E.J. Dionne, Jr. on the minimum wage increase/inheritance state tax bill that failed in the Senate:President Bush, his defenders say, has pioneered a new philosophical approach, sometimes known as "big-government conservatism." The most articulate defender of this position, the journalist Fred Barnes, argues that Bush's view is "Hamiltonian" as in Alexander, Thomas Jefferson's … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: E. J. Dionne Jr. On Conservatism Today

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush Awards Gibson Presidential Medal of Freedom President: 'Thanks for Taking the Heat off Me This Week' In a stunning moment of redemption for the embattled actor Mel Gibson, President George W. Bush today awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, telling the star, "Thanks for taking the heat off me this week." Mr. … [Read more...] about This Just In!

… [Read more...] about Definitive Proof Against “Intelligent Design”

One again Congressional Republicans are finding that a highly-hyped piece of legislation that dominated news cycles, talk radio, weblogs and political discussion has failed with a familiar name being associated with the failure: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Pundits often note that Dr. Frist isn't running for re-election because he wants to run for President in 2008. If … [Read more...] about Minimum Wage Bill Blocked In Major Defeat For Bill Frist

Some now say Mel Gibson is a victim of the evil you-know-what (who one of our commentors said is run by the you-know-whos which might be news to this guy and others). The Gibson-related link above reads like a member of a (political and financial strata) team supporting another member of "his" team...and his team-mate supporting his team mate. (To those who feel this doesn't … [Read more...] about Mel Gibson A Victim?

Hopefully it won't rub you the wrong way. Play the BUSH BACKRUB GAME HERE. … [Read more...] about Play This GREAT New Game

GQ has an article out that appears to have broken the back of Ralph Reed's base. May his political career rot in hell. … [Read more...] about The Last Supper

For all the talk about how charges of anti-Semitism are thrown at the drop of a hat (which strikes me as quite parallel to similar accusations of constant plays of "the race card" or "man-hating" or other assorted over-statements of how often oppression really is discussed in modern political discourse), it seems clear that anti-Semitism as an institution is disturbingly … [Read more...] about The Discrimination That Dare Not Speak Its Name

In recent hours, the US is being forced to back down in the UN Security Council because Israel seems unable to destroy Hizbullah on the battlefield despite steadfast support from Washington. It looks as if the Security Council, emasculated by years of US and Israeli scorn, may not be able to soon deliver the durable peace now so vital for Israel’s security. There may be a … [Read more...] about The quagmire deepens

When feminists talk about autonomy they don't mean it in the traditional "laissez-faire" style we've been trained to hear them as. Feminist autonomy is a far richer and more interesting conception: one in which people do depend on each other and can expect things of each other. Ayn Rand's worst nightmare...but then, that's a feature, not a bug. … [Read more...] about Needing Each Other

Monkeys! On a Train! … [Read more...] about Where The &%@# is Samuel L. Jackson When You Need Him?

Monkeys! On a Train! … [Read more...] about Where The &%@# is Samuel L. Jackson When You Need Him?

Cross-Posted at the Debate Link Okay, here's a good debate topic for all you sports fans out there. My family and I have been discussing which is the worst town in sports. By "worst", we don't mean atmosphere or fan loyalty. We mean in terms of the overall performance of its major, professional teams in recent memory (say, the mid-80s and up). The criteria: 1) The town must … [Read more...] about Worst Luck Sports Town

From The Washington Post: Hezbollah shattered two days of relative calm in northern Israel on Wednesday, spraying the region with more than 230 rockets that set buildings and forests ablaze, wounded at least 33 civilians and killed a man as he rode his bicycle in front of his home. Hezbollah's largest barrage of the war — 80 more rockets than struck the Jewish state … [Read more...] about Hezbollah bombards Israel, Qana inquiry completed

Over at The Reaction, co-blogger J. Kingston Pierce connects the French/freedom fries issue in Congress to the much more serious problem of Iraq, as well as to the verious ethical scandals that plague Republicans (including freedom fries advocate Rep. Bob Ney). It's a link-filled journey straight into the heart of stupidity. See here. … [Read more...] about The rise and fall of the freedom fry

As many of you surely know by now, Fidel Castro went in for intestinal surgery earlier this week and temporarily handed over power to his brother Raul. Well, fret not. (Not that I am.) According to CNN, reporting on a message from the man himself, Fidel is in "stable" condition and in "good spirits". His health may be "a secret of state that cannot be divulged constantly," but … [Read more...] about Castro’s demise

Trends show an impact on contests across the nation Just over one month ago, the Crystal Ball argued that a larger wave than currently existed at the time would have to build in order for Republicans to lose their congressional majorities. At the time, the race-by-race rather than national dynamic of competitive races pointed more towards a "micro-wave" than a "macro-wave" … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball – The 2006 Midterms: Guilt by Association?

Time Magazine notes that perception equals reality in politics and right now the perceptions aren't good for Israel and the United States in the status of the conflict in the Midde East:Even as Israel extends its military's reach deeper into Lebanon, the war there may now increasingly be more about perception than position. After three weeks of fighting, the tenacity of … [Read more...] about Time: Perceptions On Middle East Look Bad For Israel And The United States

"Thanks but no thanks" to this... (Update) ...and to this. Of course THIS has happened since then.... … [Read more...] about Joe Lieberman AND Ned Lamont Should Say (UPDATED)

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Gibson Converts to Judaism Changes Name to Mel Gibstein In his boldest bid yet to apologize to the Jewish community, actor Mel Gibson today announced that he had converted to Judaism. The news took many Jews aback, since conversion to Judaism is a demanding process that can take months or even years of study, and Mr. … [Read more...] about This Just In!