Category: Uncategorized

The collapse of Karl Rove

A month ago, a friend who has spent his entire career working for the Republican House leadership pulled up beside me at the intersection of Seventh and Pennsylvania in Washington. A House institutionalist, and a fiercely partisan secular Republican, he was oddly cheerful. “Call me next time you’re in town,” he said. “We’ll talk about… Continue reading The collapse of Karl Rove

Gingrich calls War on Terror Phony

Newt Gingrich, former Republican House Speaker, called the war on terror “phony” in a speech to a group of young conservatives in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. … Instead of the current strategy to fight terrorism, Gingrich said we should focus on energy independence. “We have to have a national energy strategy, which basically says to… Continue reading Gingrich calls War on Terror Phony

The Al Qaeda Reader

These are not real grievances for al-Qaida (it does not bear mentioning that Bin Laden is probably not very concerned with campaign finance reform). They are a means of weaving local and global resentments into a single anti-American narrative, the overarching aim of which is to form a collective identity across borders and nationalities, and… Continue reading The Al Qaeda Reader

The three stooges

Omertà (or a code of silence) has become the final bond holding the Bush administration together. Honesty is dishonorable; silence is manly; penitence is weakness. Loyalty trumps law. Protecting higher-ups is patriotism. Stonewalling is idealism. Telling the truth is informing. Cooperation with investigators is cowardice; breaking the code is betrayal. From Salon.com | The three… Continue reading The three stooges

Senate May End an Era of Cloakroom Anonymity

all three variations on the Senate hold one of the most secretive backroom weapons in Congress have been used to tie the chamber in knots by allowing senators to block legislation and nominations anonymously, and to do so for reasons as simple as pique or payback. And “Holds are good government,” said Senator Jeff Sessions,… Continue reading Senate May End an Era of Cloakroom Anonymity

Giuliani Offers Health Care Plan

Critical to Giuliani’s plan is a $15,000 tax deduction for families to buy private health insurance, instead of getting insurance through employers. Any leftover funds could be rolled over year-to-year for medical expenses. From Giuliani Offers Health Care Plan – New York Times This is not a health care plan. This isn’t even a tax… Continue reading Giuliani Offers Health Care Plan

blowback

In the 1980s, the Reagan administration sold fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, sparking a considerable controversy about Israel and a regional arms build-up. In 2007, just as we’re learning about the aid Saudi Arabia is giving to Sunni militias in Iraq, the Bush administration is planning a large arms deal with the president’s long-time allies.… Continue reading blowback

Antiterrorism Bill Passes House by Wide Margin

A crucial provision in the bill will change the way antiterrorism grants from the Department of Homeland Security are distributed to the states. It will cut in half the guaranteed minimum grant to each state, which was $3.8 million this year, and allow department officials to distribute money in discretionary grants where the threat and… Continue reading Antiterrorism Bill Passes House by Wide Margin