Read the Bill
Drudge is highlighting a section in the Democratic stimulus bill allocating $335 million for the prevention of sexually-transmitted and other communicable diseases. But just looking at the part of the...
View Article"Overwhelming" GOP Opposition to Stimulus Bill
Just talked to a very clued-in Republican on the Hill. This person wouldn't predict a unanimous Republican vote against the Democratic stimulus package, but said there would be "minimal" GOP support of...
View ArticleThe Public and the Number One Reason for a Stimulus
Just talked to Republican pollster David Winston about the public's view of the stimulus bill. His results suggest that Republicans can do a lot more questioning of what is in the Democratic bill,...
View ArticleOur Bar Hopping, Muslim Converting, Allegedly Raping CIA Station Chief
That's a pretty amazing story from ABC News:The CIA's station chief at its sensitive post in Algeria is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly raping at least two Muslim women...
View ArticleThe RNC Race
Greetings from the Capitol Hilton hotel, where the voting for Republican National Committee chairman is taking place. They've just had the first ballot, and, with 85 votes required for victory,...
View ArticleBlackwell Pulls Out
With just 15 votes. Throws support to Steele. After four ballots, Steele is at 60 votes -- just behind Katon Dawson, who has 62. Blackwell's votes can't get Steele to the magic number of 85. That...
View ArticleWho's Limousine Lounging Now?
Back in 1986, when Tom Daschle was a member of the House, President Reagan nominated a man named Richard Lyng to be Agriculture Secretary. Daschle didn't like the nomination. Why? Lyng, Daschle said,...
View ArticleSen. Conrad on Nominee Tax Problems
Sen. Kent Conrad, the third-ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said this of the tax problems of Timothy Geithner, then under consideration to head the Treasury Department:On the matter...
View ArticleThe Future of the Stimulus
Have spent some time today talking to Republican and Democratic members of the Senate, as well as political strategists, about what is coming with the stimulus bill. The first thing is that the...
View ArticleA Personal Note
I have some news to share with you, and it is that I have decided to leave National Review. Starting next Monday, I will be the chief political correspondent for the Washington Examiner. Making the...
View ArticleLet's Have An Economic Recovery House Meeting!
Barack Obama just sent me a letter, and it's very MoveOn.org:Byron --The economic crisis is growing more serious every day, and the time for action has come.Last week, the House of Representatives...
View ArticleDaschle -- And Solis, Too
While everyone is looking at Tom Daschle's tax problems (I am too, working on a story for tomorrow morning), a new issue has arisen concerning another Obama cabinet nomination, that of Rep. Hilda Solis...
View ArticleNew York Times Calls For Daschle To Withdraw
From the paper's new editorial:When President Obama nominated former Senator Tom Daschle to be his secretary of health and human services, it seemed to be a good choice. Mr. Daschle, as the co-author...
View ArticleHow Did Daschle Realize He Had a Limo Problem?
One of the unanswered questions concerning Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle’s tax problem is why it suddenly occurred to Daschle, in June 2008, that the car and driver he had...
View ArticleHow Did Daschle Realize He Had a Limo Problem? And What About That Audit?
I have a new story up about Tom Daschle's tax problems. One of the key unanswered questions in the whole mess is why it suddenly occurred to Daschle, in June 2008, that the car and driver he had been...
View ArticleOne Against Daschle
Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, who has said in private meetings that he plans to oppose the Daschle nomination, will soon become the first senator to publicly say he plans to vote against Daschle. Word is...
View ArticleLetter from Killefer to Obama
Just released by the White House:Dear Mr. President, I recognize that your agenda and the duties facing your Chief Performance Officer are urgent. I have also come to realize in the current environment...
View Article"This Bill Is Stinking Up The Place"
That was Sen. Lindsey Graham, a few moments ago, at the Republican news conference on the stimulus bill. "In the House, the bill was written because Nancy Pelosi said she won," Graham told reporters....
View ArticleRepublican Momentum
On Capitol Hill, you can feel the Republicans' growing sense of confidence. They've scored a lot of hits on the stimulus bill, and now they're aiming higher. "We'll try to make the bill better," Sen....
View ArticleWe Plan To Live Up To Our Ethical Standards Very, Very Soon
A number of bloggers are pointing out this ethics pledge on Barack Obama's campaign website:Sunlight Before Signing: Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public...
View ArticleThe Wine/Cheese/Chai Tea Recovery
A few days ago the Obama White House sent out a note to its email list asking people to take part in "Economic Recovery House Meetings" this weekend. "The economic crisis is growing more serious every...
View ArticleObama: Republicans Are Peddling "False Theories...Phony Arguments and Petty...
Do you believe Barack Obama is open to a bipartisan approach on the stimulus bill? Then you should take a look at the president's speech last night to the House Democratic Issues Caucus in...
View ArticleObama: If It's Spending, It's Stimulus
In his Williamsburg speech, Obama also gave his most concise answer yet to the question of whether the stimulus bill will really stimulate the economy. His answer: if it's spending, it's stimulus. And...
View Article"They've Cut A Deal With Three Of Our Guys"
Just got off the phone with an influential Republican senator. I asked how things stood with the stimulus, and he answered instantly, "They've cut a deal with three of our guys. They're delaying us...
View Article"Until One Of Us Dies"
Here's a note from a not-too-happy Pennsylvanian, concerning my post quoting an influential senator to the effect that Democrats have cut a deal with three Republicans:Perhaps you could let your...
View Article"I Was Shocked"
Just talked to Sen. Lindsey Graham. He, too, is worried that Democrats will very soon push the stimulus bill through the Senate with three or four Republican votes. And then I asked him about his...
View ArticleOne Republican Senator Who Won't Vote Either Way
One interesting side story in this Senate stimulus fight is the role of Republican Sen. Judd Gregg. There are just 41 GOP senators, so every vote is important to the party. But does Gregg vote with his...
View Article
