This Foley-Hastert-gate Thing Is Just Getting Weird Now

Ken AshfordCongress, Godstuff, Republicans, Sex/Morality/Family ValuesLeave a Comment

So what a second. House speaker Dennis Hastert has met this morning with an evangelical leader who knew al-Qaeda’s Abu Musab al-Zarqawi “when he was nobody”? An evangelical leader who has counselled Saddam Hussein, Muammar al-Khaddafi, Slobodan Milosevic, Liberia’s Charles Taylor, and Tom Delay? And they discussed whether or not Hastert should resign? UPDATE:  Weirder and weirder.  The evangelical that … Read More

The “Secret Hold”

Ken AshfordCongressLeave a Comment

It is a very very very rare thing when the right side of the political blogosphere and the left side of the political blogosphere are in total agreement.  It’s even rarer when they work together. But that is what has been happening the past few days, and it is fun to watch. The issue is Senate Bill 2590, also known … Read More

Fries Are French Again

Ken AshfordCongress, IraqLeave a Comment

Remember that bit of ridiculousness in March 2003, when a couple of Republican Congressmen, angry that France wasn’t supporting the U.S. efforts in Iraq, decided to "protest" by having the Congressional cafeteria serve "freedom fries" instead of "French fries"?  It was a bold culinary symbolic statement which raised congressional silliness to new heights. Three years later, those two Congressmen (Bob … Read More

My Internet Is Broken — Is Yours?

Ken AshfordCongressLeave a Comment

If senators don’t know what they’re talking about, they shouldn’t be talking at all. Here’s Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) talking about the Net Neutrality bill, and why he opposes it: I just the other day got, an internet was sent by my staff at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday. Why? No, it … Read More

The “American Values” Agenda

Ken AshfordCongress, Republicans, Sex/Morality/Family ValuesLeave a Comment

Here’s the "American Values" Agenda being pushed by the GOP (from the website of Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL)): Pledge Protection Act (HR 2389; Akin)Summary: Protects the Pledge of Allegiance from attacks by activist federal judges seeking to rule it unconstitutional. Freedom to Display the American Flag Act (HR 42; Bartlett)Summary: Ensures an individual has the right to … Read More

Official English

Ken AshfordCongressLeave a Comment

I honestly hope these people have better things to do than debate whether or not English is America’s "national language" or a "common and unifying language".  Either way, the piece of legislation is symbolic, since you can’t enforce anything.  Aren’t there real problems out there that need addressing in real ways, rather than symbolic ones? Of course, the legislation is … Read More

Spend-Crazy Republicans

Ken AshfordCongress, Economy & Jobs & Deficit, RepublicansLeave a Comment

In March, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to increase the federal debt limit by $781 billion, bringing the debt ceiling to nearly $9 trillion. Neat trick.  If you find yourself outspending the legal limits, just change the legal limits. And now, two months later, GOP lawmakers decided to raise it again. A $2.7 trillion budget plan pending before the House would … Read More

AP Poll

Ken AshfordCongressLeave a Comment

31% of conservatives think that Democrats should control Congress.  When you think about it, that’s an astoundingly high number.

Republican Priorities

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Congress, Republicans, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Josh Marshall notes that Sen. Elizabeth Dole has remarkable candor when it comes to expressing Republicans’ priorities lie this year : It all started earlier this evening when TPM Reader HH was on the receiving end of one of Dole’s blast emails begging contributions for the Republican senate committee. Says Dole, in her pitch: "If Democrats take control of the … Read More

Anatomy Of A Photo Op

Ken AshfordCongressLeave a Comment

The captions below each picture are taken verbatim from AP and Reuters (but the emphasis is mine). U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) speaks at a news conference on gas prices at a gas station in Washington, April 27, 2006. Hastert drove home his points by leaving the news conference in a pair of hydrogen-powered cars. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst House Speaker … Read More