He’s making some very bad campaign choices, and putting off potential supporters. I’m amazed, even within myself, at how the sheen as worn off, and what a spectacularly bad campaign he is running. In a detailed insightful post, Chris Bowers explains the problems with the Obama campaign, and indeed, the candidate: Obama seems to have shot his own coalition in … Read More
Cheney’s Hunting Weekend
He managed not to shoot anyone in the face, so it was, all-in-all, a controversy-free hunting weekend at the Clove Valley Rod & Gun Club in LaGrangeville (pictured below) in upstate New York. Uh… is that a confederate flag in the window of the lodge? Cue controversy.
Email Chain
Via Matt Yglesius: Chris Hayes has a great piece on the bizarre world of right-wing chain emails, in which all manner of vicious slurs and lies circulate for months or even years without anyone in the MSM noticing. Sometimes they pop up on a sufficiently mainstream place — Fox News, Rush — for someone in the real press to bother … Read More
FLASH! WARNING To People In Upstate New York!
The Poughkeepsie Journal in New York reports that “Vice President Dick Cheney is coming to Dutchess County again to go hunting.”
Presidential Candidates Respond To California Fires
First, the Democrats: John Edwards has been out front in responding to the fires in Southern California, both on his website and through One Corps. Barack Obama offers this statement of support for the fire victims and his website prominently features the following message: California needs us. …with a link to California Volunteers. Hillary Clinton‘s website features a "How to … Read More
Small Government Conservatism
The graph (and story) at McClatchy says it all:
My Assessment In Hillary Goes Up
And it’s largely because of her answers to these questions: I want to start with some questions about foreign policy and terrorism. If you become president you’ll enter the White House with far more power than, say, your husband had. What is your view of this? And what specific powers might you relinquish as president, or renegotiate with Congress — … Read More
Kucinich Even Crazier Than We Thought
He looks like a hobbit, especially standing next to his 6 foot tall, tongue-pierced, 20-something, hot British wife. Not very presidential, I would say, which is why he’s in the bottom of the barrel in polls. So this bit of news is likely to bring into the political mainstream: Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich has claimed to have seen a … Read More
Who Celebrities Support
Variety’s managing editor tells us the campaign contributions of big stars, broken down by fiscal quarter-years. Some snippets: George ClooneyQ2: Obama Barbra StreisandQ1: Clinton, Edwards, Obama Tobey MaguireQ1: ObamaQ2: Clinton Susan SarandonQ1: ObamaQ2: Obama (additional contribution)Q3: Richardson, Edwards Paul Newman06: DoddQ1: Dodd (additional contribution)Q2: Clinton, Obama, RichardsonQ3: Edwards Tom HanksQ1: ObamaQ2: Clinton Michael DouglasQ1: Obama, Dodd, Richardson, ClintonQ2: Richardson (additional … Read More
Not So Hot For Mukasey Anymore
Here’s why: He suggested that both the administration’s program of eavesdropping without warrants and its use of “enhanced” interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects, including waterboarding, might be acceptable under the Constitution even if they went beyond what the law technically allowed. Mr. Mukasey said the president’s authority as commander in chief might allow him to supersede laws written by Congress. … Read More
For Your/Future Reference
With health care dominating the news, here’s a handy guide to the various health care policies and programs offered by the ’08 Presidential Candidates. Not suprisingly, the Republican’s idea of "health care" reform boils down to tax cuts for employers, as well as certain individuals to defray the costs of insurance. Democrats are more in favor of expanding programs like … Read More
I Have No Complaints About Bush’s AG Nominee
Especially if he means what he says: Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey said Wednesday the president doesn’t have the authority to use torture techniques against terrorism suspects, a stance not taken by predecessor Alberto Gonzales and considered key to the nominee’s confirmation. Mukasey repudiated a 2002 memo by then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee that said the president has the power to … Read More
I Love New Hampshire Politics…
From NBC/NJ’s Mike MemoliCONCORD, NH — Even New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner was willing to admit that today’s opening of the filing period was "unusual." At 8:35 am ET this morning, Robert Haines became the first White House hopeful to come to the Secretary of State’s office here to file for the New Hampshire primary. But instead of … Read More
John Edwards’ Extramarital Affair, Mickey Kaus And Fellatio With Goats
Yglesius makes a strong point: Mickey Kaus’ long post here about John Edwards’ alleged affair with Rielle Hunter is almost self-refuting. Basically, we have an anonymous source saying Hunter said she had an affair with Edwards, versus Hunter, on the record, saying that’s not the case. Then there’s Edwards, also saying it’s not the case. But Kaus initially deems Edwards’ … Read More
How Can You Be President If You Don’t Wear A Lapel Pin?
In response to a reporter’s question about why he doesn’t wear a flag pin, Barack Obama gave what I thought to be an excellant response: "You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we’re talking about the Iraq War, that became a substitute for I think true … Read More