Has the moment arrived for Republican centrists? The case is made here that it has. … [Read more...] about Election 2005 Fallout Part I

It's a real problem in Asia but it's down. … [Read more...] about The Problem Of Piracy

It truly sounds as if another area in which the Bush administration is blowing it is in continuing to have Scott McClellan as press secretary. Just note this item from Washington Post columnist Dan Froomkin:Press secretary Scott McClellan was questioned repeatedly and persistently about what sort of exemption the White House is requesting from a proposed congressional ban on … [Read more...] about The War Between Scott McClellan and The White House Press Corps

As the inimitable John Harwood reports for The Wall Street Journal, President Bush's approval rating has continued to slide even through this week. The CIA leak investigation has deepened President George W. Bush's political problems, driving his approval rating to its lowest-ever point in the new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. Just 38% of Americans now approve Bush's job … [Read more...] about WSJ/NBC: 33% Rate Bush Honest and Straightforward

Yes: It HAS frozen over:WASHINGTON (AP) — Former FEMA chief Michael Brown is no longer on the agency's payroll, the Homeland Security Department said Wednesday, ending nearly two months of compensation after he resigned under fire. Brown stepped down as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on September 12 in the wake of the government's sluggish reaction … [Read more...] about Former FEMA Chief Michael Brown Finally Gone From Government

We would NEVER think of being so crude as to tell you "I told you so" — heaven forbid...but read this from the New York Times:The New York Times and Judith Miller, a veteran reporter for the paper, reached an agreement today that ends her 28-year career at the newspaper and caps more than two weeks of negotiations. Ms. Miller went to jail this summer rather than reveal a … [Read more...] about New York Times Says “Buh-Bye!” To Reporter Judith Miller

That's the conclusion I come to in my latest Debate Link post. … [Read more...] about Rhetoric is Evil

House Republicans, still desperately struggling to find the votes to pass the amended budget, seems poised to remove the portion of the bill that would allow companies to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. CQ Today's Midday Update (a free email service) has the story. House GOP leaders appear likely to drop a provision opening Alaska’s Arctic National … [Read more...] about CQ: House GOP Likely to Drop ANWR from Budget

BBC: An explosion hits a major hotel in the Jordanian capital Amman, reportedly killing at least five people and injuring several others. For more details: http://www.bbcnews.com CNN via wire services: : Explosions hit two Western hotels in Amman, Jordan, reported to be a Radisson and a Grand Hyatt, killing at least five. According to NPR, a THIRD bombing has occurred at … [Read more...] about Blasts hit major hotels in Amman, Jordan

How about this: Risking the kind of nationwide ridicule it faced six years ago, the Kansas Board of Education approved new public-school science standards Tuesday that cast doubt on the theory of evolution. The 6-4 vote was a victory for "intelligent design" advocates who helped draft the standards. Oh, and how's this for some icing on your cake of ignorance: "In addition, the … [Read more...] about What’s the matter with Kansas?

...and Frist and Hastert have egg on their faces. So much for that new leak investigation. … [Read more...] about Trent Lott spills the beans…

I haven't yet commented on the horrible situation in France, though, privately, I've noted the lack of contextual perspective (that is, a lack of understanding of French history and politics) in much of the right-wing reaction to the riots — as if the right, succumbing to the moral ease of enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend gymnastics, is somehow relishing this apparent … [Read more...] about A state of emergency in France — context and perspective

We've often noted here that weblogs are an incredibly new infotechnology where anyone can publish their own newspaper/magazine/multi-media package at very little cost. But do bloggers including yours truly take advantage of this? We routinely run posts featuring bloggers who do original reporting or interviews. We've done some of that here, but not nearly enough (the latest … [Read more...] about Is The Blogosphere Toothless?

The media verdict is coming in...a verdict that will mutate over the next few days into the conventional wisdom...a verdict that those running for election in 2006 and 2008 will have to analyze so they can possibly adjust their political behavior accordingly: It has not been a great day for the GOP. The Washington Post has a roundup of the latest election results HERE. … [Read more...] about A Bad Night For GOP As Voters Send Angry Message

TMV will be on the road for the next few days, in Montana. His posts will be on this site, although at varying times due to travel and scheduled daily events. He WILL be posting but perhaps not as much as usual. Keep checking back often since our always independent co-bloggers will have some things to say throughout the day. … [Read more...] about TMV On The Road

Okay, no reason to get too excited. The gubernatorial wins in New Jersey and Virginia were expected. Joe will comment further on yesterday's results. I've got more here. … [Read more...] about Democrats win! The-uh-uh-uh-uh Democrats win!

A constitutional ban on gay marriage was approved by 77 percent of voters (with a turnout of just 16 percent of registered voters). Would any Texans out there care to comment? … [Read more...] about Is Texas a bastion of intolerance?

So the Governator gets caught up in a voting irregularity? … [Read more...] about Arnold at the ballot box

Reuters reports what everyone expected: New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been re-elected after New Yorkers finally warmed up to him — and he spent a buck or two:NEW YORK, Nov 8 (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was re-elected to a second term on Tuesday in a widely predicted victory after the most costly race in city history, media outlets … [Read more...] about Bloomberg Re-Elected In New York

Reposted from late last night. President George W. Bush had made a last minute campaign appearance to help the GOP candidate in the closely-watched Governor's race in the GOP-leaning state of Virginia but it apparently didn't help the Republican candidate, who is expected to lose, according to the AP. And, in another closely watched state race, the Democrats are ahead in New … [Read more...] about Democrats Win Virginia Governorship And Lead In New Jersey