Gore was a bore in 2000, ran away from Clinton and victory, then vanished. Now he’s been sucked into the current political vacuum. While other Democrats debate which issue to tackle – incompetence, corruption, bad judges, war – Al chose breaking the law. Probably too little, too late. Too bad.

Inept virus thy name is Bush. The US needs a vaccine right now.

Senator Feinstein will vote against Alito, but she says, “I don’t see those kinds of egregious things emerging that would justify a filibuster.” It seems to me consenting to a lifetime appointment requires confidence that the nominee will do good, not lack of proof that he or she will do serious harm. There is no [...]

Biden gets a bad rap for talking too much, but he usually has something intelligent to say, and I prefer his rambling to Sam’s dissembling. If Democrat leaders would try thinking as a group instead of plotting as individuals, perhaps they could agree on Joe as the primary opponent for Hillary. A one-on-one campaign could [...]

First he lied about how much it might cost, then he gave most of the money to drug and insurance companies. He published inaccurate literature. The program become so complicated few seniors could figure out how to enroll, so most didn’t. Finally, to put the finishing touch on his biggest fiasco since Iraq, the first [...]

Pundits think Alito won the hearing. It was not a real contest, but he lost. He didn’t convince us he’d protect abortion rights or equal opportunity. He won’t limit executive power, so a filibuster is the only honorable course. If that is made illegal by a spurious rule change, bring the Senate to a halt. [...]

Bush peered at New Orleans through his rose-colored bubble and called it “a heck of a place to bring your family.” He added, “for folks…looking for a great place to have a convention…I’d suggest coming here.â€? He promised better levees, not the best, more spending, not the most, asserted recovery will be led by private [...]

The senate charade has gone far enough. Democrats should get together and agree to filibuster anyone who is not middle-road. Alito isn’t, and we should go down talking, “Think about it,� we should say, “when the pendulum swings back, what will you want?

In Kentucky today President Bush compared his approach to immigration to Prohibition – the granddaddy of ignored laws. I wonder how businesses who profit from cheap labor feel about being compared to racketeers who made money on illegal booze.

Sam’s voice seems whiney. Is he trying to sound like Justice O’Connor?

His former friends have isolated Jack Abramoff, left him lonely and sad. It is hard to feel sorry for the guy, but he still has to testify. If he does a good job in court, when it’s over he can write a book about his final act of contrition – how he helped clean up [...]

David Letterman is wrong, Bill O’Reilly speaks ninety percent crap

Supreme Court Justice nominees deserve hearings not endless speeches. Let him talk, he might choke on obfuscation or stumble into truth. If he’s a gabby ideologue maybe we’ll delete Alito.

It suddenly occurred to Denny Hastert that it’s time to change the rules for lobbyists. He probably wants to avoid following Tom DeLay out the door. Unfortunately this will be a difficult task. Republicans have to find controls to suggest that differ from those Democrats have been proposing for months.

Does anyone think Tom DeLay will really go away? Losing his leadership role is tough, but raising money was his true claim to fame. Assuming he doesn’t join his lobbying friends in jail he’ll continue to be a top fund raiser – this time in Democrat direct mail.

President Bush turns Roosevelt’s “bully pulpit� into a bully’s perch by challenging Congressional power. They think he’s breaking the law, he keeps doing it, and bypasses them with a slew of recess appointments. Republicans act like constitutional checks and balances refer to campaign contributions when they don’t retaliate.

Bush sneaks appointments past Republican Senate – parade of Brownies?

Abramoff used to work at getting attention. He doesn’t have to anymore. Everyone in Washington is aware of who he is, though hardly anyone knows him personally. Charities have benefited from the generosity he inspired among government officials. If they could expose more scandals, it might be cheaper than direct mail.

Bush demands the whole “Patriot� Act be renewed. Since he won’t compromise Democrats shouldn’t either. They should filibuster any renewal at all until the President agrees to change the name to “Big Brother.� There is no longer any reason to modify some provisions – we know he won’t obey them anyway.

Abramoff pleading guilty before he’s indicted suggests the evidence against him reached a critical mass. As we learn more about how he influenced Congress perhaps public disgust with politicians will reach a tipping point. If it does Casino Jack may become the most productive lobbyist in history.