FROM THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND…. The days surrounding Thanksgiving are traditionally pretty slow, but we did cover some developments of note here at Political Animal.
On Sunday we covered, among other things, the disappearing influence of the old-guard GOP foreign-policy establishment within its own party; one of the more bizarre David Broder columns of the year; the Sunday shows’ ongoing obsession with John McCain; the reemergence of culture-war issues at the state level; and the latest details of the alleged terrorist bomb plot in Portland, Oregon.
On Saturday we covered, among other things, President George H.W. Bush’s NSA questioning his own party’s motives on New START; David Gergen’s unpersuasive defense of Tea Party activists; “This Week in God“; the silliness of relying on 2010 polling data to predict 2012 races; and Fox News’ unfamiliarity with The Onion.
On Friday we covered, among other things, new data from the CBO on the efficacy of the Recovery Act; a response to Michael Gerson’s criticism of one of my recent posts; and Tom DeLay’s conviction on felony money laundering charges in Texas.
And on Wednesday we covered, among other things, Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-Mo.) ridiculous understanding of the history of Thanksgiving; what the White House should do if congressional Republicans are prepared to undermine national progress deliberately; the lingering scourge of E coli conservatism; Glenn Beck’s unintentionally amusing ideas about unionizing TSA officials; Rep. Gary Ackerman’s (D-N.Y.) worthwhile HIPA-CRIT Act, which appears to be about three months too late; and discouraging economic growth projections from the Federal Reserve, which should prompt renewed efforts from policymakers, but aren’t.
