Posts by Jonathan J. Cooper

We were looking over TWI’s Congressional (dis)Honor Roll of members of the House and Senate who have been indicted and we wondered, What do all these politicians have in common?  Can we find some consistent characteristic that draws these guys to break the law (or just be accused of it)?  We’re not criminologists, but we [...]

With his indictment today, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) joins a congressional (dis)honor role  that includes many illustrious members of of the House and Senate. stretching back to 1798. TWI got to wondering just how many congressmen had been indicted before Stevens. The answer: at least 100.  Stevens takes his place alongside politicians like Sen. John [...]

After the indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, on July 29, 2008, TWI got to wondering how many members of Congress came before him. The answer: at least 100. Stevens shares the list with characters like Sen. John Smith, D-Ohio, who, around 1807, was indicted for treason as a co-conspirator with Aaron Burr [...]

Our friends at The Colorado Independent take a look at railroad companies’ sudden interest in political conventions.  Two of them, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, have each given more more than $1 million to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.  The companies aren’t saying much, but their support comes at a time when [...]

A Justice Department investigation report released this morning found that the Justice Department illegally took politics into account in hiring career prosecutor and immigration judges. The report blames top aides to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales — but says Gonzales was largely unaware of the hiring practices. The report details one incident where [...]

Ford Motor Company today posted an $8.7-billion loss, it’s largest-ever single-quarter shortfall.  The company earned a $750-million profit in the same quarter last year.  In an attempt to respond to changing American tastes and boost sales at home, Ford announced it will convert several North American factories in order to bring a line of smaller [...]

Sen. Barack Obama’s Middle East trip continues to dominate this week’s political news.  Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gave Obama’s campaign a boost when he old a German news magazine that he supported Obama’s timetable for withdrawing American troops.  Obama also met with al-Maliki and conceded that there has been ’security progress’ in Iraq.

With all [...]

First the news broke that Jesse Jackson was caught criticizing Barack Obama on an open microphone.  Even before we knew what he said, Jackson was on CNN apologizing for his "crude" remarks.  Fox News, which had the tape, hyped it all afternoon before ultimately airing Jackson’s rebuke for Obama: “See, Barack been, um, talking down [...]

In an operation described in the press as "stunning" and "daring," Colombian military commandos rescued 15 hostages from a Colombian rebel group after years of captivity.  The hostages, including three Americans and a French-Colombian politician, had been held in remote jungles by the FARC, a group on the State Dept.’s list of terrorist organizations.  The [...]

In what is likely the first-ever flight from Indianapolis to Colombia, Sen. John McCain’s campaign charter will head to South America today, where the presumptive Republican nominee will try to flex his foreign policy muscles.  McCain will meet with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and tour a naval base in Cartagena before flying to Mexico City [...]