William Kristol, the great presidential campaigns “savior,” has some advice for John McCain on how to get off his present “course to lose the presidential election to Barack Obama.” In his September 29, New York Times column, “How McCain Wins,” Kristol advices McCain to continue to make “impetuous decisions.” (“McCain’s impetuous decision to return to Washington was … [Read more...] about Bill Kristol’s Advice to John McCain: Continue to Play the “Impetuosity” Card
That’s Transparency? Bailout Agreement on the Net
Get your own - Open publication Wired wonders, doesn't transparency mean more than just posting legislation on the web, then rushing to approve it in congress? The White House and congressional leaders agreed to the details of the $700 billion government bailout of financial institutions late Sunday afternoon and they promptly released the bill on the internet. The … [Read more...] about That’s Transparency? Bailout Agreement on the Net
Falcon 1: Up, Up and Away
The concept of civilian spaceflight continues to take root this week with the launch of Elon Musk's new orbital payload rocket, Falcon 1. The craft is currently orbiting the Earth carrying a 165 kg test payload. "This is a great day for SpaceX and the culmination of an enormous amount of work by a great team," said Musk, who is CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "The data shows we … [Read more...] about Falcon 1: Up, Up and Away
House Republicans Minority Leader John Boehner On The Proposed Bailout
It sounds as if Boehner ate at the same place I did when I was on the road this summer... … [Read more...] about House Republicans Minority Leader John Boehner On The Proposed Bailout
Is This The McCain Campaign’s Next Headline Grabbing “Game Changer” Surprise?
The Bailout: Presidential Candidate Leadership By Telephone
If Democratic Senator Barack Obama is in touch with Congress by phone it's a lack of real leadership. If Republican Senator John McCain is in touch with Congress by phone it's real leadership. Or so it is being apparently argued. Don't you get the difference? … [Read more...] about The Bailout: Presidential Candidate Leadership By Telephone
[video] Phone Atone w/Biden, McCain, Obama & Palin (aka L’shana Tova)
Today is “Pulpit Freedom Sunday”
The Alliance Defense Fund tapped 33 pastors in 22 states to make explicit recommendations about political candidates from the pulpit today. AP: The conservative legal group plans to send copies of the pastors' sermons to the IRS with hope of setting off a legal fight and abolishing restrictions on church involvement in politics. Critics call it unnecessary, divisive and … [Read more...] about Today is “Pulpit Freedom Sunday”
Obama Inches Ahead In Gallup, Rasmussen And Other Polls
In the latest "bounce" in a political season marked by bounces and roller-coaster-like polls, Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama has regained the lead over Republican Sen. John McCain -- a solid 8 point lead in the Gallup Daily Tracking poll alone. Most of these polls don't yet fully measure the impact of Friday's debate in which partisans of each side … [Read more...] about Obama Inches Ahead In Gallup, Rasmussen And Other Polls
The Bridge at Khazad Dum: Your Musical Suggestions for Fighting The Good Fight?
Dear Brave Souls, You may have noticed that Joe, our Ed-in-Chief, had written about how I would be covering the DNC from outside, and that I posted for two days and suddenly went incognito for a long while with no posts. Just on that second day of the DNC, we'd had a loved one in our family suddenly-diagnosed with that one word none of us wants to hear... one of the most … [Read more...] about The Bridge at Khazad Dum: Your Musical Suggestions for Fighting The Good Fight?
Is American Global Leadership Over?
A grim view from abroad on America's economic predicament from John Gray in The Guardian today: Our gaze might be on the markets melting down, but the upheaval we are experiencing is more than a financial crisis, however large. Here is a historic geopolitical shift, in which the balance of power in the world is being altered irrevocably. The era of American global leadership, … [Read more...] about Is American Global Leadership Over?
Republicans Reacting To Obama And The Debate
One of the more tedious political tasks for pundits who MUST follow the big political stories is having to listen to professional Democratic and Republican spinmasters who permeate television right after a debate. But sometimes the robot-like recitations predictably supporting their candidates, blasting the others, and seeming confident and chipper can go awry. Here are two … [Read more...] about Republicans Reacting To Obama And The Debate
SNL, Tina Fey, Sarah Palin And Vice Presidential Debate Expectations
Could Tina Fey's cutting Saturday Night Live parody of Republican Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin prove to be a political plus? If viewed in the context of the upcoming Vice Presidential debate's expectations game, the answer is yes. Fey's parody like most satirical comedy is grounded in the use of shared assumptions, which are then shattered or traits that are … [Read more...] about SNL, Tina Fey, Sarah Palin And Vice Presidential Debate Expectations
Bill Kristol on FNS today: Free Sarah Palin!
Liberals love to point out that pundit Bill Kristol is nearly always wrong. They'd have to hand it to him on the Palin part of this one though. From the Sunday, June 29, 2008 edition of Fox News Sunday: BILL KRISTOL: Republicans are much more open to strong women, and that's why McCain's going to put Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, on the ticket as vice president... She's … [Read more...] about Bill Kristol on FNS today: Free Sarah Palin!
The Money Pit and Cat in the Well
After pulling an all-nighter, the low-approval gang in Washington is ready to give us their new, improved version of the $700 billion gamble nobody understands but practically all are sure is needed to keep the sky from falling. The 1980s Tom Hanks movie, "The Money Pit," comes to mind as Congress and the Administration enthuse over the financial structure we're buying with … [Read more...] about The Money Pit and Cat in the Well
Amid Sagging Polls, McCain Campaign Readies New Two-Part Obama Attack
In the light of a debate in which some feel Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain came out ahead but didn't demolish opponent Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, and sagging numbers in the polls, McCain's campaign is now reportedly-readying a two-pronged attack against Obama after a week in which national economic news dominated the stage: "The first lesson of this … [Read more...] about Amid Sagging Polls, McCain Campaign Readies New Two-Part Obama Attack
Voices of Fiscal Sanity in the Wilderness
When it comes to matters of fiscal conservatism, it often becomes a lonely business to stand on the beach by yourself, shouting at the ocean with these foul tasting, sandy pebbles in your mouth. Readers have made their preferences clear when it comes to matters of economic prudence. "Nay nay!" you say. "We'll have none of your Bob Barr and his crazy ideas about cutting spending … [Read more...] about Voices of Fiscal Sanity in the Wilderness
USA Today-Gallup Poll: Obama Did Better In First Debate Than McCain
A slew of polls have come out after Friday's first debate between presidential candidates Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain indicating most people felt Obama "won" the debate. The latest has been one of the most anticipated: the USA Today/Gallup poll -- which also has found more viewers felt Obama did better than McCain: A new USA TODAY/Gallup … [Read more...] about USA Today-Gallup Poll: Obama Did Better In First Debate Than McCain
‘You’re Not The Same Woman Now, Maggie’
The first of Paul Newman's extraordinary 10 Academy Award nominations was for his superb portrayal of Brick Pollitt, the alcoholic former football star and under-performing husband, in the screen version of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I hadn't realized until Newman's passing at age 83 on Friday that, of his many roles, this had become my favorite over the … [Read more...] about ‘You’re Not The Same Woman Now, Maggie’
Seizing America by Withholding the Mother’s Milk of Politics (Guest Voice)
What do the bailout, mega-money in politics sought and used by both parties and GOP Presidential candidate Senator John McCain's dramatic actions this week have in common? In this Guest Voice post, Rosemary and Walter Brasch explain. Journalism professor and author Walter Brasch is an award-winning syndicated newspaper columnist and radio commentator, and president of the … [Read more...] about Seizing America by Withholding the Mother’s Milk of Politics (Guest Voice)