Archive: 2008

For the third Sunday in Advent, enjoy this performance of the Cantata “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben,” BWV 147, in a performance at the Benedictine Monastery of Melk…

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President George W. Bush has launched “Operation Legacy,” which he placed in the hands of his ultimate advisor, indeed his “brain,” Karl Rove. Remember Rove? He’s the man who refused…

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Last year the Wall Street Journal featured the effort of Bob Bennett, a former federal prosecutor who now heads a litigation firm in Houston, to expose the nation’s ten worst…

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A party is not, as classical doctrine (or Edmund Burke) would have us believe, a group of men who intend to promote public welfare “upon some principle on which they…

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So as I noted here earlier today, it turns out that Senator Norm Coleman’s home was renovated with the help of “Shari Wilsey, an interior designer. Wilsey, along with her…

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Wyatt Mason is iced-in in New England, without power or Internet access, and transmits this week’s Weekend Read by telephone. “I propose an essay on Roger Shattuck written by Jed…

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From Fox TV in St. Paul: The FBI is now reportedly investigating the allegations that Nasser Kazeminy tried to funnel $75,000 in campaign contributions through the Senator’s wife. By why…

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From Froma Harrop: Have New York Democrats lost all self-respect? Their excited talk of whether Caroline Kennedy is “interested” in Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat makes you wonder. The late John…

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From the Dallas Morning News: After losing a valuable piece of online real estate to enterprising cyber-squatters, the Bush presidential library has replanted its flag into that e-territory. But the…

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The indictment of criminal complaint filed against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is getting ample attention on a number of fronts. The political entertainment value of the materials filed with the…

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Attorney General Mukasey claims that President Bush doesn’t need to worry about pardoning members of his torture team because they face no serious criminal exposure. His latest statement came as…

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From Foreign Policy‘s list of the ten worst predictions for 2008: “If [Hillary Clinton] gets a race against John Edwards and Barack Obama, she’s going to be the nominee. Gore…

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One of the more amusing story lines coming out of the elections is that the Republican Party, which previously had been committed to core beliefs like small government and protecting…

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News stories yesterday identified Jesse Jackson Jr. as “Candidate 5” in the criminal complaint against Governor Rod Blagojevich. “Of the six candidates for the senate seat who are identified by…

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It’s still early but it will be hard to top this one: “U.S. Troops Mistakenly Kill Six Afghan Policemen.”…

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Actually, there’s not a shred of evidence to support that, but that hasn’t stopped journalists from speculating wildly about Obama’s potential “links.” Check out Steve Benen’s smart critique of an…

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For those who read books as part of their habit of being, end of the year “Best Books” lists tend to offer little in the way of surprises. Odds are,…

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From the New York Times: Federal authorities on Wednesday identified Democratic Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois as the potential United States Senate candidate who was portrayed in court papers…

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Number of men elected as Illinois governor since 1960: 7 Number who have been charged with criminal conduct: 4 Number who have served time in prison: 3 Number of years…

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The New York Times: A little while back my daughter told me the following depressing joke: Woman: What do you do? Man: Me? Oh, I write books. Woman: How interesting!…

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From the Pioneer Press: Federal investigators are looking into allegations that a longtime friend and benefactor tried to steer money to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, the Pioneer Press has learned.…

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From the Chicago Tribune, March 8, 2005: On pace to be the most prolific political fundraiser in Illinois history, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday pledged to rein in the excesses…

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From the Smoking Gun: In a November 11 conversation, Blagojevich remarked that he knew Obama wanted Valerie Jarrett, a longtime confidante, to succeed him, “but they’re not willing to give…

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A tip for finding the juiciest parts of the feds’ Blagojevic complaint: seach for the word “fuck.” A few examples: On November 11, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked with JOHN HARRIS…

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As President-elect Obama works to make good on his promise to shut down Guantanamo Bay, including the military commissions system that his predecessor put in place, and which has become…

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