Conservative columnist Ross Douthat comments on inaccurate criticism of the President in the New York Times. Q: Name three conservative criticisms of President Obama that you think are unfair. 1) The claim that he’s a Marxist radical, or some variation on that theme. If there’s anything that should be clear after six years of this presidency, it’s just Obama is … [Read more...] about Douthat on Obama
The Attempted Typecasting of Ronan Farrow
It's always fascinating to follow typecasting. An actor gets a role and makes such a big splash that he becomes a "type," so casting directors look for others with a similar "look" or style to fill future roles. Or an actor becomes so famous in a role that he can never get any other parts, and the role of a lifetime becomes the curse of a career. So it's fascinating to see … [Read more...] about The Attempted Typecasting of Ronan Farrow
Russia’s moment in the sun
Russia’s moment in the sun (via GlobalPost) Talk about a new Cold War: Vladimir Putin’s speech on Tuesday announcing Russia would annex Crimea was a virtuoso exercise in Soviet-style propaganda. Speaking forcefully and with a straight face, the Russian president characterized his country as… … [Read more...] about Russia’s moment in the sun
Bill is at it Again
"There's been a certain amount of pop sociology in America ... that the Shia can't get along with the Sunni and the Shia in Iraq just want to establish some kind of Islamic fundamentalist regime. There's almost no evidence of that at all. Iraq's always been very secular." ~Willaim Kristol, April 4th, 2003 William (never been right about anything) Kristol is at it again. He is … [Read more...] about Bill is at it Again
A Culture of Dignity (Part 1)
This is the fourteenth part of the serialization of All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (Berrett-Koehler, 2006). The ideas in this book are further developed in my recent novel The Rowan Tree. CHAPTER 9: A CULTURE OF DIGNITY(Part 1) The public...demands certainties....But there are no certainties. --H. L. Mencken, American writer Know you what it … [Read more...] about A Culture of Dignity (Part 1)
Physicist Learns His Theory Has Been Proven
As some of you have probably heard scientists at Stanford have discovered evidence strongly supporting the Big Bang Theory of the Universe. One of the things the evidence supports is what is called the inflation theory of the universe (or as the article calls it the Bang of the Big Bang). The godfather of this theory is Professor Andrei Linde who came up with the concept … [Read more...] about Physicist Learns His Theory Has Been Proven
St. Patrick’s Day Revelry
I have not seen this photo anywhere. It depicts something so rare these days that I thought I would post it without much additional comment. The White House photo caption reads (readers may want to make up their own captions): President Barack Obama shares a laugh with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, during a St. Patrick’s Day lunch for Prime Minister Enda Kenny … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Day Revelry
Jon Stewart launches the comedic genius of #mcconnelling
As part of one of the best Daily Shows in recent memory, Jon Stewart introduced us to #mcconnelling -- that is, setting a new ad for Republican Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader running for re-election this year (against a formidable Democratic challenger, Alison Lundergan Grimes), to music. Pretty much to any music. It all works. Stewart went with … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart launches the comedic genius of #mcconnelling
Flight MH370: Finally, a Plausible Theory
While the reports, theories, speculation and just plain rumors surrounding the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 continue, I finally have come across a reasonable, simple, non-conspiratorial theory that might well explain (more or less -- the writer is not a diviner) what happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The writer, Chris Goodfellow, a Canadian … [Read more...] about Flight MH370: Finally, a Plausible Theory
VLAD THE REDEEMER
Irredentism: noun ir-i-den-ti-zm (der. Italian: irredento: "unredeemed") the policy advocating a return of territories historically possessed and/or ethnically related to one political unit but currently under the political control of another. So, to absolutely no one’s even mild surprise, over 97% of Crimeans voted to declare their independence from Ukraine - a … [Read more...] about VLAD THE REDEEMER
Lying About Obamacare Not Working Out That Well For Republicans
Republicans, lacking any real policies they can campaign on, have been relying on ads based upon lies about the Affordable Care Act. One ad which has received a lot of attention in the Michigan Senate race centered around a cancer patient who claimed her health insurance was unaffordable under Obamacare. Several fact-checkers found that her new policy through the Affordable … [Read more...] about Lying About Obamacare Not Working Out That Well For Republicans
“Crimea has always been a part of Russia.”
Holy crap. When Walter Russell Mead wrote that Vladimir Putin has been working right out of the Hitler playbook, I found the point provocative but perhaps overstated. Although I have been cynical about diplomatic efforts to get Putin to back off Ukraine, because I don't think Putin cares what anyone thinks of him, I didn't expect him to be this bold and this blatant this … [Read more...] about “Crimea has always been a part of Russia.”
How Russia Rigged the Crimean Referendum
In Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, turnout for Sunday's referendum reached an astonishing 123% of registered voters. There may be an explanation for this number that doesn't involve the simple stuffing of ballot boxes: One reporter from Kiev showed his Russian passport and was handed a ballot and allowed to vote. This raised questions in Kiev if perhaps the Russian … [Read more...] about How Russia Rigged the Crimean Referendum
The Downside of Democracy (2)
Leaders in the West have committed themselves to spreading democracy, whether or not the ground is fertile for the introduction of self-government. Citizens of the Western nations have for the most part supported this diffusion of democracy, having been educated to believe in the superiority of this form of government. However, notwithstanding Churchill’s adage about … [Read more...] about The Downside of Democracy (2)
Pay attention to this (Guest Voice)
Pay Attention to This By Peter Funt HENDERSON, Nev. — I happened to be doing a 20-hour road trip in a rented car when Apple announced CarPlay, a system that will soon allow motorists to text, check email and be entertained via their mobile devices, while roaring down the highway. The same week it was reported that Google has hired lobbyists to fight legislation in … [Read more...] about Pay attention to this (Guest Voice)
Putin signs treaty to make Crimea part of Russia
Putin signs treaty to make Crimea part of Russia (via AFP) President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty making Crimea part of Russia, in a historic redrawing of Russia's borders after he declared that the Black Sea region has always been "in the hearts" of his countrymen. In a fast-moving sequence of… … [Read more...] about Putin signs treaty to make Crimea part of Russia
Incredible street performance (and a word about sharing)
A friend shared the Thai clip on Facebook. I failed to "like" it, so when I wanted to show it to my husband, I couldn't find it. Thus began the journey that led to my discovering this video. I channeled my inner terrier, but it was "search" that I had my teeth sunk into, not a squirrel or a rat or a bone. "Asian Vitruvian Man" was shot in Taipei and uploaded October … [Read more...] about Incredible street performance (and a word about sharing)
Russia Eyes Crimea’s Oil and Gas Reserves (Guest Voice)
Russia Eyes Crimea’s Oil and Gas Reserves By Nicholas Cunningham of Oilprice.com According to Reuters , Crimea may nationalize oil and gas assets within its borders belonging to Ukraine, and sell them off to Russia. Crimea’s Deputy Prime Minister hinted at the possibility that it would take control of Chornomorneftegaz, a Ukrainian state-owned enterprise, and then … [Read more...] about Russia Eyes Crimea’s Oil and Gas Reserves (Guest Voice)
The politics of hopelessness
WASHINGTON -- Listlessness is bad politics. Defensiveness is poor strategy. And resignation is never inspiring. You can feel elements of all three descending around President Obama as he fends off attack after attack from his conservative foes who vary the subject depending on the day, the circumstance and the opportunity. Obama and his party are in danger of … [Read more...] about The politics of hopelessness
Krugman on Ryan’s Poverty Comments
Paul Krugman calls Rep. Paul Ryan's comments on poverty a "racial dog whistle" in The New York Times. But over the past 40 years good jobs for ordinary workers have disappeared, not just from inner cities but everywhere: adjusted for inflation, wages have fallen for 60 percent of working American men. And as economic opportunity has shriveled for half the population, many … [Read more...] about Krugman on Ryan’s Poverty Comments