"For the millions of women who voted for Obama on his promise to protect their reproductive rights, this past weekend's whipsaw on abortion funding is just the latest example of a president who frankly could care less about women beyond their votes. […] He had beers with Skip Gates, but ignored it when Rihanna was almost strangled to death," – Amy Siskind.
Category: Awards
The Limits Of Hoffmanization
A poll came out today showing that Olympia Snowe (R-ME) might be vulnerable to a primary challenge from the right, even though the GOP would probably lose the seat if they forced her off the ticket. Yglesias thinks she will have to switch parties:
This means that when you’re thinking about whether Snowe will support a bill or not, the issue ultimately comes down to not triggers versus non-triggers, or employer mandates versus free rider fees, but whether Snowe wants to remain a Republican or not. Based on this polling, a Snowe who votes for a comprehensive health care overhaul is basically not going to be viable as a GOP primary candidate. Conversely, a Snowe who votes for comprehensive health reform and switches parties would remain a very popular general election candidate with a safe seat.
Malkin Award Nominee
“Of course, most U.S. Muslims don’t shoot up their fellow soldiers. Fine. As soon as Muslims give us a foolproof way to identify their jihadis from their moderates, we’ll go back to allowing them to serve. You tell us who the ones are that we have to worry about, prove you’re right, and Muslims can once again serve. Until that day comes, we simply cannot afford the risk. You invent a jihadi-detector that works every time it’s used, and we’ll welcome you back with open arms. This is not Islamophobia, it is Islamo-realism,” – Director of Issues Analysis, Bryan Fischer, at the American Family Association.
Malkin Award Nominee
"Wonder if he asked for a Koran yet," – Michelle Malkin on Nidal Hasan, who is apparently regaining consciousness.
The sad thing is that Malkin is not wrong to point out the strain of Islamism as a core motive for recent acts of terror, including the Washington sniper shootings. But her solution – the tarring of all Muslims – only helps the Islamists some more.
Von Hoffmann Award Nominee
"Q: Mr. Secretary, on Iraq, how much money do you think the Department of Defense would need to pay for a war with Iraq?
Rumsfeld: Well, the Office of Management and Budget, has come up come up with a number that's something under $50 billion for the cost. How much of that would be the U.S. burden, and how much would be other countries, is an open question. I think the way to put it into perspective is that the estimates as to what September 11th cost the United States of America ranges high up into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Now, another event in the United States that was like September 11th, and which cost thousands of lives, but one that involved a — for example, a biological weapon, would be — have a cost in human life, as well as in billions, hundreds of billions of dollars, that would be vastly greater," – January 19, 2003.
Malkin Award Nominee
"This is no different than the Klan standing outside of voter booths in Alabama when blacks would dare to go vote," – Larry Stickney, the campaign manager of Protect Marriage Washington, regarding the push to make public the 120,000 names on a petition that got an anti-domestic partnership referendum on the ballot today.
Yglesias Award Nominee
Hewitt Award Nominee
"No one but the President and members of his inner circle know the real reason that President Obama has refused to go to Berlin. It’s hard not to suspect, however, that his reluctance springs both from a misplaced sensitivity to the feelings of our former Soviet adversaries – and worse yet, from a misguided sense of shame about America’s Cold War triumph," – Carol Platt Liebau, Townhall.com.
Moore Award Nominee
"Though they constantly liken the president to various totalitarian dictators, it is they who are re-enacting Stalinism in full purge mode," – Frank Rich, on NY-23. Purge yes. Stalin no.
Yglesias Award Nominee
"If I had been free to blog earlier, I would have added my voice to those, starting with Kathryn, who praised the president's dignified trip to Dover Air Force Base to comfort the families of our fallen, and honor the dead. It was well done, and the right thing to do, and I'm delighted. Moreover, he has continued his regular visits to the wounded vets at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval. I had worried, in the first days of his presidency, that he might use these occasions as photo ops and promos for his presidency, but he has not. Morale of our soldiers suffers when he dithers, and soars when they see he understands and honors them. Which he clearly does. Good on him," – Michael Ledeen.
The Dish 