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Spencer Ackerman

Spencer Ackerman, a senior correspondent for The American Prospect, is a senior reporter for The Washington Independent.

Recent Articles

EXIT STRATEGY: WRATH OF THE MATH.

Spencer AckermanNov 08, 2006

EXIT STRATEGY: WRATH OF THE MATH. David Gergen just speculated on CNN that Donald Rumsfeld will "fall on his sword," meaning he'll submit his twice-rejected resignation. Bush, of course, has pledged that Rumsfeld is his man. The only situation I can see whereby Rumsfeld is out at the Pentagon is if Claire McCaskill and Jim Webb win, giving the Senate to a 51-seat Democratic majority. At that point -- faced with a Democratic congress, endless investigations, subpeonas, document requests, the whole megilla -- it makes sense for Bush to reluctantly accept Rumsfeld's resignation and appoint Joe Lieberman as defense secretary.

A QUESTION FOR BUSH'S PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW.

Spencer AckermanNov 08, 2006

A QUESTION FOR BUSH'S PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW. "Mr. President, you said last week that 'However they put it, the Democrat approach in Iraq comes down to this: The terrorists win and America loses.' Did the American people just vote for the terrorists last night?"

--Spencer Ackerman

WEBB NEEDS TO DECLARE VICTORY.

Spencer AckermanNov 08, 2006

WEBB NEEDS TO DECLARE VICTORY. Jim Webb needs to take a page out of Bush's 2000 playbook and declare victory now. I was in Austin on election night 2000, and the second that Bush confidently told supporters he won, the momentum changed entirely. Bill Daley was left pleading that the race was an open contest, and for the next excruciating 36 days, Al Gore was painted as -- you all remember Sore Loserman. Webb is a Marine through and through. He has to know the value of seizing the high ground, whether or not he actually occupies it. Please, Senator Webb: speak to your supporters, and thank them for providing you your victory.

CIV IS A DEMOCRAT TONIGHT.

Spencer AckermanNov 08, 2006

CIV IS A DEMOCRAT TONIGHT. Rahm Emanuel is pushing "A New Direction" as the Dem slogan all night. For the New York Hardcore kids, that's a totemic slogan -- a reference to the first track off Gorilla Biscuits's classic Start Today album. Here are those '88 NYHC lyrics in full:

DEMOCRATS FOR DOUG FEITH.

Spencer AckermanNov 08, 2006

DEMOCRATS FOR DOUG FEITH. With 81 percent reporting for the PA-10, Dem Chris Carney is leading incumbent wife-beater (alleged!) Don Sherwood, 54-46. It was an uphill fight for Carney, a first-time candidate and Naval Reserve lieutenant commander, as the northeast Pennsylvania district is heavily conservative, thanks in large part to the decline in Democratic stronghold Scranton: a March trip I took to the district featured the charming homemade roadside sign, EITHER YOU SUPPORT THE TROOPS AND THEIR MISSION OR YOU SUPPORT THE TERRORISTS.

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