Today was the big day where Republicans were going to come out with the alternative budget proposal, because Obama was all like "Oh, yeah? You got some better ideas?? Let's see them!" and the Republicans were all like "Okay, We will!" So the only problem with their budget, released this afternoon to much ballyhoo and hype, is that it isn't … Read More
I Love Michelle Bachman
This is why. She presses Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner on the Constitiutional authority for the Treasury to give out TARP money, apparently not understanding that Congress, of which she is a member, passed a bill which provided not only the TARP money, but the authority of the Treasury to dole it out. In an interview with after the hearing, Bachmann … Read More
Tea Parties And “Going Galt”
Outside the Beltway's Alex Knapp: I’ve been following the growing “Tea Party” and “Going Galt” movements with no small amount of amusement, in part because there is really just too much sweet, delicious irony surrounding both of these groups of people (who, I might add, are largely the same people). Here’s a few observations: The “Tea Parties”, of course, started … Read More
Palin Rejects 31% Of Federal Stimulus Money
First Mark Sandford, Governor of South Carolina. He rejected stimulus money. Now Sarah Palin. She's rejecting 31% of the federal stimulus money. What do these two have in common? They both have their eye on a 2012 presidential run. They want to be able to get up before the crowds and say, "I said 'thanks but no thanks' when they … Read More
Obama on Leno
Driving into work today, I was listening to the BBC. The topic of discussion was Obama's appearance last night on Leno. One commentator was opining that it was beneath the dignity of the presidency for the American president to appear on a "chat show". Jeez. The Brits can be such snoots sometimes. I think it was wise of Obama to … Read More
Why Rush Is Good For Republicans
That's the title of Ramesh Ponnuru's column in this week's Time. I'll let you read it, but there's something in there I particularly note: [T]he debate today has a special charge because, like the similar debate over Alaska Governor Sarah Palin a few months ago, it is tied up with questions about the future of the Republican Party. In one … Read More
Question Of The Day
If conservative bloggers and pundits were to truly "Go Galt", wouldn't that mean they should not be blogging and punditating? Hilzoy looks into this. I must say, the conservative grassroots is just as bizarre as the conservative leadership. Going Galt? Tea parties? Seems pretty heavy on the "no", and devoid of any solution-offering.
The Royal Wedding Is Kaput
Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston have broken off their engagement. When it was revealed that Sarah Palin's unmarried teenage daughter was pregnant, it was a tough time for family values folks. But they were quick to point out that Bristol was doing the right thing by getting married because babies get their magic from having two parents (of the opposite … Read More
New Blood To Lead GOP
The Republican whisper campaign to remove its own leader gets louder: Steele May Face No Confidence Vote Republican insiders tell Political Wire that a no confidence vote on RNC Chairman Michael Steele is likely to be called after the NY-20 special election on March 31 — regardless of whether Republicans win the seat or not. Katon Dawson, who came in … Read More
Removing Three Bush-Era Policies In One Day
(1) Stem Cell Research — Executive Order of March 9, 2009: Sec. 1: . . . For the past 8 years, the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to fund and conduct human embryonic stem cell research has been limited by Presidential actions. The purpose of this order is to remove … Read More
Birther Suit Smackdown
Seriously fringe conservatives are still challenging Obama's citizenship in court. This fringe group has been given the name "birthers", since the basis of their challenge is that Obama was not born a U.S. citizen, and therefore his presidency is unconstitutional. Birthers, who had lost previously in courts as well as public opinion, had pinned their final hopes on a federal case … Read More
Quote Of The (Yester)Day
Senator William Edgar Borah (R-Idaho): “”I should like to see the Republican Party reorganized. … I don’t think there is any room in this country for an old conservative party. . . . Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt were liberal leaders. It doesn’t take long to shake off what you call conservatism. . . . There was a vast amount … Read More
Jim Cramer vs. The White House
Perhaps jealous that Limbaugh is getting all the attention, CNBC's Jim Cramer lashes out at the White House and, in particular, White House spokeman Robert Gibbs. Cramer has been on a tear against the White House recently. Gibbs was recently asked about Cramer's criticism that Obama's budget was "one of the great wealth destroyers of all time", and he responded: "I'm … Read More
Boehner’s Take
Today, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has a Washington Post op-ed entitled "Democrats' Diversionary Tactics": In the first two months of 2009, the Democratic Congress and the White House have spent more money than the combined cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the response to Hurricane Katrina. After they doled out taxpayer dollars at such a blistering pace, … Read More
No, The Taxpayers Didn’t Foot The Bill For This
Malia and Sasha's new swingset on the south grounds of the White House outside of the Oval Office: