In considering George W. Bush’s legacy, I would suggest that Bush flamboyantly hastened America’s global decline — a decline that might have otherwise been stretched out over many decades and happened anyway. Bush sped up history and punctured America’s mystique as a superpower by showing key fundamental limits.
Hillary Clinton did a great job answering questions directly without over-promising in her confirmation hearing and Questions for the Record. Fortunately, she left behind a few clues as to where we’re headed. Clinton’s plan to aggressively pursue U.S. accession to the Law of the Sea Convention, as noted earlier, is wonderful news.
A lot of Middle East watchers have been stunned by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s snotty depiction of both Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Bush with regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1860 calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
This is an intriguing exchange between Congressman Alan Grayson (FL-08-D) and Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Donald Kohn.
I will be hosting a live discussion with US Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad at a meeting at the New America Foundation today between 12:15 and 1:45 pm EST.
This just in from a loyal reader. Senator Norm Coleman’s (R-MN) office is now closed. But Senator Roland Burris’ office is painted and has his name on the wall. (website still on its way) Burris will nest at Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 523 — right across from the Senate Judiciary Committee offices.
Over at Foreign Policy magazine’s website, I have a quick review of Hillary Clinton’s performance yesterday at her confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. My first reaction listening to this just one-notch-short-of-a-love-fest hearing was that Norm Coleman’s absence has made a huge difference. Coleman was a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee….
Well, in the 2008 Weblog Awards Category for Very Large Blogs, The Washington Note has seen a huge surge. And with that surge, we are declaring success — in a Bush administration sort of way. In fact, TWN declares victory. . .
Politico reports that Rob Portman intends to run for Ohio Senator George Voinovich’s Senate seat when he retires in 2010, and the early word out of Ohio suggests that it may be difficult for Democrats to find a formidable challenger.