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WRONG QUESTION New York Post — Permalink April 14, 2005 — WHEN U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (above) spoke Tuesday night at NYU's Vanderbilt Hall, "The room was packed with some 300 students and there were many protesters outside because of Scalia's vitriolic dissent last year in the case that overturned the Texas law against gay sex," our source reports. | |
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LeanLeft: The Gander Declines to Say What's Good For the Goose — Filed under: General Politics Legal Issues Church & State... Jack Cluth: But it's OK to legislate from the bench if you're a Social Conservative WRONG QUESTION "April 14, 2005 — WHEN U.S... Steve Dillard: That's outrageous! Con-law professor says X, X=truth. Update: Here is another article on Scalia's NYU speech. |
Ace: Scalia Grilled on Private Sex Practices — Gossip, but relevant: [snipped quote] I'll take that as a "yes." Good on ya, Maureen. Betsy Newmark: Well, you can't blame a university for the tasteless rudeness of one of its students. Joe Gandelman: The Perils Of Q&As For Supreme Court Justices — A student asked U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia a question... |
| Also: Atrios, Taegan Goddard, Jonathan H. Adler | |
Transcript of interview with Tom DeLay Washington Times — Permalink Transcript of an interview between editors and reporters from The Washington Times and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Texas Republican, yesterday at his Capitol office: National Editor Ken Hanner: Ten years ago, Republicans won control of the House by running on the Contract with America, which was a blueprint for limited government. | |
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Mark Kleiman: Mr. DeLay, meet Mr. Hamilton — Tom DeLay in Washingtonskaya Pravda: I blame Congress over the last 50 to 100 years for... Mipe @ThinkProgress: DeLay Versus Fiscal Responsibility — In a recent interview with the Washington Times, House Majority leader Tom DeLay... Chris Bowers: The, whatever, the Constitution — DeLay in a panel discussion with the Moonie Times editorial board |
Lambert @Corrente: "(Washington Times via Atrios)" Starting with the ethics committee! Be afraid. Atrios: Tom DeLay's America — Theocracy and chastity tests. Mr. DeLay: Not zealous. Taegan Goddard: House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), in an interview with the Washington Times. |
| Also: Judd @ThinkProgress, Kos @DailyKos | |
Loudly, With a Big Stick By / NYT — Permalink I don't like John Bolton's management style. Nor am I a big fan of his foreign policy views. He doesn't really believe in using U.S. power to end genocide or promote democracy. But it is ridiculous to say he doesn't believe in the United Nations. | |
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Guest @ThinkProgress: Babbling Brooks — In an attempt to discredit opponents of John Bolton, conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks has taken a wild swipe at reason. Daniel Drezner: UPDATE: Note to self — check out David Brooks before posting on a more regular basis. Barbara O'Brien: The Weekly Wankers davidbrooks.jpgBobo the Cabbage explains today that "The Bolton controversy isn't about whether we believe in the U.N. mission. |
Mark Leon Goldberg: From David Brooks today we get a shining example of the kind of disjointed arguments that flow forth when an erstwhile... Tom Tomorrow: McBobo's latest canard is that opposition to the appointment of John Bolton as UN ambassador is coming primarily from... Laura Rozen: How's that for priorities? Well, David Brooks gets Bolton half right: "I don't like John Bolton's management style. |
| Also: Matthew Yglesias, Peter Burnet, Betsy Newmark, Jonathan H. Adler | |
A Rigged "Calculator" FactCheck.org — Permalink Democrats have been using a web-based "calculator" to generate individualized answers to the question, "How much will you lose under Bush privatization plan?" For young, low-wage workers it projects cuts of up to 50% in benefits. | |
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Patrick Ruffini: Meanwhile, FactCheck.org gets around to giving the Reid MisCalculator the b*tchslapping it so richly deserves: [snipped quote] There's more. PGL: "FactCheck" Flunks Financial Economics — Via Andrew Samwick comes the latest from FactDistort.org who attack Senator... Jon Henke: [quote]... Here is what FactCheck.org found... "Democrats have been using a web-based 'calculator' to generate individualized...[end quote] |
Paul @PowerLine: But the MSM-oriented Annenberg organization finds that they are doing so dishonestly. C. D. Harris: FactCheck.Org finds that the Democrats' "Social Security Calculator", first promulgated by Minority Leader Harry Reid... Pejman Yousefzadeh: NEW MATH — This article does an excellent job in pointing out the errors inherent in the Social Security benefits "calculator" that has been used to debunk Social Security reform. |
| Also: Edward _, Donald Luskin | |
Texas Businessman Indicted in Iraq Oil-for-Food Program By / NYT — Permalink A Texas businessman, as well as a British and a Bulgarian citizen, have been indicted in New York for reportedly paying millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq as part of the United Nations oil-for-food program. | |
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Tom Maguire: Via Glenn (who has more), the NY Times tells us about indictments in the UNScam case: "A Texas businessman, as well as... Glenn Reynolds: OIL-FOR-FOOD INDICTMENTS: I suspect that there will be more as UNScam unravels. |
Roger L. Simon: UPDATE: Here is the NYT story on the Oil-for-Food indictments of a Texas businessman as well as a British and Bulgarian citizen. Jeralyn Merritt: Indictments Returned in Oil For Food Case — A federal grand jury has returned Indictments in the UN Oil for Food Program scandal. |
Political Payrolls Include Families LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON — At least 39 members of Congress have engaged in the controversial practice of paying their spouses, children or other relatives out of campaign funds, or have hired companies in which a family member had a financial interest, records and interviews show. | |
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Tom Maguire: The LA Times actually tries to put the Times story in perspective, but DeLay still looks like a leader: "At least 39... Matthew Yglesias: Paying his wife and daughter out of PAC funds is, frankly, the least of Tom DeLay's problems, but this LA Times effort... Pudentilla: we pity the poor pac — [snipped quote] remember the good old days when corporate vultures used to buy congress persons... |
Ezra Klein: Nepotism — I keep trying to summon up some rage and bile over the practice of Congressmen employing their families, but I just can't. James Joyner: "This choice quote is buried in paragraph 20 of today's Los Angeles Times' story on electeds using campaign funds to pay family members." Orrin Judd: FAMILY BUSINESS: Political Payrolls Include Families: Dozens of members of Congress have paid relatives for campaign work, records show. |
GIS CLEARED IN ITALIAN'S DEATH New York Post — Permalink U.S. soldiers reportedly have been cleared of wrongdoing in the shooting of an Italian journalist and an intelligence agent last month in Baghdad. U.S. military officials told NBC News that a joint American-Italian investigation found the soldiers acted... | |
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Captain Ed: Sgrena Story Still Falling Apart — A joint Italian-American investigation into the death of Italian commando Nicola... James Joyner: GIS CLEARED IN ITALIAN'S DEATH (New York Post) [snipped quote] Good news, although it's unlikely to satisfy many. Mitch Berg: Scratch Another Conspiracy — Giuliana Sgrena's story that the US Army was plotting her demise when it killed her... |
John @PowerLine: GIs Cleared in Death of Italian — The New York Post reports that an investigation has cleared the soldiers involved in... Orrin Judd: YA PAYS YOUR MONEY AND YA TAKE YOUR CHANCES: GIS CLEARED IN ITALIAN'S DEATH (NY Post, April 14, 2005) "U.S. military... |
U.N. Votes To Outlaw Nuclear Terrorism By / WaPo — Permalink UNITED NATIONS, April 13 — The 191-member U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday unanimously approved a treaty outlawing the use of nuclear weapons by terrorists and their supporters. | |
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Hugh Hewitt: Yesterday the UN voted to outlaw nuclear terrorism. Bin Laden must really be worried now. Ace: The UN Takes a Brave Stand Against Nuclear Terrorism — The resolution was almost derailed when someone attempted to add... |
Dr. Steven Taylor: Well, I Certainly Feel Safer Now — Via WaPo: U.N. Votes To Outlaw Nuclear Terrorism [snipped quote] SCENE: A CAVE SOMEWHERE IN THE THIRD WORLD. Dale Franks: The United Nations has made it illegal. [snipped quote] Now that we know the UN is on the job, all of our problems are solved. |
Lott Puts 'Little Bump' Behind Him By / WaPo — Permalink LEAKESVILLE, Miss. — Trent Lott is reminiscing with supporters at the Rocky Creek Catfish Cottage, recalling the goat barbecues and Jaycee meetings that marked his first House campaign 33 years ago. | |
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James Joyner: Lott Puts 'Little Bump' Behind Him [snipped quote] Fascinating. Lott is a master politician, having climbed to the leadership of first the House and then the Senate. Kos @DailyKos: Lott wants back in the leadership — Our favorite segregationist bigot is marshalling his forces for another run at the GOP Senate leadership. |
Taegan Goddard: Lott Rebuilds Power Base — The Washington Post runs a front page piece on Sen. Trent Lott's (R-MS) attempt to regain... Pudentilla: trent lott: giving cockroaches a good name, one political favor at a time — [snipped quote] one begins to think that the... |
Panel delays vote on Bolton By / Boston Globe — Permalink WASHINGTON — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday postponed until Tuesday the vote on John R. Bolton's nomination as US ambassador to the United Nations amid continued controversy over Bolton's suitability for the post. | |
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Daniel Drezner: John Bolton is right about the United Nations — John Bolton's confirmation as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has... Roger L. Simon: Dept. of Been There/Done That — Cigar division... Meanwhile, the Bolton vote is delayed (no pun intended). |
Laura Rozen: The Boston Globe's Farah Stockman reports that Senate Foreign Relations committee staff are examining a third case of... |
Remarks by the President at the American Society of Newspaper Editors Convention White House — Permalink J.W. Marriott Hotel Washington, D.C. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks, Rich. I appreciate the chance to come back — more than you know. (Laughter.) I miss my hometown newspaper. Austin was my hometown newspaper for quite a while. | |
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Jim Romenesko: (Read the White House transcript.) > Bush joked about his often-tense relationship with the press (E&P) |
Jeff Jarvis: Bush and the 'off' button : At the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Bush spoke and Scott Anderson of the Chicago... |
DeLay Asks House Panel to Review Judges By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, April 13 - Deflecting all questions about his ethical conduct and political future, Representative Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, on Wednesday stepped up his crusade against judges, announcing that he had instructed the Judiciary Committee... | |
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Billmon: Here's the New York Times's take on DeLay's press conference yesterday: "Deflecting all questions about his ethical... Ann Althouse: UPDATE: And here's the NYT front-page article on DeLay and the judiciary. |
Tom Maguire: Comparing Headlines — Embattled Tom DeLay had a press conference yesterday. Pudentilla: "red" republican political dictionary: inartful — [snipped quote] inartful: rove's polling numbers suggest that middle... |
Bones of Contention NRO — Permalink A bad bill would throttle American archaeology. If a lucky paleoanthropologist ever unearths hobbit bones on federal land, scientists won't get to study them — at least not if Sen. John McCain and his allies have their way. I'm not joking about hobbits. | |
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Clayton Cramer: Well, no. This effort is from a Republican so liberal that he really should be a Democrat: [snipped quote] Regular... Stephen Green: Meddler — John McCain wants to block free scientific inquiry, too. |
Glenn Reynolds: JOHN MCCAIN VS. THE HOBBITS: No, really. UPDATE: More on this at Archaeoblog, which has been covering the story for a while. |
Yahoo 'Hybrid' Now Dominates News Web Sites By / WSJ — Permalink In a contest between man and machine, traditional news Web sites are facing competition from online challengers that employ computers as editors — Google Inc. being the prime example. | |
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Jay Rosen: Q & A with Bill Grueskin, Managing Editor of the Wall Street Journal Online — "Many mainstream media blogs serve as... |
Jim Romenesko: Yahoo is a threat to traditional news orgs' business model — Wall Street Journal "It's not a threat that's going to go... |
Fastest growing U.S. counties CNN — Permalink NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Florida has 14 of the 100 fastest-growing counties in the United States, more than any other state, according to a study released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. | |
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Chris Lawrence: Mississippi county growth rates — As James Joyner notes, the Census Bureau today released statistics on the estimated... |
James Joyner: Fastest growing U.S. counties (CNN/Money) [quote] img src="/fotos/counties_2004 .gif" align=right hspace="5" alt="Chart:...[end quote] |
White House Said to Impede Education Probe AP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration is impeding an investigation into the Education Department's hiring of commentator Armstrong Williams by refusing to allow key White House officials to be interviewed, a Democratic lawmaker briefed on the review said Thursday. | |
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Atrios: Cover Up — Lovely. |
Chris Bowers: White House Impeding Payolagate Investigation — No shocker here. |
Connecticut Episcopalians Defy Bishop Over Gay Issues By / NYT — Permalink DARIEN, Conn. - At a morning service on Tuesday in St. Paul's Church here, a worshiper read a poem urging his pastor to stand firm against the moral decay embodied by the local bishop and the church's national leadership. | |
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Tom Maguire: MORE: Church and State in Connecticut. Incredibly, I go to the other Episcopal Church, so my local coverage and insight is woefully lacking. |
Stirling Newberry: Connecticut Episcopal Pastors Stand up for Bigotry — Bigotry is the rejection of God's law of love. |
As Teen Pregnancy Dropped, So Did Child Poverty By / WaPo — Permalink A decade of declining teenage birth rates has led to a notable reduction in the number of U.S. children living in poverty, according to a new analysis. Building on research by two congressional committees, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy... | |
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Ezra Klein: Poverty-Reduction — And this is why effective sex education and widespread access to birth control are overriding moral issue: [snipped quote] 460,000. |
Joanne Jacobs: Prevent pregnancy, prevent poverty — As the teen-age birth rate fell 30 percent from 1991 to 2002, child poverty also... |
Who's to blame for high gasoline prices? San Francisco Chronicle — Permalink Gasoline prices are at record highs again. Many think oil companies are to blame. A Field Poll from May 2004 showed that 77 percent of Californians believed this to be true. But this just shows that people are misinformed about who's causing high gas prices. | |
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Skippy: higher energy costs? whatever could they mean? |
Ed Driscoll: Stopped Clock Department — In a gesture almost as impressive as when the New York Times explained that "Recycling is... |
What a way to go Guardian — Permalink How will it all end? Some say we are likely to go with a bang, others predict a slow lingering end, while the optimists suggest we will overcome our difficulties by evolving into a different species. | |
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McQ: Watch out for the robots — Interesting article in the Guardian in which 10 scientists are asked for their opinion of... Glenn Reynolds: ROBOT REBELLIONS AND TELOMERE EROSION: Oh, my. Scott Burgess, meanwhile, wonders who will fund the fight against our robot overlords? |
Scott Burgess: Guardian: Robot Rebellion Greater Threat Than Climate Change — The Guardian makes a foray into Independent doomsday... |
Summit Talk Newsweek — Permalink April 13 - Prompted by reporters, the president and the prime minister left no one in any doubt about their sharp differences over Israeli plans to expand a handful of settlements in the West Bank. Speaking outside George Bush's Texas ranch after their Monday meeting, the president insisted the situation was simple. | |
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Dan Froomkin: Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey write for Newsweek.com: "Bush faces intense domestic pressure — from opinion polls... |
Orrin Judd: PRESERVING CREDIBILITY: Summit Talk: While Bush and Sharon spelled out their differences, White House aides were upbeat about Israel's plans to withdraw from Gaza. |
Gingrich Sees Mrs. Clinton as Presidential Nominee in 2008 By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, April 13 - Former Speaker Newt Gingrich said Tuesday that he thought Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York, would be her party's presidential nominee in 2008 and that she would be "very formidable." He said she might even win. | |
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Steve Bainbridge: (FYI: Newt Gingrich says Hillary herself will be "very formidable" in 2008.) Why am I making this prediction? Taegan Goddard: Gingrich Thinks Clinton Could Win — Former Speaker Newt Gingrich said that he thought Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)... |
Dr. Steven Taylor: Newt: It'll be Hillary for the Dems in '08 — Via the NYT: Gingrich Sees Mrs. Clinton as Presidential Nominee in 2008... |
Young Catholics Seek to Restore Old Values on Sex By / NYT — Permalink ROME, April 13 - No matter who is chosen as the next pope, John Paul II has left behind a generation of committed young Roman Catholics who are already shaping the church in a more conservative mold than did their parents. Church leaders call them Generation John Paul II. | |
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Hugh Hewitt: The New York Times actually runs an article on a conservative element within the Roman Catholic laity —the youth. |
Orrin Judd: RETROGRADE, SHELLY, RETROGRADE (via Robert Schwartz): Young Catholics Seek to Restore Old Values on Sex (LAURIE... |
House urged to take lead on Social Security By / Washington Times — Permalink Conservative House Republicans, beset with growing distrust of the Senate, are urging the House leadership to jump ahead of the Senate on Social Security reform and pass a bill based on large personal retirement accounts and no tax increases or cuts in benefits. | |
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Max B. Sawicky: GOP GRIDLOCK — The House of Paleozoic Hominids wants to restart the Social Security privatization drive, this time... Josh Marshall: Amazing. Fascinating. I'm not sure what else to say, but please do it. |
Matthew Yglesias: Josh Marshall notes new thinking that the House Republicans should press ahead with privatization, abandoning the old "Senate first" strategy and the fear of getting BTUed. |
Connecticut House Votes To Allow Gay Unions By / WaPo — Permalink HARTFORD, Conn., April 13 — Connecticut's House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday that would make the state the second to establish civil unions for same-sex couples, and the first to do so without being directed by a court. | |
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Tom Maguire: UPDATE: Here is the WaPo lead: "Connecticut's House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday that would make the... Captain Ed: Efforts to define marriage and civil-union issues in the legislatures in response are the constitutional and... Chris Lawrence: Connecticut, Oregon having a gay old time — Steven Taylor notes that both houses of Connecticut's legislature have... |
Dr. Steven Taylor: Civil Unions Pass Connecticut State Legislature — Via WaPo: Connecticut House Votes To Allow Gay Unions Frederick Maryland: The state Senate easily approved a similar bill last week, and the Washington Post reports that Republican Gov. Jodi... |
Embattled DeLay says he's sorry By / Chicago Tribune — Permalink WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Tom DeLay offered an uncharacteristic apology Wednesday for remarks he made the day Terri Schiavo died when he suggested that the judges who refused to intervene in her case must "answer for their behavior." | |
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Howard Kurtz: The Chicago Tribune, like most papers, sees "sorry" as most newsworthy: "House Majority Leader Tom DeLay offered an... |
Taegan Goddard: White House Distances Bush From DeLay — "A White House spokesman downplayed President Bush's relationship with... |
Disaster, Not Diplomacy By / WaPo — Permalink It is my impression — gleaned from reviews — that Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink" posits that first impressions often are right on the nose. Nonetheless, for reasons having to do with caution, prudence and a debilitating sense of fair play, I have until now... | |
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Daniel Drezner: Richard Cohen's column in the Washington Post entitled "Disaster, Not Diplomacy" ably summarizes the conventional take on Bolton. |
Barbara O'Brien: But Richard Cohen witnessed Bolton in action awhile back: "I have until now withheld my first — and only — impression... |
The Loneliest Republican By / WaPo — Permalink Rep. Christopher Shays (Conn.), the only Republican in Congress to call for Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) to resign as House majority leader, walked in late to a committee meeting yesterday and got the cold shoulder from a longtime colleague, Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.). | |
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Sam Rosenfeld: That brave knight Chris Shays, he of the "outspoken" independence and strong "backbone," voted with his party. |
Taegan Goddard: Meanwhile, the Washington Post has an interesting case study of what happens when you break ranks with the GOP leadership. |
Bankruptcy Reform Close to OK in Congress AP — Permalink Bankruptcy legislation that could make it impossible for thousands of people to wipe away their debts is nearing passage by Congress. After eight years of failed efforts by banks and credit card companies, the biggest overhaul of bankruptcy laws in a... | |
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Riggsveda @Corrente: Not Just A Bad Dream Anymore — Today the House will vote on the bankruptcy bill, and as Forbes observes, it's pretty... |
Todd Zywicki: , "Bankruptcy Reform Close to OK in Congress": "Bankruptcy legislation that could make it impossible for thousands of... |
DeLay Apologizes for Schiavo Case Rhetoric By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AP) - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay apologized Wednesday for using overheated rhetoric on the day Terri Schiavo died, but refused to say whether he supports impeachment of the judges who ruled in her case. | |
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Ann Althouse: DeLay backs down a bit about judges. Good. [quote] "I believe in an independent judiciary. I repeat, of course I believe in an independent judiciary," DeLay said.[end quote] Kos @DailyKos: DeLay apologizes for "heated rhetoric" — The Bugman tries a softer side, while McClellan puts a little distance between Delay and Bush. |
Joe Gandelman: But he wasn't the only one talking. |
Lawmakers With Relatives on Payroll AP — Permalink (04-13) 12:45 PDT (AP) — Lawmakers with relatives on their congressional or campaign staffs include: _ House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas: Wife and daughter were paid more than $500,000 since 2001 for working for DeLay's campaign and political action committees. | |
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James Joyner: Lawmakers With Relatives on Payroll — House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has come under fire for having his wife and daughter on his campign staff. Smash: Cue Rimshot — JOE GANDELMAN observes that some family values enjoy bipartisan support. Glenn Reynolds: HERE'S A LIST of members of Congress with relatives on the payroll. Seems like a bipartisan sport. |
Joe Gandelman: True Bipartisan Support For (Their Own) Family Values (Income) House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has been lambasted due to... Betsy Newmark: The Associated Press has a list of Congressmen and Senators who have employed family members. I bet there are more. Tully @Centerfield: AP/SFGate has a story out with a list of other Congresscritters who have relatives on the payroll. |
DeLay Apologizes for Comments By / WaPo — Permalink House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) apologized yesterday for heated comments he made about possible retribution against federal judges for their handling of the Terri Schiavo case, but declined to say whether he favors impeaching those judges. | |
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Billmon: The Wrong Kind of Jawboning However, I now have my doubts, because yesterday DeLay did something I've never known him to do before: He said he was sorry. Jeralyn Merritt: Tom DeLay's Non-Apology — Tom DeLay reportedly apologized Wednesday for his over-the-top comments about federal judges made during the Terri Schiavo case. |
Joe Gandelman: Bush Puts A Little Distance Between Himself And DeLay — And DeLay Puts A Little Distance Between Himself And DeLay —... Josh Marshall: Mike Allen in — Thursday's Post: "People who are working in support of DeLay's position said the next several days... |
Disrobing Our Masters NRO — Permalink The judicial days of decorum are past. Last time I checked, activist federal judges weren't riding into towns on horseback, whoopin' and a-hollerin', burning crosses on lawns and lynching folks for no good reason. | |
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Howard Kurtz: As long as we're doing conservatives whacking other conservatives, here's Jonah Goldberg on James Dobson: "Last time I... |
John Hawkins: Quote Of The Day: Debate Over Judicial Appointments — [snipped quote] — Jonah Goldberg |
Report clears U.S. in friendly fire incident By / MSNBC — Permalink BAGHDAD - The friendly fire shooting at a U.S. military checkpoint last month in Baghdad wounded Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena and killed intelligence agent Nicola Calipari. Now, NBC News has learned that a preliminary report from a joint U.S. | |
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Colt: Italy investigation has cleared U.S. forces of wrong-doing in the shooting of an Italian intelligence agent and a journalist. Jeff Goldstein: From NBC: "NBC News has learned that a preliminary report from a joint U.S. Cori Dauber: Tragically for 60 Minutes, today was the day the joint American/Italian investigating team's preliminary report became available — at least to NBC. |
Charles Johnson: Today at NBC: Report clears U.S. in friendly fire incident. (Hat tip: Baikal.) NBC News has learned that a preliminary report from a joint U.S. Kevin Aylward: Investigation Clears Soldiers In Giuliana Sgrena Checkpoint Shooting — NBC News is reporting that the preliminary report from a joint U.S. Jim Treacher: F5, F5, F5 — More Sploidishness: DID ITALIAN TERROR-TOOL SAUCE UP STORY? GREEN VENTS SPLEEN OVER SHORT SHOCK ONE-BALL CALLS OUT NOT-TALL: "SOME GALL!" |
Senator Asks U.N. Nominee to Explain His Security Requests By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, April 13 - John R. Bolton, nominated to be the next ambassador to the United Nations, used his position as a senior State Department official to obtain details about intercepted communications involving other American officials that were monitored by the National Security Agency, according to Mr. Bolton's own account. | |
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Steve Clemons: Douglas Jehl reports that Senator Chris Dodd is digging deeper into the reasons why John Bolton requested mega-secret intercepts from the National Security Agency. |
Laura Rozen: Breaking Bolton News, from the NY Times: [snipped quote] So who did he request intercepts of? |
Serial Bomber Eric Rudolph Pleads Guilty; Tom DeLay's Ethics Remain in Question CNN — Permalink THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. ANNOUNCER: A day of guilty pleas by serial bomber and longtime fugitive Eric Rudolph. We're following the courtroom action. | |
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Charles Kuffner: My fame clock keeps ticking — Apparently, I was featured on the "Inside the Blogs" feature of CNN's Inside Politics yesterday. Jeff Quinton: Thanks to Trey Jackson for having the video. UPDATE: The transcript of the show is available here. |
Lorie Byrd: I missed the original showing, but Trey Jackson was kind enough to post the video. The transcript is here. |
Tony--and Tacky By / Opinion Journal — Permalink LONDON—We British are now well into the "post-Labor Day" phase of our general election. After months of exhausting maneuvers, and common cries that we get "more like the Americans" every time, the helicopter-borne politicians have the May 5 polling date in their sights. | |
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Steve Antler: Triangulation Opportewnity — Hmmmm... The immigration issue...Could prove deceptively decisive in the next... Orrin Judd: BRING BACK I.D.S. : Tony—and Tacky: Election-bound Britain gets the "TB-GB" heebie-jeebies. |
Iain Murray: The TB-GBs — Sir Peter Stothard, former editor of The Times, notes the Blair-Brown games in this Wall Street Journal... |
House Passes Permanent Estate Tax Repeal By / WaPo — Permalink The House yesterday voted 272 to 162 to permanently repeal the estate tax, throwing the issue to the Senate where negotiations have begun on a deep and permanent estate tax cut that can pass this year, even if it falls short of full repeal. | |
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Talking Dog: That's right: the People's House passed a bill to make estate tax repeal a permanent feature of the American landscape. |
Kash: The House Votes to Increase Income Taxes — As has been well covered in blogland (for just two examples, see Kevin Drum... |
Luxury Travel Could Trip Up DeLay By / WSJ — Permalink Times have been good at the National Center for Public Policy Research since Republicans captured the House in 1994: Annual contributions have quadrupled to more than $6 million, and the wife-husband team that runs the conservative nonprofit foundation is paid combined salaries of $275,000, according to recent tax filings. | |
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Laura Rozen: More on Abramoff's National Center for Public Policy Research which paid for DeLay's trips to the UK and Moscow from the WSJ. |
Atrios: Hot Tub Tom WSJ: "Times have been good at the National Center for Public Policy Research since Republicans captured... |
House Votes to End Federal Estate Taxes AP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Wednesday to eliminate federal estate taxes in 2010 and beyond, a repeal that Republicans hailed but Democrats said would reward the richest families at the steep cost of deeper federal deficits. | |
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Josh Marshall: Today, however, House Republicans voted overwhelmingly to abolish the inheritance tax, a tax that, by definition, only... Frederick Maryland: Defending Deceased Entrepreneurs — No surprise here — the Associated Press reports: [snipped quote] I don't know what... Steve Soto: At A Time Of War And Deficits, 42 House Democrats Vote To Repeal Estate Taxes — The House just voted to repeal the estate tax for good in 2010. |
Cookie Jill: the paris hilton tax break passes the house... [snipped quote] questions a*hole awol - now how are you going to pay for... Amy Sullivan: Guest: Amy Sullivan — IT'S OFFICIAL....The House is down, just the Senate to go. |
Murdoch: Newspapers Must Stop Fearing Web By / Editor and Publisher — Permalink WASHINGTON Media mogul Rupert Murdoch urged newspaper editors to grab on to the digital revolution, stop fearing or ignoring the power of the Web, and do more to serve the young news consumers — or "digital natives," as he called them — who are more and more going to the Internet for information. | |
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Joe Gandelman: Rupert Murdoch: Newspapers Should Stop Fearing And Loathing The Web — If you ever wondered how Rupert Murdoch became... Jeff Jarvis: "At the same time, we may want to experiment with the concept of using bloggers to supplement our daily coverage of news on the net." Jim Romenesko: "We are too out of touch with our readers," says Murdoch — Editor & Publisher Murdoch "We worry too much about... |
Kevin Aylward: Murdoch: Newspapers Must Stop Fearing Web [E&P] Chris Nolan: But as far I can tell, what Murdoch's saying about where his readers (you) are coming (here) needs to be said. |
The Character Assassination of John Bolton By / Weekly Standard — Permalink THE ASSAULT ON JOHN BOLTON—a collaborative effort of Senate Democrats, the liberal media, and some quasi-Republicans resentful of his success—has now degenerated from an earnest (if misguided) critique of his views to a pathetic attempt at character assassination. | |
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Daniel Drezner: And while I don't want to defend Bolton's record or comportment (see William Kristol for one defense) there is one line of criticism that really bugs the hell out of me. Barbara O'Brien: We are not all living on the same planet, obviously The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol whines that Bolton is being... Pejman Yousefzadeh: But as William Kristol points out, the characterization is completely false: [snipped quote] Indeed, the past few years... |
Paul @PowerLine: As Bill Kristol shows, Bolton did not kiss up to his superiors at the State Department, to the contrary he clashed with them. Betsy Newmark: William Kristol defends John Bolton. He's worked with him and knows that he is no screamer. Steve Clemons: It is About Bolton's Views and Bolton's Reckless Behavior Bill Kristol just posted a piece on the Daily Standard site... |
Greetings From Mexistan By / WaPo — Permalink It may be just about the most inspiring sight imaginable: hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the main square of some capital city, demanding democratic self-rule. | |
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Mark Kleiman: John Meyerson in the Washington Post Like Matt Yglesias, I'm much less impressed with Lopez Obrador's "populism" than is Meyerson. Dale Franks: Mr. Fox's Man in Washington — Harold Myerson charges that, when it comes to Mexico, the Bush Adminsitration's comittment to democracy has been inconsistent. Max B. Sawicky: Harold Myerson says what I wanted to say, about the fraud known as U.S. Foreign Policy. And here's the Hitchens bit. |
Jim Dallas: Harold Meyerson on Mexico — From the Washington Post: [snipped quote] America-bashing is not exactly a road to... Matthew Yglesias: Bad Neighbor Policy — Must-read column from my colleague Harold Meyerson in The Washington Post: [snipped quote] I... |
DeLay Likens GOP Contract to Magna Carta By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON — To House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the Republican Party's "Contract With America" ranks right up there with the Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights among the "great documents of freedom." So says DeLay's Internet Web site. | |
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Steve Soto: Tom DeLay's "Great Documents Of Freedom" Has Some Curious Omissions — In the midst of all his other troubles this week,... Jeralyn Merritt: On his website, he is still praising Newt's 1994 "Contract With Amercia." He's even comparing it to the Magna Carta. |
Byron LaMasters: The Magna Carta The Declaration of Independence The United States Bill of Rights The Contract with America Via the LA Times and the Daily DeLay. Josh Marshall: Associated Press : "To House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the Republican Party's "Contract With America" ranks right up... |
Next we should starve the courts By / Townhall.com — Permalink The courts so purposely humiliated Congress in the Terri Schiavo case that some U.S. representatives are finally beginning to talk back. Non-elected judges have flagrantly abused the legislative and executive functions of government for so many years that we wonder why a reaction has taken this long. | |
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S.Z.: Next we should starve the courts by Phyllis Schlafly Judges killed Terri Schiavo, and so they must be punished! Jesse Taylor: F**k The Courts — Phyllis Schlafly nudges up against that thin wall separating the anti-judiciary right from complete... Jan Haugland: Anti-judicial activism — Social conservatives are fuming at US judges. Orin Kerr argues that Justice Scalia, that liberal activist, should be the first to be impeached! |
Kriston @BeggingToDiffer: DECLARATION OF WAR — Phyllis Schafly († Pandagon): "Congress and the president should not pass the buck to... Joe Gandelman: Goverment Of Phyllis Schlafly, For Phyllis Schlafly And By Phyllis Schafly — I'm confused: did Phyllis Schlafly study... |
6 Votes of Separation Over Filibuster By / LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON — For Senate Democrats, the magic number is six. That's the number of Republican senators Democrats need to persuade to cross party lines if they want to win a potential showdown on changing the rules for selecting federal judges. | |
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Scott Elliott: To be successful, all the Democrats need are six Republican no's. Jeffrey Dubner: But combined with the announcement of a major p.r. effort and Bill Frist's sudden attempt to seem like a moderate,... |
Hugh Hewitt: Given the amount and quality of information and commentary available on the controversy surrounding the filibuster, it... |
Two-Fifths of Americans Online Have Read Political Blogs WSJ — Permalink Two-fifths of Americans who are online have read a political blog, and more than a quarter read them once a month or more, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll. Still, 56% of the public has never read a political blog and only 7% of online adults have posted a comment, according to the poll. | |
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Joe Gandelman: New Survey On Blog Readership — The Wall Street Journal has a new survey on blog readership and if you assume it's... Michelle Malkin: HOW MANY AMERICANS READ POLITICAL BLOGS, PART II — If there are 120 million Americans adults online, this survey... Taegan Goddard: Forty Percent Read Political Blogs — [snipped quote] according to a recent Harris Interactive poll. Link | Related News |
Jan Haugland: Two fifths of online Americans have read political blogs Blog statistics in the WSJ: Two-fifths of Americans who are... Scott @PowerLine: Unfortunately, however, that's the missing question from the Wall Street Journal's poll report: "Two fifths of Americans online have read political blogs." |
Judgment on Judges NRO — Permalink Those conservatives who wish to bring judicial power down to its proper constitutional size — which is to say, almost all of them — can only be dismayed by recent comments from Republican politicians who seek to lead that effort. | |
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Spoons: NRO on Judges, DeLay — The Editors on Judges on National Review Online "Congressman DeLay's view that impeaching activist judges is desirable, on the other hand, is longstanding. Steve Dillard: "Judgment on Judges": Today's must-read op-ed, courtesy of NRO. |
Ann Althouse: Here's a National Review editorial that disapproves of some of the recent excess in criticizing the judiciary, bemoans... |
Unrest in China American Thinker — Permalink Every now and then, reports surface in the Western press of a riot somewhere in China. The latest example is a Reuters dispatch from Beijing on thousands rioting in Huankantou village in wealthy coastal province of Zhejiang. The current instance is a relative wealthy province where | |
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A.M. Mora y Leon: Thomas explains that China's repression is not a sign of its government's strength, but its weakness. Read it here. |
Richard TPD: I was just there a few weeks ago, and you have my word of honor as a gentleman, and as no friend to the CCP, that China is hardly on the brink of revolution. |
Will Democrats Seize the Opening? By / WaPo — Permalink The Republican Party, seemingly intent on squandering its 2004 election gains, is handing the Democrats a golden opportunity to restore their credentials as a governing party. To seize the moment, the Democrats must do what the Republicans have been avoiding — which is to get serious about the nation's economic problems. | |
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Dale Franks: Power Corrupts... David Ignatius thinks that the Democrats have a golden opportunity to steal a march on the Republicans, and reclaim a governing majority. |
Laura Rozen: Seize the moment, David Ignatius advises Democrats. [snipped quote] Or as Amy Sullivan put it last week, reinvent themselves as the party of reform. |
Daily Kos Swings for the Fences By / Wired News — Permalink Markos Moulitsas Zúniga is the president — or at least one of the founding fathers — of the left side of the blogosphere. Moulitsas, a key architect of the fabled Dean for President internet campaign, has built his own blog, Daily Kos, into the most popular political blog anywhere on the political spectrum. | |
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James Joyner: Daily Kos Media Empire — Wired has an interesting feature on Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas Zúniga and his attempt to build a media empire. Cookie Jill: what...."the bugman" bashing isn't sport enough? [snipped quote] wonder if he will have some coverage of kangaroo boxing.... |
Kos @DailyKos: SportsBlogs — Wired News has a nice story on the SportsBlogs network that I am helping build. |
Jews Target Caterpillar Shareholder Effort By / LAT — Permalink Targeting a Caterpillar Inc. shareholder resolution set for a vote today, many California Jewish leaders are intensely mobilizing against efforts to use stock market pressure as a tool against Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. | |
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Ken Masugi: "Jews Target Caterpillar Shareholder Effort" — Interesting headline for a Los Angeles Times article on the debate over... |
Charles Johnson: Here's the headline for Teresa Watanabe's highly sympathetic coverage of the moonbat campaign against Caterpillar: Jews Target Caterpillar Shareholder Effort. |
Major media ignoring Gingrich rejection of DeLay defense: "DeLay's problem isn't with the Democrats. DeLay's problem is with the country" Media Matters for America — Permalink CBS Evening News broadcast an interview on April 12 with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), who bluntly dismissed House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's (R-TX) attempts to blame Democrats for his ethics problems. Gingrich said that "DeLay's problem isn't with the Democrats. | |
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ArchPundit: Even more fun, is Gingrich pointing out that the stalling and combative strategy DeLay has developed is a bad way to handle the situation. |
Jeralyn Merritt: DeLay Praises Newt's Contract on America — Tom DeLay apparently doesn't care that Newt Gringrich has dropped him like a hot potato. |
IMF takes rich nations to task By / Financial Times — Permalink The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday expressed frustration that rich and developing countries alike have failed to take the steps needed to reduce growing global imbalances. | |
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Daniel Drezner: Andrew Balls provides a recap in the Financial Times: "The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday expressed... |
Brad DeLong: "IMF Takes Rich Nations to Task," Andrew Balls, _Financial Times_ — "IMF Takes Rich Nations to Task," Andrew Balls,... |
Rudolph pleads guilty to three Atlanta bombings CNN — Permalink BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (CNN) — Serial bomber Eric Robert Rudolph on Wednesday admitted to a federal judge that he bombed three Atlanta-area targets more than eight years ago, including a bombing at Centennial Olympic Park in July 1996. | |
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Scott Sala: Death Penalty Effect — Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph pleaded guilty today, admitting 3 separate bombings, and subsequently making a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty. |
PGL: I was not going to say anything about this person given how angry I was over his various attacks on humanity, but the... |
Woman Won't Sue Wendy's for Alleged Finger AP — Permalink SAN JOSE, Calif. - A woman who claimed she scooped up a human finger in her chili at a Wendy's restaurant has decided not to sue the fast-food chain. Anna Ayala dropped her claim because it "has caused her great emotional distress and continues to be difficult emotionally," said her attorney, Jeffrey Janoff. | |
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Damian Penny: Dave Thomas deserves an apology — The infamous finger-in-the-Wendy's-chi li story is falling apart. |
Jim Treacher: Sploideydope — In honor of Ken Layne's new Sploid deal, I thought I'd try a few headlines just for fun: WENDY'S HOAXER KNUCKLES UNDER RUDOLPH: WHAT GUIDED HIM TO SLAY? |
Playing Rope-a-Dope By / Newsweek — Permalink April 18 issue - There's nothing fancy about Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate. Sartorially, he is a symphony in brown. He hails from a Nevada eye-blink called Searchlight, but isn't at ease in the spotlight. "I would just as soon never have a press conference," he says. | |
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Kos @DailyKos: Another glowing Reid piece — While the GOP leadership is under assault from their imcompetence and corruption, ours continues to get glowing praise. |
Taegan Goddard: Reid's Rope-a-Dope Strategy — Howard Fineman says Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) [snipped quote] Link | Related News |
Taking Liberty By / Washington Monthly — Permalink George W. Bush's second inaugural address, with its sweeping rhetoric about the spread of freedom abroad and at home, sparked strong but varied reactions. Most of the president's conservative supporters ranked it with the greatest inaugural speeches, such as... | |
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Jim Dallas: William Galston - Democratic libertarianism good! : "Undermining the conservative vision of freedom is the essential first step for a liberal recovery. |
EDM Staff: Writing in the Washington Monthly, William A. Galston argues in his article "Taking Liberty: Liberals Ignore and... |
The Child Who Would Not Speak a Word By / NYT — Permalink Christine Stanley will never forget the call. Two weeks after her daughter Emily started kindergarten, the teacher phoned in a panic. Emily would not color, sing or participate in any classroom activities; in fact, she would not say a word to anyone. | |
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Joanne Jacobs: Mute or profane — Some children refuse to speak. "Selective mutism" is more common than autism, reports the New York Times. |
Orrin Judd: QUIT BUGGING THEM (US): The Child Who Would Not Speak a Word (HARRIET BROWN, 4/12/05, NY Times) [snipped quote] The punishment is the best part. |
Villaraigosa Holds a Large, Diverse Lead By / LAT — Permalink Likely voters surveyed give the councilman an 18-point edge. Key blocs that backed Hahn for mayor in 2001 now tilt strongly toward his foe. Antonio Villaraigosa has opened an 18-point lead over incumbent James K. Hahn in the Los Angeles mayoral race, with... | |
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Kevin Roderick: Villaraigosa up by 18 — Today's LAT Poll says that even whites in the Valley and blacks in south L.A. favor Antonio... Kos @DailyKos: He sucks bad enough to be a Republican. And he's gone hard negative in a final act of desperation. Story here. |
Taegan Goddard: Villaraigosa Holds a Large Lead — Antonio Villaraigosa "has opened an 18-point lead" over Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn... |
Keep DeLay, or pay the price By / Townhall.com — Permalink I understand why the Democrats are going after Tom DeLay. Snakes gotta slither, mosquitoes gotta bite, hyenas gotta laugh, and Democrats without a blooming idea in their heads gotta go negative. | |
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Ace: In the meantime, Tony Blankley provides some perspective on the contretemps, and urges Republicans to have a little backbone. James Joyner: Update (1423): Gingrich's old press secretary Tony Blankley is having none of it, accusing Republicans who won't stand up for DeLay of moral cowardice. |
S.Z.: Keep DeLay, or pay the price by Tony Blankley You all owe Ken Tom DeLay big time, so let there be no more talk about throwing him to the wolves just because he's corrupt! |
On the ropes, GM finds easy scapegoat in the news media By / Detroit News — Permalink Back in January, I sinned by suggesting that General Motors Corp. "appears to be losing its way" and received a scolding that's a telling example of how fickle Big Business can be, especially in tough times. | |
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Kevin Roderick: A screenplay is involved. (via FishbowlLA) • Not so long ago, GM liked L.A. Times reporting. (via Romenesko) •... |
Jim Romenesko: GM manager praised LAT's coverage just a few months ago — Detroit News | GMblogs.com Unhappy with a Detroit News story,... |
Ratzinger Ahead in Pre-Conclave Pope Politicking Reuters — Permalink Ratzinger has clamped down hard on theologians who strayed from his strict doctrinal line and alienated other Christian denominations by saying they were not real churches. | |
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Steve Bainbridge: Although the cardinals took a vow of silence about the conclave, it appears that some are violating it, as Reuters... |
Pejman Yousefzadeh: Not quite yet, but this article indicates that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has some strong early support to be the next to occupy the throne of St. Peter. |