Now this is more like it. After a steady stream of “2004’s in the bag” type-stories, the GOP starts to sweat a little. “‘The economy is touch and go,’ said Dick Taylor, another RNC member from Maryland. ‘I’ve got to believe it recovers really fast. If not, obviously we’ll be in some trouble.’”
Category: The Dubya Era
Planning Ahead.
While I’m loath to link to these guys given the trouble Klayman caused back in the day, Judicial Watch gets a hold of Cheney Energy Task Force briefings from March 2001 and finds…maps of Iraq? (Via Pigs and Fishes.)
The Freefall continues.
“The president’s approval rating fell to 59%, its lowest level since March…Democrats had a 17-point advantage, 53%-36%, when poll respondents were asked which party would do a better job handling the economy. In January, the GOP had a 43%-42% edge.“
Grief and Anger.
“President Bush made a comment a week ago, and he said ‘bring it on.’ Well, they brought it on, and now my nephew is dead.” (Via Looka.)
A Chill in Damascus.
“Up through January of 2003, the cooperation was topnotch,” a former State Department official said. “Then we were going to do Iraq, and some people in the Administration got heavy- handed. They wanted Syria to get involved in operational stuff having nothing to do with Al Qaeda and everything to do with Iraq.” As Dubya accuses Syria of harboring terrorists, Sy Hersh examines the rise and fall of US-Syrian cooperation after 9/11.
Information Adjustments.
Not just theory anymore, an internal Justice Dept. report cites numerous civil rights violations under the Patriot Act. It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it?
Skipping the Middleman
They may be forced to put up with his budget-busting economic proposals, but they’re drawing the line on global warming. A number of Northeastern states – including several led by Republican governors – break with Dubya and prepare to pass greenhouse-gas emission caps that accord with the Kyoto treaty.
Lies and Gaffes.
Two interesting editorials in today’s Globe: Derrick Jackson wonders aloud about the GOP’s double standard on Presidential lies, while H.D.S. Greenway laments the diplomatic damage wrought by Dubya’s ill-advised “axis of evil” rhetoric. Dishonest and incompetent…the total package.
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
“It was the end of the world,” said one officer Thursday. “It went all the way up to President Bush and back down again on top of us. At least six of us here will lose our careers.” The Pentagon drops the hammer on disgruntled GIs who made the mistake of voicing their frustration to ABC News. Hmm. True, these guys were out of bounds. Still, I wonder how many soldiers America would have lost over the ages if we kicked out everybody who’s ever grumbled about their assignment. Whether or not you’re risking your life for your nation, apparently, it’s never wise to displease the Dubya.
Free-Fall.
Speaking of ugly, Drudge points the way to new poll numbers that show Dubya’s numbers dwindling to pre-9/11 levels. It’s about time.