Grading Obama’s Foreign Policy
The editors at Foreign Policy magazine used the occasion of the first anniversary of Barack Obama's election as president to ask a "a group of experts" to grade President Obama's foreign policy performance. I was honored to be among the graders. My B-minus was exactly in line with the consensus: "Obama scored only an average of a B-: five As, nine ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on November 3, 2009 08:01
Political Control of Government Motors
Back when talks about bailing out General Motors started one potential issue was that GM would “encouraged” to make decisions based on political considerations vs. a sound business plan. Looks like there is evidence for such concerns with this story of how Montana’s Congressional Representative and two Senators are pushing to get a contract reinstated with a Montana palladium ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on November 2, 2009 15:01
Obama’s Nobel Unconstitutional?
Ron Rotunda and Peter Pham argue in today's WaPo that it would violate the Constitution for President Obama to accept the Nobel Peace Prize while in office. Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution, the emolument clause, clearly stipulates: "And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on October 16, 2009 10:31
Fineman: Chicago Style Isn’t Working
Howard Fineman piles on to the burgeoning -- if thus far unfounded -- Obama overexposed and Obama fatigue memes with an uncharacteristically harsh column. In addition to contending Obama gives too many speeches with too little substance, her goes further: There is only so much political mileage that can still be had by his reminding the world that he is not George ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on September 28, 2009 14:53
Obama 56, Republicans 30
A NYT/CBS poll finds that President Obama's approval remains strong but support for his handling of key policy issues is dipping. The Republicans are not, however, gaining much ground. At 56 percent, his approval rating is down from earlier in the year but still reasonably strong at this point compared with recent presidents. More Americans are starting to credit his stimulus package ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on September 25, 2009 05:41
Biden: Republican House Takeback ‘End of the Road’
Vice President Joe Biden told a partisan crowd that, if the Republicans win the House back in 2010, it would be "the end of the road for what Barack and I are trying to do." Karen Travers for ABC: Biden said Republicans are pinning their political strategy on flipping these seats. “If they take them back, this the end of ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on September 22, 2009 07:57
Obama to “Desecrate” 9/11 With Volunteerism
I usually ignore the dozens of political spam emails that cross my inbox every day, but one caught my eye today with the headline "Obama Plans To Desecrate 9-11", I couldn't help but wonder what that closet Muslim/Kenyan/Filopino/Indonesian/Communist/Nazi/Son of Malcolm X was up to today. Clicking through got me to this article, in which I've learned that this "desecration" ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on August 26, 2009 09:31
Obama’s Op-Ed on Health Care
President Obama, seeing that he is taking a beating in the polls, and that health care is starting to founder took to the pages of the New York Times to lay out the case for health care reform. I think he did a rather bad job of it. He could have done it with far, far fewer ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on August 17, 2009 14:25
Higher Middle Class Taxes
Looks like the Obama Administration is testing the waters on the idea of raising taxes on the middle class, WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's treasury secretary said Sunday he cannot rule out higher taxes to help tame an exploding budget deficit, and his chief economic adviser would not dismiss raising them on middle-class Americans as part of a health ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on August 3, 2009 14:26
Birther Pains
Bill Pascoe, veteran of two federal campaigns against Barack Obama, bemoans the rise of the Birthers: I've held fire for the last several months as I've watched the so-called "Birther" movement gain steam. At first it was amusing, like playing a drinking game -- you know, like taking a shot every time Chris Matthews explains why he insists on pronouncing ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 28, 2009 20:08
Controlling Medicare Costs—IMAC
The CBO has analyzed some of the suggested methods for controlling health care costs, and the Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC) in particular. The findings so far is not all that good, In particular, CBO reviewed draft legislation transmitted to the Congress by the Administration on July 17, 2009, titled the Independent Medicare Advisory Council Act of 2009. CBO estimates ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 27, 2009 13:09
The Face That Launched A Thousand Trial Balloons
As often as he brings down ridicule upon himself, one wonders at times why Obama and his handlers keep letting "Talking Joe" Biden speak in public. James Lileks writes in the New York Post that "Biden's 'gaffes' are anything but -- they're simply what the administration is really thinking. Truer words have never been babbled." That seems right. There are only ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 19, 2009 16:18
Caption Contest Winners
The Churrascaria Edition OTB Caption Contest™ is now over. Jason Reed (ITALY POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY) ✰ THE WINNERS ✰ First: Brian J. - So that's the thrill Matthews was talking about. Second: charles austin - Alex Delarge: "Vidi well little brother, vidi well." Third: yetanotherjohn - I have always been concerned with the unique situations of women. ✰ HONORABLE MENTION ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 13, 2009 20:15
Caption Contest
With the estimable Rodney Dill on his "usual summer hiatus," James asked me to fill in if I could. As it happens I'm on vacation, too, but we wouldn't want to go half the month with no contest. So, without further ado, here's your supplemental OTB Caption Contest™: /Jason Reed (ITALY POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY) UPDATE (James): Via Ace, here's a ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 9, 2009 23:55
Quote of the Day – Turnabout is Fair Gay Edition
"We should not allow Republicans to marry. It undercuts the entire institution of marriage." Michael Reynolds of Sideways MenckenPosted in Outside The Beltway on June 24, 2009 15:28
