The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is filled with experts on cars, transportation, accident data, safety measures, bridge integrity, and the like. Occasionally, reporters might have a question about one of these issues, so they’ll call the NHTSA to utilize this public, taxpayer-financed expertise. But that’s apparently no longer an option. Readers G.D. and W.H. […]
Giuliani has ‘great, gaping weaknesses’
A couple of weeks ago, Wayne Barrett did the political world a great service with a devastating piece in the Village Voice on Rudy Giuliani and the “five big lies” surrounding the former mayor’s claim to fame: his 9/11performance. The entire piece, if read, should effectively end Giuliani’s presidential ambitions. NRO’s Ramesh Ponnuru got around […]
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: * ABC: “Mitt Romney has once again changed his position on whether states should be allowed to retain abortion rights. Two weeks after indicating to ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on ‘Good Morning America’ […]
Challenging the conventional wisdom on Cuban policy
For a couple of generations, every major presidential candidate, from both parties, has taken the same position on U.S. policy towards Cuba: keep the status quo. The embargo needs to stay in place in order to “keep the pressure” on Fidel Castro. Any thawing in relations would be a victory for a brutal thug, and […]
About that democracy-promoting agenda…
At the VFW convention yesterday, the president reaffirmed his support for Nuri al-Maliki, describing him as “a good guy, a good man with a difficult job, and I support him.” As for whether Maliki should be replaced, Bush said, “[I]t’s not up to politicians in Washington, D.C. to say whether he will remain in his […]
Between Iraq and a hard place
As it turns out, the report the White House is writing for Gen. Petraeus isn’t the only noteworthy official report on Iraq that’s due out soon. A new intelligence assessment, called “Prospects for Iraq’s Stability,” is also poised for release. “The report says that there’s been little political progress to date, and it’s very gloomy […]
McConnell says FISA discussion will lead to American deaths
Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell has managed to develop a fairly good reputation in DC, which is why it’s all the more curious he made comments like these to the El Paso Times. Q: Even if it’s perception, how do you deal with that? You have to do public relations, I assume. A: Well, […]
Wednesday’s Mini-Report
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Former CIA operative Bob Baer told Fox News yesterday that the Bush administration will likely attack Iran in the coming months. Today, on the same network, former U.N. ambassador John Bolton said he “absolutely” hopes Baer is right. * In related news, Brave New Films has unveiled “Fox Attacks: […]
Far-right blog post of the day
I don’t usually do this, but once in a while, it’s just necessary. This post, from Blogs for Bush’s Mark Noonan, has had me shaking my head all day. I just had to share it. It is said — endlessly — on the left that “Bush Lied, People Died!!!!”. Of course, those of us who […]
‘It just boggles my mind’
Following up on this morning’s item about just how foolish Bush is to rely on the Vietnam war as a historical model for Iraq, it’s worth noting that some historians and related experts are weighing in on the president’s comparison. Not surprisingly, they’re not impressed. Historian Robert Dallek, who has written about the comparisons of […]