[Posted 05/20 01:08 PM]

USA Today notes, “National party chairmen Howard Dean and Ken Mehlman have the same job titles but different jobs. One is on a mission to rebuild, the other to expand.”

In a look at the two competing party chairs, USA Today finds Mehlman is trying to expand the GOP base by, “courting black and Hispanic voters on a regular basis. Beyond the usual run of speeches, fundraisers and meetings with donors, he has visited Latino neighborhoods and historically black campuses. He has attended black-oriented receptions and ceremonies, spoken to minority chambers of commerce and raised money for Otto Banks of Harrisburg, Pa., a black city council candidate new to the GOP.”

While Dean, “is for the most part speaking to diehard Democrats who are the backbone of their party. He's addressed Democrats in nine states dominated by Republicans, such as Kansas and Mississippi, and in party strongholds such as California and Massachusetts. He's spoken to labor unions, gay-rights groups and state party chairs — all pillars of the party.”

[Posted 05/20 12:35 PM]

President Bush said today he would veto any bill that seeks to expand stem cell research. Bush said, "I made very clear to Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayer's money, to promote science which destroys life in order to save life — I'm against that. Therefore, if the bill does that, I would veto it."

[Posted 05/20 12:27 PM]

Sorry for being MIA most of this morning. Bad Internet problems, but seems to be ok for now. Anyway…

The Los Angeles Times looks at how the White House selects young participants for President Bush’s Social Security reform town hall meetings.

The LAT and most media critics make no secret of their disdain for pre-screened participants in town hall meetings. While there is certainly a case to be made for greater intellectual diversity at presidential town hall conferences, it’s clear this is not the bone most reporters are picking. They want Bush critics because that equates to more interesting stories.

In this case, the LAT shows a White House that wants bright and engaged youth for their town hall meetings, not just Bush cheerleaders. Bush critics may not like it, but it seems to make sense.

[Posted 05/20 09:33 AM]

Received an email from CNN anchor Daryn Kagan this morning. As anyone who is familiar with Kagan’s work knows, she is one of CNN’s better anchors who displays an admirable level of balance and enthusiasm in her work. Here’s her response to yesterday’s Bill Hemmer gossip item:

“As someone who co-anchored with Bill Hemmer for three years here at CNN, let me GO ON THE RECORD telling you a thing or two.

Unlike some who learned their craft in the plush environment of network news departments, Bill was ‘raised’ in local news in Cincinnati and CNN Atlanta, both environments of scarcer resources. He knows how to his job well with very few resources and support.

Yes, he has more resources since moving up to New York and a show that CNN considers one of its most important. But I'll tell you this--give Bill Hemmer the resources of a shoestring and he can anchor and report anybody in this business under the table.

Whatever is happening between Bill and CNN on contract negotiations is between them. However, I can assure you that whoever employs Bill will have one of the most enthusiastic, eager, and capable people in the business. They will be lucky to have him. THAT is what people are saying in the hallways of CNN. And to THAT I proudly sign my name.

Daryn Kagan.”

[Posted 05/20 09:12 AM]

A new Fox News poll of New York state voters asks whom they would support in 2008 if the candidates for president were Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani edges Clinton 46 to 44 percent, with 10 percent undecided. Conversely, if Rudy were to challenge Hillary for the Senate, Clinton would defeat Giuliani 53 to 43 percent.

Interestingly, New York voters said they would support John McCain over Hillary Clinton, 42 to 41 percent, with 17 percent undecided.

[Posted 05/20 08:44 AM]

Dana Milbank reports Frank Lautenberg and Chuck Schumer picked up on MoveOn’s Star Wars theme yesterday on the Senate floor. Lautenberg held up a picture of the Emperor and said, “In a far-off universe, in this film, the leader of the Senate breaks the rules to give himself and his supporters more power. I sincerely hope that it doesn't mirror actions being contemplated in the Senate of the United States.”

Schumer was less subtle, proclaiming of Senate Democrats, “We are the Jedi knights. We have the light source.”

Star Wars metaphors are the laziest form of comparative language in America today. To see U.S. Senators and activist groups boasting comparisons my junior-high colleagues and I considered profound is disturbing. As Milbank himself notes, “Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, people might have considered such a display on the Senate floor to be cheap.”

[Posted 05/19 12:19 PM]

Reader William saw Star Wars last night. He writes in to comment on MoveOn’s comparison of Bill Frist to Emperor Palpatine and the Empire to the Bush White House:

“In order to buy into that, you’ve got to make the Jedis into Al Qaeda.”

[Posted 05/19 11:28 AM]

For the record, Mike Isikoff has denied offering his resignation to Newsweek.

[Posted 05/19 11:24 AM]

Dick Durbin is offering to push through four circuit court justices. He wants to start with one hour of debate over Thomas Griffith. Clearly, his intention is to take steam out of the anti-filibuster agenda by allowing some judges to pass to a full floor vote. However, his request requires unanimous consent from the Senate.

Needless to say, Mitch McConnell objected. But on procedural grounds, since Priscilla Owen has been scheduled next for a vote.

[Posted 05/19 11:10 AM]

The New York Times describes yesterday’s opening debate on Priscilla Owen:

“It was a defining moment in the modern-day Senate, recalling another in the Senate's impeachment trial against President Bill Clinton in 1999. In fact, the Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, referred to the impeachment proceedings when he urged a private meeting of the full Senate in the old chamber, where a rare session had been held to try to hash out deep divisions on a similarly difficult subject. The ensuing floor debate did little to settle the acrid division over the Democratic decision to filibuster President Bush's judicial candidates.”

[Posted 05/19 10:59 AM]

Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin just described an end to judicial filibusters would be, “the end of the Senate.” Even more pathetic, is describing Republicans as having “situational ethics” and talking a lot about not judges, but Tom DeLay.

[Posted 05/19 10:49 AM]

Back in real world news, the Senate is debating the nomination of Priscilla Owen right now. The Washington Post lists the Senators negotiating on a possible compromise over judicial filibusters. According the WP, the current proposal is that all Bush nominees would get a vote except William Myers and Henry Saad. The list of negotiators:

Democrats Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Robert Byrd, Mary Landrieu and Ken Salazar.

Republicans include Olympia Snowe, John McCain, Mike DeWine, John Warner, Lindsey Graham and Lisa Murkowski.

[Posted 05/19 10:43 AM]

And yes, if Hemmer is replaced that would be the co-anchor line-up with Miles and Soledad. Weird.

[Posted 05/19 10:28 AM]

I’ll finally be getting to the morning news update in a moment. In the meantime, some fun gossip outside the range of my normal coverage. For those of you who suffer through CNN’s American Morning, or are at least familiar with the program, you may enjoy this.

The inside talk is that CNN is trying to “squeeze out” American Morning co-anchor Bill Hemmer in favor of Miles O’Brien. Apparently, Hemmer has lost much of what support he had this week with his public complaints about his offer to become CNN’s White House correspondent.

A network source says Hemmer, “has no idea how to do anything himself. When he does interviews, producers do everything, from writing his scripts to doing most of his interviews and footage is cut to make it look like he’s working.”

Or, maybe someone’s just been watching too much Broadcast News.

[Posted 05/19 09:33 AM]

I am also learning that the official reaction to Newsweek’s error is different than the public face put on by the administration. There were 11 days between the publication of Isikoff’s report and the first complaints from the Pentagon. In the meantime, Pentagon officials went back and forth on whether or not they had found evidence of mistreatment of the Koran. Though they disagreed with the toilet flushing assessment, there was much disagreement over whether or not an equivocal statement could be made that “no such activity” had ever been witnessed.

Obviously, that does not negate Newsweek’s error. However, I hope it does present readers with a slightly more nuanced version of how the scene played out behind the scenes.

[Posted 05/19 09:27 AM]

Earlier this week, Ohio House member Bob Ney took to the House floor to decry Isikoff’s “yellow journalism.” Ney insinuated Isikoff is part of the liberal media who places a personal emphasis on embarrassing the White House and Republicans. However, any fair judge of Isikoff knows that he is an equal opportunity muckraker. Back during the early days of the Lewinsky scandal, it was Democrats and liberals who slammed Isikoff as being part of the right wing agenda.

However, when describing Isikoff’s bias, Ney had his own selective omission. It turns out Ney is in fact being investigated by Newsweek and other news agencies for his connection to House travel scandals. As one source told me yesterday, “If all the stuff we’re finding on Ney is true, he is in much more danger than DeLay ever has been or will be.”

[Posted 05/19 09:21 AM]

I have learned a few interesting items about the scene over at Newsweek this week. The publication has received a number of threats against staff members. Perhaps not surprisingly, a number of cameras and reporters are staked outside the Newsweek offices attempting to interview staff members as they enter and exit the building.

Since offering his resignation, Michael Isikoff to the best of my knowledge has not returned to the Newsweek offices. He is “lying low” for the time being and in a “pretty bad place” regarding his feelings on the fallout from his reporting.

I have also learned that the Newsweek staff is having multiple meetings to discuss the ramifications from this story, debating their use of anonymous sources and approach to coverage.

[Posted 05/18 02:42 PM]

I just got back from a meeting with Dino Rossi over at the Republican Governors Association. Rossi has a court case scheduled for Monday in Washington state to examine allegations of voter fraud in King County. For those who may not remember, Rossi was the Republican candidate in last year's Washington State gubernatorial race.

Rossi told me that his side will attempt to establish that either through neglect or direct fraud that enough votes went missing from last year’s election to affect the outcome.

If their case were successful, an election would be held this November. Between the end of case and June, Washington's Lieutenant Governor would temporarily serve as Governor. I’ll have more on the Rossi interview and his case soon.

In the meantime, here’s a Seattle Times article today discussing some of the issues at hand.

[Posted 05/18 12:01 PM]

Reader Steven writes in regarding MoveOn’s creation of an ad campaign that will play on the new Star Wars film, comparing Bill Frist to leader of the Sith, Emperor Palpatine:

“Isn’t MoveOn.org the same crowd who hyped another bomb, ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, as being some kind of wake up call for global warming? These guys must think Hollywood is reality. Or think that most people are stupid enough to think so.”

Playing on cinematic themes seems to be the favored tactic of liberal groups these days. In addition to “Star Wars” and “Day After Tomorrow”, the leftist People for the American Way recently ran a pro-filibuster ad campaign comparing Democrats to Jimmy Stewart’s character in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”

[Posted 05/18 11:43 AM]

The New York Times’ Elisabeth Bumiller reports today on the conflict between Newsweek and White House Spokesman Scott McClellan. McClellan has asserted that beyond retracting its story, Newsweek has a moral obligation to repair damage caused by its assertion officials at Guantanamo Bay flushed copies of the Koran down a toilet.

However, Bumiller is getting more attention for abrasive comments directed at McClellan during yesterday’s White House press briefing. Though not explicitly identified in transcripts, it was Bumiller who yesterday attacked McClellan asking, “Who made you the editor of Newsweek?”

After repeatedly insisting that the White House was “pressuring” Newsweek’s coverage, Bumiller asked, “Are you asking them to write a story about how great the American military is; is that what you're saying here?”

Broad assertions and incendiary language are nothing new to Elisabeth Bumiller. I was first to report back in March that during a presidential press conference, on the topic of Paul Wolfowitz, Bumiller loaded her question by describing Wolfowitz as, “a chief architect of one of the most unpopular wars in history.”

Even in penning an otherwise fluff piece on what songs President Bush listens to on his IPod, Bumiller inserted the following editorial dash, “[Mark] McKinnon said that Mr. Bush had not gone so far as to include on his playlist ‘Fortunate Son,’ the angry anti-Vietnam war song about who has to go to war that Mr. Fogerty sang when he was with Creedence Clearwater Revival. (‘I ain't no senator's son ... Some folks are born silver spoon in hand.’) As the son of a two-term congressman and a United States Senate candidate, Mr. Bush won a coveted spot with the Texas Air National Guard to avoid combat in Vietnam.”

Obviously, I don’t shy from illustrating liberal bias in the media. To be fair, most cases simply involve lazy reporting or an ignorance of conservative points of view. However, Bumiller is a stark and reoccurring example of a reporter hostile to the American military and President Bush. Somewhere, Dana Milbank is blushing.

UPDATE: As several Beltway Buzz readers have pointed out, I made a mistake with this post yesterday. It was actually ABC's Terry Moran who issued the opening "Who made you editor of Newsweek?" question. Bumiller followed Moran with the next question on dictating coverage. Of course, most Buzz readers will know Moran doesn't fall far from the Bush hating nest either. Still, it was my mistake - full responsibility and blame falls right here.

[Posted 05/18 11:03 AM]

The AP reports House Republicans are trying to “super-size” Social Security reform by assimilating pieces of Democrat opposition points, including benefits for children, the disabled and widows.

However, House Democrats, like their Senate counterparts, say they will not entertain any proposal that includes personal accounts. Ways and Means member Rahm Emanuel said, “In my view, you put aside the insistence on privatizing Social Security, you'll get a retirement agreement in short order.”

[Posted 05/18 10:53 AM]

Amy Fagan writes in the Washington Times, “House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi yesterday said most Democrats approve leadership's strategy of not having their own Social Security reform plan for now and of focusing on defeating President Bush's plan. She said only a few Democrats want to move ahead now with Social Security proposals to counter Mr. Bush's. 'Those are exceptions,' the California Democrat said of Democrats like Reps. Robert Wexler of Florida and Dennis Moore of Kansas, who have proposed their own Social Security bills and say other Democrats should follow suit and engage Republicans with specifics.”

[Posted 05/18 10:32 AM]

The Los Angeles Times surprisingly throws its support behind ending filibusters on judicial nominees:

“We usually like it when centrist senators like John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) try to galvanize the sensible center on behalf of some compromise, but we sincerely hope they fail in their attempt to preserve the Senate's filibuster. Count this page on the side of conservative social activists who are pushing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to "nuke" the filibuster.”

“We don't share these activists' enthusiasm for the White House judicial nominees triggering the current showdown. But we do believe that nominees are entitled to a vote on the floor of the Senate. The filibuster, an arcane if venerable parliamentary tactic that empowers a minority of 41 senators to block a vote, goes above and beyond those checks on majority power legitimately written into the Constitution.”

[Posted 05/18 09:53 AM]

The Senate passed their $295 billion highway bill by a vote of 89-11. The White House has said President Bush will veto any bill spending more than the $284 billion approved by the House. The last six-year highway bill program ran at a cost of $218 billion. However, estimates from state transportation agencies say they need a bill closer to $330 billion.

[Posted 05/18 09:46 AM]

MoveOn is using themes from the new Star Wars film to attack Bill Frist. A new ad set to air on CNN will compare the political rise of Emperor Palpatine in “Revenge of the Sith” to Frist’s move to end judicial filibusters.

MoveOn’s Ben Brandzel said, “We don't think 'Star Wars' is a political movie made by George Lucas to prove our point, but it helps to illuminate what's going on. The timing is uncanny."

Well, their script couldn’t be much worse than the actual films. Unless a flustered Brandzel ends the ad by noting he too, “hates sand.”

[Posted 05/18 09:05 AM]

The New York Times reports the “ordinarily talkative” John McCain appeared “exasperated” after leaving bipartisan talks on a filibuster compromise. I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. It's a sensitive time,” McCain told reporters.

Joe Lieberman described the meeting as, “While there is a lot of mutual understanding, understanding of each side's position, there is not a meeting of the minds,”

[Posted 05/18 08:57 AM]

The Washington Post reports “furious” talks are still taking place between moderate senators seeking a compromise over judicial filibusters.

Today, the Senate takes up the nominations of Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown, with a possible vote on filibusters coming next Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Democrat push on undecided senators John Warner, Susan Collins and Arlen Specter continues. The Post says Harry Reid appears “more optimist” than in the past. “We've trained hard. The fight is about to begin. We are certainly not despondent,” Reid said.

[Posted 05/17 11:52 AM]

Just spoke with Utah Senator and former Judiciary Committee Chair Orrin Hatch. I began by asking Senator Hatch if he thinks the votes are there to pass an end to judicial filibusters. Hatch said, “Frist can get the votes if he wants it. The votes are there.”

On the attempted compromise over filibusters led by Senators John McCain and Ben Nelson, Hatch said, “You never know. McCain is working as hard as he can and he has some help.”

Hatch says if there isn’t a vote to end judicial filibusters or if that vote does not pass, “It would be a tremendous injustice to the president and to these judges. It might be tough for the Republicans if we can’t stand up for these people. Seven people with bipartisan, majority support. That could be tough for our party.”

Hatch says Democrats are fighting a losing battle in opposing Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown. “The might give up on Owen. There is absolutely no reason to be against her. The Democrats would be stupid to not let her through. She was elected with over 80 percent. And Brown was elected with over 60 percent. They are both high-quality people.”

In addition to their respective qualifications, Hatch makes it clear Democrats are contradicting values they claim to represent in blocking several of Bush’s nominees. Janice Rogers Brown is an African American and the daughter of sharecroppers. Priscilla Owen has made great strides as a female justice and a third blocked nominee, Henry Saad, Hatch notes, “to the best of my knowledge is the first Arab American nominated to the circuit court of appeals.”

[Posted 05/17 11:03 AM]

The White House just announced that President Bush will host Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the end of this month. From their release:

“President Bush will welcome Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the White House on May 26, 2005. The United States remains committed to the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. President Bush looks forward to discussing with President Abbas a range of bilateral and regional issues, including Gaza Disengagement and efforts to move ahead on the roadmap toward a peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.”

[Posted 05/17 11:00 AM]

Bill Thomas tells USA Today that personal accounts “should not be the major focus” of Social Security reform and is open to a compromise that would increase the taxes of higher income bracket workers. Thomas says the convention wisdom that Bush loses is he doesn’t get personal accounts is wrong because Bush’s, “fundamental approach was to get people to realize there was a problem in Social Security, and he did that. He won.”

[Posted 05/17 10:30 AM]

The Los Angeles Times looks at House Ways and Means Chair Bill Thomas and his effort to “breathe new life” into Social Security reform, by tying it to issues including tax code reform, health care and private pensions:

“The strategy is vintage Thomas: No one ever accused the brainy but irascible chairman of thinking too small, or of having too little self-confidence to swing for the fences.”

Thomas tells the LAT, "If you are going to be looking at Social Security, how can you not look at these other areas that are crying out for adjustment because the population is aging and the entire retirement structure needs to be rethought?"

On Thomas’ chances, Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan said, “If I were an oddsmaker, I would never bet against Bill Thomas, because he has never lost.”

However, the LAT says Thomas may have “met his match” in taking on an issue as large as Social Security reform. On GOP lobbyist said, “He has made two misjudgments. One, that he will ever get any Democrats. And two, that he will be able to convince Republicans to vote for this stuff when they are taking a huge political risk.”

[Posted 05/17 10:16 AM]

The AP reports Robert Wexler has broken “with Democrat party orthodoxy” in presenting a plan for Social Security reform. Wexler represents more Social Security recipients than any other House Democrat and has presented a plan that increases taxes on those earning more than $90,000 a year to keep Social Security solvent.

Wexler told a crowd of about 300 supporters, “It's time for the Democratic Party to speak out in support of the Social Security program, which is the essence of what it means to be a Democrat. We will not win this debate by default.”

[Posted 05/17 10:04 AM]

A Republican Senate source tells me that Susan Collins has not decided how she will vote on the decision to end judicial filibusters, “She is concerned about the over use of the filibuster, but also by seeing the Senate lose the right to filibuster.”

The source also tells me that Collins has not met or negotiated with the group of bipartisan senators led by Ben Nelson and John McCain who are seeking the support of six senators from each party to block an end to filibusters while also allowing an up or down vote for most of Bush’s blocked nominees.

[Posted 05/17 08:50 AM]

USA Today looks at conservative efforts over the past 25 years to balance the judiciary.

[Posted 05/17 08:40 AM]

The Los Angeles Times says the real battle over judicial filibusters stands in convincing a significant percentage of the public still undecided on the issue.

They cite a new Pew Research Center poll showing 35 percent of voters have not made up their mind on the issue. Amongst those who have, Democrats have the edge with 37 percent saying they oppose changing the filibuster rules and 28 percent saying they favor a rule change.

Republican pollster Dave Winston says if conservatives tailor their message correctly, they may have the advantage in convincing undecided voters, “There's a basic premise that people deserve an up or down vote, and that's where Republicans might have an advantage. Trying to explain the arcane rules of the Senate is difficult in a classroom, let alone on television.”

[Posted 05/17 08:27 AM]

The New York Times reports Senate Republicans and conservative activists such as Progress for America will have Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown meet with senators this week. PFA said it would invite six legal scholars to the Capitol today to appear with Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn.

The Liberal group Alliance for Justice will have their spokeswoman Eva Paterson will appear tomorrow with Democratic women from Congress opposed to the nominations.

[Posted 05/17 08:19 AM]

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid told reporters yesterday that he and Bill Frist had ended negotiations over judicial filibusters, “Negotiations are over. It'll have to be decided on the Senate floor.”

Frist responded to Reid in a statement, saying, “I hope Senator Reid and others know our door is always open to reasonable proposals for fair up or down votes for judicial nominees.”

The Washington Post notes Democrats are still hoping to pick off six Republicans to prevent an end to judicial filibusters from passing the Senate. John McCain, Lincoln Chafee and Olympia Snowe have already indicted they will vote against ending the filibuster. Susan Collins, Arlen Specter, John Warner and Chuck Hagel are seen as swing votes on the issue.

[Posted 05/16 03:35 PM]

Bill Frist writes in USA Today on the battle over judicial nominees:

“These filibusters of judicial nominations injure the administration of justice and our nation's political culture. Some courthouses have sat empty for many years, even though a bipartisan majority of senators stands ready to fill the vacancies by confirming the president's nominees. And as every American knows, the political wrangling over this issue has become less and less civil with every passing day.”

[Posted 05/16 01:39 PM]

A number of readers have written in to point out a glaring inconsistency in Howard Dean’s comments on Tom DeLay. Dean says DeLay should go to jail without having been charged or indicted of a crime. However, it was less than two years ago that Dean said Osama bin Laden could not be convicted without a trial.

The Ankle Biting Pundits blog has links to both statements.

[Posted 05/16 01:33 PM]

In a release from Bill Frist’s office on judicial nominations, the Senator says, “It is time for 100 senators to decide the issue of fair up or down votes for judicial nominees after over two years of unprecedented obstructionism.”

Frist says after completion of the highway bill, the Senate will move on to consider the nominations of Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown. If a compromise on the nominations cannot be reached, Frist will, “seek a ruling from the Presiding Officer regarding the appropriate length of time for debate on such nominees. After the ruling, he will ensure that every Senator has the opportunity to decide whether to restore the 214-year practice of fair up or down votes on judicial nominees; or, to enshrine a new veto by filibuster that both denies all Senators the opportunity to advise and consent and fundamentally disturbs the separation of powers between the branches.”

[Posted 05/16 12:13 PM]

Democrat reader Tom writes in about Howard Deans’ comment that Tom DeLay should go to jail for allegations against him:

“I’m Liberal, I think the GOP needs to be insulted from time to time when they get out of line (just like all of us could use a good dressing down when we screw up), but come on do it without looking like a moron.

I’m glad Barney Frank spoke up when he did.”

[Posted 05/16 09:43 AM]

The Wall Street Journal reports House member Robert Wexler of Florida is the first Democrat to offer a plan for Social Security reform. Reports say Wexler’s proposal will call for workers and employers to pay an additional 3 percent in Social Security taxes on income above $90,000.

In response, the WSJ writes:

“This would have a damaging effect on job creation, since it is a direct tax on labor. But as a political matter the idea has the virtue of candor, since Mr. Wexler is merely showing taxpayers what they can look forward to if Social Security (and we'd add Medicare) isn't reformed. In fact, even greater tax hikes would be required down the road to keep the current promises that politicians have made to seniors, but the Wexler proposal at least gives voters a flavor of the pain to come.”

[Posted 05/16 09:28 AM]

The New York Times compares and contrasts Senate leaders Bill Frist and Harry Reid in their showdown over judicial filibusters.

[Posted 05/16 09:15 AM]

Appearing on ABC’s This Week yesterday, John McCain was asked about running for president in 2008. When responding to questions over whether he could compete without the support of social conservatives, McCain said, “I would point out that fiscal conservatives, which is a strong base of our party are in great agreement with me.”

[Posted 05/16 09:05 AM]

Howard Kurtz reports on some striking numbers of Social Security reform coverage by the media

“The network evening newscasts haven't exactly been rooting for President Bush's Social Security plan. During his two-month blitz for the proposal, says the Center for Media and Public Affairs, 83 percent of the nonpartisan sources (from experts and ordinary citizens to the journalists themselves) made negative comments about the proposal.”

“Perhaps that's because the plan has gone nowhere fast? No, the 83 percent involves comments on the substance of the plan. Coverage of the politics surrounding the plan has been 98 percent negative.”

“On the merits of the proposal to create private accounts, says the study, ABC was the most negative (92 percent), followed by CBS (89 percent) and NBC (69 percent).”

[Posted 05/16 09:03 AM]

Both in its current issue and all over TV yesterday, Newsweek has been apologizing for a report in its May 9th edition that reported American guards at Bay had desecrated the Koran. The story was linked to deadly riots in Afghanistan and Pakistan that led to the deaths of 17 people and countless threats against U.S. troops.

However, as the New York Times notes, “the magazine, while acknowledging possible errors in the article, stopped short of retracting it.”

[Posted 05/16 08:45 AM]

Speaking to the Massachusetts Democrat's convention over the weekend, DNC Chair Howard Dean said Tom DeLay, “ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence,” because of the ethical allegations against him.

Barney Frank, never one to shy away from criticizing DeLay, rebuked Dean’s comment on the convention floor, “That's just wrong. I think Howard Dean was out of line talking about DeLay. The man has not been indicted. I don't like him, I disagree with some of what he does, but I don't think you, in a political speech, talk about a man as a criminal or his jail sentence."