There are many treasures -- including voices discovered many years after they have left the scene. … [Read more...] about Weblog Posts Aren’t Everything

Brink Lindsey wonders whether the Democratic party is able to win the Libertarian vote: can the Democratic party and Libertarians form a 'coalition'? In his opinion, there is at least a foundation, or shared interest, for such a 'fusion'. Both share a high regard for the individual. Fiscal conservatism seems to be no longer part of the new conservative ideology as preached by … [Read more...] about Libertarians and the Democratic Party

The House pulled the offshore drilling bill from today's agenda, but what is this really about? Is it Big Oil? (Washington Post) Foes of offshore drilling hoped that today's move spelled the end of efforts to get the bill passed. "Let's hope this is the end of Congress' fling with Big Oil and that we can make a fresh start to achieving true energy security with the new year … [Read more...] about The Offshore Drilling Bill

Here's the straight poop. … [Read more...] about A Plane Lands Because Of A Gas Leak And A Match

How did Stéphane Dion win Canada's Liberal Party leadership race over the weekend? The Globe and Mail points to an "unwritten accord" between Dion and former Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy. And, to be sure, it was Kennedy's support that put Dion ahead of Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae, both of whom seemed to hit a ceiling of support well short of a majority of … [Read more...] about Dion’s dividends

Kos says: If Obama runs in '08, he's got the nomination locked up. Oddly enough, my reading of his analysis has Obama winning only one of the first four primaries (South Carolina). He has Vilsack in Iowa, Richardson or Edwards in Nevada, Kerry (?) or Clinton in New Hampshire, and then Obama in South Carolina. Kos also thinks that Obama will finish strong in Iowa (him and … [Read more...] about Does Obama Have It in the Bag?

David Sirota is a prominent spokesperson for liberalism who often buries his insightful commentary under adolescent name calling."Ok, I promised myself I wouldn’t get too into following Sen. Joe Lieberman (CfL-CT), but this is really just too disgusting. On 11/12/06, Tim Russert (aka. Pumpkinhead) asked Lieberman (aka. Rubberface) about Iraq: “Should we send more … [Read more...] about Does it help your argument to be petty?

This long article in New York Magazine reviews Billionaire New York Mayor Bloomberg's political past and possible future. Some nuggets:"...the sense that his persona—blunt, pragmatic, consensus-building, ideologically ambidextrous—is in sync with an electorate desperately craving calm, coherent centrism.... ...Then came the fall campaign and his move beyond national … [Read more...] about Bloomberg as Centrist Godfather

On a lighter note... We can have great conversations. She teaches me something new every day. In short, she is one of the most intelligent women I've ever met... And, more importantly, she is not quite as intelligent as me. [DISCLAIMER] I do not necessarily agree with the article I link to. Therefore, there is no need to send angry e-mails nor for angry 'private' … [Read more...] about Isn’t She Lovely

A great column from Matthew Yglesias at The American Prospect. Although I do not necessarily agree with every part of his column, I do think it is important to keep in mind when one is negotiating about anything (or simply talking about politics) that building bridges can never be a goal in itself: it is a tool. … [Read more...] about Building Bridges

Bayh is positioning himself as the Centrist candidate for the Democratic party:White House hopeful Sen. Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record) warned on Monday that Democrats could lose their newfound grip on Congress if the party pursues an ideological course. The Indiana senator, who announced Sunday he was taking the first step in a presidential bid, has cultivated a … [Read more...] about Bayh the Centrist Democrat

Robert Gates got it wrong right out of the, er . . . gate on Tuesday in the opening session of his nomination hearing to replace Donald Rumsfeld as secretary of defense. Gates declared that Iraq is "one of the central battlefronts" in the war on terrorism, but failed to note why. His omission compounded the biggest of President Bush's Big Lies: The U.S. didn't go to war in … [Read more...] about Robert Gates Compounds The Big Lie About Iraq

Senator Joe Biden of Delaware is running for president. Again. And guess what? -- his strategy involves going after undocumented Mexican immigrants. Perhaps he's hoping that a tough line on immigration, including support for a wall, will arouse populist support for what is sure to be a losing effort, but his Tancredo-like musings smack of the usual xenophobia. A more sensible … [Read more...] about Joe Biden’s run for the border

Good Lord, did you know that Dennis Prager (he who attacked Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison for wanting to take his oath of office on the Koran) is on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council? I just found out through the Anti-Defamation League's response to his call, which accused his argument as being "intolerant, misinformed and downright un-American." If I'm not … [Read more...] about Strange Affiliation

All the news that's fit to print. Featuring links to that empirical data on the benefits of diverse schooling y'all have been pestering me about. … [Read more...] about Louisville and Seattle Integration Case Round-Up

John Kerry claims that Donald Rumsfeld's Iraq policy suggestions mirror what he advocated during the 2004 elections. Jason Zengerle: "Wow, a plan for Iraq that has the backing of Rumsfeld and Kerry? Sounds like a winner!" … [Read more...] about Dynamic Duo

My former mother-in-law was convinced that the Apollo moon landing was an elaborate hoax. I wonder what she'll think of this (Washington Post):NASA unveiled plans yesterday to set up a small and ultimately self-sustaining settlement of astronauts at the south pole of the moon sometime around 2020 — the first step in an ambitious plan to resume manned exploration of the … [Read more...] about Moondreams

Pataki is contemplating whether or not to run for President. As James Joyner points out, 'with Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton, and Michael Bloomberg already leaning toward running, it would be one crowded field of New Yorkers vying for the White House.' James concludes:I guess they figure if you can make it there you can make it anywhere but they may well wind up splitting the … [Read more...] about New York, New York

Hillary is calling her friends in Iowa:Sen. Hillary Clinton began making calls Monday to Iowa Democrats about the state's political landscape with an eye toward its 2008 presidential nominating caucuses, aides to Clinton said. The moves come as the New York senator has accelerated the steps she has taken since her November re-election toward making a decision about whether to … [Read more...] about Just Making Some Phone Calls

The executive director of the American Jewish Committee, David A. Harris, has published an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post concerning former President Jimmy Carter and his recent book.Carter's compromised statesmanship December 5, 2006 Whatever else one might have said about the presidency of Jimmy Carter, he was a statesman. As much as any international figure before or since, he … [Read more...] about J Post Op-Ed: Carter’s compromised statesmanship