David Gergen, the former adviser to Presidents who is now an editor-at-large for U.S. News & world Report, believes the departure of top Clinton strategist Mark Penn from running the Clinton campaign could well influence the rest of the primaries. His predictions: the Clinton campaign may start to focus more promoting Hillary Clinton's positives and focus less on trying to … [Read more...] about Gergen: Clinton Strategist Mark Penn’s Departure Could Influence Clinton Campaign And Primaries
McCain Stays The Course
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about McCain Stays The Course
Interview with Joanne Mariner
On the occasion of the release of a Human Rights Watch report on the subject of "extraordinary rendition" of prisoners to Jordan, for detention, interrogation, and torture, in the course of the "war on terror," I thank Team TMV for letting me bring you this installment in my ongoing series of interviews with knowledgeable players in "the war on terror," and particularly … [Read more...] about Interview with Joanne Mariner
Washington Mutual Bank Cutting Jobs Amid Big Losses: Another Bad Economic Sign
Yet another bad sign of the times on the economic front: Washington Mutual has lost $1 billion in the first quarter and the bank is going to slash 3,000 jobs nationwide: Seattle-based WaMu (NYSE: WM), the nation's largest thrift, has been hit hard by the mortgage turmoil, leading to speculation that its days as an independent financial institution are numbered. A … [Read more...] about Washington Mutual Bank Cutting Jobs Amid Big Losses: Another Bad Economic Sign
U.S. lefty bloggers from DKos, MoveOn.org to visit Sderot, Israel
I don't have a ton of faith in this effort, but I don't imagine it could be any worse than having members of my own synagogue intimate that I'm an anti-Semite because I don't unequivocally support Israel. From Ynet: The [Israel] Foreign Affairs Ministry has long since been exerting considerable efforts to bring the prominent writers for an extensive tour of the country, in … [Read more...] about U.S. lefty bloggers from DKos, MoveOn.org to visit Sderot, Israel
Oprah Doomed By Touch of Boy King Obama
Apparently Barack Obama is not only far less popular than some of us previously thought, but he can take down the careers of anyone who comes in contact with him. Even Oprah Winfrey! I hate to hint and run, but I'm short on time so you can read more here. (Warning, large snark and satire content.) And in case you think it's just comedy, the story really came from The Poltico. … [Read more...] about Oprah Doomed By Touch of Boy King Obama
Running On Passport Stamps
Clinton has boasted in the past that her experiences as First Lady and as New York Senator have provided her with a unique opportunity to do some serious international traveling - to several dozen countries, in fact. It's a boast that serves to suggest that she has gained some strong, first-hand background in international politics. Contrary to her claims of worldliness, … [Read more...] about Running On Passport Stamps
The Route of the Olympic Torch: A ‘Way of the Cross’
With the Olympic torch bound for San Francisco, what is the significance of the protesting that beset the torch's route in Europe? Olivier Picard writes for France's Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, "It's an absolute disaster. A symbolic defeat, politically, 'sportively,' diplomatically and historically. During this black Monday of the Olympic adventure, everyone lost! The … [Read more...] about The Route of the Olympic Torch: A ‘Way of the Cross’
Warren G. Harding
No world-beater, of course, but most under-rated President? … [Read more...] about Warren G. Harding
Iraq Progress Report Dog & Pony Show: Day 1
The first day of congressional Iraq progress report testimony by General David Petraeus is easy to sum up: We have no long-term strategy. We have no end-game plan. We just need more Friedman Units, pretty please. While none of this is surprising (and I hold Petraeus in the highest regard), it is deeply depressing that this is the best he can offer. It is the best … [Read more...] about Iraq Progress Report Dog & Pony Show: Day 1
Will Obama Really Bring Change?
The conventional wisdom has been that Obama would be able to beat John McCain in November and that many independents and moderates would break for Obama. Many Republicans and centrists has been stirred by Obama's healing rhetoric which is a breath of fresh air to many of us that are tired of eight years of partisan actions. Many Democrats like Obama more than Senator Hillary … [Read more...] about Will Obama Really Bring Change?
Petraeus Surge
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about Petraeus Surge
Racial admissions criteria: Suing in Texas
Yesterday, a graduating Senior from a high school in Richmond, TX filed suit against the University of Texas - Austin. Her complaint alleges that she, as a white person, was denied admission to UT due to race-based admission policies. Texas' state university system -- like many around the country -- has been trying to improve minority representation on its campuses for a very … [Read more...] about Racial admissions criteria: Suing in Texas
Pennsylvania Poll: Clinton Losing Ground Among Women While Margin Tightens
Polls are all over the place in the high-stakes Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential primary, but the growing trend shows Hillary Clinton steadily losing ground to Barack Obama -- a trend confirmed in a new Quinnipiac University poll. And this poll has a bit of particularly bad news for Clinton: she is losing ground among women voters, the most reliable part of her … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Poll: Clinton Losing Ground Among Women While Margin Tightens
Guest Voice: Why Hillary Clinton Is The Best Choice For America
This Guest Voice column is by Patrick Edaburn , an attorney who is a registered Republican but concerned over the influence of the hard right on his party and the influence of the hard left on the Democratic party. He was assistant editor of the excellent centrist group weblog, Central Sanity, which has been disbanded. In this column, he explains why he now believes Hillary … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Why Hillary Clinton Is The Best Choice For America
Rice for Veep?
Back in February, 2005, while guest blogging on MSNBC, Ann Althouse speculated about Condoleezza Rice as a candidate for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination. Those old enough to remember all the way back to 2005, may recall that there was something of a Rice boomlet at the time. As the early months of that year wore on, the newly-installed Secretary of State felt compelled to … [Read more...] about Rice for Veep?
Iraq: Are the Democrats More Reasonable?
While I can't answer the question from the title of this post with conclusive data, I can offer two, recent, contrasting anecdotes that seem increasingly representative of the partisan divide on this matter. The first I found on page 2 of this article from the April 2 edition of Politoco. Though I'm still reading the "Responsible Plan," so far, it measures up to the … [Read more...] about Iraq: Are the Democrats More Reasonable?
Condi Rice and the GOP’s “Black Problem”
There was a good bit of chatter over the weekend concerning rumors that Secretary of State Condi Rice might be actively seeking the VP slot on John McCain's presidential ticket. This is certainly not a new idea. If you traveled the blogs in the Right side of the sphere last year you probably saw numerous "Draft Condi!" buttons exhorting her fans to push the Secretary into a run … [Read more...] about Condi Rice and the GOP’s “Black Problem”
Wanted & Found: An Iraq War Bogeyman
It's semi-annual Iraq progress report time for David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker. But, alas, there has been no progress beyond a return to 2005 death-toll levels, which merely has given Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki an opportunity to try to exterminate his chief political rivals, so the general and the ambassador desperately need a carrot or a bogeyman to appease the few restive … [Read more...] about Wanted & Found: An Iraq War Bogeyman
Market Watching With Fear And Loathing
Last week was filled with awful reports about the state of the U.S. economy. But the stock market went up three percent. Why? The stock market is supposed to be a barometer of the overall economy. It's supposed to go up when economic times are good and fall when they aren't. This barometer has never been perfect in this regard, of course. Market-specific quirks such as the … [Read more...] about Market Watching With Fear And Loathing