More Notes on the State of Politics Last week the Crystal Ball published the first installment in an intermittent series of observations on a variety of 2008 political and campaign topics. In addition to our usual essays focusing on one subject, which will still appear regularly, we offer these morsels as a "low cal" supplement for political junkies on the go! … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: More Notes on the State of Politics
Money Talks, Academic Freedom Walks
As legal eagles go, they don’t come much smarter, nicer or fairer than Erwin Chemerinsky. I know this because Chemerinsky was one of my go-to guys when I was covering the O.J. Simpson murder case and criminal trial in the mid-1990s and I needed an astute comment on deadline regarding one of the hydra-headed legal aspects of this drama. Chemerinsky has become a favorite … [Read more...] about Money Talks, Academic Freedom Walks
GOOD JOB, PETRAEUS
Patrick Chappatte, The International Herald Tribune … [Read more...] about GOOD JOB, PETRAEUS
Bush & Dems: A Tale of Two Mandates
You have to go all the way back to Richard Nixon’s infamous 1973 “I am not a crook†speech to find a presidential address that is being made under circumstances so incredible as those when George Bush addresses the nation tonight. Bill Clinton’s 1998 "I did not have sex with that woman" speech was ignominious, but hardly comparable. Nixon turned a third-rate … [Read more...] about Bush & Dems: A Tale of Two Mandates
(Updated) A Memo to MoveOn.Org: Cut the Crap. It’s Time To Move On
The Democratic Party needs MoveOn.Org like a bad case of diarrhea. Yet there was the left-wing public policy group giving it the sh*ts this week because of its latest outburst of trash talk – a full-page ad disparaging General David Petraeus in the New York Times on Monday that carried the the big, bold headline "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?" While there was … [Read more...] about (Updated) A Memo to MoveOn.Org: Cut the Crap. It’s Time To Move On
Enabling Iraqi Dysfunction
I was always fairly skeptical of the boilerplate Democratic charge that Iraqi politicians will only act on matters of national reconciliation when the US threatens to withdraw and leave them to their fate. I doubted this because I felt a) It was just a rhetorical ploy to foist failure in Iraq on the Iraqis themselves, and b) It naively underplayed the true depth of Iraqi … [Read more...] about Enabling Iraqi Dysfunction
Poll: Support For Bush’s Iraq Policy Edges Up
A new poll shows a small increase in support for President George Bush handling of the Iraq war -- coming at a critical time when he's trying to shore up Republican support and Democrats are pondering their next move. The Wall Street Journal: Public discontent with the Iraq war has slightly eased, increasing President Bush's political maneuvering room at a critical … [Read more...] about Poll: Support For Bush’s Iraq Policy Edges Up
Human chips in the technology game
Some people think all technology is bad. Especially those Blackberries: English-born American theoretical physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson once said: If we had a reliable way to label our toys good and bad, it would be easy to regulate technology wisely. But we can rarely see far enough ahead to know which road leads to damnation. Whoever concerns himself … [Read more...] about Human chips in the technology game
A matter of context
Cross-posted to Random Fate. --- Upon becoming a stepdad, I’ve been introduced into the wonderful world of middle-school homework. One of the prevalent tasks (appearing in more than one class in more than one grade) is a “current event†summary. The student is to find a news article related to the class (this year we have two, one for Social Studies and one for … [Read more...] about A matter of context
Larry Craig and The Old Superman Trick: Trying to Turn the World Backward on Its Axis
Larry Craig has apparently gotten his court date in Minnesota. His case is scheduled four days before his first proffered resignation date, September 30th. He's going to apply to wind the world-clock backward, to take back time. It'll be interesting to see how the judge will rule... Senator Craig's new plea before the court may inadvertently help the cases of the other 41 … [Read more...] about Larry Craig and The Old Superman Trick: Trying to Turn the World Backward on Its Axis
Eisenhower to Petraeus
Fifty five years ago, an American general who had won his war and was running for President, had some advice that Gen. David Petraeus and his Commander-in-Chief should take to heart today. “Fanaticism,†Eisenhower said, quoting the philosopher George Santayana, “consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.†After election, Eisenhower gave his … [Read more...] about Eisenhower to Petraeus
RIP: Omar Mora & Yance Gray
Two of the seven GIs in Iraq who wrote a controversial New York Times op-ed piece questioning the war have been killed. Sergeants Omar Mora and Yance Gray died Monday when a cargo truck overturned in western Baghdad, two of seven U.S. troops killed and 11 injured just as General David Petraeus was about to report to Congress on progress of the surge. Their names were … [Read more...] about RIP: Omar Mora & Yance Gray
First Online-Only Democratic Party Presidential Debate Today
Today will mark yet ANOTHER milestone in Presidential political debates (aside from television, YouTube and people labeling and denouncing each other in weblog comments sections): an online debate. The Washington Post: The list of "firsts" in presidential forums and debates just keeps on growing, thanks to the Internet. The Republican candidates get their shot at the … [Read more...] about First Online-Only Democratic Party Presidential Debate Today
Leading Questions For General Petraeus
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about Leading Questions For General Petraeus
Kanye West Backstage At MTV
Not a happy camper: This explains his objections. … [Read more...] about Kanye West Backstage At MTV
Meanwhile, Back at the War
Petraeus and Crocker: That's a Wrap Now that we've gotten another 9/11 anniversary out of the way, there's an opportunity to let the testimony of General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker really sink in. And unless you're one of those delusional souls for whom the corner in Iraq has been just about to be turned for years, the upshot of their dog-and-pony show is … [Read more...] about Meanwhile, Back at the War
The Most Tiresome Political Response Of 2000-2007
Can you guess what it is? Hint: It's a way of answering a criticism that has become like the sound of chalk on a blackboard (and equally as relevant to a discussion) to many Democrats, independents and even Republicans who are critical of the Bush administration. The answer is HERE. … [Read more...] about The Most Tiresome Political Response Of 2000-2007
Maureen Dowd: The Surge Is Like Girdles
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has the best analogy about General David Petraeus' testimony and "the surge" in Iraq yet: She likens it to a girdle. Writing in Times Select, she says of the testimony: But the whole thing was sort of a fizzle. It’s obvious that the Surge is like those girdles the secretaries wear on the vintage advertising show, “Mad Men.†… [Read more...] about Maureen Dowd: The Surge Is Like Girdles
9-11 Six Years Later
Jeff Parker, Florida Today … [Read more...] about 9-11 Six Years Later
Petraeus Hearings: The Turning Point
The Petraeus Hearings faced a critical turning point in a line of questioning from the well-respected Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia on whether the strategy in Iraq will "make America safer." General Petraeus responded, "I don't know," followed by an honest appraisal of the limits of his authority in Iraq. As Spencer Ackerman notes, "This is the first time that any … [Read more...] about Petraeus Hearings: The Turning Point