Newly sworn-in House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi is making it clear today that the days when President George Bush gets a blank check to sign on the Iraq war are most decidedly over. While she is not threatening an attempt to cut off funding for the war -- a move that would be political suicide for the Democratic Party at this point (and would not pass, anyway) -- she is … [Read more...] about Pelosi: No More Blank Checks For Bush On Iraq
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs: Western Democrat: Democrats investing in the future. Justin Gardner at Donklephant: Rehnquist was a junky? Michael Linn Jones at Gun Toting Liberal is "beginning to have doubts about" the value / importance of cell phones. I'm not: I detest them. They are perhaps - in my humble opinion - mankind's worst invention. Young children … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Polish Archbishop Quits After Admitting ‘Collaboration’ with Secret Service
Bloomberg.com reports (h/t Stuart): Stanislaw Wielgus, the metropolitan archbishop of Warsaw, resigned today to applause and shouting at a special Mass meant to install him to the post, having confessed he collaborated with the secret service during communist rule in Poland. Wielgus appeared to fight back tears as he made the announcement in Warsaw Cathedral to shouts of … [Read more...] about Polish Archbishop Quits After Admitting ‘Collaboration’ with Secret Service
Toys-R-Us and the Immigration Debate
The New York Times: It seemed like a perfect formula for good publicity: A national sweepstakes would award a $25,000 United States savings bond to the first American baby born in 2007, courtesy of the toy chain Toys “Râ€? Us and its Babies “Râ€? Us division. Instead, after disqualifying a Chinese-American baby girl born in New York Downtown Hospital at the stroke of … [Read more...] about Toys-R-Us and the Immigration Debate
2007 New Year’s Resolutions
From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about 2007 New Year’s Resolutions
Album Review: ‘1000 Years of Popular Music’
The great guitar masters -- Segovia, Clapton, Montgomery, Garcia, Hendrix -- have a style and sound so distinctive that you're able to recognize them after only a few notes. So it is with Richard Thompson, the British guitarist who burst into semi-prominence with Fairport Convention, the seminal folk-rock band, and has blazed an amazing career -- both as a group leader and … [Read more...] about Album Review: ‘1000 Years of Popular Music’
Al Gore Takes A Page From George Bush’s Book
Has Former Vice President Al Gore now taken a page from President George Bush's bad p.r. book? Those of us who decried the tight control of crowds and press coverage of the Bush campaign and administration cannot condone this: Reporters and TV news cameras will be banned from almost all of former Vice President Al Gore's appearance Jan. 23 in Sioux Falls.Gore is the Boe Forum … [Read more...] about Al Gore Takes A Page From George Bush’s Book
Spurious Rumor Alert
Is John D. Negroponte's selection as deputy secretary of state a stepping stone to taking over from Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state? Will Condi then replace the ailing Dick Cheney as vice president? It's sure fun to speculate, isn't it? … [Read more...] about Spurious Rumor Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Embraces The Bipartisan Political Center
Is California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger onto something? When he was first elected Governor in the recall election, displacing the (rightly) much-maligned Gray Davis in a historic recall election, there were high hopes that "Ahnold" was going to be a different KIND of California governor: one who would chart a truly independent path and not be or act like the kind of … [Read more...] about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Embraces The Bipartisan Political Center
Report Says Israel Considering Tactical Nukes To Destroy Iran Nukes
Once again, reports are surfacing about Israel seriously considering a strike to take out Iran's facilities that could pose a nuclear threat -- this time from the Times Online that says contingency plans are now on the drawing boards. The difference this time: the report says Israel is considering using tactical nuclear weapons to eliminate Iran's nuclear … [Read more...] about Report Says Israel Considering Tactical Nukes To Destroy Iran Nukes
A Bit of Original Reporting from a Fellow Congregant
College Student Michael Bassin has been traveling in the Middle East for the last seven months and is now safe at home. He briefed us on his adventures during this morning's services and indicated that his comments were available online. Dear friends and family, I hope this letter finds you well. Since I’m the one writing I’m obviously sitting … [Read more...] about A Bit of Original Reporting from a Fellow Congregant
Just To Clarify
It's bad when the Iraqi Prime Minister proclaims he'll have to drive the "outlaws" out of his own capital. Right? … [Read more...] about Just To Clarify
Early Birds
I suspected that for many of the more moderate-friendly Democratic proposals (e.g., ethics reform, corruption, fair procedures in Congress), it was now or never to get them passed. The longer they get dragged out, the more time Democrats get to settle in to the majority and realize that now they're the ones who benefit from unethical practices, corruption, and unfair debate … [Read more...] about Early Birds
Books Schmooks!
The always hilarious Jon Swift writes that reading books is - in his opinion - greatly overrated and... that's exactly why he supports the librarians of Fairfax County, Virginia who 'have reinvented the idea of the library for the 21st century. "A book is not forever," says Sam Clay, the director of the system. "If you have 40 feet of shelf space taken up by books on tulips and … [Read more...] about Books Schmooks!
Center of Attention
Sorry for not doing a Center of Attention yesterday. Yesterday I had (and still have) a fever, headache, cold, etc. so I was not in the best of shapes to post... anything. Anyway, here is today's Center of Attention: A Newer World gives us the first ten bills of the 110th Congress. Brad DeLong: In Condemnation of One-Equation Economics. For those who don't know what … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Democrats Oppose Useless Surge
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have sent George W. Bush a letter in which they urge him to "reject his reported plan to escalate the war in Iraq by increasing troop levels and delaying the ability of the Iraqi government take control of their own future." From the letter: "We want to do everything we can to help Iraq succeed in the future but, like many of our senior military … [Read more...] about Democrats Oppose Useless Surge
Rearranging the Deck Chairs
There has been a furious rearranging of the deck chairs on the Ship of State of late, but you're not being given the whole story. Nosiree. Not to worry. Your Faithful Correspondent is here to tell you what's gotting lost in the translation: What You're Being Told: General George Casey is losing his job as the top military commander in Iraq because President Bush thinks he … [Read more...] about Rearranging the Deck Chairs
Classic Comedy: Curly Howard
The Three Stooges' Jerome "Curly" Howard (the baby brother of fellow stooges Moe and Shemp) was a comedy genius who had a sad and short life. Here's a classic courtroom scene: … [Read more...] about Classic Comedy: Curly Howard
Attention Bill O’Reilly:
You might avoid saying everyone at NBC hates George Bush because you're mad at Keith Olbermann. You're getting conservative MSNBC talk show host Joe Scarborough mad -- so mad he has challenged you to a debate. … [Read more...] about Attention Bill O’Reilly:
White House Changes Rules On Visitor Records
The words "cover up" are likely be heard due to this development:The White House and the Secret Service quietly signed an agreement last spring in the midst of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal declaring that records identifying visitors to the White House are not open to the public. And the true devil is in the details:The Bush administration didn't reveal the existence … [Read more...] about White House Changes Rules On Visitor Records