In light of Michael Stickings' post on Condi Rice's criticism of Obama, it is worth looking back at her record. The following was originally posted at Liberal Values on August 18, 2007: The Economist has a quite unflattering look at Condoleezza Rice while reviewing two books on her: Ms Rice's star, which rose so fast, has plunged back into obscurity, and the reason is easy … [Read more...] about Condi’s Failures on Iraq and Terrorism
The Party of the Empty Chair
Speak the inconvenient truth, get sent to woodshed, apologize and Kiss the Ring: Chris Christie apologizes for ‘occupied territories’ remark Kenneth P. Vogel / Politico LAS VEGAS - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in a Saturday afternoon meeting with Sheldon Adelson apologized for stepping on a fault line in fraught Middle East politics during a speech he gave earlier in the … [Read more...] about The Party of the Empty Chair
How are Jeb Bush’s 2016 Prospects?
Now that it's a full-fledged news story that influential GOPers are trying to draft former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as a 2016 Republican Presidential nomination contender, the question is: realistically, how are his prospects? One of the best analysis comes from Martin Longman: It's quite possible that Jeb could win the nomination in pretty much the exact same way that … [Read more...] about How are Jeb Bush’s 2016 Prospects?
Democrats Need A Message
One reason that the Republicans get people to turn out to vote in off year elections, often to vote against their economic self-interest, is that they have a message. The message might be based upon dishonest claims and incorrect views as to how the economy and government work, but it is a message. In contrast, many Democratic voters feel less interested in turning out to vote, … [Read more...] about Democrats Need A Message
Tilting at windbags
WASHINGTON -- I had no idea so many Republicans were nostalgic for the Cold War. President Obama should dust off the zinger he used in a campaign debate against Mitt Romney: "The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back." Poor Mitt. It seems he never got over Obama's putdown of his view that Russia is the "number-one geopolitical foe" of the United … [Read more...] about Tilting at windbags
The budgetary fix we’re in
The budgetary fix we're in by Ruth Marcus Washington Post Writers Group Columnist WASHINGTON -- The capital's dysfunction has its unfortunate exceptions. Gridlock yields to interests powerful enough to trump habits of obstruction. The result is compromise of a peculiarly distasteful variety -- bipartisanship in the form of can-kicking, budgetary obfuscation and … [Read more...] about The budgetary fix we’re in
SNL: Obama at Healthcare.Gov meeting (Video)
[twitter name="name"] SNL had fun with a sketch depicting its view of President Barack Obama at a meeting of healthcare.gov trying and find ways to increase enrollment. … [Read more...] about SNL: Obama at Healthcare.Gov meeting (Video)
Republicans and voting: And if you’re black, get back
...Or if you're brown, white, poor, or appear to be a Democratic voter, Ohio and Wisconsin (swing states) have now enacted laws that put serious barriers between you and the voting booth. North Carolina is worse, now, than either Ohio or Wisconsin. Some laws have already kicked in. Some may not start skewing the vote to the right and far right until the next presidential … [Read more...] about Republicans and voting: And if you’re black, get back
Capital punishment in America: Stiff figures (Guest Voice)
Capital punishment in America: Stiff figures (via The Economist) AMERICA carried out 39 executions last year. This puts the country in some unsavoury international company; only China, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia put more people to death (albeit by a fairly large margin in China and Iran). Our colleagues over at… … [Read more...] about Capital punishment in America: Stiff figures (Guest Voice)
Sheldon Adelson (Cartoon)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Sheldon Adelson (Cartoon)
An excuse to do nothing
WASHINGTON -- Blaming poverty on the mysterious influence of "culture" is a convenient excuse for doing nothing to address the problem. That's the real issue with what Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said about distressed inner-city communities. Critics who accuse him of racism are missing the point. What he's really guilty of is providing a reason for government to throw up … [Read more...] about An excuse to do nothing
The Plane! The Plane!
The Plane! The Plane! By Peter Funt The other night I got into bed later than usual and wondered if I had missed the nightly installment of this month's hottest talk-radio topic: the missing Malaysian plane and wild theories about its fate. Silly me. The talkers were still at full throttle, ranting about, The plane! The plane! Daytime talk shows on radio and TV tend to … [Read more...] about The Plane! The Plane!
Influential Republicans Move to Draft Jeb Bush for 2016
In a way, it's the political non-story of 2014, but definitely worth reporting, because what has long been predicted is now happening: the Washington Post reports that influential Republicans are now working to move to draft Jeb Bush to get him to jump into the 2016 Republican Presidential nomination sweepstakes. Many of the Republican Party’s most powerful insiders and … [Read more...] about Influential Republicans Move to Draft Jeb Bush for 2016
Poll: Paul, Huckabee are ahead for 2016 Republican Presidential nomination
A new poll finds Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee leading as prospective 2016 Republican presidential candidates. I gave this take here in The Week about how Paul might get the nomination. Some strongly disagree. But polls show Paul is way up there which is still no guarantee he'll make it to the GOP heap's top. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and … [Read more...] about Poll: Paul, Huckabee are ahead for 2016 Republican Presidential nomination
Condi Rice criticizes Obama’s leadership, proves she lacks anything resembling self-awareness or perspective
So Condi Rice is on the anti-Obama bandwagon, just like her pals Cheney and Rummy and rest of the detritus of the Bush II presidency: Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused Barack Obama of dramatically weakening the United States' position in the world, drawing a straight line between Obama's ever-yielding foreign policy and the increasing troubles around the … [Read more...] about Condi Rice criticizes Obama’s leadership, proves she lacks anything resembling self-awareness or perspective
Envy and Jealousy? Gag Me with a Silver Spoon
Envy and Jealousy? Gag Me with a Silver Spoon by Michael Winship Here on our whimsical island off the coast of the Eastern Seaboard, we have a company called Manhattan Mini Storage that is as famous for the semi-snarky wit of its billboards and subway posters as it is for the spaces it rents to we New Yorkers who live in apartments so small the mice are stoop-shouldered. … [Read more...] about Envy and Jealousy? Gag Me with a Silver Spoon
A ‘Puppet in Putin’s Hands,’ Snowden Paved Way to Ukraine Crisis (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Did Russian President Vladmimir Putin use Edward Snowden to create suspicion between Washington and the E.U. in order to scuttle a free trade deal between the United States and Europe? For Poland's Rzeczpospolita, lawmaker Pawel Zalewski outlines not only how Vladimir Putin can be defeated by approving the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, but his conviction that … [Read more...] about A ‘Puppet in Putin’s Hands,’ Snowden Paved Way to Ukraine Crisis (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Reuters: Russia threatened countries ahead of UN vote on Ukraine – envoys
Reuters reports that Russia threatened several Eastern European and Central Asian countries with consquences if they went along with a UN vote to label the widely condemned -- and rigged -- Crimean referendum on seceding from the Ukraine invalid. it reads like a scene out of The Godfather -- as does Russia's response when asked about the charge: Russia threatened several … [Read more...] about Reuters: Russia threatened countries ahead of UN vote on Ukraine – envoys
Truce in Moral Superiority
A Truce in Moral Superiority By Tina Dupuy The distinction of liberal or conservative often hinges on the association with the word "hypocrite." To liberals, being a hypocrite is a mortal sin. There's nothing worse than being accused of not living up to the standards you ascribe to. Hypocrite is a dirty word to call a liberal. It's even worse than calling them … [Read more...] about Truce in Moral Superiority
College Athletic Unions (Cartoon II)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about College Athletic Unions (Cartoon II)