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Tuesday's Mini-Report
TUESDAY'S MINI-REPORT.... Today's edition of quick hits: * This really is scandalous, and it's created real emergencies throughout the judiciary: "A determined Republican stall campaign in the Senate has sidetracked so many of the men and women nominated by President...: '82 wasn't a midterm 'triumph'
'82 WASN'T A MIDTERM 'TRIUMPH'.... The Third Way's Jim Kessler argued over the weekend that President Obama and congressional Democrats, just eight weeks before the midterms, can salvage the cycle. It'd help, Kessler said, if they followed the "model" of...: Pawlenty's tiresome health care games
PAWLENTY'S TIRESOME HEALTH CARE GAMES.... Last week, Minnesota, Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), desperate to pander to the party's base in advance of his presidential campaign, issued an order to state officials this week, demanding that they not seek grants through...: The GOP hearts China
THE GOP HEARTS CHINA.... In Wisconsin, far-right Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R) is perhaps best known for his bizarre ideas about global warming, and the embarrassing instances in which he's sought and received federal aid for his business enterprises, despite...: One of the most annoying words in politics
ONE OF THE MOST ANNOYING WORDS IN POLITICS.... This Washington Post headline features one of the most annoying words in politics: "Early on, Obama was more polarizing than we knew." Would it be too much to propose an indefinite moratorium...: When Republicans discover a reason to care about the homeless
WHEN REPUBLICANS DISCOVER A REASON TO CARE ABOUT THE HOMELESS.... As a rule, when Americans slip between the cracks and end up homeless, conservative Republicans aren't especially troubled. If a problem can't be fixed with a tax cut, they figure,...: Tuesday's campaign round-up
TUESDAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers. * In case Alaska's U.S. Senate race couldn't get weirder, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, after narrowly...: Only if 'mainstream' has no meaning
ONLY IF 'MAINSTREAM' HAS NO MEANING.... The comparisons can be tricky, but for my money, Nevada's Sharron Angle remains the nuttiest of nutty for 2010. There's some tough competition, but from top to bottom, no one can match this Senate...: Maybe he has a problem with the prostitutes
MAYBE HE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PROSTITUTES.... Sen. David Vitter (R) is seeking re-election in Louisiana, despite his numerous scandals and humiliating questions about his character, and appears likely to win another term. Not surprisingly, the GOP establishment has...: American extremism doesn't happen in a vacuum
AMERICAN EXTREMISM DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM.... Chances are, you've heard about the radical Florida church that plans to "celebrate" the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by organizing a Quran-burning ceremony in Gainesville. The problem is, you're not the only...: Quantifying the enthusiasm gap, cont'd
QUANTIFYING THE ENTHUSIASM GAP, CONT'D.... Reader J.B. reminded me last night of an item from July about the "enthusiasm gap" that remains relevant. As is obvious by now, Republican voters are chomping at the bit, counting the days until the...: Obama fires up Laborfest crowd
OBAMA FIRES UP LABORFEST CROWD.... Reading Bob Herbert's columns lately, it's been hard not to notice that he wants to see more fire in the belly from President Obama. It was a good sign, then, that the New York Times...: Entering the final stretch, an ugly finish line awaits
ENTERING THE FINAL STRETCH, AN UGLY FINISH LINE AWAITS.... Traditionally, Labor Day marks the unofficial kickoff the election season. Summer vacations end, kids head back to school, and candidates focus their efforts on connecting with voters, buckling down for the...: Monday's Mini-Report
MONDAY'S MINI-REPORT.... Today's edition of quick hits: * Iran: "Three months after the United Nations Security Council enacted its harshest sanctions yet against Iran, global nuclear inspectors reported Monday that the country has dug in its heels, refusing to provide...: GOP attacks on infrastructure investment already underway
GOP ATTACKS ON INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT ALREADY UNDERWAY.... I really wish I could understand the way John Boehner's mind works. House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio Monday criticized President Barack Obama's proposal to boost infrastructure investment as more stimulus spending...