This morning I published, then promptly deleted, a post about Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid, focused on the former's grumbling about the President (and by inference, the Senate), and the latter's unexpected slashing of the Baucus-Grassley jobs bill. Pelosi's grumbling irritated me, but what irritated me even more was this interpretation of her grumbling ... … [Read more...] about Quick to Anger then Not
Will The Real Scott Brown Stand Up?
I lay claim to being the only political observer in America who took the election of Scott Brown to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts with a grain of salt. I chalked up his victory as impeccable timing in a strong Democratic stronghold because of disenchantment of voters and a Democratic challenger who ran an inept campaign. Nor was I moved Brown would join … [Read more...] about Will The Real Scott Brown Stand Up?
Most Americans Support Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows that a stunning three-quarters of the American people want gay and lesbian Americans to be allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military: … [Read more...] about Most Americans Support Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Just who is running this ship?
As recently as yesterday, we saw some positive news coming out of D.C. (A rare event of late and more than welcome.) It looked like there might be some bipartisan cooperation on jobs, an issue where the Obama administration is only about one year late coming to the party. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) had hammered out a bill which it seemed both sides might … [Read more...] about Just who is running this ship?
Senate Confirms 27 Obama Nominees After Obama Threatens Recess Appointments
Was it President Barack Obama finally using the power of his office to force the Senate and Senate Republicans to action after a logjam of bottled up nominees? Or was it merely that the Republicans would have done it anyway? In politics perception is reality, and although GOPers and talk radio hosts will pooh-pooh the news that after Obama reportedly laced into Minority … [Read more...] about Senate Confirms 27 Obama Nominees After Obama Threatens Recess Appointments
Jane Mayer on Eric Holder and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
In Jane Mayer's New Yorker piece on Eric Holder and the battle over Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Holder is quoted as saying, “What we did is totally consistent with what has happened in every similar case” since 9/11. “There’s a desire to ignore the facts to try to score political points. It’s a little shocking.” Mayer offers compelling evidence that Holder is exactly right: For … [Read more...] about Jane Mayer on Eric Holder and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
American Mad-as-Hell Moment–What Next?
A new poll confirms what we know: Two out of three Americans are "dissatisfied with or angry about the way the government works." We are in a reprise of "Network," in which a demented anchorman gets millions to yell their outrage. In the 1976 movie, Howard Beale rants: "Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job, … [Read more...] about American Mad-as-Hell Moment–What Next?
Is Russia Preparing to Join NATO?: Argumenty i Facty, Russia
According to this article from Russia's, Argumenty i Facty, a report that may have been approved by the Russian president has created a media 'furor': An institute 'under the patronage' of President Medvedev, is predicting NATO integration and a more 'liberal' future for the country. The article from Russia's Argumenty i Facty says in part: The present furor in the … [Read more...] about Is Russia Preparing to Join NATO?: Argumenty i Facty, Russia
Patrick Kennedy To Retire
It looks like we won't have any Kennedys in Congress next year. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Senator, is retiring. Assuming no other Kennedy runs it would mean no Kennedy in the Congress for the only the 2nd time in the last 64 years. JFK was elected in 1946 and served until 1961, then there was a brief space from 61-62 after which Ted Kennedy took … [Read more...] about Patrick Kennedy To Retire
Miss Me Yet?
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Miss Me Yet?
Andrew Sullivan, anti-Semite? No, but…
Warning: This post describes the intramural wars of current and former staffers at The New Republic. It should not be read by anyone who thinks pundits spend too much time analyzing themselves. That said... It all started on Monday when Leon Wieseltier published a long essay in TNR suggesting that Andrew Sullivan has begun to sink into the poisonous mire of anti-Semitism. … [Read more...] about Andrew Sullivan, anti-Semite? No, but…
Sanctions, Not Bombs, Will Bankrupt Iran
Neo-cons as Bill Kristol and new adoptee Sarah Palin are suggesting the U.S. go to war against Iran if that nation continues its path to develop nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, a more pragmatic President Obama is seeking tougher sanctions against the Islamic regime on the same issue. Palin's approach is strictly political. She said an Obama get-tough stand on Iran could be a … [Read more...] about Sanctions, Not Bombs, Will Bankrupt Iran
The Party of NO Fiscal Responsibility
In the middle of the worst recession since the Great Depression, with the stimulus package having helped significantly but much distance left to travel, conservative Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee have decided that a massive tax cut for the rich in the form of estate and gift tax cuts is just the thing to put into a jobs bill. … [Read more...] about The Party of NO Fiscal Responsibility
Sarkozy’s ‘Spite for Obama’: Le Temps, Switzerland
It's been brewing for some time, but the apparent antipathy between Presidents Sarkozy and Obama - particularly expressed by the French leader, is becoming increasingly difficult to deny. According to this news item by the Paris correspondent of Switzerland's Le Temps, Sylvain Besson, Sarkozy has begun openly using President Obama as an example of how not to do … [Read more...] about Sarkozy’s ‘Spite for Obama’: Le Temps, Switzerland
Bill Clinton Hospitalized With Chest Pains
Former President Bill Clinton has been hospitalized in New York. A press release says he admitted after suffering chest pains and was given two stents in his coronary arteries. If so then it would be a fairly minor incident. Best wishes for a speedy recovery … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Hospitalized With Chest Pains
Weather is not Climate: What the Bad Winter Storms in the U.S. Northeast Have to Do With Global Warming
Jon Stewart had a nice bit last night on the bad winter weather in the northeast, poking fun at those, mostly on the right, who think that all the snow is evidence that global warming is a myth. The fact is, weather is not the same thing as climate, and a single weather event doesn't really tell us anything meaningful about climate, let alone global climate. This is simple … [Read more...] about Weather is not Climate: What the Bad Winter Storms in the U.S. Northeast Have to Do With Global Warming
On Iran: Time for the Next Step
Guest post by Amir Farokhi Amir Farokhi is an Atlanta attorney and a principal with the Truman National Security Project. Ed. note: Today is the 31st anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. At a rally in Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran is now a "nuclear state." This past Sunday, Ahmadinejad gave the order to proceed with uranium enrichment. This … [Read more...] about On Iran: Time for the Next Step
Listening Again to Republicans, Ctd.
In my prior related post, I acknowledged agreement with certain points made by Republican friends and party leaders, citing one example for each. Echoing a Republican friend, I noted the errancy of a White House proposal to “require employers who do not offer a retirement plan to enroll their employees in a direct-deposit individual retirement account unless the employee … [Read more...] about Listening Again to Republicans, Ctd.
Escaping Presidential Sex Tapes
Things could be worse. If the millions who wanted John Edwards as President in the past decade had had their way, the nation would now be involved in a scandal to make Bill Clinton look like Mr. Monogamy. The prospect of an X-rated video starring a Commander-in-Chief surfaces in the current court battle over possession of tapes showing Edwards in carnal congress with Rielle … [Read more...] about Escaping Presidential Sex Tapes
The Tea Party’s Radicalism (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- So what exactly is the Tea Party movement and why has it risen up? The ferocity of its opposition to President Obama is mystifying to political progressives. Most of the left simply doesn't see the current occupant of the White House as especially liberal, let alone "socialist." Obama, after all, is the man who saved the banks and the capital … [Read more...] about The Tea Party’s Radicalism (Guest Voice)