War Criminal? Not Me Boss!

War Criminal? Not Me Boss!

John Demjanjuk? Now there’s a war criminal for you, and we finally got him. Though he had long lived in the United States, Germany just sentenced him to life in prison. Well, at home actually, since he’s too sick for jail and only has a couple months left....
A Decade of Magical Tax-Cut Thinking

A Decade of Magical Tax-Cut Thinking

Republican leaders in Congress have a one-point program for whatever ails the nation: cut taxes for millionaires and large corporations. Got a revenue surplus? Cut taxes. Got a budget deficit? Cut taxes. Got a toothache? Cut taxes. These politicians are like my uncle...
Deconstructing a Paul Ryan Sound Bite

Deconstructing a Paul Ryan Sound Bite

Rep. Paul Ryan from Wisconsin revels in his reputation as America’s ultimate conservative policy “wonk.” He plays the part well. At the drop of a hat, the Republican lawmaker can rattle off a stream of stats that make his rich-people-friendly budget...
Debt Ceiling Kabuki

Debt Ceiling Kabuki

The Kabuki tradition in Congress over raising the federal government’s debt ceiling is in full flower. It’s a more reliable Washington ritual than the Cherry Blossom Festival. Here’s how it goes: The president, whoever he is, says: “It’s...
Tea Party Rebels Quickly Tamed

Tea Party Rebels Quickly Tamed

They came, they saw, they were conquered. That sums up the fate of many tea-partying freshmen in the House of Representatives. As soon as they arrived, the corporate lobbying corps came to visit, saw what these supposed rebels were made of, and quickly conquered them...