In case you missed it, the National Journal's Murray Waas had a huge scoop yesterday. Attorney General Gonzales apparently didn't tell congress the whole truth in his testimony before the... [More]
May 1, 2007
Realignments Afoot
Great catch by Andrew Sullivan here. Over the weekend, George Will told George Stephanopoulos that the war in Iraq has the very real possibility of driving a generational realignment: George,... [More]
Meanwhile In Iraq....
Three important points worth noting today: + Today is the 4th anniversary of the president's famous "Mission Accomplished" moment. ThinkProgress breaks down the impact of the war both before and... [More]
Battlefield Earth?
When asked about his favorite novel, Mitt Romney responded with an odd choice: Battlefield Earth, L. Ron Hubbard's bizarre Scientology-inspired sci fi novel. Recognizing that this might present a problem... [More]
May 2, 2007
Wall St. Journal: "The Rule of Law Must Yield"
Could someone please tell me what the hell is going on with conservatives these days? Over the last 48 hours, we've seen two examples in mainstream conservative publications advocating for... [More]
In Your Name
I wish this series did not have to continue, but continue is must. Here is the latest example of the things being done by your government in your name, this... [More]
"The Commander Guy"
Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States: But slowly but surely, the truth will be known. Either we'll succeed, or we won't succeed. And the definition of success... [More]
May 3, 2007
Our Broken Political Discourse (Updated)
There are two things about our political discourse that frustrate me to no end. First, there's the near-endless use of what I've called the "some people think" method of argument... [More]
Benchmarks
Joe Klein offers - gasp! - what I think is an excellent analysis of the way forward on simultaneously funding and ending the war in Iraq. It goes something like... [More]
Random Thoughts on the GOP Debate
Some random thoughts, in no particular order. Quotes were transcribed in real time and are as close to accurate as I could possibly get them without wearing out my Tivo.... [More]
May 4, 2007
The Flaws in Trickle Down Economics, in Two Paragraphs or Less
I've had no time to blog today, but this is simply too good not to pass along. In two paragraphs, Ezra Klein provides the single best explanation I've ever seen... [More]
May 5, 2007
Sunday [ Erm... Make That Saturday] News Round-Up
As the now corrected error in the title shows, I'm in the midst of grading sixty five 15+ page comparative public policy papers, so blogging is likely to be light... [More]
Romeny Panders to Pat Robertson
This is disgusting.... [More]
Confirmed: al Qaeda Wants Us To Stay In Iraq
Via AmericaBlog, this just in from ABCNews: In a new video posted today on the Internet, al Qaeda's number two man, Ayman al Zawahiri, mocks the bill passed by Congress... [More]
Fred Thompson On Taxes And Economic Growth
Via Hotline, an excerpt of Fred Thompson's remarks at the Lincoln Club in Orange County: That's why the economy booms when taxes are cut. When the Kennedy tax cuts were... [More]
May 6, 2007
Fukuyama: "It is no longer a question of if or when the U.S. leaves Iraq, but how"
A neocon's neocon calls for the end: ...even if the surge, by September, is reducing violence in Iraq to some degree, it will not guarantee a "safe" exit strategy for... [More]
Mitts Muffs
Will someone please explain to me just what the hell is wrong with Mitt Romney? I thought he was supposed to be a serious candidate. "There is no work more... [More]
May 7, 2007
Free Trade Isn't Always good For You!
In response to this weekend's op-ed on free trade from free-marketeer Alan S. Blinder, Kevin Drum asks: What exactly is Blinder's "apostasy"? First, an excerpt from Blinder's piece, and then... [More]
Yet Another DOJ Scandal
There are so many different scandals out there it really is getting hard to keep track. Via TPM Muckraker, it looks like even local DC newscasts are beginning to investigate:... [More]
Big Government Conservatives
NYT must read: Proponents of private plans say they are indisputably good for many older Americans because they coordinate care and may offer extra benefits, like discounts on eyeglasses, hearing... [More]
Libeberman Smackdown!
Via Atrios, a great smackdown of Joe Lieberman. I wish the man would hurry up and defect to the GOP already. Our junior senator, on the other hand, spends his... [More]
May 8, 2007
Morris: Soldiers Lives Worth Less Than Citizens
This has to be one of the most appalling things I've ever seen on FoxNews. Dick Morris has finally made explicit an argument that has long been implicit in the... [More]
May 9, 2007
I Hate Wolf Blitzer
Reason # 5,479: The man doesn't even bother to challenge his guests when they lie about the results of a CNN poll. The man boasts endlessly about how his "situation... [More]
Rudy Gives to Planned Parenthood
This one is easy. I think its fabulous that he gave money on a fairly regular basis to Planned Parenthood, but let's be honest... now that this is becoming common... [More]
Today's Corruption News
Some quick updates you may have missed: + The Abramoff investigation just moved much closer to former Majority Leader Tom DeLay. + There weren't 8 fired US Attorneys. There were... [More]
It's Satan!
Via Andrew Sullivan, news you probably cannot use from Utah: Utah County Republicans ended their convention on Saturday by debating Satan's influence on illegal immigrants. The group was unable to... [More]
Meanwhile In Iraq...
Today's Iraq related news: + It looks like the Iraqi governing coalition may not even make it to its scheduled two month summer vacation. Both the major Sunni and Shiite... [More]
Condoleeza Rice, Saddam Hussein, and the Iraq Oil-for-Food Program
As you read this, remember that Saddam's abuse of the UN oil-for-food program was once offered as significant evidence both in favor of the war, both because it proved Saddam... [More]
"Until All the Moths Are Gone."
National Review's Andy McCarthy has yet another piece attempting to explain why we must stay in Iraq from now until, well... forever? Short version: al Qaeda and its "Iranian enablers"... [More]
Murdoch's NewsCorp Makes Climate Change a Priority
Grist: At an event held this morning in midtown Manhattan and webcast to all News Corp. employees, Murdoch launched a company-wide plan to address climate change that includes not only... [More]
May 10, 2007
NJ: Administration Withheld E-Mails About Rove (Updated)
Oh my. Murray Waas has quite the scoop: The Bush administration has withheld a series of e-mails from Congress showing that senior White House and Justice Department officials worked together... [More]
May 11, 2007
Duty. Honor. Country.
Finally, a soldier and a leader who remembers who we are and why we fight. Thank you , Gen. Petraeus. Thank You.... [More]
May 15, 2007
Playing Catch Up
So the long weekend in DC is complete, as are all of my semester grading requirements, so its time to get back to the blog. At least until I leave... [More]
Falwell is Dead
And Andrew Sullivan has the perfect response.... [More]
May 16, 2007
Warrantless Wiretapping Update (Updated!)
I mentioned it briefly in my post yesterday, but yesterday's testimony from former deputy attorney general James Comey really deserves a second extended look. Everyone seems to be focusing on... [More]
What the Khmer Rouge and Rudy Giuliani Have in Common
Once upon a time the Khmer Rouge were considered to be one of the most brutal and repressive regimes in the 20th century. Today, apparently, they serve as a model... [More]
The War Czar
In case you hadn't heard, Bush finally managed to convince someone to become his "war czar." From what I can tell, the job description for this position is essentially the... [More]
A Confession of Sorts
Back in high school I considered myself a libertarian, and had I been old enough to vote in the 1988 election (I was two years too young), I'm fairly sure... [More]
About That Surge...
NYT: Newly declassified data show that as additional American troops began streaming into Iraq in March and April, the number of attacks on civilians and security forces there stayed relatively... [More]
May 17, 2007
Add Two More to the USA List
McClatchy has yet another US Attorneys scoop: The Justice Department last year considered firing two U.S. attorneys in Florida and Colorado, states where allegations of voter fraud and countercharges of... [More]
Those Who Fight Know
Writing in today's Washington Post, Charles C. Krulak, former commandant of the Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999, and Joseph P. Hoar, commander in chief of U.S. Central Command from... [More]
Student Loans
Via Ezra, a great suggestion from Robert Reich on federal student loan policy: ...several of my students who will graduate next week tell me they would have liked to go... [More]
WaPo: The Gonzales Coverup
The Washington Post editorial board seems to be finally waking up. Nevertheless, I cannot help but take a shot at their opening: WHY IS IT only now that the disturbing... [More]
Don't Like Hearing An Idea? Ban the Speaker
Your modern day Republican party at work.... [More]
This Is How They Support the Troops?
ThinkProgress: The Bush administration today threatened to a veto a House defense spending bill over a 3.5 percent pay raise for U.S. soldiers and a $40/month increase in benefits for... [More]
The Anti-Giuliani Pledge
First it was movement conservative insider Richard Viguerie declaring war on Rudy Giuliani. Now its Christian Conservative leader James Dobson: "Speaking as a private citizen and not on behalf of... [More]
May 18, 2007
A President, Not a King
The always indispensable Dahlia Lithwick on the mushrooming DoJ scandals: The story isn't who picked on a sick guy or even who did or didn't break laws. The story is... [More]
What Wolcott Said...
Its been far too long since I quoted Wolcott. Let's fix that. From his recap of the GOP debate: I kept waiting for one of the second-tier candidates--i.e., cannon fodder--to... [More]
Make That 30....
McClatchy has found 4 more USA that were once considered for firing. Add them tot he 26 reported on by the Post and you've got an even thirty, nearly a... [More]
Guerilla Tactics Work
Matt takes David Brooks to task for overemphasizing the lessons that might be learned by guerrilla groups from the war in Iraq. Brooks: If the Iraqi insurgents defeat the U.S.... [More]
"Honest Graft"
I've long recognized that asking members of congress to police themselves for ethics violations is a hopeless prospect. But even so, this decision is a new low. Their finding: The... [More]
Taking Down Wolfowitz
Matt has what is undoubtedly the best takedown I've yet seen of the spectacular failure that is Paul Wolfowitz. Take a look. Boo hoo indeed. UPDATE: Did someone declare today... [More]
A President, Not A King: Part II
Just in case you thought I was being overly dramatic yesterday with my claim that our president believes he is a king, today I give you evidence direct from the... [More]
Complaints
Coming from an aide to a Republican Senator, this is rich: "Nothing good for America happens when it is done behind closed doors and without the light of day... and... [More]
May 19, 2007
"The world doesn’t just revolve around you."
Obama delivers another mind-blowingly good speech, this time on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University for their commencement. Take a look: There is a verse from the Bible that... [More]
May 22, 2007
Quote of the Week
"For as in absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king and there ought to be no other." -- Thomas Paine... [More]
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