Stories by jannelsen
Posted at 1:35pm on Aug. 26, 2005 Ellsworth: Success has many authors, including Thune
By jannelsen
Ellsworth Air Force Base is saved. Rapid City is saved. South Dakota’s economy is saved. And Sen. John Thune’s political career is looking pretty good right now.
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission this morning voted 8-1 to reject the Department of Defense’s recommendation to close Ellsworth Air Force Base and transfer its 29 B-1 bombers to Dyess AFB in Texas.
Posted in Breaking News — Comments (20)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:46am on Jul. 24, 2005 Napolitano rises, as does illegal immigration as an issue
By jannelsen
Keep your eye on Janet Napolitano, Democratic governor of Arizona. Already headed for re-election in November 2006, she will emerge as a national spokesman for the Dems at about the same time.
The reason? She will be serving as chairman of the National Governors Association, a platform long favored by state politicians aspiring for a national profile. (Revealing list of past chairmen here. Howard Dean!)
Not only that, she’ll be the first woman chairman in the NGA’s nine-plus decades of existence, a moderately interesting storyline the national media will turn into propaganda for distaff pols, a la the U.S. Senate election of 1992, the Year of the Woman.
As a border-state Democrat, Napolitano’s growing national profile will help keep immigration at the forefront of public discussion during the 2008 election cycle. And the desire of Democrats to use immigration to attack Republicans will keep Napolitano in the news, as well. A powerful combination in politics.
Posted in 2006 — Comments (0)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 3:30am on Jun. 12, 2005 The measure of success
By jannelsen
There on the Mall, the Capitol rising behind the stage, the crowd gathered Saturday to celebrate the cause of freedom, to honor the men and women who fight around the world and to donate supplies to ease their service.
Organized and promoted by the conservative activist group, Citizens United, the rally featured an impressive lineup: the outspoken actor, Ron Silver; Tracy Byrd, the country music star; an American Idol performer, Kimberly Caldwell; a wounded veteran, courageous leaders from Afghanistan and Iraq -- a fascinating mix of personalities expressing pride and patriotism.
Huge screens were set up on both sides of the stage, with a powerful sound system to match, ready to display the events of the Celebration of Freedom and Democracy to the thousands upon thousands there to rally for freedom.
Thousands? There were 50.
I counted.
Posted in War — Comments (38)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:52pm on Dec. 7, 2004 Musings on Pearl Harbor, photographers and Terry McAuliffe
By jannelsen
The crowd was small today at the Navy Memorial in Washington as the public and the military gathered to honor those who fell at Pearl Harbor and all the sea battles of World War II. But the images were both powerful and solemn.
Remember Pearl Harbor!
Posted in History — Comments (1)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:50pm on Dec. 3, 2004 A lengthy review of Tommy Thompson's career
By jannelsen
In assessing the political career of Tommy G. Thompson, who announced his resignation today as Secretary of Health and Human Services, remember this above all: More than any other person, he is responsible for the passage of welfare reform, first in his home state of Wisconsin and then at the federal level.
Tommy Thompson deserves great respect and gratitude from conservatives, indeed, from all Americans -- and Germans, too! -- for reforming a system of government dependence that robbed people of employment, education, self-respect, autonomy and, indeed, a future.
Read on, Cheeseheads.
Posted in Elections — Comments (9)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 12:57am on Dec. 3, 2004 Gov. Johanns, USDA and ethanol - oh boy
By jannelsen
President Bush's nominee for the new Secretary of Agriculture is Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns, a good man, smart politician and popular leader.
And, alas, an unabashed advocate for ethanol and biodiesel, a thinly disguised farm subsidy and boondoggle of immense proportions.
I need a drink. Preferably potato based.
And read on.
Posted in Elections — Comments (8)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:02am on Dec. 2, 2004 Great men of history
By jannelsen
Comes a time where humility is the logical, yet also profoundly emotional reaction to meeting great men of history.
Tonight I was humbled, awed and honored.
The occasion was the annual fundraising dinner for The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, held at the Czech Embassy in Washington D.C.
Posted in History — Comments (5)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:20pm on Nov. 24, 2004 A walk in the sun .... of movies
By jannelsen
Random cultural musings with just a touch of political content on Thanksgiving Eve.
Read on.
Posted in Culture — Comments (6)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 12:07am on Nov. 20, 2004 Replacing Safire and Al Hunt
By jannelsen
Bill Safire is retiring from his biweekly column with The New York Times, opening up a slot for a conservative/libertarian columnist on the op-ed page to spice up the tapioca conservatism of David Brooks and to counter the leftism of EVERY OTHER TIMES COLUMNIST.
Meanwhile, Al Hunt has announced he's moving to Bloomberg, opening up a slot for a lame practitioner of the conventional wisdom on the Wall Street Journal's Thursday op-ed page.
Or, perhaps, someone better.
So, Redstaters, who should replace them?
Posted in Breaking News — Comments (6)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:48pm on Nov. 3, 2004 The reason Daschle lost
By jannelsen
Morality.
And the CNN exit poll proves it.