times has an encouraging front-page piece today about many families in Iraq finding that they can exhale for the first time in quite a while, thanks to modest improvements to security. The piece noted one Shiite librarian in southern Baghdad who is “one of many Iraqis who in recent weeks have begun […]
Prosecutor with performance problem out in Minnesota
In April, when U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Rachel Paulose was appointed, the controversy was almost immediate. First, her predecessor, Thomas Heffelfinger, resigned under suspicious circumstances. Second, Paulose, at 34 the nation’s youngest chief federal prosecutor, treated herself to an elaborate “coronation,” complete with a Marine Corps honor guard and choir. Third, she clashed with her […]
As race heats up, Obama takes the lead in Iowa
All the usual caveats apply — it’s just one poll, there are still six weeks until the caucuses, anything can happen, the margin of error is important, and Iowa is a notoriously difficult place to conduct reliable polls, in part because it’s hard to know exactly who is going to caucus. But having said that, […]
Monday’s Mini-Report
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Congressional Republicans are still running for the exits: “In a surprise move, Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.) announced Monday that he will not be seeking a fifth term.” The 37-year-old Ferguson claimed, of course, that he wants to spend more time with his family, but it’s worth noting that he […]