National Politics

House joins Senate in De-Funding ACORN

By Marc Comtois | September 17, 2009 |

The U.S. House of Representatives has joined the Senate in overwhelmingly voting to defund ACORN after recent voter fraud allegations and a grassroots undercover investigation revealed a willingness by ACORN operatives in various states to encourage breaking U.S. law. This follows a decision by the Census Bureau to bar ACORN from assisting in the 2010…

Wherefore ACORN?

By Monique Chartier | September 14, 2009 |

A third ACORN office has been videotaped giving tax evasion and federal mortgage application tips to a couple who purported to be establishing a brothel for underage girls smuggled into the country. This follows upon the exposure in 2008 of multi-state, multi-year voter registration fraud. The Brooklyn District Attorney has opened an investigation into the…

Succinctly summarizing today’s conflict

By Donald B. Hawthorne | September 12, 2009 |

Mike Pence says it well: I am Mike Pence. I am from Indiana, and it is an honor to welcome the largest gathering of conservatives in American history to your nation’s capitol. There are some politicians who think of you people as astroturf. Un-American. I’ve got to be honest with you, after nine years of…

One simple question and then some reflections

By Donald B. Hawthorne | September 9, 2009 |

In advance of President Obama’s speech tonight about healthcare, I have one simple question – If a government-run option is such a good idea for all of the rest of us, why do Obama and the Congress refuse to sign up for it themselves? On a related note, Ponnuru discusses the Left’s disregard for truth.…

Quick Clarity on Health Care Debate

By Marc Comtois | September 8, 2009 |

Congress is back after a 40 day recess. A lot has happened–namely, bi-partisan “comprehensive health care reform” looks dead–but there will be much discussion over the next few weeks. The Washington Post (h/t) oofers a summary and preview, including this helpful bit from Republican Congressman Mike Pence: House Republicans, who held hundreds of their own…

President’s Address to School Kids

By Marc Comtois | September 8, 2009 |

As promised, the White House has released the prepared text of President Obama’s speech to school children today. Here’s the theme: Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility. I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn. I’ve talked about your…

Some Questions about the Nature and Constitutionality of the Position of Czar

By Monique Chartier | September 7, 2009 |

In explaining why former Green Jobs Czar Van Jones was not vetted for the position, an exercise that might have prevented the brouhaha that arose out of revelations of certain of his extreme political positions and his eventual resignation, the White House downplayed the power and importance of the position of the Green Jobs Czar.…

Obama Administration Basks in Glow of “Previous Administration’s” Work

By Marc Comtois | September 3, 2009 |

I heard yesterday that the Obama Administration held a celebratory press conference about getting a couple billion dollars out of Pfizer for some thing or other. Except, as Glenn Reynold’s pointed out, it was the Bush Administration that actually extracted the dough. The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3 billion to settle civil and…

Schilling to Run for MA Senate?

By Marc Comtois | September 2, 2009 |

Waving the Bloody Sock?: Curt Schilling, best known for his bloody-sock pitching heroics, may step up to the plate and run for U.S. Senate. The retired Red Sox ace said today in a telephone interview with NECN that even though his “plate is full,” he’s been contacted to consider a run for the open seat…

Whitehouse and Reed Community Dinner, Take 2

By Justin Katz | August 28, 2009 |

Complete video of Wednesday’s community dinner with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed is available in the extended entry. On a behind-the-scenes note, the tripod and new software have definitely helped. In fact, they helped so much that I was able to liveblog the meeting while filming it, which explains why it periodically takes a…