Entries
How the Funding Fight Could Hurt the GOP
Tea partiers and talk radio are urging the GOP towards another government shutdown. But what voters really care about are jobs, not the deficit. It’s déjà vu all over again. 15 years ago the Gingrich Revolution fizzled out almost immediately after it started because the budget-cutting zeal of many …Are American Jews an Obstacle to Peace?
In his latest column, the New York Times' Roger Cohen accuses Israel's American Jewish supporters of delaying peace in the region. But is his charge valid? Are American Jews who support Israel responsible for the lack of peace in the region? Reflecting long-standing “group think” among journalists …California Adopts Cap-and-Trade
California Adopts Cap-and-Trade The Wall Street Journal reports: California regulators late Thursday adopted the first large-scale cap-and-trade program in the U.S., in a move officials say will protect the environment without hurting the state's still-struggling economy. In a …
Assange Expects U.S. Spying Charges
Assange Expects U.S. Spying Charges The Daily Telegraph reports: The 39-year-old Wikileaks founder was let out of prison on Thursday after a judge ruled he should be released ahead of Swedish extradition proceedings in the new year. 'We have heard from one of my US lawyers, …
Prince Reaches Deal to Sell Blackwater
Prince Reaches Deal to Sell Blackwater The New York Times reports: Erik D. Prince, the founder of the private security firm formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide, has reached a deal to sell his embattled firm to a small group of investors based in Los Angeles who have close …
Sunni Cop Gave Life to Save Iraqi Shiites
Sunni Cop Gave Life to Save Iraqi Shiites The New York Times reports: As the suicide bomber clutched the detonator to his explosive belt, preparing to spray fire and shrapnel into a religious procession here, an Iraqi police officer named Bilal Ali Muhammad faced a choice …
How Would President Romney Govern?
Ross Douthat raises an interesting question: What does Romney's campaign-style reveal about how he might govern? Do we know the "real" Romney? "Sincerity is everything - once you can fake that, you've got it made." There's Mitt Romney's problem in 1 sentence. He cannot fake sincerity. His …Tax Cut Deal Heads to White House
Tax Cut Deal Heads to White House Politico reports : A tax-cut compromise between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans – a harbinger of a new era of divided government in Washington – cleared the House around midnight Thursday, sending the $858 billion bill to …
Reid Drops Omnibus Spending Bill
Reid Drops Omnibus Spending Bill Politico reports : Senate Democrats abruptly abandoned an omnibus budget bill for the coming year, pushing major spending decisions into the next Congress and giving Republicans immense new leverage to confront President Barack Obama priorities. …
DADT Repeal Votes Set for Weekend
DADT Repeal Votes Set for Weekend Talking Points Memo reports : On the Senate floor just now, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the Senate will begin to vote as soon as Saturday on a bill to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. That puts it ahead of the START treaty, as proponents of …
DC Metro Beings Random Bag Searches
DC Metro Beings Random Bag Searches The AP reports : WASHINGTON — Authorities are going to start randomly inspecting bags entering D.C. subways in a program based on similar efforts in Boston and New York. Metro Transit Police Department Chief Michael Taborn said Thursday the …
Senate Dems Talk up Filibuster Reform
Senate Dems Talk up Filibuster Reform The Huffington Post reports : WASHINGTON -- Some Senate Democrats leading the push for filibuster reform say they plan to discuss possible rule changes during a full caucus meeting, likely to be held on Friday, and will seek a final package …
Did Jesse Jackson Get Money from Libya?
Did Jesse Jackson Get Money from Libya? Salon reports : ( UPDATED )As a civil defamation lawsuit pitting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee against one of its former executives continues to unfold, a new court filing in the case makes an intriguing reference to allegedly …
Olbermann Suspends Twitter Account
Keith Olbermann Suspends Twitter Account The Huffington Post reports : Keith Olbermann announced Thursday that he is suspending his Twitter account in response to sustained and, in his opinion, unwarranted attacks over his handling of the rape allegations surrounding …
Will US Change Afghan War Strategy?
Will US Change Afghan War Strategy? The Christian Science Monitor reports : The White House assessment of the war in Afghanistan released Thursday does not stray from the Pentagon's prediction that, by year's end, there would be notable progress on the ground there. A bit surprising…
McDonnell: State Workers Should Pay into Pensions
McDonnell: State Workers Should Pay into Pensions Bloomberg reports : RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Bob McDonnell is asking Virginia government workers to pay into the state's underfunded pension system for the first time in 27 years. McDonnell will recommend to legislative …
Wiki Cables: No Unrest if Castro Dies
Wiki Cables: no Unrest if Castro Dies The AP reports : HAVANA — Cuban-American exiles in Florida may be eagerly awaiting the death of Fidel Castro, but U.S. diplomats in Havana don't expect the revolutionary icon's passing to generate any immediate unrest on the communist-run …
Top Dem: White House Needs Fresh Blood
President Obama's inner circle seems to be smaller and tighter than almost any I can recall. After the midterm "shellacking", it's time for a shake up. News that the Obama White House staff may soon experience a shake-up is hardly surprising. Changes in personnel and assignments are to be expected …Sen. Wyden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
Wyden Diagnosed with Cancer ABC News reports: Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR, announced today that he will undergo surgery on Monday for prostate cancer and will not return to the Senate until January, an absence that could complicate Democratic efforts to pass an array of key issues. …