Tim Fernholz

Just had to flag this, from Ben Smith. Apparently, things aren’t so peachy down in Cape Canaveral. NASA administrator Mike Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is “not qualified” to judge his rocket program, the Orlando Sentinel […]

Various articles concerning Blagojevich and Obama mention that prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald’s future as an appointed U.S. Attorney is unclear in the new administration. Yet none of them were able to Nexis up these quotes (via TPM)? Asked for comment, an Obama transition aide pointed us to a June 5 article in the Chicago Tribune which […]

Depends on what the meaning of “hurt” is. Will it distract from the brisk pace of his transition and keep his team off-message for a week or two? Yes. But from what we’ve seen so far, it doesn’t seem too likely that this scandal will spread into Obama’s administration or seriously hurt his image with […]

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Well, it’s not a groundbreaking political scandal, but we do have the latest and greatest on the U.S. weapons trade, the politics of the judicial branch, cybersecurity, and the future of the Turko-American relationship. And we do it just for the appreciation. Guns kill people. The United States trains and gives weapons to 75 percent […]

Gene Robinson makes a good point this morning: In the case of the five indicted Blackwater guards, why isn’t the company in any legal jeopardy? The indictment, charging voluntary manslaughter and weapons violations, demonstrates that those who engage “in unprovoked attacks will be held accountable,” Assistant Attorney General Patrick Rowan claimed. But it demonstrates nothing […]

Both Greg Sargent and David Sirota react to a short piece from Obama field operative Steve Hildebrand. Hildebrand’s piece struck me as a fairly conventional dog-whistle from the Obama folks to the left, trying to reassure them that Obama still supports liberal policies despite centrist appointments. Hildebrand is still close to the Obama team, and […]

Due to Hurricane Gustav, two House race run-offs in Louisiana (districts 2 and 4) were delayed until this Saturday. The results were interesting: Second District: Republican Anh “Joseph” Cao upsets Democrat William Jefferson to become the first Vietnamese-American member of Congress. Jefferson, you’ll recall, is the allegedly corrupt congressman found with $90,000 in a freezer […]

Via Matt, we learn that Barack Obama is supporting striking union members: “When it comes to the situation here in Chicago with the workers who are asking for their benefits and payments they have earned, I think they are absolutely right. What’s happening to them is reflective of what’s happening across this economy. “When you […]