Editor Posts

Begich Lead Widens in Alaska

Beau Friedlander — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:47:55 -0500

Latest numbers from the Division of Elections in Alaska.

Mark Begich - 146,286
Ted Stevens - 143,912

Begich is now up by 2374.

Breaking: Eric Holder Accepts Attorney General Position

Tim Einenkel — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:11:31 -0500

MSNBC is reporting that Eric Holder has accepted the position of attorney general. Reuters has more:

He would be the first African American to head the Justice Department.

Newsweek said that in discussions over the last several days, Obama had offered Holder the job and he had accepted.

"The announcement is not likely until after Obama announces his choices to lead the Treasury and State Department," the magazine said.

Sen. Stevens May Seek Pardon

Tim Einenkel — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:53:10 -0500

Convicted felon, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, is all but certainly going to fail in his bid for reelection (we’ll find out tomorrow). Adding insult to injury, he’s probably going to need a presidential pardon. After telling Politico that he won’t ask for a pardon, he now unsays it after a fashion. Politico has more:

The Crypt found Sen. Ted Stevens in the hall after his morning meeting with the GOP and asked him to elaborate on his decision not to seek a pardon from President Bush.

"I didn’t say anything about that at all. I said nothing about it. No comment, that’s all. I have no comment," said Stevens. Earlier in the day, he had responded "no,no,no" when asked by a clatch of reporters if he'd go for a pardon. By 'no,' he said, he meant 'no comment.'

So you might, after all, ask for a pardon?

"I have no comment at all," Stevens repeated. "This whole thing is put off till February now," he added, referring to legal wrangling around his trial. By February, of course, President-elect Obama will have become President Obama.

Lieberman to Keep His Job

Tim Einenkel — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:37:45 -0500

In a closed-door session last night, the Democrats voted to allow Senator Joe Lieberman to keep his post of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Politico as more:

Lieberman's punishment for what many Democrats saw as an unacceptable betrayal: He will lose his seat on the Environment and Public Works Committee.

The vote on Lieberman's fate came in a closed-door session in which Lieberman, members of the Democratic Senate leadership and some current and soon-to-be-senators all spoke.

Sources who were inside the meeting said Lieberman did not apologize for supporting McCain during the campaign, but that he did say he was sorry for some of the statements he made about Obama.

Govern from the Middle? What Do You Think?

Tim Einenkel — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:26:20 -0500

In a speech to the National Press Club today, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told the audience that if the Democratic Party wants to continue to be the majority party, it will govern from the center, not the left. The Hill has more on this story. Rep. Hoyer's remarks are below but the questions are: Now that the Democrats are the majority, how should they govern? Is it politically smart to stay in the center? Where do you want them to go? What did you vote for?

Morning Roundup: Around the Web with a Lame Duck

Beau Friedlander — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:38:42 -0500

Chatter in the back alleys of DC suggests what the Washington Post cautiously reflects in today's edition: A deal has been struck. Lieberman to keep his posts. In other news, life is occasionally unjust.

The Guardian reports that Hillary Clinton will accept Obama's job offer and become our nations next Secretary of State.

Jonathan Singer from MyDD wants you to bear in mind, Bush is handing Obama a recession economy.

In related news, Rep. Nydia Valasquez will take over as Senator of New York.

Crooks and Liars covers Ron Paul's latest Obama hate-fest.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that farmland prices are doing just fine. Everything else--not doing fine.

Yahoo's Jerry Yang will step down from his job, pose for wistful portraits.