"... would have a real effect on economic confidence. But that doesn’t mean we should just peel off a chunk of the bailout to cover them," writes TNR's Clay Risen. The $700 billion was intended for the financial sec…
In the wake of the "yes" vote on California's Proposition 8, Glenn Greenwald urges congressional Democrats to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. [Correction: I wrote "no" before. "No" lost. I m…
A headline that scares me. Disturbing photo at the link too. Don't let it be said that the NYT selects photos to flatter Democrats. Or do hard-core Democrats find that photo flattering? On the day after the election, leaders…
The NYT reports on yesterday's meeting at the White House, where the supposedly worked-out bailout plan broke down. Was it that John McCain came to town to show off his leadership, and he couldn't be allowed to get credi…
WSJ reports: After a three-hour meeting, lawmakers agreed to legislative principles that would approve Treasury's request for the funds, but would break it into installments, according to people familiar with the matter. Trea…
"You say... 'Steve.. how can I be a millionaire... and never pay taxes?' First... get a million dollars. Now... you say, 'Steve... what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, "You... have…
That's what Teddy Kennedy said at the Democratic Convention in 1980 when he could not wrest the nomination away from President Jimmy Carter. Recently, he explained: "I loved the Senate before I ran for the president... …
Thomas Sowell asks. His answer: "It is hard to avoid the conclusion that this resolution is just the latest in a series of Congressional efforts to sabotage the conduct of [the Iraq] war." UPDATE: Retreat: "Almos…
I'm disgusted with the use of Congress for political posturing like this . So Rush Limbaugh said something that can be construed to insult soldiers. Whatever. This shouldn't be taking up time in Congress. It's a damn…
Biggest applause line -- to my ear -- in Kos's keynote address at YearlyKos . Context: Just a year ago, we were a freakish curiosity. I stood before you at the first YearlyKos conference and declared that we “had arrived”. Pe…
That's a quote from Joe Lieberman , from the debate in the Senate over amending the foreign surveillance laws. The administration and congressional Democrats agree on the need to update the FISA statute to reflect the realiti…
"But I don't think he actually lied," says WaPo columnist Ruth Marcus . "The disagreement that occurred and the reason for the visit to the hospital . . . was about other intelligence activities. It was not abo…
Jack Hawkins says he has the inside story. And here 's the NYT report: The outcome, which followed an outpouring of criticism of the measure from core Republican voters and from liberal Democrats as well, was a significant se…
It's very strange how much attention the pet food contamination story has gotten in the press, as I said that in the last podcast, where I asked if I was just imagining that I saw a Senate hearing on the subject on C-Span. I…
Yes, it's a question of distance between you and ordinary mortals . Can someone explain how Nancy Pelosi has the nerve to tell a group of veterans that her desire to avoid having her plane stop to refuel is all about securit…