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And you may want to check them out.

The first is at the Seattle P-I, and it's on the subject of Democratic free-traders from my home state of Washington. For those of you not familiar with Washington politics, or the major issues of importance there, I'd encourage you to check it out. Last year, a contact of mine in DC stunned me with the suggestion that someone should go after Maria Cantwell for having voted for free trade agreements. If you read the piece, you may get a feel for...

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Over at Reason, Brian Doherty is urging Congress to call Bush's bluff with regard to AG nominee Mukasey. Go take a look at what he (briefly) has to say.

While (as I said yesterday) I'm not convinced that were I in the Senate, I'd be concerned enough about Mukasey's responses on the subject of waterboarding to vote against him, I will say this: after having watched the President's remarks at Heritage again yesterday, I'd be tempted to do it, or just not vote, purely for the reason that...

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So, in the aftermath of the Democratic debate the other night, where Hillary Clinton pretty much bombed out, the issue of sexism in politics has come to the fore.

For those who haven't seen, Hillary Clinton's campaign has been going on the defensive with the "Piling On A Woman"/"All The Boys Are Mean And Sexist" thing, and not a few political pundits and newsmakers have been backing her up. And I'm getting irritated.

The dominant opinion in the political punditry world seems to...

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So, I've got MSNBC on (as ever) and I look up from writing a column on this ridiculous concept, and what should I see, but Bush, on TV, at the Heritage Foundation, speaking out in favor of AG nominee Mukasey!

While I don't want to sound overly high-minded or deprecating of the President, I am wondering however if I might offer him a suggestion. George, given that just about everyone in the whole country hates you right now, if you want to get Mukasey confirmed, perhaps the smarter move...

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I'm sure everyone heard the deeply saddening (< / sarcasm >) news that Tom Tancredo won't be running for Congress again. So, you might be wondering, who will the GOP run in his stead?

Turns out it could be the Republican Secretary of State, Mike Coffman-- and that he's causing everyone a lot of heartburn by virtue of his decision.

Basically, the problem is this. Coffman's replacement will be decided by Gov. Bill Ritter if he leaves his current job. The problem? Bill Ritter,...

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Late in the day, I know, but here's wishing you a good one, and briefing you on all the politically-related Halloween news!



John Tabin has news of dolts in Iowa taxing pumpkins.

Russian schools are banning Halloween or somesuch.

Chuck Hagel went to the Senate as Joe Biden today (note: anyone who's ever been into the big meeting room in Hagel's office knows that this costume is a poor substitute for his Colin Powell and John McCain costumes)

Some people would...

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Today, I've got a column running in The Politico on the subject of the GOP and our poor record and weak rhetoric on health care. Extract:

72 percent of those surveyed, and even 61 percent of Republicans, say they favor expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, putting them at odds with the (still) leader of the Republican Party, President Bush, who vetoed the original SCHIP expansion legislation and has threatened to veto a revised SCHIP bill passed by the House last...

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I've been working on a couple of columns today, so haven't been blogging too much, but I have been watching MSNBC rigorously (as I always do) and getting ready for tonight's Democratic debate.

The topic of the day seems to be, is Obama going to come out fighting tonight, and beat Hillary Clinton up for being an unspecific, imprecise, philosophically-ungrounded, pandering, rhetorician-cum-smokescreen artist. Or, is he going to play nice and do nothing much to upset anyone.

I'd...

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OK, so first of all, rising health care is a problem in this country. Remember that.

And John Edwards needs to eat less sugar, because that "good evening" intro was wigged-out.

Ooh, and Hillary's a liar about Social Security (actually, I didn't realize she'd said anything much at all on the subject-- I thought she was trying to avoid talking specifics, full stop).

And I love how Hillary has been politicking for 35 years, not a) being a lawyer and b) being a famous wife. ...

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A reader has just emailed to ask why Hillary has two sets of eyebrows, and to suggest that Joe Biden may be growing a ponytail. Could this be true? Biden isn't getting enough face time for me to really tell, but Hillary's eyebrows are indeed wacky.

Edwards just hit Hillary really hard, too. If you want troops to stay in Iraq, vote for Hillary. Actually, I think he's got a point. Her inability to commit to finishing the job and leaving by 2013 is one reason why I wouldn't vote for...

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