Entries
Lagarde Announces IMF Director Bid
The Washington Post reports : French finance minister Christine Lagarde formally announced her candidacy to lead the Washington-based International Monetary Fund on Wednesday, instantly becoming the front-runner in a race that has seen European powers line up behind one of their own. …
GOP Jews are Clear: Israel is an Election Issue
Despite cynical requests from Democrats, Republican Jews plan to keep Israel as an election issue in the next campaign cycle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must have scored a big win in his speech to Congress. In a Monday meeting at the Blair House between Netanyahu and Jewish …Obama Calls for US, UK World Leadership
The New York Times reports : In a rare address to both houses of the British Parliament in the ancient Westminster Hall, President Obama said Wednesday that the United States and Britain remained “indispensable” nations for peace and stability and the “greatest catalysts for global …
Conservatives Scramble To Explain NY-26 Loss
Yesterday, the GOP lost an important race in NY-26. Conservatives are already offering excuses to minimize the importance of the loss. Yesterday the GOP lost an important race in NY-26 when Democrat Kathy Hochul defeated Republican Jane Corwin. Conservatives are already offering excuses …Ryan: Dems Used 'Scare Tactics' in NY-26
Politico reports : Tuesday’s special election win by Democrat Kathy Hochul was the result of Democratic scare tactics, and not actually a referendum on the reality of his Medicare plan, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan said in his first comments after the polls closed in Western …
Florida Voters Turn Against Rick Scott
Quinnipiac University reports : Florida voters disapprove 57 - 29 percent of the job Gov. Rick Scott is doing, the worst score of any governor in the states surveyed by Quinnipiac University and down from a 48 - 35 percent disapproval in an April 6 survey, according to a Quinnipiac …
Ryan Stands by Medicare Plan
The Hill reports : Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is out Wednesday morning with a new video defending his plan to reform Medicare. The video comes a day after Republican Jane Corwin went down to defeat to Democrat Kathy Hochul in the New York 26th District special election, largely due …
Top 5 NY-26 Excuses
After the Republican debacle in New York's 26th congressional district race, expect the excuses to soon start flying. Coming excuses for NY 26: 1) It was a special election in a district that soon won't exist anyway: ignore it. 2) The Democrat won because of a populist spoiler candidacy. …Why Voters Aren't Buying the Ryan Plan
CBO projects that by 2030 Ryan's vouchers would cover only 30% of the cost of an insurance policy equal to Medicare today. And the GOP thinks voters will back that? A footnote to the above posting regarding the Ryan budget plan. The Ryan plan does maximum damage to Republicans because of its …Paul Ryan: 2012's Goldwater?
NY-26 turned into a referendum on the Ryan plan for Medicare, handing the Dems a win. Yet, the GOP continues to ignore the political dangers in Ryan's budget. I used to worry that Sarah Palin would be the Barry Goldwater of 2012. My bad. Paul Ryan is the Barry Goldwater of 2012. The Goldwater …GOP's New Line: Budget Cuts Bring Boom Times
Many in the GOP are convinced that immediate and significant spending cuts can cause significant economic growth. But does this claim hold up? The open seat in NY-26 has gone to the Democrats, yet some conservatives still argue that despite its political unpopularity the GOP budget needs to be …DSK May Get $250K Severance Deal
The Daily Mail reports : Dominique Strauss-Kahn is set to receive a $250,000 'golden parachute' severance payment - and American taxpayers will help fund it. The former International Monetary Fund chief, who quit after being charged with sexually assaulting a New York hotel maid, is …
NATO Strikes Tripoli
CNN reports A barrage of at least 18 rockets struck Tripoli Tuesday, killing 19 people and wounding another 150 in the heaviest onslaught since NATO's aerial strikes began, a government official told CNN. Six thunderous explosions rocked the center of Tripoli late Tuesday. A hotel for …
Volcanic Ash Shuts Down Airports
CNN reports A cloud of ash from Iceland's Grimsvotn volcano spread toward central Europe late Tuesday, spurring German authorities to announce two airports will close and prompting British airlines to cancel hundreds of flights. Hamburg International Airport will shut down at 6 a.m. …
WH Urges Iraq to Let U.S. Troops Stay
The Wall Street Journal reports Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Iraq to host U.S. troops beyond the end of the year to maintain stability and keep Iran at bay, echoing the growing concerns of U.S. military officials that the government in Baghdad isn't moving fast enough to request …
Dems Look for Challenger to Brown
Fox News reports Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., who is fending off criticism from members of his own party for publicly opposing a GOP plan to overhaul Medicare, could face a potential challenge to his seat from the woman appointed by President Obama to run a controversial agency designed to …
Huntsman on West Coast Swing
The San Francisco Chronicle reports Republican Jon Huntsman Jr., the former U.S. ambassador to China, has a political profile that sets him apart from the pack of possible 2012 GOP presidential candidates. For starters, he starred in a 2004 advertisement with California Gov. Arnold …
U.S. Punishes Firms for Helping Tehran Import Gas
Eli Lake writes The Obama administration on Tuesday imposed new economic sanctions on seven companies that helped Iran import gasoline, but a senator said the action did not go far enough. The State Department announced the sanctions imposed under a law passed last year called the …
Justice Dept: Prosecute Edwards
ABC News reports The United States Department of Justice has green-lighted the prosecution of former presidential candidate John Edwards for alleged violations of campaign laws while he tried to cover up an extra-marital affair, ABC News has learned. A source close to the case said …