The Plank
Today at TNR (August 27, 2009)
Chris Matthews Isn't Over It
On MSNBC's Morning Joe today, Joe Scarborough hosted a panel that included Chris Matthews and New York Times managing editor Jill Abramson. As the discussion was coming to a close, the subject of this morning's (excellent) New York Times story about Ted Kennedy's final days came up. The comprehensive piece was written by Mark Leibovich, the same Times reporter who wrote a much-discussed and extremely enjoyable profile of Matthews last year. Here is the amusing transcript: READ MORE >>
Kennedy's Causes
Edward M. Kennedy died Wednesday, ending his nine-term career in the United States Senate. Click through this slideshow to see some of the most prominent causes he worked for over the course of his career. Courtesy of Getty Images READ MORE >>
What Webb Neglects to Say About Burma
Arne Duncan's Seductions--And Why Schools Need Them
Is the Sixtieth Democratic Vote On the Way?
This Boston Herald story, via Ben Smith, seems to suggest as much: House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo has given his behind-closed-doors blessing to an effort to hand Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint a temporary successor to U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, sources say. ... READ MORE >>
An AfPak Puzzle
Bernard Finel wants to know: What precisely is the nature of the risk a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan would pose to the stability of Pakistan? From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, and yet by most indications, Pakistan was under less threat from Islamist radicals then than now. What has changed to make Afghanistan now the lynchpin on which the stability of Pakistan rests? READ MORE >>
My Favorite Kennedy Reminiscence . . .
. . . comes from "Steve in Chestnut Hill," who called in with this story to the Boston radio show "On Point": This is a day full of special memories for me. It happens, coincidentally, that exactly twelve years ago today, my late wife Francesca, who was a lifelong passionate supporter of Ted Kennedy, also died of brain cancer. READ MORE >>
After Teddy
Is John Kerry the new lion of a Senate that has been much diminished over the years? Alex Massie says he might be. Of course, that mantle might well have gone to Hillary Clinton had she stuck around. Update: Tom Schaller has more, including a list of names from the 1963 Senate, which includes: READ MORE >>
