The political campaign is heating up in my old home state of Connecticut. Two new developments suggest that Senator Joe Lieberman is now in the political fight of his life: #1: His anti-war challenger Ned Lamont has a new political ad that is — realizing it is marketed to a Democratic voting audience — truly devastating in the way it presents its argument to its … [Read more...] about Lamont’s Devastating Anti-Lieberman Ad

What's the next industry that will be turned upside down by the growth of the Internet? Is it this one? … [Read more...] about Will The Internet Revolution Continue?

Right now the conventional wisdom of many writers (including yours truly) is that the recent Congressional debate over Iraq, though shamelessly staged by the GOP as a way to define the Democrats, hurt the Democrats more than it hurt the Republicans. The Republicans argued "stay the course" and those who want to leave want to "cut and run" (although it came to light that a top … [Read more...] about The Iraq Debate: Did It Help The Republicans?

About a week and a half ago, Steve Benen of The Carpetbagger Report wrote about "the new media narrative," the one where "Bush and the GOP have momentum and are on the upswing". He argued that, in truth, there is no such "comeback" or "resurgence" for the Republicans. I responded here and at The Reaction, referring to "the shame of America's free press". What's going on here, … [Read more...] about Them misguided Dems: Iraq, the media, and the success of White House “happy talk”

Apparently YES. For Vice President...(which would mean the Bush apparatus grip on the party would essentially remain intact and even if the GOP ticket loses he'd be in line for 2012). … [Read more...] about Could Jeb Bush Run In 2008?

A paper reports an allegation that HE is now involved. (That's news? He is usually involved in campaigns, but works under a variety of names with the job description "political consultant.") … [Read more...] about Huge Power Lined Up To Keep Incumbent In Congress

When America's King of Steel, immigrant Scot Andrew Carnegie, sold Carnegie Steel to J.P. Morgan more than 100 years ago, for $480 million, the renowned financier told him, "Congratulations, Mr. Carnegie, you are the richest man in the world." Carnegie who had grown up in poverty in Scotland to become one of America's most ruthless and successful businessmen, became a … [Read more...] about India’s Lakshmi Mittal : World’s New Steel King

Once individuals/nations get caught in a vicious web of violence/revenge/lies, it is difficult to have a level-headed discussion on any subject. But this question would always haunt us: WHAT PRICE THE IRAQI WAR? It is the sign of our time that we have begun to view the entire ugly episode in terms of statistics regarding "how many soldiers killed", "how many civilians killed", … [Read more...] about Towards A Cul-De-Sac in Iraq?

… [Read more...] about Is Rep. Jack Murtha Being “Swiftboated?”

In the backdrop of increased military cooperation between India and the United States, the Indian defence establishment has now gained direct access to the Pentagon, which houses the American Department of Defence, for working out issues of "mutual interest", reports The Tribune. In another significant development, there have also been reports that India is to station … [Read more...] about Indian Defence Cosies Up to Pentagon

A New York Times report that is likely to be an officially-originated leak says a top general is in effect planning the initial states of a withdrawal timetable for Iraq at a time when Republicans are accusing Democrats of advocating "cut and run" (a political codeword phrase for being cowards) for calling for a withdrawal timetable:The top American commander in Iraq has … [Read more...] about U.S. Troop Cuts By Fall 2006 May Be In The Offing (UPDATED)

Some readers emailed to say they like Around The Sphere. We've recently done some links as individual posts. We'll do a mix; some stand-alone lines and try to aim for about 6 or 7 links each day (if we can) on our linkfest (which will still offer a variety of viewpoints). … [Read more...] about More About Around The Sphere

The day had to come. … [Read more...] about Good News In Texas

Something interesting is happening in California. Arnold The Independent is seemingly "baaack." The question: is he going to win independents "baaack?" Not a week now goes by when there isn't something in the newspaper showing how "Ahnold" is taking a position that doesn't quite allow him to fit into a cookie-cutter Republican OR a cookie-cutter Democratic slot. He seems to … [Read more...] about Schwarzenegger Rejects Bush Border Troops Request Amid Triangulation

From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about Obesity Crisis

If THIS had happened in another country several years ago, what would Americans have said about that country? … [Read more...] about How To Betray Your Medical Oath

Yes, sometimes things do work out in a way that makes you breathe a sigh of relief:An agreement has been reached to allow thousands of papers from the estate of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Junior to remain in his hometown in the southeastern United States. The collection of handwritten documents was to have been auctioned in less than one week. A group of … [Read more...] about Auction Is Canceled As King Papers Go To College

You never made the connection? Michael Grant does HERE. … [Read more...] about Why Reading Ann Coulter Is Like Watching MTV

I read Washington Post reporter Juliet Eilperin's new book Fight Club Politics this morning and have posted a review here. Quite a good book, and an important discussion of excessive partisanship, redistricting and other centrist themes. … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Fight Club Politics”

Plenty of people manage to support him (a slight plurality of the country, if I recall). But few really are inspired by him. Count me among the few. … [Read more...] about Why I Love Al Gore