Let's face it: this is a VERY BAD YEAR for candidates' relationships with men of the cloth who support them. Senator John McCain has rejected the support of a well-known pastor after it came out on an Internet website that the pastor had said Nazism was God's will: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) today rejected the endorsement of megachurch pastor and ardent Zionist John Hagee … [Read more...] about McCain Rejects And Denounces Evangelical Pastor Hagee After Hitler Controversy
Pro Clinton New York Governor: Hillary Getting Desperate in Florida, Michigan Delegate Battle
You know a candidate has jumped the shark when his/her own supporters start saying in public that the candidate is showing signs of desperation. And the pro-Clinton Governor of New York state has said just that: New York Gov. David Patterson, a supporter of Hillary Clinton's White House bid, said Friday the New York senator is showing signs of "desperation" in her … [Read more...] about Pro Clinton New York Governor: Hillary Getting Desperate in Florida, Michigan Delegate Battle
Re-Thinking the Benefit of the Doubt
Last week, I offered a parsed defense of Hillary Clinton -- challenging Andrew Sullivan and others who suggest Clinton is motivated by "power-at-any-cost" to recognize that she might be just as driven (if not more so) by her legacy than by her quest for power. I went on to write that, regardless of what her most spiteful detractors claim, I'd be willing to give her the benefit … [Read more...] about Re-Thinking the Benefit of the Doubt
Republican Memo: ‘The deepest GOP hole since the Great Depression’
The news coming out of the Republican bastion state of Georgia these days isn't so good for the GOP. Earlier this week Matt Towery and his InsiderAdvantage unveiled a statewide poll that suggested Bob Barr could put Georgia in play, and the Obama campaign knows it (that latter, btw, echoing something close to what Marc Ambinder said last week). Then today comes a memo from … [Read more...] about Republican Memo: ‘The deepest GOP hole since the Great Depression’
Principal Resigns Rather Than Allow Gay/Straight Alliance
The principal of Irmo High School in South Carolina (former debate foes of mine) has resigned after being told that he had to allow a gay/straight alliance club to form at his school. As I say in the linked post, as much as I find his arguments against the GSA repulsive, I think he did the honorable thing by resigning. I support a pretty broad array of religious … [Read more...] about Principal Resigns Rather Than Allow Gay/Straight Alliance
Ellen Bravo: Ten Compelling Reasons for Women to Vote for Obama if he’s the Candidate
From the blog of author Ellen Bravo of Taking on the Big Boys: Should Sen. Barack Obama emerge as the Democratic candidate, women have compelling reasons to support his candidacy. Here are my top ten: 10. Nearly half of women voting in the Democratic primaries already support Sen. Obama’s candidacy. CNN compiled exit polling data from all the states that held primaries … [Read more...] about Ellen Bravo: Ten Compelling Reasons for Women to Vote for Obama if he’s the Candidate
Gallup Daily: Obama Leads Clinton 11 Percent And Both Beat McCain
The latest Gallup Daily tracking poll shows Democratic Senator Barack Obama 11 percentage points ahead of his Presidential nomination rival Senator Hillary Clinton -- and both at this point could narrowly beat Republican presumptive nominee Senator John McCain: Barack Obama continues to hold a solid lead over Hillary Clinton in national Democratic voters' nomination … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily: Obama Leads Clinton 11 Percent And Both Beat McCain
The Can-Do Kennedy
Unlike his brothers, Ted Kennedy won't leave behind any soaring rhetoric for the history books, but colleagues in both parties this week are recalling his four decades as the Senate's most practical politician who "routinely reached across party lines on a wide number of issues to cut landmark deals." In contrast to their public use of his name to signify woolly-headed … [Read more...] about The Can-Do Kennedy
Quote of the Day: Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter On Clinton’s Popular Vote Argument (UPDATED)
Newsweek's Jonathan Alter takes a detailed look at Senator Hillary Clinton's argument that she is head in the popular vote in detail and the counter arguments and and concludes: With a big win in Puerto Rico, Clinton could possibly erase that margin (plus several thousand more that Obama is expected to net in Montana and South Dakota). She could then proclaim that with the … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter On Clinton’s Popular Vote Argument (UPDATED)
Iraq, and the Lessons Of “Charlie Wilson’s War”
We're in for the long haul. … [Read more...] about Iraq, and the Lessons Of “Charlie Wilson’s War”
Keeping it in the family
If this New York Daily News report is to be believed, it seems that Senator Ted Kennedy has told friends that he would like to keep his Senate seat inside the Kennedy clan if and when he can no longer occupy it. Ted Kennedy has made clear to confidants that when his time is up, he wants his Senate seat to stay in the family - with his wife, Vicki. Multiple sources in … [Read more...] about Keeping it in the family
Hold Me Tight, Iran
It’s hard to know what to make of reports that suggest that American trade with Syria actually increased last year. Remember, this is despite the fact that the Syrian Accountability Act (2003) leveled strict trade sanctions and barred the sale of most American goods. General Motors, Coca-Cola, and a few others corporations are apparently doing a brisk trade, however, … [Read more...] about Hold Me Tight, Iran
About Economists
The Economist’s Song (Sung to the tune of "Try A LittleTenderness.") They get derided, Economists get chided, Their predictions are so often wrong; But though misguided, Their reasoning is always strong. They seek no favors, For errors ask no waivers, Right half the time is enough; As for those bum calls, If you lost your shirt , that’s tough. It isn’t much … [Read more...] about About Economists
The death penalty & Troy Anthony Davis
Stephen Bright, President and Senior Counsel for the Southern Center for Human Rights, on the death penalty in decline (via TalkLeft): Although public opinion polls continue to show support for the death penalty, imposition of the death penalty is down by more than 50% over 10 years. In the late 1990s, around 280-300 people were being sentenced to death a year. In the last 5 … [Read more...] about The death penalty & Troy Anthony Davis
What’s A Jewish Voter to Do?
One can forgive Florida's substantial Jewish population for being confused these days. One day George Bush hints in a speech to the Knesset that Barack Obama is a Neville Chamberlain-like appeaser who would talk to enemies of Israel and the next day Israel is talking to its enemy Syria. Were it only that simple. A New York Times story today reveals that Sunshine State … [Read more...] about What’s A Jewish Voter to Do?
Riverdaughter’s “Pocket Guide to the Obamaniac Behavior Cycle”
From Riverdaughter (warning: if you don't like the pocket guide, you will really not like this): Hattip to Women's Voices for Change. … [Read more...] about Riverdaughter’s “Pocket Guide to the Obamaniac Behavior Cycle”
SCOTUS Justice Hillary? Please make it stop.
Even as an ardent proponent of free speech for all, I find myself hoping this morning that someone will find a way to tackle James Andrew Miller and put a muzzle on him. In a rather jaw-dropping editorial at the Washington Post, Miller suggests that Barack Obama can put the Democratic Party's civil war to rest by simply promising Hillary Clinton the first open seat on the … [Read more...] about SCOTUS Justice Hillary? Please make it stop.
McCain’s Memorial Day Veep BBQ
When Sen. John McCain fires up the grill this weekend, at least according to the New York Times' Adam Nagourney, there will be some very special guests lining up for burgers. The campaign has a firm policy of not talking about the vice presidential selection process, but it seems that this shindig may be a part of it, since three "short list" possibilities are on the guest … [Read more...] about McCain’s Memorial Day Veep BBQ
Torture: The Blackest of The Black Marks
I happen to believe that history will judge the Bush administration’s embrace of torture as the darkest of the dark marks against it. But history is something happening now that we will look back on in the future, so I have been beating the anti-torture drum pretty hard over at my own blog, Kiko's House. If you share the views of daveinboca, an uber patriot and TMV troll … [Read more...] about Torture: The Blackest of The Black Marks
The Talk About An Imminent Threat From Iran
Real Clear Politics' Kevin Sullivan, in a post on The Huffington Post, looks at the controversy over the threat from Iran: Reflecting on his now infamous appearance before the UN Security Council in 2003, former Secretary of State Colin Powell has referred to his act of WMD drumbeating at the time as a "blot" on his long record of government service. "I'm the one who … [Read more...] about The Talk About An Imminent Threat From Iran