"What In The Hell Happened in Alaska?" asks Nate Silver. Good question. As of right now, Republican incumbent Ted Stevens is leading Democratic challenger Mark Begich 48 to 47 (with 99 percent reporting) in their Senate race. The margin is 3,353 (with almost 210,000 votes counted). As I mentioned the other day, however, there are tens of thousands of ballots left to … [Read more...] about Something Stinks in Alaska
We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Moderates
So says Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. Money quote: "What Tuesday was, was a fact that people wanted change, and it's a rejection of a moderate view." The meeting that Perkins attended sounds like it was a remarkably productive affair. Per another attendee, the singularly focused Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform: "There's no one leader. … [Read more...] about We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Moderates
New Politics of the Common Good: Running Risks on the Side of Honesty
The only way President-elect Barack Obama can expect to live up to the hopes invested in him is to run all the risks on the side honesty. In his forthcoming press conference and speech, he should tell the people about sacrifices he expects from them to rebuild America as well as how he plans to honor his many promises especially for the economy. Obama’s resounding victory … [Read more...] about New Politics of the Common Good: Running Risks on the Side of Honesty
New Political Landscape
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post … [Read more...] about New Political Landscape
Obama Names Rahm Emanuel His Chief of Staff. So What Does It Mean?
Clintonite and Congressman Rahm Emanuel has accepted Obama's offer to be his chief of staff. Like David Corn and Ezra Klein, I'm ambivalent about it. On the one hand, Emanuel hasn't exactly been an ally of the liberal-progressive elements in the Democratic Party. On the other hand, he's a tough, hard-nosed insider and aggressive partisan with White House experience. So what … [Read more...] about Obama Names Rahm Emanuel His Chief of Staff. So What Does It Mean?
Rahmbo: Bringing a Gun to a Knife Fight (continued)
As a follow-up to my previous post on Obama appointees I would invite you to take a critical look at this editorial from Mark Karlin. The very progressive (or liberal, as you like) editor of BuzzFlash describes his long, storied and occasionally dysfunctional relationship with Rahm Emanuel, providing us with an excellent insider perspective on what the new Chief of Staff will … [Read more...] about Rahmbo: Bringing a Gun to a Knife Fight (continued)
Bush’s Dog Barney Bites Reuters Reporter
Usually reporters are used to getting the finger at the White House, not getting their finger bit: This video shows you how pervasive anti-press feeling is at the Bush White House... … [Read more...] about Bush’s Dog Barney Bites Reuters Reporter
Name This Dog
It would seem that our merry band has increased by one. My wife finished all of the paperwork and legal wrangling and brought home a new addition. He's a schnauzer who was rescued by animal protection services from a puppy mill where he had been kept in a crate as a stud dog for six years. He's had virtually no human contact or warmth, so he is understandably skittish and … [Read more...] about Name This Dog
A Quote for the Day
"Some wonder if Barack Obama is a hard leftist or more a pragmatic politician who simply rose in leftist precincts (that would be you, Hyde Park, Chicago). A less charged way to put the question would be: Is he a strict modern liberal, or possibly a man of some considerable moderate instincts? The obvious answer is: We're about to find out. But I think the more interesting … [Read more...] about A Quote for the Day
Fond Farewell to Bush
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Fond Farewell to Bush
Obama Crowdsourcing the Political Agenda @Change.gov
ReadWriteWeb looks at the second act of Obama's Social Media Advantage: With the launch of change.gov [link], Obama appears to be staying the course. He's not avoiding the conversation; he's embracing it. And while there's not much to the change.gov site currently, it's the fragments that tell the story. And it's a story of a continued commitment to interact with the people on … [Read more...] about Obama Crowdsourcing the Political Agenda @Change.gov
Guantánamo Seems So Yesterday & Other Bush Torture Regime News
It was just fine with Barack Obama and John McCain that they could pretty much avoid talking about the Bush administration's kangaroo court military tribunals and its embrace of torture during the presidential campaign. While these aspects of the U.S.'s so-called War on Terror were not a priority for voters who are beleaguered by a collapsed economy and wondering how to pay … [Read more...] about Guantánamo Seems So Yesterday & Other Bush Torture Regime News
An Early Look at Obama’s Appointments
On our Thursday radio show, we took a look at some of the speculation around President Elect Obama's appointments for his cabinet and staff. I'd like to summarize some of our discussion and add to it with some suggestions and analysis of where we stand so far. The first choice, of course, was Barack's selection of Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff. He's certainly qualified, … [Read more...] about An Early Look at Obama’s Appointments
A Result Of Obama’s Election
Racism ends forever: … [Read more...] about A Result Of Obama’s Election
President Elect Obama’s Landslip
Over the past few days I have been watching all of the coverage of President Elect Obama's victory over Senator McCain. I would like to make it clear from the beginning that I congratulate him on a solid victory. While we can debate over how much was pro-Obama and how much was anti-Bush, the fact remains that it was a clear win. However, as a student of politics and history, … [Read more...] about President Elect Obama’s Landslip
Selected Headlines from Around the World
The tidal wave of global reaction to the election of President-elect Barack Obama is enough to make a foreign desk editor cry over what to do next. Coming later today will be articles from Russia and Iraq. Here are just a few of the many stories posted on WORLDMEETS.US in the past 24 hours: 24 Heures, Switzerland A Man, a Destiny, a World: The Best of America … [Read more...] about Selected Headlines from Around the World
Transition of Power
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen … [Read more...] about Transition of Power
Time Machine: Whose Shoulders Does Obama Really Stand Upon?
Whose Shoulders Does Obama Really Stand Upon? Not Reverend Wright's. Not all the old lefties cum bomb-planners who have faded. No, Obama stands on the shoulders of these brave souls who are most often forgotten by name, rarely referred to in media or by politicians, but souls, both black and white, who literally laid down their lives so that people of all colors could … [Read more...] about Time Machine: Whose Shoulders Does Obama Really Stand Upon?
Repeal DOMA, More on Prop 8
Pam Spaulding points to Gabriel Malor of the "arch-conservative blog" Ace of Spades quietly outing himself as he mourned the passage of Prop 8: On Prop 8: I know most of you disagree with me about it. But could we have a moment of silence for those poor fools who were happily married or engaged yesterday and today are finding out that they don't have squat? Prop 8 was much … [Read more...] about Repeal DOMA, More on Prop 8
What Rahm Emanuel’s Appointment As Obama’s Chief Of Staff Means
There has been much speculation over what Rep. Rahm Emanuel's appointment as President Elect Barack Obama's Chief of Staff means. And once again The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder (who does a lot of original reporting and sourcing as well as blogging) hits the nail on the head: it seems to be a sign that Obama intends to do things his way -- and try and stay in the … [Read more...] about What Rahm Emanuel’s Appointment As Obama’s Chief Of Staff Means