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The rumors are true. First Lady Michelle Obama is the March Vogue cover girl, the Washington Post reported yesterday. And MSNBC revealed the secret cover, photographed by Annie Leibovitz at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C.: Image

WASHINGTONIANS EXPECT THE ROAD closures and Metro delays, the stuffy black-tie galas and VIP sightings, and the patriotic decorations and memorabilia on every street corner. This inauguration was different. When Barack Obama was sworn-in on Tuesday the nation's capital was suddenly turned into a…

Barack Obama isn't even sworn-in yet, and Inauguration Week is in full-swing with countless black-tie galas, concerts, and parties taking place throughout Washington, D.C. And Washingtonians and visitors alike are starstruck by the hoardes of A-list (and D-list) celebrities in the city--lining up…

The entire country is wondering: Who designed Michelle Obama's inaugural gown? For the first time in First Lady history, we won't find out the designer of this much-hyped dress until Tuesday. This is a "break with precedent," reports the Washington Times, since the "designer of the First Lady's…

Just as they did during the campaign season, some of New York's top fashion designers have created "the Runway for Change Inaugural Collection, a series of high fashion handbags and T-shirts created by some of America's most renowned designers in celebration of the Inauguration of President-elect…

THE WEEKLY STANDARD gets a shoutout in the January issue of Vogue in a profile of CNN's Campbell Brown: She spends her mornings with the papers and the blogs: Politico.com, Realclearpolitics.com, William Kristol's The Weekly Standard, and the Huffington Post. Speaking of Vogue, Fashion Week Daily…

Get ready, Washington, for the most glamorous, star-studded weekend to grace the Beltway in recent history: Barack Obama's inauguration weekend. Barack and Michelle Obama will party at all 10 of the official balls, one more than George and Laura Bush attended in 2005. This year the official balls…

narciso.jpg Obama in Narciso Rodriguez on Nov. 4

Everyone is talking about Sarah Palin's $150,000 in clothing and accessories from department stores like Saks and Neiman Marcus. To echo my colleague, Palin is a woman who presumably had few television-worthy outfits (or accessories or makeup or haircuts), nor the personal income to buy them…

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Rather than simply donate money to a campaign, you can purchase an accessory from a company that gives part of the proceeds to your candidate or political party. Designer BYLU created chunky, colored enamel bracelets stamped with gold graffiti-style "Obama '08." The bracelets cost $100 each and $50…

During Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City last week, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker hosted Runway for Change, a fashion-industry fundraiser for Barack Obama. The event also marked the debut of designer Barack Obama merchandise, like a tote bag by Diane Von Furstenberg,…

palinred.jpg Sarah Palin's red peep-toe Naughty Monkey pumps

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The Washington Post reports today that African American Republicans are frustrated by the lack of minorities showcased in the Republican Convention this week, and in the party in general: Only 36 of the 2,380 delegates seated on the convention floor are black, the lowest number since the Joint…

Today Gloria Steinem criticizes Sarah Palin, writing that she "opposes just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality." Steinem believes that McCain's selection of Palin "is no way to attract most women, including die-hard Clinton supporters." But other women disagree. Steinem…

Sarah Palin slammed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last night, and his press secretary responded by calling her speech "shrill and sarcastic." The term "shrill" is a word we've heard used to describe female candidates before. During Hillary Clinton's campaign, pundits everywhere called her…

While Fred Thompson fired up the crowd tonight, the lovely and classy lady in red, First Lady Laura Bush, got some of the loudest applause before her speech that emphasized the many women in the Bush administration. She also noted the administration's work for AIDs relief and got a good laugh for…

Yesterday in St. Paul, Republican National Convention platform chair Congressman Kevin McCarthy presented the official GOP platform, which was created with input from thousands of Americans. Kevin McCarthy is a freshman congressman from Bakersfield, California. Last year, I profiled him in THE…

THE WEEKLY STANDARD now has a YouTube Channel! We'll also post our videos here on the blog. My director/camerawoman Catherine Daniel and I met some Republican delegates yesterday as they entered the Xcel Center for Day 1 of the Republican National Convention: Check back soon for more videos from…

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's vice-presidential candidacy makes conservative women proud--and excited that the ceiling with 18 million cracks might be broken by a conservative Republican woman rather than Hillary Clinton. Palin's life story is fascinating, and I'm excited to learn more about this…

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It's only Day 1 of the Democratic Convention, and there's already drama for Barack Obama. First, things aren't looking so certain in the polls. CNN reports that the race is a "dead heat": "In a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll out Sunday night, 47 percent of those questioned are backing…

It's "Veep Week," says The Trail's Dan Balz, and practically every blogger has a contribution to what he calls the "orgy of speculation." Both candidates are expected to announce their VP before the end of next week. The New York Times reported yesterday that Barack Obama "has all but settled" on…

Earlier in the summer, fashion designers held a $10,000-per-plate fundraiser for Barack Obama featuring his fashionable wife Michelle. Now with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC just around the corner, the fashion industry will be using the hype about the Spring 2009 collections to promote Obama's…

Before Congress adjourned for the August recess, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would not permit the House to vote on opening the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling, calling such proposals a "decoy." Meanwhile, many House Republicans stayed in D.C. to protest the lack of a vote, and recent polls…

The Olympics brings out the patriot and sports fan in all of us--especially since the winningest Olympian ever is from the United States. Last night, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps won his eleventh Olympic gold medal and smashed two more world records, including the men's 200-meter butterfly with…

Want 2 B the first 2 know Barack Obama's VP choice? You can sign up to receive a text message alert when he decides! Is this a good idea? Hot Air's Ed Morrissey concludes, "Instead of looking presidential in making this announcement, Obama looks like a parent trying too hard to be hip around his…

Although 73 percent of Americans favor offshore drilling, Speaker Nancy Pelosi won't allow the House of Representatives to vote on the Republican bill to lift the drilling ban. In a recent CNN interview, Pelosi said she has "no plans" to schedule a vote on it because she opposes drilling in…

Rapper Ludacris has released a new song called "Politics: Obama Is Here." In the song, Ludacris attacks Hillary Clinton, John McCain, President Bush, even Jesse Jackson, with nasty, hateful words. An excerpt: Said I handled his biz and I'm one of his favorite rappers Well give Luda a special pardon…

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was indicted yesterday "on seven counts of failing to disclose thousands of dollars in services he received from a company that helped renovate his home." MSNBC reports: Prosecutors said Stevens received more than $250,000 in gifts and services from VECO Corp., a powerful…

Barack Obama returned home to lots of press about his World Tour--but not the press he had hoped for. The candidate has been criticized for canceling his visit to wounded U.S. troops in Landstuhl, Germany. ABC's Jake Tapper says, "The campaign had initially said that Sen. Obama had said he thought…

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It's official: The media are consumed by the fire of their love for Barack Obama: And the public is catching on. As I noted earlier today, a new Rasmussen report shows that "49% of voters believe most reporters will try to help the Democrat with their coverage." And 45 percent think that "most…

Today's catch phrase is "media bias." Yesterday--the same day Drudge revealed that the New York Times rejected John McCain's op-ed rebutting Barack Obama's op-ed in the same paper--Rasmussen released a timely report: The idea that reporters are trying to help Obama win in November has grown by five…

Barack Obama's much-publicized Middle East trip is in full swing. As Newsbusters notes, his basketball games and photo-ops are getting a lot of attention from the mainstream media. What has Obama been up to in Afghanistan? At Contentions, Jennifer Rubin says not much: Obama "hasn't proved himself…

We know that Time and the three network news anchors adore Barack Obama. But Elle magazine? Elle associate publisher Samantha Fennell is leaving the magazine to work for the Obama campaign. On the Elle Tell All blog--a "fashion, design, and style" blog--Fennell explains, Barack Obama must be…

Yesterday, President Bush lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf. In a press conference, Bush said, "With this action, the executive branch's restrictions on this exploration have been cleared away. This means that the only thing standing between the American…

It's official: Barack Obama has given up on the NASCAR vote. On Friday, Sports Illustrated reported that Obama's campaign was "in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing's No. 49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3," and to be the first presidential candidate in history to…

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton held a unity rally in New York to raise money to pay off Hillary's debt. The only problem, as the Los Angeles Times reports, is that Obama "forgot the fund part," and nearly ran off stage before remembering that he needs to raise funds for Hillary: At Real Clear…

After yesterday's Senate FISA vote, bloggers on both the right and left are in rare agreement over Barack Obama's character. The FISA bill passed 69-28, with Obama voting "yes"...and, interestingly, with Hillary Clinton appeasing the netroots and voting "no." As ABC's Jake Tapper explains, this is…

You may remember Hillary Clinton's Project T-Shirt, in which you could vote for Hillary's next T-shirt design. Well, the winner is in--even if it's a little late to show your support for Hillary. All of you grrrrl power girls who "refuse to be knocked out" should buy the shirt...and help the fallen…

Big Democratic convention news yesterday: Barack Obama will give his acceptance speech at the 75,000-seat Denver Broncos' Invesco Field, rather than the measly 20,000-seat convention hall as originally planned. Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe wrote in an email, "Barack will leave the…

Over the weekend, Barack Obama got quite a bit of flak for his most recent flip-flops. First flip: Iraq. Last week he said, "When I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I am sure I'll have more information and will continue to refine my policies." He then…

Today's handgun ruling from the Supreme Court is good news for women. As Megan McArdle says, the gun issue is a feminist issue because "guns are the only weapon that equalizes strength between attacker and attacked. It's the only time when men's greater speed, strength, and longer reach make no…

The Supreme Court made a good, constitutional decision today, say bloggers, but yesterday's Kennedy v. Louisiana was a different matter. The Court ruled that convicted child rapists cannot be executed. The case was brought by Patrick Kennedy, who brutally raped his 8-year-old stepdaughter and was…

Obamaseal.jpg Photo: Alex Brandon/Associated Press.

Not only are the Obamas fashionable, but they actually inspire fashion. Last week, many high-end fashion designers attended a fundraiser in honor of Michelle Obama. New York magazine reports that tickets for the event cost as much as $10,000, and even designers-to-the-stars like Zac Posen, Isaac…

Over the weekend, bloggers were buzzing about yet another flip flop from Barack Obama: He now will support the House FISA compromise bill, even though he didn't back in February. Obama said he will support the FISA compromise, which Politico's Ben Smith explains "offers retroactive immunity to…

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Domestic drilling has been the buzz all week. Most Americans (67 percent per Rasmussen) support offshore drilling. And now John McCain, Florida Governor Charlie Crist, and President Bush are calling for an end to the moratorium on offshore drilling, while Barack Obama is taking the 33 percent side…

Winnie-the-Pooh---Group-Rainbow-Poster-C10315413.jpeg Obama's National Security Council?

At a Philadelphia fundraiser on Friday, Obama explained his new tactic for dealing with Republicans' attacks. "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun," he told the audience. And bloggers, of course, are all over this latest Obama line. At Pajamas Media, Bob Owens explains that this is…

Remember Jim Johnson? The former head of Fannie Mae was on Obama's VP-vetting team until the media highlighted his shady Countrywide loan deals--a bit of a problem since Obama has criticized Countrywide for such deals. As expected, Johnson resigned because he "would not dream of being a party to…

Obama doesn't seem to have a problem with high gas prices if they hit Americans' wallets gradually: CNBC: So can these high [gas] prices help us? OBAMA: I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. Talk about out of touch. NRO's Jim Geraghty has more. Watch the RNC's video:

Not only will the Obamas right our wrongdoings, slow the rise of the oceans, and save all mankind, but they also apparently have fantastic fashion sense. First, Vogue's April It Girl Michelle has been heralded for her "potential to bring a more fashion-forward aesthetic into the White House,"…

Readers of THE WEEKLY STANDARD might assume that Sex and the City: The Movie was just terrible. But finally, we have a man's man who recognizes the wit and charm of this wildly entertaining, if unrealistic, TV series and film: None other than Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. New York's…

Have you heard of Jim Johnson? The former head Fannie Mae is one of Obama's "VP vetters." And as the New York Sun reports, Johnson took at least five real estate loans totaling more than $7 million from Countrywide Financial Corp. through an informal program for friends of the company's CEO, Angelo…

The weekend buzz was Hillary Clinton's speech suspending her campaign and endorsing Obama. But many of her supporters--particularly older, feminist women--are "devastated and angry," according to ABC News. Hillary thus "made gender a central theme of her concession speech": "I ran as a daughter who…

Obama should have been able to breathe a sigh of relief since she's finally gone. But instead, loyal Obama supporter Tony Rezko was convicted on 16 of 24 charges of corruption. What did Obama say? "I am saddened by today's verdict. This isn't the Tony Rezko I knew." Seriously. Power Line's Scott…

ABC News took a look at the "10 worst running mates Barack Obama could choose." It's a who's who of Obama's controversial friends and supporters: Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Father Michael Pfleger, and the Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, to name a few. As ABC's Jake Tapper said in the…

Hillary gets? Word is that Hillary is "open" to being Obama's veep and is "withholding a formal departure from the race partly to use her remaining leverage to press for a spot on the ticket," according to the AP. Bloggers are yet again buzzing about the possibility of a Democratic "dream" ticket.…

Yesterday, John McCain gave a speech to AIPAC, in which he reiterated U.S. support for Israel and called for tougher sanctions on Iran. He also jabbed Obama on his willingness to meet with Iranian leadership: Even so, we hear talk of a meeting with the Iranian leadership offered up as if it were…

Hillary Clinton and her supporters have complained of rampant misogyny toward her in this election, even from Obama. And now, some savvy feminists are pushing back against the sexism and helping the McCain effort. ABC's Jake Tapper reports: The founder of the DFL Feminist Caucus in swing state…

Trinity United Church of Christ, "days after the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a visiting Catholic priest, mocked Obama's Democratic rival during a sermon at Trinity United," reports CNN. Bloggers have many questions for Obama. At Contentions, John Podhoretz says, "There's something about this decision…

At a campaign event yesterday, John McCain said, "I can look you in the eye and tell you [the surge] is succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels." Obama-supporter John Kerry then attacked McCain on his "comprehension" of Iraq: "It's very disturbing to have John McCain constantly raise…

If you're a fan of Project Runway, you may appreciate Hillary Clinton's Project T-Shirt, where you can be Heidi Klum for a day and vote for Hillary's next campaign t-shirt design (H/T TNR). I think the popsicle-colored Warhol-inspired design is the best choice, because it will make a great beach…

Yesterday, the AP reported that John McCain "sharply criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for not having been to Iraq since 2006, and said they should visit the war zone together." Why not? They could visit the troops, bond a little before the coming bitter end of the campaign season, and not…

Obama supporters are asking why their man had to go and open his mouth again. As ABC's Jake Tapper says, Obama is a "one-man gaffe machine," and this Memorial Day was no exception. At his Memorial Day speech in New Mexico, Obama said (along with other questionable statements), On this Memorial Day,…

Obama sure has been saying some goofy things lately. First, Obama shocked many of us when he said, "We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times...and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK." We can't? Isn't this America? Power…

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Newsweek hearts Obama

Over the weekend, bloggers discussed a few more of Obama's problems. And as these bloggers note, you have to rely on the blogs to hear about these issues, since the mainstream media just loves him too much. First, Obama had to get rid of yet another friend. Obama fired Robert Malley, his Middle…

After losing to Obama in North Carolina and barely winning Indiana (as of now, anyways), Hillary is nearly finished. As I write this, Drudge is already calling Obama "The Nominee." The Fix's Chris Cillizza explains, "A substantial margin by Obama in the Tarheel State and--at best--a VERY narrow…

Yesterday, ahead of crucial primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, two people caused trouble for Obama: his wife Michelle, and his first fundraiser Bill Ayers. Will he disown them if he loses today? Michelle Obama has been projecting anger and bitterness on the campaign trail. First, bloggers are…

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Last night, Hillary appeared on The O'Reilly Factor with part one of a two-part interview in the "no spin zone." The left was up in arms about the interview. Blogger "SilentPatriot" at Crooks and Liars, for example, complained, "I really don't understand why Clinton (and Obama last Sunday) would…

After Jeremiah Wright's recent speeches to the NAACP and the National Press Club, Obama took the advice of bloggers and denounced his former pastor once and for all: Barack Obama said he was "outraged" by Wright's comments at the National Press Club Monday, and "saddened by the spectacle."... "The…

Rev. Wright continues to sink Obama. At the Real Clear Politics blog, Tom Bevan sums up the buzz after Wright's National Press Club speech: "Jeremiah Wright has managed to do the impossible this political season: unite pundits from the left and the right in agreement about how badly he's hurting…

It seems like Obama's pastor problem isn't going away anytime soon. Obama appeared on Fox News Sunday yesterday, and Hot Air's Ed Morrissey sums it up: "It wasn't a disaster, but it still reveals Obama to be out of touch and hard to the Left. Don't expect this to help in Indiana." The most…

Aside from Pennsylvania, the recurrent buzz this week has been Obama's connection to terrorists/criminals Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. The conservative blogosphere has been particularly dilligent in covering yet another of Obama's alarming connections. Power Line's John Hinderaker describes them…

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From the WORLDWIDE STANDARD: Kristol: Petraeus to CENTCOM From TWS Online: Hillary Builds Her Case, by Fred Barnes From the Wall Street Journal: Obama's Media Army, by Dorothy Rabinowitz From RealClearPolitics: Unconventional Thoughts on the Democratic Primary, by Jay Cost s-BILL-AYERS-large.jpg…

Not John McCain, that's for sure. Despite being out-spent, out-hoped, and out-changed, Hillary won yesterday's Pennsylvania primary by about 10 points. She will continue the primary fight, even though she remains out-delegated, and unless she unexpectedly sweeps the upcoming primaries, Obama will…

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Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are facing a difficult primary in Pennsylvania today, and bloggers are sizing up each candidate's chances. Hillary is doing well in PA. Yesterday Marc Ambinder said that Hillary's campaign has "a fierce urgency of the now." The Fix's Chris Cillizza noted that…

In the wake of last night's debate, bloggers disagree about the performance of the moderators, but as to who won, well, nobody thinks it was Barack. The debate certainly defined the differences between the candidates, says the Fix's Chris Cillizza: "Clinton billed herself as a known commodity and a…

Tonight, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will debate in PA ahead of next week's primary. Given the recent ad wars between the candidates--over Bittergate and campaign money from oil companies--the debate might provide some hilarious prime-time nastiness. Bring the popcorn! The Bittergate ads…

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Last week, former president Jimmy Carter made headlines with his plans to meet with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Syria. Carter arrived in the Middle East on Sunday, and Reuters reported yesterday that "Israeli leaders shunned former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during a visit because of his plans…

Barack Obama's "bittergate" blew up the blogosphere over what would have been an otherwise quiet weekend. At a San Francisco fundraiser last Sunday Obama said, You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25…

The big news today is Bill Clinton's latest campaign-ending remarks about Hillary's 1996 Bosnia trip . ABC reports: President Clinton's described his wife's experience, saying, "There was a lot of fulminating because Hillary, one time late at night when she was exhausted, misstated and immediately…

Elton John sang at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser last night at Radio City Music Hall. The event raised over $2.5 million for the campaign--but I'll leave the potential legal issues to others. What really made headlines after the event was Elton John's comments to the 5,000 concert-goers. The New…

Fox News is reporting that former president Jimmy Carter will meet with Khaled Meshal, the leader of Hamas, later this month. Hamas has been designated by the U.S. government as a "foreign terrorist organization." It is committed to Islamic fundamentalism, destroying Israel, and, according to the…

As General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker begin day two of their Capitol Hill testimony, bloggers are wrapping up the buzz from yesterday's hearings with the Senate Armed Forces and Foreign Relations committees. Check out the Lede's concise liveblog of the hearings (and Michelle Malkin's for a…

Bloggers on both sides of the aisle say good riddance to Mark Penn, pollster and now-former chief Clinton campaign strategist. Penn--who continued his PR work while working for the Clinton campaign--created huge controversy last week when he met with Colombia's ambassador to discuss a free-trade…

The latest celebrity endorsement, via TMZ: Jane Fonda. Andrew Malcolm at the LA Times's Top of the Ticket blog reports: Jane Fonda, the actress and ardent anti-Vietnam War advocate who visited North Vietnam during those hostilities, has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president... The problem…

From the Wall Street Journal: The Second Iran-Iraq War, by Kimberly Kagan. From the New York Sun: General Petraeus's Return, by the editors. From TWS Online: Obama-Kerry '08!, by Dean Barnett. From Commentary's Contentions blog: Silly Season for McCain, by John Podhoretz. From the Long War Journal:…

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If Jeanne Assam didn't convince you that individuals should have the right to carry a gun, perhaps this case of a Des Moines pizza deliveryman who shot an armed robber in self defense will: An armed pizza deliveryman told Des Moines police that he shot a man who tried to rob him at gunpoint…

Could labor issues hurt Democrats this election? According to new survey data from McLaughlin & Associates and the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, Democrats may suffer at the polls if labor issues like the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) become big election issues. EFCA would change…

Happy April Fools Day! I know you wouldn't believe me if I tried to trick you and said Goldfarb was henceforth replacing all guns-and-aircraft posts with fashion coverage. But here are some funny--true and untrue--tidbits from around the blogosphere. Enjoy! 10. A true story yesterday that got more…

Obama's endorsements are piling up, and the cries for Hillary to exit the race are getting louder. But even if you're not a Hillary fan, the claims that she alone is dividing the party seem ludicrous--certainly the Rev. Wright fiasco is as much to blame. Yet Hillary seems to determined to squander…

Former vice president Al Gore is back in the media spotlight, and the blogosphere is buzzing about what's next for everyone's favorite sore loser. The weekend news was Gore's $300 million campaign "to try to push climate change higher on the nation's political agenda." The Politico reported…

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Yesterday, the Clinton Presidential Library released, to much fanfare, 11,000+ pages of Hillary's schedules from her time as First Lady. Journalists were eager to dig up dirt on the presidential candidate, hoping the schedules would reveal truths about Hillary's proclaimed executive and foreign…

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Bloggers are still buzzing about Obama's pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his controversial, America-hating sermons. On Friday, Wright left his post on Obama's campaign, and Obama has since denounced the most offensive sermon in a Huffington Post op-ed and claimed he was not aware of Wright's…

From the New York Sun: Report Details Saddam's Terrorist Ties, by Eli Lake From the Wall Street Journal: The Bare Necessities: A Generation Tries to Imagine Life Without iPods, by Stephen Moore From the Heritage Foundation: The Surge in Iraq: One Year Later, lecture by Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno,…

Yesterday, director of national intelligence Mike McConnell participated in a foreign affairs symposium at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. This interesting exchange occurred between McConnell and Hopkins political science professor Dr. Stephen David: DR. DAVID: Let me talk about torture.…

Bloggers have gotten a good laugh out of a video ad created by some enthusiastic Hillary supporters (via Ben Smith and Hot Air): I don't want "Hillary in the House," but I'd sure like to see this guy on Broadway. Now, is Obama a little worried that his super-cool celebrity supporters don't match…

From THE WEEKLY STANDARD Online: The Fall of Admiral George B. McFallon, by Mackubin Thomas Owens From the Washington Times: Pelosi's FISA Sabotage, by the editors From the New York Sun: McCain in Jerusalem, by the editors From Jules Crittenden's Blog: Yeah, But, by Jules Crittenden Dean already…

Just posted on THE WEEKLY STANDARD Online is an article by Mackubin Thomas Owens about Admiral William "Fox" Fallon and his recent resignation. Owens explains that Fallon's resignation was largely due to a recent Esquire article about Fallon's very public disagreements with the Bush administration…

From the Wall Street Journal: The Pentagon vs. Petraeus, by the editors From the Los Angeles Times: Fallon Didn't Get It, by Max Boot From the Village Voice: Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal', by David Mamet From the Washington Times: China Left Off List of Violators, by Nicholas Kralev…

The Associated Press reports today: Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday joined Republican presidential candidate John McCain and a small band of GOP senators in making a run this week against the billions of dollars in home-state pet projects Congress funds each year. Obama,…

From the Wall Street Journal: Spitzer's Rise and Fall From the New York Post: Gov. Longshot?, by Fred Siegel From USA Today: Reality and the Iraq War, by Michael O'Hanlon From the Long War Journal: Targeting Mosul's Kidnappers, by Bill Roggio From Commentary's Contentions: Lost in the Scandal, by…

The latest trend coming to a Toys 'R' Us near you: war-on-terror toys! I remember thinking my little brother's Star Wars Legos were way cooler than the traditional generic red, blue, and yellow Lego bricks I had. But now Legos have gotten even better and more realistic with BrickArms's Kops,…

Last week, Hillary suggested that she could run on a ticket with Obama--provided she is at the top of the ticket, of course. Bloggers were mostly skeptical of the idea of this "dream ticket." This week, the Clintons are continuing to push the idea on the campaign trail: Bill said the duo would be…

From the New York Times: McCain's Daunting Task, by the boss From the American: Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?, by Christina Hoff Sommers From the Middle East Journal: In the Villages of Al Anbar, by Michael J. Totten From Michael Yon's Online Magazine: Guitar Heroes, by Michael Yon From the…

What's scarier than Madam President Clinton or President Obama? A Clinton-Obama ticket (or vice versa). Bill and Michelle included. From the CNN ticker: The morning after primary wins in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island, Hillary Clinton said she would consider being part of a Democratic "dream ticket"…

Finally, there is an Iraq war demonstration that we can support. Three retired Army officers who have recently returned from Iraq have just embarked on the Resolve to Win March: a 16-day, 400-mile walk from South Carolina to Washington, D.C., to show support for our troops and their efforts in Iraq…

It's time for Republicans to rally around the official nominee: John McCain. He won every primary yesterday, and his last remaining opponent, Mike Huckabee, has dropped out. Now pundits and bloggers forecast the coming months for McCain. At the WEEKLY STANDARD Online, Fred Barnes describes "three…

Today's Texas and Ohio primaries could decide the Democratic nominee. If Obama is able to sweep both states, he will likely be the nominee--and given his swoon-inducing factor, many Republicans think he will be more difficult to beat than Hillary. But now it looks like the media is getting tougher…

Gloria Steinem

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On Tuesday morning, a fierce Hillary Clinton was ready to throw the "kitchen sink" at Barack Obama. But by Tuesday night's debate, Hillary was again whiney and defensive. Bloggers say Obama won the debate--not due to the substance of his arguments, but because Hillary just plain blew it. Susan…

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This weekend, Ralph Nader announced on Meet the Press that he will run for president for the fifth time, as the Green party candidate. Nader was never much of a threat to candidates in past elections, and while bloggers agree that he has no chance of winning, they disagree about how his run will…

Last week, the House Republican leadership chose Alabama representative Jo Bonner to fill an empty seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee. The seat opened up when Roger Wicker of Mississippi was appointed to the Senate in December to replace Trent Lott. Bonner was a favorite to win the slot:…

Today, the New York Times unloaded this story about John McCain's supposed ethics issues and insinuates that he had a "romantic relationship" with lobbyist Vicki Iseman. The ethical issues are very old news, both McCain and Iseman have denied the allegations of an affair, and the McCain campaign…

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The emerging buzz today is that Hezbollah leader and co-founder Imad Mughniyeh was killed early this morning by a carbomb in Syria. CNN describes him as "suspected in some of the deadliest terrorist attacks of the last 25 years and a reputed role model for Osama bin Laden." Mughniyeh is said to be…

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You might have missed it, but bloggers didn't: Last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams made a case for acceptance of sharia law, and is now facing fierce criticism and calls to resign. The BBC reported: Dr. Rowan Williams told Radio 4's World at One that the UK has to "face up to…

sarah-palin.jpg Better looking than Cheney.

Yesterday's post-Super-Tuesday blogging was a bit chaotic--and you really only need to read Richelieu anyways, right? With Mitt Romney now out of the race, McCain is the clear nominee. But what should his next move be? Yesterday morning, McCain said said, "Is there a lot of work to unite the entire…

Today is Super Duper (Fat) Tuesday, and hundreds of delegates are at stake. While Barack Obama was advertising during the Super Bowl and Hillary Clinton was crying in Connecticut, the Republicans were largely focused on California. Although John McCain is generally considered the frontrunner and…

Yesterday, the nonpartisan National Journal released its 27th annual vote rankings and named Barack Obama as the #1 most liberal senator in 2007: "The insurgent presidential candidate shifted further to the left last year in the run-up to the primaries, after ranking as the 16th- and…

Today's buzz is the showdown between John McCain and Mitt Romney at last night's Republican debate in California, and bloggers are sharply divided on the winner. The two sparred over each other's conservative credentials and stances on Iraq. Live-blogging at Pajamas Media, Bridget Johnson reports…

It's only been about 15 hours since President Bush delivered his final State of the Union address, and already it's old news. Still, bloggers had a lot to say about the speech and the president's audience. As Fred Barnes noted on Fox News after the speech, Bush's line of the night was really funny…

Is Hillary's campaign about to self-destruct? That's the buzz today. From calling for delegates to be reinstated in Michigan and Florida to the disguised smear of John McCain, the Clintons are playing dirty. And the cherry on top: Bill's racial remark in South Carolina. Today in the New York Times,…

Finally, we see some persistence from Rudy Giuliani. MSNBC's First Read reports on a Giuliani campaign stop at the Daytona International Speedway: 'Can I drive a car?' [Giuliani] asked. When told he did not have the proper NASCAR license, he asked to drive a pace car. NASCAR aides told him that he…

Finally, we see some persistence from Rudy Giuliani. MSNBC's First Read reports on a Giuliani campaign stop at the Daytona International Speedway: 'Can I drive a car?' [Giuliani] asked. When told he did not have the proper NASCAR license, he asked to drive a pace car. NASCAR aides told him that he…

Hollywood's favorite dictator, Hugo Chávez, is a big deal in the blogosphere today. First, the Miami Herald reported yesterday that "Chávez has revealed that he regularly consumes coca -- the source of cocaine." The article continues: It was not clear what Chávez meant. Indigenous Bolivians and…

Earlier this week, Steven C. Clemons posted a video at the Washington Note called "Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People." TAPPED blogger Matthew Duss said the film showed "offensive images and representations" of Arabs from popular--and old--films, including True Lies, Back to the…

On Sunday, the New York Times printed a massive front-page story about a supposedly alarming homicide rate among Iraq and Afghanistan vets. The Times reported 121 cases of homicide or homicide charges and attributed them to post-traumatic stress disorder--presumably an attempt at making another…

Today, the blogosphere is in a tizzy about Hillary Clinton's appearance on Meet the Press. Most bloggers are buzzing about Hillary's insinuation that she is responsible for the surge's successes--and most are outraged that she would even suggest such a thing. What did Hillary say on Meet the Press?…

With all the campaign hullabaloo this week, you might have missed even more important news about U.S. relations with Iran (unless, of course, you are a regular WORLDWIDE STANDARD reader and caught John Noonan's and Goldfarb's posts). On Monday, Reuters reported: Iranian boats aggressively…

IS THE "COLD," "calculating," and "shrill" Hillary Clinton tapping into her feminine side? During Saturday's Democratic debate in New Hampshire, moderator Scott Spradling asked Hillary to react to survey results that show she is less "likable" than Iowa winner Barack Obama. This exchange followed:

Pundits and bloggers think so. In the wake of Hillary's devastating loss in Iowa and her dwindling support in New Hampshire, it seems the Clinton dynasty isn't drawing the crowds and enthusiasm it once did reports the New York Times. And Hillary? She's just downright dull. In today's Politico,…

We all know the news by now: Huckabee and Obama won the Iowa caucuses last night. Bloggers can analyze the outcome endlessly, but that doesn't mean you need to read all of it. In fact, Jack at Ace of Spades reminds us that horserace coverage can get a little silly. Here's some entertaining--yet…

THE WORLDWIDE STANDARD tends to leave the campaign news to our colleagues at that other STANDARD, where you can read the best Iowa predictions on the web. But today is Caucus Day in Iowa, and we can't ignore the roaring blogosphere buzz on the campaigns. Already it's a crazy day in Caucusville. The…

With the Iowa caucuses hours away and Barack Obama in the lead in many polls, is John Edwards making a last-ditch effort to woo the left-wing, anti-war base? Or does he really not think the surge is working? Bloggers are discussing this New York Times report: John Edwards says that if elected…

After much blogosphere speculation, Time has unveiled the 2007 Man (Person?) of the Year, Russian president Vladimir Putin. The article is long, but if you can get past the first page (detailing Putin's blue eyes, how he drinks his wine, and his love of classical music), it might be worth reading.…

The Democrats continue their march toward complete surrender...to President Bush. Last night, the Senate passed a $70 billion Iraq and Afghanistan funding package--without any restrictions or timetables. The package is expected to pass in the House on Wednesday. Fred Barnes analyzes the vote at the…

Are the Democrats seeking a scapegoat for the failures of this Congress? Bloggers are buzzing about a report in today's Politico: A group of Senate Democrats has begun quietly exploring ways to replace the venerable Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations…

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Lately, pundits have said that Virginia is "bluing." In last month's state legislature elections, Democrats won the state senate by picking up key seats in increasingly liberal Northern Virginia. A Democrat unseated incumbent Republican state senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis in her D.C.-suburb…

Lately, pundits have said that Virginia is "bluing." In last month's state legislature elections, Democrats won the state senate by picking up key seats in increasingly liberal Northern Virginia. A Democrat unseated incumbent Republican state senator Jeannemarie Devolites Davis in her D.C.-suburb…

The blogosphere loves Jeanne Assam, a brave woman who gives new meaning to the phrase, "You shoot like a girl!" Assam saved countless people at New Life Church in Colorado Springs on Sunday when she shot and killed gunman Matthew Murray--with her own concealed pistol. Murray had killed two people…

Speaker Pelosi, did you really think you'd get away with this one? The Washington Post reported yesterday: In September 2002, four members of Congress met in secret for a first look at a unique CIA program designed to wring vital information from reticent terrorism suspects in U.S. custody. For…

Are congressional Democrats starting to wise up? After the Democrats' 41 useless Iraq bills, the Politico reports: Each day lately, Democrats inch closer to giving President Bush more money for the war in Iraq without any serious mandates for withdrawing U.S. troops. Democratic leaders are loath to…

Bloggers are buzzing about the release of the NIE report on Iran and the White House's reaction to it. There's a lot of buzz out there, but here is the smartest, can't-miss commentary. Bloggers seem to agree with Thomas Joscelyn, who asked five questions about the NIE here yesterday. He wrote,…

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EMILY's List recently launched a website called You Go Girl! to convince Iowa women that "Caucusing can be fun!" - and to caucus for Hillary Clinton while they're at it. The website features a step-by-step guide to caucusing, along with information about Hillary, video testimonials (from women just…

EMILY's List recently launched a website called You Go Girl! to convince Iowa women that "Caucusing can be fun!" - and to caucus for Hillary Clinton while they're at it. The website features a step-by-step guide to caucusing, along with information about Hillary, video testimonials (from women just…

Does Hillary Clinton have a new campaign theme song? If she continues to let her husband campaign for her, she just might. Despite the slew of reports of progress and increased security in Iraq, Bill Clinton thinks it is wise to insist (at Hillary's campaign events) that he opposed the Iraq war…

Today, the New York Times reports on the Clinton campaign's efforts to woo elderly women. It's clear that the campaign is scrambling for female supporters at campaign events, the Times reports, using those who do show up as "welcome set pieces, visibly demonstrating the candidate's effort to…

Today, the New York Times reports on the Clinton campaign's efforts to woo elderly women. It's clear that the campaign is scrambling for female supporters at campaign events, the Times reports, using those who do show up as "welcome set pieces, visibly demonstrating the candidate's effort to…

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U.S. Marines and Bangladeshi soldier Nov. 23, 2007.

Fridays in THE WEEKLY STANDARD office are always a flurry of activity--especially this week with the boss in Paris for some hush-hush meetings, sending his editorial via BlackBerry. There isn't much time for coffee-room chatter, but we can't ignore the hype from last night's Democratic debate. The…

News of the day: The House Democrats passed a bill last night. From the Associated Press: House Democrats pushed through a $50 billion bill for the Iraq war Wednesday night that would require President Bush to start bringing troops home in coming weeks with a goal of ending combat by December 2008.…

As I wrote yesterday, Speaker Pelosi and her fellow Democrats are having a tough time with Iraq (and most legislation). On the one hand, their loud, left-wing supporters are calling for congressional action and a withdrawal date. The Politico reported yesterday that congressional Democrats have…

It's no secret that this Democratic-led Congress has accomplished little since January--especially in terms of their campaign promises to withdraw from Iraq as quickly as possible. Jim VandeHei and John F. Harris report just how dismal things look for the Congressional Democrats today in the…

The buzz on the blogs today is the flop that is Robert Redford's anti-war movie, Lions for Lambs, starring everyone's favorite Scientologist, Tom Cruise. The basic plotline is that a presidential-hopeful/Republican senator (Cruise) pushes a policy in Afghanistan that results in putting American…

At a breakfast with reporters yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland discussed Congress and its plans up until the Thanksgiving recess. In his opening statement, he noted the successes of the Democratic-led Congress. What are these successes? Hoyer specifically mentioned the "very…

At a breakfast with reporters yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland discussed Congress and its plans up until the Thanksgiving recess. In his opening statement, he noted the successes of the Democratic-led Congress. What are these successes? Hoyer specifically mentioned the "very…

The results of Virginia's statewide elections are in, and nobody is really surprised. Democrats gained control of the State Senate and minimized the Republicans lead in the House of Delegates. They defeated two of the three targeted incumbent Republican senators in Northern Virginia: Former…

The results of Virginia's statewide elections are in, and nobody is really surprised. Democrats gained control of the State Senate and minimized the Republicans lead in the House of Delegates. They defeated two of the three targeted incumbent Republican senators in Northern Virginia: Former…

Gateway Pundit says it best: "The Republicans outmaneuver the Pelosi Congress." Yesterday, Rep. Dennis Kucinich took his resolution to impeach Cheney to the House floor. Rep. Steny Hoyer attempted to table the resolution, which, if passed, would have killed it. But the tables turned on the…

Yesterday, Romney campaign adviser Barbara Comstock told a majority-women group that, although we have the first viable female presidential candidate ever, "The best man for the job is going to be a man." (No, that's not a typo.) Comstock spoke at a National Review panel at the National Press Club…

Yesterday, Romney campaign adviser Barbara Comstock told a majority-women group that, although we have the first viable female presidential candidate ever, "The best man for the job is going to be a man." (No, that's not a typo.) Comstock spoke at a National Review panel at the National Press Club…

Late last week, right-wing bloggers were in an uproar (and laughing) about Kooky Congressman Kucinich's forthcoming proposal to impeach Vice President Cheney. Michelle Malkin has the scoop on Kucinich's announcement from last Friday: "The momentum is building for impeachment...Millions of citizens…

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Leaders from both sides of the aisle have said they are willing to compromise on the S-chip legislation, but the Washington Post reports today: The breaking point may have come Thursday, when Democratic leaders brought to the House floor a slightly revised bill to expand SCHIP by $35 billion over…

In case you need more evidence that a socialized government-funded health care system is a bad idea, London's Daily Mail reported yesterday: Record numbers of Britons are traveling abroad for medical treatment to escape the NHS - with 70,000 patients expected to fly out this year. And by the end of…

Virginia has gone for every Republican presidential candidate since 1968. But this model southern conservative stronghold has been moving to the left in recent years. Democrats captured the governorship in 2001 and 2005, and Jim Webb defeated incumbent Republican senator George Allen in a nasty…

ALTHOUGH DEMOCRATS HAVE a clear advantage nationwide, Virginia Representative Tom Davis thinks the GOP still has a shot at some wins in 2008. "Don't write us off. I think the political landscape will be vastly different next November than it is right now," he said at a breakfast with reporters on…

American universities pride themselves on being bastions of free speech and diversity of opinion, where all are given respect and a chance to voice their views. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for instance, was given a courteous reception (and TV time) at Columbia University in September,…

You may recall the left-wing attempt to to smear GWU's Young America's Foundation ahead of the upcoming Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, which is sponsored by David Horowitz and features events at campuses across the country. Seven students with no affiliation to YAF or IFAW posted phony anti-Muslim…

Via Instapundit, blogger Michael Yon writes from Iraq today about "the bizarro-world contrast between what most Americans seem to think is happening in Iraq versus what is really happening in Iraq." He says: No thinking person would look at last year's weather reports to judge whether it will rain…

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As I noted last week, Democrats tried to pass legislation that would make it more difficult for U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor suspected terrorists both at home and abroad. But luckily, as NRO columnist Andrew C. McCarthy reports, House Republicans, led by minority leader John Boehner and…

Bloggers are all over this news report from AFP: Top US Democrats Sunday vowed to press ahead with a bill condemning the mass killing of Armenians decades ago as genocide, brushing off Turkish fury over the sensitive issue. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said possible reprisals…

Fox News reported yesterday: President Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to extend an expiring terrorist surveillance law that modernizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, saying new measures supported by Democrats don't go far enough to protect the country. Speaking on the South Lawn at…

Campuses across the country will be participating in Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week from October 22-26, 2007. According to the Terrorism Awareness Project, "[t]he purpose of this protest is as simple as it is crucial: to confront the two Big Lies of the political left: that George Bush created the…

The Washington Post reported today: A small private intelligence company [SITE] that monitors Islamic terrorist groups obtained a new Osama bin Laden video ahead of its official release last month, and around 10 a.m. on Sept. 7, it notified the Bush administration of its secret acquisition. It gave…

You may remember the Democrats' S-chip poster child, Graeme Frost, the 12-year-old boy from Baltimore, MD, whose parents relied on Maryland's S-chip program to pay for his health care following a severe car accident. Graeme recounted his sob story to Congress in an effort to show the mean…

A new Fox News poll reports that about 1 in 5 Democrats (19 percent) "thinks the world will be better off if America loses the war in Iraq." Shocking. Only 11 percent of Americans as a whole say the same, and only 5 percent of Republicans. The better news from the poll is that 87 percent of…

On Sunday, October 7th, 2007, a team of 30 military amputees will run in the 23rd Army Ten-Miler in Washington, D.C. The amputees' team is named "Missing Parts in Action" (MPIA), and most of the runners were injured only eight to 18 months prior to the race. The team captain is Maj. David Rozelle,…

Today's Wall Street Journal contains two must-read pieces: a front-page article titled "Republicans Grow Skeptical on Free Trade" by John Harwood, and an important opinion piece, "Modern Heroes" by Atlantic correspondent and Naval Academy professor Robert D. Kaplan. Harwood discusses the apparent…

Bloggers are buzzing about Rush Limbaugh's "phony soldiers" comment and Senate Democrats' attempts to smear the radio host. Right-wing bloggers are outraged at the gruesome attempt to twist Limbaugh's words and defame a patriotic supporter of our troops--and agree that Limbaugh should be defended.…

Today, bloggers are buzzing about another disgusting episode in the California Hates the Troops Files. On September 28, OC Blog reported: On September 27th 204 Marines and soldiers who were returning from Iraq were not allowed into the passenger terminal at Oakland International Airport. Instead…

As the WWS noted earlier today, major news wires report that both Iraqi civilian deaths and U.S. military deaths have declined dramatically. The Associated Press reports: A total of 64 American forces died in September -- the lowest monthly toll since July 2006. The decline in Iraqi civilian deaths…

Even before he was elected, Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, California, had made a name for himself among House Republicans. He was running for retiring Ways and Means chairman Bill Thomas's seat, and the campaign quickly raised over $1 million--most of which he didn't need to spend in a district…

This week, the world has been watching the violent government crackdown on the pro-democracy uprising in Burma. "Citizen journalists" have been responsible for much of the reporting by cell phone text messages to bloggers worldwide. But the Burmese government blocked Internet access and cell phone…

Ed Morrissey at Captain's Quarters says it best: "Petraeus Moved the Debate." Democratic presidential candidates changed their rhetoric ever so slightly in last night's debate: Obama, Clinton, and Edwards won't commit to pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq by 2013, the end of their first presidential…

Who wouldn't want the Marines on their streets? San Francisco, apparently. San Francisco Film Commission executive director Stefanie Coyote barred the Marines' Silent Drill Platoon from filming a scene for their new recruitment commercial, "America's Marines," on California Street in downtown San…

The blogosphere is buzzing about Ahmadinejad's speech to the Columbia University community. Despite the widespread outrage at Columbia's invitation--and despite New York City's refusal to allow Ahmadinejad to visit Ground Zero--the Iranian president was given a massive forum to broadcast his…

THIS WEEK, WE commemorated again those who fell on 9/11 and remembered the soldiers who continue to fight the war on terror in foreign lands. And on September 12, the Department of Defense recognized some ordinary civilians who do what they can to help our troops.