DEBATE PREVIEW: Dennis Kucinich got ruled out at the last minute by the courts. MSNBC MSNBC First Read: The two-hour debate from here in Las Vegas begins at 9:00 pm ET on MSNBC, and it's moderated by NBC's Brian Williams, who will be joined by NBC's Tim Russert; NBC's Natalie Morales also will be asking questions. The debate will feature a segment we haven't seen … [Read more...] about The Silver State’s Debate
Fractured G.O.P. – Romney Wins Michigan
Brokered Convention Here We Come? MSNBC: Romney edges McCain in Michigan NBC News projects former Mass. governor has won state's Republican primary, edging McCain and Huckabee; Clinton expected to get most votes among Democrats, though most of her rivals shunned ballot over dispute with state party. … [Read more...] about Fractured G.O.P. – Romney Wins Michigan
Obama/Sebelius?
Not to get ahead of ourselves, but Obama should seriously consider the Kansas governor as his VP nominee. … [Read more...] about Obama/Sebelius?
To the Democrats’ Campaigns, A Word of Advice…
Do you know what word I'm already well and truly sick of hearing being bandied about with respect to the Democrats? "Surrogate." Hillary's "surrogate" said this. Obama's "surrogate" said that. The remarks of the candidate's "surrogate" or "surrogates" are attributed to the candidate, creating the need for candidates to surround themselves with supporters who are at all … [Read more...] about To the Democrats’ Campaigns, A Word of Advice…
Dr. King, Hillary and Obama
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Dr. King, Hillary and Obama
Martin Luther King, Now and Then
On his 79th birthday today, Martin Luther King is in the news again. To make a point about the difference between rhetoric and reality, between Barack Obama and herself, Hillary Clinton says, "“Dr. King’s dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It took a president to get it done.” That December, after receiving the … [Read more...] about Martin Luther King, Now and Then
Obama and Farrakhan
Co-blogger T-Steel already offered his take on this subject today, but I wanted to give my own musings on whether and what Obama needs to see regarding his pastor's praise for Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. I do want to briefly digress to note that I think T-Steel's example of his ex-murderer friend is somewhat in-apt. I certainly agree that T should not be forced … [Read more...] about Obama and Farrakhan
De-Baathification Law Passes…But Who Wins?
I've made no secret on this blog regarding my skepticism about the surge. But, to be honest, I'd like nothing more than to be proved wrong. The possibility of eating crow was therefore happily on my mind as I read this weekend's big news from Iraq -- the passage of a "de-Baathification" law, one of the political benchmarks considered vital for establishing national … [Read more...] about De-Baathification Law Passes…But Who Wins?
Bush’s Promises are Not to Be Believed …
How degraded is American credibility - even amongst our staunchest Arab allies? According to this editorial from Al-Khaleej of the United Arab Emirates, which President Bush visited Sunday, there is little confidence in President Bush's assurances of imminent peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The editorial asks, 'Are there any promises being made here that Arabs can … [Read more...] about Bush’s Promises are Not to Be Believed …
Clarity at Last
I traded notes recently with the op-ed page editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch regarding a new essay I wanted to submit for publication. Unfortunately, he and I never reached consensus on the copy because he maintains a strict rule (understably so) against unsolicited op-ed submissions that endorse or critique particular candidates -- and, try as I might, I could not … [Read more...] about Clarity at Last
How Do You Deal With a Recession?
In his NYT column yesterday, Paul Krugman opened with the following point: "Suddenly, the economic consensus seems to be that the implosion of the housing market will indeed push the U.S. economy into a recession, and that it’s quite possible that we’re already in one." Given this consensus, the question -- the question for the presidential candidates in both parties -- is … [Read more...] about How Do You Deal With a Recession?
Embracing Tyranny
As Fareed Zakaria put it on last night's Daily Show, the U.S., and the Bush Administration in particular, supports democratic reform only in "strategically insignificant" countries like Burma -- and not in, for example, Pakistan, Egypt, or Saudi Arabia, where U.S.- and Bush-friendly dictators, or seemingly friendly dictators (like Pakistan's Musharraf), accept U.S. aid in … [Read more...] about Embracing Tyranny
The Farrakhan Test (stupid) comes a-callin’
My best friend used to be a gang member. He was an enforcer type. The type that intimidates, maims, and dare I say kills for the cause. He served 8 years in prison, got out, got married to a wonderful woman, had children, and now runs a martial arts (Hapkido) dojang. I have no doubts that my best friend killed rival gang members. Why? Because he said as much and there is … [Read more...] about The Farrakhan Test (stupid) comes a-callin’
Pakistan & Al-Qaeda: Getting The Genie Back Into The Bottle
I partially agree with Carlotta Gall, whose writings I admire, who recently wrote an interesting article, along with David Rohde, in the New York Times titled 'Pakistan Struggles Against Militants Trained by Agency (Pakistan's ISI)'. Her write-up from Islamabad states: "Pakistan’s premier military intelligence agency (ISI) has lost control of some of the networks of … [Read more...] about Pakistan & Al-Qaeda: Getting The Genie Back Into The Bottle
Gallup Poll Official: Clinton Gains And Bad Year For Bloomberg
Democratic Senator New York Hillary Clinton has pulled way ahead of Barack Obama in national polling in the 2008 Democratic nomination race amid a "dramatic shift" of black voters towards Obama -- and Clinton likely won her surprise in New Hampshire by her organization getting massive numbers of "old line" Democrats out to vote on voting day, Gallup Polls' editor-in-chief said … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll Official: Clinton Gains And Bad Year For Bloomberg
Schwarzenegger Campaigns for Election Reform
Schwarzenegger Campaigns for Election Reform in the LA Times today: He writes primarily about term limits but also Campaign Finance reform and Redistricting. We need redistricting reform to make the political system more competitive and more representative of the citizens of California. We need campaign finance reform to limit the influence of money in politics, and it … [Read more...] about Schwarzenegger Campaigns for Election Reform
Picking the Winners
Here’s what I submitted this morning in our office poll re: the top-three finishers in Michigan, plus my guesses on the approximate percentage of votes they’ll each receive. For those just tuning in, today's vote in Michigan is effectively Republicans only, thanks to an ongoing feud between the DNC and Michigan Democrats. REPUBLICANS 1. McCain 27% 2. Romney 26% 3. … [Read more...] about Picking the Winners
It’s L.A. Confidential For Real: The Twisted Tale of Black Dahlia Avenger
Sixty-one years ago today, a 22-year-old beauty by the name of Elizabeth Short was found brutally slain in a vacant lot at 39th and Norton streets in Los Angeles. Her body cut in half at the waist with surgical precision, her face and breasts slit, and there was a large gash where her vulva should have been. Her body had been drained of fluids as if prepared for an embalming … [Read more...] about It’s L.A. Confidential For Real: The Twisted Tale of Black Dahlia Avenger
Obama and Clinton Would Face Tough Decision on Running Mates, Part 1
Should either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton secure the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party, each would face an important challenge in the selection of a vice presidential running mate. The stakes would be high in either scenario. Clinton would need to make a choice that gains something like positive acclimation from the 45 to 48% of the electorate who say they … [Read more...] about Obama and Clinton Would Face Tough Decision on Running Mates, Part 1
Sorry About the Race Ruckus, Dr. King
That sound you hear is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spinning in his grave on what would have been his 79th birthday today as the leading Democratic presidential contenders duke it out over who can better represent his legacy and how crucial a role the great man played in securing the landmark civil rights laws of the 1970s. Commenting further than I already have on this … [Read more...] about Sorry About the Race Ruckus, Dr. King