Monthly Archives: September 2008

Progress In Washington?

I linked below to an article by Dick Morris which argues that John McCain will reap great benefit from being seen as the broker of a better deal when the Democrats cave in to the House Republicans on the terms of the bailout or whatever it turns out to be. I was skeptical, in part because I hadn’t seen any indication that McCain has aligned himself with the House Republicans’ »

A Stroke of Genius By McCain?

That’s what Dick Morris thinks of John McCain’s decision to insert himself into the negotiation of a proposed bailout package: McCain has transformed a minority in both houses of Congress and a losing position in the polls into the key role in the bailout package, the main man around whom the final package will take shape. … Knowing how unpopular the bailout is with the American people, the Democrats are »

Did McCain “blink?”

That’s how Obama supporters and some of Obama’s MSM cheerleaders are spinning John McCain’s decision to participate in tonight’s debate. It’s possible, I suppose, that undecided voters might view it that way. On the other hand, I suspect that McCain has acted precisely the way most of these voters would want a prospective president to act. They would want him to leave the campaign trial to attempt to bring about »

Boehner to Pelosi: Let’s Negotiate

We quoted below the principles that House Republicans are trying to advance in connection with the financial bailout negotiations. This morning, Minority Leader John Boehner wrote a letter to Nancy Pelosi that said, in part: Madame Speaker: … Over the last week, we have frequently discussed Secretary Paulson’s proposal, and I have repeatedly expressed the need for improvements on behalf of myself and my Republican colleagues. Our staffs have also »

The debate is on

The McCain campaign has announced that McCain will debate Obama tonight: Senator McCain has spent the morning talking to members of the Administration, members of the Senate, and members of the House. He is optimistic that there has been significant progress toward a bipartisan agreement now that there is a framework for all parties to be represented in negotiations, including Representative Blunt as a designated negotiator for House Republicans. The »

What House Republicans Want

As Paul notes below, there has never been a time when House Republicans have been on board with the Paulson bailout plan. Minority Leader John Boehner appointed a working group headed by Rep. Eric Cantor to craft a set of “economic rescue principles” that should be reflected in any emergency program adopted by Congress. Last night, the working group articulated this set of principles: Common Sense Plan to Have Wall »

McCain leads, Obama follows

The neat thing about a presidential race between two Senators is that voters can make direct comparisons between the candidates that otherwise are not possible. This year, the comparisons work in John McCain’s favor. McCain pushed for the “surge” in Iraq. Obama opposed it, saying it wouldn’t work. When it worked, Obama said he knew it would work, but defended his vote anyway. Two years ago, McCain warned that Fannie »

Lee Bollinger’s policy

Columbia University President Lee Bollinger has directed a message to the Columbia community following up on the ServiceNation Presidential Forum held on campus. He addresses the role of ROTC and the campus that came up in the Forum and wants to make it clear that Columbia does not intend to revisit Columbia’s rejection of ROTC on campus. His message concludes: [I]n 2005, the University Senate voted overwhelmingly against formally inviting »

“Twins Win! Twins Win!”

Now let’s get to the day’s most exciting news story: The Twins took the field tonight against the Chicago White Sox trailing by one-half game in the AL Central. But they had the Chisox reeling after two straight victories at home. Kevin Slowey started and pitched three perfect innings, but in the top of the fourth, the wheels came off. With one out, a White Sox batter hit a ball »

Live-Blog the Debate. If There Is One.

It remains to be seen whether John McCain and Barack Obama will debate in Mississippi tomorrow night, but if they do, it’s a great occasion for a group live-blog. We did this during the primary season at the Power Line Forum, and it was very popular. If you’re a registered Forum participant, you can add your own comments as the debate goes along. If you aren’t, it takes only a »

“Gangland” Diplomacy in the Caribbean

It’s the biggest news story you probably haven’t heard about, unless you noticed our report of a week or two ago. The London Times headlines: “Russia engages in ‘gangland’ diplomacy as it sends warship to the Caribbean:” Russia flexed its muscles in America’s backyard yesterday as it sent one of its largest warships to join military exercises in the Caribbean. The nuclear-powered flagship Peter the Great set off for Venezuela »

Deal Or No Deal?

It’s not clear what is happening in Washington tonight. The Democrats announced that a deal had been reached on a bailout program, but House Republicans promptly said that they weren’t part of it. The Associated Press says that any tentative agreement has fallen apart, and Ben Bernanke and Henry Paulson have returned to the Hill to continue negotiations. Meanwhile, the Democrats say that John McCain has joined forces with House »

Two Obama Supporters Meet, Exchange Views

We noted here that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad voiced support for Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign yesterday. It’s easy to understand why; John McCain is strong, and Barack Obama isn’t. Today Ahmadinejad met with one of Obama’s most well-known supporters, Code Pink founder Jodi Evans. Evans, a vicious anti-American, is a “bundler” who has pledged to raise $50,000 for Obama. Evans described the meeting as “a major step forward.” Ahmadinejad no doubt agreed. »

Dems Try to Sneak Shale Oil Ban Past Voters

In a well-publicized retreat, the Democrats in Congress gave in to pressure from Republicans and the public and agreed to let the statutory ban on drilling for oil in the Outer Continental Shelf and developing shale oil in the Rocky Mountains lapse. Today, however, Senator Jim DeMint warned that Harry Reid is surreptitiously trying to resurrect the ban on shale oil: We’ve just been alerted that despite House Democrats relenting »

Lies (and the newspaper that abets a lying liar)

In April of this year the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken owed $70,000 in back taxes and penalties in 17 states, going back to 2003. The disclosure was attributable to the digging of Michael Brodkorb of Minnesota Democrats Exposed, left unnamed in the original Star Tribune story. Today the Star Tribune purports to assess the factuality of various ads attacking Franken for not paying taxes. »

Deep secrets of campaign 2008, part 5

In “Founding brothers,” Stanley Kurtz continues his investigation of Barack Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers in connection with Obama’s selection to serve as chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge in 1995. The question of how a young and inexperienced lawyer like Obama was chosen to head a foundation created by Bill Ayers in 1995 remains open. Steve Diamond provides background that is useful to a full understanding of the roadblocks »

The Examiner endorses McCain

You can read the editorial here. Key excerpts: McCain’s adult life has been devoted to this nation’s service, including five excruciatingly painful years in a North Vietnamese prison cell in which he provided his countrymen a stirring example of honor lived. He came home, completed his Navy career with distinction, and was elected to Congress – where, as he delicately puts it, he has “never been elected Miss Congeniality.” He »