Cameron Lynch

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele stunned the political world during a conference call earlier this week when he announced he would seek a second term as party chair. Most assumed his low-key request for a call with committee members signaled his intention to subtly retract his name from consideration following what has been a tumultuous reign. But Steele, ever the enigma, declared he would not go quietly into the good night. Although he admitted that “mistakes had been made,” he insisted he was the man to continue to lead the party. (more)

Just when political pundits thought we’d seen every campaign trick in the book, this year’s mid-term election cycle once again proves us wrong.  Credit (or blame, depending on your viewpoint) for the newest fad in electoral tactics goes to an odd figure: former Virginia Senator George Allen. (more)

So, things didn’t work out quite like they were supposed to for White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.  His status as the right-hand man to the philosopher-king destined to save the United States largely resulted in “Rahm-ing” through both a stimulus package and a health care “reform” bill that proved wildly unpopular with the American people (including one quite memorable scene involving Rahm in the Congressional gym shower).  Moreover, Rahm’s generally moderate and pragmatic thinking never meshed well with the West Wing FDR ideologues surrounding Obama.  These are the same individuals who believe the stimulus, health care and financial reform didn’t go far enough. (more)

For those outside the beltway, there was likely little attention paid to the "firestorm" around President Obama's Co-Chairman of his Bipartisan Debt Commission, former Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY). Simpson, in a letter responding to a disgruntled citizen, allegedly offended both women and Social Security recipients by concluding his response with some salty language.  Simpson later issued an apology letter to the complainant. (more)

Did anyone in Washington (or anywhere outside the beltway for that matter) notice that the United States Senate confirmed Elena Kagan as an Associate Justice for the United States Supreme Court last week?  Not to mistrust the intelligence of the American citizenry, but this is, as Anchorman Ron Burgundy would say “kind of a big deal.” (more)

Anyone who has read T.S. Eliot’s short story or, more than likely, saw the recent movie starring Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, knows that both the story and movie tell the odd tale of a man who ages backward.  Born an octogenarian, Button ultimately dies after a long life as an infant youth. (more)

Few now doubt that the Tea Party is composed of a unique group of individuals.  Their protests occasionally surf the lunatic fringe (spitting on members of Congress, screaming misogynistic epitaphs) none of which are defensible or excusable actions.  Recently, the overall effectiveness of the Tea Party movement is being called into question with regard to the long-term strategy of the Republican Party. (more)

Recess appointments are constitutionally permissible and sometimes necessary as a matter of procedure. The privilege was originally conceived when members of Congress frequently adjourned for several months at a time and traveled multiple days to and from their home states and districts - which is hardly the case these days. (more)

The U.S. is experiencing the most catastrophic oil spill in our nation’s history, over-burdensome financial regulatory legislation is about to pass a bicameral legislative conference, and President Obama recently declared that he is cruising the playground for some “ass to kick”. Sure, there is a lot of noteworthy activity in Washington these days. But let’s take our minds off of that for just one moment to catch up on some good old-fashioned political scandal.
In a sideshow atmosphere that would make P.T. Barnum jealous, “Hot” Rod Blagojevich, the disgraced former Governor of Illinois, is currently being tried in a Chicago courtroom on 24 counts of racketeering, wire fraud, bribery and extortion. Corruption and Illinois politics is nothing new, of course. In fact, if convicted, Blagojevich will be the second consecutive sitting Illinois Governor to “wear the orange” And that doesn’t mean he made the University of Illinois’ football squad. (more)

The 17^th century philosopher Blaise Pascal posited that it was safer to believe in a supreme being than to disavow one. In what came to be known as Pascal’s Wager, the Frenchman asserted that if one’s conviction in a deity proved incorrect, the end result was much superior than if one eschewed belief and was mistaken. In other words, “Better safe than sorry.” (more)

Tiger Woods, the world’s most famous athlete, officially returns to professional golf at The Masters this week in Augusta, Ga. In the wake of horrific infidelity scandals, sex addiction treatment and questions about if and how Woods would ever return to the game, Woods delivered his first (unscripted) press conference to a media corps licking their chops to skewer him on Monday. (more)

A whip-smart and dry humored former boss of mine employed a great line when referring to an individual who thought highly of themselves. “Oh yeah. He’s real smart.” (Beat) “Just ask him.” One can’t help but wonder if this quip might prove a fitting summation of President Obama’s bulldozing approach to the health care bill that passed Congress late Sunday night. (more)