SAN ANTONIO -- Julian Castro is a politician in not too much of a hurry. This does not mean he lacks ambition. The 38-year-old mayor of San Antonio, which has boomed into the country's seventh-largest city, came to national attention much as Barack Obama did, with a first-rate keynote speech at last year's Democratic National Convention. He spoke affectingly of life … [Read more...] about San Antonio’s Relay Star
Truly Despicable
THIS is truly despicable. It's astounding that people in politics to "discuss issues" and "win votes" can think that this kind of mindless lash out does anything but make them LOSE VOTES -- and hurts their party if it is not repudiated. To quote a great person: In this case a duck isn't the political quack. … [Read more...] about Truly Despicable
This is what I hate about ‘Journalism’ as practiced
Doin' the Faux Nooz phony scandal It's about making noise and hurting people, without ever attempting to understand what the "journalist" is supposedly reporting. Listen [emphasis added]: Taxpayer money finances IRS “Star Trek” parody Sharyl Attkisson / CBS News PLAY CBS NEWS VIDEO … Thus begins a six-minute “Star Trek” parody starring IRS employees and paid for with your … [Read more...] about This is what I hate about ‘Journalism’ as practiced
State vs. Parent: The Crowding Out of Choice
When welfarism fails most spectacularly, it is usually because it attempts to treat a perceived social or economic problem without understanding -- let alone undoing -- its cause. Often, this treatment of symptom only serves to mask the cause, establishing it more firmly in society, typically distorting incentives and having unintended consequences that often do more harm than … [Read more...] about State vs. Parent: The Crowding Out of Choice
Is It Really The Iraq War?
With the 10 year anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq there have been a number of conservatives and Republicans who think the war has tarnished the GOP brand. I referenced Daniel McCarthy's piece in The American Conservative yesterday and Doug Mataconis has some thoughts on a few more today starting off with Ross Douthat's opinion piece today. The Republican's … [Read more...] about Is It Really The Iraq War?
Women in Combat: The ‘Angel of Death’
On January 24 of this year, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, signed a memo to lift the ban on women in military combat operations. The news cycle was full with coverage of this significant event for the next several days. This author wrote about it in “Women in Combat: It is ‘Official’” Yet, while … [Read more...] about Women in Combat: The ‘Angel of Death’
Israel Vows ‘Immediate’ Answer to Fire from Syria
Israel vows 'immediate' answer to fire from Syria (via AFP) Israel's new Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon on Sunday vowed an "immediate" answer to all Syrian gunfire onto the Israeli occupied Golan Heights, saying the Damascus regime was responsible. "Every violation of Israeli sovereignty and shooting from the Syrian side will immediately be answered by silencing… … [Read more...] about Israel Vows ‘Immediate’ Answer to Fire from Syria
Sen. Rand Paul: President Obama, George W. Bush Could Have ‘Conceivably Been Put in Jail for Drug Use’
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace and said that President Obama and former President George W. Bush could have "conceivably been put in jail" for using drugs. Sen. Paul said: "Look, the last two presidents could have conceivably been put in jail for their drug use and I really think - look what would've happened, it would've ruined their … [Read more...] about Sen. Rand Paul: President Obama, George W. Bush Could Have ‘Conceivably Been Put in Jail for Drug Use’
NRA Plans to Make Bloomberg the Issue to Counter Gun Control Ads
It's clear from this Mother Jones post that the NRA, faced with that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will allocate $12 million through a PAC to help attain some form of gun control in Congress, plans to -- you guessed it, this is 21st century politics, right? -- turn Bloomberg into the issue. You may as well not turn on conservative talk shows, or watch Fox news, or go to some … [Read more...] about NRA Plans to Make Bloomberg the Issue to Counter Gun Control Ads
Visions of Heaven: Are they so Rare? (Guest Voice)
Visions of Heaven: Are They So Rare? by the Rev. James Richardson There has been a fair amount of buzz around my parish about Dr. Eben Alexander’s book, Proof of Heaven. So when he was featured this week at the Virginia Festival of the Book, I went to check him out and hear what he had to say. His audience packed an old downtown church that is now used for our community … [Read more...] about Visions of Heaven: Are they so Rare? (Guest Voice)
No Winners
The Hill exhibits a suspiciously triumphant tone this morning in a report on the new strength of the NRA which has gained "an upper hand on Obama." Please don't send the rescue squad extra-fast if someone some day carries a weaponized musket into their newsroom, okay? The NRA has regained its footing, rallying gun owners and lawmakers against new gun controls in a … [Read more...] about No Winners
Pope Personally Calls Buenos Aires Kiosk to Stop Newspaper Order
Yes, we're definitely now getting a sense that newly elected Pope Francis is not just like newly elected President Jimmy Carter, who wore a sweater and carried his luggage for a little while and then seemingly forgot about it. You get a sense what we're seeing is the way he operates and is with this story about him personally calling a kiosk in Buenos Aires to halt his … [Read more...] about Pope Personally Calls Buenos Aires Kiosk to Stop Newspaper Order
GOP Autopsy an Important Starting Point (Guest Voice)
GOP Autopsy an Important Starting Point by Carl Golden The good news is the national Republican Party has conducted a fairly comprehensive self-examination in an attempt to broaden its appeal and avoid descending into irrelevancy. The bad news is the national Republican Party has conducted a fairly comprehensive self-examination in an attempt to broaden its appeal and … [Read more...] about GOP Autopsy an Important Starting Point (Guest Voice)
Musharraf Vows to ‘Save’ Pakistan on Return from Exile
Musharraf vows to 'save' Pakistan on return from exile (via AFP) Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf returned home on Sunday after more than four years in exile, defying a Taliban death threat and vowing to risk his life to "save" the country. "I have come back home today. Where are those who used to say I would never come back?" the former dictator… … [Read more...] about Musharraf Vows to ‘Save’ Pakistan on Return from Exile
Cyprus Still Locked in Negotiations in Last-Ditch Effort to Avoid Bankruptcy
Cyprus still locked in negotiations in last-ditch effort to avoid bankruptcy (via The Christian Science Monitor) Cyprus officials and international representatives were caught up in tortuous negotiations late into the night Saturday as they sought to forge a plan to raise the money the island nation needs to qualify for a bailout package. Failure would mean Cyprus could … [Read more...] about Cyprus Still Locked in Negotiations in Last-Ditch Effort to Avoid Bankruptcy
Black Hole Sun…
A black hole and a red dwarf are orbiting each other... [insert joke here] But seriously, this is a cool story. They've found a black hole and a red dwarf sun orbiting each other at a dizzying [snerk!] speed of once every 2.4 hours. The video at the link there is obviously a computer animation not the real thing but it's still bloody awesome that we're finding things like … [Read more...] about Black Hole Sun…
For Himself and Palestine, Obama Must Now take Historic Risk (Al Hayat Al Jadidah, Palestinian Territories)
Not all the voices coming out of the Palestinian Territories are downcast after Barack Obama's first trip to the region as president. For Al Hayat Al Jadidah in the Palestinian Territories, columnist Yehiah Rabah writes that the visit, more than just a photo-op and repetition of well-known policies, put the U.S. president in a position to do what no other has done before: stand … [Read more...] about For Himself and Palestine, Obama Must Now take Historic Risk (Al Hayat Al Jadidah, Palestinian Territories)
Quote of the Day: The GOP’s Bachmann Problem
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the New York Time's Charles Blow who, in a superb column about Republican over the top, demonizing and hateful rhetoric -- this time turned on OTHER Republicans -- notes this about the Queen of Inaccurate Political Charges, Rep Michele Bachmann: Last year The Washington Post quoted Jim Drinkard, who oversees fact-checking at The … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The GOP’s Bachmann Problem
Russian Billionaire in Exile Boris Berezovsky Commits Suicide – The First Cyprus Casualty?
Russian Billionaire in Exile Boris Berezovsky Commits Suicide – The First Cyprus Casualty? (via Market Shadows) Courtesy of ZeroHedge. View original post here. Submitted by Tyler Durden. Just your ordinary run of the mill Russian billionaire oligarch in exile who had so much money he was terminally depressed… or just the opposite, and the first tragic casualty of the … [Read more...] about Russian Billionaire in Exile Boris Berezovsky Commits Suicide – The First Cyprus Casualty?
Jay Leno’s Ungracious, Slow, Painful Late Night Exit
Is there anything more painful than what is now shaping up as Jay Leno's forced exit from NBC? There are three bottom lines: 1. Leno is being put out to pasture from late Night due to a (long-overdue) generation shift in a franchise that reached its peak during the days of Johnny Carson and has been in decline in terms of status and its role in American culture ever since. 2. … [Read more...] about Jay Leno’s Ungracious, Slow, Painful Late Night Exit