Should anyone care about the personality quirks of Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, or Glenn Greenwald? Last week, the New Republic published an article that attacks the three by examining old blog entries, their early careers, and other information that has nothing to do with NSA mass surveillance. For Switzerland's News, Patrik Etschmayer calls the the New Republic article a … [Read more...] about Question for the New Republic: Who Gives a ‘Fart’ about What Snowden Thinks? (News, Switzerland)
State of the Union: Super Bowl on Empty Field
The sharpest commentary was a repeated cutaway to John McCain smirking as the President went through a laundry list of ways to improve the State of the Union, mostly by executive action, inviting the GOP to join the game with him. But with John Boehner visibly reacting only to the reference to himself as the “son of a barkeep” who attained high office, the Republicans refused … [Read more...] about State of the Union: Super Bowl on Empty Field
The Southern Deep-Freeze: Predicted or Unexpected? And Does It Matter?
There's lots of finger-pointing going on down south. Georgia officials on one side. National meteorologists on the other. What is clear is that an unusual winter storm descended on most of Georgia and much of the southeast on Tuesday. Rather than play the blame game, what can we learn from this? Take-aways Most people don't read weather advisory discussions, for a very … [Read more...] about The Southern Deep-Freeze: Predicted or Unexpected? And Does It Matter?
Musings On Our Parlous State Of Affairs (And I’m Not Talkin’ About Justin Bieber)
I have not been able to get this photograph of Russian Orthodox priests standing between pro-democracy protesters and police in Kiev out of my mind for several days now. First of all, as a longtime photographer I know that it has "award winner" written all over it, a great example of a single image speaking volumes. Secondly, the image is a timely reminder, coming as it did … [Read more...] about Musings On Our Parlous State Of Affairs (And I’m Not Talkin’ About Justin Bieber)
The odor of bitterness
Everything about Obama’s messaging — the image of vigorous unilateral action, the laser focus on jobs, the small but popular policy initiatives attached to it — serve the goal of patching up the president’s standing and framing the Washington story in the most favorable terms possible. The State of the Union address is not an effort to fundamentally reorient the … [Read more...] about The odor of bitterness
Good media news (Washington Post) and bad media news (Patch)
In the continuing media shakedown and restructuring that's moving break-neck speed as America hurtles further in the 21st century, there's good news and bad news. And here's a daily double whammy: THE GOOD NEWS: The Washington Post plans to expand in a big way and a lot of it will be new hires, including bloggers. THE BAD NEWS: Patch, which had raised hopes that online … [Read more...] about Good media news (Washington Post) and bad media news (Patch)
Obama, confidence builder
WASHINGTON -- When President Obama spoke to the nation Tuesday evening, his way was that of a politically moderate, temperamentally optimistic Democratic governor. He offered a long list of relatively modest but helpful programs that many voters will warm to and Republicans ought to have a hard time opposing. Obama took a State of the Union address that began as a … [Read more...] about Obama, confidence builder
Stuck in reverse (Cartoon)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Stuck in reverse (Cartoon)
Rep. Michael Grimm threatens to throw reporter off balcony: UPDATED (Video)
So much for being a "rising star." Everyone who has worked as a print or broadcast reporter knows it goes with the territory. You ask a question of someone in the news and he or she doesn't like it. But seldom does someone threaten you physically and if it was a news source working for a company (an employee, a p.r. person) the person would be fired. Elected officials … [Read more...] about Rep. Michael Grimm threatens to throw reporter off balcony: UPDATED (Video)
Tea Party Claims Another GOP Scalp
Former Nevada assemblywoman, state senator, lieutenant governor and gaming commissioner, Sue Wagner has turned in her Republican registration to become an Independent. Explaining her decision, she said she has tired of the GOP’s embrace of far right politics. “I did it as a symbol, I guess, that I do not like the Republican Party and what they stand for today...I’ve … [Read more...] about Tea Party Claims Another GOP Scalp
Obama’s speech: more pizzazz than power?
The pundit jury is coming in with a verdict about President Obama's State of the Union speech and it's generally positive. A former Bush speechwriter claims Obama plagiarized George W. Bush, but when the lines are compared it seems one more exaggeration typical of partisans on each side (here come the False Equivalency police at my door). Meanwhile, CNN's instant polling found … [Read more...] about Obama’s speech: more pizzazz than power?
The SOTU Address: A Speech and an Evening that ‘Belonged to the Purple Heart Recipient in the First Lady’s Box’
Even before the president started to deliver the State of the Union (SOTU) address, many had watched the uniformed soldier slowly and carefully make his way down the steps of the House gallery to take his seat in the front row, next to where First Lady Michele Obama would soon be sitting. During the president’s address, Americans would get to see shots of this Army Ranger … [Read more...] about The SOTU Address: A Speech and an Evening that ‘Belonged to the Purple Heart Recipient in the First Lady’s Box’
The Christmas Miracle Gift: the restored childhood teddybear (video)
What happens when a guy decides to give a girl the ultimate gift? He takes her tattered childhood teddy bear and restores it. He searches for the worn and destroyed parts by getting some other Teddy Bears. And then she opens the gift and sees a teddy bear -- but notices what it really is. Most adults (and teens) have some object from their childhood that meant a lot to them. … [Read more...] about The Christmas Miracle Gift: the restored childhood teddybear (video)
Washington Be Damned, CELAC Makes Real ‘Our America’ (Opera Mundi, Brazil)
The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, an organization fathered by Hugo Chavez on the premise of excluding the United States and Canada - and with the intention of uniting Latin America politically and economically - has just held its second summit in Havana. This column from Brazil's Opera Mundi by Argentine academic Atilio Boron is notable for a number of … [Read more...] about Washington Be Damned, CELAC Makes Real ‘Our America’ (Opera Mundi, Brazil)
Obama’s Final Turning Point
It's crunch time for President Barack Obama. President Lyndon Johnson once said: "Being President is like being a jackass in a hailstorm. There's nothing to do but stand there and take it." That Obama & Co. would like us to be in a New Era is evident by comments from administration aides and Obama during the State of the Union address: we're in "A Year of Action." He'll use … [Read more...] about Obama’s Final Turning Point
Obama’s state of the union address: Obama rides again? (News, blog and Twitter roundup)
A revival or a yawn? Reaction is now pouring in on President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Partisans may differ on their judgement -- and you can almost predict what some writers and websites will say before you read them -- Obama displayed a determination, energy, and a Happy Warrior playfulness that made it more than a perfunctory speech. Obama showed he has his … [Read more...] about Obama’s state of the union address: Obama rides again? (News, blog and Twitter roundup)
SOTU First Responders (Cartoon)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about SOTU First Responders (Cartoon)
Obama in 2014: handling Russia’s discontents
Relations with Russia may not get much mention in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight but they seem headed towards creating more trouble for US foreign policy in 2014 than in recent years. Obama’s reset with Russia has floundered during his second term and President Vladimir Putin’s new and aggressive assertiveness is likely to cause more problems for … [Read more...] about Obama in 2014: handling Russia’s discontents
The ‘Cape Ray’ Is Ready – Are the Syrians Ready and Willing?
“The second cargo of Syria’s most toxic chemical weapons was exported by ship on Monday for eventual destruction at sea,” says the New York Times in a column on Monday. Reportedly, this is the second cargo exported thus far from the port of Latakia. The first one left the port on January 7 each carrying 15 to 20 tons, according to the Times, which adds that, if confirmed, … [Read more...] about The ‘Cape Ray’ Is Ready – Are the Syrians Ready and Willing?
Behind the Paranoia of the 1%
Josh Marshall analyzes financier Tom Perkins' comparison of the critique of income inequality and the 1% to Hitler's persecution of the Jews on Talking Points Memo. If you've been in the media slipstream today you know the outrage and mockery directed at Tom Perkins, one of the world's wealthiest and most successful Silicon Valley venture capitalists, for an oped he wrote in … [Read more...] about Behind the Paranoia of the 1%