I’ve been seeing a lot of criticism of “elites” lately. And it seems to me like there is some sort of concerted effort to redefine the word. Its current definition is this…

1.
(often used with a plural verb) the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.

2.
(used with [...]

But he is crafting a similar version of his own…
From The Daily Press:
Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has suggested he would oppose a bipartisan measure by Virginia Sen. Jim Webb to expand college tuition benefits for military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
McCain told reporters Monday he was working on alternative legislation aimed [...]

Larry Lessig and Joe Trippi announced this Thursday what Change Congress will be.
Here’s more from Wired…
The professor wants legislators to promise to do four things which he says will reduce the influence of money on policymaking: To promise not to accept money from lobbyists and political action committees; support public financing of elections; commit to [...]

I had mentioned this in a previous post’s comment thread that I can’t find now, but if politicians think that polls don’t matter, the public feels the exact opposite.
From World Public Opinion:
In sharp contrast to views recently expressed by Vice President Cheney, a new poll finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe government leaders [...]

In my line of work (writing marketing copy), I’m often asked not to use the word “luxury.” Why? Because so many profoundly cheap products have used the word as to render it meaningless. The same dismemberment of the language is happening in politics as well. Let’s let the great modern polemicist Christopher Hitchens lay it [...]

Few know who he is, but for those who do I present you with a clip from Davos that’s sure to make you laugh…

Share it with the wonk you love today.
(h/t: Sully)

In this video, I discuss the content and tone of 2008 election coverage. In my opinion, yellow journalism has returned and voters must be cautious, wary and skeptical. Most importantly, they must demand more…

Part 1 and Part 2

Over at Poligazette Jason Steck ruminates about the demise of Dr. No, and while I do agree that Paul is going to find it impossible to dig out from under the weight of nearly a decades’ worth of newsletters and 1-800 number, I think he started something that will live beyond him. The only question [...]

Good luck Newt.

(h/t: Poligazette)

So last night, outside of a voting location in Manchester, New Hampshire, I ran into Mike Huckabee. Well… one of his supporters had built a peddle car, and brought it to the voting location. Huckabee took it for a little spin.
I also asked the governor why young voters should want him to be president. Then, [...]

Hey Donklephant! In this video, I interview John McCain about why young Americans should want him to be their president. Not satisfied with his answer, I asked his daughter a couple of days later at the ABC News/ Facebook debate at Saint Anselm College. Her answer was good, but then she got a little testy [...]

Over at TMV Pete Abel has put in his last call for moderate Republicans and Independents to sign The Letter (full text below). Simply put if you believe that America would benefit from a more moderate Republican party please take the time to sign it by emailing Pete at abel.replyATgmail.com
December 3, 2007
House Republican Conference
Republican [...]

I guess he’s had enough.
From Politico:
The announcement took Capitol Hill by surprise because Lott, the former majority leader, seemed to be relishing his job, the second-ranking GOP leadership job.
He had regained a post in leadership after he resigned following racially insensitive remarks at a birthday party for the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.). [...]
Lott [...]

The stories making news today.

Courtesy of Voxant’s TheNewsRoom.

Yep. He’s talking out…finally.
From the book, “WHAT HAPPENED: Inside the Bush White House and What’s Wrong With Washington”:
“I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the seniormost aides in the White House: Karl [...]

You can say you’re one thing all you want, but if the evidence proves otherwise…
From McClatchy:
WASHINGTON — George W. Bush, despite all his recent bravado about being an apostle of small government and budget-slashing, is the biggest spending president since Lyndon B. Johnson. In fact, he’s arguably an even bigger spender than LBJ.
“He’s a big [...]

We may be on the verge of a real realignment. I’m a refugee right now, the kind of refugee who sees Ron Paul and Barack Obama as the harbingers of a new politics.
- Andrew Sullivan in his post, Toward A New Conservatism?

And I’m listening…
On terrorism:“What is the greatest threat facing us now? People will say it’s terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. [...]

More weirdness from the Craig camp…
U.S. Sen. Larry Craig says he might reconsider his decision to resign if he clears his name in his arrest for disorderly conduct in a restroom sex scandal.
That’s why Craig chose his words carefully during his resignation speech Saturday in Boise, according to a voice mail message he mistakenly left [...]