Your one stop pundit shop.
Eric Cantor (R-VA) is today's guest columnist for the Washington Times Post's, regular op-ed feature, give-a-Republican-a-platform. Cantor uses his turn to complain about Obama's "czars," something that never seemed to bother him when George W. Bush had them coming out of his ears. And it's a column only worth highlighting because this bit of comedy:
The Constitution mandates that the Senate confirm Cabinet-level department heads and other appointees in positions of authority -- known as "principal officers." This gives Congress -- elected by the people -- the power to compel executive decision-makers to testify and be held accountable by someone other than the president. It also ensures that key appointees cannot claim executive privilege when subpoenaed to come before Congress.
David Broder wants Supreme Court confirmation hearings to be less partisan. I want to win the lottery.
David Ignatius thinks that politicians need to dial back on their security details. It's not really clear if he includes Obama in this group.
Bill Wasik calls the internet the "de facto heart of American culture," and that:
The experience of moving online actually bears quite a few similarities to becoming a New Yorker. Disorienting and seemingly endless, the Internet conversation moves at lightning speed and according to unstated social rules that can bewilder outsiders. Also, like New Yorkers, residents of the Internet do not suffer fools, or mince words in belittling them, as anyone who has contributed a redundant post to Metafilter, or an earnest comment to Gawker, can attest.
In their scope, both the Internet and New York are profoundly humbling: young people accustomed to feeling special about their gifts are inevitably jarred, upon arrival, to discover just how many others are trying to do precisely the same, with equal or greater success.
Karl Rove is still employed by the Wall Street Journal, apparently because they like people who spew talking points, misrepresent polling numbers, and make unsubstantiated, bullshit claims. Oh, and Rove's subject today is heath care reform. He's against it.
Daniel Henninger says bipartisanship is crap, so the Blue Dogs and other centrists need to get onboard the private sector bus.
Suzanne Fields thinks Obama is a smooth talking liar, health care reform sucks, and Democrats probably want to kill old people.
Amir Soltani Sheikholeslami and Rita Nakashima Brock on Iran's election:
Iran’s crisis is no longer about the sanctity of Ahmadinejad’s vote. It is about Khamenei’s abduction of the republic and usurpation of religion. Khamenei has shattered his religious authority by converting the Iranian state into a caliphate whose guardians prey on the corpse of Iran’s children in the name of guarding the constitution of an absent sovereign: the Hidden Imam. [...]
With the presidential oath scheduled for as early as Sunday, Khamenei stands alone, isolated and exposed. Virtually all of Iran’s ancient religions and traditions bind its people to the rejection of falsehood. Whether or not Ahmadinejad takes the oath, Iranians will not accept it and Obama should not recognize force and farce as a substitute for faith and freedom.