From a wonkish perspective, the explanation is even more mendacious than it first appears. The EPA and other federal agencies dealing with pollution and toxins almost always set different limits for short and long-term levels. So you already have a method for saying that you can have short spikes that exceed the longterm limit, just as long as the spikes themselves aren't too big.

So this isn't like saying you can occasionally do 75 in a 55 zone. It's like saying that you can occasionally do mach 2 in a 55 zone.

Posted at May 16, 2008 11:23 AM in response to Today's Must Read

I wonder if Bush thinks that McConnell opposing the "compromise" will make the democrats more eager to embrace it. Then McConnell unexpectedly folds, and everybody but the citizens gets what they want.

Posted at May 8, 2008 2:11 PM in response to McConnell Spikes White House FEC Compromise

This is why all of the politicians who think it's a good idea to subsidize people to buy insurance policies deserve to go through the mill themselves.

What would be funny in another world is that the hospital has almost certainly spent that $438 in the cost of having people on the phone for hour after hour figuring out what's wrong with the billing. If not, your friend certainly has. (I've often thought that there would be a salutary change in US business practice if customers could charge an appropriate hourly rate for time spent straightening out billing and other errors.)

Posted at May 2, 2008 4:54 PM in response to Battered by Health Insurance

Is TPM lawyering up? I thought a previous post included an admission of responsibility by one of Young's staff. Instead of "more than a little slippery" can't you just say "economical with the truth" or "deliberately misleading" or -- heaven forfend -- "lying"?

Posted at May 1, 2008 8:47 AM in response to Don Young: I Wasn't Even in The Room When They Changed The Coconut Road Earmark!

It's a practice run.

And yeah, the phone company (thank you, surveillance state) will have logs of all of these calls, assuming the times the call were received can be accurately reported.

I am sure that the FBI and Mukasey's department will get right on it.

Posted at April 30, 2008 9:56 AM in response to Robo Call Gives False Voting Info to North Carolina Voters

If you're going to sell your soul, do it for real money. All the evidence seems to suggest, that Coughlin, like so many others, really wanted to do illegal favors for Abramoff just because screwing the taxpayer was fun. The bribes were just a perk.

Posted at April 23, 2008 10:47 AM in response to CHA-CHING!!!

Remember, the vacancy would have an Acting AG who made Gonzalez look like a model of rectitude.

Posted at April 18, 2008 9:16 PM in response to Better Than Fredo

Yoo himself has made the crucial claim, namely that he didn't know his memo would actually be used to sanction torture. If no one can prove him a liar in that, he wins the steel cage match with Feith and several awards for legal incompetence, but OPR will clear him. If he knew or had reason to know at the time that the "Principals" were already authorizing torture, then he's up the creek both legally and as a matter of professional ethics.

Posted at April 18, 2008 9:14 PM in response to Internal Justice Dept. Investigation Includes Yoo Torture Memo

Who knew that the president could prevent a private citizen other than his attorney from testifying about unclassified material? Maybe he'll do it by hauling him off as an enemy combatant and imprisoning him at Cozumel.

Posted at April 18, 2008 12:54 PM in response to Rove's Lawyer: SIKE!!!

His lawyer forgot to mention that he would be particularly glad to testify under a grant of immunity, but would otherwise be nonresponsive.

Posted at April 17, 2008 9:00 PM in response to House Panel Calls Rove's Bluff