Lots of BCS implications today.
SEC Championship: Florida v. Alabama (3:00 p.m CBS) Big XII Championship: Texas v. Nebraska (7:00 p.m. ABC) ACC Championship: Georgia Tech v. Clemson (7:00 p.m. ESPN) Big East Championship: Cincinnati v. Pittsburgh (11:00 a.m. ABC) Conference USA Championship: Houston v. East Carolina (11:00 a.m. ESPN2)Okay, the only people that [...]
Montana Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, apparently nominated his girlfriend to be a U.S. Attorney. She eventually withdrew her name and someone else was appointed to the post.
As you will recall, Mr. Baucus is one of the leading Democratic players - if not the leading [...]
I was reminded this morning of this letter to former Saline County prosecutor Robert Herzfeld in response to a letter he sent to then Governor Mike Huckabee criticizing his clemency process.
It was only a matter of time before someone took the time to parody Mr. Huckabee’s [...]
Yeah, it’s still terrible, but economic forecasters predicted that we’d have another miserable jobs report, and they were wrong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised employment figures from September and October actually the recent report constitutes the best report we’ve seen since the recession began. Unemployment dropped to 10%, [...]
In another smart political move, Sen. Blanche Lincoln took on health insurance executive compensation today. She’s introduced an amendment that would cap the business deduction for health insurance executives at $400,000. While it’s still a lot, it’s down from $1 million, and Ms. Lincoln states this will save $65 million [...]
Time and again we’ve heard Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln iterate that her concerns about health insurance reform involve two things: (1) expanding the role of government and (2) fiscal irresponsibility.
The first is an interesting way of setting forth opposition to a “public option” whereby the government would offer its own [...]
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee gave an interview to Christianity Today and was asked about former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and her political future. Ms. Palin was in Fayetteville, Arkansas today signing copies of her book.
A lot of people compare you and Sarah Palin as conservative Christian candidates. What [...]
A new poll from Rasmussen shows Sen. Blanche Lincoln trailing all potential GOP challengers.
Sadly, 56% of Arkansans are strongly opposed to health insurance reform despite reports that it would put more money in their pockets by lowering health insurance premiums.
As I’ve said before, with no one willing to be [...]
Arkansas residents would save between $236 and $433 a year in premiums (that is a 7.6% to 14.1%) and a family would save between $1,157 and $1,170 a year in health insurance premiums (that is a 14% to 14.2%) if the Senate health insurance reform bill were enacted into law, [...]
This is the time of year when I really miss writing a movie blog. Maybe I gave the gig up a little too early over at the Arkansas Times‘ Web site. Oh well, that ship has sailed. Still, from time to time, I’ll write about movies in this space. Today [...]
Right-of-center blogaholic Jason Tolbert resigned his post as Arkansas coordinator for Mike Huckabee’s political action committee today. Mr. Tolbert gives us a little insight into his rationale on his blog, “The Tolbert Report,” and notes that the events surrounding Maurice Clemmons played a role.
It’s got to be a tough [...]
President Barack Obama will address the nation live tonight from West Point where he will announce that he is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. That’s big news as months of careful deliberations generated widespread speculation about his next move in that war torn country.
At the same time, Politico’s [...]
Just a friendly reminder to blogger Jason Tolbert and everyone else who likes Sarah Palin that she will be in Fayetteville, Arkansas on December 3rd signing copies of her book at Sam’s Club. The event begins at 11 a.m.
I received this e-mail from a Republican friend of mine regarding the [...]
Sen. Blanche Lincoln continued her crusade to have as much information about the health insurance reform debate posted online. Yesterday, she proposed a bill that would have required all amendments to be posted online before being debated in the Senate. However, her measure didn’t pass. Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi, [...]
Beginning today, bloggers, Twitterers, and others who write online reviews or endorse products using new media must disclose it when they receive free merchandise or payment for writing about an item. The guidelines update the FTC’s 1980 guide addressing the use of testimonials in advertising, remapping [...]
Timothy Eagan of The New York Times writes that Mike Huckabee’s presidential aspirations are sunk as a result of the shootings in Washington state.
If this case does not sink the presidential aspirations of Huckabee, a leading Republican candidate, it should. By the standards that Republicans launched almost 20 years [...]
Maurice Clemmons, 37, the man suspected of killing four police officers in Washington state was shot and killed this morning, reports The New York Times.
In 2000, Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas granted clemency to Mr. Clemmons after he had served 11 years of a 95-year sentence for robbery and [...]
I had a nice chat with Matthew Bigg of Reuters last week about the 2010 Senate race in Arkansas. His comprehensive analysis used a bit of what I had to say.
Speaking of the 2010 Senate race, I sat down with David Sanders of Stephens Media on his monthly public [...]
Maurice Clemmons, the man suspected in the killing of four police officers in Washington state, was once a resident of the Arkansas penal system. Several times, in fact. His sentence (of 95 years) was commuted by then-Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee thus allowing him to leave the penitentiary long before [...]
The Think Tank will be talking a holiday break to enjoy a double-dose of turkey (the marriage to Mrs. Think Tank scored me an invite to Thanksgiving lunch at the in-laws) and everything that comes with it. I’m not sure how this is going to go, but I’ll give it [...]
I made it through the first chapter of Sarah Palin’s book last night. You’re probably wondering whether I ponied up the 10 bucks at Wal-Mart for the book. The answer is no. A friend of Mrs. Think Tank’s received it as a gift, and she stopped by last night after [...]
In a way, despite its unremitting grimness, The Road is a perfect Thanksgiving weekend release. It gives even those who dread seeing their families for holiday dinner something very literal and tangible to be thankful for. Mom’s turkey may be dry and her pie crusts leathery, but [...]
The Washington Independent takes a look at the candidacy of Tim Griffin, a former operative of Karl Rove and U.S. Attorney. Mr. Griffin is running in a contested Republican primary for the 2nd congressional district in Arkansas, a seat currently held by incumbent Vic Snyder.
If local Democrats have their [...]
Much has been said of the dwindling support for President Barack Obama among independents. This analysis, conducted by Charles Franklin for Pollster.com suggests something all together different.
So the point is simple: Claims of abandonment of Obama by independents (or lib-Dems or con-Dems) are substantially exaggerated over the past three [...]
From John Dickerson in Slate:
Her abettors in this speculation are the Democratic National Committee and the media. The DNC wants Palin to be the face of the Republican future because Democrats think she’s a clown. The media has an interest in portraying Palin as a viable political candidate because [...]
Here are my observations from the free health clinic yesterday in Little Rock, which I recorded for The Huffington Post.
[...]Be sure to tune in to John King’s political program today, “State of the Union.” Little Rock, Arkansas - and more specifically Doe’s Eat Place - is featured. It begins at 8 am.
[...]With 60 votes yesterday, the US Senate begins debate on a bill to reform health insurance in America. Both Arkansas senators, Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln, voted in favor of the matter that began what many anticipate will be a long and contentious process.
Ms. Lincoln’s vote generated a lot of [...]
From Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat, on his decision to vote in favor of beginning debate on the health insurance reform bill in the Senate:
“It is only to begin debate and an opportunity to make improvements. If you don’t like a bill, why block your own opportunity [...]
Bill Clinton told FDL’s Eve Gittelson that it would be problematic for him to attend a free medical clinic being held in Little Rock, Arkansas tomorrow because MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann had “politicized” the event.” He indicated that some were turning the event into a primary kickoff against Arkansas [...]
I’ve been out of town for the better part of two days and I’m just now reading that Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor clearly stated that he would vote for the cloture motion which would advance the bill to debate in the Senate. Good for him.
Senator Blanche Lincoln still remains [...]
A new poll indicates that 84% of Arkansans want the Senate to debate health care reform. This comes on the eve of a cloture vote in the Senate where 60 members must vote in favor in order for the bill to proceed to the Senate floor for debate.
Arkansas Senator [...]
President Bill Clinton is in Little Rock, Arkansas today to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Clinton Presidential Center and Park. The event is from 11:30 - 1:00 under a large tent.
The Associated Press examines the five-year impact the library has had on Little Rock.
After Clinton announced his site [...]
God, I hate exclamation points. But I couldn’t help it today because Sarah Palin’s book, “Going Rogue,” finally arrives in bookstores. No, I’m not excited, but lots of other people are, including Jason Tolbert of The Tolbert Report.
By now, those of us that have been reading [...]
I obsess about bowl games this time of year, especially when, for the first time in two season, the Arkansas Razorbacks are eligible for one. Today, e-mails have blanketed my in-box about scenarios that would lead the Hogs to the Cotton Bowl. Is it really possible? I asked in response.
After [...]
I’m referring to Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots, who last night decided to go for it on fourth and two on the Pats own 28 with two minutes to play. It’s one of the craziest coaching decisions I’ve ever seen in football, and it [...]
The Arkansas blogosphere has been chatty about a new Public Policy Polling poll on the Arkansas Second Congressional District race involving Democratic Party incumbent Vic Snyder. The poll shows Mr. Snyder with an approval rating of forty-two percent. Forty-six percent of second district voters disapprove of his performance.
Not unlike [...]
From Rob Mortiz of Stephens Media:
Two recent federal Environmental Protection Agency studies concluded it would take about $5 billion to rehabilitate or replace the old and broken water systems in the state and another $400 million to repair and upgrade the sewer systems.
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission finance manager David [...]
For the money, I’d say pick up a copy of Bill Simmons‘ “The Book of Basketball,” but if GOP politics is your sort of thing, Sarah Palin’s new book, “Going Rogue,” hits bookstores this Tuesday. (Is she old enough and interesting enough to write a memoir?) It’s pre-sold a [...]
It was just a matter of time before the unflattering poll numbers of Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln caught the attention of national political pundits. Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post’s The Fix blog wrote on Friday,
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) is getting squeezed between the demands of national liberals who [...]
Michael Tomasky, writing in The New York Review of Books, offers a comprehensive look at the political evolution of the Blue Dog coalition in the U.S. House. Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross, who has emerged during the health care debate as a leading Blue Dog spokesman, gets a lot of [...]
Perhaps the time has come to re-think the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act which created barriers between commercial banking and investment banking?
Here’s the how the final vote went for the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1999, and which several economists and politicians are [...]
Mark McKinnon talks to Chip Saltsman, Mike Huckabee’s former campaign manager, about Mr. Huckabee’s prospects in 2012.
Mr. McKinnon notes,
The race for the Republican nomination could very easily come down to Huckabee vs. Mitt Romney. The question will be whether Tim Pawlenty can get enough traction to split votes with [...]
Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter held a press conference to discuss the details of a free health clinic in Little Rock on Saturday, November 21st. The clinic is sponsored by the National Association of Free Clinics.
[...]His speech was a song to an entire generation: his generation. The first president of the post-Baby Boomer generation was making the claim for the men and women he commands, a host of whom he will send into Afghanistan in the coming weeks. “We need [...]
