I doubt the facts are going to matter much now that Republicans have latched onto the Solyndra solar “scandal,” and even if they did matter, I’d be the wrong guy to defend the Obama administration (and some of the world’s top venture capitalists) for making the same honest mistake I made. After a few dozen Solyndra hearings like …
Congress
New York’s Special Election: Looming Upset Would Be a Rebuke to Obama
Back in May, Democrats pulled off an upset in a special election in Western New York, snatching a House seat in a Republican stronghold. On Tuesday the GOP appears ready to exact its revenge.
Republican Bob Turner, a retired television executive, holds an edge over Democratic Assemblyman David Weprin in the special election to replace …
In Jobs Push, Obama Pulls Out the Political Props
President Obama reached into the old prop bag Monday, waving around a printed copy of his American Jobs Act fastened together with a fat black binder clip. “This is the bill that Congress needs to pass,” he said, holding the …
The Sisyphean Stimulus Sell: Why Obama’s Big Job Speech Will Likely Prove Unpersuasive
Governor Rick “Galileo” Perry declared at the Reagan Library last night that President Obama and his 2009 stimulus have “proven once and for all that government spending will not create one job.” Actually, in the last …
Bishops to Supercommittee: Don’t Think About Touching Programs for the Poor
Oh, those religious people–always droning on and on about the poor. It’s like they have nothing else to do. (Other than getting arrested by the hundreds at the White House for protesting a proposed Canadian oil pipeline.) And it’s like the Bible told them to or something. If they love the poor so much, why don’t they marry …
Even as He Prepares for Fall Offensive, Obama Retreats on Jobs Speech
Barack Obama had three weeks to plan his first move of the fall political season. When he announced it, that move appeared to be an aggressive one. And then it blew up in his face.
Midday on Wednesday, his aides announced that …
What Washington Can — and Won’t — Do About Market Fears
The 6% stock-market sell-off on Monday elicited hopes from Wall Street that Washington would do something to reassure the world that it is serious about its mounting debt and determined to reinvigorate the stalled recovery. …
Facing Economic Headwinds, Obama Struggles Again to Find an August Storyline
August is always Barack Obama’s darkest month. Whether it’s a faltering campaign (2007), Paris Hilton comparisons (2008), town hall rebellions (2009), or an inability to stay on message just weeks before a midterm wipeout …
S&P’s Political Miscalculation
Over at the Curious Capitalist, Steve Gandel offers an approving take on Standard & Poor’s downgrade of U.S. debt. “The ratings agency’s decision on Friday to downgrade the credit rating of the U.S. government to AA+ from AAA — …
Is the Debt-Ceiling Hostage Scenario Really Bound to Repeat Itself?
The conventional wisdom now dictates that every time a debt-ceiling hike comes up for a vote, Republicans will threaten to torch Uncle Sam’s credit rating unless their demands are met. Just take Senator Mitch McConnell, …
How the Debt Deal Sets Up Washington for a Bitter Tax Fight
Now that a compromise has been reached to raise the debt limit, there is a good chance that the political climate in Washington is going to get worse. And the reason can be found on Page 49 of the bill that President Obama signed into law on Tuesday: “On January 2, 2013, for fiscal year 2013, OMB shall calculate and the President shall …
Trading Hostages: Why Lobbyists Are a Key Part of the Debt-Limit Deal
In the final debt limit compromise, Republicans and Democrats agreed to swap out the hostages. Gone is the threat of defaulting on U.S. bonds by refusing to raise the debt ceiling. In its place: Medicare providers and defense …
Michele Bachmann’s Life On and Off the Campaign Trail
A look at the Minnesota Congresswoman’s career from her days as student council president (and cheerleader) to her never-boring bid for President.