A surprising reversal and one I obviously disagree with. This also seriously undermines Obama’s message of transparency and openness…at least in the eyes of Dems. From Wash Post: President Obama has decided to oppose the release of several dozen photos depicting abuse of detainees held in U.S. military custody abroad, reversing his previous position on [...]

No, not even the Democratic Socialist Party. Republicans want to take away the “ic” because they don’t think Dems believe in…well, I’m not sure exactly, but they’ don’t believe in something! Possibly freedom? Let the crazy begin! A member of the Republican National Committee told me Tuesday that when the RNC meets in an extraordinary [...]

While the specifics of President Obama’s health care plan are still being hashed out, doctors are already getting nervous. The fear? The burdens of the new system will be inordinately placed on doctors. Dr. Scott Gottlieb has a good look at the concerns in today’s Wall Street Journal. The Lewin Group, a health-care policy research [...]

Yes, he apparently is the gift that keeps on giving. (His words, not mine.) Here’s what Steele said today in answer to a caller on Bill Bennett’s show: Yeah, but let me ask you. Ok, Jay, I’m there with you. But remember, it was the base that rejected Mitt because of his switch on pro-life, [...]

We all knew this had to happen sooner or later, and it looks like the White House wants to put this issue to bed once and for all. From Wash Post: Government officials familiar with the CIA’s early interrogations say the most powerful evidence of apparent excesses is contained in the “top secret” May 7, [...]

First Read did some digging and came up with the following names: Diane Wood – 7th Circuit Merrick Garland – DC Circuit Court of Appeals Sonia Sotomayor – 2nd Circuit Elena Kagan – Solicitor General Jennifer Granholm – Michigan Governor Janet Napolitano – Homeland Security Secretary So who’s realistic? Well, I think you can count [...]

Remember that story yesterday which suggested that high level Edwards staffers knew about his affair and would sabotage the campaign if it looked like he was winning. Well, via Twitter, former campaign manager Joe Trippi had this to say… Complete BS — fantasyland – not true. Here’s the thing…I want to believe Trippi, but what [...]

Criminal fraud may be one of the most underreported aspect of our current financial crisis. This is Lagan at ANP. In this “Road to Ruin” report, former subprime lenders from Ameriquest, once the country’s largest lender, describe a system rife with fraud. They describe how a “by-any-means-necessary” policy pushed employees to cut corners and falsify [...]

Afghanistan’s President Hamad Karzai and Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari meet with David Gregory to talk about the problems in their countries. Question: can the problems in Pakistan and Afghanistan be solved or will this be Obama’s Iraq? Discuss…

This is pretty significant because the one thing that has always gotten in the way of universal health care is the massive cost. But if the health insurance providers are willing to look for ways to tighten their belts, it’ll make it much more fiscally realistic. From USA Today: WASHINGTON — President Obama will announce [...]

With health care reform coming down the tracks, the private sector is left with two choices. Fight back against change or “join in” with the government’s efforts in an attempt to mitigate the damage. As of now, the private sector seems ready to play along. President Obama will announce Monday that he has secured the [...]

Popular Republican governor Charlie Crist is set to announce whether or not he’ll try to join the federal government, but sources are already saying it’s a done deal. From Politico: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) will be announcing Tuesday that he will be running for the Senate, according to a source close to the governor, [...]

“Having two parents who can feel and express love for each other, and give it in abundance to their children, that’s what matters. It doesn’t matter what the identities of those parents are.” – Heidi Nortonsmith, one of the original gay couples to marry in Massachusetts in 2004. Here’s more about how things have gone [...]

This is the stuff I love to hear because it means that one person’s bad decisions couldn’t bring down an entire movement. From ABC: I’ve talked to a lot of former Edwards staffers about this. Up until December of 2007, most on Edwards’ staff didn’t believe rumors about the affair. But by late December, early [...]

Fred Barnes wants the GOP to keep saying no because he thinks that’s the path to victory. Fred Barnes is crazy. From The Weekly Standard: Republican leaders in Congress have created something called the National Council for a New America (NCNA). It describes itself as “not a Republican-only forum” but one that seeks to “engage [...]

Some pretty funny stuff here, although his close is incredibly sober. Not that it’s out of character for him, but a couple more zingers please Mr. President. Part One Part Two Good times.

I make my living in the marketing world, and the one thing that very successful brands always make sure to do is LISTEN to their customers and remain flexible. Because, over time, tastes change and you have to change with them or you can quickly become irrelevant. And between the car companies and the newspapers [...]

“People that are social conservatives are also economic conservatives. But a lot of the economic conservatives are not social conservatives. Throw the social conservatives the pro-life, pro-family people overboard and the Republican party will be as irrelevant as the Whigs.” – Mike Huckabee on the Republican party’s BIG problem And honestly, I don’t know how [...]

As the initial glee/schadenfreude/controversy/whatever over Arlen Specter’s fade to blue wears off, and Specter himself seems to have finally reversed course and learned to keep his mouth shut rather than the apparently explicit strategy of running on a platform of “Hey, let’s be clear…this wasn’t about principle, it was about opportunism”, the dust is settling [...]