Archive for the 'Inside the Beltway' Category

Polarization vs. Sorting vs. Partisanship


Posted by Bruno on December 29th, 2007

Josh Patashnik has some interesting thoughts on where we are and where we might be going in the post-bipartisan era.

Tony Soprano in Tennis Shoes


Posted by Bruno on December 18th, 2007

The Politico has a story today alleging that our own Patty Murray, the preschool teacher-turned-Senate-powerhouse, may be staging a coup of sorts on the Senate Appropriations Committee, making 90-year-old Robert Byrd the “chairman emeritus,” and herself “acting chairwoman.”
Sopranos fans will immediately recognize the scenario from Season 1, where Tony puts Junior at the [...]

The Press Corps in the Air


Posted by Bruno on December 12th, 2007

The Professor isn’t the only member of the media elite who has to suffer on Northwest Airlines’ narrow-body 757s. The New Republic’s Frank Foer welcomes us aboard “Conventional Wisdom One”:
When I journeyed to Des Moines last night, I hopped a flight that should rebrand itself Conventional Wisdom One. It is the lone direct flight [...]

Marines to Afghanistan


Posted by Bruno on December 11th, 2007

Even though Gates turned it down, this seems sort of significant:
Senior Defense Department officials said Mr. Gates met at the Pentagon on Friday with Gen. James T. Conway, the Marine Corps commandant, and received a formal proposal that would shift Marine forces from Anbar Province and deploy them in Afghanistan.
The proposal was based on [...]

21st Century Politics


Posted by Bruno on November 9th, 2007

Isn’t it a bit absurd that, in the year 2007, politicians can still skip out on a vote simply by not being in Washington DC? I mean really, is it that hard to phone in your vote, or email it via your Blackberry? Why must you be physically on the Senate floor? Secure [...]

Gay Rights Bill


Posted by Bruno on November 8th, 2007

This is a big deal. I really thought it would come apart at the last minute infighting, but there you go: something gets done. Bush will probably veto, but that’s besides the point. Just one more reason he’ll look like a bad president in 30 years.

Making Government Incompetent


Posted by Bruno on October 23rd, 2007

Next to the MCAs, the next biggest “accomplishment” of the Bush Administration will be having shown by example just how incompetent government can be. This is a feature, not a bug, remember!
Apparently the State Department has thrown so much money into training Iraqis, and with so little results, that they had to give up [...]

Globalization


Posted by Bruno on July 25th, 2007

Dealing with the effects of globalization will be a catch-all for the Dems’ legislative agenda, according to Pelosi:
That’s what Speaker Nancy Pelosi told bloggers this morning Congressional Democrats are calling their set of economic proposals on everything from the minimum wage to increasing access to higher education, from affordable housing to developing “green collar” [...]

Conyers: Impeach Cheney?


Posted by Bruno on July 25th, 2007

John Conyers is increasingly interested in talking impeachment:
On Friday John Conyers appeared at an event in San Diego. While speaking there he said that he would support the introduction of articles of impeachment if three additional members of Congress ask him to do so. (He seemed to say he meant in addition to the 13 [...]

Feingold Moves to Censure


Posted by Bruno on July 23rd, 2007

This is what I get for sleeping in on Sunday and missing Meet the Press. Apparently Russ Feingold appeared to announce a new resolution to censure the president, hot on the heels of this week’s podcast where we discuss the case for impeachment.
The problem with the censure resolution is that it’s too early. [...]


Now Playing: Episode 349

 
 Standard Podcast [36:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Troops needed in Afghanistan end up in Iraq, Obama punts on the FISA bill, and finally: the Supremes rule on the 2nd amendment.

Links Mentioned: The hunt for Bin Laden … the new Army Iraq report … the FISA bill … the Prof references Chinua Achebe and The Lives of Others … the Genarlow Wilson aftermath.

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