Tonight’s Polls

Politics, politics, politics.  What more could you ask for.  Both links via the Political Wire…

Romney Keeps Lead in New Hampshire, Thompson Implodes

Huckabee Ties Giuliani for National Lead

Apologies All Around

Favorite phrase of the past couple of days? “I’m sorry”.

Clinton personally apologizes to Obama for drug use smears

The Hotline reports: Ok, so Bill Shaheen, husband of former NH governor Jeanne Shaheen, apologized last night for telling The Washington Post that Barack Obama’s past drug use should be a bigger issue in the campaign. Today, Kathleen Strand, NH spokeswoman for Clinton, said the New York senator apologized directly to Obama this morning. “Sen. Clinton personally apologized [...]

More needed to be done, sayeth one..

Hillary Clinton: Armed & Dangerous

The Hillary Clinton campaign’s attempt to make Barack Obama’s self-admitted high school drug use an issue is a defining moment. Joe did a terrific round-up here earlier today, but the issue is worth revisiting because of what it tells us about the woman for whom the nomination has been hers to lose: That is the reality [...]

No Pulled Punches

Al Gore didn’t mince words, talking about climate change today.

Gore fingers Bush admin. at U.N. global warming conference

The United Nations has been meeting this week in Bali to negotiate steps industrialized nations will take to reduce emissions and combat global warming. Predictably, the Bush administration’s delegation is doing what it always does — block progress, stall for time, and undermine the process. It’s reached the point that our European allies are prepared [...]

Tonight’s Torture Update

Did the Bush Administration really think that none of the former prisoners might, just maybe, start talking about their treatment and cameras?

New Evidence That Hayden Lied: Former Prisoner Claims His Torture Was Taped In 2003

Earlier this week, ThinkProgress raised the issue of whether CIA Director Michael Hayden is lying when he claims that “videotaping stopped in 2002.” The New York Times reported that former prisoner Muhammad Bashmilah, who claims “he was held by the C.I.A.,” said he “saw cameras in interrogation rooms after 2002.” Since then, more evidence has emerged [...]

Then, there is the core question:

Why Did The CIA Videotape Interrogations?

Although Jose Rodriguez might have felt he had good reason to destroy the CIA’s 2002 interrogation tapes, the destruction threatens to break the agency’s surprisingly sterling record of escaping prosecution for torture, so not many people would defend it as a wise move. But surely an even dumber move is the 2002 decision to videotape the interrogations in the first place.  Various explanations abound, but [...]

Just Because He Can…

Just because he can, the President acts the way he does.  There is no bi-partisanship in play here. None at all.

A Bully for President

With his latest veto of SCHIP and threatened vetos of virtually everything else, President Bush is in the process of rubbing America’s nose in the dirt, just to prove he can. The President and his Party realize that as long as impeachment is off the table, there is nothing a slim Democratic majority in Congress can do with an irresponsible, out of control President except give in to [...]

That “B Word” seems to be getting a lot of use today…

Dems bow to Bush bullying – again

Bloody cowards. Forget all the brave bellowing of the past few weeks about holding a hard line. Once again, vacation plans trump the business of the people and the useless Democratic ‘leadership’ is caving on everything. Bush has stamped his little foot, and instead of sending his room without his dinner, they’re going to buy him a bunch of new toys. The Senate is set to capitulate to the White House on pretty much everything from stringless Iraq funding to taxes to [...]

About That “New Face”

Changing things on the surface is seldom the answer.  Bigger, more fundamental, changes are really what’s needed. And what was promised.

Republican ‘re-branding’ effort stumbles badly

Two months ago, congressional Republicans quietly announced that they were crafting a comeback plan, which would get the party back on track. It would include new attacks on Dems, a new GOP policy agenda, and a series of new bills. The whole package was going to be awesome. So, how’s that coming along? Apparently, not very [...]

Focus on Arkansas

It has become a tale of two governorships.  Clinton and Huckabee.

Tacky and corrupt

Yesterday, I noted how, as governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee received tons of gifts (more than $100,000 worth in a single year) and stripped the governor’s mansion of its drapes (one of the gifts) upon his exit. Lisa Schiffren at the Corner reminds us of another former Arkansas governor and his first lady with similarly tacky proclivities. Her point — “Do we need reruns of tacky Arkansas ethics in DC?” — is well-taken. There is an important difference between [...]

Taking a swipe at Huck..

Huckabee Busted In Bald-Faced Lie

Huckabee asked if Mormons believed Christ and Satan were brothers but then, again claiming ignorance as a defense, claimed he meant nothing by it, he was just really asking a question he was curious about. See, he said, “I [...]

Global Warming “Nonsense”

I honestly don’t see how some folks hold on to the concept that global warming isn’t for real.  The darn arctic ice cap is disappearing, but they’re still running around saying it’s all nonsense and getting all up ini arms about people who do believe.

Awful: Leading Republicans Embrace Global Warming Nonsense

Per Poli’s post about the video below, I wanted to highlight the words the candidates muttered on this issue. It’s awful to read: SEN. MCCAIN: I’ve been involved in this issue since the year 2000. I have had hearings. I’ve traveled the world. I know that climate change is real. But let [...]

Just a tad bit more evidence…

Top 11 Warmest Years On Record Have All Been In Last 13 Years

The decade of 1998-2007 is the warmest on record, according to data sources obtained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The global mean surface temperature for 2007 is currently estimated at 0.41°C/0.74°F above the 1961-1990 [...]

Good For A Chuckle

It’ll take you just a minute or two to read through this one, but it’s worth it for a chuckle.  Really..

Family Gathering for ‘08

The Presidential candidates are beginning to look like relatives who came for the holidays and stayed too long. At first it was just going to be the kids–Hillary, Barack, Rudy with his newest wife, and John, if he wasn’t on one of his trips to Iraq. But then all kinds of kin you invite but don’t [...]

Okay, Has Anybody Seen That Lighter?

Sadly, this is probably all too close to a real discussion in the White House.

‘Senior’ Bushie: ‘They should have burned the NIE.’

In the e-mail version of the Politico Playbook this morning, Mike Allen quotes “a senior administration official” lamenting that “they should have burned the NIE and kept the tapes.” The official was referring to the administration’s debacles with the intelligence community since the new NIE on Iran was released and the CIA revealed that it [...]

The Coach’s Contract

It’s quite the handsome paycheck, although not what he was pulling down in the NFL.  Still, Bobby Patrino isn’t going to be huring as the new coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. And, if he comes through and does well, there are some darn nice incentives awaiting…

Petrino’s Incentives

Bobby Petrino’s five-year contract with the UA will pay him $2.85 million annually to coach the Razorbacks football team, but there are also some interesting and lucrative incentives built into his contract. Incentive clauses in Petrino’s contract include: — $200,000 for a National Title — As much as $100,000 football’s academic performance rate. — As much as $100,000 for [...]

Debate Oooops

24 hours gave pundits time to really dissect what was said as gospel at the GOP debate.  And, yes, I assume the same will be done for today’s Dem debate.

Republicans Debate in Des Moines

More exaggerations and misstatements in the final GOP debate before the Iowa caucuses.

Why I Admire Bloggers

Of course, there are some idiots out there.  But, for the most part, political bloggers seem to be folks with a good head on their shoulder.  I can say that for writers on both sides of the political aisle.  I admire them for their ability to think through situations and issues and put some smart words on my computer screen.  As an example, consider this lengthy post..

Election 2008: Who I am Supporting in the Democratic Primary

When I started writing about Campaign 2008 about 2+ months ago I started with the following assumptions: 1. Any of the current Democratic candidates running for President will be a better President than any of the Republicans running for President 2. I will continue to research the voting records and positions of the top candidates to get a better sense for their ideology, character and commitment to progressive and Democratic values 3. I will support no single candidate in particular because I felt that any of the top candidates who had a chance of winning the nomination would do equally well as President of the United States However, I discovered some game-changing aspects as [...]

From the other side of the aisle, a shorter, but well-written post:

A Conservative Voter Without A Candidate

To say that this presidential election season hasn’t been like a roller coaster ride of ups and down would be a complete understatement. I can’t even dive into any national voting scenario’s because of unforseen circumstances that have arisen here in New Jersey with our primary being February 5th. I’m [...]

Interesting Comparison

Ready for a short history lesson?

About Those Hillary Haters

There’s a post on the HuffPo tonight from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who recently endorsed Hillary Clinton, about the Hillary Haters and how they are not unlike the Roosevelt haters back in the ’30’s. Kennedy makes some valid points and presents an interesting look back at history. It’s well worth the read. Here’s a few quips: [...]

THE Video

Wow.  If this gets widely circulated, it will have an impact.

The Mystery Anti-Huckabee Video

Someone has posted a devastating video about Mike Huckabee’s role in the release of murder-rapist Wayne Dumond that includes footage of the mother of the woman Dumond killed in Missouri after his release. It’s a very professionally done piece of [...]

UPDATE: Looks like somebody’s going after Hillary Clinton, too!

Right-Wing Group Readies “Hillary: The Movie”

Just as the nasty stage of primary season has started to crescendo, Hillary Clinton may need to check over her other shoulder for a coming onslaught from Republicans. Citizens United, a conservative group headed by David Bossie, who became famous for investigations of Whitewater and other matters in the Clinton administration, is preparing for the release of a feature-length [...]

Almost Friday

By the time some of you read this, it WILL be Friday.  Time zones do that, you know!  Quick reminder, it’s going to be slow around these parts for the next few days, as we do graduation duty. Things should pick up again late Sunday or Monday. 

We begin tonight with the latest edition of Dan Abrams’ excellent series of reports on MSNBC.  You’re on your own to find the online version of what airs tonight.  I’d suggest Crooks and Liars as a source. That’s where I’ve found them, so far.

Bush League Justice: Partisan Corruption of the DoJ

Dan Abrams continues his series on how the Bush administration (in particular, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove) has wreaked havoc on the Department of Justice with a look today at how corrupted and nastily partisan prosecutions have become, with the DoJ going after more than five times [...]

Horror and Madness in Brazil

What causes humans to think this is any kind of acceptable practice.  Under any circumstances with any other human.  Absolutely unbelievably horrific.

They Heard Her Screams from the Road

Last month, it was reported that a 15-year-old Brazilian girl had been incarcerated, possibly on false or trumped-up charges, in a men’s prison facility for nearly a month, during which time she was repeatedly raped and tortured. Today’s New York Times has an update on the case. First, to recap, and clarify coverage: “It was at Abaetetuba, in the northeastern state of Para on the fringes of the Amazon, that a 15-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of petty theft was illegally placed among 34 male inmates in late October. For 26 days they treated her as their plaything, raping and torturing her repeatedly. Sometimes [...]