The View From Here

Some reads from today...

1. Charles Krauthammer argues that Republicans should criticize Sotomayor for her record and judicial philosophy, but should ultimately vote to confirm her.
2. Kenneth Vogel points out that while Sotomayor may have a limited record on abortion, her record on campaign finance law is clear.
3. Despite American efforts, the Taliban continues to receive “hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars” from foreign donors.
4. Ralph Nader and Robert Weismann argue that Congress, not Obama’s auto task force, should be in charge of the government’s GM rescue plan.
5. Max Schulz says that Obama should think twice before following the European example on energy policy.
6. William Galston writes that Obama’s upcoming speech in Egypt could signal a shift in American priorities from promoting democracy to ensuring economic and political security.

Some reads from this morning...

1. Is Sotomayor truly a “liberal” judge?  E.J. Dionne argues that Sotomayor was actually the most conservative justice Obama could have nominated, while Lisa Lerer reports that some liberal groups are concerned about her opinions on abortion, gay marriage, and the death penalty.
2. The Obama administration is circulating an article by Robert Morgenthau, a New York County District Attorney and Sotomayor’s former boss, in response to accusations that she is a radical or an affirmative action pick.
3. Mike Allen reports that despite outspoken criticism from Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, the GOP may back down from a full-fledged political fight over Sotomayor’s nomination.
4. Ted Kennedy champions Obama’s health care proposals.
5. Robert Kaplan warns that those calling for tough action in response to North Korea’s nuclear tests may be forgetting the lessons of Iraq.
6. Donald Bland and Ron Brownstein report that many industries that traditionally support the GOP are increasingly cooperating with, and donating money to, the Democrats.

Some reads for this afternoon...

1. Stuart Taylor writes that Obama’s Supreme Court selection is politically shrewd because it puts the GOP in a no-win situation.  If they strenuously oppose Sotomayor they risk further branding the GOP as the party of white males, but letting her sail through will concede Obama a clear political victory.
2. Jeff Rosen raises concerns about Sotomayor’s temperament and legal acumen.

 

Some reads from this morning...

  

1. Charlie Savage contends that while Sotomayor may not swing the Court on issues like abortion or the 2^nd Amendment, she could make a major impact on questions of executive power.
2. Wendy Long of the National Review and Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute fire the early conservative shots at Sotomayor.  Will Senate Republicans follow their lead and strongly oppose her nomination?
3. While Obama is eager to appear strong in the face of North Korea’s recent nuclear test, David Sanger reports that the administration’s options are limited. 
4. Gordon Chang argues that leveraging our foreign policy with the Chinese is the key to handling North Korean aggression. 

 

 

Remembering the troops on Memorial Day

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Some reads from today...

1. Newt Gingrich argues that the economic troubles of NY and CA are harbingers of rising resentment of “huge government.” 
2. In a defense of Obama's Supreme Court criteria, Ellen Goodman writes that empathy is critical to jurisprudence. 
3. Steven Pearlstein calls the latest cap and trade bill expansive but flawed. 
4. Politico reports that Obama is responding to pressure from his fellow Democrats to play defense on the Guantanamo issue.
5. Geithner calls for substantial change in Wall Street compensation practices and defends Obama from charges of socialism. 
6. Ron Brownstein writes that the GOP is more dependent on Southern support than ever before as Republican popularity in other regions has fallen. 

Some things I have my eye on this morning...

1. OMB director Peter Orszag defends Obama's health care agenda in this WSJ op-ed.  In his own opinion piece in the National Review, Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) begs to differ.
2. According to Ron Brownstein, the forward movement of Obama's energy agenda and health care reform indicates business has climbed aboard with Dems and a "crucial shift in Washington's tectonic plates of power" may be on the horizon.
3. Kimberly Strassel argues Dems are coming to realize the importance of Gitmo.
4. In talks yesterday, Jordan's King Abdullah pushed Netanyahu to commit to two-state solution.
5. Update from the AfPak border: "scores" of Taliban killed in Pakistani offensive.
6. Wired's pick of top ten spacewalk photos. 

Some reads from today...

1. Slate's chief political correspondent offers analysis of President Obama's decision to oppose the release of torture photos.
2. In a WSJ piece, Karl Rove weighs in on the Pelosi/waterboarding debate, saying the speaker was "an accomplice to 'torture.'"
3. SCOTUS search: does gender really matter on the bench?
4. The Obama administration courts Hispanic voters.
5. Gearing up for Sunday: Republicans adopt Rahm Emanuel's political strategy (select candidates based on the liklihood that they'll win, not on their alignment with party orthodoxy) to rebuild GOP.

Some reads from this morning...

1. Citing need for "new leadership and fresh eyes," Sec. Gates shows Gen. McKiernan the doorand announces Gen. McChrystal as new top commander in Afghanistan.
2. Israeli PM Netanyahu, who will meet with President Obama next week, vowed yesterday toreopen dialog with Palestinians "as soon as possible."
3. Release of Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist whom Iranian gov. originally sentenced to 8 yrs on accusation of espionage, indicates  "deepening divide" in Iran's leadership about how to respond to Obama Administration.
4. A cynic reviews proposals that came out of yesterday's White House summit on health care.  How will Obama pay for health care reform? Her answer: magic.
5. Two of my favorite writers in one place: Dexter Filkins reviews Tom Ricks' new book on the surge in Iraq, The Gamble.

Some reads from today...

1. Responding to the stress tests, Paul Krugman critiques the administration's "muddle-through strategy" of hoping the economy will fix the banks rather than the other way around.
2. CIA says Pelosi did, in fact, know about the use of harsh interrogation techniques.
3. North Korea says US has "hostile policy" and vows to further its nuclear program.
4. Specter gets a subcommittee chairmanship.
5. A good read before Sunday's show: though Obama really gets AfPak, there's only so much he can do to help solve the region's problems.
6. What are the implications of the "increasingly uneasy" US-Israeli relationship?