Behind the scenes look at Doug's thought life. I thought I’d write about all the random stuff I’ve been thinking lately. I don’t think Curious George was curious. I think George was a very intellectually limited monkey. By labeling him curious, the man with the yellow hat was being irresponsible. I guess Dumb George isn’t the best title for a children’s book, but it would have been a more accurate...

by Walter Brasch The First Sometimes United Church decided last week not to ordain any frogs. To find out why, I visited the Rev. Matthew Mark Johnson. I approached him as he finished blessing the ceremonial offerings plate. “Rev. Johnson,” I asked, “the frogs-rights groups are upset with your Board’s decision. What are your reasons?” “The Bible tells us that frogs are...

We’re approaching it, if we haven’t already gone past it. And those who ignore this, do so at their own peril. There’s little more amplification that can be done on the tactic of blamming the President for this, that and the other thing. It’s not just piling on, it’s making people turn away and tire. It’s fill in the blank headline time – who even bothers to read the...

I’ve been telling people to jump on this observation band wagon for a while now but here again, on the front page of the New York Times, “To Congress With Mantra, Why Not Me?” You can see the array of new stars at this interactive tool. (Editing in: notice how there are only three women out of the more than 30 there – and of those, saying that Kelly Ayotte is a newcomer because she’s...

Tell me why I should not be scared. Tell me why I should not worry. Tell me why I should not get a little nauseous every time I read a new sound bite or idea promoted by the newly elected public servants. Because when I open the paper, I find a lot about these folks that scares me – and they scared me before. Specifically, I feel the need for a very honest and thoughtful explanation from those who are happy...

More than one-fifth (22%) of the 112th Congress will be new members, the largest proportion since 1992, according to First Read at MSNBC News. Depending on the results of nine remaining House races, the House’s level of incumbents could be the lowest since 1948. This information updates a post from last week, Electeds’ Freshman Orientation: More Like A Hangover Than a Party which includes a comment...

Studies show that women are more effective legislators than men. Now, women are also going to prove how effective they can be at getting past the historic declines in representation they suffered last week. How? Through The 2012 Project, which is hosting a media call today about what’s next for efforts to increase the number of American women in political office. The 2012 Project is a national, nonpartisan...

On reaching India, while US president Barack Obama virtually played salesman-in-chief for American companies/business, his wife Michelle Obama let her hair down and kicked off her shoes to play hopscotch, and sang and danced with children in Mumbai. The Indian media gave her as much publicity as her famous husband. The Indian Express reported: “It’s not everyday that a First Lady takes off her shoes...

Just the messenger. Peggy Noonan was a speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan and took a leave from the Wall Street Journal to campaign for George W. Bush’s re-election in 2004. From her column in the WSJ: Conservatives talked a lot about Ronald Reagan this year, but they have to take him more to heart, because his example here is a guide. All this seemed lost last week on Sarah Palin, who called him,...

Love her, hate her, demonize her, but U.S. Representative and outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is running for Minority Leader. Yesterday morning I posted this entry about whether she should run (and I said yes). I made sure those I know who know those who should know read what I wrote. There is a serious backlash about to be felt if those on the Hill do not realize that with women barely making gains,...

You don’t have to be a professional number cruncher to know that with so many seats in Congress swapping parties, it also means that we’ve swapped people who have been there and done that (aka incumbents) for people who’ve either never been there and done that, or have only been there and done that in local settings under local or state procedures. In other words, freshman orientation for the...

I’m very pleased to read that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is not done fighting. I also don’t want her to be done leading – for the sake of all women who look to see where they can go. This country, in fact, not just women, need the visible presence of a woman at the uppermost positions of power in Congress now more than ever. If she listened to her own words here, I don’t know...

I’ve been writing and researching this topic all day and finally have at least two definitive posts, with a whole lot of links for people who want to see behind the data. You can read a lengthy post on the Gains and Losses, Big Picture, Congress, State Legislatures and you can also scour sources until you can’t absorb anymore at this day after wrap-up that includes a link to the Palin Endorsement...

In the coming weeks the pundits will pontificate why Barack Obama and the Democrats were rudely jolted by the American voters in the mid-term polls. I found Peter Baker’s piece “Elitism: The Charge Obama Can’t Shake” (in the NYT last week) interesting. “…a perception promoted by his critics that he is a Harvard-educated millionaire elitist who is sure that he knows best and thinks...

We interrupt this political program for a brief venture into sports by our resident TMV sports guy. The San Francisco Giants Monday night won the World Series in five games over the Texas Rangers. The victory captured the fancy of almost no one not a baseball fan who lives outside the Bay Area. The baseball gods who insist on calling baseball America’s National Pastime are like those clinging to their...

From ABC: Dear Mr. Breitbart, We have spent the past several days trying to make clear to you your limited role as a participant in our digital town hall to be streamed on ABCNews.com and Facebook. The post on your blog last Friday created a widespread impression that you would be analyzing the election on ABC News. We made it as clear as possible as quickly as possible that you had been invited along with...

The GOP candidate for Ohio treasurer, outgoing Ohio House Rep. Josh Mandel (17th District – sadly, my district), has been called out nationwide for his and his campaign’s widespread use of anti-Muslim imagery, rhetoric and, according to Politifact, falsehoods. Late last week, the Ohio Elections Commission, composed of a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent, unanimously found probable cause...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a copy editor at The New Yorker? Well, it’s just as you imagined. Rigorous. And wonderful.

When things are bad and getting worse you can laugh or you can cry. If you would prefer to laugh Charles Hugh Smoth has a new publication for you – the Foreclosure Crisis Weekly. Have a good laugh. HT The Big Picture

Forbes came out with a list of 25 “power women” of the 2010 midterm elections. You can have fun by first seeing if you can name 25 women in the midterm scenario, then rank them and then check them against the Forbes’ list. However, what you may find more interesting is Forbes’ companion story on whether “mama grizzlies” are feminine conservatives or conservative feminists. Read...

Ever since I stopped watching TV (maybe my loyalty is still with print media), I have become an avid radio fan. I now surf merrily from the BBC and the VOA to local/national FM Indian radio stations. Yesterday a song titled “Ibn Battuta” (from Bollywood film Ishqiya) caught my attention. Wow! Even a Bollywood film/song can revive our interest in forgotten history!!! So I looked up “Ibn Battuta”...

The Ohio Elections Commission has dismissed a complaint made by Former Fox personality and now Republican candidate for Ohio governor, John Kasich, and filed against the campaign of Governor Ted Strickland. The complaint stemmed from the traditionally wretched ratings Kasich has gotten over the years from the NRA. Even the Buckeye Firearms Association, which gives Strickland an A+, chastised Kasich. From Cincinnati.com: Columbus...

BlogHer.com has a history of political figures interacting with its membership. Carly Fiorina answered questions in a phone interview, and Kirsten Gillibrand met with BlogHers in person in New York City this summer (I was one of about 15 or so who was there). Now, the four candidates will answer questions collected at BlogHer.com, via Twitter and Facebook. If you are in Missouri or any of the congressional...

Bull has enjoyed a central place in mythology cutting across many civilizations. In agrarian India it enjoyed a special place but is now in decline owing to widespread artificial insemination of cows. The photo above of a bull in an Indian town is symbolic of the waning power and majesty of the bull. I am reminded of the following poem… “I am monarch of all I survey; My right there is none to dispute;… I...

That in 2010, seven days before election day, an all-male revue of four gubernatorial candidates sign a pledge to appoint more women to positions is just so sad. So I’m taking a hint from the The Rent is Too Damn High party and starting, The Pols are Too Damn Male party. Read more here. Rhode Island gubernatorial candidates from left, Independent Lincoln Chafee, Moderate Party Ken Block, Republican...