Rare Agreement in Congress

Normally all we hear about is the partisanship in Congress. That Democrats and Republicans are totally embittered toward each other. That they are unable to work together on any issue. But that changed this week. Both sides of the aisle rose as one. They stood together, liberals and conservatives. They took a brave bipartisan stand…

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Soul-Searching Democrats

The Democratic Party is undergoing one of its periodic paroxysms of soul-searching. It’s not a pretty sight. The soul-searching has long been bubbling in the blogs. It bubbled onto the front page of The New York Times this week. But it’s nothing new. The same battle has been going on between Liberal Democrats and Not-So-Liberal…

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Gas Price Politics

Has there ever been a worse idea than the Senate Republicans’ proposal for a $100 tax rebate to help Americans buy more $3 gas? Has there ever been more convincing proof that Senator Bill Frist belongs in an operating room, not the White House? In fairness, Washington Democrats aren’t much better. Since I whacked Bill…

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John Edwards and Hillary

The News and Observer (4-4-06) reports the ‘buzz’ in Washington is that John Edwards is running second in the Democratic race for President – behind Hillary Clinton. According to the Washington Newsletter Hotline, Edwards is “the only major candidate who seems comfortable going to Hillary’s left.” I didn’t know there was such a place. Not…

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John Edwards and Poverty

Presidential candidate John Edwards says, “Americans are looking for strength, idealistic strength” in our leaders. And, he adds, Americans want politicians with “core beliefs” – who are not subject to the whim of polls. Apparently, John Edwards’ idea of proving to Americans that he has that kind of “strength” is to lead a crusade against…

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Whoops – The Lottery!

There is some – more – bad news about the lottery. Last year, just about every major Democratic politician promised loud, long and repeatedly that every penny of the $400 million in lottery money would go for new education spending. They even told voters they wrote that into the law: the lottery money would only…

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Response to ‘Still Lost in the Desert’

Gary, I expect – whether Osama bin Laden carries out his threats or not – the 2006 elections are going to be about terrorism. We’re in a war, they’re people running around out there who chop people’s heads off with swords, take twenty-eight-year-old girls hostage, hate Americans and threaten to blow up or cities. What…

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There Is an Iraq Exit Deadline

The Iraq War debate made Democrats and Republicans in Congress act more like Sunnis and Shiites last week. The battle is over whether Congress should set a deadline for the withdrawal of American troops. Republicans say this amounts to a “cut and run” strategy. But don’t worry, if you’re against the war. Thanks to all…

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Politics and Finding the Lord

The News & Observer (11-14-05) headline blared: “Democrats: Jesus Wouldn’t Cut Aid to Poor” The story told of a curious development: it seems politics has brought three Democratic Congressmen to Jesus. In fairness to Congressmen David Price, Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller they probably found the Lord years ago and I expect that what they…

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Democrats and Mistakes

Speaking of mistakes, former Senator, candidate for Vice President and anti-poverty poster boy John Edwards is admitting he made one when he voted for the war in Iraq. Confession is good for the soul and it’s always a pleasant surprise to see a politician admit he made a mistake. But former Senator Edwards’ contrition may…

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