Joshua Marshall

October 20, 2000 — The Battle of the Buzz While the November 7th election is still more than two weeks away, the outcome of the election will likely be decided over the course of the next five days. Here’s why: Several contradictory forces are now working both within a volatile electorate, and […]

October 13, 2000 — The Debate Debate Yikes. If the pundits are to be believed, George W. Bush came just short of winning the presidency with his sure-footed performance in Wednesday evening’s second presidential debate. And Al Gore can basically kiss the Oval Office goodbye because of his own languid performance. The truth is […]

December 1st, 2000 — Whither McCain: Is the Straight Talk Express on a Detour? One of the little reported developments in the national brouhaha over the Florida recount has been the surprising non-involvement of Arizona Senator John McCain — arguably one of the two or three most important politicians in the United States. A few […]

December 17, 2000 — Popular Mandate According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer Al Gore’s lead in the popular vote now stands at 540,435. Think of that. More than a half a million votes. I don’t want to make too big a deal of this. But I think that at half a […]

December 21st, 2000 — Souring on the Citrus Commission Last month when Jeb Bush recused himself from sitting on the state Elections Canvassing Commission, he tapped Florida Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford, a Democrat, to take his place. At the time, I was a little surprised that this pick didn’t draw a touch more […]

December 28th, 2000–Backstabber Is Robert Torricelli running for the role of Senate-Democrat-Most-Likely-to-Stab-His-Own-Party-in-the-Back-for-No-Good-Reason? The position is open after all, what with Bob Kerrey and Pat Moynihan retiring, and Joe Lieberman adopting a more partisan, team-player tone. Just think. Bob Torricelli. . . First Senate Dem to call on Al Gore not to file any lawsuits […]

January 11th, 2001–The Congressional Black Caucus’ Election Objections I was pretty taken with the protests/objections raised by the members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on January 6th during the formal counting of the Electoral College vote. And also chagrined that no senator would agree to sign on with one of their objections, and […]

January 3rd, 2001–Bush’s Double Standard Admirers of Senator John McCain (and I have to admit I’m one of ’em) will be chagrined to learn that during McCain’s primary campaign in South Carolina last winter his chief campaign strategist was none other than Richard Quinn, long-time editor of the oft-mentioned Southern Partisan magazine. Outraged? […]

January 17th, 2001 — John Ashcroft the Transformer Ya know. From the sound of it, John Ashcroft is going to be such a staunch defender and enforcer of gun-control laws, abortion rights, and civil rights, that you sorta wonder why right-wingers want him so bad. Is Ashcroft a lib now? Or is there some disconnect […]

January 25th, 2001 — Understanding Ashcroft Hey, now that I’ve been reminded of John Ashcroft’s rationale for opposing James Hormel’s ambassadorial nomination, I think I understand what his problem was with Judge Ronnie White. He didn’t oppose White because he was black, he opposed him because he promoted the black lifestyle. Don’t get […]