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Inaugural Address by President George W. Bush White House — Permalink Vice President Cheney, Mr. Chief Justice, President Carter, President Bush, President Clinton, reverend clergy, distinguished guests, fellow citizens: On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the durable wisdom of our Constitution, and recall the deep commitments that unite our country. | |
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Ginny @ChicagoBoyz: Bush's Speech as seen on Lehrer — Coming home in time to catch re-runs of Bush's speech and the Lehrer Newshour, I am... Patrick Ruffini: What was your favorite line? Scour the transcript and add your thoughts. Steven Taylor: To the speech itself, I think the passage that impressed me the most was the following: "For a half century, America defended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders. |
Norbizness: Do As I Incoherently Say, Not As My Allies Do — From the bread-and-circuses keynote address (my only post on this... Donald Sensing: First, President George W. Bush today: "So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of... Damian Penny: Inauguration Day — Bush's speech is here. Some will find this rhetoric stirring, while others will find it "simplistic" or something. |
| Also: Gene @HarrysPlace, Captain Ed, Richard Reeb, Joe Gandelman, Pejman Yousefzadeh, Roger L. Simon, Lorie Byrd, Bill Hobbs, Orrin Judd, Steve M., Greg Ransom, Hugh Hewitt, Deacon, Chris Lawrence, Glenn Reynolds, Taegan Goddard, Julian Sanchez, Daniel Drezner | |
Michael Moore's Bodyguard Arrested on Airport Gun Charge Fox News — Permalink NEW YORK — Filmmaker Michael Moore's (search) bodyguard was arrested for carrying an unlicensed weapon in New York's JFK airport Wednesday night. Police took Patrick Burke, who says Moore employs him, into custody after he declared he was carrying a firearm at a ticket counter. | |
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Colt: And finally: one of Michael Moore's bodyguards has been arrested - for carrying an unlicensced firearm. Thanks for reading! Joe Gandelman: On The Michael Moore's Bodyguard Arrested On Gun Charge Story — Folks making a big deal over Michael Moore's bodyguard... Captain Ed: Why, it's no one but our own cuddly teddy-bear friend, Michael Moore, and his bodyguard (via Drudge): "Filmmaker... |
Steve Bainbridge: Now we learn that ultra-limousine liberal Michael Moore, whose film Bowling for Columbine is one of the major anti-gun... John Hawkins: Mr. Michael "Bowling for Columbine" Moore's bodyguards do carry guns, "Filmmaker Michael Moore's bodyguard was arrested... Clayton Cramer: So guess whose bodyguard was arrested for a gun violation? [snipped quote] Hmmm. The bodyguard for Rosie O'Donnell, fierce antigunner, applies for a carry permit. |
| Also: Charles Johnson, Joe Carter, Mitch Berg, Steven Taylor, Murray @SilentRunning, Dale Franks, Damian Penny, Betsy Newmark, Scott Sala, Tim Blair, Pejman Yousefzadeh, Glenn Reynolds, Acidman, KJL, Susanna Cornett, John Cole | |
Sen. Clinton urges use of faith-based initiatives By / Boston Globe — Permalink On the eve of the presidential inauguration, US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton last night embraced an issue some pundits say helped seal a second term for George W. Bush: acceptance of the role of faith in addressing social ills. | |
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Robert Tagorda: Consider the context of her invocations of God: Sen. Clinton Urges Use of Faith-based Initiatives [snipped quote] As I... Clayton Cramer: Name The Right-Wing Extremist — I've edited out the identifying characteristics: [snipped quote] Which Red State Republican extremist said this, do you think? Ace: Hillary's Running — You can tell because she just endorsed transforming our republic into a right-wing fascist... |
McQ: Michael Jones of the Boston Globe points out that many are convinced that it is this issue which "helped seal a second... Glenn Reynolds: There's further support for that here from Hillary herself: [snipped quote] I think that she's serious about that, and not faking it as some on the right are suggesting. KJL: Hillary gave a "values" speech in Boston last night. |
| Also: Orrin Judd | |
The Eve of Destruction By / Village Voice — Permalink You might wonder—were you someone unfamiliar with or in denial about the ways of the Karl Rove Mafia—how George W. Bush could blunder into nominating someone as attorney general so obviously implicated in the most legally questionable and morally indefensible practices of his administration. | |
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Fred Clark: Standards left behind — Rick Perlstein is, to put it mildly, not optimistic about the next four years. Orrin Judd: OBLIGATORY SATAN REFERENCE: The Eve of Destruction: George Bush is getting four more years to remake the world in his image. |
Susan Madrak: "They're reacting to people like you," I said. "People who are more interested in a short-term return. Richard TPD: Four more years — This article may qualify as the most disturbing I've read about what we're in for under the newly inaugurated Bush. |
A Conservative President? By / NRO — Permalink Aw, gee. He's our guy, I like him, and his performance since 9/11 has proven brave, steadfast, and completely admirable. But this speech? It was well-written — in places actually beautiful — and well-delivered. | |
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Hugh Hewitt: But my pal Peter, who I was touting for CBS earlier today, dissents, and not on style points, but objects that Bush "as... Greg Ransom: UPDATE II: Reagan speechwriter Peter Robinson, "A Conservative President?" : "Aw, gee. |
Orrin Judd: WHAT'S WORTH CONSERVING AFTER 70 YEARS OF DEMOCRATIC POWER? : A Conservative President? : It amounted to a thoroughgoing exaltation of the state. Andrew Sullivan: DISSENT ON THE RIGHT: Worthwhile piece from Peter Robinson on the big government assumptions behind Bush's address. |
Conservatives Pick Soft Target: A Cartoon Sponge By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 - On the heels of electoral victories barring same-sex marriage, some influential conservative Christian groups are turning their attention to a new target: the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants. "Does anybody here know SpongeBob?" | |
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Hilzoy @ObsidianWings: From the New York Times: [snipped quote] Reading this, I am reminded of an essay in a wonderfully funny book, The Pooh... Eugene Volokh: Cartoon Characters and Homosexuality: Jamed Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family is complaining about SpongeBob... Joe Gandelman: Sponge Bob Square Pants Attacked By Conserative Focus On The Family — Sponge20bob202 Did you know that SpongeBob Square Pants is an evil influence on kids? |
McQ: Sponge Bob, Hot Pants — Say what you will about mulitculturalism (I'm not a fan) or the "gay agenda", but for heaven... Captain Ed: The Overkill Of Attacking A Sponge — David Kirkpatrick reports in today's New York Times that conservative activist Dr... Josh Marshall: But in case not, and especially if you have impressionable young children, you'll want to know that radical cleric James... |
| Also: Jesse Walker, Tom Burka, Hesiod @AmStreet, Jesse Taylor, Kos @DailyKos, Jim D, Magpie @PacificViews, Susan Madrak, Oliver Willis | |
Radio's Bush-Bashing Air America Is Back in Fighting Form WSJ — Permalink Today's inauguration of President George W. Bush may depress many Democrats, who had hoped to take back the White House this year. But at Air America, the upstart liberal radio network, there's at least some cause for celebration. | |
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Joe Gandelman: Today, Republicans are overjoyed, Democrats are depressed — but not all Democrats. Steve Soto: Air America Doing Just Fine, With An Assist From Clear Channel — I know it will give our troll friends fits, but Air America is doing just fine, thank you, and growing every day. Taegan Goddard: Rob Glaser, chairman of Air America, quoted in a Wall Street Journal story on how the "liberal-progressive radio... |
Avedon Carol: I seem to recall an announcement from Radio Left that they're doing the jazz funeral for the occasion, and that's all I... Jeralyn Merritt: And the good news to report is that Air America Radio has turned itself into a success: [snipped quote] [hat tip Mememorandum] Oliver Willis: The Air America Phoenix — Media Radio's Bush-Bashing Air America Is Back in Fighting Form [snipped quote] Kudos to them. |
Social Security: Opportunity, Not a Crisis By / WaPo — Permalink The president's second term will begin today, probably with a flurry of the usual flattery, such as: "My fellow Americans, America is wonderful because you, the people, are wonderful — the way you wear your hats, the way you sip your tea." | |
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Matthew Yglesias: George Will offers up a classic of the genre: [snipped quote] It's notable that most of Will's reasons here do not, in fact, have anything to do with philosophy. Robert Tagorda: George Will casts doubt upon the conservative fiscal argument, preferring the philosophical one instead: Social... Josh Marshall: George Will says, today, that there is no Social Security crisis, but proffers a new rationale: competition among fund managers. |
Susan Madrak: DISHONESTY MAKES THE BEST POLICY — George Will, as intellectually dishonest as ever: "Voluntary personal accounts will... Tom Maguire: However, George Will is miles ahead of me. MORE: Matt Yglesias is a skeptic; here is a true believer. |
An American in Paris By / NYT — Permalink Watching George Bush's second inaugural from a bistro in Paris is like watching the Red Sox win the World Series from a sports bar in New York City. Odds are that someone around you is celebrating - I mean, someone, somewhere in Europe must be happy about this - but it's not obvious. | |
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Ogged @Unfogged: Temptation — Tom Friedman is getting guff over at Crooked Timber for his credulity. Avedon Carol: Now I'm back, and I discover at enduring Friedman that the whole world has been divided up into blue and red countries by - no, not David Brooks, but the other guy. Atrios: Shorter Tom Friedman — Who's up for another 18 holes? |
Dale Franks: Euro-Angst — Tom Friedman writes from Paris: "Watching George Bush's second inaugural from a bistro in Paris is like... Orrin Judd: ANTI-HUMANISM: An American in Paris: While officially every European government is welcoming the inauguration of... |
Inaugural price tag in line with history By / Washington Times — Permalink Reuters news agency this week headlined a story, "Critics Say Bush Inaugural Too Lavish for Wartime," then quoted one "critic," Rep. Anthony Weiner, New York Democrat, who complained that the estimated $40 million for the Bush-Cheney inauguration is extravagant. | |
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Paul @Wizbang: Inaugural price tag in line with history — NOW they tell us. Pejman Yousefzadeh: BIG SPENDERS — Looks like this inauguration wasn't the ritziest one after all: [snipped quote] Again, to be clear, no... |
Scott Sala: Inauguration Cost: Just Fine — The Washington Times puts out a great article rounding up the various opinions on the cost of today's Inauguration. KJL: Of course, MSMers say it too. Here's the big picture. |
No room for progressives on cable news inauguration coverage Media Matters for America — Permalink Media Matters for America inventoried all guests who appeared on FOX News, CNN, and MSNBC during the channels' January 20 inauguration coverage. Between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Republican and conservative guests and commentators outnumbered Democrats and... | |
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Josh Marshall: Seeing is believing: MediaMatters looks at inauguration coverage. |
Atrios: The Liberal Media — Just a typical day. |
President Bush's Second Inaugural Address WaPo — Permalink The following is the text of President George W. Bush's second inaugural address, as prepared for delivery. Vice President Cheney, Mr. Chief Justice, President Carter, President Bush, President Clinton, reverend clergy, distinguished guests, fellow citizens: | |
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Steve Soto: That's the main message one could take away from the second Bush inaugural speech this afternoon. Lambert @Corrente: Coronation spewage: Transmission glitch to the earpiece? Anyone out there actually read the text? [snipped quote] Fancy them?! |
Publius @AmStreet: All Those Pretty Words — President Bush today: "We go forward with complete confidence in the eventual triumph of freedom. |
True Confessions: A Democrat Likes George By / LAT — Permalink I have known President Bush for 40 years — ever since we attended Yale College together in the 1960s. I'm a Democrat (and I was a Democrat then), but I liked him and I still like him, as a sincere and kind man and a good friend. | |
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Deacon: Separated at Yale — Democratic operative Lanny Davis was a friend of George W. Bush when the two attended Yale. Robert Tagorda: Note this story: True Confessions: A Democrat Likes George [snipped quote] That's a very clever — and powerful — criticism, isn't it? |
Kevin Drum: He tells this anecdote today in the LA Times: [snipped quote] Davis seems to think that this somehow excuses Bush's gay... Jon Henke: "True Confessions: A Democrat Likes George" — Like last weeks almost-fawning Newsweek article, critics will be tempted... |
Study Cites Human Failings in Election Day Poll System By / NYT — Permalink The research firms that designed the $10 million polling system used by news organizations during last year's presidential election have concluded that the system erroneously showed John Kerry to be leading the race not because of a technological breakdown but because of more human variables. | |
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Avedon Carol: Explaining away the exit polls - again — The New York Times has one of those articles that right-wingers will be citing... Kerry Howley: Well, No One I Know Voted for Him — The New York Times reports on November's wacky exit polls and the research groups apologizing for them. |
Ann Althouse: A study shows the exit polls skewed toward Kerry because the pollsters were so young. Orrin Judd: Study Cites Human Failings in Election Day Poll System: A study concluded that the polling system erroneously showed... |
The Republican Moment By / Opinion Journal — Permalink When President George W. Bush looks down across the mall today to deliver his second inaugural address, he will survey a Republican landscape. Not since 1928 has a president continued GOP control of the White House into a new term along with a re-elected Republican House and Senate. | |
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Orrin Judd: WHEN YOU MOVE AGAINST THE KING YOU HAVE TO KILL HIM: The Republican Moment: Will the GOP have the courage, at last, to change the face of government? Greg Ransom: Paul Gigot takes a look at an inconsequencial party: "Whatever one thinks of its policies, the Democratic Party surely made a difference during its 20th-century heyday. |
Steve Bainbridge: An historic moment — Gigot on Bush: [snipped quote] Now let's see him do something with it. Taegan Goddard: The Republican Moment — Paul Gigot, in my view the best political commentator from the right, has an excellent piece... |
Moscow scraps Stalin statue plan amid protests AFP — Permalink MOSCOW (AFP) - Moscow has scrapped plans to erect a statue honoring Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and fellow wartime leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in a Moscow monument marking the end of World War II, an official said. | |
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Scott Sala: As I reported yesterday, Moscow planned to erect a statue of Stalin in a public square, but after alleged public outcry... |
Eugene Volokh: "Moscow Scraps — "Stalin statue plan amid protests." Related Posts (on one page): "Moscow Scraps Next Step — Berlin Erecting Statue of Hitler? |
Public Voicing Doubts on Iraq and the Economy, Poll Finds NYT — Permalink On the eve of President Bush's second inauguration, most Americans say they do not expect the economy to improve or American troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by the time Mr. Bush leaves the White House, and many have reservations about his signature plan to overhaul Social Security, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll. | |
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Tom Maguire: Where's The Lead — Adam Nagourney is reporting on a new NY Times/CBS poll, so it's time to play "Where's The Lead?" Thomas Lang: Go to comments — January 20, 2005 Blog Report Left, Right Sharpen Invective on Inaugural Day Pandagon's Ezra Klein... Ezra Klein: Polly Goodness — The new CBS/NYT poll tells us that: • Americans disapprove of Bush's handling of foreign... |
Steve M.: And, well, what do you know — Bush's numbers look pretty bad in a New York Times/CBS poll published today. Howard Kurtz: Salon's Eric Boehlert lambastes the inaugural coverage: "In Sunday's New York Times, John Tierney examined the delicate... Jeff Alworth: Today the Times has a new poll out that begs the question. Apparently we are that dumb. |
Harvard Chief Says His Remarks on Women Were Wrong By / Reuters — Permalink CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Reuters) - Harvard University President Lawrence Summers has written a lengthy apology, admitting he was wrong to suggest women do not have the same natural ability in math and sciences as men. | |
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David Bernstein: I really don't see why Larry Summers needed to make an abject apology for merely suggesting the possibility that,... |
Juan Non-Volokh: Summers Storm Subsiding: Harvard President Larry Summers has apologized for his controversial statements about the relative lack of women in math and science. |
Ugly Is as Ugly Was By / WaPo — Permalink Among this year's crop of coffee-table tomes — celebrating four centuries of French armoires or the sun-drenched colors of Santa Fe style — scurries a most welcome garden-party skunk. | |
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The Big Trunk: If there is any justice in the world, today's Washington Post article by Annie Groer may be the start of something big for him: "Ugly is as ugly was." Glenn Reynolds: UGLY IS AS UGLY WAS: That's the title of an article on James Lileks, in the Washington Post. |
Hugh Hewitt: And Lileks dominates Inauguration Day coverage in the Washington Post. Really. |
Cheney Thought Iraq Would Recover Quickly AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday that he overestimated the pace of Iraq 's recovery from the U.S.-led invasion because he didn't realize the lasting devastation wrought by Saddam Hussein on his people after the first Gulf War . | |
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Jesse Taylor: So, when one of the architects of the Iraq War is asked what mistakes he made, it seems kinds of dismissive for him to... |
Tbogg: Inauguration 2005 — Ready to piss on America some more... Posted by Hello The VP says: Vice President Dick Cheney (news... |
Meddling by Public Pension Funds Is Picking California's Pocket By / LAT — Permalink A longer version of this article appears in the winter issue of City Journal. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week proposed shifting California's pensions for state workers from a massive plan guaranteed by taxpayers to individual 401(k)s controlled by the workers themselves. | |
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Vance @BeggingToDiffer: BACKWARDS PRIVATIZATION — There's an article in today's LA Times (subscription required) that highlights one of my... Tyler Cowen: Do state pension funds meddle in corporate affairs? [snipped quote] Read more here. |
Steve Bainbridge: Those Evil Pension Funds — Nicole Gelinas gets it right: [snipped quote] The whole thing is a LA Times op-ed, which... |
Bush: 'No justice without freedom' CNN — Permalink WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush delivered his second inaugural address Thursday after being sworn in for a second term. This is a transcript of his remarks: Vice President Cheney, Mr. Chief Justice, President Carter, President Bush, President Clinton, members of the United States Congress, reverend clergy, distinguished guests, fellow citizens: | |
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Ken Masugi: Bush's Second Inaugural: Reversing FDR — President Bush's Second Inaugural Address is the most fascinating one of recent times. |
New Donkey: Predictably, the lines Mike Gerson wrote for his Second Inaugural Address are, compared to the Bush 2001 effort, short... |
Islamic Pilgrims Bring Cosmopolitan Air to Unlikely City By / NYT — Permalink MECCA, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 18 - The two-hour panel presentation on "Mecca: The Cultural Capital of Islam" was pretty dry but things got rolling in the question and answer session, in a way that was quintessentially Meccan. | |
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Charles Johnson: Saudi Money Well Spent — In a dispatch from that alternate universe only the New York Times seems to know about, where... |
William Swann: Charles adopts a contemptuous tone toward a new article in the New York Times describing the city of Mecca as an... |
Speech to Stress 'Expansion of Freedom' By / WaPo — Permalink With an eye toward history and his uncertain place in it, President Bush today will deliver a relatively short — but distinctly idealistic — inaugural address about America's calling to spread liberty, democracy and personal freedom around the world, according to White House officials. | |
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John Rosenberg: A8, reporter Jim VandeHei begins his report on the (still undelivered) inaugural address by stating: "With an eye toward... |
Kash: "Freedom" — The Washington Post is reporting that the theme of today's inauguration speech will be "The Expansion of Freedom." |
A New Deal to scupper a presidency By / Guardian — Permalink In his second term, President Bush is determined on regime change. The country whose order he seeks to overthrow is not ruled by mullahs or Ba'athists. But members of his administration have compared its system to communism. | |
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Avedon Carol: Sidney Blumenthal in the Guardian, A New Deal to scupper a presidency: In his second term, President Bush is determined on regime change. Orrin Judd: ORIGINALIST ON THE GRASSY KNOLL: A New Deal to scupper a presidency: Bush is taking a huge gamble with his assault on... |
Dwight Meredith: The Guardian's Sid Blumenthal asks former Treasury Secretary, former head of Goldman Sachs, and current director of... Josh Marshall: But our friend Sid Blumenthal gets him on the record to good effect ... [snipped quote] No member of the Faction he. |
CIA gives grim warning on European prospects By / Scotsman — Permalink THE CIA has predicted that the European Union will break-up within 15 years unless it radically reforms its ailing welfare systems. The report by the intelligence agency, which forecasts how the world will look in 2020, warns that Europe could be dragged into economic decline by its ageing population. | |
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Shannon Love: Still, I can't help but worry that a CIA report (via Instapundit) predicting the breakup of the EU within 15 years... |
Glenn Reynolds: CIA PREDICTS COLLAPSE: [snipped quote] Via Aaron at Freewillblog, who observes that CIA reports predicting problems in... |
Wolfowitz says reducing US casualties in Iraq more important AFP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AFP) - The number two Pentagon official said reducing American casualties in Iraq was more important than bringing US troops back home — and pointed to the rising Iraqi death toll as evidence this strategy was working. | |
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John Cole: Wait a Minute — Jesse takes issue with this Wolfowitz quote: [snipped quote] Jesse then states: [snipped quote] I would... |
Jesse Taylor: Wolfo-Ass — The guy actually said this: [snipped quote] The point, my friends, is not to make sure that the toilet works. |
FBI Grills Jack Kemp About Iraqi Contact Newsweek — Permalink Jan. 19 - Former vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp has been questioned by the FBI about his dealings with an Iraqi-American businessman who this week became the target of the first Justice Department criminal indictment in the United Nations Oil-for-Food scandal, NEWSWEEK has learned. | |
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Oliver Willis: FBI Grills Jack Kemp About Iraqi Contact [snipped quote] Now, wonder what the Halliburton connection is? |
Laura Rozen: Former Republican VP Candidate Jack Kemp grilled by the FBI about his frequent contact with an Iraqi American oil trader... |
Provision in election law often neglected By / JSOnline — Permalink In the wake of Milwaukee's inability to send confirmation cards to some 10,000 newly registered voters, a Journal Sentinel review suggests that a little-discussed - but key - safeguard in election law is not routinely followed. | |
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Captain Ed: In today's paper, Borokowski reveals that despite having one of the most liberal and fraud-susceptible... |
Betsy Newmark: It sounds like it's about time for Wisconsin to enforce its own election laws. |
Cheney Upholds Power of the Presidency By / WaPo — Permalink Vice President Cheney said in an interview that the proper power of the presidency has finally been restored after being diminished in the wake of the Vietnam War and Watergate, and that President Bush contributed to the process by not allowing his narrow victory in the 2000 election to inhibit him during his first term. | |
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Steve Soto: Read this assessment, shake your head, understand that while these guys hope to see a warmer and friendlier Bush, his VP... |
Taegan Goddard: Cheney Claims Bush Restored Power of Presidency — In an interview, Vice President Dick Cheney said that "the proper... |
A More Relaxed Laura Bush Shows Complexity Under Calm By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 - She sits on a red damask settee in the White House Map Room, where Franklin D. Roosevelt plotted the Allied victory in World War II, stroking Miss Beazley, her new Scottie puppy, a tiny feminine form of Roosevelt's beloved Fala. | |
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Tom Maguire: Laura Bush To Go Ballistic — Timesman Todd Purdum interviews Laura Bush inside the White House, and sends her a bouquet of roses with a stink bomb hidden inside. |
Howard Kurtz: Here's a nugget from a NYT chat with Laura Bush: "Her favorite topic of campaign conversation with her mother-in-law last year? |
U.S. Births, Immigration May Ease Pressures on Social Security Bloomberg — Permalink Jan. 18 (Bloomberg) — Tara Trent of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, has three girls, with another child on the way in June. The 31-year- old homemaker and her husband, Ken, talk of having a fifth baby. Big families aren't unusual in the neighborhood, she says. | |
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Steve Soto: Hell, even Newt doesn't think Social Security is headed for a crisis. Josh Marshall: says the former Speaker, according to Bloomberg. |
Chris Bowers: Newt Gingrich: "The combination of higher birth rates and more immigration makes the United States the healthiest of developed nations. |
Nelson rejects run for governor, will seek re-election to Senate St. Petersburg Times — Permalink WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, long rumored to be considering a run for governor of Florida when Gov. Jeb Bush steps down next year, said Wednesday he will not, and instead will seek re-election to the Senate in 2006. "I love the Senate. | |
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Kos @DailyKos: Nelson announces reelection bid Nelson shocked no one by announcing he would run for reelection to the US Senate. |
Taegan Goddard: In Florida, Nelson Will Run Again for Senate — Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), [snipped quote] the St. Petersburg Times reports. |
GOP Sees Outreach Potential in Agenda By / LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON — President Bush's plans to overhaul Social Security and enact other sweeping policy changes are making some Republican lawmakers uneasy about the political risks. | |
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Jesse Taylor: Biting The Hand That Reaches — Ken Mehlman views the second-term Bush platform as an opportunity for outreach: [snipped quote] One: only Latino doctors, accountants and teachers? |
Orrin Judd: JUST WARMING UP: GOP Sees Outreach Potential in Agenda (Peter Wallsten, January 20, 2005, LA Times) [snipped quote] It's 1932. |
Options Sought on Social Security Proposal By / WaPo — Permalink A key House Republican leader on Social Security said yesterday he has begun exploring ways to finance a restructured Social Security system other than through diverting payroll taxes from current beneficiaries. | |
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Noam Scheiber: Like Josh Marshall, I found GOP Rep. Jim McCrery's musings on Social Security reform in today's Washington Post to be pretty confusing. Josh Marshall: There's an extremely interesting, really a must-read article in Thursday's Post about the evolving Social Security debate. |
Steve Soto: Another Leading GOP Congressman Indicates Objections To Bush Social Security Plan — A second GOP congressman has... |
Ayatollah revives the death fatwa on Salman Rushdie Times of London — Permalink A FATWA against the author Salman Rushdie was reaffirmed by Iran's spiritual leader last night in a message to Muslim pilgrims. British officials anxiously played down comments after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Muslims making the... | |
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Colt: The mullahs have reminded Muslims that they are still allowed to murder Salman Rushdie. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross: Today Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reaffirmed the fatwa against Salman Rushdie. Pejman Yousefzadeh: MORE WARPED PRIORITIES — With all of the problems that beset Iran, its leaders choose to concern themselves over this:... |
Harry @HarrysPlace: Update Marcus adds: It's timely that Salman Rushdie put his name to the letter. Charles Johnson: Rushdie Still Condemned, UK Says "No Problem" — Almost worse than the reaffirmed Islamic death sentence against author... |
World fears new Bush era Guardian — Permalink George Bush will be sworn in as president of the United States for a second term today in a lavish Washington ceremony, amid mounting international concern that his new administration will make the world a more dangerous place. | |
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Norm Geras: Beating about the USA — On the day of the Bush inauguration the Guardian leads with this: "World fears new Bush era" It... Barbara O'Brien: They Hate Us. They Really Hate Us. In today's Guardian — [snipped quote] Thanks loads, righties. Jeralyn Merritt: How's this for confidence in the direction our leader is taking us: World Fears New Bush Era. |
Kash: Today's Guardian points out that Tony Blair is echoing this theme: [snipped quote] But I disagree. Scott Burgess: Pin-up Crime Punished; Guardian Inaccuracies du Jour — Radio 4's Women's Hour today broadcast a long overdue... Chris Bowers: Here's another poll I found worrying: [snipped quote] I work to change things because I love America and because I fear for our future. |
Is the Doctor In? By / LA Weekly — Permalink Can Howard Dean be stopped in his bid to become the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee? That's the question the party's establishment has been asking since Dean — who'd said he'd run only if he thought he had the votes to win — jumped into the contest with a media splash last week. | |
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Orrin Judd: UNCOVERING THE DOCTORS PLOT: Is the Doctor In? |
Karl-T: Stories from the Washington Post (front page of Section C), LA Weekly, and the Boston Globe. |
Reflections of a straight shooter By / The Australian — Permalink ONE of the reasons so many people admire Richard Armitage, the outgoing Deputy Secretary of State, is his well-earned reputation for fierce honesty. He is George Orwell-like in his ability to face hard facts straight up, and deal with them. | |
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Radley Balko: I regret that a lot." —Outgoing Dep. Sec. of State Richard Armitage, quoted in The Australian. Tim Dunlop: Alas, it comes merely from retiring Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage: [snipped quote] Of course, if anybody... Kos @DailyKos: Regrets — Outgoing Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said: [snipped quote] What an asshole. Doesn't he know we exported freedom? |
Susan Madrak: REGRETS, I'VE HAD A FEW — From the departing Richard Armitage, deputy Secretary of State and close friend of Colin Powell: [snipped quote] [Via Kos, via Road to Surfdom. Kevin Drum: REGRETS, I'VE HAD A FEW...Via Tim Dunlop, who still thinks I shouldn't have said anything nice about Andrew Sullivan a... |
The 16th Second Inaugural By / Opinion Journal — Permalink Tomorrow George W. Bush will deliver his Second Inaugural speech, the 16th Second Inaugural delivered by an American president over the past 212 years. It will be the first time that one president has delivered a second inaugural just eight years after another since William McKinley in 1901. | |
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Hugh Hewitt: Michael Barone has written on "The 16th Second Inaugural Address" for the Wall Street Journal. The Big Trunk: Second inaugurals: then and now — Michael Barone reviews the second inaugurals of American presidents in his Wall Street Journal column "The 16th second inaugural." |
Jonah Goldberg: BUSH & WILSON — Michael Barone has a good op-ed on Bush's inauguration and second inaugurals in general. Spoons: Good discussion over at The Corner comparing George W. Bush to Woodrow Wilson — "The Worst President of the 20th Century." |
Blog nice, everyone By / MSNBC — Permalink A handful of media types and blog types are gathering later this week at one of those big Harvard thinkfests to consider, as the conference's title says, "Blogging, Journalism and Credibility." Some of us, alas, are foolish enough to attempt all three. | |
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Dave Winer: An analysis of the state of blogging from MSNBC reporter, Jon Bonne, who will be at tomorrow's conference. |
Ed Cone: Jon Bonné: "Journalism is a function; blogging is a form." |
Stalin back in favour as new statue goes up in Moscow Scotsman — Permalink A NEW statue of the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin is to be erected in Moscow, returning his once-ubiquitous image to the streets after an absence of four decades, a top city official said yesterday. | |
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Orrin Judd: WHO HARRY SHOULD HAVE DRESSED AS (David Hill, The Bronx:) Stalin back in favour as new statue goes up in Moscow (The... Scott Sala: Cold War Erection — How much time do we have to win the War on Terror before we are faced with a new threat from an old, cold enemy? |
Michelle Malkin: Russia has resurrected Stalin...in marble, anyway. The Putin government is erecting a new Stalin statue in Moscow. |
Four arrested for suspected terror ties By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON — Authorities have arrested four people accused of having ties to suspected terrorists and blocked 12 more from entering the United States in the first two weeks of this year, according to government documents. | |
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Michelle Malkin: The Associated Press picked up on the story this evening and reported on some of the other brief contents posted by... |
Andrew Cochran: Arrests for suspected terrorist ties — Four people have been arrested and 12 others blocked from entering in first two weeks of 2005 for suspected terrorist ties. |
Poll: Nation split on Bush as uniter or divider CNN — Permalink (CNN) — On the eve of President Bush's inauguration, a poll shows the nation is split over whether he has united or divided the nation, but a majority believe his inauguration festivities should be toned down because of the war. | |
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Roger L. Simon: Texas Two-Step — Like Andrew, I noticed yet another poll this morning about whether Bush is a uniter or a divider. Tom @Corrente: Um, duh. The headline for this story is just priceless: "Poll: Nation split on Bush as uniter or divider." Zoe Kentucky: (forehead slap) A real headline on CNN reads: "Poll: Nation split on Bush as uniter or divider ... Forty-nine percent... |
Andrew Sullivan: HEADLINE OF THE DAY: "Poll: Nation split on Bush as uniter or divider," - CNN.com. Says it all today, doesn't it? B.M.: Go to comments — January 20, 2005 Hidden Angle Inadvertently Hilarious Headline of the Week From CNN.com: "Poll:... Julian Sanchez: Tastes Great! Less Filling! This is precious: [snipped quote] Via Sullivan. |
| Also: Jeff Jarvis, Chris Bowers, Josh Marshall, Tyler Cowen | |
Boston terror threat probed Boston Herald — Permalink Federal and state authorities are investigating a nuclear terrorist threat against Boston after a man calling from Mexico told California police that he smuggled two Iraqis and four Chinese over the border, the Boston Herald has learned. | |
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Steve M.: So I woke up this morning to discover that Drudge, Michelle Malkin, and others on the Internet Right were all a-flutter... Joe Gandelman: Dirty Bomb Terror Scare In Boston — Various reports indicate that various federal and state officials are investigating reports of a nuclear terrorist threat against Boston. Charles Johnson: Dirty Bomb Threat in Boston? Boston terror threat probed. |
Michelle Malkin: THE BOSTON CONNECTION — If you can't access the Drudge-linked report of the dirty bomb threat in Boston, go to The Counterterrorism Blog—one of my new daily reads. Jeff Quinton: 4:52 EST UPDATE: The Boston Herald has an article that's getting slammed and almost impossible to get to. Smash: DIRTY BOMB THREAT IN BOSTON BOSTON HERALD VIA JEFF QUINTON: [snipped quote] Let's pray it's a false alarm... |
Search underway for six who may pose terrorist threat to Boston By / Boston Globe — Permalink The FBI has triggered a massive manhunt for six people — four Chinese and two Iraqis — who may pose a terrorist threat to the city of Boston, law enforcement officials briefed on the threat said today. | |
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Avedon Carol: Does it actually make any sense that Chinese and Iraqi terrorists would attack Boston? A really paranoid person would suspect that... ah, never mind. Jeff Quinton: "''They tried to set up a meet with him but he didn't show up.''" 6:05 EST: The Boston Globe has some more information:... Hugh Hewitt: Here's the latest on the Boston terror threat. It is built on pretty thin stuff —one anonymous tip— but the reaction of the feds and Boston locals is as it should be. |
Joe Gandelman: UPDATE II: —The Boston Herald now reports that a massive manhunt is underway — which suggests this is being take... Evan Kohlmann: You can also see this story if you can't get into the Boston Herald site. KJL: TERROR SCARE in boston. |
Four sought in possible Boston terror threat CNN — Permalink (CNN) — State, federal and local authorities were seeking four Chinese nationals wanted for questioning in connection with a possible terrorist threat to the Boston, Massachusetts, area Wednesday, but they said the source of the information was "unknown and uncorroborated." | |
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Scott Sala: UPDATE: NO DIRTY BOMB... These four individuals are being sought in connection with a possible plot to release a dirty bomb in Boston. Jeralyn Merritt: Terror Alert in Boston — The F.B.I. is searching for four Chinese nationals in Boston in connection with a possible terror threat. |
Jeff Quinton: 8:59: CNN reports that "None have appeared on government "watch lists," according to a joint statement." |
Tsunami-hit Thais told: Buy six planes or face EU tariffs Scotsman — Permalink TSUNAMI-struck Thailand has been told by the European Commission that it must buy six A380 Airbus aircraft if it wants to escape the tariffs against its fishing industry. | |
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Brian Micklethwait: Well, I still do not know very much about Airbus finances, but this story certainly backs up the... Dale Franks: So much so, in fact, that they're starting to bully countries into buying them. Andrew Stuttaford: AIRBUS MARKETING — From the Scotsman: "TSUNAMI-struck Thailand has been told by the European Commission that it must... |
Donald Sensing: Europe puts the screws to Thailand — Thailand is coping with millions of dollars in economic losses because of... Glenn Reynolds: SOMEBODY ASK JAN EGELAND WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT THIS: "TSUNAMI-struck Thailand has been told by the European Commission... |
Bush Upsets Some Supporters WaPo — Permalink President Bush came under fire from some social conservatives yesterday for saying he will not aggressively lobby the Senate to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage during his second term. | |
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Zoe Kentucky: Why They're Called Wingnuts — From the Washington Post: [snipped quote] This is a fairly common mantra among many well-funded American right-wing groups. Thomas Lang: Finally, "despite what the Washington Post says today," social conservative K-Lo isn't so upset at... KJL: Not very, despite what the Washington Post says today. The president made his position known, but did not revisit it often. |
Steve Soto: But aside from the possible damage there will be to Bush politically from this, and what it says about the GOP race in... Steven Taylor: Nevertheless, via WaPo: Bush Upsets Some Supporters [snipped quote] While I have noted my position on gay marriage... Nathan Hallford: It appears that some conservatives are a little dismayed at the President, over remarks he made in an interview regarding a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. |
| Also: Kos @DailyKos, Taegan Goddard | |
Gonzales Says '02 Policy on Detainees Doesn't Bind C.I.A. By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -Officers of the Central Intelligence Agency and other nonmilitary personnel fall outside the bounds of a 2002 directive issued by President Bush that pledged the humane treatment of prisoners in American custody, Alberto R. Gonzales, the White House counsel, said in documents released on Tuesday. | |
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Andrew Sullivan: But we do know from Gonzales' documents released yesterday that the Bush administration wants to reserve the right to torture detainees for the CIA. Michael Froomkin: Gonzales Admits CIA At Liberty to be Inhumane — Just as Marty Lederman has been saying, The New York Times >... Jesse Taylor: Principles Only Extend As Far As You're Looking — Oh, by the way, Alberto "Light Stick" Gonzales, whose policies firmly... |
Jeffrey Dubner: CRUEL, INHUMAN, AND AOK. Jeralyn Merritt: In related news, the latest documents disclosed by the White House show that Gonzales signed off on memos that said:... Lambert @Corrente: Bush torture policies: The latest from Gonzales — Lovely: [snipped quote] So, torture is against the law, except they... |
Inauguration: Lifestyles of the Rich and Heartless Center for American Progress — Permalink A look at this week's festivities by the numbers: $40 million: Cost of Bush inaugural ball festivities, not counting security costs. $2,000: Amount FDR spent on the inaugural in 1945…about $20,000 in today's dollars. | |
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Tom Burka: Inaugural Celebration To Take Up Four Years, 200 Billion Dollars — Bush Achieves Goal Of Having One Inaugural Ball For... Tim Dunlop: Well, it's currently about 15F here in Washington D.C., with steady snow falling and I have been invited to an... |
Kevin Raybould: The Value of the Innaguration — I am stealing this wholesale from CAP: [snipped quote] This is going to be a very... Oliver @LiquidList: Please, just don't knock on the door. Someone please come save me from all this. |
Inaugural cost draws wrath By / WaPo — Permalink WASHINGTON — A peace activist who thinks the money lavished on inaugural balls would be better spent on body armor for troops in Iraq plans to attend the parade and turn his back to protest. | |
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Susan Madrak: PERSPECTIVE — From the American Progress Action Fund: "A look at this week's festivities by the numbers: $40 million:... Skippy: oppulence by the numbers judd legum at the center for american progress gives us the pertinent statistics on awol's coronation tomorrow: [snipped quote] more here. |
Hesiod @AmStreet: UPDATE: By the way, that $40 million doesn't include the cost for providing security. For more, check out today's Progress Report. |
Senate Panel Gives Rice Confirmation Nod ABCNEWS — Permalink WASHINGTON Jan 19, 2005 — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted Wednesday to confirm Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state after two days of hearings in which she faced strenuous Democratic assaults on the Bush administration's handling of Iraq. | |
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Roger L. Simon: Neither Boxer - Barbara of the Senate or Sarah of The New York Times (part time anyway) - is capable of processing the world around them. Captain Ed: Showing Their Class — Condoleezza Rice received her confirmation endorsement from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this afternoon on a vote of 16-2. Barbara O'Brien: Even as I posted it, a breaking news story popped up to inform me that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to confirm her as Secretary of State. |
Nathan Nance: But that didn't happen and Rice has been approved by the foreign relations committee. This is a guest post from Nathan Nance. Glenn Reynolds: Well, I don't know about most liberal, but the fact is that of the Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee, only John Kerry and Barbara Boxer voted against Condi Rice. |
5 Car Bombs Rock Baghdad in Effort to Disrupt Elections By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 19 - Insurgents detonated five powerful truck and car bombs across Baghdad on Wednesday, killing 26 people, at least 9 of them members of Iraq's fledgling security forces. | |
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Mary @PacificViews: The headlines today were filled with suicide bombers who were responsible for over two dozen deaths just last night. Matthew Yglesias: Showing that Iraqi politics are, indeed, taking off, Iyad Allawi today announced plans to put forward a... |
David Allan Pell: The Blowing Stuff Up Pact — The violence isincreasing dramatically as elections approach in Iraq. Gregory Djerejian: Tales from the Front — A friend in Baghdad writes in....after a bloody day of suicide bombings in the capital city: [snipped quote] I think I understand his emotion. |
Moscow Plans First Stalin Monument Since 1960s Reuters — Permalink Jan 19, 2005 — MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow plans to erect a new statue of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, returning his once-ubiquitous image to its streets after an absence of four decades, a top city official said Wednesday. | |
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Eugene Volokh: Reuters reports: [snipped quote] I agree, of course, that Stalin's name shouldn't be erased from histories of World War... Edward _: Apparently unsatisfied with how startled the world was with this Czar-like power grab, Russian President Vladimir... |
Jeff Quinton: New Stalin Statues in Russia Reuters/ABC [snipped quote] Others blogging: PoliBlog Michelle Malkin Pejman Yousefzadeh: AND IN OTHER NEWS, GERMANY WILL BE HONORING HITLER — Who in their right mind thinks that this is a good idea? |
Should We Stay or Should We Go? NYT — Permalink Washington — WITH Iraqi elections scheduled to take place in two weeks, many Americans already have one eye on the exit. The Bush administration insists that American troops will stay until a free, stable and peaceful Iraq is established, as Condoleezza Rice did yesterday at her Senate confirmation hearings. | |
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John Quiggin: This NYT Op-ed piece by three researchers from the Center for Strategic and International Studies suggests a referendum... Ian Ayres: Delayed Plebiscite — Ian Ayres While many people have suggested delaying the election, a cool op-ed in the New Times... |
Matthew Yglesias: I missed yesterday's New York Times op-ed by several scholars at the Center for Strategic and International Studies... |
Espionage by any other name By / Washington Times — Permalink This week in the New Yorker magazine Seymour Hersh wrote the following words: "The administration has been conducting secret reconnaissance missions inside Iran ... Much of the focus is on accumulation of intelligence and targeting information on Iranian... | |
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Jayson @PoliPundit: On a different topic, and following up on yesterday's news, Tony Blankley addresses the issue whether the... Laura Rozen: Writing in the Washington Times, Tony Blankley calls for Seymour Hersh to be charged with espionage for his New Yorker article you might have heard about. |
Charles Johnson: Espionage By Any Other Name — Tony Blankley is appalled at the lack of reaction to the Seymour Hersh piece on US intelligence operations in Iran: Espionage by any other name. Cliff May: Tony Blankley has a good column today — "Espionage by any other name" —exploring the laws that Sy and the NYer may have violated. |
Harvard Chief's Comments on Women Assailed By / WaPo — Permalink During nearly four years as president of Harvard University, Lawrence H. Summers has earned a reputation for blunt, sometimes brutal comments. After upsetting African Americans early in his tenure, he has provoked a new storm of controversy by suggesting that... | |
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Roger Kimball: My what a storm that comment sparked! "I felt I was going to be sick," sniffed Nancy Hopkins, a professor of biology at... Juan Non-Volokh: As the Washington Post reports: "Summers laid out a series of possible explanations for the underrepresentation of women... Max B. Sawicky: WHEN ECONOMISTS GO BAD, II Larry Summers channels Newt Gingrich. UPDATE: Larry clarifies. |
Virginia Postrel: As it so often does, the "WaPost distinguished itself with a more sophisticated knowledge of relevant sources than... Garance Franke-Ruta: Meanwhile, Cambridge neighbor MIT, whose professor Nancy Hopkins was sickened by Summers' remarks on women and walked... |
Report suggests changes in exit poll methodology CNN — Permalink WASHINGTON (CNN) — Exit polls overstated John Kerry's share of the vote on November 2, both nationally and in many states, because more Kerry supporters participated in the survey than Bush voters, according to an internal review of the exit-polling process released Wednesday. | |
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Kevin Aylward: Gerry Daly has been analyzing the report, and finds that the initial reports seem to be misinterpreting the data. Jesse Taylor: Revelations — Exit pollsters have declared that the reason a seemingly disproportionate number of Kerry voters... |
Hindrocket: It argues, as stated here by CNN, that for some mysterious reason, Kerry voters were more willing to participate in the exit polling than Bush voters. |
New Doubts On Plan For Social Security WaPo — Permalink House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) predicted yesterday that partisan warfare over Social Security will quickly render President Bush's plan "a dead horse" and called on Congress to undertake a broader review of the problems of an aging nation. | |
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Chris Bowers: Bill Thomas: "House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) predicted yesterday that partisan warfare... Kevin Drum: "DEAD HORSE"...There's something ironic about a senior Republican congressman proclaiming that President Bush's... Avedon Carol: But what everyone's talking about this morning is a piece in the WaPo called New Doubts On Plan For Social Security that... |
New Donkey: Fun With Longevity-Adjusted Benefits — His description of the president's social security proposal as a "dead horse"... Matthew Yglesias: Thomas Weighs In — There's lots of interesting stuff in The Washington Post's writeup of Republican Rep. Bill Thomas'... Mark Schmitt: Here's the key section from the Washington Post article citing Thomas's remarks: [snipped quote] What Thomas was saying... |
| Also: Max B. Sawicky, Hugh Hewitt, Noam Scheiber, Steve Soto, Atrios, Tom Maguire, Kos @DailyKos, Josh Marshall | |
U.S. Intelligence Says Iraqis Will Press for Withdrawal By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 - The Iraqi government that emerges from elections on Jan. 30 will almost certainly ask the United States to set a specific timetable for withdrawing its troops, according to new American intelligence estimates described by senior administration officials. | |
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Joe Gandelman: The New York Times reports: [snipped quote] That's the U.S. hope: The official said the United States was hoping that the... James Joyner: The Future of U.S. Troops in Iraq — U.S. Intelligence Says Iraqis Will Press for Withdrawal [RSS] (NYT) "The Iraqi... |
Susan Q. Stranahan: Go to comments — January 19, 2005 Tip of the Hat Knight-Ridder Scores (Again) Readers of today's New York Times... |
Senate Panel Gives Rice Confirmation Nod By / AP — Permalink 0118dv-rice-wrap The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted Wednesday to confirm Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state after two days of hearings in which she faced strenuous Democratic assaults on the Bush administration's handling of Iraq. | |
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Scott Sala: First, he claimed massive voter disenfranchisement a few days ago, and now he just voted along with Barbara Boxer not to confirm Condoleeza Rice. Mitch Berg: No Class — From the AP: [snipped quote] Nice to see Kerry showed up, anyway. |
Steve Soto: Minority Leader Reid Attempts To Delay Condi's Confirmation Vote — Minority Leader Harry Reid announced this afternoon... |
N&R looks to break tradition with Web changes By / bizjournals — Permalink News & Record Editor John Robinson says he wants a revolution. Online, at least. He and other editors plan to overhaul the paper's Web site to allow far more interaction between readers and the newsroom. | |
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Donald Sensing: A newspaper gets it — Via Bill Hobbs, The Greensboro (NC) News and Record has announced it will transition to a reader-centric format online. |
Bill Hobbs: Wow — All I have to say about this story about the Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record is, wow. |
RNC Chair Unveils 'Durable Majority' Plan By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - White House ally Ken Mehlman took over leadership of the Republican Party on Wednesday and outlined plans to find new voters among the ranks of churchgoers and social conservatives. | |
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The Farmer: Ken Mehlman rolls out exciting new marketing phrase — "Durable Majority" - Yeah, that's real catchy. I love it. |
Jeralyn Merritt: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy — Ken Mehlman assumed his position today as head of the Republican National Committee. |
Boxer Backed Clinton's Iraq War NewsMax.com — Permalink Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., accused Secretary of State-nominee Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday of using "falsehoods" about weapons of mass destruction to justify attacking Iraq. | |
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Ace: Not Very Surprising Update: Barbara Boxer had a very different opinion on Iraqi WMD's when Clinton was president. |
Jeff @BeautifulAtrocities: IS THAT ANY WAY TO TALK TO YOUR NEXT PRESIDENT? (She sang a different tune in the past, however) |
Missiles deployed for inauguration By / Washington Times — Permalink The military has deployed anti-aircraft missiles within range of the Capitol as part of security enhancements for tomorrow's presidential inauguration. The missile deployment comes even though the FBI and Homeland Security Department concluded in a recent... | |
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Tim Dunlop: Dear Leader's big day out — Preparations are well underway for tomorrow's Inauguration Ceremony, as you can see from... |
Jeff Goldstein: Washington Times: Missiles deployed for inauguration — From Bill Gertz: [snipped quote] Hmmm. |
Rice Endorsed by Senate Panel to Be Next Secretary of State By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 - Condoleezza Rice was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today to be the next secretary of state, but only after some spirited exchanges signaled that Iraq will be a divisive issue in President Bush's second term. | |
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Tim Dunlop: Look how the NYTimes describes Boxer's questions this morning and how they describe Rice's response: [snipped quote] Bloody hell. |
Todd Pearson: So now, consider this. [snipped quote] In August, Kerry was saying that he would have voted to authorize the war even knowing what we know now (i.e, that Saddam did not have WMD). |
Ailing Chief Justice in No Rush to Go By / Newsweek — Permalink Jan. 18 - Ever since Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist disclosed last fall that he was being treated for thyroid cancer, Washington has buzzed with rumors of his imminent retirement. Inaugural officials say Rehnquist is still expected to administer the oath of office to George W. Bush this Thursday. | |
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Taegan Goddard: Rehnquist Gains Strength — "For months, Washington has buzzed with rumors of William Rehnquist's retirement from the Supreme Court," Newsweek reports. |
Steve Dillard: Ailing Chief Justice in No Rush to Go: Newsweek has this report. |
Could It Be That Men and Women Are ... Different? By / Newhouse News — Permalink "Math is hard!" Barbie once said, and apparently Lawrence Summers agrees. He's the president of Harvard, and finds himself in hot water for remarks made at a National Bureau of Economic Research conference. He blamed the relatively low numbers of women in math and science on a lack of natural ability. | |
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Joanne Jacobs: Summers now says he was speaking hypothetically. James Lileks joins the fray: [quote] Women do not lack "natural ability."[end quote] |
Hugh Hewitt: And the marketing blitz begins. And James Lileks admits to cross-dressing. In the last paragraph of this column. |
Report Outlines Exit Polling Problems By / AP — Permalink NEW YORK - Two firms that conducted Election Day exit polls for major news organizations reported Wednesday that they found a number of problems with the way the polls were carried out last year, resulting in estimates that overstated John Kerry 's share of the vote. | |
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Captain Ed: Exit Polling Flawed, Skewed To Kerry — In a development that should embarrass Jesse Jackson and shame Barbara Boxer —... |
Taegan Goddard: The AP notes the report "suggested several steps to mitigate errors in future exit polling efforts, such as using fewer... |
Four More Years of Bush Makes the World Anxious By / Reuters — Permalink PARIS (Reuters) - The rest of the world will be watching with anxiety when President Bush is inaugurated Thursday for a second time, fearing the most powerful man on the planet may do more harm than good. | |
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Charles Johnson: It's at the point where you just have to laugh at the Reuters wire: Four More Years of Bush Makes the World Anxious. |
Michael Demmons: Reuters continues with a lie we're all sick of hearing: "Many world leaders, alienated by Bush's go-it-alone foreign... |