A blog post from the Politico kicked off the John-Edwards-haircut frenzy a couple of months ago, but today, the Politico has a similar story that’s embarrassing for Mitt Romney. What kinds of things do you think of when you hear “communications consulting”? Speechwriting? Message strategy? Well, “communications consulting” is how presidential candidate Mitt Romney recorded […]
‘Redeploying does not necessarily mean leaving’
Tony Snow, yesterday: Q: [Some senators] are talking about leaving [Iraq], because they want to start redeploying troops by the end of this year. That’s leaving, isn’t it? SNOW: No, redeploying does not necessarily mean leaving. Tony Snow, in November 2006: SNOW: …If you’re talking about phased redeployment, it means we’re trying to get out. […]
All ideas are bad, so let’s not try
As the ongoing debate in the Senate makes clear, there’s no shortage of ideas on how best to proceed in Iraq. The WaPo’s Anne Applebaum argues today the problem in Washington is that all these policy makers have imperfect solutions to an intractable problem. Out in the world, there are shades of gray. Here inside […]
Monday’s Mini-Report
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Well, this might shake up the Iraq debate a bit: “The U.S. military’s top general said Monday that the Joint Chiefs of Staff is weighing a range of possible new directions in Iraq, including, if President Bush deems it necessary, an even bigger troop buildup…. He mentioned no potential […]
And for their next adventure…
Good heavens. The balance in the internal White House debate over Iran has shifted back in favour of military action before President George Bush leaves office in 18 months, the Guardian has learned. The shift follows an internal review involving the White House, the Pentagon and the state department over the last month. Although the […]
About that training for Iraqi troops…
Part of the new administration approach to Iraq is teaming up with Sunni militiamen, many of whom were killing Americans up until recently. Given the rivalries, this has made for a remarkably complicated battlefield. Abu Azzam says the 2,300 men in his movement include members of fierce Sunni groups like the 1920s Revolutionary Brigade and […]
Reid to GOP: Do you really want to filibuster?
When the Republicans filibuster Democratic legislation, as they do with practically every bill, they’re not literally filibustering. A GOP senator will use procedures to announce a pseudo-filibuster, prompting the majority to pull the bill after an unsuccessful cloture vote. No one has to stand on the Senate floor talking the bill to death; the minority […]
Still waiting for the ‘fur to start flying’
Oh great, another Republican senator is warning the White House about the caucus being this close to bolting with Bush on Iraq. …Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, told CNN that he warned Rove last week that “The president is a young man and should think about his legacy.” He should know history will not be kind […]
Bush makes progress in North Korea — by adopting Clinton’s approach
It hasn’t gotten a lot of attention lately, but the diplomatic progress with North Korea over the last week or so has been fruitful and encouraging. The United States is looking to build on momentum created by North Korea shutting down its nuclear reactor and will start deliberations on removing the regime from a list […]
Fighting over expanding healthcare for children
The WaPo’s Christopher Lee noted over the weekend, “If anything looked like a sure thing in the new Congress, it was that lawmakers would renew, and probably expand, the popular, decade-old State Children’s Health Insurance Program before it expires this year.” It’s a no-brainer, right? Who’s going to balk at an established, successful program that […]