Slow-Bleat

The Politico’s John Harris explains how soundbites are born:

“Even as the House begins debate on a resolution opposing President Bush’s plan to send 21,500 more U.S. combat troops to Iraq, leading anti-war groups are preparing a multi-million dollar TV ad campaign and grassroots lobbying blitz designed to pressure vulnerable incumbent

In the Arena In the Arena

Where Are the Allies?

Given the arrogance and distemper of the Bush Administration, it’s kind of tough for even our best friends, like the Brits, to remain solid U.S. allies these days…but I’ve got to say that Max Boot raises an important point in his column today.

Our NATO allies simply aren’t pulling their weight in Afghanistan. This is a “good war” …

Pretty Sneaky, VPOTUS

Cheney’s trip around the world this week has produced some of the more memorable dispatches to press.release@whitehouse.gov in this administration. First, the “unreportable” actions of the leg out. Then the long search for a bunk (“After we nearly had a collision on the tarmac with a fuel tanker, our bus wandered around the base in …

Re: The Romney Playbook

What is it about highly-paid outside consultants (and less highly paid White House officials) who are unable to keep their confidential strategy memos, campaign playbooks and debate prep videos from being lost, stolen or otherwise leaked? Remember the imbroglio over the George W. Bush debate prep materials that were mysteriously sent to …

Ghouls

Look, I like a good Cheney-drinks-the-blood-of-the-living joke as much as the next person, but it’s also true that sometimes folks go over the line, as appears to have happened at the Huffington Post in reaction to the suicide bombing outside Cheney’s camp in Afghanistan [they appear to have been taken down]:

“To (sic) bad they

The Romney Playbook

Continuing Mittpolooza today, I found his “leaked” playbook to be highly amusing, especially in its brazen sales-speak. I’m particularly enamored of the phrase “Primal Code for Brand Romney,” which makes him sound a little like a Michael Crichton novel. I also love that it’s a Power Point presentation. Next year’s Oscar-winner, …

Re: St. Ives

Underwear aside, Ana, (and Romney did not answer that question when USA Today asked it recently) the question of how Romney’s faith will affect people’s willingness to vote for him is going to be one of the great guessing games in the Republican primary race. That same USA Today story had a poll in which 24% of those surveyed said they …

As I Was Going to St. Ives…

As you may have heard, Mitt Romney’s great-grandfather was a polygamist. It’s hard for me to think of a reason why a rational person would hold this against Romney, but it’s not hard at all to think of a reason why an opposing campaign would want that information out there: Did you know Mitt Romney is a Mormon? IT’S TRUE!

I went on …

In the Arena In the Arena

Don’t Iran to Conclusions

OK, OK. Lots of chatter among readers about an imminent attack by U.S. or Israel against Iran. Some of it is being generated by this piece by Sy Hersh. A few days ago, David Kurtz at Talking Points Memo posted a Ha’aretz report about Israel asking for overflight clearance from neighboring countries for an airstrike against Iran.

This is …

This Jury Goes Up to Eleven

One of the jurors on the Libby trial has been dismissed for having gained information about the case outside the courtroom. It could be as minor as seeing a headline, but that’s happened before (the Howie Kurtz mishap) — it seems like the information must have been more substantial than that to warrant dismissal.

In any case, the jury …

In the Arena In the Arena

Joe and Henry on Iraq

At the very top of its list of recommended articles this morning, Real Clear Politics features pieces about Iraq by Joe Lieberman and Henry Kissinger–and they are very instructive.

Look at the emphasis in the two columns: Lieberman’s is all about the military; Kissinger’s, diplomacy. Kissinger says that a military solution “is not …

In the Arena In the Arena

Life in Baghdad

A mostly positive report about the effects of the new security strategy in Baghdad from Mohammed at Iraq the Model.

It’s always good to be reminded that there are actual non-aligned, normal Iraqis who welcome the increased police presence provided by the new U.S. tactics. Mohammed is an unusually judicious and clear-eyed observer, and …

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