From the White House photo blog.
Republicans Press for Rangel, Waters Trials Before November Elections
House Republicans on the Committee on Standards and Official Conduct are demanding the panel move forward with open hearings on ethics charges against two Democratic lawmakers, Charlie Rangel of New York and California’s Maxine Waters. The panel’s five Republicans sent a letter to the committee’s chair, Rep. Zoe Lofgren of …
What Would Don Draper Say?
Yesterday, I caught a new spot for Campbell’s soup that boasts of the company’s “farm-grown ingredients.” I did a double take. “Farm-grown ingredients”? As opposed to what? Test-tube carrots? Magically conjured potatoes? I imagined Peggy on Mad Man presenting the idea to Don Draper. The scene did not end well.
I mention this only as a …
Obama’s New Tone: “Inexcusable … Irresponsible”
The most important part of the new Rolling Stone interview with Barack Obama is probably what the president forgot to say. At the end of the talk with Jann Wenner and Eric Bates, after some chit chat about iPods, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, the president got up and left the Oval Office. But then he came back, apparently because he felt he had …
What’s an “Essential” Benefit?
Let’s get something out of the way.
The accusation that the Affordable Care Act will determine which medical treatments, procedures, tests and drugs Americans will be allowed to get is false. Rather, the government will continue to decide which services Medicare will reimburse for, while also deciding what care private insurers …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Election Road Trip, Day 22: Battered Democrat Syndrome
Yuba City, California
Traveling Companion: Dalia Mogahed
Event: Meeting with Yuba City Democrats
It is now official. The very best thing about this trip has been the meetings that you, dear readers, have arranged for me with your friends, neighbors and co-workers. The final one took place last night, arranged by Bill …
Morning Must Reads: Pack
–President Obama has a long chat with Rolling Stone.
–Vice President Biden doesn’t mince words with the base.
–CNN reports Rahm Emanuel will pack his bags Friday and Pete Rouse will likely serve as interim chief of staff.
–Republican independent expenditure groups out gun Democratic ones.
Pelosi and White House Reach a Deal on Intelligence Oversight
CQ reports a deal, months in the making, between Pelosi and the White House on tougher Congressional oversight of covert intelligence programs. Pelosi had taken a surprisingly hard line over the summer, bucking an Obama veto threat to insist on a pair of new watchdog measures: first, that the GAO be given the power to audit covert …
Obama Enrages Civil Libertarians (Again)
Three reasons why the ACLU must be wondering what the point of changing presidents in January 2009 was:
1. “U.S. Tries to Make It Easier to Wiretap the Internet”
2. “Money Transfers Could Face Anti-Terrorism Scrutiny”
3. “Critics Balk at Obama’s Justification for Killing American Terrorist”
My hunch is that Obama could make …
Celebrating George W. Bush’s Accomplishments
As part of our Races to Watch series, I recently summed up the campaign for North Dakota’s lone congressional seat. The race has incumbent Democrat Earl Pomeroy trying to beat back a challenge from Republican Rick Berg. The race is close and reflects the anti-incumbency mood percolating across the country. As a result, the Pomeroy …
Murder in Afghanistan
And you thought Koran burning was a problem:
In a video tape obtained by ABC News, a 22-year-old Army corporal from Joint Base Lewis-McChord casually describes to military investigators how his unit’s “crazy” sergeant randomly chose three unarmed, innocent victims to be murdered in Afghanistan.
Corporal Jeremy N. Morlock is among
…
In the ArenaUncategorized
Election Road Trip, Day 21: Antipathy to Celebration
Sebastopol, California
Traveling companions: none
Event: dinner at the Iron Horse vineyard
First, I’m an idiot. I can not walk and chew gum at the same time. With still photographer Peter Van Agtmael having departed–for Iran!–I have been tasked with taking photos of the trip with my iPhone. I keep forgetting. This was …
The Long Wait
Fun WaPo story on the strange and frustrating lives of professional North Korea-watchers:
Sometimes, careers are built around incorrect predictions. Seoul-based historian Andrei Lankov spent the early 1990s anticipating something that hasn’t happened. In his 30s at the time – “just a beginner,” Lankov recalled – he felt certain that
…