It's a dirty political trick that keeps getting played because it works — at least for awhile. The trick of lying about something over and over again, in as many ways as possible, in as many media as possible, until people start believing it. Even people who were originally skeptics. Even people who sense in their gut, feel in their personal lives, that the lie seems very, very … [Read more...] about The Big Lie About The Economy
Freeman Nominated Kennedy in ’60, Was Last Surviving Cabinet Member
Historic Tidbit: It was called a “My Three Sons” race. In 1998, the sons of the three politicians who are credited with building the modern Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, Humphrey, Mondale, and Freeman, sought the party’s nod for Governor. It was a polite affair, “Minnesota nice.” Freeman won the convention nod but Humphrey decided to take it to the primary where he … [Read more...] about Freeman Nominated Kennedy in ’60, Was Last Surviving Cabinet Member
Phil Hoff Vermont’s First Democratic Governor In 109 Years
One could say that Phillip Hoff was Vermont even before Vermont. The "Green Mountain State" is a liberal bastion today. It's three electoral votes are routinely the first to go into a Democratic Presidential nominees column on Election Night, often by record margins. Had Hoff accomplished little else in his eight year tenure, he would already have made history. The … [Read more...] about Phil Hoff Vermont’s First Democratic Governor In 109 Years
Fight expert: George Zimmerman more like Pee-wee Herman than Chuck Norris
Fight expert: George Zimmerman more like Pee-wee Herman than Chuck Norris (via The Christian Science Monitor) An expert in the mechanics of hand-to-hand combat who took the stand in the George Zimmerman trial on Wednesday testified that Mr. Zimmerman is a hapless fighter who could well have felt justified in shooting Trayvon Martin in self-defense. Dennis Root… … [Read more...] about Fight expert: George Zimmerman more like Pee-wee Herman than Chuck Norris
Spitzer Sprints to Top in Poll for NYC Comptroller’s Race
It's most assuredly true that the consequences of sex scandals ain't what they used to be -- and the latest proof is this: disgraced and resigned New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer has leap-frogged to the top in the poll for the New York City Comptroller spot: Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer leads Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer by nine percentage points in the … [Read more...] about Spitzer Sprints to Top in Poll for NYC Comptroller’s Race
Charles Koch: Help the poor by eliminating the minimum wage
In an interview in my old mater The Wichita Eagle (I worked there from January 1980 - January 1982 as a staff reporter), billionaire Charles Koch talks about an ad campaign he's bankrolling -- and suggests a nice way to help the poor would be to eliminate the minimum wage: Charles Koch, who runs Koch Industries and contributes to political groups and campaigns, said he … [Read more...] about Charles Koch: Help the poor by eliminating the minimum wage
Planetary Convulsion Over U.S. Spying (Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Russia, Germany, Austria, France, The Netherlands, South Korea)
As is clear to be seen everywhere except in America's mainstream media, our planet continues to be in turmoil over the NSA surveillance programs exposed by Edward Snowden. Below is a selection of work we have done over the past few days - and does not include content that is originally in English, all of which is posted on the Worldmeets.US home page. We begin in Latin … [Read more...] about Planetary Convulsion Over U.S. Spying (Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Russia, Germany, Austria, France, The Netherlands, South Korea)
Ford Unseated Halleck As Republican Whip In 1965
Historic Quote: "If the results are the wish of the people, I can accept that. It's like a game of bingo. I've neglected golfing and fishing. It's time to make that up." House Rules Committee Chair Ray Madden of Indiana, defeated in a primary at age 84 after 34 years. Of his many years, Madden said, "I haven't sat by the road and counted them. Age doesn't seem to creep up on … [Read more...] about Ford Unseated Halleck As Republican Whip In 1965
Quayle’s Career Began With Defeat of Roush in ’76
Historic Quote: "I love California. I grew up in Phoenix." Dan Quayle Continuing with my series of people famous politicians beat to win their first major political office, we now turn to J. Danforth Quayle. The future vice-president would win his House seat in 1976 by beating J. Edward Roush, an eight term Congressman (not consecutive) who had survived a number of close, … [Read more...] about Quayle’s Career Began With Defeat of Roush in ’76
Poems from a Plane 2: (A Shared Lament/Fussy Baby)
A Shared Lament or A Historical Retelling of “I can’t do this!” by Doug Bursch “I can’t do this!” I shouted this in the car today More than once, more than several, less than many times! I didn’t count, I’m counting now, or trying to count now But I didn’t count then. I just did it repeatedly. “I can’t do this!” Is what I shouted ...repeatedly. Not like a mantra, … [Read more...] about Poems from a Plane 2: (A Shared Lament/Fussy Baby)
Egypt: Obama’s next hot potato in the Mideast
The Egyptian hot potato is preparing to fall into President Barack Obama’s lap and the US might have to own it for a long time, for the sake of Israel’s security and its own national interests. Today the Muslim Brotherhood rejected participation in the new interim government partly because it does not want to be outdone by its rival Islamist al Nour party, which did so … [Read more...] about Egypt: Obama’s next hot potato in the Mideast
(Updates) Another ‘Sean Goldman’ Case Brewing in Brazil?
UPDATE: ABC News reports that Massachusetts Shauna Hadden, who has been stranded in Brazil with her 6-year-old daughter after Brazilian federal police seized their U.S. passports, may be returning to the U.S. soon after a Brazilian judge decided to return the U.S. passports. Read more here UPDATE: Watch the ABC News Video below: Remember the five-year … [Read more...] about (Updates) Another ‘Sean Goldman’ Case Brewing in Brazil?
(Rare Video) Video Shows President Franklin Roosevelt Pushed in His Wheelchair
It's now well documented by historians that President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his associates went to great lengths to ensure that he was never photographed being pushed in his wheelchair. Various accounts talk about the way he'd lean on people so it looked like he was more mobile than he was, or even walking -- and be solid as a rock if he was standing or sitting. But now Ray … [Read more...] about (Rare Video) Video Shows President Franklin Roosevelt Pushed in His Wheelchair
VA Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Corporation, Wife Got Thousands from Donor Jonnie Williams
Shouldn't criminal charges be brought against Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife for their shenanigans with accepting cash from political donors? The Washington Post reports prominent political donor, Jonnie Williams, gave $70,000 to a corporation owned by McDonnell and his sister last year. Gov. McDonnell failed to disclose the money as a gift or loan. Um, the IRS should … [Read more...] about VA Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Corporation, Wife Got Thousands from Donor Jonnie Williams
Tribune Co to split broadcast, publishing arms
Tribune Co to split broadcast, publishing arms (via AFP) Tribune Company announced plans Wednesday to spin off its newspaper division, which includes the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, from its television holdings in a move to designed "to maximize shareholder value." The move marks the latest breakup… … [Read more...] about Tribune Co to split broadcast, publishing arms
R.I.P. Immigration Reform: Consensus is it’s virtually dead
The consensus has been growing: immigration reform is virtually dead. Even though there are many risks facing the Republican Party if it looks like it killed it, it will in the end by killed or allowed to die a slow, painful death this year by the Republican House. If so, once again the 21st century Republican Party has wound up in the end doing precisely the what was the … [Read more...] about R.I.P. Immigration Reform: Consensus is it’s virtually dead
(Updated) Afghanistan: ‘It’s done. No more.’
Update: Perhaps an ironic and lasting legacy to the waste and mismanagement that has been Afghanistan, even as we are finally debating a complete U.S. troops withdrawal, will be the 64,000-square-foot, $34 million military headquarters building “on the dusty moonscape of southwestern Afghanistan that comes with all the tools to wage a modern war,” except troops -- a facility … [Read more...] about (Updated) Afghanistan: ‘It’s done. No more.’
On Board The Pequod
For me, there are two quintessential American novels. Huck Finn is about the American heart. Moby Dick is about the American soul. It is perhaps no accident, then, that Chris Hedges -- whose subject is the tortured American soul -- wrote this week that,"We are all aboard the Pequod." For Hedges, if the American ship of state continues on its present course, the result will be … [Read more...] about On Board The Pequod
Price Tag for Taking Back the Country
Bill Clinton’s “arithmetic” lesson at their 2012 convention should be on the front burner again as Democrats parse the price of wresting Congress—-and the nation—-from Tea Party control. A new report by the Campaign Finance Institute shows that winning a House seat last year cost the victor twice as much as it did a quarter of a century ago: $1.6 million, compared with … [Read more...] about Price Tag for Taking Back the Country
How safe is your airline?
When it comes to aviation safety, all airlines are not created equal. You can’t fly the plane, but you can arm yourself with information to help you decide who to fly with. Little by little, the pieces already are falling into place on the events that led up to last weekend’s crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in San Francisco. From Asiana, we learn that the guy at the … [Read more...] about How safe is your airline?