Brunt of federal cuts to hit N.J. with furloughs, airport slowdowns and court closures (via NJ.com) Call it the calm before the fiscal storm. Two days after Congress and President Obama failed to reach agreement on a plan to fend off sweeping federal budget cuts, America today is pretty much as it was last week. Planes continue to take off and land at a brisk clip at Newark … [Read more...] about Brunt of Federal Cuts to Hit N.J. with Furloughs, Airport Slowdowns and Court Closures
Sequester Blues: Morning-After Hangover Hits Washington
Sequester blues: Morning-after hangover hits Washington (via The Christian Science Monitor) The morning after the sequester spending cuts went into effect – $85 billion in an across-the-board whack to both defense and nondefense programs – the earth did not stand still nor did Washington come to its collective senses. Both the White House and Republicans in Congress seemed … [Read more...] about Sequester Blues: Morning-After Hangover Hits Washington
SNL Spoofs Obama Press Conference on Sequester Budget Cuts (Video)
Another Saturday Night Live home run: SNL's take on Obama's press conference on the dreaded sequester going into effect: … [Read more...] about SNL Spoofs Obama Press Conference on Sequester Budget Cuts (Video)
Evernote Forces Password Reset After Intrusion
You'll have to change your password, but the company says your data is safe: In our security investigation, we have found no evidence that any of the content you store in Evernote was accessed, changed or lost. We also have no evidence that any payment information for Evernote Premium or Evernote Business customers was accessed. The investigation has shown, however, that … [Read more...] about Evernote Forces Password Reset After Intrusion
Iraq – What Were We Fighting For Again?
As the United States tries to decide how to support the rebel army in Syria the country that we spent a trillion dollars and lost 4,000+ Americans is fighting that same rebel army. For the first time, Iraqi forces opened fire on Syria shelling the positions of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) days after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned that a victory of the Syrian … [Read more...] about Iraq – What Were We Fighting For Again?
Scalia Prefers Any Century to This One
The nation’s life today is being shaped less by elected politicians in the headlines than a 76-year-old man who prefers any other century to this one. Antonin Gregory Scalia is the longest-serving justice on the Supreme Court and, without doubt, the most aggressively backward-looking ever. After turning the history of the Second Amendment on its head five years ago to … [Read more...] about Scalia Prefers Any Century to This One
Obama Wins Another Round
Political Wire: A new Harper Polling survey of likely voters finds that Republicans are seen as most responsible for the sequester, 46% to 40%. "The lesson here is that President Obama is on a roll. He has adeptly pinned responsibility for the sequester on Republicans, despite it not being true. It is a remarkable feat by the White House and maddening for … [Read more...] about Obama Wins Another Round
A Warning to John Kerry on Middle East Trip: Egypt could Become the Next Iran (Guest Voice)
A warning to John Kerry on Middle East trip: Egypt could become the next Iran (via The Christian Science Monitor) As Secretary of State John Kerry heads to Egypt March 2 he should be wary of one concerning possibility: Under the rule of Mohammad Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt is in danger of becoming a Sunni version of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Opposition leaders’ … [Read more...] about A Warning to John Kerry on Middle East Trip: Egypt could Become the Next Iran (Guest Voice)
Horse Meal (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized use without licensing is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Horse Meal (Cartoon)
Horsemeat Economics (Guest Voice)
Horsemeat Economics (via Market Shadows) Courtesy of ZeroHedge. View original post here. Submitted by John Aziz of Azizonomics blog, The British (and now Europe-wide) scandal of corporations selling horse meat as beef is emblematic of many of the problems with big, unwieldy systems. The similarity between horse meat and subprime have already… … [Read more...] about Horsemeat Economics (Guest Voice)
FAQ Electing a New Pope (Guest Voice)
FAQ: Electing a New Pope Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Q. Can you please explain what the heck is going on in Rome? A. Well, Pope Benedict XVI retired, and now Catholic cardinals from around the world are congregating to elect a new pope. Q. When was the last time a pope retired? A. Thursday. Q. No, before that. A. July 4, 1415. Gregory XII stepped down to … [Read more...] about FAQ Electing a New Pope (Guest Voice)
Rodman Lauds N. Korea’s ‘Awesome’ Kim Jong-Un
North Korea's Kim Jong-Un meets 'The Worm' (via AFP) Flamboyant former NBA star Dennis Rodman has become the most high-profile American to meet the new leader of North Korea, vowing eternal friendship with Kim Jong-Un at a basketball game in Pyongyang. At a time of heightened US-North Korean tensions following Pyongyang's recent nuclear test, the man… … [Read more...] about Rodman Lauds N. Korea’s ‘Awesome’ Kim Jong-Un
The USO at Work, in the Air, on the Ground and at Sea
Those readers who are approaching my age probably have very fond memories of the United Service Organizations -- USO for short. The USO has been around since World War II, with a short absence between 1947 and 1950. Its mission, “Support America’s troops.” It has done so admirably well, whether by providing comfort with a simple cup of coffee and a doughnut at some lonely … [Read more...] about The USO at Work, in the Air, on the Ground and at Sea
Obama Blames Republicans for ‘Dumb’ Cuts
US braced for savage budget cuts on doomsday Friday (via AFP) The United States was braced for $85 billion in budget cuts due to hit Friday in a self-inflicted wound brought on by deep ideological antipathy between President Barack Obama and Republicans. The cuts, which could cost a million jobs, will slice public services and threaten an economy that is already… … [Read more...] about Obama Blames Republicans for ‘Dumb’ Cuts
Sequestration-Day One
The sequestration is here. It's going to be painful and yes, as Obama says it is a stupid way to do things. But it better than any alternative we are likely to get? Matt Yglesias thinks it is. But on the merits it seems to me that while sequestration is hardly optimal budget policy, it really isn't all that bad in the scheme of things, and really going through … [Read more...] about Sequestration-Day One
Rumors On Chavez Health Continue
There is increasing speculation in the news regarding the health of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. Many reports suggest that he may be dying and at least one report claims he may already be dead. The death of Chavez would likely cause turmoil in his nation, though given his increasing trend towards suppressing the opposition it might be the best thing in the long run. … [Read more...] about Rumors On Chavez Health Continue
Following Hillary, from “Field-Clearing” to Gossip
WASHINGTON - We just can't leave it alone. Writing about Hillary Clinton and her prospects for 2016 is just too delectable, too enticing, too historically epic in proportions that keeping it all alive until Mrs. Clinton decides is what any political writer worth his or her salt will do. You're going to have to decide what's worth reading, because right now it's a crap storm … [Read more...] about Following Hillary, from “Field-Clearing” to Gossip
Cardinals Look to Conclave After Pope’s Resignation
Cardinals look to conclave after pope's resignation (via AFP) Catholic cardinals from around the world were summoned Friday to meetings that will set a date for a conclave to elect a new pope, the day after Benedict XVI's historic resignation. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, sent out formal invitations to the "pre-conclave general congregations… … [Read more...] about Cardinals Look to Conclave After Pope’s Resignation
Happy Sequester Day!
Sequester. Automatic draconian cuts. It was an idea both sides considered so bad, so awful, so incredibly dumb that surely no responsible politician, political leader or party would let it stand. Welllllll... Happy Sequester Day, America! Nineteen months after it was put into place, the sequester has arrived. Barring unexpected developments, President Obama will … [Read more...] about Happy Sequester Day!
John Kerry: Hope for Recasting Europe’s Image in American Eyes (Der Tagesspiegel, Germany)
Is Secretary of State John Kerry uniquely qualified for steering America's Asia pivot back toward the Old Continent? For Der Tagesspiegel, Christoph von Marschall writes that Kerry's life history and familiarity with Europe makes him the E.U.'s 's best bet for reminding Americans where most of their bread is buttered. For Der Tagesspiegel, Christoph von Marschall, lays out … [Read more...] about John Kerry: Hope for Recasting Europe’s Image in American Eyes (Der Tagesspiegel, Germany)