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Top-Tier Coverage Hides the Truth
Tweet Share on Facebook November 29, 2007 CommentThe media should be prepared to offer myriad excuses when former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee either wins or finishes a strong second in the Iowa caucuses.
There will be even more reasons to look foolish if a long-shot Democrat surprises the field. It could happen.
This longer-than-ever primary-caucus season hasn't been just poll driven. It has been top-tier driven.
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Let D.C. Keep Its Gun Ban
Tweet Share on Facebook November 26, 2007 CommentThe Supreme Court will decide next year whether the District of Columbia can restrict handguns in a city with a big murder rate problem. Don't be surprised if the court doesn't go along with gun zealots and declare the ban unconstitutional.
Four conservative justices are probably ready to vote right now. Put Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, and George W. Bush's two choices, John Roberts and Sam Alito, in that already-decided column. That side would then need only one other justice to declare null and void the city's ban of 31 years.
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Debate Fatigue Sets In
Tweet Share on Facebook November 19, 2007 CommentIn political terms, there is Bush fatigue, along with Clinton fatigue. How about debate fatigue?
The CNN debate for Democratic candidates last week was the last straw for me, and I'm a political junkie. This one was a Hollywood extravaganza.
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Liberals: Give Mukasey a Chance
Tweet Share on Facebook November 15, 2007 CommentThere are times when liberals need to be scolded. The confirmation process of Attorney General Michael Mukasey is one of those times.
Right-wing conservatives are often holier-than-thou and all-or-nothing partisans. Some liberal critics of Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California fit that profile regarding Mukasey.
The two, as members of the Judiciary Committee, voted to confirm Mukasey, thus assuring his confirmation by the full Senate.
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Bloomberg: a Reasonable Alternative?
Tweet Share on Facebook November 12, 2007 Comment (1)It should come as no surprise that Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City is still viewed as a presidential savior in 2008.
Despite his disclaimers, the mayor remains a lively talking point. Just look at his landing on the cover of Newsweek. His moves from Democrat to Republican to independent seem to endear him only more to the pundits. His huge fortune doesn't hurt either for a public official who gets things done efficiently in an often dysfunctional city.
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Bush the Elder Fails in Defense
Tweet Share on Facebook November 8, 2007 CommentAs President Bush sinks even lower in the polls, it has fallen to his father to defend him. Sorry, Mr. Former President, the love and loyalty toward a son are understandable, but he has made a mess of things, mostly abroad but at home as well.
Bush 41 rarely speaks out or subjects himself to interviews these days. His role as an elder statesman gives him space, he says.
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Tancredo Won't Be Missed
Tweet Share on Facebook November 5, 2007 Comment (1)There is some good news in Congress. Rep. Tom Tancredo, the Colorado Republican with the hate-filled stand on immigration, has announced his retirement.
Tancredo is running for president, too, in case you haven't noticed. Few apparently have, since he's barely scratched in polls of the GOP race despite many days and nights in Iowa and elsewhere.
Lest we forget, Tancredo is also the member of the House who broke his own term limits pledge. He stayed two terms longer than the three he vowed to serve.
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Karen Hughes's Task Was Impossible
Tweet Share on Facebook November 2, 2007 CommentKaren Hughes, nearly the last of the fierce Bush loyalists, is going home to Austin for a second time. Give her credit for trying to perform two nearly impossible tasks.
When Bush was elected by the Supreme Court in 2000, Hughes followed him to Washington as his alter ego. She often wrote or polished the words in the president's mouth. It was the same job she had done for Bush when he was governor.
Of course, Bush didn't always read or follow Hughes's script. We learned quickly that the president could butcher ad lib lines and even stumble with a prepared text.
