Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is on the verge of making a huge political mistake: Inundated by dozens of invitations, Sen. Barack Obama will turn down requests to join future debates and forums this fall, his Democratic presidential campaign announced Saturday. Obama will honor his commitment to eight more debates (five sanctioned by the Democratic … [Read more...] about Barack Obama’s Mistake: Will Turn Down Future Debates
Republicans: Democrats’ Best Friends
Are Republicans rushing for the exits? The New York Times certainly seems to think so: A rash of retirements among House Republicans is adding to the party’s electoral challenges and raising questions about a rush for the exits. Four House Republicans — Representatives J. Dennis Hastert and Ray LaHood, both of Illinois; Deborah Pryce of Ohio; and Charles W. Pickering … [Read more...] about Republicans: Democrats’ Best Friends
Edwards Calls Coulter ‘She-Devil’
Instead of ignoring Ann Coulter completely, John Edwards seems to have decided that attacking her might pay off (politically): ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Former Sen. John Edwards on Friday fired the latest round in his ongoing verbal feud with Ann Coulter, calling her a "she-devil" at a public event before quickly adding that he shouldn't engage in name-calling. Edwards, … [Read more...] about Edwards Calls Coulter ‘She-Devil’
Some Congressional Republicans Are Running For The Exits
Some Republican office holders are now running for the political exits faster than Bush administration members are leaving to spend more time with their families: A rash of retirements among House Republicans is adding to the party’s electoral challenges and raising questions about a rush for the exits. Four House Republicans — Representatives J. Dennis Hastert and … [Read more...] about Some Congressional Republicans Are Running For The Exits
Amazing President Facts
It's Saturday and time to kick back a bit. So why not educate yourself? Here are some fascinating Presidential facts: … [Read more...] about Amazing President Facts
Sorry, But I Really Didn’t Say Sorry
Irish and British newspapers have reported that the Danish culture minister, Brian Mikkelsen, has offered an official apology for the destruction and havoc the Vikings wrecked on Ireland more than 1,000 years ago. But in an interview with the Danish newspaper Politiken, Mikkelsen denied having said the S-word during a visit to Dublin to mark the arrival of the replica Viking … [Read more...] about Sorry, But I Really Didn’t Say Sorry
Mike Gravel and The End of the Draft
The guy's a little eccentric. But it's videos like this that remind me that Mike Gravel has done more for the cause of liberty than Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards combined. It's hard to think of any policy that Clinton, Obama, or Edwards have done that has been as far-reaching as ending the draft. Also, earlier this summer, Mike Gravel went onto a forum … [Read more...] about Mike Gravel and The End of the Draft
Crumbling
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen … [Read more...] about Crumbling
Michael Savage Sparks Demonstration In San Francisco
Michael Savage has sparked a demonstration in San Francisco after jokingly suggesting Latino students on a hunger strike should be allowed to die. Over the line? Or used as a prextext for publicity? The San Francisco Examiner: On a sunny Tuesday in San Francisco, a vocal group of Latino protesters gathered with Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval on the steps of City Hall, … [Read more...] about Michael Savage Sparks Demonstration In San Francisco
B-Rocks The House
Obama's name is starting to pop up in Hip Hop. … [Read more...] about B-Rocks The House
On The Media’s Sudden Focus On Mine Safety
Suddenly, the issue of mine safety is all the rage in the news media. It isn't unusual for issues that are seemingly neglected for months (or decades) to be suddenly pitchforked into the headlines when...an event suddenly pitchforks it into the headlines. And that raises some issues, as Arriana Huffington writes: So last night, suddenly, after the tragic second collapse … [Read more...] about On The Media’s Sudden Focus On Mine Safety
What I Did On My Vacation
I actually got some blogging done while in Rehoboth, but the internet was so spotty I couldn't reliably get the posts online. So here's a wrap-up of the posts I did: Tony Perkins lauds a soldier for "tak[ing] on Guantanamo". How does one "take on" an isolated, extra-legal island prison we already own? Fred Thompson supporters seem to think "he's tall" is a sufficient … [Read more...] about What I Did On My Vacation
So What Happened To Jose Padilla?
Read this troubling post by Andrew Sullivan. … [Read more...] about So What Happened To Jose Padilla?
I Have Three Words For Rudy Giuliani
I got piled on a bit yesterday in a comments thread -- and really blistered in a private email or two -- over my view that Rudy Giuliani is a resume without a man and unelectable. This shameless one-trick pony has banged the 9/11 drum relentlessly, but is so craven at heart that he could not help himself and insulted the many brave first responders and clean-up crews who … [Read more...] about I Have Three Words For Rudy Giuliani
What’s The Best Way To Change Our Political System?
Is it through reforms passed by Congress? Or is that naive? Is that the equivalent of having Sylvester the cat babysit Tweety bird? Is the best way via reforming politics by changing campaign rules WITHOUT Congress getting involved? Walking Think Tank's idea is the latter. The post is a MUST READ (even for those who already don't like the idea) but we won't quote much of … [Read more...] about What’s The Best Way To Change Our Political System?
A Warrior Loves Peace More Than Anything. Then There’s Steven Green
Steven Green On Monday, I revisited the tragic story of Abeer Qassim Hamza, the 13-year-old Iraqi girl who was repeatedly raped and along with her parents and sister, murdered by a posse of U.S. soldiers led by Private First Class Steven Green, a 21-year-old boy-man with homicidal tendencies and a criminal record of which the Army was well aware. My commentary got a fair … [Read more...] about A Warrior Loves Peace More Than Anything. Then There’s Steven Green
Iraq: Different Day, Same Old Spit
It Takes a Village There has been a breakthrough in the political logjam in Iraq. The Associated Press reports that: "Iraq’s political leaders emerged Thursday from three days of crisis talks with a new alliance that seeks to save the crumbling U.S.-backed government." Oh, goody! But wait a goshdarned minute: The reshaped power bloc includes no … [Read more...] about Iraq: Different Day, Same Old Spit
David Halberstam & The History Boys
The great journalist David Halberstam left us a timely gift before his untimely death earlier this year -- an eloquent essay in which he argues that George Bush's verison of history, like the Iraq war, is based on wishful thinking, arrogance and a total disdain for the facts. Halberstam knows history, and while I stand in his shadow, so do I, which means that Bush's exerable … [Read more...] about David Halberstam & The History Boys
Upcoming Iraq Report Will Be Mistrusted, Poll Finds
How bad is the Bush administration's credibility problem? This bad: A majority of Americans don't trust the upcoming report by the Army's top commander in Iraq on the progress of the war and even if they did, it wouldn't change their mind, according to a new poll. President Bush frequently has asked Congress -- and the American people -- to withhold judgment on his … [Read more...] about Upcoming Iraq Report Will Be Mistrusted, Poll Finds
Hospital Infections: The Perfect Storm
Many people -- too many -- get an unpleasant surprise when they are hospitalized: They end up worse off than when they were admitted because they get an infection during treatment. About 100,000 patients die from these infections each year and they cost hundreds of millions of dollars to treat, often because of catheters that are implanted for days or weeks at a time, but we … [Read more...] about Hospital Infections: The Perfect Storm