Signing Off

As Josh writes, just short of my three thousandth post at TPMm I am raising my rake and roaming on to other mucky pastures. One thing I've learned here at TPM is to appreciate Josh's ability to put things better...more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 6:41 PM

Vote suppression guru Hans von Spakovsky withdraws his nomination to the FEC....more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 5:14 PM

Breaking: Spakovsky Withdraws as FEC Nominee

After a five-month standoff, Hans von Spakovsky has withdrawn his name as a nominee to the FEC. The move likely clears the way for the deadlock over the FEC to be resolved. You can read his resignation here. "It is...more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 5:10 PM

Former Senator Lincoln Chafee: The GOP abuses the environment at its own peril....more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 4:09 PM

Obama Calls for Investigation of VA Cost-Cutting PTSD Diagnoses

Yesterday, CREW and VoteVets.org released an email from a FOIA request that showed an employee in the Veterans Administration "suggesting" that staff ought to "refrain from giving a diagnosis of [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] straight out" to "compensation seeking veterans"...more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 2:06 PM

Obama Responds

Update: To McCain, this was a "hysterical diatribe." Another update: Obama says during a later Q&A that he'll debate McCain "anywhere, anytime" on foreign policy:...more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 1:19 PM

McClatchy: U.S. Ditched Chalabi to Satisfy Maliki

Yesterday, NBC reported that the U.S. had finally cut off ties to Ahmed Chalabi because of "unauthorized" contacts with Iranian officials. Newsweek reported the same today, but said that Nouri al-Maliki's government had acted first. McClatchy's take is even clearer:...more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 12:48 PM

Feds Probing Drunken Blackwater Shooting

Nearly a year and a half after the incident, the Justice Department has sent a team to investigate a former Blackwater contractor for drunkenly gunning down a bodyguard to Iraqi Vice President Adil Abd-al-Mahdi on Christmas Eve, 2006. To refresh...more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 11:38 AM

Ruth Rosen remembers the beginning of the California gay marriage battle: San Francisco City Hall in 2004....more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 11:10 AM

Today's Must Read

The EPA's newest contribution to its dreadful legacy under Bush: more smog in national parks....more »

Posted on May 16, 2008 10:17 AM