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More Distortions From Michael Moore MSNBC — Permalink June 30 - In his new movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," film-maker Michael Moore makes the eye-popping claim that Saudi Arabian interests "have given" $1.4 billion to firms connected to the family and friends of President George W. Bush. | |
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Tim Blair: Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball investigate: [quote] The idea that the Carlyle Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of some loosely defined "Bush Inc." concern seems hard to defend.[end quote] Pejman Yousefzadeh: DOG BITES MAN . . . AGAIN "More Distortions From Michael Moore"? Bill Hobbs: What will Kerry do when, after the media has sufficiently exposed the lies in Moore's film and Moore's extremism in... |
Daniel Drezner: Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball rip to shreds one of Moore's flimsier allegations in Newsweek (link via Glenn Reynolds). Hugh Hewitt: Oh, Newsweek does a dance on Michael Moore. It's a big dance floor, and its a very effective dance. Charles Johnson: Moore Distortions — At MSNBC/Loseweek (ironically, one of the biggest promoters of the Michael Moore agit-prop film),... |
| Also: Jon Henke, Glenn Reynolds, Will Collier, David Adesnik, Cori Dauber, Captain Ed, Greg Ransom, Andrew Sullivan, Ace, Betsy Newmark, Jeff Goldstein | |
Those Were the Days By / NYT — Permalink GREAT FALLS, Va. — The death of Ronald Reagan led many of his liberal opponents to reassess his presidency, with some concluding that it was better than they thought at the time. | |
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Jacob T. Levy: William F. Buckley turns against the war. Bruce Bartlett makes the fiscal case for Clinton nostalgia. Julian Sanchez: All of which is to say, I think I have a sense of how conservative Bruce Bartlett felt when he penned this little encomium to the 42nd president. Jon Henke: Bruce Bartlettt sees it the same way... "If they were honest with themselves, however, conservatives would view the... |
Harley: Titled "Those Were The Days", the piece pretty much guarantees ostracism and no invite to the next VRWC coven as it is... Kevin Drum: Today he emails to say that I should be interested in his latest op-ed, which turns out to be yet another small step... DeLong: Bruce Bartlett Calls Clinton a Successful Eisenhower Republican — Well, Bruce Bartlett has eaten his wheaties this... |
| Also: Steve Antler | |
Baloney, Moore or Less By / WaPo — Permalink I brought a notebook with me when I went to see Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" and in the dark made notes before I gave up, defeated by the utter stupidity of the movie. | |
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Captain Ed: First, Richard Cohen writes of Moore's film in today's Washington Post (via Memeorandum): "I brought a notebook with me... Dave Johnson: This supposed "liberal" insults me and millions of others, calling us the "loony left," for going to see Michael Moore's movie F-911. Pejman Yousefzadeh: ANOTHER UPDATE: Richard Cohen isn't exactly a Michael Moore fan: "I brought a notebook with me when I went to see... |
Steve M.: But this is just silly: The case against Bush is too hard and too serious to turn into some sort of joke, as Moore has done. Clayton Cramer: Richard Cohen on Fahrenheit 9/11 — Cohen is a liberal, no friend of Bush, and he correctly identifies the sort of... Betsy Newmark: Richard Cohen, a confirmed liberal, is angry with the Michael Moore movie because it weakens the case against Bush that Cohen would like to see made. |
| Also: Will Collier | |
Hussein Brands Court Hearing 'Theater' WaPo — Permalink BAGHDAD, July 1 — Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, combative and at times defiant, was led into an Iraqi courtroom Thursday where he was read his rights and informed that he would be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for brutal acts committed during more than three decades of one man rule. | |
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Steven Den Beste: So it's noteworthy that even Chandrasekaran can't resist reporting on this story. David Allan Pell: A Day in Court — In a scene that must have been incredibly surreal for most Iraqis, Saddam made his first a appearance in court on Thursday. Greyhawk: I've stopped shaving over the past couple weeks of my leave - something I've done about three times over the past 20... |
H.D. Miller: The Saddam Makeover — BeforeAfter Looks like someone's been into the Grecian Formula 16. Jeralyn Merritt: Saddam Goes to Court — The Washington Post has this account of Saddam Hussein's feisty court appearance today. Captain Ed: The former dictator has lost weight and cleaned up since his capture, the AP notes, but has lost none of his arrogance:... |
| Also: James Joyner | |
Zarqawi targets female soldiers By / Washington Times — Permalink Terrorists in the Abu Musab Zarqawi network in Iraq are specifically trying to kidnap an American female service member to further horrify the U.S. public. Two senior defense sources said the word is being passed within the network on the importance of taking one or more women hostage. | |
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Blackfive: ZARQAWI TARGETS FEMALE SOLDIERS By Rowan Scarborough THE WASHINGTON TIMES Terrorists in the Abu Musab Zarqawi network in... James Joyner: Zarqawi Targets Female Soldiers — Washington Times - Zarqawi targets female soldiers [snipped quote] Lovely. KJL: ZARKAWI, WOMEN IN THE MILITARY & A SHREWD OBSERVATION — Zarkawi is reportedly targetting U.S. military women in Iraq. |
Mitch Berg: Chink in the Armor — According to the excellent Rowan Scarborough, the terrorists in Iraq are reportedly on the lookout... Hugh Hewitt: The Washington Times' Rowan Scarborough reports on Zarqawi's intention to kidnap a female soldier for use in horrifying the American public. Charles Johnson: Zarqawi Targets Female Soldiers — The serial-killing mujahideen in Iraq are trying to kidnap female Americans: Zarqawi targets female soldiers. |
| Also: The Big Trunk | |
Limbaughing to the left? By / Boston Globe — Permalink MAYBE IT was because the man on my left was doing a play-by-play when any member of the Bush team came on the screen. Maybe it was because the movie theater was within pitching range of Fenway Park. But halfway through "Fahrenheit 9/11," I realized this wasn't an audience, it was a fan club. | |
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Gary Farber: I do, however, agree with Ellen Goodman in this: [quote] The simple fact that George Bush the First called Moore a "slimeball" makes me itch to call him a "genius."[end quote] Steve M.: The latest member of the liberal media whose delicate sensibilities are threatened by anti-Bush anger is Ellen Goodman of The Boston Globe. |
Captain Ed: Next, Ellen Goodman follows up with her own disapproval towards the Oscar-winning documentarian, whom the Academy may... Glenn Reynolds: But the Fahrenheit 9/11 review from Ellen Goodman is pretty negative: "Not even this alto believes that the Iraq war was... |
Odd Alliances Form in Efforts to Place Nader on the Ballot NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, June 30 — In his search for access to the ballot, Ralph Nader can sometimes seem as if he has never met a third party he did not like. After all, Mr. Nader, the left-leaning consumer advocate, and Patrick J. Buchanan, the right-leaning commentator, hardly seem like political soul mates. | |
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Noam Scheiber: THE NEW FACE OF CENTRISM: From today's New York Times piece about Ralph Nader's endorsement by the Reform Party Tacitus: Spawning — Apropos of the efforts of some Republicans to secure a ballot slot for Ralph Nader, let me say that it's a... Micah Sifry: I'm sure this story from today's New York Times on Nader's strange bedfellows will be the focus. |
James Joyner: NYT weighs in with a piece calling Nader an opportunist, "Odd Alliances Form to Get Nader on Ballot." David Bernstein: A Remarkable Admission of "Dirty Tricks": From the N.Y. Times: [snipped quote] So let's see. Taegan Goddard: Nader Forges Odd Alliances to Get on Ballot — "To get his name on ballots, Ralph Nader is seeking support from groups... |
Kerry cited in Catholic heresy case By / Washington Times — Permalink A Catholic lawyer has filed heresy charges against Sen. John Kerry with the Archdiocese of Boston, accusing the Democratic presidential candidate of bringing "most serious scandal to the American public" by receiving Holy Communion as a pro-choice Catholic. | |
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DHinMI: The Real Catholic Policy on Kerry and Communion — I suspect that over the next few days you may hear about this: "A... Nick Confessore: The Washington Times reports: A Catholic lawyer has filed heresy charges against Sen. John Kerry with the Archdiocese of... KJL: HERETIC KERRY? A heresy suit has been filed in Boston against John Kerry. |
Steve Dillard: Kerry cited in Catholic heresy case: Very interesting (LvC&EI!) . You can access the complaint here. Andrew Sullivan: The latest initiative from the theoconservative right: suing Kerry for heresy! You just can't make this stuff up. |
Judge rules for media on Florida voter list CNN — Permalink (CNN) — A state court judge in Florida ordered Thursday that the board of elections immediately release a list of nearly 50,000 suspected felons to CNN and other news organizations that last month sued the state for access to copies of the list. | |
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Jeralyn Merritt: Media Wins in Florida Felon Voting List Case — CNN and other media outlets prevailed today in their quest for the list of felons Florida wants to purge from the voting rolls. Atrios: CNN Gets Florida Felon List — That's good. Press reports during the hearings made it sound as if the judge would likely rule against them. |
Taegan Goddard: CNN Gets Florida Felon List — A Florida judge ordered "that the board of elections immediately release a list of nearly... Mathew Gross: Sunshine in Florida — Good news: [snipped quote] That meddlesome press. Scrutiny makes stealing elections oh so difficult. |
Private Property May Become Preserved Fox News — Permalink KING COUNTY, Wash. — Residents of King County, Wash., will only be able to build on 10 percent of their land, according to a new law being considered by the county government, which, if enacted, will be the most restrictive land use law in the nation. | |
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McQ: Then read this: "Residents of King County, Wash., will only be able to build on 10 percent of their land, according to... Jesse Walker: This Land Is Mine — Fox News reports: "Residents of King County, Wash., will only be able to build on 10 percent of... |
Stefan Sharkansky: He's already declared his intention to violate the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment. Kim du Toit: I don't know whether this story would qualify as a time for this... |
Churchgoers Get Direction From Bush Campaign By / WaPo — Permalink The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has sent a detailed plan of action to religious volunteers across the country asking them to turn over church directories to the campaign, distribute issue guides in their churches and persuade their pastors to hold voter registration drives. | |
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Norbizness: Hoo Lord — Supplies are limited! Nice. A little background here. Hugh Hewitt: The Washington Post has written up the Bush-Cheney '04's outreach to church-goers, and the hand-wringing on the left is predictable. Captain Ed: The Washington Post reports that the Bush campaign has sent support material for their volunteers to get church... |
Edward _: Of course, no mere mortal gives and gives without asking in return eventually: "The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has... Taegan Goddard: Bush's Church Strategy — "The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has sent a detailed plan of action to religious... James Joyner: UPDATE: Bush gets it: WaPo - Churchgoers Get Direction From Bush Campaign "The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has sent... |
| Also: Ken Masugi | |
Internet the Back Alley of Choice for Bare-Knuckle Political Brawls By / LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON — While television remains the main arena for this year's political slugfest between President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry, the Internet has become a back alley where the two rivals and their surrogates are throwing some of their most bare-knuckled punches. | |
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Jesse Taylor: And in our news media, that's equivalent. I'm still wondering when we get to hold Bush responsible for everything the loony right has said. Kevin Drum: First, the Republicans: "Last week, the Bush campaign e-mailed a 78-second video to millions of supporters that... |
Daniel Drezner: UPDATE: Also worth checking out is Nick Anderson's piece in the Los Angeles Times about how Kerry and Bush are... Betsy Newmark: The LA Times looks at how both campaigns are using Internet ads to rally the faithful. |
U.N. Lesson: Follow the Oil-for-Food Money By / Fox News — Permalink NEW YORK — This is the tale of a bribe linked to the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq. The bribe itself, paid to Saddam Hussein's regime, first made the news in late 2002. What got no attention at the time, however, was just how odd a response it drew from the United Nations. | |
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Greg Ransom: The U.N.'s cash for Saddam program. The story of one $60,000 bribe — and the role of the U.N.'s Benon Sevan. Glenn Reynolds: MORE ON UNSCAM: Claudia Rosett says follow the money, and offers the story of one oil-for-food bribe. |
Captain Ed: That's because Glenn linked to a more comprehensive article from Claudia Rosett, the star of UNSCAM reporters. Betsy Newmark: Claudia Rossett, who deserves, but won't receive a Pulitzer for her work on the Oil for Food scandal, has more evidence of a big bribe there. |
The dark side of Ralph Nader By / Salon — Permalink Ralph Nader spent his 70th birthday with Bill Maher on his HBO show "Real Time," where Maher pressed him on exactly what his controversial fourth presidential campaign will contribute to the national debate. Nader repeated once again that he's the only candidate not beholden to "corporate America." | |
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James Joyner: Salon has a hatchet piece entitled "The dark side of Ralph Nader" that asserts Nader is a hypocrite for being simultaneously anti-corporate and prickly. Howard Kurtz: Speaking of Nader, Salon has an unusually harsh profile, by Lisa Chamberlain, of the independent candidate: "While... |
Nick Confessore: THE REAL RALPH. Don't miss Salon's very long and very interesting investigation into Ralph Nader. |
Kerry shows a flair for raising money By / Boston Globe — Permalink PITTSBURGH — It seemed so ambitious at the time: John F. Kerry's campaign announced a $20-million, 20-city fund-raising tour in early March to prove he could unite Democrats after a competitive primary season and to show up skeptics who thought the Massachusetts Democrat lacked Bill Clinton's magic touch with donors. | |
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James Joyner: Kerry Raises $175 Million (Bush Raises $210) Boston Globe — Kerry shows a flair for raising money "It seemed so... Clayton Cramer: Time To Send The Bush Campaign Some More Money, I Fear — Kerry's campaign has raised $170 million. |
Kos: Fundraising just about over, time for traditional campaigning — Kerry kicked some serious fundraising ass, as the ABB... Taegan Goddard: Kerry Shows Flair for Fundraising — Sen. John Kerry's campaign will announce today "that it has raised at least $175... |
Hostage Broadcasts Spark Backlash Among Iraqis WaPo — Permalink BAGHDAD, June 30 — The videotape of a bound and blindfolded U.S. Marine held hostage in Iraq has produced a backlash of revulsion among Iraqis. "This is a terrible thing," said Ali Hashim, 33, a shoe salesman in downtown Baghdad. | |
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Pejman Yousefzadeh: And the rage we speak of isn't directed at the West: [snipped quote] Of course, no one should really be surprised that... James Joyner: Hostage Broadcasts Spark Backlash Among Iraqis — WaPo — Hostage Broadcasts Spark Backlash Among Iraqis [snipped quote] Interesting. |
Tim Blair: Meanwhile, Saddam's former victims — normal Iraqis — are speaking out in the wake of kidnappings and beheadings |
Nader, Dean to debate Ralph's run AP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AP) — Among the debate topics: Should Ralph run for president? The participants: Howard Dean and a candidate who always has an opinion on the subject — independent Ralph Nader. | |
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James Joyner: More amusing is this USA Today story, "Nader, Dean to debate Ralph's run." "Among the debate topics: Should Ralph run for president? Taegan Goddard: Dean vs. Nader — "Howard Dean will debate Ralph Nader for 90 minutes on July 9 before a studio audience," the AP reports. |
Howard Kurtz: And speaking further of Nader, the Associated Press reports he's getting into the debates —well, at least one debate: "Among the debate topics: Should Ralph run for president? |
Jordan ready to send Iraq troops BBC — Permalink Jordan would consider sending troops to Iraq if the new interim government asked, King Abdullah has told the BBC. "If the Iraqis ask us for help directly it will be very difficult for us to say no," he said on Newsnight. | |
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Charles Johnson: BBC Finds New Nadir — In an article about Jordan's announcement that they are ready to send troops to Iraq (very good... |
Captain Ed: UPDATE: More from the BBC: [quote] Praising the new Iraqi leaders, whom he described as "good, tough, courageous people" he urged them to call on the Jordanian people for support.[end quote] |
Academics Use Formulas to Predict Bush Win By / Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Polls may show the presidential race in a dead heat, but for a small band of academics who use scientific formulas to predict elections President Bush is on his way to a sizable win. | |
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Ace: Sexy, Smokin'-Hot Models Predict Bush Win — Seriously: these mathematical models constructed by statistics and... Taegan Goddard: Political Scientists Predict Bush Win — A "handful of political scientists" have predicted that President Bush will win... |
Steve Antler: O my prophetic soul... Just as EconoPundit's summary of analytical/quantitative evidence predicting an upcoming... |
The Michael Moore Test By / Media Research Center — Permalink George W. Bush has rarely if ever said a discouraging word about Hollywood, but Hollywood is unloading every gun and bomb bay on George W. Bush. Earlier in the summer, we had the cartoonish science-fiction film "The Day After Tomorrow," in which the clueless... | |
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Edward Driscoll: Brent Bozell writes: "For the Left, this film is a test to separate the wheat from the chaff, the honorable from the dishonorable, the serious from the unserious. |
Tim Graham: BOZELL ON MICHAEL MOORE — Let's never hear another word about negative Republican commercials ever again... |
First Public Appearance by Former Dictator in 7 Months By / NYT — Permalink Saddam Hussein defiantly faced an Iraqi judicial hearing today in Baghdad, where he was read seven preliminary charges against him that included the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the suppression of the Shiite uprising, and the gassing and ethnic cleansing of the Kurds, according to a television pool report. | |
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Cori Dauber: Compare that to the New York Times report from the print pool representative, the great John Burns. |
Meteor Blades: Seven charges were read out against Saddam: Suppressing Kurdish and Shia uprisings, 1991 Anfal ethnic cleansing campaign... |
Kerry said to near decision on running mate Boston Globe — Permalink PITTSBURGH — John F. Kerry spent yesterday in isolation at his wife's 90-acre suburban farm, working on his convention acceptance speech amid signs that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee may announce his choice of a running mate here as early as next Tuesday. | |
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Pejman Yousefzadeh: This article fuels the speculation: [snipped quote] No mention is (properly) made of Hillary Clinton. Taegan Goddard: Kerry Near Decision on Running Mate — Sen. John Kerry "spent yesterday in isolation at his wife's 90-acre suburban... |
Howard Kurtz: "John F. Kerry spent yesterday in isolation at his wife's 90-acre suburban farm, working on his convention acceptance... |
Warren G. Kerry By / Opinion Journal — Permalink LONDON—There is much to be said about this city, where I am on vacation, but my first thought is that the English continue to love flowers, and Mayfair's homes—windowsills, little garden areas created around front steps and between small shops—are bursting with them. | |
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Betsy Newmark: Peggy Noonan fears that John Kerry may be the Warren G. Harding of 2004. SLZoll: That's Our Lady of the Dophins, writing from flowery London and explaining why gardening isn't as lame as you probably think. |
Sadly @SadlyNo: Peggy "Crazy Jesus Lady" Noonan is in London, where she has set her mind free: "History has been too dramatic the past 3 1/2 years. Attaturk: But that doesn't mean that Nooner's brain is back from beyond the river Styx. |
Hong Kong Stages Massive Democracy March By / AP — Permalink HONG KONG (AP) - Angered by Beijing's decision ruling out full democracy in Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of people marched Thursday to demand the right to choose their leader. | |
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Smash: (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) Today, as just as they did a year ago, a half million Hong Kong residents took to the streets to... |
Donald Sensing: Memo to the communist rulers: the pro-democracy demonstrators are back. |
The Trial of Saddam Hussein NYT — Permalink In Saddam Hussein's Iraq, courts counted for nothing, while fear, death and vengeance were the only laws of the land. A new Iraq must be built on more solid foundations: democracy and the rule of law. One of the first challenges will be bringing Saddam Hussein to justice. | |
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Cori Dauber: After an entire condescending editorial fussing over the defendants rights, the need to ensure they are treated... James Joyner: The Trial of Saddam Hussein "In Saddam Hussein's Iraq, courts counted for nothing, while fear, death and vengeance were the only laws of the land. |
Hindrocket: The Times Dispenses Advice — In its typically high-handed, presumptuous style, the New York Times tells Iraq how the trials of Saddam Hussein and his henchmen should be conducted. Tim Blair: Speaking of Amendments, the New York Times wants to deny a speedy trial to Saddam Hussein and his co-accused: "The... |
Iraqi rebels target female U.S. soldiers Washington Times — Permalink Baghdad, Iraq, Jul. 1 (UPI) — Terrorists in Iraqi rebel leader Abu Musab Zarqawi's network have been instructed to kidnap a female U.S. soldier, the Washington Times said Thursday. | |
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McQ: Terrorists target Women servicemembers — The Washington Times is reporting: "Terrorists in Iraqi rebel leader Abu... |
Jeff Goldstein: Washington Times: "Iraqi rebels target female U.S. soldiers" "Al-Qaeda-tied terrorists with no connection to Iraq target... |
Pentagon Alerted to Trouble in Ranks By / LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON — The Pentagon was warned repeatedly going back a decade that it was accepting military recruits with criminal histories and was too lenient with those already in uniform who exhibited violent or other troubling behavior. | |
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James Joyner: Pentagon Alerted to Trouble in Ranks — LA Times — Pentagon Alerted to Trouble in Ranks [snipped quote] This is... Tarek @LiquidList: According to an LA Times piece this morning, the Department of Defense has long known about, studied and tracked the... |
Jeanne D'Arc: Something to think about: Six studies prepared over 10 years by an outside expert at the Pentagon's request found that... |
Dude, Where's That Elite? By / NYT — Permalink You can call Michael Moore all kinds of things — loudmouthed, obnoxious and self-promoting, for example. The anorexic Ralph Nader, in what must be an all-time low for left-wing invective, has even called him fat. The one thing you cannot call him, though, is a member of the "liberal elite." | |
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Jesse Taylor: Where The Elite Meet To Greet — Barbara Ehrenreich's first NYT column isn't too bad, dealing with the bogus specter of Democrats as a party composed of "elites". James Martin Capozzola: GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS — The Times Op-Ed Page A brief note on the op-ed page of today's New York Times reveals... |
Paradox: Don't Ever Come Back, Tom Friedman — Weary and embittered US citizens—suffering under a war for lies and flipping off... |
Could your kids be given to 'gay' parents? By / WorldNetDaily — Permalink In the debate over gay marriage, strikingly little attention has been paid to the impact on children. Some question the wisdom of having children raised by two homosexuals, but the best they can seem to argue is that serious flaws vitiate the literature defending it. | |
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Andrew Sullivan: "- Stephen Baskerville, in an article entitled, "Could your kids be given to 'gay' parents? Sadly @SadlyNo: Stephen Baskerville opens his article with this: "In the debate over gay marriage, strikingly little attention has been paid to the impact on children." |
SLZoll: Fun With Wingnuts 1. Rarely is the question asked: Could your kids be given to 'gay' parents? |
There's no stopping Bill Buckley By / Boston Globe — Permalink LIKE ITS founder, National Review commanded attention early on. The first issue of William F. Buckley Jr.'s magazine — cover date: Nov. 19, 1955 — announced its purpose with an editorial that included what must be the most oft-quoted statement any magazine... | |
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The Big Trunk: In his Boston Globe column Jeff Jacoby pays tribute to William Buckley: "There's no stopping Bill Buckley." Jack Fowler: Jeff Jacoby's column published in today's Boston Globe is a must read, as is this piece in the Pasadena Star-News by editor Larry Wilson. |
Betsy Newmark: Jeff Jacoby has a graceful tribute to the unique and wonderful William F. Buckley. |
Will 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Burn the Democrats?: Andrew Ferguson Bloomberg — Permalink June 29 (Bloomberg) — A political activist rang me up and told me I had to see the new documentary about the president. ''It's chilling,'' he said. ''It shows what a slimeball this guy is.'' So I saw the movie, and it was — how to put this? — a crock. | |
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C. D. Harris: "Scabrous" - I Like That — Andrew Ferguson notes an interesting incongruity: [snipped quote] RTWT. <Via Pejman> But wait! McQ: UPDATE II: Andrew Ferguson at Bloomberg comes to the same conclusion as I. Read the whole thing. Greg Ransom: Who's changed — Michael Moore or the Democratic Party? Andrew Ferguson reports. |
Pejman Yousefzadeh: UPDATE: If indeed the Left chooses to latch on to Moore's movie despite its many mendacious qualities, one can only hope... Glenn Reynolds: We're a long way from John Dewey." Heck, as Andrew Ferguson notes, they've changed since the Clinton years. Jonah Goldberg: CLINTON CHRONICLES V F9/11 — Ferguson nails it. |
Distrust feeds a lethal national habit By / Newsday — Permalink This presidential election may well be a showdown at credibility gap. Four years after the end of the Age of Clinton, we are back at this dispiriting pass. The public has ceased believing George W. Bush on matters involving Iraq. Period. | |
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Atrios: Bush has lost one of strongest media-manufactured characteristics - his reputation as a "straight shooter." |
DemFromCT: Update [2004-7-1 8:51:23 by DemFromCT]: I just came across this little column in today's Newsday taking the issue to the national level. |
Spacecraft Cassini Enters Saturn's Orbit AP — Permalink PASADENA, Calif. July 1, 2004 — After seven years of hurtling through space to the outer solar system, the U.S. -European Cassini spacecraft squeezed through a gap in Saturn's shimmering rings, fired its brakes and settled into a near-perfect orbit around the giant planet. | |
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Casey Of Gantry Launchpad: But the reality is much more diffficult, especially when you are watching from more than halfway across the solar system. |
Glenn Reynolds: LORD OF THE RINGS: The Cassini spacecraft is now in orbit around Saturn: [snipped quote] And NASA needs a good year. |
The resistance campaign is Iraq's real war of liberation Guardian — Permalink The much-vaunted handover, when it came, was a secret hole-in-the-corner affair. There were no celebrations as the US proconsul Paul Bremer signed over technical authority to his green zone government of Iraqi quislings two days early to beat the expected resistance onslaught. | |
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Harry @HarrysPlace: But here is Seumas Milne in today's Guardian: Yesterday saw another handover that never was, when Saddam Hussein was... |
Tim Blair: The Guardian's Seumas Milne, writing today, rationalises civilian deaths during a real war of liberation: [snipped quote] UPDATE. |
US military police raid Iraqi detention centre to stop abuse of prisoners Guardian — Permalink American military police yesterday raided a building belonging to the Iraqi ministry of the interior where prisoners were allegedly being physically abused by Iraqi interrogators. | |
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Attaturk: Digby had this from the Guardian: "American military police yesterday raided a building belonging to the Iraqi ministry... |
Digby: Oh Hell — [snipped quote] We sure could use a big ole whiff 'o that moral clarity right about now. |
In Classic Check and Balance, Court Shows Bush It Also Has Wartime Powers By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, June 28 - In the fall of 2001, President Bush justified his decision to treat some captured terrorist suspects as "enemy combatants" without access to lawyers, courts or other long-established legal rights on the grounds that he could not let the United States' "enemies use the forums of liberty to destroy liberty itself." | |
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Medium Lobster: In reaffirming the fundamental right to be free from involuntary confinement without due process of law, the Supreme... |
Atrios: Kerry's Worse Than Hitler — Fafblog explains why. |
'Boston Phoenix' IDs 'Anonymous' CIA Officer Editor and Publisher — Permalink NEW YORK The active U.S. intelligence officer known only as "Anonymous," who has gained world renown this month as author of an upcoming book called "Imperial Hubris," is actually named Michael Scheuer, according to an article in the Boston Phoenix today by Jason Vest. | |
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Roger L. Simon: Stuff and Nonsense — I don't care that "Anonymous," the latest CIA agent to profiteer in publishing land, has been outed (via: kf). James Joyner: (Hat tip: Memeorandum) UPDATE: Editor and Publisher has picked up the story as well. |
Steve Antler: Who is anonymous? Well, I'm not! Two theories (via Bruce Bartlett). |
The secret history of Anonymous By / Boston Phoenix — Permalink Based on some of the interviews with Imperial Hubris author Anonymous (CIA officer Michael Scheuer, as we've revealed) over the past couple of weeks, it's hard to avoid concluding that Scheuer is not spoiling for a crusade of bloody constraint against the Islamic and Arab worlds. | |
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Robert Garcia Tagorda: At Large — I have a doctor's appointment this morning, so check out these writings in the meantime: The Boston Phoenix... Taegan Goddard: Anonymous Author Named — The Boston Phoenix uncovers Michael Scheuer as the author of the forthcoming book Imperial Hubris. Digby: The secret history of Anonymous: The author of Imperial Hubris is unmasked and says he fears for his job at the CIA,... |
Tim Dunlop: Both Digby and Laura Rozen point us at this article by Jason Vest about the identity of the CIA agent who has just written a book critical of the Bush administration. Bob Harris: "Anonymous" revealed (Note: this entry posted by Bob Harris) The author of the much-rumored Imperial Hubris: Why The... Gary Farber: Unsurprisingly, the secret of the full name of the author of the much-talked about Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is... |
| Also: James Joyner, Jeralyn Merritt, Laura Rozen, Nick Gillespie | |
NBC poll: President 'down but not out' By / MSNBC — Permalink WASHINGTON - With just over four months until Election Day, a near-majority of Americans believe the nation is headed in the wrong direction and that President Bush deliberately misled the public to make the case for war in Iraq, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds. | |
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James Joyner: NBC Poll: Bush 'Down But not Out' — MSNBC — NBC poll: President 'down but not out' [snipped quote] That's a truly odd trend. Steve M.: NBC/Wall Street Journal poll Please stop whimpering, Nick Kristof. |
Rimjob: NBC/WSJ POLL [editor's note, by DemFromCT] elevated from the diaries (previous poll results from May) NBC Poll: Bush... Taegan Goddard: New Polls — "With just over four months until Election Day, a near-majority of Americans believe the nation is headed... |
Author reveals Potter title AFP — Permalink The sixth book of the Harry Potter series will be called Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, the British author J.K. Rowling revealed yesterday on a website dedicated to her schoolboy wizard creation. | |
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James Joyner: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince — Author reveals Potter title [snipped quote] Well, I suppose it's better than Harry Potter: Attack of the Clones. Tim Dunlop: Author reveals Potter title — JK Rowling has released the title of the sixth book in her bestselling series. |
Jeanne D'Arc: But I'd look forward to this one. |
Pilgrim's Progress? By / Slate — Permalink As you may already know, one of America's two political parties is extremely religious. Sixty-one percent of this party's voters say they pray daily or more often. An astounding 92 percent of them believe in life after death. | |
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James Joyner: Kerry and Religion — Steve Waldman's Slate piece, "John Kerry's dubious approach to religion," is creating a stir. Atrios: And, you know what "secular" means? Secular is ABNORMAL! That's right, folks. From Slate: If Kerry's really secular, he's abnormal. |
Digby: Atrios takes umbrage with this Slate article that claims Kerry isn't acting Catholic enough and, therefore, will lose the religious vote and the election. Nick Confessore: This piece in Slate, by Steve Waldman, should be required reading for everyone on John Kerry's campaign. |
Harry Potter and Bill Clinton By / Washington Times — Permalink My youngest son, Jackson, is a huge Harry Potter fan. He taught himself how to read by reading "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" when he was 5 and devoured each of the four sequels. So we happily trooped off to see the latest movie, number three in the series, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." | |
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Steve Gilliard: Harry Potter and Bill Clinton By Jack Wheeler [snipped quote] I normally wouldn't interrupt your Thursday morning with this wingnuttery, but I wanted to share this with you. Brian Montopoli: In an op-ed, Jack Wheeler, publisher of a website billed as "the oasis for rational conservatives," compares women... |
Jesse Taylor: The Harry Potter You Never Knew — Via praktike in comments...does anyone remember the part in Harry Potter that... |
The Prime Minister Speaks By / Weekly Standard — Permalink THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION Tuesday received further support for its claims of a connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda from an important source: new Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Allawi, who has long claimed knowledge of the Iraq-al Qaeda relationship, reiterated these beliefs in an interview with NBC's Tom Brokaw. | |
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The Big Trunk: The connection according to Allawi — The Standard Online has posted a column by Stephen Hayes on the alegatons by Iraqi... Matthew Yglesias: The never-ending quest for Iraq-Qaeda connections is on again at The Weekly Standard as one-trick pony Stephen Hayes... |
C. D. Harris: Instead, we have Tom Brokaw dressing down Iraq's new Prime Minister Iyad Allawi for having the temerity to state the... |
Brothers in Law? By / TNR — Permalink Critics of the Supreme Court frequently paint Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia as twin horsemen of a conservative apocalypse. Last July, The New York Times quoted Duke law professor Walter Dellinger as saying, "Scalia and Thomas represent the Moral Majority strain." | |
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Betsy Newmark: Will Baude in The New Republic explodes the myth that Justices Thomas and Scalia vote in lockstep. Pejman Yousefzadeh: Will Baude has a very good essay disputing the canard that Clarence Thomas is Antonin Scalia's yes-man on the Court. Jonathan H. Adler: MORE SCALIA & THOMAS — Will Baude has an excellent column in TNR Online debunking the "Thomas just follows Scalia" canard. |
Steve Dillard: Justice Clarence Thomas is his own man: Will Baude at his best. Well done, young Will. Ken Masugi: Scalia vs. Thomas — The New Republic notes the differences between these two conservative favorites on the Supreme Court. Stuart Buck: Thomas and Scalia — Will Baude has an article in the New Republic detailing the substantial differences between Justices Thomas and Scalia. |
| Also: Eugene Volokh, Will Baude, Glenn Reynolds, James Joyner, Josh Chafetz | |
Saddam Lawyer Says Trial Mockery of Justice By / Reuters — Permalink AMMAN, Jordan (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein will not get a fair trial and his captors have already decided his fate, the deposed Iraqi president's defense lawyer said Wednesday. "This is a mockery of justice. We are facing clear legal violations. | |
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Charles Johnson: I think we've found his replacement: Saddam's lawyer, already ranting and seething and mangling the English language: "This is a mockery of justice. |
Jeralyn Merritt: Saddam's Lawyer Speaks Out — Saddam Hussein's chief defense lawyer spoke out today and said any trial of his client... |
VICE PRESIDENT HILLARY; SPECULATION INTENSIFIES IN WASHINGTON Drudge Report — Permalink Official Washington and the entire press corps will be rocked when Hillary Rodham Clinton is picked as Kerry's VP and a massive love fest will begin! So predicts a top Washington insider, who spoke to the DRUDGE REPORT on condition he not be named. | |
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Howard Kurtz: Matt Drudge is hyping a "top Washington insider" as predicting that Hillary will get the nod. (In the conservatives' dreams, maybe.) Robert Garcia Tagorda: Hillary Clinton, Veepstakes, and Health Care — Matt Drudge has the latest rumor from "a top Washington insider." Aaron @LiquidList: Politics/Media: Drudge Is A Tool — Does anyone really believe this story? [snipped quote] Give me a break. |
Jesse Taylor: Yesss...Exactly As I Say... I'll bet you thirty cents this "top Washington insider" is Dick Morris. Jeralyn Merritt: Report: Kerry May Tap Hillary for Veep — Matt Drudge is reporting that an anonymous Washington insider is certain Kerry will pick Hillary as the VP candidate. Christopher Kanis: THE PRESIDENT AND THE GENIE, PART III — Okay, maybe I had it wrong. This was the President's third wish. |
| Also: Smash, Steve M., Steve Antler, Mathew Gross, Robert Clayton Dean, Pejman Yousefzadeh, Jennifer Carter, James Joyner, Betsy Newmark, Jon Henke, QD @SouthernAppeal, KJL | |
A Mixed Bag NRO — Permalink The Supreme Court's combatants decisions. The Supreme Court's much-anticipated decisions Monday in the three cases involving enemy combatants detained by the executive branch during wartime are a mixed bag for the government: a tie, a shaky win it can probably live with, and a defeat that could be catastrophic. | |
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The Big Trunk: Ruling in favor of the enemy — NRO has posted Andrew McCarthy's excellent column on the Insane Clown Posse's three detention decisions: "A mixed bag." |
Joel Foreman: Cry Havoc, and let slip the dogs of law — For an insightful look at the results of the Supreme Court's recent... |
Ralph Nader Calls Israel a "Puppeteer" Arutz Sheva — Permalink (IsraelNN.com) On Tuesday, as broadcast on the American cable network C-Span, independent presidential candidate and environmental crusader Ralph Nader said the following: "What has been happening over the years is a predictable routine of foreign visitation from the head of the Israeli government. | |
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Moe Lane: Because God loves Democrats, too. Yes, He does. How else to explain Ralph Nader? Captain Ed: Nader: It's The Yahoods, I Tell You — Ralph Nader took a stroll from gadfly status to full-blown moonbat in a speech given at a conference titled, "The Muslim Vote in 2004". Jerusalem Posts: In addition to Nader, speakers included Ambassador Edward Peck, former Iraq Chief of Mission and others. http://www.israelnn.com/news.p hp3?id=64895 |
Jan Haugland: Ralph Nader: 'US a puppet, Israel a puppeteer' — Using language you normally hear from right-wing extremists and... Damian Penny: A trivia question — Who recently said the following: [snipped quote] A) David Duke B) Pat Buchanan C) Iranian state television D) Ralph Nader Answer here. (via LGF) Betsy Newmark: Well, Ralph Nader is making a direct appeal for the Muslim vote. [snipped quote] That's disgusting. |
| Also: Charles Johnson | |
Iraq's basic services worse now than before war, GAO says By / Knight Ridder — Permalink WASHINGTON — In a few key areas — electricity, the judicial system and overall security — the Iraq that America handed back to its residents Monday is worse off than before the war began last year, according to calculations in a new General Accounting Office report released yesterday. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: Item 2 The "Seattle Times" reports on the Government Accounting Office's study of Iraq: "Iraq's basic services worse now... Oliver Willis: Iraq's basic services worse now than before war, GAO says In 13 of Iraq's 18 provinces, electricity was available fewer hours per day on average last month than before the war. Brian Doherty: From a Knight-Ridder report, as run in the Seattle Times: "In a few key areas — electricity, the judicial system and... |
Stefan Sharkansky: The latest installment of hand-wringing and self-flagellation over the imperfections of post-Saddam Iraq includes this... Atrios: Nattering Nabobs — When the GAO tells us that things suck in Iraq, they neglect to tell us about all of the schools! |
More U.S. jobs seen in June, buoying Bush By / Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - U.S. employment likely surged again in June, taking gains this year to some 1.4 million jobs and bolstering President George W. Bush's economic record ahead of the November election, analysts said onWednesday. | |
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Atrios: Current buzz is that they'll be a decent 250K, which is good but not nearly as good as the spin and, as I keep having to... Captain Ed: They Just Keep Rolling In — In a boost for the Bush administration and the President's re-election bid, Reuters reports... Bill Hobbs: Another 250,000 More-Likely To Vote For Bush — Reuters reports: [snipped quote] That would make it almost 1.2 million... |
Clayton Cramer: From Reuters: "WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - U.S. employment likely surged again in June, taking gains this year to... Ace: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs... "Nearly a Million Jobs in 100 Days" — Consensus estimate: 250,000 in June, slightly beating May's 248,000. Pejman Yousefzadeh: There is much less ammunition for them to work with: [snipped quote] It is becoming increasingly clear that the election of 2004 will be a reverse of the election of 1992. |
Fed Boosts Rate by One-Quarter Point By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federal Reserve boosted a key short-term interest rate by a one-quarter percentage point Wednesday, its first rate increase in four years, in an attempt to keep the economy and inflation on an even keel. | |
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Libertarian: THE ASCENT BEGINS I told you so: interest rates rise for the first time in four years. Ace: A Quarter Point — Greenspan raises the fed funds rate by .25%, as expected. |
Greg Ransom: The wheel of history turns. Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve hike interest rates 1/4 percent. Steven Taylor: As Expected — Fed Boosts Rate by One-Quarter Point. And here's a nifty graphic. |
Iraq is worse off than before the war began, GAO reports By / Knight Ridder — Permalink WASHINGTON - In a few key areas - electricity, the judicial system and overall security - the Iraq that America handed back to its residents Monday is worse off than before the war began last year, according to calculations in a new General Accounting Office report released Tuesday. | |
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Steve Gilliard: Iraq is worse off than before the war began, GAO reports By Seth Borenstein [snipped quote] But they're free, right? Matthew Yglesias: At a minimum, what one can say in favor of the Iraq War is that the Iraqi people are better off. Or are they? |
Jeanne D'Arc: And with judges who are subject to assassination attempts, too. That's rather miraculous, no? One might be tempted to say impossible. |
Cheney Pays Visit to Stadium By / NYT — Permalink Vice President Dick Cheney spent about 20 minutes in Manager Joe Torre's office and in the clubhouse shaking hands with players before the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, 11-3, last night at Yankee Stadium. | |
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Jeanne D'Arc: It was greeted with booing, so the Yankees quickly removed the image. Class, all the way. KJL: BLAME IT ON THE BLEACHERS — Cheney got booed at Yankee stadium. |
Mathew Gross: True Patriots — Go f—k yourself, say Yankees fans: [quote] During the singing of "God Bless America" in the seventh inning, an image of Cheney was shown on the scoreboard.[end quote] Atrios: ...Minitru put the info into this story instead. (it was originally in the one I had linked to.) |
Court Orders 'God' Into Oath WaPo — Permalink RALEIGH, N.C. , June 29 — North Carolina's Supreme Court ordered a judge Tuesday to restore references to God used when he enters the courtroom and when witnesses swear to tell the truth. | |
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TChris: NC Supreme Court Orders God's Return to Courtroom — How absurd is this? Tgirsch: NC Supreme Court Orders "God" Into Courtroom — This isn't good: [snipped quote] If I'm not mistaken, the oath that includes "so help you God" is technically the revised one. |
James Joyner: Court Orders 'God' Into Oath — AP — Court Orders 'God' Into Oath "North Carolina's Supreme Court ordered a judge... Nathan Hallford: According to the Washington Post, District Judge James M. Honeycutt decided to remove any references to God from use in... |
Allawi: Saddam connected to al-Qaida By / MSNBC — Permalink BAGHDAD - The new Iraqi prime minister sent word to the Iraqi people that they will now control the fate of their old tormentor, Saddam Hussein. Beginning Wednesday, the Iraqi government will begin to take legal custody of Saddam. He'll appear in an Iraqi court on Thursday. | |
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Will Collier: Oh, That Liberal Media (Again) Compare and contrast: yesterday's Tom Brokaw interview with Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad... Jeanne D'Arc: This trial will be a model of transparency and fairness, the envy of the world, in which every aspect of Saddam's crimes... Charles Johnson: The Media Are the Enemy — You're not going to believe the way NBC's Tom Brokaw interviews new Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad... |
Judith Weiss: Spin that, antiwar weenies. UPDATE: They're trying to, aren't they? Sheesh. UPDATE: Some Iraqis tell the BBC what they think. Donald Sensing: Quoting MSNBC: "Brokaw: I know that you and others like you are grateful for the liberation of Iraq. Steve M.: How many Bush administration talking points can the new Iraqi prime minister squeeze into a three-question interview? |
| Also: Steven Taylor, James Joyner, Captain Ed, Betsy Newmark, Jonah Goldberg | |
TV to snub conventions By / The Hill — Permalink The major TV networks are planning to cut coverage at the political conventions, ignoring major speeches early in the week. The Republican and Democratic parties hope to nudge the networks into more live coverage, but broadcasters have concluded that there will be little news to report. | |
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Tim Graham: But it really burns me, just as a citizen, that the network suits are again talking up the idea of just skipping... Steven Taylor: TV to snub conventions. For the last several cycles this has been the case, and I expected as much this year, so what's the story? James Joyner: Networks to Snub Conventions — The Hill — TV to Snub Conventions [snipped quote] I can't blame the networks. |
Cori Dauber: They should pony up. Let them skip the backbenchers, the choruses, the balloons, the nonsense. But the marquee speakers? Kevin Drum: CONVENTION COVERAGE....The Hill reports that the major networks are planning to reduce their coverage of the Democratic and Republican conventions this year to almost nothing. Atrios: Convention Coverage — It'll be interesting to see if the networks have a double standard for their convention coverage - finding some excuse to broadcast more of the RNC one. |
| Also: Taegan Goddard, Betsy Newmark, DemFromCT | |
Calling Bush a Liar By / NYT — Permalink So is President Bush a liar? Plenty of Americans think so. Bookshops are filled with titles about Mr. Bush like "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them," "Big Lies," "Thieves in High Places" and "The Lies of George W. Bush." | |
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Tim Blair: I'm just posing a question: "Mr. Moore hints that the real reason Mr. Bush invaded Afghanistan was to give his cronies a chance to profit by building an oil pipeline there. Edward _: Everyone from David Brooks to Nicholas Kristof is calling for more civility in the national discourse. Steve Lovelady: How else to explain Kristof's Op-ed-page column today, in which he holds this strange breed up to the light, like an... |
DeLong: ": Nicolas Kristof is sick and tired of people calling the President a liar." Jeff Jarvis: Kristof v. the neonuts : Nicholas Kristof calls the new extremists of the left n their divisive, demonizing tactics —... The Poor Man: He's Not A Liar, He's My President! Nicholas Kristof is sick and tired of people calling the President a liar. |
| Also: Jack Balkin, Ezra Klein, Roger Ailes, David Allan Pell | |
Beware of Certitude By / NYT — Permalink Only two days ago, I wrote with all the confidence of a bigfoot pundit that French President Jacques Chirac, at the NATO summit in Istanbul, would find it in his political interest to paper over past differences with the U.S. , Britain and most other European nations about overthrowing Saddam. | |
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Tom Maguire: A Drollery From William Safire — William Safire leaves us wondering just how subtle he is, in the conclusion to his column warning against certitude: Don't jump to hasty derision. Stephen Green: Read the whole thing. Betsy Newmark: William Safire weaves together Jacques Chirac's intransigence and the news that the Iraq seeking uranium from Niger... |
Glenn Reynolds: In this regard, William Safire's column on the dangers of certitude is well worth reading. Cori Dauber: The bad new is (I guess this was predictable) it's in William Safire's column, which means it will be looked at with far... Attaturk: Compare and Contrast — Old-n-Busted (and a White House whorin' fool) Bill Safirepeddling the latest Scooter Libbyish plant. |
| Also: Josh Marshall | |
2 lazy 2 teach By / Townhall.com — Permalink Have you checked your child's summer reading list? Beware: Some lame-brained school officials have decided to ditch the sonnets of Shakespeare for the tripe of Tupac. | |
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McQ: 2 good 4 2pac — Michelle Malkin shares some feedback on her blog from her "2 Lazy 2 Teach" column on Townhall. Mike Hendrix: 2 B or not 2 B, yo - word — Good God: [snipped quote] Read the rest; it's unbelievable, and frightening when you get right down to it. Betsy Newmark: Michelle Malkin is upset about one Massachusetts school district's choices for summer reading. Fear not, Michelle. |
Captain Ed: Michelle Malkin, one of my favorite writers, notes the summer reading list from a Worcester school district now includes... SLZoll: Michelle Malkin Michelle is having a major hissy fit because the lazy officials at a middle school in Worcester, MA... Michelle Malkin: 2 LAZY 2 TEACH — Column's up: What your kid is learning in school: tupac.jpg Update: A public school teacher in the... |
Abducted Marine Had Reportedly Deserted NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 29 — The American marine who is being threatened by his kidnappers with beheading had deserted the military because he was emotionally traumatized, and was abducted by his captors while trying to make his way home to his native Lebanon, a Marine officer said Tuesday. | |
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DHinMI: According to the NYT, Abducted Marine Had Reportedly Deserted. But according to the WaPo, Corporal Held by Militants Not a Deserter, Marines Say. Attaturk: Suddenly, the NY Times reports an allegation by a fellow service member that he may have deserted... And with the speed... Tacitus: He is not merely captured and awaiting a foreordained death: he was betrayed while attempting to desert in wartime. |
Charles Johnson: Wassef Ali Hassoun's "kidnapping" in Iraq have been circulating for a few days; here's the first confirmation that... James Joyner: Abducted Marine Had Reportedly Deserted — NYT — Abducted Marine Had Reportedly Deserted [RSS] [snipped quote] This had... Jonah Goldberg: THE KIDNAPPED MARINE — May have been a deserter: "BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 29 — The American marine who is being... |
Kerry Has to Decide Soon on Repaying a Big Loan By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, June 29 - Among the many strategic decisions facing Senator John Kerry in the coming weeks, one may hit closer to home than others, whether to use campaign contributions to repay the $6.4 million that he lent his campaign or pay it off over time using his own money. | |
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Noam Scheiber: I'm sure Republicans will scream bloody murder, as this Times article suggests, if John Kerry repays the $6.4 million... Hugh Hewitt: "Some campaign finance experts question whether Mr. Kerry has the money to repay the loan himself," says the New York Times. |
Howard Kurtz: 'We've stayed close as an extended family in a sense ... and it's none of anybody's business.'" Kerry has other... |