Steve Benen

A PACE THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP UP….I won’t delve into every individual campaign result from yesterday, but the one race on everyone’s radar deserves a closer look. A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by imprisoned Randy “Duke” Cunningham, a race […]

A ‘DO-NOTHING’ CONGRESS — BY DESIGN….About a month ago, the Boston Globe reported that Republican leaders in Congress were considering a legislative agenda in which they would literally give up on passing major policy initiatives and instead focus on divisive bills that they didn’t expect to pass. According to (subscription-only) Roll Call, the Senate GOP […]

JON STEWART DOESN’T HOLD BACK….Anyone who watches “The Daily Show” realizes that Jon Stewart is not terribly fond of the Bush administration, but I think it’s safe to say his disappointment has officially turned to disgust. That was Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart cutting up while emceeing yesterday’s Peabody Awards for broadcasting excellence at the Waldorf-Astoria. […]

HE’S SPOKEN ‘REPEATEDLY,’ BUT NOT ‘LATELY’….As part of the White House’s drive to impress the religious right with talk about the Federal Marriage Amendment, Press Secretary Tony Snow sat down with Focus on the Family’s James Dobson for an interview yesterday, which was aired today. Snow insisted that the president is not a Johnny-come-lately to […]

ELECTION/PRIMARY DAY IN EIGHT STATES….For early-June, today is a surprisingly important day for elections nationwide. Voters in eight states will go to the polls, including what will probably be the most important race between now and November. Among the highlights: California’s 50th congressional district: The race to pick Duke Cunningham’s replacement was supposed to be […]

DIFFERENT KINDS OF PRESIDENTIAL VISITS….Apparently, former President Bill Clinton is in demand this campaign season. In what promises to be his most intensive campaign season since he left office, former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear at more than two dozen fund-raisers for Democrats around the country, hoping to collect at least $20 million […]

IT’S GETTING WORSE….Dennis Hastert may be impressed by some electricity in Baghdad at 4 am, but conditions in the city are growing increasingly horrifying. In Baghdad, leaving home to work, shop or visit family has become an increasingly dangerous proposition. Violence rears up without warning; residents navigate a citywide obstacle course of roadside bombs, shootouts […]

SAFAVIAN ‘PROBABLY NOT’ QUALIFIED….In terms of the criminal trial, it’s important that David Safavian, the Bush administration’s former top procurement official, acknowledged yesterday that he provided “a lot of insight and advice,” including government information not available to the public, to Jack Abramoff. Since Safavian was arrested last September for doing secret favors for Abramoff, […]

‘DO WE REALLY CARE WHAT THE PRICE OF GAS IS?’….As far as the political debate goes, Republicans seem to have a little trouble offering a compelling explanation for why the Federal Marriage Amendment is necessary now. Senate Democrats are effectively sidestepping the issue itself by asking, “Aren’t there better things we can do with our […]

FAILURE DOESN’T RALLY THE BASE….The conventional wisdom at this point insists that Bush and the congressional GOP are touting the anti-gay constitutional amendment to rally the base. Grassroots activists are frustrated about Republicans’ disregard for the religious right agenda, excessive spending, inaction on immigration, etc., and, while everyone knows the amendment isn’t going to pass, […]