Bush might be interested in cooperating to get the Iraq War fund he needs. Bush has threatened to veto the funding legislation as it is written now because it sets a timetable for withdrawal. However, today Bush announced that, “I’m optimistic we can get something done in a positive way.” What does that mean? Which side will cave in? Only time will tell.
The Intrepid Liberal Journal has an interesting post on lying politicians. When did you lose faith in politicians as honest people? More importantly, I’m wondering what about our political system makes lying so common?
Will Iraq bring down the GOP in 2008? DemFromCT seems to think so. Without any major Republican politicians straying form the party line that the war in Iraq is necessary and winnable, it seems that the Democrats might be able to ride this one to victory. However, is there room for a Republican candidate that is against Iraq but conservative on other issues? Might they have a chance in ‘08?
Lastly, I love Ish’s video of the day so much I’ll add one of mine. Thaione Davis, consummate performer, superb MC, Chicago musician:
Well, it’s time to face the facts; I guess I too am a “racist.” I never thought I was, but now I do recognize the fact, and truly believe, that blacks have darker skin than whites, and whites look awkward when they dunk. Essentially, Imus spoke a similar point and became an overnight “racist,†so I obviously belong in that group too.
But what exactly was it that Imus did? Imus showed a clip of the Tennessee-Rutgers NCAA Women’s championship game on his CBS radio show (both teams are predominately black, a point made only for its importance in this discussion). While showing the clip, Imus made a comment, declaring the Tennessee players “cute,†and describing the Rutgers squad as some “hardcore†and “nappy-headed hoes.†After 38 years on the air, and several hundred weeks as the #1 jockey in all of radio, Imus became a “racist,†and he was no longer welcomed at the station he helped build.
Much has been said about the Republican’s 20 year effort to build its “base,” a core group of highly loyal Republican voters who helped George W. Bush capture the Presidency in 2000 and 2004. Karl Rove, the “architect” of this political strategy, used astute polling practices to ferret out the policy issues that divided America. Using those issues he was able to construct a Republican policy platform that appealed to a wide swath of centrist and right-wing voters. The “compassionate conservative” was born. Wayne Slater, author of Bush’s Brain, explains the basic strategy Rove outlined in 1994:
Christian Science Monitor’s Daniel Schorr turns conventional reasoning on its head with an interesting examination of President Bush’s “lame duck advantage.”
China is set to replace Germany this year as the world’s second-largest trader, and may overtake the US by the end of the decade.
There has been a lot of discussion lately in Democratic circles about the importance of effectively framing discourse in contemporary politics. While this may seem like a simple point, it is pretty clear that Republicans figured this out and took advantage of it long before Democrats did. Now, an interesting dialogue is developing around the role of the progressive blogosphere in political discourse.
Atrios, as usual, has some interesting thoughts on the role of the blogosphere in framing political discourse.
Overall what blogs have been able to do is create an unfolding political narrative which has been largely absent elsewhere. Sometimes it’s about emphasizing different things, sometimes it’s about combating DC conventional wisdom, sometimes it’s about highlighting things which are being ignored. But taken all together it’s about telling the story of politics in a different way.While there are other elements - fundraising, various types of activism, etc… - day to day the power of the blogosphere is that it offers up a competing version of political reality, in opposition to the Russert/Matthews/Dowd version and in opposition to the Limbaugh/Hannity/Fox News/Heritage Foundation version.
I think this is an important point, and Duncan nailed it. When the conventional wisdom of the beltway punditocracy isn’t considered wise by ordinary Americans, something has to give. As Amy Goodman likes to point out, “We need a media that covers power, not covers for power. We need a media that is the fourth estate not for the state.” In a fascinating Bill Moyers interview, John Stewart makes the case that this problem stems from the fact that the press corps and politicians work so closely together that they have become accustomed to the comfortable roles they play. This lack of accountability on the part of corporate media was especially apparent in the buildup to the Iraq War and coverage of the 2004 Presidential election.
What is wrong with immigration? What can be done to stop or promote it? What different kinds of immigration are there and how do they help or hurt the countries on the giving and receiving end?
The Seminal takes a diverse look at immigration in our upcoming issue premiering on May 1st. Stay tuned…
The fight against Al-Qaeda continues: the US captured an important leader earlier this week, while the Algerian army claims it has killed another, though Al-Qaeda spokesmen have disputed the man’s importance. Meanwhile, it has come to light that one suspect was held for months in one of the secret CIA jails that President Bush had formerly announced were vacant.
Complicated events are unfolding in Turkey, where an Islamist candidate, Abdullah Gul (official site, in English) nearly won the presidency in the first round of voting. The Turkish military has threatened to intervene in an attempt to preserve secularism, but the EU has warned them to back off. One hopes that this will not go the way of the ill-fated Algerian elections of 1991.
Another scandal for the Bush administration: Randall Tobias, Deputy Secretary of State and a key aide to Secretary Rice, resigns over allegations that he used a call-girl service.
The Democratic debates that took place last night at South Carolina State University has been eliciting diverse responses from major news outlets and the online community. BBC correspondent Justin Webb pronounces a victory for Clinton because of her “grace and poise,” and for Biden because of his disciplined manner and his coup of pulling off the sole joke of the evening. Commenters at DailyKos seemed to favor Edwards for the most part, but gave high marks to Biden (and some to Gravel) as well; the best remark concerning Biden, for my money was a commenter who said, “With about 5% more self control he could be deadly on the campaign trail.”
For those interested in factual errors and/or misrepresentations made during the debate, check out this piece at MediaMatters.org and this video:
Iran’s top nuclear negotiator optimistically reports that talks with the EU have brought about positive ideas, though at present says he is unable to specify what exactly has been discussed.
Russia continues to take a “hard line” with the US and NATO over a planned missile shield, citing a fear of “mutual destruction.”
The LA Times reports on interesting study that suggests California public school teachers are “dropping out” not primarily because of low pay, but because of miserable working conditions.
Well, it’s time to face the facts; I guess I too am a “racist.” I never thought I was, but now I do recognize the fact, and truly believe, that blacks have darker skin than whites, and whites look awkward when they dunk. Essentially, Imus spoke a similar point and became an overnight “racist,†so I obviously belong in that group too.
Much has been said about the Republican’s 20 year effort to build its “base,” a core group of highly loyal Republican voters who helped George W. Bush capture the Presidency in 2000 and 2004. Karl Rove, the “architect” of this political strategy, used astute polling practices to ferret out the policy issues that divided America. Using those issues he was able to construct a Republican policy platform that appealed to a wide swath of centrist and right-wing voters. The “compassionate conservative” was born. Wayne Slater, author of 
