George Bush’s Surprising Embrace of the IMF

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I just posted this entry over at TPM Cafe. I found President Bush’s positive commentary about the IMF and the Argentina bail-out surprising and out of character given the intensity of the 1997-98 debate about IMF replenishment.

Norm Ornstein: Sam Alito is No John Roberts

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American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Norm Ornstein hits the Alito ball out of the park with a powerful, incisive op-ed today in Roll Call. Essentially, Ornstein makes the key point that Alito is hostile to Congress and its role in our system of government.

Reid Shakes Things Up & Trent Lott Takes “Revenge Swipe” at Karl Rove

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The tension is building. The more Frist fulminates and fumes at Harry Reid, the greater the Democratic leader becomes in the eyes of Americans, on both sides of the aisle. Finally, many are saying, the Democrats are doing something of consequence. And amidst this chaos, Republican cohesiveness is eroding.

RULE 21 CLOSED DOOR SENATE SESSION: Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid’s Stock Moves Strongly Up

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Senator Harry Reid, in a motion seconded by Senator Richard Durbin, just called for a very rare closed door executive session of the Senate. This motion is called “Rule 21” so that Senators can discuss “secret matters.” I’m impressed.

Alito Would Be 11th Catholic Appointed to Supreme Court: When Might We See a Muslim Supreme Court Justice?

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I found this short article interesting. My friend and former colleague Gordon Silverstein has noted that Samuel Alito would be the 11th Roman Catholic ever appointed to the Supreme Court — and the 5th on this court. Catholicism used to be considered a political liability, but those tensions have appropriately subsided.

Nicholas Kristof and the Cheney Brief

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Nick Kristoff just put it all the way it should be put to Vice President Cheney this morning. Everywhere he appears, someone should be asking: “What did you know about Plame, the leak, and the cover-up and when did you know it?” Read the entire piece — particularly the powerful last line: So, Mr.

What the Fitzgerald Investigation is Really About: Truth & Accountability

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After Fitzgerald’s announcement of five indictment charges against I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, I have to admit that I felt sick to my stomach about this whole affair. It is a great national tragedy to have someone of Libby’s stature fall from his post — but it is something that had to happen.