For decades, the Israeli government has boasted of being an oasis of democracy and pluralism in a region noted for authoritarian regimes. On the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website you will find this description: In several Arab countries and Iran, minorities are suppressed. In stark contrast, minorities in Israel are entitled to equal rights [...]
You can tell it has been a while since Democrats in some parts of the country have had much to celebrate. In Austin, that little blue island of liberalism deep in the heart of Texas, the Burnt Orange report tells us that Travis County Democrats will be holding a Bush Retirement Party & President Barack [...]
Joe the Plumber, aka Joe Wurzelbacher, having bravely followed in the footsteps of Ernie Pyle and Michael Herr by “reporting” on the war in Gaza, brings us this insight, which just might win him a Pulitzer. “I think media should be abolished from, you know, reporting,” Wurzelbacher said. “You know, war is hell. And if [...]
Statement from Harry Reid and Dick Durbin: “The Secretary of the Senate has determined that the new credentials presented today on behalf of Mr. Burris now satisfy Senate Rules and validate his appointment to the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In addition, as we requested, Mr. Burris has provided sworn testimony before the Illinois House Committee [...]
Roger Cohen makes a very good point in his New York Times column today. There are no Arabs or Persians on Barack Obama’s Middle East negotiating team–at least not yet. And most of those who have been named or rumored are Jewish males. I suppose that it falls to Jewish males like Cohen (and me) [...]
Guys, I know things have been tough around here lately, what with the cost-cutting and all. But might it be possible to do something about the banner at the top of this blog? It makes the President-elect look like he should go down in the basement and find a flashlight until the power company gets [...]
Following up on Karen’s post – Speedy Gonzales beat me to it! Voinovich makes the third GOP senator to retire this cycle. If Senate Republicans thought 2006 and 2008 were bad, the spate of retirements is making 2010 look pretty painful. First there was Florida Senator Mel Martinez – because Florida’s always an easy state [...]
Obama today sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asking them to allocate the second half of the $700 billion TARP funds passed by Congress last year. House Banking Committee Chairman Barney Frank introduced a bill Friday that [...]
Marc Ambinder thinks that Ohio Senator George Voinovich’s not-unexpected decision not to seek a third term in the Senate could be liberating: Voinovich’s retirement clears the way for him to vote his conscience over the next two years without much regard for the exigencies of party discipline. Democrats believe that he might be willing to [...]
From a Monday morning press conference, just completed: QUESTION: Four years ago, you were asked if you had made any mistakes. And I’m not trying to play “gotcha,” but I wonder, when you look back over the long arc of your presidency, do you think in retrospect that you have made any mistakes? And, if [...]
