Entries for September 2007

The nation has a clear picture now of the Bush administration's spending priorities and its agenda. Republicans running for re-election next year should be trembling.

Politicians of both political parties are interested in self-preservation or, more specifically, in re-election.In 2007, it's the Republicans, especially in the Senate, who are reading the tea leaves on the war in Iraq. Nerves are getting a little on edge.

The most noteworthy at this point are Sens. John Sununu of New Hampshire and Norm Coleman of Minnesota.

It is time for leading Democrats to tell MoveOn.Org to move on.

This group of self-proclaimed experts on the war is hurting the party. The full-page ad in the New York Times ripping Gen. David Petraeus was just what the Republicans were looking for to take the heat off them on continuing the failed policy in Iraq.

Because of the heavy-handed and at times hate-filled opposition to immigration reform, the Republicans have nullified any gains they made in recent years with Hispanic voters.

For zealots, like Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, a Republican running for president, illegals deserve punishment first and foremost. Tancredo must have forgotten that his forebears came from a distant place.

President Bush's exit strategy for Iraq has come down to this: Leave the mess to the future president or presidents. That was the essence of his Thursday-night message.

Let's agree on this point: Gen. David Petraeus is a fine military leader. Underline the word military.

No field commander worth his stars, and Petraeus wears four on each shoulder, will ever admit he can't accomplish a mission. It's part of the training to go full bore.

There were a few moments, in recent days, of a marked civility, and even collegiality, in the bitterly divided Senate.

The unusual events were associated with Sen. Ted Kennedy's 15,000th vote in the Senate and Sen. Tim Johnson's return to the floor after nearly dying of a brain hemorrhage.