Just over a year ago, Saturday Night Live lampooned President Obama for his record, or lack thereof. “There are those on the right that are angry, they think that I’m turning this great country into something that resembles the Soviet Union, or Nazi Germany,” said actor Fred Armisen, portraying the President. “But, that’s just …
Tea Party
The Wives Win!
The end of the lame duck is in sight.
The House late last night passed the tax bill after progressives gave up their demands to strengthen the estate tax provision — demands that nearly brought down the bill. Members are sticking around Washington now, waiting until how the government is funded the next few months is resolved by the …
Playing Chicken with Christmas
I can just imagine conversations going on between senators and their spouses right about now.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry, but I’m going to be stuck in Washington all of next week.”
“Darling, no way. You left me alone last year with your in-laws and the kids. I’m not doing another Christmas in Florida without …
Morning Must Reads: Review
–As Mark reports, the Obama administration’s Afghan war review depicts a fragile effort nonetheless on track for draw-down starting next year. The Times gets a Taliban commander on record saying “the government has the upper hand now” in Kandahar.
–The standalone “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” repeal heads to the Senate as the tax deal …
The Tea Party and the Tax Bill
In a piece for Time.com this morning, I take a look at the Tea Party’s reaction to a tax bill that flies in the face of the movement’s organizing principles. After vowing to serve as conservative watchdogs for a wayward Congress, what’s their response when the nation’s capitol has immediately reverted to business as usual?
President Palin?
This week I have a cover story on Sarah Palin: is she running for President or to become a right wing Oprah? Certainly, celebrity is a major part of her persona – much as it was with Barack Obama early on. Time was politicians ran for higher office to get famous. Now, fame is a momentum-building tool that greases the tracks to the …
Democratic Tax Tantrums
This morning, ABC’s Jake Tapper reported that the White House wanted a fight but congressional Dems “wouldn’t throw a punch.” From his story:
The White House has two arguments for what they acknowledge are “frustrated” Democrats:
1) We wanted a fight on these tax cuts, and Congressional Democrats never took up the charge and
…
McConnell’s First Test
On Meet the Press yesterday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took a victory lap, gloating that he’d forced the administration to bend to Republican will.
We’ve had more conversations in the last two weeks than we’ve had in the last two years, and I think that’s a good sign, a growing awareness that the power’s going to be more
…
Tea Party Caucus Members Were For Earmarks Before They Were Against Them
Combing through records compiled by the spending watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste, Hotline‘s Reid Wilson writes that members of the 52-person Congressional Tea Party Caucus requested more than $1 billion in earmarks during the 2010 fiscal year. From Wilson’s piece:
[...]the 52 members of the caucus, which pledges to cut
…
The Brewing Republican Senate Primary Tempest
Former Missouri state treasurer Sarah Steelman announced her challenge to Senator Claire McCaskill on Wednesday. Jim Talent, who held the seat before McCaskill did, is reportedly close to joining the race himself. It’s the very beginning of what’s likely to be a long, crowded and wild 2012 primary season for Republicans nationwide. …
Morning Must Reads: Search
(Getty Images/Alex Wong)
–The final Bowles-Simpson deficit commission report is out. You can read it here. After a cursory glance, the tweaks from the draft proposal look minor. The panel’s vote isn’t until Friday, but it looks unlikely to get 14 of 18 votes for official recommendation.
–As Democrats and Republicans head into …
Palin Hauls in Nearly $500k In Just Over a Month
Sarah Palin raised $469,000 between Oct. 13 and Nov. 22 bringing her total for the year to over $3 million, Tim Crawford, SarahPAC’s treasurer, told TIME exclusively. Crawford attributed the surge of funds to energy surrounding the midterm elections, Palin’s endorsements and her TLC reality show “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” Her …
Morning Must Reads: 2012 Checkup
(White House Photo by Pete Souza)
–Mike Huckabee tells the Iowa Family Policy Center the state supreme court ousters “may have been singularly the most important election that happened in America.” Back story here.
–New York Magazine‘s Jason Zengerle details how Chris Christie
