As Worldcom execs take the fifth and both Congress and the Dubya administration prep for damage control (for the latter, in a Wall Street speech tomorrow,) White House strategists look desperately for a way to avoid being hoisted by their own petard. Says Dubya of his Vice-President, who’s in deep with the Halliburton scandal: “There are good actors and there are bad actors; he’s one of the good guys.” May work for terrorists, George…doesn’t work so well for executive profiteers.
Category: Election 2002
One Nation and Countless Careerists, Under God.
“Oh my name it is nothin’, my age it means less
The country I come from is called the Midwest
I’s taught and brought up there the laws to abide
And that land that I live in has God on its side.”
Bob Dylan, “With God on Our Side”
A Federal Court declares the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, and all Hell breaks loose, with editorialists, Senators, and even our Fearless Leader lining up to decry the decision. (For their part, the House scurried out onto the steps of the Capitol to recite the Pledge en masse.) I dunno. I know I’m not the mean in these particular instances, but as a kid forced to recite the Pledge every morning in elementary school, I always found the name-dropping of God a bit strange and superfluous. I guess the lesson here, folks, is don’t vote against God in an election year. Speaking of which, the GOP are latching on to the decision as a centerpiece to their fall campaigns. Hmmm…corporate malfeasance still seems a higher priority to me than this judicial slighting of our national deity. Somehow, I think He can handle it. (But, just in case, the Supreme Court today ensured that everyone’s tax money can be used to pay Him tribute.)
Just Say No…problem!
The Post takes a gander at GOP (prescription) drug money.
Death and taxes.
In related news, Daschle opens debate on the estate tax. Sounds like the plan is to raise the exemption so high that the GOP are forced to admit they’re backing the repeal solely for the benefit of their multimillionaire masters. Smart play, particularly in an election year.
Carolina Tie.
The GOP primary produces a runoff between Sanford and Peeler in SC. (More race coverage.)
Afternoon Punditry.
Bill Press and Pat Buchanan move to MSNBC.
Box score.
Dems and the GOP discuss their 2002 Senate campaign strategies.
Truckin’.
Republican candidates for the South Carolina governorship try to outredneck each other. Only in Carolina would a candidate brag that he “stood up against the NAACP when no one else would.” Unbelievable.
Conspiracy theories.
A study by Public Citizen finds that McCain-Feingold will benefit liberals in the short-term more than anyone else. I’m sure the GOP will have something to say about that.
You can take it with you.
The Republican House, with the aid of 40 Dem defectors, vote to kill the estate tax. So where’s the money for Dubya’s new homeland security initiatives going to come from…or anything else, for that matter?