Month: February 2008
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Bloomberg not running
In a move that will reduce David Broder and political consultants to tears, Michael Bloomberg published a NYT op-ed announcing that he’s not running for president. Despite his stated belief that “an independent can win,” this was the only rational decision (see my previous posts on Bloomberg hype for more). So who will the third
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William F. Buckley used big words
The New York Times obit of William F. Buckley implies that his most notable characteristic was his use of big words, which they reference in the headline (that’s what “sesquipedalian” means) and the lede: William F. Buckley Jr., 82, Dies; Sesquipedalian Spark of Right By DOUGLAS MARTIN William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic exuberance,
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Louisiana ethics hijinks
Dispatches from the shady political culture of Louisiana, where Republican Governor Bobby Jindal passed what sounds like a long-overdue ethics reform package: [L]awmakers are known to scour the chambers for willing lobbyists when a day’s session ends, hoping to cadge a dinner invitation. They need not look far. Mr. Jindal took that penchant on as
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Hutchison smears withdrawal supporters
Via Andrew Sullivan, Kay Bailey Hutchison has joined the long list of Republicans who have suggested since Sept. 11 that anti-war dissent is treasonous, saying that a bill requiring a rapid withdrawal from Iraq would “put a bullet right in the hearts of our troops who are there.” (She later claimed she meant to say
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Paul won’t run, Bloomberg shouldn’t
Contrary to my counterintuitive hype of a possible Ron Paul third party presidential candidacy, he has apparently ruled out an independent bid: “I am committed to fighting for our ideas within the Republican Party, so there will be no third party run” (via Michael Crowley). However, I do feel validated by the poll (via Douthat)
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Julie Rovner fails civics 101
How do you make a political scientist mad? Screw up the basics of the legislative process. Julie Rovner’s NPR report on some governors’ opposition to a Bush administration ruling that would restrict eligibility for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program concluded with this infuriatingly obvious misstatement: Congressional Democrats are sympathetic to the governor’s pleas, but
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Flying Newt Gingrich: Techno-savvy!
Newt Gingrich’s think tank sent out a press release about its decision to open a Silicon Valley office that cites this bit of evidence of their techno-savviness: An example of American Solutions’ dedication to using new technology occurred when Newt Gingrich made an appearance in the virtual world of Second Life for a Solutions Day
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FL and MI disenfranchised long ago
I hate arguments like this one from Geraldine Ferraro: But if [superdelegates switching to support Barack Obama] are actually upset over the diminished clout of rank-and-file Democrats in the presidential nominating process, then I would love to see them agitating to force the party to seat the delegates elected by the voters in Florida and
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Bill Kristol goes negative on Obama
Bill Kristol trots out the buzzwords of 2000 and 2004 in an attempt to link Barack Obama to negative stereotypes of Al Gore and John Kerry: Barack Obama is an awfully talented politician. But could the American people, by November, decide that for all his impressive qualities, Obama tends too much toward the preening self-regard
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Blaming Hillary’s campaign
Newsweek’s Jon Alter has joined the chorus of criticism of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, calling it “one of the worst run campaigns in modern political history.” But how do we know that? Mostly because she seems to losing the race for the nomination. I want to believe Hillary’s campaign is not well run — that’s certainly