I’m going to start using the phrase "Merry Fiztmas" too.
Congress Hearts Guns, Cheeseburgers
Why do free market conservatives hate the free market? Look, I understand that consumers have responsibilities. If you smoke, and get cancer, you really have nobody to blame but yourself. You knew the risks, and you took them. The same is true for fast foods. I think Americans of all political stripes understand that. So if you want to sue … Read More
It’s 1973 All Over Again
"[I]t is true that, as far as capacity to govern in concerned, that to be under a constant barrage 12 to 15 minutes a night on each of the three major networks for four months tends to raise some questions in the people’s mind with regard to the President and it may raise some questions with regard to the capacity … Read More
Democratic Ideas – No. 10 (Last in a Series)
Putting Prevention First. Democrats are committed to reducing unintended pregnancies by increasing access to family planning services and improving contraceptive coverage. We will increase funding for family planning and empower states to enable more women to take responsibility for their health. We will also improve contraceptive coverage by assuring equity in prescription drug insurance. Previous: Democratic Idea No. 1: Standing … Read More
Connecting The Dots
Let’s take two pieces of information, as reported by different people at different times. Even if you haven’t followed the Plamegate story closely, you can follow this logic: (1) Murray Waas in his October 7 article: "In his own interview with prosecutors on June 24, 2004, Bush testified that Rove assured him he had not disclosed Plame as a CIA … Read More
Plamegate: Bush Knew All Along
Remember when the Plame leak scandal broke and Bush reassured the nation that he was going to get to the bottom of it? Here’s what he said on September 30, 2002: "I don’t know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I’d like to know it, and we’ll take the appropriate action." … Read More
Bush Polls, State By State
The SUSA poll is out. 50 states of Bush numbers. The highlights? Bush is above 50 percent in only six states — Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Utah, at 61/36, is the only state above 60 percent. In May, Bush was above 50 percent in 13 states. In September, it was 10 states. 25 states are below 40 … Read More
Plamegate Update: Indictments Really Close?
The latest on the investigation from the New York Times: The special counsel in the C.I.A. leak case has told associates he has no plans to issue a final report about the results of the investigation, heightening the expectation that he intends to bring indictments, lawyers in the case and law enforcement officials said yesterday. ….By signaling that he had … Read More
Democratic Ideas – No. 9
Fiscal Responsibility for a Sound Future. Democrats know that fiscal mismanagement today only leads to greater problems for our children. It is our responsibility to address the fiscal irresponsibility of the current Administration by imposing discipline today and Democrats are united to strengthen budgeting rules that require the government to live within its means. Previous: Democratic Idea No. 1: Standing … Read More
“Welcome To Our World, You Dosey Prick”
That’s what Shake’s Sister says about this column written by David Keane, chairman of the American Conservative Union, a guy who has "got his nose all out of joint because conservatives who oppose Miers’ nomination are finding themselves at the business end of the administration’s smear gun". Keane writes: What is most troubling about this whole affair, however, is the … Read More
Another New Low
President Bush’s job approval rating "has slipped to 39%, the lowest measure of his presidency," according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll. "At the same time, job approval for Congress, which has a Republican majority, has fallen to 29%. That is its lowest level since 1994, the year Democrats lost control of the Senate and House of Representatives for the first … Read More
It’s Coming
Plamegate is about to bust wide open. The storm clouds are gathering. First, there’s this Financial Times story informing that Fitzgerald’s probe has widened. He’s apparently looking at pre-war intelligence handling, including a majority of the WHIG membership. So the political use of intelligence information has now become a matter of interest for Fitzgerald — especially given that it may … Read More
Democratic Ideas – No. 8
Meeting Our Responsibility to Medicare Beneficiaries. Democrats will take the special interests out of the Medicare law by repealing the provision that prevents Medicare from negotiating better prices for seniors and eliminating the slush fund for HMOs. We will also improve the prescription drug benefit by phasing out the current doughnut hole where seniors pay a premium but get no … Read More
Still Cracking Me Up
I don’t know how Harriet Miers nomination is going to turn out, but I will certainly miss her blog. It gets better every day. Right now, Harriet is launching a logo/slogan contest, urging people to "Call You’re Senators". (Yes, Harriet tends to confuse "you’re" and "your", "it’s" and "its", and "their" and "they’re"). She’s also agog about her recent instant … Read More
The Bush Photo-Op: The Rest Of The Story
A soldier appearing in the Bush photo-op conference (discussed here) gives the soldiers’ side of the story on his blog: Yesterday, I was chosen to be among a small group of soldiers assigned to the 42ID’s Task Force Liberty that would speak to President Bush, our Commander-in-Chief. The interview went well, but I would like to respond to what most … Read More