cross posted on my blog Basie! Extremist conservatives like to make somes issues black and white, no more so than those pertaining to “life.” Stem cell research is a prime example, where further discoveries could lead to therapies and drugs that could save millions of lives, but the right still opposes funding because embryos in petri dishes — that would otherwise be thrown out — might be harmed. The issue clearly is not black and white, however. Likewise, there is not one...

Over at Basie!, I take a look at how the votes are lining up for the so-called “nuclear” option. Despite the fact that Majority Leader Frist appears confident in Mitch McConnell’s whip count, the numbers are much more in the air today than one might expect. Among wavering Republicans are: Open opposition: Sens. John McCain (AZ), Lincoln Chafee (RI) and Olympia Snowe (ME) No public opinion: Sens. Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Pat Roberts (KS) Still negotiating: Sens. John Warner* (VA),...

On Friday afternoon, I had the great honor of speaking with former Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) for an interview over at my blog, Basie!. Dole and I talked about a number of issues, ranging from his new book to telecommunications reform to Social Security. The former Senate Majority Leader’s thoughts on the lack of bipartisan comity on the hill are particularly interesting. Jonathan Singer: Now with the situation on the hill seeming to be as bad as it’s been in decades — with the ethics...

This morning I had the opportunity to speak with California State Treasurer Phil Angelides for an interview for my blog, Basie!. Angelides happens to be a leading contender to take on Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, and had some choice things to say about the Governator. Jonathan Singer: There’s a cover story in the Washington Monthly by Mark Barabak called “Is Arnold Losing It?� Barabak’s contention is that Arnold Schwarzenegger is a lot less of a Ronald Reagan figure and...

Over the past decade, comity between the two parties has deteriorated rapidly. The specter of the “nuclear” option looms over the United States Senate, and an impending ethics battle threatens to envelop the House. Some have even claimed that bipartisanship in Washington is dead. However, as the AP’s Jim Abrams reports today, Democrats and Republicans have finally found at least one thing they can agree on: pork. In a rare breach with their president, Senate Republicans joined Democrats...