Bird’s-Eye View

Breathe a sigh of relief. Call off the search dogs. The kids can come out the play, again.
Late last night, Gov. Ed Rendell announced an agreement between his office and the Legislature over a budget that was more than $500 million less than what Rendell wanted. Here’s some details from his press release:
The Governor said […]

[Read more →]

I know many of you love New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd about as much as the smell of manure, but she makes an interesting point in her latest column:
Charlie Black crassly argued in Fortune that a terrorist attack would “be a big advantage” for John McCain … .
It’s hard to believe that if Americans […]

[Read more →]

Here’s something from the F&M poll that’s been underreported today:
“About seven in ten (66 percent) registered adults believe that the problems they are facing can be solved with the help of the government.”
As director of the F&M poll, G. Terry Madonna, said during an interview Thursday night: “You and I both know (free market policies) work […]

[Read more →]

June may be the cruelest month, not April, because all those voter polls really don’t tell us much about what’s going to happen in November. We’re four months out from the election, and anything - a foreign attack, a major scandal, Swift Boating - can change the playing field and equalize any advantage one candidate […]

[Read more →]

So … how’s your “well-regulated militia” these days?
The Supreme Court is expected to rule today on whether the District of Columbia’s ban on handguns violates the second amendment. At issue is whether the divisive Second Amendment guarantees an individual’s right to carry firearms or does it only reserve the privilege for “militias.” And what did […]

[Read more →]

The U.S. Senate passed a foreclosure rescue bill 83-9, but President Bush is threatening a veto.
It’s a convoluted bill, and I’m going to focus on one aspect. From the Associated Press:
Congressional leaders also are divided on how high to place loan limits that apply to government mortgage insurance and financing. The Senate bill sets those […]

[Read more →]

Oh Louisiana … How did thee not learn the lesson of our sweet Commonwealth? From the New York Times:
The reformist image of Gov. Bobby Jindal, considered by Republicans a top potential vice-presidential choice, has recently taken a beating after Mr. Jindal refused to veto a sizable pay increase that Louisiana legislators voted for themselves this month.
The […]

[Read more →]

As Aerosmith once said, “I’m back in the saddle, again!” Had a couple of nice days off, and I see the political arena has gotten itself in a frenzy.
Some random thoughts:
Obama foregoes public financing
I spent a couple of days with close friends in York County. One of them - mother of two, college educated, someone I […]

[Read more →]

Former Gov. Tom Ridge said on Fox News this morning he would consider becoming Republican John McCain’s running mate if the presumptive nominee asked him.
There are two reasons why I think Ridge won’t become the vice president pick.
First, Ridge is pro-choice on abortion, and if you thought the conservative wing of the GOP is unhappy […]

[Read more →]

It is waaaaaaay too early to make any definitive conclusions about November based on a poll in June, but …
The results are part of the Quinnipiac University poll conducted simultaneously in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania asking likely voters their opinions of 2008 presidential hopefuls.
Sen. Obama, who holds a 52 to 40 percent edge over Sen. […]

[Read more →]