Grassley is the only republican I have supported in the last 20 years (ever since Fred Grandy moved on). He might have more integrity than any politician of either party as he can consistently be relied on to do what he feels is right regardless of the political consequences. Too bad he is so conservative though.

Posted at July 22, 2008 4:49 AM in response to Conservative Senator Denied Delegate Slot For Not Being Right-Wing Enough

McCain actually did apologize, or at least his campaign did but it took them three days.

Posted at July 10, 2008 8:25 AM in response to Obama Accepts Jackson's Apology -- And Stands By His Statements On Personal Morality

I doubt Obama will work that way. Typically he will just say something like "we disagree" and that Jackson was inartful in how he expressed it and move on.

Politics often works by identifying a victim who no one or only few will support and then piling on. Essentially kicking people while they are down. Rather remarkably I haven't ever seen Obama do that but I haven't followed him closely.

Posted at July 10, 2008 7:49 AM in response to Jesse Jackson = Sister Soulja. Who knew?

I've heard holocaust jokes, dead baby jokes, cancer jokes, war jokes and probably quite a few more on subjects that are definitely unfunny.

Josh very very obviously being sarcastic but humor is one of the ways we have of dealing with sensitive subjects so I find nothing per se offensive about the very concept of a slavery joke.

Posted at July 10, 2008 4:21 AM in response to Josh Marshall: I Love a Good Slavery Joke

It probably would be. As an example it is one thing to just be Catholic by accident of birth. It is another thing to be a practicing Catholic as it implies you actually share those beliefs.

Posted at May 30, 2008 1:03 PM in response to Today's Must Read

Yes, Obama is very lucky that he has many many more supporters than Clinton who are committed enough to donate. The real issue is limiting big money in campaigns and Federal funding is one possibility but it certainly isn't the only solution and might not be the best solution.

Posted at May 29, 2008 6:59 AM in response to Bill Clinton: Are Caucuses More Important Than Primaries?

Clearly Obama did stand by Wright, giving him the benefit of the doubt at great political risk to himself. Had that happened to Clinton, Wright would have been under the bus in the blink of an eye and Clinton would have backed up and ran him over herself as many times as was needed.

Then Wright came out and made Obama's previous position untenable by basically offending a lot of people and totally failing to appreciate the responsibilities that come with having a national audience. Self-righteous was my impression, it was a lot more about Wright and not much about anyone else and definitely not about doing the Lord's work.

Posted at May 29, 2008 6:49 AM in response to Bill Clinton: Are Caucuses More Important Than Primaries?

Yes, I consider this news worthy. Glad it was posted.

Posted at May 28, 2008 9:57 PM in response to Harold Ickes: Hillary Will Need "A Few" More Super-Dels Than Obama To Catch Him

The monument is far bigger than the single scuplture of MLK. There are a lot of other sculptures of people who gave their lives in the struggle for civil rights.

Posted at May 27, 2008 10:09 PM in response to The MLK Memorial: Too Black?

Seemed strange to me too. But the stone they chose comes from China and Lei Yixin has a lot of expertise with that specific stone and with sculptures of that size that the other candidates couldn't match so I thought it might have been a pragmatic choice. The Washington Post did claim that "the final selection was done by a mostly African American design team and was based solely on artistic ability."

Posted at May 27, 2008 10:06 PM in response to The MLK Memorial: Too Black?