The Democratic Daily

Although state officials are not convinced that “the Prairie Parkway connector is the best way to ease traffic in the growing region outside Chicago” when Bush signed the massive Highway Bill today, Dennis Hastert’s “district made out particularly well.” Illinois was second only to California in the amount of money earmarked for special projects — $1.3 billion — in the transportation bill, according to an analysis by the budget watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense. Locals are concerned that the Prairie Parkway connector “will promote urban sprawl, hurt the environment and swallow up fertile farmland.” Members of a local group opposed to the plan argue it will encourage rapid and uncontrolled growth throughout the area and hurt the environment. A … Continue reading →

In the past three weeks the price of a barrel of oil has raised 14%. “Data suggest U.S. oil supplies growing, gas inventories shrinking”… Oil prices zoomed higher Wednesday, touching a new high of $65 a barrel, with buyers focused on refinery snags, shrinking U.S. inventories of gasoline and motorists’ growing thirst for fuel despite record-high costs.

Nearly all Americans have an opinion about Hillary Rodham Clinton, the junior senator from New York, and if she runs for president, as expected, she will begin her quest for the Democratic nomination well ahead of her rivals. On one point, still with 2-1/2 years to go before the first caucuses or primaries, political analysts agree: The nomination is hers to lose. Continue reading →

Worried about what might pop up… Bush aides are pouring through tens of thousands of Roberts’ papers and doucments looking for surprises. Thrown on the defensive by recent revelations about Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.’s legal work, White House aides are delaying the release of tens of thousands of documents from the Reagan administration to give themselves time to find any new surprises before they are turned into political ammunition by Democrats. Perhaps Bush’s advance team should have considered looking through these papers before announcing his nomination. The WaPo reports “there was no comprehensive effort to examine the voluminous paper trail from his previous tours as an important legal and political hand under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George … Continue reading →

More bad news for the Governator… A state appeals court on Tuesday refused to put Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s redistricting initiative back on November’s special election ballot. The 3rd District Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 decision, said supporters’ use of two versions of the initiative in the certification process was a “clear violation of the constitutional and statutory procedures for the circulation of an initiative petition.” The petitioners were under a duty to disclose the discrepancies as soon as they learned of them…,” said the ruling by Justices Coleman Blease and M. Kathleen Butz. “Their failure to make a public disclosure has tainted … the ballot pamphlet review process.”

It wasn’t long ago that Bush was cooing incessantly about how he was going to create an “ownership society” and his precious tax cuts were part of that package. While he was touting how he was going to make achieving the American Dream easier, those of us with sense knew better. Continue reading →

Christopher D. Morris is a writer and critic from VT, makes a healthy argument about why the “Catholic bishops threatened to exclude Senator John Kerry from the Eucharist because of his support for Roe v. Wade” should be asked “whether the same threats would apply to Supreme Court nominee Judge Roberts, if he were to vote to uphold Roe v. Wade.” Continue reading →

John Kerry sent out a fundraising email today for his KeepingAmerica’s Promise PAC. Here’s a few quips… They tried to put a brave public face on. But, as they gathered in Pittsburgh this past weekend, GOP leaders and campaign strategists couldn’t hide the fact that they’ve got their political backs to the wall. Last week, Democrat Paul Hackett, a political newcomer and Iraqi combat veteran, came within 4,600 votes of winning an Ohio special election in a heavily Republican district. Republican operatives laughed about how easily they could defend this district until Ohio voters shocked them and sent a clear signal of what 2006 holds. Rick Santorum — the poster boy for the most extreme elements of the Bush agenda … Continue reading →