Category Archives: politics

Consensus Comes out of Catastrophe, Unfortunately

In The New York Times, John Broder makes a simple point that deserves repeating: It sometimes seems that it takes a catastrophe to create consensus. The Great Depression, Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11 all shattered partisan divisions and led, at least for a time, to enhanced presidential power and a rush of bipartisan lawmaking (someContinue reading “Consensus Comes out of Catastrophe, Unfortunately”

Bush on Climate Change — Translated

A little late, but via Dan Froomkin’s hard-hitting column from the Washington Post, here’s Andrew Gumbel of The Independent translating the Prez’s speech last week on global warming: "’In recent years, science has deepened our understanding of climate change and opened new possibilities for confronting it." Translation: In recent years, my refusal to acknowledge theContinue reading “Bush on Climate Change — Translated”

Cynicism Justified on Bush Speech, says NYTimes

Perhaps I was too kind. The NYTimes editorial today: Given Mr. Bush’s history of denial and obstructionism when it comes to climate change, there are good reasons to be cynical about this sudden enthusiasm [for action on global warming], coming as it does on the eve of the meeting of the Group of 8 industrializedContinue reading “Cynicism Justified on Bush Speech, says NYTimes”

Bush Calls For Global Goals on Emissions Reductions

That’s the headline. Crtics have been quick to reject this as a "do-nothing" strategy, pointing out that the U.S. has refused to sign on to Germany’s proposal to reduce emissions sufficient to hold warming to 2 degrees C, which may be necessary to avoid disaster. They have a strong point. But if this is aContinue reading “Bush Calls For Global Goals on Emissions Reductions”

When the Cheney’s Away, the Congressmen Will Play

So argues a fascinating letter to Dan Froomkin’s hard-hitting White House Watch internet column. Noting that a group of eleven moderate Republicans went to tell Prez Bush that, gee, guess what, it’s not working in Iraq, and Republican voters have noticed, Mark Fox argues that it’s no coincidence the Congressmen went to see the PrezContinue reading “When the Cheney’s Away, the Congressmen Will Play”

A Thoughtful Conservative (really!) Contemplates an Environmental/Political Realignment

Rod Dreher, who edits the Dallas Morning News opinion page, and who last year published a wonderful book called Crunchy Cons, today posts a characteristically long, thoughtful, passionate discussion of how voters concerned about the environment may be in a mood to punish the Republican party. He’s not surprised and thinks such punishment may wellContinue reading “A Thoughtful Conservative (really!) Contemplates an Environmental/Political Realignment”

Bush Administration “Flipping the Bird to the World,” says Former EPA Chief

That’s according to Christine Todd Whitman, the first EPA head for the Bush administration, who like European nations and many other fundamentallly decent folks, believed the Prez when he said on the campaign trail in 2000 that he would reduce CO2 emissions to control global warming. She blames Dick Cheney. On a tough-minded Frontline programContinue reading “Bush Administration “Flipping the Bird to the World,” says Former EPA Chief”

Chief Justice Roberts Loses a Big One

The Supreme Court is not just the highest court in the land, it is also the forum in which our nation’s most pressing issues are debated most rigorously, with precedents, transcripts, questions, and  arguments both oral and written. Congressional hearings, campaign speeches, press conferences and the like all have their time and place, but forContinue reading “Chief Justice Roberts Loses a Big One”