Archive for May, 2007

Bush, Dems at impasse on war funding

By Sean Aqui | Related entries in Iraq, Military, Money, News

This is getting a bit silly.
The White House and Congress failed to strike a deal Friday after exchanging competing offers on an Iraq war spending bill that Democrats said should set a date for U.S. troops to leave….
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said they offered to grant Bush the authority [...]

May 18th, 2007 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Bill Richardson Has THE Best Campaign Commercials

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Media

Seriously, bar none without a doubt the best I’ve seen in a long time.
With a couple of TV spots like these, Richardson could really capture some attention. They’re smart, braggadicious without being preachy, take potshots at the whole electoral system and are kind of self deprecating to boot.
Take a look.

May 18th, 2007 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

David Kuo Talks To Donklephant About Falwell’s Passing

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in General Politics, Religion

I recently had the opportunity to have an email conversation with David Kuo, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. He’s also author of the book ‘Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction’.
Essentially, I asked him two questions. Kuo’s response is blockquoted.
1) [...]

May 18th, 2007 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

Who will replace Wolfowitz?

By Sean Aqui | Related entries in Foreign Policy, General Politics, News, The World, United Nations

With Paul Wolfowitz leaving the World Bank at the end of June, President Bush has promised to move quickly on naming a successor. But who?
Among those mentioned as a possible replacement for Wolfowitz were former Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, who was Bush’s former trade chief; Robert Kimmitt, the No. 2 at the [...]

May 18th, 2007 | Permalink| No Comments »

Conservatives: Expand Federal Hate Crimes Laws

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Uncategorized

Oh, the tide is turning…
Ed Morrissey of Captain’s Quarters points out that the hate crimes bill that Bush was going to veto because it included federal protections for the GLBT community garners support from a majority of conservative voters. At least, so says Gallup.
On a side note, watch how Ed seems to know that his [...]

May 18th, 2007 | Permalink| 13 Comments »

The “Problems” With Rudy

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Abortion, Sexuality

He’s splitting the GOP in two because of his views on abortion and gays.
From the WSJ:
“If the party nominates a social liberal like Giuliani, there’s not only the potential, but there’s an inevitability of a split,” says John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council, a politically active social-conservative group. “Republicans will learn if [...]

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| 3 Comments »

No 3.5% Pay Raise For Troops?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Military, Money

The White House has pulled another political loser for no apparent reason, this time taking a bold stand against…the military and military widows?
From Army Times:
The Bush administration had asked for a 3 percent military raise for Jan. 1, 2008, enough to match last year’s average pay increase in the private sector. The House Armed Services [...]

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| 6 Comments »

Victory Is Coming Sayeth The “Lords” To The Hordes

By Daniel DiRito | Related entries in 2008 Election, Abortion, Elections, Religion, Sexuality

In the wake of the 2006 midterm elections little has happened to predict how Republican voters will ultimately respond to the strong Democratic showing. I suspect that it would be difficult to make definitive conclusion as to what led more voters to back Democratic candidates across all regions of the country. No doubt opposition to [...]

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

I can’t get no satisfaction.

By mw | Related entries in 2008 Election, Elections

I have been voting since 1970. I have cast my vote idealistically, practically, out of loyalty, and I have, upon occasion, thrown my vote away. I have walked out of a voting booth feeling euphoric, I have walked out of a voting booth feeling I have wasted 30 minutes of my life, and I have walked out of a voting booth feeling soiled and in need of a shower.

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

Immigration Reform (Lite) Passed

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Immigration, Legislation

There will be no true reform until we can confidently secure our borders. Whether that’s a fence or thousands more officers stationed along the border, all of this legislation may not matter a lick until we stem the flow of illegals.
And yet, this is a bipartisan reform bill that Bush will most likely sign.
From the [...]

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Storing Data In Bacteria DNA?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Science, Technology

Yes, organic storage. This has the potential to be huge but there’s still a long, long, long way to go yet.
From the AP:
The four characters that represent the genetic coding in DNA work much like digital data. Character combinations can stand for specific letters and symbols � so codes in genomes can be translated, or [...]

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| No Comments »

Why Is 2008 Ripe For A Third Party Run?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Polls

Polls aren’t always right, but these numbers are so low I have to believe that people will be begging for somebody or something to get them excited about being an American voter again.
From E&P:
NEW YORK What’s going on? Gallup reports today a sudden plunge in its regular “satisfaction” index. Only 25% of Americans now say [...]

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| 4 Comments »

James Comey Talks Law And Politics

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Law

The following is a clip from his recent testimony, and something Alberto should take note of.

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| No Comments »

North And South Korea Joined Again

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in History, The World

Well, at least by train.

May 17th, 2007 | Permalink| No Comments »

Live blogging the live bloggers - Republican debate redux

By mw | Related entries in 2008 Election, Blogging, The War On Terrorism, War

Republican debate redux - a vicious bummer.

May 16th, 2007 | Permalink| 3 Comments »

Hagel Calls For Gonzales To Go

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in General Politics, Law

Chuck is furious after hearing about the bedside Ashcroft story. Me too.
From the AP:
Citing dramatic testimony a day earlier that revealed that Gonzales, then the White House legal counsel, tried to undermine the department he now leads, Hagel demanded the attorney general’s resignation.
“The American people deserve an attorney general, the chief law enforcement officer of [...]

May 16th, 2007 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

Wiretapping Halted By Ashcroft?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in History, Law

The 2nd in command under Ashcroft, James Comey, told a pretty scary story a couple days ago, and it shows exactly why Alberto Gonzales should never have been appointed Attorney General and why he has no business being the top cop now.
From and editorial in the Washington Post:
JAMES B. COMEY, the straight-as-an-arrow former No. 2 [...]

May 16th, 2007 | Permalink| No Comments »

Video: Bush Finally Gets To Fuel Efficiency

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Energy, Environment, Money, Video

Am I jaded? Oh, you bet. How much progress could we have made if he had pushed this after 9/11?
Still, progress is progress and I applaud these steps. It’s not just key for our economy, it’s also key for winning the WoT.

May 16th, 2007 | Permalink| 3 Comments »

Video: The Second Republican Debate

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Video

And here’s AP’s take on it…

May 16th, 2007 | Permalink| No Comments »

Compassionate Conservatism Is Dead…Or Is it?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Economy, Money, Social Programs

First, Sully points out that the recent Republican debates signal a return to true fiscal conservatism and the death throes of anything else…
From Daily Dish:
It’s also clear that compassionate conservatism is dead. Every single candidate favors reduced taxes and big spending cuts. None, however, is prepared to say that Medicare and Social Security must be [...]

May 16th, 2007 | Permalink| 5 Comments »