As a general matter, I think it’s naive to indulge any sense that Gen. McChrystal didn’t know just what he was doing and getting into with this Rolling Stone profile. He’s a pro. He knows how to play this game. And to think otherwise just doesn’t do him justice. However, there are a few points about what he knew specifically that I think should be addressed. Read More
WaPo opinioner Jackson Diehl says McChrystal shouldn’t be apologizing for disrespecting President Obama but that President Obama should be apologizing for disrespecting McChrystal. Not sure which part of the military-civilian things Diehl doesn’t understand.
Secretary Gates has released a statement rebuking Gen. McChrystal. As I noted earlier though I believe Gates behind the scenes reaction will be key to how all this plays out. Remember back in 2007 Gates fired then-head of Central Command, Adm. Fallon in remarkably similar circumstances. He’s spoken out of turn about President Bush in an article in Esquire. Does Gates decide McChrystal’s insubordination goes too far? Or will he help manage a brief ritual humiliation of McChrystal which has him back in place in Afghanistan in short order? Beside Obama, Gates is the real player here.
This is not the year I’d expect a Democrat to knock off a Republican incumbent in Texas. But maybe it could happen. We’ve now got our first non-Rasmussen poll of the Texas governor’s race (from PPP). And it shows a dead even race between Gov. Rick Perry (R) and former Houston Mayor Bill White.
The outgoing chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, says Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s comments in Rolling Stone put him in the company of “reckless, renegade generals” like MacArthur and LeMay.
Conservative Republicans walking fine line on McChrystal controversy. House Minority Whip’s statement after the jump … Read More
If you haven’t been paying much attention to the Pennsylvania Senate race it might surprise you to learn that since the May 18 Democratic primary, when Rep. Joe Sestak defeated incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter, Sestak has been polling very well against the Republican nominee, former Rep. Pat Toomey (R). That’s in pretty sharp contrast with how well Sestak polled against Toomey before the primary, in a hypothetical matchup. The latest poll out today has the race dead even. You can see the tightening of the race in this chart of the TPM Poll Average of the race: Read More
Levin’s statement after the jump … Read More
Now President Karzai is reportedly piping up, saying he supports Gen. McChrystal, hopes he’ll stay.