This is fabulous news: WASHINGTON — Prompted in part by misleading campaign tactics that marred elections in several states, Sens. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) introduced legislation... [More]
February 1, 2007
The CBO Has Been Busy...
Two interesting reports out today from the Congressional Budget Office. First, about that "surge. 20,000 troops or so, right? Wrong! To reflect some of the uncertainty about the number of... [More]
BREAKING: Hell to Resume Delivereies of Icewater. Bush Admits He Lied About War.
Carpetbagger: In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, President Bush acknowledged that as early as “September/October” 2006, he realized a major change was needed in Iraq: WSJ: Was there... [More]
Quote Of the Day
"This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on... [More]
I Still Hate Wal-Mart
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Have these people no shame? Wal-Mart, the nation's largest employer and the world's biggest retailer, is regularly paying itself rent... [More]
Oh, Gavin.... (Updated)
Your 20 year old girlfriend was one thing. Because it was a first thing. And really, who can blame you? But now you're starting to establish a pattern. And while... [More]
How YouTube Changes Everything
I meant to pass this along earlier but then forgot. Thankfully, Andrew Sullivan just reminded me. Sullivan is right - viral video is going to make some candidates and break... [More]
Connecting The Dots of the Fiasco
As I was walking to the bus this morning and reading my copy of the New York Times, a thought occurred to me.... For months we have been reading about... [More]
Molly Ivins: Right on Iraq
Via E+P: NEW YORK In his Friday column for The New York Times, Paul Krugman pays tribute to fellow liberal Molly Ivins, who passed away Wednesday. In the process, he... [More]
The Meaning Of "Very Likely"
AP: PARIS (AP) - The world's leading climate scientists said global warming has begun, is "very likely" caused by man, and will be unstoppable for centuries, according to a report... [More]
"Meaningful" Lessons
WaPo: A long-awaited National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq, presented to President Bush by the intelligence community yesterday, outlines an increasingly perilous situation in which the United States has little control... [More]
February 2, 2007
More Obama-Rama (Updated)
Over the last few week or so, plenty of other blogs in the progressive blogosphere have posted "must read" links to two fairly old articles about Obama. Both were pieces... [More]
More Molly Ivins
Lots of great Ivins' tributes floating around out there, but this one from Rude Pundit may very well be the best. An excerpt, including plenty of excerpts of Irvin's herself:... [More]
Quote of the Day
Obama: “You know, as you look at all the cameras gathered around and the click of the photographers, and the pundits – ” Obama was interrupted by a shriek of... [More]
Quote of the Day II
"One of the things you should conclude from this NIE," [National Security Advisor Stephen] Hadley said, "is the best plan is to have this plan succeed."... [More]
John Edwards, In His Own Words
Ezra Klein has a great interview with John Edwards posted over at TAP. Take a look. My excerpt, from the section on his vote to give the president the authority... [More]
Asking All The Right Questions About Iraq
Garance Franke-Ruta over at Tapped asks all the right questions about the latest news from Iraq: Some would argue that America has a moral obligation to stay in order to... [More]
Worse Than a Civil War (With Multiple Updates)
In case you missed it.... The judgement of the entire US intelligence community: The Intelligence Community judges that the term “civil war” does not adequately capture the complexity of the... [More]
How To Make 16,000 American Soldiers Disappear
Their depravity knows no bounds. Statistics on a Pentagon Web site have been reorganized in a way that lowers the published totals of American nonfatal casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.... [More]
DNC Winter Meeting: Edwards Hits A Home Run
I haven't watched the speech yet, but the transcript is phenomenal. Forget an excerpt. Here it is in its entirety. From the Democratic National Committee's Winter Meeting in Washington, DC,... [More]
A Simple Analogy
T.A. Frank simplifies for us: So I visit a rundown zoo and see hyenas in miserable cages, lions in miserable cages, and antelopes in miserable cages. I'm disgusted by their... [More]
Today's Videos: Candidtes On Fire
Obama really is trying to organize our nation into one gigantic community. Really: And from his DNC speech today, a call to something bigger. And better: About Edwards home run?... [More]
February 3, 2007
John Edwards @ DNC Winter Meeting: "Will You Stand Up?"
I posted the text yesterday. Here is the video:... [More]
February 5, 2007
When In Doubt, Run...
Apparently Sen john Sununu, the Republican Senator from New Hampshire, thinks that should be the new motto for his state. Or something... WaPo: When Sen. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) saw... [More]
If Clinton Runs, Nader Wll Too...
Mr. principles speaks. Notice that no consideration is given to who the Republican nominee might be. Apparently that is irrelevant to an unreasonable man of principle. Also, note this: "I... [More]
If It Fails, Blame The Dems
The Weekly Standard: "If the surge is seen to fail, [Democrats] will be the ones who made it more difficult, demoralized the armed forces, kneecapped the commander, and telegraphed to... [More]
Hitch Lays Down a Challenge
In what is otherwise a pretty decent column, Christopher Hitchens says the following: If there is a sectarian war in Iraq today, or perhaps several sectarian wars, we have to... [More]
The Edwards Health Plan
It's above my pay grade to offer substantive comment on the economics of health care. But for. Ezra Klein its second nature. Here's his take-away: In other words, the public... [More]
Rudy Giuliani's In
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor whose popularity soared after his response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, moved closer to a full-fledged campaign... [More]
Why Helping Others Really Is Helping Yourself
Over the weekend, the NY Times had a fascinating article about the day to day challenges of low-wage fast food workers. Rather than accept the challenges as a given, however,... [More]
February 6, 2007
Going Carbon Netural
The Boston Globe is reporting that Vermont Rep. Peter Welch has decided to make his office on The Hill carbon neutral. A few light bulbs, an adjustment of his thermostat,... [More]
While The Senate Stalls, Obama Leads
Via Atrios, news from Obama's office just in. The emphasis is mine. Obama, Thompson and Murphy Introduce Plan to De-Escalate and End the War in Iraq Senator Barack Obama Along... [More]
These Are The Stakes
Following up on a great post by Josh Marshall who said this: [G]etting our policy in order is also being stymied because the political opponents of the war aren't willing... [More]
February 7, 2007
Mr Straight Talk.Yeah....Right.
This may be the worst example yet of McCain's slow descent into hypocrisy. Back during the Clinton administration, McCain said the following about his efforts to end the deployment of... [More]
Quote of the Day
Via Salon's War Room On the Senate floor a few moments ago, Jon Tester said that he's traveled all around his home state of Montana, and "not a single person... [More]
Report: SecDef Gates Says Iraq Debate Doesn't Harm Troop Morale
Greg Sargent has the details. Here's the key quote: Gates added that troops understand members of Congress want to find the best way to win the war. "I think they're... [More]
February 9, 2007
"The Stupidest F'ing Man In The World..."
Gen. Tommy Franks once refereed to Doug Feith, the former undersecretary of defense under Rumsfeld, as the "stupidest fucking guy on the face of the earth." As head of the... [More]
In Your Name
From today's WaPo, an editorial from a former interrogator in Iraq who worked with the 82nd Airborne. This is what honor and courage look like: The lead interrogator at the... [More]
A Fourth Branch of Government?
A few days back, I wrote about a new constitutional doctrine that the VP is using to develop for himself what has essentially become an independent, answerable to no one... [More]
Kerry Makes An Interesting Move
I'm not exactly sure what to make of this, but it is certainly interesting enough to pass along. Political Insider: The word on Capitol Hill is that Sen. John Kerry... [More]
‘A Platoon Of Lesbians’
This is hilarious.... [More]
Not One War, But Four
So says Defense Secretary Robert Gates. And as Phillip Carter points out, "Successes in one area produce setbacks in the others." Understand that, and you will understand why this is... [More]
Supercorn?
NRO's Corner is having an interesting discussion today about ethanol, and although there are some posts that are both serious and interesting, this one needs a response: Update: I should... [More]
February 10, 2007
He's In. And Yes, He Will Win.
I've never made my support for Obama a secret on this blog, but now that he's in, I suppose I ought to make it official. Obama's my guy. And although... [More]
February 11, 2007
Gen. Odom: "Victory Is Not an Option"
So says Gen. William Odom, the former head of Army intelligence and director of the National Security Agency under Ronald Reagan. Two key excerpts: First, the assumption that the United... [More]
Bill Kristol: Obama Would Have Been Pro-Slavery Stephen Douglass, Not Lincoln
Over the last few years, I've heard Bill Kristol say some fairly stupid and juvenile things. But today's effort on FoxNewsSunday is without a doubt the worst of the worst.... [More]
"An Operational Relationship"
Doug Feith really is intent on living up to his billing as the "stupidest f'ing man in the world." Via Kevin Drum... Doug Feith Today: Nobody in my office ever... [More]
Daou's Triangle Closes On Hillary
Stoller thinks Daou's triangle is closing on Hillary. Until this weekend, I'm not sure I would have agreed. But driving home from work this afternoon, I heard an NPR report... [More]
The Politics Behind 24
You think its just a TV show? Think again. This past November, U.S. Army Brigadier Genera Patrick Finnegan, the dean of the United States Military Academy at West Point, flew... [More]
February 12, 2007
California Tax Question
I'm in the middle of doing our taxes today, and I've come across something in California's tax code that I can neither explain nor understand. So I'm asking the Internets:... [More]
Massachusetts Tax Question
Although this certainly is not as odd as the question I asked about California's tax code, I still can't help but ask... Why in 2002 did Massachusetts establish a voluntary... [More]
Lieberman to Bolt to the GOP?
Last fall in PO101, the professor I was working for asked that I do a quick "morning after" analysis of the midterm election. It was 9am class, and I had... [More]
Gen. Pace Walks Back on Iran (UPDATED)
So far this story is only being reported in the Australian news media. Odd, given that it is a story of significant importance. Via TPM, the Chairman of the Joint... [More]
Another Day, Another Corruption Case
This time its the CIA and the White House in hot water. US News: A federal judge has ruled that a CIA agent identified only as "Doe," allegedly fired after... [More]
Salon: Obama Once Was An Uppity Negro
That's how this article was initially promoted, anyway. Now its just "smug." Either way, I don't see why so many other bloggers are portraying this article as negative. The guy... [More]
February 13, 2007
The More "Radical" The Position on Iraq, The More Americans Support It
Interesting poll results today from USA Today. The highlights: •There is majority support for congressional action on Iraq: 51% back a non-binding resolution, 57% a cap on troop levels and... [More]
It Depends What The Meaning of "Slam Dunk" Is
This is just brilliant. Is there anyone in this administration willing to take responsibility for anything? Last week it was Doug Feith disavowing responsibility for the pre-war intelligence analysis his... [More]
It Depends What The Meaning of "Waste" Is
Carpetbagger has an interesting post on right-wing outrage over a comment Obama made over the weekend. First, here's how Carpetbagger summarized the comment: In New Hampshire over the weekend, Barack... [More]
February 14, 2007
The Coming Realignment (a.k.a. How Bush Betrayed Conservatism)
Atrios says it will take longer than Schaller suspects. I think it will actually happen sooner. Either way, this op-ed lays out the best case I've yet seen for why... [More]
Fess Up
Via MyDD, Congressman Pascrell gets it precisely right today on Iraq: I said a year and a half ago that I made a mistake. I mean, I confessed. But I... [More]
Romney vs. Romney
Nice to see my hometown paper leading the way on this. MM stands for "Moderate Mitt," the man who ran for Senate in 1994. Romney2008 speaks for itself. These are... [More]
Al Franken Is In!
I can't wait to watch this campaign. Norm Coleman is about to be destroyed. I mean, destroyed. Want more? Go here. The man called himself a progressive not once but... [More]
February 15, 2007
Now That's The Giuliani New Yorker's Know And Love!
Via Political Insider: Word on Wall Street is that New York fundraisers for Rudy Giuliani are calling senior executives with histories of supporting Republican candidates with demands along these lines:... [More]
What Is It About CT Politicians And Hypocrisy?
First it was Sen. Joe Lieberman breaking all kinds of pre-election promises (don't hold your breath for those long-promised Katrina investigations, for example), and now it is Rep. Chris Shays.... [More]
It's As If They Have All Never Heard of Google
There seems to be a growing trend among members of this administration and its defenders. Last week it was former Undersecretary of Defense Doug Feith claiming he had never done... [More]
"Support The Troops"
Although the debate over the non-binding Senate and House resolutions is getting all of the press, whatever the outcome of the votes, it is going to be the debate over... [More]
Osama Teen Hunger Force
Via Andrew Sullivan, this is hilarious.... [More]
An Up Or Down Vote
Sen. Reid calls their bluff. This Saturday, the Senate is going to hold an up or down vote on the House resolution to "support the troops and opposes the escalation."... [More]
In Your Name
Never forget that this war was started and pursued in our names. This is what the war has created: We were asked to send the next of kin to whom... [More]
February 21, 2007
Prediction of the Day (Updated)
Today's prediction: This is going to come back to haunt Hillary in a very big way. The idea that a politician can be held responsible for everything all of their... [More]
Due Process For Me But Not For Thee
A major contributor to the National Republican Congressional Committee was indicted last week for his role in financing terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. Believe it or not, this is the... [More]
Cheney Calls McCain A Flip Flopper
OK, no, he didn't use those exact words. But how else to interpret this? UPDATE: Speaking of flip flops, this is just priceless. Yesterday, Romney attacked McCain for not being... [More]
Learning to Blog
Watching Joe Klein learn to blog over at Time Magazine's Swampland has been fascinating. The man has been hammered by liberal bloggers for years, but I've long felt that his... [More]
February 22, 2007
What Means And Medians Say About Rising Inequality
From Ezra Klein: America's mean wage in 2005 was $35,448.93. That's the number you generally hear quoted. It's median, however, was $23,962.20. And if you want another example of rising... [More]
February 23, 2007
Vilsack Out
Wow. One debate and the man pulls his hat out of the ring. Although I like Kevin's argument - the Third Rail took him out - I think this is... [More]
Beinart: "How I Got the Iraq War Wrong"
Yet another mea culpa from a liberal who supported the war. Coming from The New Republic's Peter Beinart, this one is more noteworthy than usual. An excerpt: I was willing... [More]
Kos Takes Down Kucinich
Kucinich is an easy target, but still, this is brilliant. I particularly like this quote from a speech about his proposed Dept. Of Peace: Spirit merges with matter to sanctify... [More]
We Went To War To Prevent WMD Proliferation, Right?
Brilliant. BAGHDAD, Feb. 22 — Insurgents are likely to continue combining car bombs with chlorine gas and other chemicals to launch attacks similar to three in recent weeks that spewed... [More]
Compare And Contrast, Or Something...
Dick Cheney, circa 1991: “The notion that we ought to now go to Baghdad and somehow take control of the country strikes me as an extremely serious one in terms... [More]
February 24, 2007
Forget Means And Medians
A few days back I posted some statistics showing that the median income level in the United States was just under $24,000. I've always felt like most people in this... [More]
Quote of the Day
This sums up the last 6 years fairly well, now doesn't it? "If you can't get experts, it's really hard to do an expert job." Here's the full context: Almost... [More]
Quote of the Day II
Sen. John McCain: "What's wrong with sucking up to everybody?"... [More]
Why Aren't more People Paying Attention to Richardson?
As I've said on numerous previous occasions, I'm all in for Obama. That said, I cannot help but wonder: why aren't more people paying attention to Bill Richardson? Take a... [More]
Today's Obama Update
The man drew 15-20,000 at a rally in Austin, Texas. A bit less than 2 years before the next election, and he is filling stadiums. In Texas. In the rain.... [More]
Its Time To End Identity Politics
If you missed this story in today's Washington Post, you really need to give it a few minutes of your time. Jim Zumbo, one of the most famous outdoorsmen in... [More]
February 25, 2007
It's A Joke, People. C'mon....
I had taken the whole "conservapedia" thing seriously, until I saw this post from Andrew Sullivan. Conservapedia has a page listing "Examples of Bias in Wikipedia." Here's one: Unlike most... [More]
February 26, 2007
Liberal Media Bias
Here's a great example from over the weekend that demonstrates just how ridiculous the whole "liberal media bias" thing is. A few weeks back, the Edwards campaign landed itself in... [More]
Cheney Warns Pakistan To Get Serious Or Else!
This is brilliant. One minute he is claiming that the Dems in Congress are al Qaeda's wet dream. The next minute he is showing up in Pakistan using the Democratic... [More]
US Funds Terror Groups In Iran (Updated)
A reminder: We tried this exact strategy in Afghanistan back in the 1980s, and the result was the Taliban and al Qaeda. America is secretly funding militant ethnic separatist groups... [More]
Entirely Predictible
WaPo: BAGHDAD -- The engineer stood aside as Iraqi and American soldiers rifled through his daughter's wardrobe and peered under her bed. He did not mind when they confiscated the... [More]
February 28, 2007
Setting Timetables for the GWOT
Notice to al Qaeda: The Bush administration believes that the Global War on Terror must be won by October 2008. Apparently our national security policy infrastructure won't be able to... [More]
Army Times: Walter Reed patients told to keep quiet
Consider the source when reading this: Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s Medical Hold Unit say they have been told they will wake up at 6 a.m. every morning... [More]
Universal Health Care Is Both An Economic And A Moral Issue
A heartbreaking story in today's Washington Post: Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache Sunday. A routine, $80 tooth extraction might have saved him. If his mother had been insured.... [More]
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