Giuliani Slipping; HIllary Clinton Maintains 30 Point Lead

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The Washington Post and ABC News have just released a new national poll on the relative positions of Democratic and Republican candidates: Republicans Giuliani — 25 pct Huckabee — 19 pct Romney — 17 pct Thompson — 14 pct McCain — 12 pct Paul — 3 pct Hunter — 2 pct Democrats Clinton — 53…

Senate Hearing on Cuba Shows Change

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It speaks volumes about the moment United States Cuba policy is in that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus holds a hearing and invites three strong, articulate voices for a new Cuba policy and only two of the old guard clinging to underwhelming rhetoric of Fidel the communist and constructing painful rhetorical stretches about Cuba’s…

Walter Mondale’s Comments on US-Japan Challenges: Short but Not Sweet

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Last Thursday, the 6th of December, I spent my evening at a 50th Anniversary black tie dinner commemorating the founding of the Japan America Society of Washington DC with former Vice President of the United States and Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale.

Scooter Libby Pardon in the Works?

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I don’t buy the argument that Scooter Libby has dropped his efforts at an appeal because of the time, hassle, and money involved in continuing the appeal. Although since presidential candidate Fred Thompson was one of those hosting fundraisers for Scooter’s legal defense fund, perhaps the distractions of the presidential race have taken a toll….

Competing Over Religious Zealotry in White House

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Tim Rutten of the Los Angeles Times offered a brilliant take on the Romney speech on religion which I have only now just read. His blunt read in “Press Preys on Wrong Question” of Huckabee’s flirtation with the anti-Enlightenment commitment to creationism is worth reviewing too.