Will somebody take away John McCain’s checkbook? His presidential candidacy is floundering, in part, because he is just spending too much money. The campaign expenditure reports are in and McCain is spending his money just as fast as he’s raising it. In the last quarter, he raised $12 million to Rudy’s $15 million. Sounds close, right? Read more...

Well, MSNBC has decided to terminate Don Imus's appearances on its network and not simulcast his CBS syndicated radio show. Many acknowledge that this obviously leaves CBS with no choice but to sever its ties with him as well. I am a firm believer that the marketplace should make these decisions and that we tread a slippery slope when people are fired for stupid, derisive and blatantly racist comments. What kind of country would we have if this sudden trend continues? I am a defender of free speech no matter how offensive and demeaning its expression. There's also no doubt that if Imus had been anything other than a Caucasian man, he would still be on the airwaves today and held as an icon in many circles. Obviously Imus will land quickly on his feet and will mature and become a better human being from this experience.
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OK, it is still recess and, for us reporters, that means a vacation away from members of Congress (they call it a district work period and they are working hard). So in the absence of the echo chamber, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s newfound support for cutting off funding for the Iraq war seemed like one of those passing remarks he is fond of. And later, as it was buried by the Don Imus brushfire, it began to feel like something I had dreamt and not actually read.

But Congress is set to return to town next week and Reid has indeed boldly moved himself outside the mainstream position of his party, a lonely place one cannot exactly return from with ease. He has aligned himself with Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and supports his legislation for an end to funds come March 31, 2008. Reportedly, Reid made this decision following an emotional visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, but I guess we should assume he has actually weighed this question over weeks, if not months. Read more...

Now that Don Imus’s radio and television shows are safely buried in the cemetery, his racist and sexist comments his epitaph, we need
to ponder the meaning of the entire affair for our body politic.

The ultimate effect of the episode is going to be far-reaching, permanent and profound. It makes a statement once and for all that ethnic and sexist humor is not admissible on the public airwaves. And it's about time!

Don Imus’s essential sin is that he makes racism, sexism and
ethnic hatred fun and entertaining. It is his very humor that makes
him more offensive and dangerous than the most vitriolic of demagogues.
Now all the shock jocks around the country are going to have to clean up
their acts. Read more...

We shouldn’t be surprised at what happened to Don Imus. It’s in the Bible. Hosea 8/7: “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.”

For decades, on the radio, Don Imus sowed the winds of insult, hatred and racism. And this week — after one ugly comment that shocked an entire nation — he finally reaped the whirlwind.

Good for NBC for getting his poison off the air. The only question is: Why’d it take them so long? The Rutgers basketball champions weren’t the first women, blacks or Jews he’d offended. Read more...

As Chuck Hagel said, America rejected a king long ago. As George Will wrote, some of the seizures of presidential power demonstrate monarchical tendencies.

As former Congressman Bob Barr and former House Republican Leader Dick Armey have said, some of these extreme actions violate classic notions of conservatism, Republicanism and common sense.

These individuals and other very principled conservatives have spoken out strongly and clearly. They are not liberals, Democrats or progressives, and they would disagree with much of what I write on many things, but have spoken out with integrity on matters that have gone terribly wrong. Read more...

Only Senator Barack Obama had the courage to stand up and demand that radio talk-show host Don Imus be fired. The other presidential candidates, including Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton and John McCain punted and condemned his statements but stopped short of urging his dismissal.

Imus commits the ultimate sin almost every time he goes on the air:  He makes bigotry fun and hatred entertaining. His ethnic jokes appeal to the basest of our prejudices and legitimize them.  When he calls former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney’s hairstyle “buckwheat big hair” or he lets comedians on his show refer to “bagel-eating little Jew boys” and attributes their protests in their community to the fact that “they raised the price of bagels a nickel,” he spews his poison on the airwaves. Read more...

Today, I am making a prediction. If I am right, please give me all the credit worthy of an oracle. If I am wrong, please disregard this notice.

I predict Al Gore will be the nominee for president for the Democratic Party.

Here is my reasoning: First, by the end of this year, it will become clear that Rudy Giuliani is the strongest candidate from the Republican side, panicking Democrats who know that neither Obama nor Hillary Clinton can beat Rudy. (In full disclosure, I am on Team Rudy, not officially, but emotionally.) Read more...

Well, what do you know? President Bush wants to meet with congressional Democrats. He wants to meet with them to discuss funding for the war in Iraq. In fact, he’s invited them down to the White House next Tuesday, April 17.

There’s only one catch. Bush told them ahead of time: Unless you’re coming down here to agree with me 100 percent, don’t bother.

And, in response, Democrats did the right thing. Both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) told Bush: You say ahead of time you won’t budge. Guess what, George? You can take your meeting and shove it. Read more...