Three weeks ago, the president raised eyebrows around the world when he alluded to “World War III” during a press conference in response to a question about Iran. A reporter asked whether he believes Iran wants to build a nuclear weapon, leading Bush to say, “[I]f you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems […]
Waitress tells campaign reporters: ‘You people are really nuts’
It’s hard to say for sure when the “silly season” started in the media’s coverage of the presidential campaign. If there was a “serious season,” it was exceedingly short. I’m afraid I missed it. But yesterday was unusually inane. A waitress at an Iowa diner noted that Hillary Clinton and her campaign aides had recently […]
Columnist Santorum nearly as bad as Senator Santorum
A year ago, 84% of Philadelphia voters rejected Rick Santorum as their senator. Naturally, the “liberal” Philadelphia Inquirer responded by hiring him as a columnist. (One assumes he’ll refrain from highlighting local issues, considering that he’s lived in Virginia for several years now.) Often, with political celebrities who become columnists, ghostwriters step in to actually […]
Kerik becomes weight around Giuliani’s neck
When a mayor’s police chief gets indicted on federal corruption charges, it’s obviously a pretty tough development for that mayor to spin. Of course, the new criminal charges against Bernie Kerik aren’t just another indictment, and Rudy Giuliani is not just another mayor. Indeed, yesterday’s developments have the capacity to permanently undermine Giuliani’s presidential campaign. […]
Thursday’s Mini-Report
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Easing the crisis in Pakistan? “Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has decided that parliamentary elections will be held by Feb. 15 and reiterated plans to step down as head of the Army, partial concessions to the pressure building on him from Washington and inside Pakistan since he declared a state […]
Georgia’s ‘unorthodox’ response to a drought
Georgia is in the midst of an awful drought, so Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) has decided to, well, just take a look. (thanks to reader K.Z.) What to do when the rain won’t come? If you’re Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, you pray. The governor will host a prayer service next week to ask for relief […]
Forget the ticking time-bomb scenario
The recent rash of conservatives who’ve publicly announced their support for torture seems to be broken up into two camps: those who support torture in rare, extreme circumstances, and those who think routine torture isn’t worth getting worked up about. Just this week, we’ve seen Cal Thomas take up the prior position, and National Review’s […]
So much for the ‘strong dollar’ policy
Realistically, it’s almost impossible to believe that Bush is some kind of Manchurian President, intentionally screwing up and deliberately undermining the United States. In all likelihood, the president is failing because he’s incompetent, not because he hates us. But sometimes, it’s hard not to wonder. Dan Froomkin, for example, did a nice job today describing […]
National Review writer thinks Americans ‘should be proud’ of waterboarding
It’s been a discouraging autumn when it comes to the right and torture. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page argued that waterboarding doesn’t necessarily constitute “cruel, inhuman or degrading” treatment of U.S. detainees. The National Review’s Rich Lowry suggested, in Matt Yglesias’ words, that torture is “a defining value of the American conservative movement.” Republican […]
Giuliani tries, fails to defend Robertson’s sedition
At the risk of belaboring the point, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the point at which Rudy Giuliani is asked why he’d embrace a crazed TV preacher who blamed Americans for 9/11. The State’s John O’Connor has the story. (via Greg Sargent) Giuliani defended Robertson’s past controversies, including statements after the Sept. 11 attacks that God […]