In the ArenaUncategorized
Napa, California
Traveling Companions: none
Event: the lack of events
An astute commenter noted that I passed through Nevada without a word about the Harry Reid-Sharron Angle Senate Race. There is a reason for that. This trip is about things I can actually see with my own eyes. For all intents and purposes, Sharron Angle is …
In the ArenaUncategorized
My friend Jim Maceda of NBC news went back to the Pir Mohammed School in the town of Senjaray, in Kandahar Province, and found a war zone:
–Dick Durbin sounds resigned to deal on the Bush tax cut extensions. Joe Lieberman sets the goal posts for Democrats’ negotiations.
–Karen Tumulty illustrates the post-Citizens United era.
–Woodward thinks Obama owns the Afghanistan strategy, inside his administration and out.
–Precarious Mideast peace talks make it …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Napa, California
Traveling Companion: none
Event: the ipod returns
Not one to quit easily–and totally bored by the commercial radio I’d been listening to (with the exception of the Eminem/Rihanna song, which is great)–I decided to give the ipod a bone marrow transplant. I let it run completely out of juice (didn’t have much …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Fresno, California
Traveling Companions: none
Events: watching the news from Washington from a citizen’s-eye view.
Three weeks on the road, weaned from my usual total immersion in newspapers and blogs and cable news, and I’m gleaning the latest from our Nation’s Capital as most citizens do, by osmosis–a news flash on the radio …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Henderson, Nevada
Traveling Companions: None
Event: Interview with GOP Congressional Candidate Joe Heck
So far as I can tell after three weeks on the road, there is little or no support among the public for the war in Afghanistan. The most I can come up with is an occasional, half-hearted “We need to fight the terrorists …
Kate joins me for this week’s podcast to discuss what new provisions are kicking in, and how Democrats and Republicans are talking (or not talking) about it. Listen:
I interviewed Lisa Murkowski yesterday about her write in bid to keep her Senate seat. Honestly, before the interview I thought she had little chance of winning. But she’s pretty persuasive. I still think it’s a huge long shot but I wouldn’t totally write her off. Today, I went to watch Joe Miller campaign with Governor Sean Parnell in …
When you’re suffering from lack of attention—be you a speed skater in full-body Lycra, a soldier in an unpopular war or a union leader in an uphill battle—there’s one man you definitely want coming to your aid: Stephen Colbert, the newsman-satirist of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.” This was a lesson driven home …
I escaped D.C. yesterday to attend the rollout of House Republicans’ “Pledge to America,” a policy document that’s heavy on campaign rhetoric about Democrats’ profligacy but missing a blueprint for balancing the budget.
I also have a piece up about a San Francisco program called Jobs Now, a stimulus-subsidized initiative that has …
In the ArenaUncategorized
Phoenix, Az
Traveling Companion: James Garcia
Events: Dream Act Vigil at John McCain’s office; preview of James Garcia’s Play, The Eagle and the Serpent; interview with U.S. Senate candidate Rodney Glassman
His name is Michael. He didn’t tell me his last name, and I didn’t ask, because he is undocumented. I’ve always thought …
Gov. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., speaks at a rally for American coal jobs in Upper Senate Park. (Photo By Tom Williams/Roll Call via Getty Images)
–Glen Bolger sees a Democratic bloodbath coming in swing seats this year.
–Nevada’s Senate race is scrappier than ever.
–Republicans see a real opportunity to upset Joe Manchin …
The FDA yesterday imposed some fairly strong restrictions on the use of the controversial diabetes drug Avandia. The handling of the matter by Obama’s FDA chief, Margaret Hamburg, and her deputy, Joshua Sharfstein, offers one take on the administration’s approach to regulation and it’s not black and white. Those interested in the debate …
