Insights

As he notes in today’s NY Sun, John P. Avlon is moving from the Sun back over to Giuliani-world as communications director and senior policy advisor for Solutions America, Giuliani’s PAC — which also just hired a fundraiser. But that’s another story. Avlon is a smart, insightful journalist who writes interesting stuff. On his last […]

Put aside the developing sketchy facts for a moment. This Patrick Kennedy “story” has quickly become a feeding frenzy of tittilating speculation, and Roll Call’s Mary Anne Akers noted on Scarborough Country –in lowbrow manner — that speculation about “what really happened” are legit because Kennedy has “struggled with depression” and “cocaine abuse.” Despite the […]

When all is said and done in statewide New Jersey contests, fundraising is right at the top of variables in determining the Election Day winner, and that’s Tom Kean Jr.’s biggest problem right now. According to the latest FEC data, incumbent Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez raised $2.5M in the first quarter, leaving him with $6.36 […]

The reports are in: As Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Chuck Schumer is blowing away his GOP counterpart, National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Elizabeth Dole. The DSCC raised $6.9M in March ’06 compared to the NRSC’s $5M, and maintains a crushing $32.1M to $16.5M cash-on-hand edge as the campaign committee strategists […]

Ken Bazinet of the NY Daily News DC bureau goes farthest out on the limb today on the speculative reporting surrounding Scott McClellan’s replacement at the White House. Bazinet reports, “Tony Snow, a conservative commentator at Fox News, is emerging as the front-runner to replace McClellan, a source confirmed. Former deputy press secretary Trent Duffy […]

At first glance, it would appear that Donald Trump and Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir have nothing in common. At second glance, one could say the same thing. But it was highly unusual, in fact bizarre, when Trump, attired in suit and red power tie, took the stage at the venerable Beacon Theater at 74th […]

In part two of DCspectator’s interview with GOP consultant Roger Stone, Hillary’s ’08 challenges and the ’08 GOP presidential primary are discussed: DCs: Lots of Republicans I talk to here in town think, flatly, that Hillary is unelectable and cannot possibly ever be elected President, which, frankly, is total B.S. You agree? RS: Oh, she […]

In Part 1 of a 4/4 interview with GOP consultant Roger Stone, Stone comments on the ’06 New York State Democratic and GOP gubernatorial contests. In Part 2, for Thursday, Stone evaluates Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential prospects and her apparent tack to the middle, and sizes up the ’08 GOP presidential primary contest. Stone […]

A two-part interview with GOP consultant Roger Stone will be posted beginning tomorrow. Stone says Weld will likely win the NY GOP gubernatorial primary with a strong supply-side tax message, and that Suozzi’s challenge to Spitzer has exposed some new vulnerabilities for the Dem frontrunner. In part two, Stone comments on Hillary’s ’08 maneuverings, the […]

Charlie Cook is one of the very few election prognosticators in DC who matter, and when he writes or says something, its worth a look. Making a hurricane-storm surge analogy, he explains today, courtesy of National Journal, the following: “A hurricane does seem likely to hit the GOP this November. But the micro analysis shows […]

With the growing chatter about some new help for Karl Rove and Andy Card at the White House — and the President’s refusal to tamp down the speculation at his WH news conference — gonna go out on a limb and predict former Texas Rep. Tom Loeffler will be the guy, IF there is a […]

What would an HBO boxing telecast be like without the voice and input of guest judge Harold Lederman? It just wouldn’t be the same. Lederman celebrated his 20th year on HBO this weekend during the Hasim Rahman-James Toney heavyweight fight. Not a great fight — went to the scorecards and Rahman won. If Toney had […]

This is emblematic of how harsh some conservatives are becoming towards George W. Bush. Peggy Noonan has taken a few shots at Bush in the past year, but equating him with LBJ must be particularly galling to those inside the bunker. Says Noonan in her opinionjournal.com piece, “I believe it is fair to say most […]

As the New York Observer reports today that New York Times “rising star” Anne Kornblut (actually, she’s already a star) will cover Hillary Clinton’s low wattage 2006 Senate re-election bid, it’s crystal clear that the Times will cover every aspect of her public and private life like a blanket. With Kornblut heavily involved in the […]

Despite the fact some in the Bush White House say peddling “White House Fatigue” stories as a rationale for poor staff performance is disloyal, or flat wrong, consider the lede in Peter Baker’s Washington Post story today: Andrew H. Card Jr. wakes at 4:20 in the morning, shows up at the White House an hour […]

No one has had as crappy a year as Bill Frist — except perhaps the President, but that’s another story. The Senate Majority Leader has been hounded by charges of personal corruption stemming from allegations of insider trading, which is a phony story that maintains legs because of a largely failed effort to explain to […]

Just looking at NY1’s Inside City Hall video from yesterday and besides busting NYS AG candidate Andrew Cuomo as an empty suit with nothing but the Cuomo name, Mark Green also dismissed Cuomo’s record as federal housing secretary under Bill Clinton. This may simply prompt the 125th St denizen to get out on the hustings […]

The National Journal’s Chuck Todd writes in his On The Trail column that my party’s (especially press secretaries) default inclination to blame the media for receiving bad press coverage is a total bust as a legit, effective communications play. And he’s right — that works for a few news cycles, then you’re back to square […]

Every now and then, even well regarded communications operatives like Julie Teer screw up while on the record. The Hotline slug: Is It Smart To Compare Your Own Boss To Dukakis? Romney spokesperson Julie Teer said Romney’s 1st priority is MA. Teer: “Just as Mike Dukakis traveled to help fellow governors as chairman of the […]

Washington, DC — It’s unfathomable that Vice-President Cheney’s office hoped to avoid the reporting of the fact he accidentally shot a fellow hunter during an outing on a Texas ranch, but this item in today’s Editor and Publisher raises questions that require answers: More Questions Raised About Delay in Reporting Cheney Misfire By Greg Mitchell […]

Washington, DC — Mark Shields writes, “The ‘political money crowd’ is aching to see NH pushed aside.” In NH, “through energy and determination, the underfunded, relatively unknown David who stands clearly for something really can have a chance against the well- heeled and widely favored Goliath,” like “Jimmy Carter and [Sen. John] McCain.” This is […]

Washington, DC — Not a cheap name drop, but have to mention because it was so interesting: While having lunch at the white house mess yesterday with a senior Bush aide, the John Boehner second ballot victory over the favored Roy Blunt occurred. Within seconds, blackberries vibrated throughout the small dining room — and what […]

Washington, DC — Watching the Virginia governor’s race unfold last year, it was clear GOP candidate Jerry Kilgore was a bad candidate — not the worst, put pretty bad. His syrupy demeanor in his paid advertising and news coverage was a turnoff. He looked weak, whiny and wimpy. But Democrat Tim Kaine really wasn’t that […]

New York, NY — Quick trip up to NYC this afternoon and couldn’t help noticing the new Zogby poll out today (1/23-25; margin of error +/- 3.8%) with Pataki’s fav/unfav at 56%/40% while the NY state right track/wrong track is 31%/61%. That’s pretty decent for a GOP gov in a state like New York, considering […]

Washington, DC — The inevitability of Roy Blunt becoming House Majority Leader is still in doubt, despite the Blunt camp’s insistence it’s in the bag. First of all, nothing is ever in the bag until the votes are counted. As David Rogers of the WSJ notes today, “Majority Whip Roy Blunt faces growing pressure to […]

Washington, DC — Former New York Senator Al D’Amato, a great American, floated on NY1 last night the possible candidacy of Staten Island D.A. Dan Donovan for NY Attorney General. Having worked with Guy Molinari’s regime during the 1997 special election to replace his daughter, Susan, (won by U.S. Rep. Vito Fossella), we dealt with […]

Washington, DC — Despite the fact consultants in general are overrated when it comes to assessing why a candidate wins or loses, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s loss of GOP consultant Mike Murphy is a major blow to Romney’s presidential ambitions. As reported in the Boston Globe today by Brian Mooney, Murphy is “stepping back” from […]

Washington, DC — The only person I’ve seen who has accurately identified Sen. Hillary Clinton’s “plantation” broadside against the House GOP as a smart political move is the NY Post’s John Podhoretz, who cannily noted in today’s edition: “Hillary Clinton is playing a long game — a game for 2008 — and when viewed in […]

Rectortown, VA — What a classic gaffe from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin: His city is, and must remain, “chocolate.” CNN, FOX and the cable news folks are all over this one, to no one’s surprise. This was an unfortunate choice of words, obviously, despite the fact he later explained in more context: “chocolate” means […]

Washington, DC — Anyone who spends their day in the office in front of a keyboard while simultaneously watching a variety of cable news programming is able to sort out in relatively short order the spin stars. Paul Begala has emerged as not just one his party’s smartest, most effective advocates — he’s also just […]

a bit of chatter in dc today about this 2 sentence development… Allen lines up help for for a possible ’08 campaign BY JEFF E. SCHAPIRO TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Friday, January 6, 2006 U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., has enlisted a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ed Gillespie, as treasurer of his political […]

Washington, DC — Writing a blog — a good blog — takes a lot of time and effort. Simply bloviating about this and that is boring and essentially mindless. That’s why most blogs suck. DCspectator, an ongoing work in progress, needs some additional juice this year — and more original reporting, interviews and Q and […]

Washington, DC — While much has been said about former CBS producer Mary Mapes’s phony National Guard story about George W. Bush, she demolished her own credibility with this gem on Larry King Live last night: “I’m perfectly willing to believe those documents are forgeries if there’s proof that I haven’t seen. … I think […]

Washington, DC — After infuriating majority Republicans on Tuesday by forcing the Senate into a closed session over the Bush administration’s handling of intelligence before the Iraq war, the jury was out regarding the extent to which the Harry Reid-led maneuver would pan out politically and strategically. Despite Bill Frist’s denunciation of the procedural gambit […]

Washington, DC — Lewis Libby, an interesting Republican with a free spirit, is known to enjoy the reputation of being a long time Colorado ski bum who likes to swill a little tequilla and write novels. It is also said that Scooter likes to listent to a little Grateful Dead every now and then. With […]

Washington, DC — The Los Angeles Times, itself a generally dysfunctional publication yet blessed by a number of excellent reporters, primarily in the Sacramento statehouse bureau, gets it right regarding how the New York Times and Judy Miller have really F’d up when it comes to maintaining credibility in the context of journalism in general […]

Washington, DC — New York Governor George Pataki, considering a run for the White House, will make his first 2005 campaign appearance in New Hampshire on October 23rd when he stumps with a Manchester mayoral hopeful. Other appearances are pending. Meanwhile, Pataki will also be heading back to Iowa for the third time in four […]

Washington, DC — The Inside the Beltway GOP infighting and backbiting hasn’t been this bad since President George H.W. Bush opted to forego his ‘read my lips’ campaign promise and raise taxes in 1990, but it might even be on the cusp of getting worse. Today’s ABC News Note sums up both the paranoia and […]

Washington, DC — Regardless of one’s opinion of Tom Delay, the overtly aggressive and high visibility press strategy he and his handlers have employed to combat his “criminal indictment” at the hands of Travis County prosecutor Ronnie Earle has been impressive. Immediately following his indictment, DeLay held a Capitol Hill news conference, blasted Earle, stated […]

Washington, DC — While the news from Iraq, rising gas prices and Hurricane Katrina are all high profile world and national events contributing to President Bush’s dip in the polls, another political drama has unfolded over the spring and summer in Pennsylvania: day by day, week by week, and month by month, incumbent GOP Senator […]

Washington, DC — The names Mike Glover and David Yepsen don’t ring a bell with most Americans. But in the arcane, esoteric world of presidential primary politics, these two top Iowa reporters for the Associated Press and Des Moines Register, respectively, become perhaps the most significant political reporters in America when the eyes of the […]

Washington, DC — As the Katrina blame game in Washington escalates — in full, sorry display on the Sunday talk circuit — there appears to be the beginning of an effort to drag former PA Governor and Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge into the culpability tar pit. Consider this key second graph in David Sanger’s […]

Washington, DC — For those who either for business or pleasure consume a voluminous amount of news of all kinds throughout their day, there’s little question that the New York Times has just blown away all other comers from the standpoint of the sheer quality, volume and pertinence of its reporting. Just an incredible effort. […]

Washington, DC — DCspectator is a pro-GOP, pro-Bush, site — but my A list first read is always the New York Times. Ideological bias? Could care less. The Times’ news judgment and reporting depth and quality, along with the Wall Street Journal, is the standard. But Al Baker’s story in the New York Times today […]

Washington, DC — After creating an international firestorm yesterday with his call for the assassination of Venezuela’s ruler, Hugo Chavez, Pat Robertson “clarified” his remarks to help stem the furor. First, he noted — incorrectly — that the Associated Press misquoted him. Then, expounding on yesterday’s diplomatic gesture, he said he really didn’t say Chavez […]

Washington, DC — After the Sunday news programs are over, a handful of plugged-in Georgetowners always heads over to Martin’s Tavern at Wisconsin and N for brunch and political gossip. Despite the focus on Iraq and foreign policy on this morning’s shows, the big intra-Beltway news was the fact Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott demurred when […]

Washington, DC — For anyone bored out of their mind by the initial GOP primary jostling and run-up to the 2006 New York State Governor’s race, Patrick Healy’s story in the New York Times breaking the news that former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld will enter the contest is sweet music to campaign watchers’ ears – […]

Washington, DC — As DCspectator has recently trashed the electoral prospects of Florida GOP Senate candidate Katherine Harris, former Harris pollster David Hill — a smart guy — offers an intelligent, reasoned counterpoint. While her campaign remains a likely general election debacle, and the rationale for her candidacy remains elusive, to say the least, here’s […]

Washington, DC — Despite the fact recent polling data released by DCspectator on the Jersey Governor’s race two weeks ago is getting a little long in the tooth (428 definite/very likely registered voters; +/- 4.7%; conducted 7/18-26 for DCspectator.com by Neighborhood Research, Franklin, NJ), the open-ended data provides some additional relevant insight into how voters […]

Courtesy of the New York Sun, an article that reflects the fact a number of Grateful Dead fans are, heaven forbid, Republicans. I’m another, and just returned from the Jerry Garcia Sunshine Daydream Music Fest in Terra Alta, WV., featuring Bob Weir’s incredible band, Ratdog. Please Read: Jerry Garcia’s Conservative Children BY JOHN P. AVLON […]

Washington, DC – A new survey of 428 registered New Jersey voters who said their chances of voting in the November general election for Governor was “definite” or “very likely” finds Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Corzine holding a 44-39 lead over Republican Doug Forrester — a lead that expands to 45-38 among definite voters. The […]

Those who have worked in the campaign business for the better part of their professional lives can walk into almost any statewide campaign headquarters in the contest’s final months and, just by the vibe and feel, walk out five minutes later with a fairly accurate picture of a campaign’s viability, sense of purpose and level […]

Despite the fact my day job does not entail partisan political hackery and parroting the party line, I’m going to do so anyway: Karl Rove is going nowhere, and he will easily survive the lynch mob we see in DC this week for three primary reasons: First, and per usual, the GOP is already kicking […]

While not following it on a daily basis, I catch the NYC Mayor’s race coverage sporadically. Yet, even from DC — and even as a casual observer of this contest — it feels as though Freddie Ferrer has turned a corner from the Diallo debacle, and is about to get back into the race from […]

The White House political team and other intelligent GOP operatives around town all agree political lightning rod Rep. Katherine Harris has little chance of defeating Florida Sen. Ben Nelson — and they’re correct. Harris is ill-suited for a bare knuckle statewide contest, has no real achievements in her short-lived congressional career, and has never undergone […]

I really like Tucker Carlson — but the format of his new MSNBC show, "The Situation," has yet to gel. I’d kill the bit in the end with the bow tie undone, and standing around b.s.’ing with Willie someone about news that didn’t make the show. It’s an overplay to informality, and just not needed. […]

Check this out: Howard Dean heads to Columbia, SC on Wednesday for a state Democratic fundraiser. To celebrate, the South Carolina Republican Party is hosting a “Howard Dean Scream Contest” at 3:30 pm ET. According to the press release, contestants will be judged on “lack of poise and appearance, loudness, and quality of insane angry […]

Washington, DC — David Brooks of the New York Times is my favorite columnist, and his column today, “Fear and Rejection,” is worth posting on its own, without any additional commentary. Without further ado: June 2, 2005 Fear and Rejection By DAVID BROOKS Forgive me for making a blunt and obvious point, but events in […]

Washington, DC — I just don’t get or support the harsh conservative media criticism that followed Ted Koppel’s last show devoted solely to reading the names and showing the pictures of the American soldiers who died in the Iraq war. Tonite’s show — the same format, entitled "The Fallen" — was very powerful.  Any objective […]

Washington, DC — When Charlie Cook talks, people listen. Cook — the Robert Parker of political and campaign analysts — said on Hardball tonite that Frist "made a lot of mistakes" in his dealings with Harry Reid on the filibuster showdown, and said the net result has been that "respect has gone down enormously" for […]

New York, NY — With increasing frequency, due to the rapidly fragmenting media marketplace and incessant cable news coverage, politicians and personalities get a hot hand that they play out on the public stage before their two minutes of fame is over. Fifteen minutes of fame, much less five, is just not in the cards. […]

Washington, DC — While the reporting about GOP activist Grover Norquist’s historical linkage to Jack Abramoff in today’s New York Times story by Kate Zernike and Anne Kornblut is accurate, it would be a shame to see Norquist’s integrity and excellent personal reputation sullied by furthur association in the media with this particular lobbyist. Despite […]

Washington, DC — While many of us oppose almost every aspect of U.S. Rep. Barney Frank’s legislative agenda, one must admire his integrity, intelligence and wit. Always a favorite to watch in the chamber, his brilliant mid-1980s rhetorical duels with then-rising House member Newt Gingrich were as fascinating as they were entertaining. And despite Frank’s […]

Washington, DC — I really liked Dennis Miller on Monday Night Football, and I liked his show on CNBC, until he started dissing people for their weight, their appearance, their nationality and other inexplicable moronic putdowns. The more Miller let his personality come through, the less likeable he became. For a while, it was a […]

Washington DC — Sitting amongst four tv monitors as I work, the blur of talking heads discussing Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Donald Trump and all the other irrelevancies and trivialities now considered "news" whisks by. But every so often, a new talking head with an air of substance and gravitas — CDC’s Julie Gerberding for […]

Washington, DC — As someone who has known for some time that conservative pundit Tucker Carlson has been a longtime fan of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, it was great to see his interview with Dead bassist Phil Lesh on his recent PBS show. It was also interesting to find out that Tucker saw […]

Washington, DC — When GOP consultant Terry Holt initiated his guest hosting gig in the "Novak" chair on CNN’s Crossfire, it took him a while to adjust to the teleprompter, the studio audience, the folks screaming in his ear, looking for the right camera, and all the rest. He looked a little frazzled and hurried […]

Washington, DC — While it’s not a full-throated cry, the DC rumor mill is rife with talk and speculation that, in the end, when it’s all said and done, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison won’t run against incumbent Rick Perry in a GOP primary. Albeit highly speculative that Kay will not run, there is an […]

Washington, DC — Virginia GOP Senator George Allen has been enjoying lots of good buzz within DC GOP circles when it comes to speculation about 2008, and National Journal’s political insiders now rate Hillary Rodham Clinton and Allen as the two likeliest to be their respective party’s ’08 nominees. The survey gave each potential White […]

Washington, DC — Sitting here watching bountyhunter "dog" chapman as the lead story on Big Idea with Donny Deutsch tonite; ok — but not like last night’s boxing special with boxing historian bert sugar, boom boom mancini (remember that livingstone bramble fight in ’82 or ’83? wow), emile griffith’s son, and a host of interesting […]

In honor of American small business owners, like me, who get nailed on taxes, this brilliant Wall Street Journal editorial merits posting in its entirety… see quotes from Barbara Boxer and Chuck Schumer. Class-War Revelation April 15, 2005; Page A10 Miracles happen, even to liberals, and the latest proof is their discovery of the horrors […]

Baton Rouge, LA — While sitting in a hotel room working with CNN always on in the background, the blur of interviews and chatter never ends. But Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Julie Gerberding seems to always stand out as a highly credible, articulate and effective spokesman. Her live interview on CNN today discussing […]

Washington, DC — Finally: warmer weather, in the mid-70s. And with the throngs heading to the DC mall and the Georgetown waterfront this afternoon, a trip with my family to the tidal basin to catch the blossoms and snap some photos was in order. There was still a crowd, but far more manageable to walk […]

Washington, DC — In a worrisome signal for House majority leader Tom DeLay, the highly influential editorial page of the Wall Street Journal writes today that DeLay, “who rode to power in 1994 on a wave of revulsion at the everyday ways of big government, has become the living exemplar of some of its worst […]

New York, NY — On a quick business run to NYC today, it was hard not to notice the  multiple news reports regarding the new video footage of Hillary Clinton "embracing" Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison at a recent DC ceremony. The video, shot by Kay’s potential rival for Governor, incumbent Gov. Rick Perry, is […]

Washington, DC — Whenever CNN’s John King fills in for Judy Woodruff on Inside Politics, as he did today, the show has more zip, more energy and is just more interesting. Not to slam Judy Woodruff — she’s a superior, talented reporter, and has been for some time — but she seems bored with the […]

Washington, DC — While a young Capitol Hill press secretary in the mid-eighties, my friends and I would often hang out at the House-side watering hole, Bullfeathers, and have a few brews with then-28 year old Congressman John Rowland between key votes and after the session had ended for the night. Those were great days, […]

Washington, DC — What a joke: the baseball executives all made fools of themselves and their sport during congressional hearings today. Hour after hour the bullshitting, the half-truths and the pretending continued until MSNBC simply decided to keey carrying it live, even preempting Hardball. These baseball carneys — especially Bud Selig — were on the […]

Washington, DC — Leslie Gelb, the former New York Timesman, U.S. Government official and now professor emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations turns in a must read Wall Street Journal article on Dick Cheney’s gravitas on the world stage. A few snippets: “Dick Cheney sees the dark side of the world, a reality that […]

Washington, DC — If not apparent by now, it’s abundantly clear the Washington Post is gunning for Tom DeLay. A series of page one investigative pieces by Mike Allen, Jim Grimaldi and other Posties have uncovered some interesting financial disclosure tidbits that, quite frankly, merit the coverage — although perhaps not continuously meriting front page […]

Washington, DC — From just a few informal conversations the past week with various folks in town and in Texas, the looming ’06 intra-party primary race between Texas Governor Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is starting to finally get more chatter, and deservedly so. This is a great and interesting race to watch […]

Delaplane, VA — Despite various viewpoints, 1985 was an outstanding year for the Grateful Dead. Twenty years ago tonite the Dead performed at the cozy, hometown Berkeley Community Theater. The setlist is as follows: 1) Aiko, Little Red Rooster, Dupree’s Diamond Blues, Me and My Uncle>Big River, West L.A. Fadeaway, Looks Like Rain>Dont Ease Me […]

Washington DC — Utah GOP Senator Bob Bennett isn’t a high visibility legislator, but he makes up for it in thoughtfulness and sense of professional seriousness devoid of media antics and cheap photo-ops. As Robert Novak reports today, the plan avoids a payroll tax increase but does cut benefits — graduated to hit hardest in […]

SCHENECTADY, NY — A new EmpirePage.com/Siena Research Institute poll of 600 registered New York State voters (MoE +/- 4%) conducted between 2/28-3/4 finds that after several months of negative news focus on New York First Lady, Libby Pataki, New Yorkers are largely unaware of the coverage — and largely unconcerned even if aware of the […]

Washington, DC — Tom DeLay, hardly one of my favorite members of Congress, raised a very important point in a Reuters article this morning. DeLay points out that while AARP opposes every aspect of the Bush plan to promote private social security accounts, they sell mutual funds to its members. Hypocrisy; a slave to failed […]

Washington, DC — Today’s review of Ari Fleischer’s new memoir by New York Times critic Michiko Kakutani is one of the more disappointing items i’ve seen recently in the newspaper of record. I’m a conservative, but consider the quality, depth and gravitas of Times reporting to be numero uno. Reporting quality is paramount — not […]

Washington DC — Who knew Antonio Bandaras had the great chops to do a vocal duet with Carlos Santana? Their tasteful contribution was easily the most sophisticated and highest quality musical performance of the evening. What more can be said about Santana — The sole high profile lead guitarist survivor of the ’60’s San Fran […]

Washington, DC — Republicans gathered this past weekend for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C. – a premier annual venue for activist, conservative Republicans across the country who help influence and decide presidential primaries. These are important, dedicated opinion leaders who have toiled for decades to enjoy what they do today: an […]

Washington, DC — The consultants who helped dismantle John Kerry’s presidential bid have now been hired by a new group, USA Next, to attack the "non-partisan" American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) as the obstructionist, liberal conglomerate it is — and it’s about time. AARP, which is basically a big business posing as seniors’ advocates […]

Super Bowl halftime shows? Who cares? Janet Jackson’s fashion faux pas? Big deal. For once, halftime was cool. Paul McCartney was a great choice for entertainment as he performed a tasteful though abridged-for-live-tv set. Hey Jude, the closer, was just gaining power as it was cut off for time. With a skilled, experienced band — […]

Finally — following Bob Weir’s brief touring hiatus to recuperate from "exhaustion" following last year’s lengthy spring tour and two long summer swings with the Dead, Ratdog is back out on the road where they belong.   The Anaheim House of Blues, not the most friendly venue I’ve experienced, was the first stop of a […]

While much of the President’s State of the Union speech was pedantic and lacking in the raw rhetorial punch of previous Bush SOTU’s, the closing was amazing; the Norwood moment and the President’s conclusion were the lofty, powerful photo and prose, respectively, that will move him forward again in public opinion. Significantly, and which should […]

The early pictures out of Iraq at 1:15am EST on this historic day shows long lines of voters waiting to cast ballots. Voting is being characterized by CNN’s Nick Robertson as "brisk", and interestingly, women voters outnumbering men by 3-1.  The pictures tell the story — and this remarkable event looks like a huge success […]

When newly-minted NY State GOP Chairman Stephen Minarik recently announced he would handle media relations himself as a cost-saving measure, it was only a matter of time before a high profile error occurred. Unfortunately for him, he screwed up right off the bat — with the New York Times no less — when he openly […]