White Men Can’t Trump

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Jul 14, 2009 For the Republicans outraged at "wise Latina" Sonia Sotomayor, being white and male is seen as a neutral condition, the natural order of things. Any "identity" -- black, brown, female, gay, whatever -- has to be judged against this supposedly "objective" standard. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Closet Racism in the Age of Obama

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Jul 14, 2009 Unless Sotomayor suffers a "complete meltdown," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina predicted, she will be confirmed. The price, though, is barely coded race baiting that has been part of the assault on Sotomayor since her nomination was announced. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Sotomayor’s Critics Are the Real Radicals

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Jul 13, 2009 This week's hearings on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court represent the opening skirmish in a struggle to challenge the escalating activism of an increasingly conservative judiciary. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Committee OKs Sebelius Over Republican Objections

Staff / Truthdig Apr 22, 2009 President Obama presided over his first formal Cabinet meeting Monday with a rather important chair left empty. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's pick to head the $750 billion Health and Human Services Department and spearhead his ambitious health care reform initiatives, has finally made it out of hearings and should be approved by the end of the week. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Ethical Malpractice

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Feb 3, 2009 No need to fumble for words that sum up the stew of hypocrisy, arrogance and insiderism that is the unfolding saga of Tom Daschle. This is the audacity of audacity. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Senate Confirms Clinton

Staff / Truthdig Jan 22, 2009 Hillary Clinton made it safely through the confirmation process, despite a last-minute hissy fit from Senate Republicans. John McCain prevailed upon his colleagues to shape up and, in the end, only two voted against Clinton's confirmation as secretary of state. She was then hastily sworn in. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Cabinet Confirmations: 7 and Counting

Staff / Truthdig Jan 21, 2009 Well, Hillary Clinton will have to wait a little longer, but seven others whom President Barack Obama tapped to join his Cabinet had gotten the all-clear from the Senate as of Tuesday afternoon. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Your New Attorney General

Staff / Truthdig Nov 10, 2007 Michael Mukasey has been sworn in as U.S. attorney general, a day after 53 senators decided that a man who doesn't know what torture is should have the job. But the real blame -- for anyone who objects to the confirmation, that is -- should be reserved for Democrats Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein, who made Bush's day when they gave Mukasey the green light. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Schumer and Feinstein Hand Torture a Victory

Staff / Truthdig Nov 7, 2007 Do we really need another attorney general who doesn't know what torture is? The Senate Judiciary Committee just barely approved the nomination of Michael Mukasey on Tuesday. He is expected to breeze through the rest of the process. Remember some weeks from now, when the head of the Justice Department is a man who, despite fact and testimony and common sense, can't call torture by its name, Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Charles Schumer are responsible. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Vote for Mukasey Is a Vote for Torture

Amy Goodman / Truthdig Nov 7, 2007 U.S. attorney general nominee Judge Michael Mukasey admits waterboarding is repugnant, but refuses to say whether it amounts to torture. Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein voted for his confirmation anyway. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Bush: You Get Mukasey or No One at All

Staff / Truthdig Nov 2, 2007 President Bush issued an ultimatum of sorts on Thursday over his embattled nominee for attorney general, Michael Mukasey, who refuses to say whether he considers waterboarding a form of torture. Bush said if the Democrats block the nomination, it "would guarantee that America would have no attorney general during this time of war." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Cronies Defend Torture

Staff / Truthdig Oct 31, 2007 CIA Chief Michael Hayden has issued a passionate defense of extraordinary rendition, claiming that the practice, which so often involves abduction and torture, is justified by the "irreplaceable" intelligence it produces. Meanwhile, President Bush's preferred successor to loyal henchman Alberto Gonzales refuses to call torture by its name, though he claims to find it "repugnant." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )