Steve Benen

UNITY08….When Unity08 introduced itself this week, and unveiled a vague plan about a bi-partisan presidential ticket in 2008, it was easy to imagine journalists like David Broder, who love nothing more than centrist cooperation, jumping up and down. Right on cue, Broder had high praise for the initiative today. In a wonderful example of life […]

ANOTHER SNOW JOB….After a series of alleged attacks against Iraqi civilians by U.S. forces, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki lashed out at the American military. The New York Times quoted al-Maliki as saying habitual attacks had become a “daily phenomenon” by many troops in the American-led coalition who “do not respect the Iraqi people.” […]

THE GOP BASE IS UNIMPRESSED….Just to follow up on an item from yesterday, I suggested that the religious right would not be terribly impressed with the president speaking out in support of the so-called Federal Marriage Amendment at the last minute. Given the reactions yesterday from some leading activists, I think I understated the case. […]

A LITTLE TOO ‘PRO-FAMILY’….Once in a while, it’s important to remind far-right religious conservatives that being “pro-family” does not mean you can have two of them. Republican Jim Galley, who is running for Congress as a “pro-traditional family” candidate, was married to two women at the same time, defaulted on his child support payments and […]

BUSH AND THE FMA….I know the White House is anxious to impress the frustrated GOP base, but I’m not sure if the Bush gang has thought this one through. President Bush will promote a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on Monday, the eve of a scheduled Senate vote on the cause that is dear to […]

SLIPPING SUPPORT IN THE MILITARY….With his political support still suffering, the president can at least count on broad support among men and women in uniform, right? According to the 2005 Military Times Poll, perhaps not. (via Political Wire) Support for President Bush and for the war in Iraq has slipped significantly in the last year […]

IT’S LIKE A WHOLE OTHER COUNTRY….The writing was on the wall. Two weeks ago, Texas Comptroller and gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn dropped hints that she’d consider leaving a GOP primary against incumbent Gov. Rick Perry (R) and commissioned a poll asking Texans about a scenario in which Strayhorn ran as an independent. Today, she […]

10 WORDS….I’m glad to see the fine folks at National Journal’s Hotline are back after a holiday break with a pretty good round-up of political/campaign news from the last two weeks. But like Ezra, I thought one of the items stood out. Best Good Question To Which I Don’t Yet Have An Answer: IA Gov. […]

CHURCH-STATE SHOWDOWN IN INDIANA….It’s not unusual for state legislatures, like the U.S. Congress, to start the day with an official non-denominational prayer. On the Hill, the House and Senate have chaplains to cover this, while many states invite local religious leaders to handle the invocation. Yes, this is all legal — the Supreme Court cleared […]

GOP DIVISION OVER NSA SEARCHES….Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) is hardly among the chamber’s more liberal Republicans, but he’s certainly been willing to break with the administration more and more lately. In just the last month, Lugar has criticized the Bush administration’s practice of paying Iraqi news outlets to publish American propaganda, and has told Newsweek […]