John Brennan confirmed as CIA director (via AFP) Saul Loeb/AFP/FileJohn Brennan, US President Barack Obama's nominee to be director of the CIA, during his confirmation hearing on February 7, 2013 before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. The US Senate on Thursday confirmed counterterrorism expert Brennan to be the next… … [Read more...] about John Brennan Confirmed as CIA Director
Levin’s Retirement Means Opportunities For Both Sides
Historic Tidbit: 1958 was a very Democratic year nationwide. In fact, only one Democratic member of Congress lost her seat. It was Congresswoman Coya Knutson of Minnesota. Her husband had written a famous"Coya Come Home"letter to local newspapers asking her to make his breakfast again. Knutson,the first female Congressperson from Minnesota did go home,but managed to get the … [Read more...] about Levin’s Retirement Means Opportunities For Both Sides
North Korea Steps up Rhetoric: How Far Will it Push?
North Korea steps up rhetoric: How far will it push? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View South Korean armored vehicles move during an exercise near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom in Jeokseong, South Korea, Friday. North Korea grabbed international headlines yesterday by threatening to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against both South Korea … [Read more...] about North Korea Steps up Rhetoric: How Far Will it Push?
Carl Levin: A Man of Soundness, Not Soundbites
The end of an era is upon us in Michigan. Carl Levin, the state's senior Senator who with his older brother Sandy made the Levin name a powerhouse on Capitol Hill (in squash and in policy) has announced his retirement. Levin's departure marks the end of a long career which was defined by decency and collegiality. If Senators had three year terms, Levin probably would've gone … [Read more...] about Carl Levin: A Man of Soundness, Not Soundbites
Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. Let Freedom Ring In The GOP
Via Jim Geraghty Morning Jolt, Philip Klein gives us a concise explanation of why Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster was so effective: A lot of the outpouring of conservative support for Paul's filibuster on Obama's drone policy went beyond the libertarian and anti-interventionist blocs of the movement who were also deeply troubled by Bush era counter-terrorism policies. Even those … [Read more...] about Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. Let Freedom Ring In The GOP
(UPDATE) Republicans Eating Their Own for Breakfast, Lunch — and Dinner
UPDATE: And the feeding frenzy continues, becoming almost “circular” now -- you know, the snake swallowing its own tail. Except that the snake now appears to have developed multiple heads, and multiple tails, all trying to swallow each other. The Washington Post refers to a Huffington Post interview where McCain refers to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Sen. Ted Cruz … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) Republicans Eating Their Own for Breakfast, Lunch — and Dinner
Nine Reasons Why Rand Paul’s Filibuster Resonated So Widely
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul's old fashioned, talking filibuster was a come out of left right field instantly popular media and social media happening. In 13 hours he "branded" himself sufficienty different from the GOP pack so that it's clear if he wants it he'll be a 2016 GOP Presidential primary contender. A sampling of Tweets, Facebook posts, and blog and news stories found that … [Read more...] about Nine Reasons Why Rand Paul’s Filibuster Resonated So Widely
Average North Korean ‘Shocked’ at Rodman’s ‘Gangster’ Appearance (Daily North Korea, South Korea)
Kim Jong-un may have enjoyed hosting Dennis Rodman and a number of Harlem Globetrotters, but it appears that the average person in the country found the display perhaps more unsettling than Westerners did. And it just may be decades of anti-capitalist, anti-American propaganda that are to blame. According to this news item from the Daily North Korea, a publication in the … [Read more...] about Average North Korean ‘Shocked’ at Rodman’s ‘Gangster’ Appearance (Daily North Korea, South Korea)
Cardinals to Choose Pope (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 Cardinals to Choose Pope (Cartoon)
Quote of the Day: A Consequential Week as 2016 Positioning Begins
Our political Quote of the Day comes from NBC's First Read, which notes two things (1)it was a very consequential week, and, (2) that revving sound you hear are candidates zooming into position to run for the Oval Office in 2016: *** A consequential week: A year from now, we could look back on this first full week in March as being a pretty significant week in American … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: A Consequential Week as 2016 Positioning Begins
Rand Paul Talks the Talk
WASHINGTON -- Rand Paul was right. There, I said it. The Republican senator from Kentucky, whom I've ridiculed as an archconservative kook -- because that's basically what he is -- was right to call attention to the growing use of drone aircraft in "targeted killings" by staging a nearly 13-hour filibuster on the Senate floor. Paul did it the old-fashioned way, … [Read more...] about Rand Paul Talks the Talk
Is There a Brewing GOP Civil War Over National Security?
Is the GOP the scene of a brewing civil war over national security? Sounds like it.. … [Read more...] about Is There a Brewing GOP Civil War Over National Security?
North Korea Cuts Ties With South
In another show of how peaceful and reasonable they are, North Korea has ended all peace agreements with the South and has cut off communications. I am so glad Dennis took care of things for us. LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top … [Read more...] about North Korea Cuts Ties With South
The REAL Reason Why Rand Paul Ended His Filibuster
So what was the REAL reason Sen. Rand Paul ended his political-star-making, old-fashioned, Jimmy Stewart-like talking filibuster? Was the the call of the political pro: did he feel he made his point? Actually, Salon reports, it was the call of nature: Sen. Rand Paul ended his old-school Mr. Smith-style talking filibuster at around 12:30 a.m. this morning, after 12 hours … [Read more...] about The REAL Reason Why Rand Paul Ended His Filibuster
John Brennan Confirmed, Rand Paul Lionized (Guest Voice)
John Brennan confirmed, Rand Paul lionized (via GlobalPost) Politics makes strange bedfellows, and it just doesnâ??t get much weirder than this. Jean MacKenzie BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. — White House Counterterrorism Adviser John Brennan was confirmed as head of the Central Intelligence Agency on Thursday, after a bizarre and protracted confirmation process.… … [Read more...] about John Brennan Confirmed, Rand Paul Lionized (Guest Voice)
So Long “Safe Seat”: Carl Levin Retiring from the Senate
Michigan Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, an outspoken Senator noted for his independence and secure hold on his Senate seat, has announced he'll retire at the end of his term in two years -- taking his seat out of the "safe seat" category and most likely propelling it into the "likely Democratic column." But it changes some assumptions now among those who do predictive … [Read more...] about So Long “Safe Seat”: Carl Levin Retiring from the Senate
About the Sequester Battle: Who’s Winning So Far?
First, Greg Sargent: Signs are that Dems will end up agreeing with some version of the GOP approach of funding the government at sequester levels through September. It’s true, as Brian Beutler has reported, that House Dems will withhold support for the GOP bill to force Republicans to pass it on their own and that Senate Dems are pressing for some changes to mitigate the … [Read more...] about About the Sequester Battle: Who’s Winning So Far?
Paul Filibuster Over Drones Exposed Republican Division
If Republican Sen. Rand Paul's loooooooooong filibuster over drones exposed a partisan rift, it also highlighted a rift within the Republican Party -- one that 2016 Presidential nomnination hopefuls will have to grapple with. And a rift it most assuredly is: U.S. Sen. John McCain blasted fellow Republican Rand Paul on the Senate floor this morning for his 13-hour … [Read more...] about Paul Filibuster Over Drones Exposed Republican Division
Rand Paul Ends Senate Filibuster Over Drones After 12 Hours
Rand Paul filibuster on drones gains support in Senate (via AFP) Republican Rand Paul stiff-armed President Barack Obama's CIA nomination Wednesday, drawing support from fellow senators concerned about the administration's refusal to rule out drone strikes on US soil. With the blocking tactic stretching into it's sixth hour, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tried… … [Read more...] about Rand Paul Ends Senate Filibuster Over Drones After 12 Hours
GOP Votes: Filet Mignon Over Filibuster
Republican Senators had a choice last night of breaking bread with the President or breaking wind with Ron Paul. Refuting suspicions that politicians would rather talk than eat, diners outnumbered gasbags by 12 to 6. It may not have been a definitive display of cooperation over obstruction but a hopeful sign no less that GOP legislators emerged from the two-hour Obama dinner … [Read more...] about GOP Votes: Filet Mignon Over Filibuster