Sargent concludesMeanwhile, it still remains unclear exactly why the leadership suddenly declared at 6:30 P.M that there would be a vote -- and that it would have to happen by midnight at the latest.Sargent also confirms a guess I made … [Read more...]
Democratic Spine and Mukasey
Source: QCSenators Reid and Durbin indicate that it would be unusual for the Democrats to whip this vote given the Schumer's and Feinstein's votes.The situation then is that three quarters of the Democratic caucus is firm and would be … [Read more...]
Dispatches from the Unreality-based Community
h/t Atrios … [Read more...]
Iraqi Tragedy and Republican Partisanship, an Update
Again, an Administration that actually cared about outcomes would have responded decisively to the Blackwater incidents. Such an Administration would have welcomed investigations and taken immediate steps to reassure the Iraqis.Instead, the … [Read more...]
The Continuing Republican Debacle
So to recap, the GOP is having a lot of trouble with the House:It is having recruitment trouble. Example: GA-12 has a Republican advantage but is represented by a Democrat, John Barrow. The GOP has not found a challenger yet. NC-11 isn't … [Read more...]
That “moderate” Senator Collins
We learn today that Senator Collins voted against restoring habeas corpus. This is a right extending back to Magna Carta which the partisan radicals of the Bush Administration have been eating away at. It is a fundamental American freedom. … [Read more...]
Iraqi Tragedy and Republican Partisanship
Republicans were completely incurious about the lack of WMD. If you care about winning, you care about getting the intelligence right. If you only care about winning the next election, then you change the subject. Similarly, they had no … [Read more...]
Gettting the Congress you deserve
In a sense, this project is a useful counterpart to Kerry's effort to undermine the "Roadblock Republicans". Yes, there are Republicans that we should aim to defeat now. However, there are also Democrats who should hear some criticism … [Read more...]
Social Security, Social Psychology, and the Democrats’ Congress Problem
b. Little effort to reign in Blue Dogsc. Not enough effort to pressure Republicansd. Republican, reality-defying frames ("surrender")e. Vigorous Democratic plan needed that everyone can sign up to.5. FISAa. Too much muddle: what's at … [Read more...]
Reverse Progress in Iraq
An op ed from Nader Habibi in today's Globe reports The Saudi government does not support the Sunni insurgency, but some segments of Saudi society clearly do. A few Wahabi imams in Saudi Arabia have urged their followers to go to Iraq for … [Read more...]