U.S. Congressional Politics

Gay Criticism Of Chuck Hagel Keeps A-Coming

President Obama's nomination of former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense has been controversial, partly because of Hagel's icky gay-related remarks in 1998, not to mention his bad record on LGBT issues. Here are some statements that have come forth on the issue: Garden State Equal ... More >>

Rep. John Boehner Is Sandy Victims' Last (Half-Ass) Hope in Washington

We know, we're sick of writing about Congress, too. Especially when it involves the inability to pass a relief package to disaster stricken areas we know all too well. Last week, we mentioned that a main problem of the fiscal cliff was its legislative contagion: because of the disaster it caused in ... More >>

In New Vision of Politics, Rightbloggers Denounce Boehner the Leader, Praise DeMint the Leaver

Jim DeMint, one of the most ideologically pure and least effective legislators in the U.S. Senate, announced he would leave Congress to run the right-wing Heritage Foundation think tank; or, as the Foundation itself put it, "Jim DeMint to Lead the Battle of Ideas." It would seem to us that, compar ... More >>

Mr. Cuomo Goes To Washington (To Beg For Cash)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's got a busy day ahead of him in Washington D.C. -- which includes meetings with White House officials, the House speaker, and the Senate majority leader -- where he'll make the case for New York's need for a $42 billion appropriation to help the state recover from Hur ... More >>

Political Animals

Both Your Houses gets a revival

Will Barack Obama Veto Tax Cuts?

Well, this is a mess... Remember yesterday, when Barack Obama called on Congress to extend Bush-era tax cuts for families making up to $250,000? Remember how Obama made the politically risky move of describing the economy as disappointing under his watch, using that as proof the country needs tax ... More >>

Barack Obama To Congress: Extend Tax Cuts for The Middle Class

Taking aim at trickle down fiscal policies and warning legislators not to hold the American economy "hostage," President Barack Obama demanded today that Congress extend Bush-era middle class tax cuts for a year. Addressing the nation from the White House's East Room, Obama implored Congress to "do ... More >>

Wendy Long, GOP Senate Candidate: Soldiers 'Didn't Die' for Reproductive Rights

Wendy Long, New York's Republican U.S. Senate candidate, has lots to say about your ladyparts. As we reported last week, Long is apparently against abortion in all cases and anti-birth control. Now, news has surfaced indicating that Long has put contraception in a patriotic context, saying in stu ... More >>

Goodbye, Chemical Cannabis? U.S. Senate OKs Fake Pot Ban

The U.S. Senate has just put the kibosh on K2. After a months-long effort to ban synthetic marijuana, spearheaded by the Empire State's very own Charles Schumer, the Senate voted today to ban the sale of fake bud.

Gasland Filmmaker Joshua Fox Arrested at Fracking Hearing, by Order of House Republicans

In an unprecedented move, House Republicans had a filmmaker arrested yesterday after he showed up to a public congressional hearing. The House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment was meeting to discuss the controversial topic of hydraulic fracturing, colloquially known as "fracking." When Joshua ... More >>

Pelosi, Boehner, Bachus, Hastert, Other Congressional Reps Traded Stock On Inside Tips, But It's All Legal (!?!)

​Ever wonder why Congress seems so willing to help bail out the financial industry? Well, a 60 Minutes report on Sunday says that lawmakers purchased stock in companies while involved in debates on Capitol Hill about bills that would affect those companies. Conflict of interest? Just a teensy ... More >>

Republicans Call Obama Plan 'Class Warfare'; Don't Know Definition of 'Warfare'

​Tomorrow, President Obama will unveil a deficit-cutting proposal that will include a revision to the U.S. tax code. The proposed change will feature a higher tax rate for the wealthiest 0.3% of Americans, who currently pay the IRS with a $15 gift card to Sam Goody every April (estimated figur ... More >>

Some Squawk, But Debt Ceiling Budget Fight Goes Just the Way Rightbloggers Want It

Last week the Congressional fight over America's debt ceiling became a full-blown hostage situation, with Republicans demanding, in exchange for what has been during previous Administrations a pro-forma procedure, major budget concessions from Democrats -- and getting them. At this writing, there s ... More >>

Anthony Weiner Resigns for Real, Effective at Midnight

​Sexting congressman Anthony Weiner said he'd call it quits from the House of Representatives back on Thursday, explaining that the "distraction [he] created" -- with his penis, mostly -- makes his work "impossible." Today came the official letter, addressed to New York Secretary of State Cesa ... More >>

Chris Lee, Craigslist Congressman, Has Been Known to Party Hard

via​Christopher Lee resigned yesterday, less than four hours after Gawker published a story from a woman who claims Lee contacted her on Craigslist, claiming to be single, and proceeded to send her a (fairly impressive) shirtless picture. "I promise not to disappoint," he told her sexily. Now, ... More >>

Don't Ask Don't Tell Repealed by House, Again

​The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 250 to 175 (almost straight down party lines) to repeal the ban on openly gay and lesbian soldiers in the U.S. military. This is the second time a repeal has been approved by the House. Previously it was repealed in connection with a defense spend ... More >>

23 Inevitable Headlines about Rep. John Boehner: A Gift to the American Political Media

​Congratulations Rep. John Boehner of the Fightin' Ohio 8th! You're looking to be the next Speaker of the House. As such, we've decided to equip the American Political Media with 23 evergreen headlines in the inevitable event your already-emotional tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives g ... More >>

While Schumer Slept

For five years, New York's senior senator said nothing about the toxic cloud that hung over his own constituents.

Reform School Dropouts

Congress vows changes but makes only a few after Abramoff scandal

Spygate: And No Special Counsel, Either

Team Bush digs in heels on domestic wiretaps

Sticky Fingers

Abramoff scandal snares one Republican after another

Bushwhacking the Constitution

U.S. Senate proves as disdainful of the Constitution as George W. Bush. Be forewarned.

What's the Deal With John Murtha?

The veteran congressman who wants troops out of Iraq

Hammer Slammer Ding-Dong

Merry Christmas! There is a G-D! And other reactions to the Tom DeLay criminal indictment

Abandonment Issues

Bush gives hurricane victims that familiar sinking feeling

Speaking of Filibusters

There's a long, rich history of big-time talkers. You have a few hours?

Democrats Go Nuclear on Values

Republicans May Spend Political Capital to Blow Up the Senate Filibuster, But Dems Will Implode for Free

Bill Frist's New Headache: How to Make the Democrats Hush

Majority leader could can the filibuster, but business types quake over nightmare revenge

The Ghosts of Torture

New attorney general twists the rule of law to which he is 'deeply committed'

Torture as Foreign Policy

The House Republican leadership authorizes torture in our war against terrorism

Casting Lott

The Case for Throwing Poor Trent Overboard

Wheedle, Leverage, Organize

Paul Wellstone's Lesson for the Overwhelmed Dems

Joe Lieberman Joins Big Brother

The Return of the Thought Police

God Is Not in the Constitution

The Government Cannot Endorse Any or All Religions

Bush Intelligence Plan Meant to Blunt Tough Questions

Ashcroft to Mueller to Anybody Else

Double-Playing 9-11 Errors

Karen Hughes Finds Her Ruby Slippers

Spy Planes and Bibles and Talibs, Oh My!

Chicken Run

Scared Congress Seeks Shelter in Nuclear Henhouse

Gang Rape in Sudan

'They Came One After Another'

Nation

Nation Could Get Bipartisan Presidency

Congress Has Power to Give Shrub and Joe the Keys; Gore, Cheney Would Get Bus Fare Home

Features

Black Pastors Demand Justice

We Descendants of These Slaves

Virtual Bill

Assault Charges Hit President, Right Revives

The 'Partial' Ploy

How the antichoice campaign against a nonexistent procedure threatens Roe

House of Hypocrites

While congress is set to sit in judgment of President Clinton, many of its members have their own indiscretions to deal with. Lucky for them Ken Starr isn't investigating them and the notoriously lax ethics committee is.

The Ubiquitous Candidate

In the final days of the primary, Chuck Schumer is everywhere

Gerry Meandering

Many handshakes and few ideas on the Ferraro campaign trail

Ex'ed Files

The Ferraro Archives That Are Open to No One