PostPartisan

Still hoping for a filibuster compromise

Jonathan Bernstein — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:32:10 GMT

I wrote on Friday about what now looks like a coming showdown in the Senate over Republican obstruction. For more on the chess game involved, see Senate scholar Sarah Binder here and here; she gets into some of the complex … Continue reading →

Tornado devastates Oklahoma

Jonathan Capehart — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:18:45 GMT

The tornado that ground its way through Moore, Okla., was massive. Some estimates put it at a mile wide. The video of the storm as it cut its destructive path seemed unending. And when it was over and the clouds … Continue reading →

All laughs in the presidents’ club

Jonathan Capehart — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:14:42 GMT

You know how I feel about seeing all the living presidents together. Their rare gatherings together say more to the world about our democracy than any history lesson ever could. But there’s something especially rich and sentimental about this photo … Continue reading →

The Insiders: ‘Nothing to see here’ is not a viable strategy

Ed Rogers — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:34:03 GMT

As I’ve always said, in Washington, being guilty is just a disadvantage; it’s not determinative. Likewise, being innocent is just an advantage; it’s not determinative either. Well, we’re now one week into the trifecta of scandals plaguing the White House. … Continue reading →

Troubling signs for Burma’s reforms?

Fred Hiatt — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:32:26 GMT

President Thein Sein of Burma, the former general who President Obama hopes is leading a transition from dictatorship to democracy in his Southeast Asian nation, is not an imposing figure, and the longer you talk with him, the less imposing … Continue reading →

Being gay can (still) get you killed

Jonathan Capehart — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:02:02 GMT

For all my cheerleading of the advances the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has made in this country, I know that things are not as wonderful as they could be or should be. Being gay can (still) get you … Continue reading →

No ‘choice’ in being gay and ‘ordinary’

Jonathan Capehart — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:58 GMT

Let me let you in on a little secret about the gays. We’re not all that special. Yeah, we spruce up forgotten, neglected neighborhoods and make them hip. Sure, we’ve been known to spruce up straight men and help women … Continue reading →

PostScript: Krauthammer and de-Watergating Benghazi

Rachel Manteuffel — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:16:09 GMT

An unusual thing happened at the top of Charles Krauthammer’s column today. He urged caution, specifically to the GOP, in comparing Benghazigate to previous bigtime Presidential scandals. Overhyping the scandal in terms of what, politically, it might accomplish — bringing … Continue reading →

Here comes the filibuster battle

Jonathan Bernstein — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:31:09 GMT

Greg Sargent over at Plum Line has a big scoop today: Harry Reid is planning to devote July to nominations and will “go nuclear” if necessary — using majority-imposed reform to end the ability of minorities to block executive branch … Continue reading →

7 pics of p-Op culture

Jonathan Capehart — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:13:51 GMT

“Space Oddity,” Darrell Issa, “shameful,” Kermit Gosnell, double mastectomy, rain, Bill Hader, Benghazi, “Stefan,” IRS, Chris Hadfield, “talk to the hand,” Brad Pitt’s wife and St. Tropez. They all made their way into the national discourse this week. But how? … Continue reading →

Gun march leader’s ‘criminal’ view of the law

Jonathan Capehart — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:39:00 GMT

Adam Kokesh wants to lead a march of gun-toting protesters who believe the government is infringing on their Second Amendment rights through Washington, D.C., on July 4. And if you don’t think you should take this nutty demonstration by the … Continue reading →

Why Obama’s popularity still matters

Jonathan Bernstein — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:28:42 GMT

Matt Yglesias asks on Twitter: “Given that Obama is ineligible for reelection, why do I care if scandals or pseudoscandals hurt him politically?” Great question! Three answers. 1. Presidential popularity definitely has an effect on the coming midterm elections, both through … Continue reading →

PostScript: Ignatius and the dysfunction of weakness

Rachel Manteuffel — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:11:49 GMT

Our current, impressive batch of scandals, writes David Ignatius today, seems to be explainable not by huge, evil, competent conspiracies. Rather, it’s that our governments have become incompetent like a fox. Bureaucracy’s individual members work slyly, Ignatius says, as if … Continue reading →

The Insiders: White House spins the scandals

Ed Rogers — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:06:33 GMT

The president’s press secretary, Jay Carney, could be facing his most challenging days since joining the White House staff — and that’s saying something. Given the variety of scandals this administration is facing, from the Benghazi talking points to AP … Continue reading →

When will the hurting stop for President Obama?

Carter Eskew — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:50:32 GMT

How much have the IRS, Benghazi and AP phone records stories hurt the president? To paraphrase Senator Howard Baker’s famous Watergate question, “How much is the president hurting and when will it stop?” For my money, Benghazi will fade in … Continue reading →

The president’s IRS comments make things worse

Ed Rogers — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:14:39 GMT

The president’s comments tonight dumped fuel on his IRS fire. Essentially the president said, “I’m going to have my political appointees look into how my political opponents were persecuted by my government.” And oh by the way, the president says … Continue reading →

Obama goes after the IRS

Jonathan Capehart — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:58:53 GMT

President Obama lowered the boom on the Internal Revenue Service. And he lowered it hard. The president directed Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to ask Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller for his resignation and to accept it. Obama called on the … Continue reading →

On the Benghazi talking points

Jonathan Bernstein — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:42:24 GMT

Former National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor gives a long explanation of the Benghazi talking points to Greg Sargent. It’s fascinating if you’re interested in how government works. As far as scandal, however, all you really need is this point: … Continue reading →

PostScript: What president?

Rachel Manteuffel — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:09:47 GMT

DAY MAYBE THREE DEPENDING ON HOW YOU COUNT IT of Beng-IRS-pressphonerecords-scandal-ganza-gate dawns on the Obama administration’s response to its various scandals, and as Dana Milbank tells it, the response is not impressive. Apparently, according to his spokesman, President Obama is … Continue reading →

Scandal-drunk GOP goes mute on the deficit

Jonathan Capehart — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:53:54 GMT

Once upon a time, all we could talk about were the very real problems with the economy. Congressional Republicans demanded spending cuts. They wanted entitlement cuts. They demanded President Obama get serious about addressing the nation’s crippling debt. They even … Continue reading →

The Insiders: The president hasn’t lost Washington

Ed Rogers — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:06:20 GMT

I must take issue with the Politico story that suggests President Obama has lost Washington. Washington is not monolithic. It is composed of many groups, power centers, tribes and stakeholders. They almost never move in unison, either for or against … Continue reading →

Obama and the IRS: Time to act

Jonathan Capehart — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:02:30 GMT

The report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration details the mess made by the Internal Revenue Service and its process of singling out conservative groups for extra scrutiny of their applications for 501(c)(4) “social welfare organizations” tax-exempt status. … Continue reading →

PostScript: Will and Watergates

Rachel Manteuffel — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:29:26 GMT

Good lord do we love a Watergate in the PostScript Bunker. President Obama and the executive branch of the government have spent the past few days sliding into Nixonian oblivion, writes George Will today, with the IRS and Justice Department … Continue reading →

Hey, Mr. President(s): Stop worrying about leaks and start listening to them

Jonathan Bernstein — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:59:56 GMT

Okay, I don’t really know whether Barack Obama was involved in his business of subpoenas to get phone records of Associated Press reporters in order to track down leaks (and note that it’s not just presidents; Republican senators wanted the … Continue reading →

‘Love is all around’ in Minnesota

Jonathan Capehart — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:30:49 GMT

With the stroke of a pen on the steps of the state capitol tonight at 6 Eastern time, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) will make the Land of 10,000 Lakes the 12th state (plus the District of Columbia) to legalize … Continue reading →