This is the fifth 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 3: MODELS OF DIGNITY (Part 1) When first we mean to build, We first survey the plot, then draw the model. –William Shakespeare, Henry IV The sciences … [Read more...] about Models of Dignity (Part 1)
A Real Tiger Goes Shopping (Video)
It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke: "A tiger walks into a store..." but it isn't in this video. A young-looking tiger strolls into a store carrying something in its mouth (credit rademacher). Just watch the clerk on the left when he sees it and see the customers flee on the right. Most notable: yes, the tiger saunters around like a house cat: … [Read more...] about A Real Tiger Goes Shopping (Video)
New Photo Seemingly Undermines Christie Bridge Narrative
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's problem now is that every assertion and statement he made in press conferences about "Bridgegate" is going to be vetted, and tested against any new statement from others, or anything on the record. And he has now had part of his narrative seemingly undermined by The Wall Street Journal: Gov. Chris Christie was with the official who … [Read more...] about New Photo Seemingly Undermines Christie Bridge Narrative
Senate Dems For War with Iran?
Andrew Sullivan poses the question noting Democratic Senators co-sponsoring a bill opposing the recent accord with Iran on The Daily Dish. The Senate is full of them. The list of Democratic Senators who favor a march to war with Iran rather than allowing the current negotiations to proceed unhindered is here. I note a few remarkable members of the war chorus: Michael Bennet of … [Read more...] about Senate Dems For War with Iran?
Gates Is No Rumsfeld, ‘Once More with Feeling’
My “Gates Is no Rumsfeld” post is getting a bit crowded with updates and comments. Thus, it might be a good idea to start a new column -- a final one, before we all get the chance to read the book for ourselves and review and comment on the book from that unusual perspective... (Gates’ book is set to be released officially today and Dana Milbank over at the Washington Post … [Read more...] about Gates Is No Rumsfeld, ‘Once More with Feeling’
Is Eminent Domain the Way to Fight Urban Blight?
The concept of cities using eminent domain to obtain homes whose owners are under water on their mortgages has recently come to the fore and is being debated in some towns. Homeowners who owe more money on their houses than the buildings are worth are unlikely to make the necessary repairs and keep up the maintenance on these structures and many of them decay, causing further … [Read more...] about Is Eminent Domain the Way to Fight Urban Blight?
Iraq Not Just a Problem for GOP
Conor Friedersdorf argues that the GOP isn't the only party for whom Iraq is a problem in The Atlantic. The tragic news that forces linked to Al Qaeda have retaken Fallujah is just the latest reminder that George W. Bush's war of choice was a historic, catastrophic misjudgment. "Any Republican seeking nomination for the 2016 presidential election should at a minimum be willing … [Read more...] about Iraq Not Just a Problem for GOP
Christie’s Niche in True Believer Hall of Fame
Size matters, but so does moral essence. Snarling bridge traffic out of political pique may be petty compared to aiming airliners at tall buildings, but the dazzling human disproportion between ends and means, the reckless assault on innocent people and the subjugation of life to self-serving abstractions are inescapable, the mark of what Eisenhower’s favorite philosopher, Eric … [Read more...] about Christie’s Niche in True Believer Hall of Fame
Mitt Romney Dances with Alex Boyle (Video)
Americans are used to politicians giving them a song and dance. Here's Mitt Romney giving an audience a dance (with Alex Boyle): … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Dances with Alex Boyle (Video)
Where is the Democrats’ Outrage?
WASHINGTON -- Shame on Republicans for blocking the resumption of long-term unemployment benefits for 1.3 million Americans. And shame on Democrats for letting them. The GOP cannot be allowed to cast this as a bloodless policy debate about "incentives" that allegedly encourage sloth. Putting that spin on the issue is disingenuous, insulting and inaccurate: As … [Read more...] about Where is the Democrats’ Outrage?
The Offensive DMZ of Dennis Rodman’s Mind: Mining the American Dream in North Korea
The Offensive DMZ of Dennis Rodman's Mind: Mining the American Dream in North Korea The View from the Virgin Islands By John F. McCarthy TMV Guest Voice Columnist Dennis Rodman was the NBA's version of "The Blind Side." Meaning that "The Worm" had a life experience similar to that of the NFL's Michael Oher. But Oher was born the year Dennis Keith Rodman was … [Read more...] about The Offensive DMZ of Dennis Rodman’s Mind: Mining the American Dream in North Korea
Republican Foreign Policy
Jeremy Lott thinks the best way way for the Republican party to regain Foreign Policy credibility is to admit the the Iraq war was a mistake. They ought to take the chance and tell the truth. It would help restore the party’s credibility with the broad mass of independent voters and with those Democrats sick of the George W. Bush-Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton foreign policy … [Read more...] about Republican Foreign Policy
Pew Poll: Christie Story Attracts Little Public Interest
Yawn. That's the apparent reaction so far to the public over the abuse of power/political revenge scandal swirling around New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Is this more evidence of the disconnect between political junkies, political activists, the media and the country at large? Or could it be too early to gauge a reaction? A poll by the Pew Research Center for the People … [Read more...] about Pew Poll: Christie Story Attracts Little Public Interest
(Updated) Fars News or Just Farce?
UPDATE: The Jerusalem Post today has a pretty good take on Fars’ “dramatic scoop.” Fars — in all seriousness— reported that revelations of mass NSA surveillance made public by Edward Snowden were actually an effort by the American-Nazi extraterrestrials to hide their nature to a human world they hoped to dominate. Read it here. == Original Post: These … [Read more...] about (Updated) Fars News or Just Farce?
The Unofficial Moderate’s Vigilance List for 2014
What do we moderates have to worry about? Plenty. After all, if you’re a moderate, trouble comes at you from both sides. To make matters even more interesting, our sources of trouble keep changing from year to year. Over at The New Moderate, I’ve been updating our Vigilance List each year to reflect our current jitters. Some items may have moved up or down the rankings or … [Read more...] about The Unofficial Moderate’s Vigilance List for 2014
Town Of Greece v. Galloway Redux
Today we will be taking a look at the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment and the issue of public prayer. As noted above the case name (should you wish to look elsewhere for more information) is Town of Greece v. Galloway. This one is already getting a lot of press coverage. This case began in the community of Greece, New York (a small town in upstate New York near … [Read more...] about Town Of Greece v. Galloway Redux
Quote of the Day: Realism vs. Reality in Terrorism
Our political Quote of the Day comes from David Adesnik visiting fellow at the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He works on isolationism, national security strategy, and democracy promotion, and is part of AEI’s American Internationalism Project. Adesnik was a research analyst at the Institute for Defense Analyses and served … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Realism vs. Reality in Terrorism
Conscripted Into Obamacare, I Conscientiously Object
I have been trying to work out why I am so upset about Obamacare. We already live in a social democratic state that forcibly takes my money through taxes for things that I don't think anyone's money should be taken for. I may feel there is a better way to build the roads than have the government pay for them through massively redistributive taxation, collected essentially … [Read more...] about Conscripted Into Obamacare, I Conscientiously Object
Book: Hillary Clinton’s Political ‘Hit List’ Includes Sen. Claire McCaskill and John Kerry
The latest freak-out to make the news cycle on Monday is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's political 'hit-list' of enemies. Politico's 'bombshell' is adapted from Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes' new book "HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton. The authors allege that Clinton and her aides kept an extensive spreadsheet on endorsements from the 2008 … [Read more...] about Book: Hillary Clinton’s Political ‘Hit List’ Includes Sen. Claire McCaskill and John Kerry
Gates Is No Rumsfeld (Updates)
UPDATE III: The Hill reports that President Obama is downplaying the charges his former Secretary of Defense makes in his memoir. Obama dismissed questions about his commitment to the war in Afghanistan, after Gates wrote in his book that Obama did not believe in his own war strategy. “Just as I have continued to have faith in our mission, most importantly, … [Read more...] about Gates Is No Rumsfeld (Updates)