The 2008 Campaign
Fastened to a Dying Animal
Campaign 2008 is taking on the distractive qualities of so many previous campaigns, like those that gave George W. Bush two terms. Someday, historians may shake their heads at this sad decline of the American Republic, but for now, poet Phil Rockstroh is shaking a fist. April 29, 2008
Campaign 1988 Lives!
Some Americans hoped the days of smear-and-slime politics were over, that the severity of the nation's crises would negate the kind of attack politics unveiled by George H.W. Bush in 1988. But Hillary Clinton's 10-point win in Pennsylvania has dashed those hopes. April 24, 2008
Unhappy Republicans Weigh Switch
Even in some Red States, traditional Republicans are leery about signing on for another four years of George W. Bush's policies on the Iraq War and the economy. That attitude has created an opening for Democrats, if they don't splinter their own party. April 19, 2008
Are the Clintons Playing Joe McCarthy?
In the 1950s, Joe McCarthy used guilt by association to impugn the patriotism of decent Americans. Now, Hillary Clinton's campaign is employing similar tactics in a desperate bid to derail Barack Obama's drive for the Democratic nomination. April 18, 2008
The Weather Underground 'Theme'
Behind the scenes, Hillary Clinton's campaign has been pushing the Weather Underground "theme," a tenuous connection between Barack Obama and a Vietnam-era radical. The work paid off in Wednesday's debate with Sen. Clinton even adding a false link to 9/11. April 17, 2008
Would Obama Hold Bush Accountable?
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have shied away from grassroots demands for holding George W. Bush and his top aides accountable for torture, war crimes and other offenses. But Obama told one reporter that if elected, he would order a Justice Department probe. April 16, 2008
Clinton's Experience: Fact and Fancy
Hillary Clinton's claim of 35 years of experience has some truth to it, but also exaggerations and omissions. Investigative reporter Barbara Koeppel looks at the mixed picture. April 15, 2008
Bill and Hillary's 'Stockholm Syndrome'
In their bid to return to the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton have taken on characteristics of their Republican tormentors from the 1990s, a slash-and-burn, win-at-all-costs approach. It has the look of a Stockholm Syndrome victim identifying with a tormentor. April 14, 2008
Hillary Low-balled Bill's Pay in Forms
In public disclosure forms, Hillary Clinton listed Bill Clinton's income from companies run by two major political backers as "over $1,000" when the couple's tax records show the former President earning six- and seven-figures from the two sources. April 6, 2008 (Updated April 16, 2008)
Readers' Comments
With all the news about Iraq and the presidential campaign, readers had a lot to say. Here is a selection. March 29, 2008
Hillary Sinks with the 'Kitchen Sink'
The Bush family wrote the book on how to neutralize your own high negatives by driving up those of your opponent. But Hillary Clinton has found that her similar approach, throwing the "kitchen sink" at Barack Obama, may have only dragged her down more. March 27, 2008
Why Is Hillary Clinton Lying?
Hillary Clinton's whopper about braving sniper fire in Bosnia is perhaps most troubling because it's not an isolated case. She's been "misspeaking" about both domestic and foreign issues, often in the context of attacking her chief rival or puffing up her record. March 26, 2008
Obama's 'Michael Douglas Moment'
Barack Obama's speech on race recalled the climactic scene from "The American President" when Michael Douglas decries the politics of division and urges "serious people" to address "serious problems." But the unanswered question from both the movie and Obama's speech is whether today's media/political circus will give way. March 22, 2008
Hillary's Problem with the Truth
Hillary Clinton's insistence that she is a tested crisis manager appears to have led her into a new exaggeration, a tale of derring-do on a 1996 trip into war-torn Bosnia. The Washington Post's fact-checker awarded the former First Lady "four Pinocchios" for the "whopper." March 22, 2008
Obama's Passportgate: Historical Echo
The State Department's disclosure that three contractors penetrated Barack Obama's passport files on three occasions this year recalls a similar case in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush's operatives searched through Bill Clinton's files in a bid to challenge his patriotism. Bush's tracks were then covered by a GOP prosecutor. March 21, 2008
Obama's Greater Challenge
By addressing America's divisions about race, Barack Obama gambled that a U.S. political system dominated by angry talk-show hosts and "gotcha" campaign consultants can rise to a higher level. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky challenges Obama to go even further. March 19, 2008
Clinton's Child-Health Hype
A staple of Hillary Clinton's stump speeches -- that she rebounded from the catastrophe of her 1994 health-care plan to help enact a popular state-by-state child health insurance program three years later -- looks to be mostly a fabrication. March 17, 2008
Neck Deep, Iraq War & Campaign '08
The U.S. news media's habit of turning politics into trivia is back, as if no lessons were learned from the last two presidential campaigns, which gave the nation the catastrophe of George W. Bush's two terms. That's a key reason we wrote the book, Neck Deep, so the Bush Legacy could be defined and the painful history wouldn't be repeated. March 16, 2008
Suddenly, a Dangerous Turn
Two events have depressed hopes for a U.S. military disengagement from the Middle East. One was the sudden resignation of Admiral William Fallon, a key opponent of air strikes against Iran. The other is the harsh Clinton assault on Barack Obama, the most dovish of the three remaining presidential candidates. March 14, 2008
Clinton's Up-Is-Down World
As the Democratic race gets nastier, Hillary Clinton's campaign has taken some lessons from George W. Bush's situational ethics toward truth and fairness. The question for Democrats is whether they object to this harsh brand of politics or feel it's the only way to win. March 10, 2008
Guess What? Obama Is Winning Texas
Hillary Clinton beat Barack Obama by a 51-48 margin in the Texas primary and claimed a net gain of four delegates. But Obama appears to be more than erasing Clinton's advantage by winning the Texas caucus phase, as historian Lisa Pease reports. March 6, 2008
Hillary Plays the 'Gender Card,' Again
Hillary Clinton's campaign achieved two key goals in its March 4 victories: portraying Sen. Clinton as the victim of gender bias to solidify her support among older white women, and giving whites and Hispanics new reason to see Barack Obama as an unqualified "black candidate." March 6, 2008
Hillary Clinton's 'Celestial Choir'
Though many political observers shook their heads at Hillary Clinton's imitation of Barack Obama calling down a "celestial choir," the question she raised may be the last one for Democrats to answer: which candidate has the best chance to achieve meaningful change? February 28, 2008
Obama's Sub-Prime Conflict
Barack Obama has slammed the banking industry for its predatory use of sub-prime mortgages, which are pushing millions of American homeowners toward foreclosure. But his campaign's Finance Chair, Penny Pritzker, owned a failed Chicago thrift that helped pioneer sub-prime financial instruments and faced accusations of abuse. February 28, 2008
Dismissing Ron Paul
For most of George W. Bush's presidency, the U.S. press acted the part of the submissive subjects of the vain emperor who pranced about naked thinking he was wearing fine clothes. In Campaign 2008, Rep. Ron Paul was the child who stated the obvious -- and was dismissed as a kook. In this guest essay, Ivan Eland dissents. February 28, 2008
Why the War on Obama
The intensifying personal attacks on Barack Obama reflect a growing realization among entrenched Washington insiders that his campaign -- funded largely by small donations -- could dilute their influence. Neocons, in particular, are joining with Clinton supporters in spreading rumors about his patriotism and his past. February 26, 2008
Obama's One Million Donors
Barack Obama's supporters are mocked as naive, even cult-like. But that may be the sound of the Democratic Establishment worried that the Obama campaign's one million small donors are striking at the heart of the old order's power -- control of campaign cash. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky looks at this revolutionary potential. February 26, 2008
Readers' Comments
We received a number of reader comments about our recent stories on Campaign 2008, from John McCain's lies to the Democratic battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. February 24, 2008
Is John McCain a Liar?
John McCain may have fended off suspicions that he had an affair with a female lobbyist, but his blanket denials about doing favors for her clients are disintegrating. The evidence keeps building that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee doesn't deserve his reputation as either a reformer or a straight-talker. February 23, 2008
McCain's 'Never' Is a Long Time
Republican presidential frontrunner John McCain reacted to a New York Times article about his friendship with a female lobbyist by issuing a statement that he has "never done favors for special interests." But this categorical denial is simply not true. February 21, 2008
Hillary Clinton's Options
Barack Obama's ten-contest winning streak -- often by double-digit margins -- has provoked desperation inside Hillary Clinton's campaign, which has turned increasingly negative. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky asks Sen. Clinton to stop the wrecking ball. February 20, 2008
Clintons Plumb Absurd Depths
Like the Bushes, the Clintons appear to believe that they have such an entitlement to the White House that whatever they do to get there is justified. In going negative, Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing Barack Obama of "plagiarism" for using a rhetorical argument recommended by his friend, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. February 19, 2008
An Odyssey to See Barack Obama
Barack Obama's oratory not only has touched the idealism of young people but has jogged the memories of the less-young, who recall the Kennedys and Martin Luther King. In this guest essay, historian Lisa Pease recounts her odyssey from Los Angeles to Madison, Wisconsin, to get a glimpse of Obama -- and this new chapter of history. February 17, 2008
Explaining Our View on Clinton-Obama
Some Democratic readers have criticized some of our critical reporting on Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama; they want us to focus more on John McCain and the Republicans. We feel we owe it to our readers to offer an explanation of our views. February 16, 2008
How Far Will the Clintons Go?
Hillary Clinton is making clear that she will do what she must to secure the Democratic nomination, even if that means overriding the majority will of voters and skirting campaign finance laws. While some rank-and-file Democrats like this fighting spirit, others fear the Clintons are letting their personal ambitions harm the party and the nation. February 15, 2008
Stomping on Their Children's Dreams
The Obama-Clinton showdown has set up a painful generational conflict between many mothers (who want Hillary Clinton to be the first woman president) and their children (who are inspired by Barack Obama). The battle offers a poignant echo of how an earlier generation of idealistic young people saw their dreams stomped on, in 1968. February 11, 2008
Hillary's Curious Campaign Loan
By giving her campaign a $5 million loan, Hillary Clinton opened herself to questions not only about the financial health of her presidential bid but also about how she and her husband amassed a fortune over the past seven years. A window opened on "Clinton Inc." February 9, 2008
Readers' Comments
Readers express their views on Campaign 2008, the GOP attack machine, the fifth anniversary of Colin Powell's lies and more. February 9, 2008
Where Would Obama Take the Nation?
The endorsements of Barack Obama by members of the Eisenhower and Kennedy families suggest that they see in him a hope for returning to the peaceful ideals of an earlier era. Or as Obama says, his goal is not just to end the Iraq War but "the mindset" behind the war. February 4, 2008
'Stepford Republicans' Caught on Tape
A mystery of modern politics is why Republican leaders who can sound thoughtful in private often lose that quality when trying to sell themselves to arbiters of right-wing ideology. In this guest essay, media critics Jeff Cohen offers a tongue-in-cheek explanation. February 3, 2008
Obama, Clinton & GOP Attack Machine
Whoever wins the Democratic nomination, one thing seems certain: either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will be the target of the powerful Republican attack machine. One question the Democrats must ponder is which candidate would be more vulnerable. February 2, 2008
The Clinton Audacity
Some Democrats -- bruised by three decades of hardball Republican tactics -- are admiring how Bill and Hillary Clinton are applying similar strategies to tear down Barack Obama. Like Republican strategist Karl Rove, the Clintons are showing the audacity to attack Obama even on issues where they may be more vulnerable. January 25, 2008
Were Republicans 'the Party of Ideas'?
Hillary Clinton twisted Barack Obama's words when she suggested that he favored right-wing policies. But there is a legitimate question about what Obama meant when he called the Republicans of recent years "the party of ideas" -- and whether he was right. January 24, 2008
The Democrats-Praise-Reagan Game
Over the past two decades, national Democrats often have judged it safer to join the Ronald Reagan fan club than to fight it. But Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have learned the hard way that there's a risk in playing the praise-Reagan card. Many in the Democratic "base" view Reagan's legacy as disastrous for the nation. January 23, 2008
The Bush Debacle: One Year to Go?
George W. Bush's lease on the White House expires in one year, but his troubling legacy may endure, especially in the Iraq War. The Republican presidential frontrunner John McCain promises to keep the war going indefinitely, and Democrat Hillary Clinton may come under heavy pressure from neocon backers to go slow on any withdrawal. January 20, 2008
Obama's Dubious Praise for Reagan
Barack Obama raised some eyebrows when he cited Ronald Reagan as an example of a political leader who "changed the trajectory of America." Though Obama now says he wasn't endorsing Reagan's policies -- only recognizing Reagan's historic importance -- the comment begs the question of what change Reagan actually wrought. January 19, 2008
Saving Hillary, at Least for Now
The Clinton political machine has shown once again that it knows how to play hardball, using a full complement of tactics to gain Hillary Clinton a reprieve from Barack Obama's early momentum. From appealing for sympathy to sliming a rival, Clinton and her supporters did what was necessary to save her campaign, at least for now. January 18, 2008
Iraq War: 1,760 Days and Counting
Sen. John McCain may have stunned some Americans with his projection that the U.S. occupation of Iraq may last 100 years or more. But the political pressures in Washington can make ending a war harder than starting one. In this guest essay, Robert Higgs discusses what it might take to bring the troops home. January 17, 2008
Will Anyone Pay for the Iraq War?
With John McCain and Hillary Clinton as the presidential front-runners -- and with major U.S. newspapers giving high-profile jobs to neocon writers -- it looks increasingly like no one will be held seriously accountable for the disastrous Iraq War. President Bush is even on what looks like a self-proclaimed victory tour for his "surge" strategy. January 15, 2008
Hillary Plays a Risky 'Gender Card'
Hillary Clinton played the "gender card" in her comeback victory in New Hampshire, craftily portraying herself as the victim of sexism. But Clinton's strategy -- especially as the campaign turns into a two-person race with Barack Obama -- runs the risk of setting up a competition over who's been treated worse, blacks or women. January 10, 2008
Where Are Tears for GIs, Iraqis?
The Iraq War has dropped off as a pressing campaign issue, with the New Hampshire primary going to two candidates, Hillary Clinton and John McCain, who were longtime supporters of the invasion and occupation. In this guest essay, Mary MacElveen warns that America will get little change unless war enthusiasts are rejected. January 10, 2008
'Iron My Shirt' Taunt Helps Hillary
An apparent publicity stunt by two shock jock employees -- taunting Hillary Clinton to "iron my shirts" -- may have helped swing the New Hampshire primary in her direction. Clinton cited the heckling as a case study of male oppression -- and one insider says the incident energized the women's vote for Hillary. January 9, 2008
The Logic of Obama-mania
Hillary Clinton argues that Democrats would be foolish to take a chance on the lightly experienced Barack Obama. But Obama might offer the Democrats their best chance for a transcendant victory; he also could help them break with their recent, uninspiring history of endless "triangulation" and troubling sell-outs. January 8, 2008
Bush-Clinton Duopoly Loses in Iowa
The vision of the Bush and Clinton families again swapping power was dealt a severe blow as Barack Obama trounced Hillary Clinton in Iowa's Democratic caucuses. And on the Republican side, upstart Mike Huckabee bested Mitt Romney, a Bush family favorite. All told, it was a bad night for the Bush-Clinton duopoly. January 4, 2008
Will 'Clinton 44' Become Inevitable?
Though only the first votes cast in the presidential race, the Iowa caucuses may decide whether Hillary Clinton locks down the Democratic nomination or whether a wide-open race ensues. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky predicts that Hillary's route to a "Clinton 44" presidency may be derailed by independents and young voters. January 3, 2008
Hillary Signals Free Pass for Bush
Former President Bill Clinton's comment that his wife's "first thing" as President would be to send him and former President George H.W. Bush on a worldwide fence-mending tour has a political subtext. It signals that a second Clinton administration would give a free pass to the second Bush administration on its abuses. December 31, 2007
Huckabee & the 'Persecuted' Christians
In his sudden rise to the top of the Republican field, Mike Huckabee has tapped into Christian conservative resentment over perceived attacks on Christmas. This persecution theme was injected into the American body politic by Fox News and other right-wing media outlets via the "War on Christmas" notion two years ago. December 21, 2007
Is Hillary or Barack More Vulnerable?
Hillary Clinton's campaign operatives have dropped hints that Barack Obama can expect Republican attacks aimed at his youthful drug use. But some people close to the Clintons fear that Republican access to seven years of Secret Service records on the Clintons could make them even more vulnerable to GOP smears. December 19, 2007
Huckabee's Chairman Hid Payoff Secret
Ed Rollins, the new chairman of Mike Huckabee's Republican presidential campaign, has been sitting on a dark secret, the details that he learned about an illegal $10 million cash payoff from Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos to President Ronald Reagan. Rollins mentioned the cash delivery in his 1996 book but refused to name names. December 18, 2007
America's Judicial Coup
While accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Al Gore noted the painful moment seven years ago when five Republicans on the U.S. Supreme Court handed the presidency to George W. Bush. Given the importance of that moment in Gore's life -- and in the life of the American Republic -- we are presenting this excerpt from Neck Deep. December 12, 2007
Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize
Al Gore's acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway. December 10, 2007
Another Day of Infamy
President Franklin Roosevelt famously dubbed Dec. 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy" because of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. But Dec. 12, 2000, may join it in the annals of ignoble history. As Mary MacElveen notes in this guest essay, that was the day the U.S. Supreme Court short-circuited American democracy. December 12, 2007
Why the Democrats Could Lose
The Democratic congressional leadership and Hillary Clinton's campaign are suffering from a growing perception that they don't stand on principle and think the public is just interested in new social programs. As it turns out, rank-and-file Democrats -- and many Americans -- are looking for something more inspirational. December 9, 2007
Six Years After 'Gore's Victory'
Six years ago, eight news organizations published the findings of their unofficial recount of Florida's disputed ballots. The recount discovered that Al Gore would have won the decisive Florida election if all legally cast ballots had been counted. But the big news outlets concealed that finding from the American public. November 12, 2007
Democrats' Year of Living Fecklessly
One year ago, Democrats won control of Congress, stirring hopes across the country that the Iraq War might end and George W. Bush's arrogant governing style would be checked. But Democratic leaders have failed to stand up to Bush in a year of living fecklessly. November 7, 2007
Hillary Clinton's Unspoken Vulnerability
Hillary Clinton's unique status as the first First Lady to seek the presidency has a potential dark side. She is also the first presidential candidate who -- along with her spouse -- has been under the regular, long-term surveillance by an agency of the Executive Branch controlled by the opposing party. November 6, 2007
How Bill Clinton Let Bush I Off the Hook
With Hillary Clinton the Democratic frontrunner for 2008, it's important to recall how Bill Clinton and other accommodating Democrats let George H.W. Bush off the accountability hook after winning in 1992 -- and opened the door for a Bush restoration. Robert Parry's Secrecy & Privilege tells how that happened. (To read more, click here.)
Why Big Media Slimes Al Gore
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman observes that the Right's media goes berserk when dealing with Al Gore, in part because he had the audacity to outpoll their hero, George W. Bush, in 2000. But right-wing pundits aren't alone in this animosity. The big U.S. news outlets, including the Times, have taken their share of unfair shots at Gore. Even after he won the Nobel Peace Prize, CNN and the Washington Post editors couldn't resist the need to denigrate him. But why? October 16, 2007
More Reader Comments on Al Gore
Readers expressed their thoughts about Al Gore, his Nobel Peace Prize, his viability as a presidential candidate and his treatment by the U.S. and British news media. October 17, 2007
Smearing Al Gore: Here We Go Again
In a replay of Campaign 2000's "war on Gore," the right-wing news media and key mainstream outlets have made a big issue out of a ruling by an obscure British judge alleging that he found nine "errors" in Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth." The judge's querulous ruling, however, misstates what Gore actually says in the documentary, in effect setting up straw men to knock down. Nevertheless, the ruling is helping to discredit Gore and his Nobel Peace Prize. October 13, 2007
Al Gore's Moral Imperative
In a conversation at a recent climate-change conference, Al Gore told New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and his teenage son that the global-warming crisis was so severe that young people should be blocking bulldozers building coal-fired power plants. But Gore's lament raises a moral question: If Gore truly believes that young people should put their bodies in front of bulldozers, why won't he undergo the personal unpleasantness of another run for the presidency? October 11, 2007
Should Al Gore Run?
As the clock ticks down on deadlines for key Democratic primaries, supporters of Al Gore are imploring the former Vice President to enter the presidential race. These rank-and-file Democrats believe Gore has a mix of foresight, experience and gravitas lacking in the other Democratic hopefuls. Gore also has a unique claim on the fairmindedness of the American people, having won the popular vote in Election 2000 only to have his victory stolen by George W. Bush. October 10, 2007
If You Want Al Gore to Run...
You should get your hands on Neck Deep, the new book by award-winning investigative reporter Robert Parry and two of his sons, Sam and Nat. It explains what really happened in Election 2000 and debunks many of the lies that will surely be revived about Al Gore. October 12, 2007
The Clintons and the Bushes
After entering the White House in 1993, Bill Clinton helped sweep under the rug major geopolitical scandals implicating his predecessor, George H.W. Bush. Clinton apparently thought his gesture of bipartisanship would be reciprocated. Instead it only encouraged Republican attacks on him and led to the eventual restoration of the Bush family dynasty. Now, with Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton's tempted by the same misguided "pragmatism," we are posting the entire first chapter of Robert Parry's 2004 book, Secrecy & Privilege. October 3, 2007
Hillary Prods Bush to Go After Iran
Hillary Clinton and 75 other senators apparently feel that George W. Bush hasn't been belligerent enough toward Iran. They want him to hurry up and label a large part of Iran's army an international "terrorist" entity for allegedly supplying Iraqi insurgents with bombs that have killed American troops. Despite a warning from Sen. Jim Webb that the Senate vote could be read as another war resolution, Democratic presidential hopeful Clinton jumped onboard the bandwagon, again. September 28, 2007
If the Democrats Want to Lose...
Far from the high hopes of last November, congressional Democrats are in disarray and retreat. Their leaders have repeated many of the same mistakes of 2002, surrendering both on George W. Bush's demands for more "war on terror" powers and blank checks for the Iraq War. The hard truth for Democrats is that the political dynamics of Washington have changed little over the past five years -- and that reality could undermine their chances in Election 2008. August 22, 2007
Many Democrats Wrong on Iraq, Again
Before leaving for an August recess, the Democratic congressional leaders vowed to return with renewed determination to challenge George W. Bush on his Iraq War policy and his extraordinary claims of presidential power. Now, however, they are signaling another round of posturing and equivocation. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky challenges the party's Washington establishment to finally act on principle. August 22, 2007
Democrats Need 'Conviction Politics'
Karl Rove's resignation may mark a significant personnel change in George W. Bush's inner circle, but it doesn't mean a reversal of the Bush-Rove strategy for amassing presidential power and seeking continued Republican domination of the U.S. government. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky writes that to counter that, the Democrats need their own "conviction politics" that is equally strong-willed. August 15, 2007
Battle for Democrats' Spine & Soul
The Democrats are caught in a struggle between their recent past -- as triangulators seeking narrow victories by blurring differences with Republicans -- and their potential future -- as politicians willing to challenge the status quo and trust that the American people are fed up with the GOP's intimidating tactics. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky sees Hillary Clinton personifying the old approach and the likes of Al Gore and Barack Obama representing the new. August 11, 2007
Hillary's Nuclear 'Tough-Gal-ism'
When Barack Obama rejected the option of using nuclear weapons against al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan or Afghanistan, Hillary Clinton saw an opening to bash her rival for his supposed lack of experience. Burnishing her "tough-gal" credentials, Sen. Clinton said no President should make "blanket statements" foreswearing use of nuclear weapons. However, in her slap at Obama, she also dissed her husband, who as President ruled out nuclear attacks on non-nuclear states. August 3, 2007
If the Democrats Want to Win...
By taking impeachment and an Iraq War fund cut-off off the table, Democratic leaders have handed George W. Bush victory in his showdown with Congress even as the battle is supposedly just being joined. If the Democrats really want to prevail over Bush -- both on his Iraq War policy and his assertion of expansive presidential powers -- they have no choice but to consider limiting war spending to what's needed for an orderly withdrawal and to commence impeachment hearings against Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. July 18, 2007
Is Obama Getting 'Colin-ized'?
Barack Obama's foreign policy flirtation with Colin Powell has given the Democratic presidential hopeful a boost in Official Washington. But the connection to George W. Bush's former Secretary of State may unnerve the Democratic "base" which recalls other ill-fated alliances with "moderate" Republicans. Many rank-and-file Democrats also view Powell as a liar and opportunist, not a "wise man." June 23, 2007
Thompson Courts the Right-Wing Base
As Fred Thompson gears up his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, the actor and former senator is making sure that he has George W. Bush's old pugnacious right-wing political base on his side. So, while other Republicans distance themselves from Bush's scandals, Thompson calls for pardoning convicted White House aide Lewis Libby and considers hiring a key figure in the U.S. Attorney scandal. June 9, 2007
Readers Comment on Gore Article
We received a flurry of comments about our article “The New Assault on Al Gore.” June 9, 2007
GOP/Media Rewrite Iraq War History
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has adopted one of George W. Bush's favorite lies about the Iraq War, that he had no choice but to invade because Saddam Hussein barred the U.N. weapons inspectors. But perhaps even more noteworthy is that the eagle-eyed U.S. press corps again failed to correct the record, as it has failed to do since President Bush started rewriting the history four years ago. June 8, 2007
The New Assault on Al Gore
Like addicts who can't shake a bad habit, the Washington insider clique is trashing Al Gore again, this time over his new book, The Assault on Reason. The U.S. news media, led by the nation's prestige newspapers, mocked Gore during Campaign 2000 when he presented himself as better qualified than George W. Bush and ridiculed him in 2002 when he warned against the Iraq War. Now, commentators are reprising one of their favorite themes, that Al Gore is a know-it-all. June 5, 2007
Reader Reactions
Not surprisingly, we got a number of comments about the Democrats cave-in on Iraq War funding, but also opinions about Al Gore on reason, George W. Bush on global warming, the imperial presidency, the Hariri murder case, and the danger of the Pakistani bomb. June 5, 2007
Dem Consultants: Calculations of War
Since 2002, Democratic consultants have been whispering in the ears of party leaders to give George W. Bush what he wants on Iraq to avoid accusations that they are "soft" or "unpatriotic." The results of those calculations can now be measured in the growing lists of dead and wounded as well as in the Democrats' plummeting poll numbers. In this guest essay, Brent Budowsky looks at the politics of war. May 30, 2007
Gingrich's War on 'Secularism'
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was known as a worldly and even hedonistic guy. But he appears to have spotted a political opening for his planned comeback, convincing right-wing Christians that they are being persecuted by "radical secularists." In what sounds like a year-round version of the "war on Christmas" complaint, Gingrich wants the fundamentalist Christian base of the Republican Party to view themselves as the victims and him as their defender. May 20, 2007
Gore's Other Global Warning: Iraq War
The Academy Awards are casting the spotlight on Al Gore for his global-warming documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth." But Gore also was one of the few brave political souls who dared challenge George W. Bush over his plans to invade Iraq and over Bush's extraordinary claims to unlimited power to imprison Americans. February 25, 2007
Thanking Al Gore for His Service
Though a favorite punching bag for the Washington news media, Al Gore has built a record as one of the most far-sighted political figures in modern American history. The acclaim for his work in alerting the public to the dangers of global warming is only part of Gore's extraordinary story. In this guest essay, political analyst Brent Budowsky takes note of those accomplishments. February 25, 2007
The Clintons' Real Trouble with Truth
Hollywood mogul David Geffen angered Hillary Clinton with a comment about the "ease" with which the Clintons tell political lies. Though Geffen's comment may have been harsh, the reality is that the Clintons showed little commitment while in the White House to bring to light important historical truth.February 24, 2007
Rev. Moon's Anti-Obama Agit-Prop
As Rev. Sun Myung Moon's media operations have done for two decades, the Korean cult leader's Insight magazine has stepped up to inject an early dose of poison into Campaign 2008. In this case, Moon's weekly magazine was peddling a bogus story suggesting that Barack Obama is a clandestine Islamic agent and that Hillary Clinton's operatives were dishing the dirt. January 23, 2007 |