It’s been a good couple weeks for Rep. Paul Ryan, the rising Republican star from Wisconsin, as his name is increasingly becoming synonymous with actual Republican policy. Obama called Ryan’s budget plan a “serious proposal,” while Ezra Klein calls it a “radical document.” (As Joe notes below, Ryan’s rising star has been targeted by House [...]
We’ve got a new member of the team here in Swampland. Starting today, Adam Sorensen will be joining us. Adam has been distinguishing himself over at The Page, where he has been working since 2008 as a producer, and he will continue to pull his usual shift over there with Mark Halperin and the gang. [...]
Michael, per this post, I’d again like to make this argument: The filibuster is not the problem. The filibuster is the solution. If only they made Senators like they used to. UPDATE: For those of you Swamplanders who want to delve into the geeky details of what it takes to actually conduct a filibuster, here’s [...]
As Jay notes below, Murtha was a close friend and mentor to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and her effort to install him as her second-in-command counts as a rare misstep in her leadership of her caucus. So why such a close and unlikely bond between the gruff Marine and the San Francisco liberal?
Swampland’s Jay Newton-Small, who just boarded a plane back to D.C., where we are expecting another 10 to 20 inches of snow starting tomorrow, filed this report from Tennessee.
Pennsylvania Rep. John C. Murtha, died today of complications relating to a gallbladder surgery. He was 77. A decorated Vietnam War hero, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi credited Murtha — who was her first choice for majority leader — with helping to turn public opinion against the war in Iraq after he announced his opposition to [...]
Clark Hoyt, the New York Times ombudsman, yesterday took up the case of Ethan Bronner, the Times’ excellent Jerusalem bureau chief, whose son has decided to join the Israel Defense Forces. I’ve known Ethan for more than a decade and have admired him longer than that–he is the very best sort of journalist, fearless and [...]
Hmm. TPM reports some interest by House Democrats in getting a roll-call vote on Republican Congressman Paul Ryan’s incredibly fabulous plan to privatize Medicare and Social Security, while giving Seniors a fraction of the benefits they now receive. This is a Republican idea that truly needs to be taken seriously, an opportunity to see just [...]
