Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, accompanied Speaker [tag]Pelosi[/tag] and a bi-partisan House delegation to the Middle East this week. Asked about the administration’s criticism of their trip, Lantos said, “We have an alternative Democratic [tag]foreign policy[/tag]. I view my job as beginning with restoring overseas credibility and respect for […]
Bush to nation: I don’t need no stinkin’ Senate
A week after the election, all the rhetoric from the White House was sweetness and light. The president pledged cooperation and bipartisanship. On Nov. 15, Dan Froomkin asked the right: “Is Bush’s claim that he wants to work in a bipartisan manner a genuine change — or a ruse? Watch what he says — but […]
Wednesday’s Mini-Report
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Remember the Baghdad market John McCain was bragging about? The one that was a model for safety and security in Iraq? Horror struck the same market yesterday: “A newborn baby was one of at least 14 children and adults killed when a suicide bomber detonated a lorry laden with […]
Worst. Idea. Ever.
At an Alabama fundraiser for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) earlier this week, Dick Cheney started his speech by telling the same joke he tells at all of his recent events. “Thank you,” the VP said over the applause. “A reception like that is almost enough to make you want to run for office again. (Dramatic […]
Dem candidates crush GOP in Q1
As impressive as Barack Obama’s first quarter fundraising is — and really, it’s astonishing — it’s also worth taking a step back and looking at how both parties are stacking up, in addition to the candidates. I was going to tally the numbers, but it looks like Eric Kleefeld already pulled the data together. Democratic […]
‘Extraordinary cynicism even by his considerable standards’
Slate’s Fred Kaplan listened to the president’s press conference yesterday and heard “statements of extraordinary cynicism even by his considerable standards.” The Democrats, he said, are “more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than providing our troops what they need”—a remarkable accusation, given his administration’s tardiness in supplying those troops with adequate armor and […]
Iran to release 15 British hostages
Finally, some good news out of Iran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has met with some of the 15 British military personnel held in Iranian custody for almost two weeks, shortly after pardoning the group and vowing to set them free. Iranian state television showed footage of Ahmadinejad shaking hands, smiling and chatting with the detainees […]
Giuliani pretends to be a foreign-policy expert
When it comes to foreign policy, former NYC Mayor [tag]Rudy Giuliani[/tag] recently told a supportive audience, “It’s something that I think I know, I think I know as well as anybody else who’s running for president, probably better than a lot.” Yesterday, Giuliani was even more confident in his background. Rudy Giuliani said yesterday that […]
Again with Michael Ware?
Goodness, gracious, these guys just don’t know to quit while they’re behind. The right is still trying to take on CNN’s Michael Ware for his already-debunked hijinks at a recent Baghdad press conference. A little background for those just joining us. After John McCain claimed last week that parts of Baghdad were safe for Americans […]
Wednesday’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: * I hardly thought it was possible, but Barack Obama raised $25 million in the first quarter of 2007, just shy of Hillary Clinton’s record-setting $26 million quarter. More than a third of […]