I agree with Mike’s characterization of this admin as being “comically mendacious,” and with the idea that just because something is absurd doesn’t mean it’s not serious. But I’ve got to quibble with this assertion that the bad actors in this case should be held to account by “electoral politics — punish liars by voting against them.” …
I’ve been thinking really hard about Jay’s points from his piece yesterday. His argument initially struck me as interesting — even a good point — because it was so different than almost any other piece I’d read after the announcement; it was largely an examination of the baldly political consequences rather than a reaction to the press …
Husband just asked me what I think of the Edwards’ decision. I don’t know anyone who is not a member of that family can speak to the actual wisdom or merits of their choice (is there anything more personal?) but I can say what I felt when I heard the news: It felt right to me. It sounded true to both John’s and Elizabeth’s beliefs. And …
Jay has a slightly counterintuitive thought on the Edwards announcement:
John said that when the two of them were alone, Elizabeth was concerned about everyone but herself—her children, her husband and her country, in that order, but not herself.
He clearly meant it to be inspiring, but there is also something discomfiting about that
…
Leahy gets persnickety with Specter’s claim that the WH has given them “something” by offering the off-the-record, unsworn, pre-scripted testimony of Rove and Meirs:
No, no, what we’re told we can get is nothing, nothing, nothing. We’re told we can have a closed door meeting, with no transcript, not under oath, limited number of people
…
The pan-partisan support and well-wishes for Mrs. Edwards has have been heartening to see — the other side of the political aisle has seen a similarly gracious if less highly visible wave of sympathy for the untimely passing of columnist Cathy Seipp. I didn’t know Cathy well, but I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say that both …
So the creator of the anti-Hillary 1984 ad worked for firm that worked for Obama. While some insist that this revelation proved “Obama was behind it,” I kinda believe the guy himself:
The campaigns had no idea who made it–not the Obama campaign, not the Clinton campaign, nor any other campaign. I made the ad on a Sunday afternoon in my
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AGate fans will want to watch today’s WH briefing, which had Tony Snow in Scott McClellan-like form (battered panda! human traffic cone!) as he tried to sell the admin’s talking points. How bad is it? He’s now gone to both Goyal (of the “Goyal foil“) AND Les Kinsolver (the crazy man). That’s known as “pulling the escape hatch” and …
Michael Crowley makes a point over at TNR’s blog about McCain’s senior moment regarding condoms (Do they prevent AIDS? “You’ve stumped me.”) and how his “old fashioned” bus-tour-talkathon is a bad fit with this whole “blogging” phenomenon:
Back in 2000 McCain sat on the bus all day shooting off his mouth about every topic under
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Zack Exley has a theory about that “Vote Different” ad:
Why is the “Vote Different” creator still in hiding? There can only be one reason: the project was funded by a well known Obama supporter, or someone with very close and public connections to the Obama campaign. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying that the Obama campaign had
…
At least one columnist is outraged at the President’s attempt to claim executive privilege:
“Evidently, [the President] wants to shield virtually any communications that take place within the White House compound on the theory that all such talk contributes in some way, shape or form to the continuing success and harmony of an
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Bush to Congress: “Go Cheney yourself.”
He’s gonna fight, and he doesn’t apparently care how stupid the fight is. Bush kept saying that the “real story” will get out when Gonzales and other DOJ testify next week. Uh, didn’t they already testify? And that’s what got them in trouble? The WH has basically called do-overs.
Also, someone …
Over lunch on the Hill, a few reporters gathered to hear a high-ranking Republican Congressman talk about the issues of the day. They included Alberto Gonzales, Alberto Gonzales, the war, and Albert Gonzales. Some highlights:
On Gonzales stepping down: “You guys have been in Washington longer than I have — a leaked list of …
