Live Report: Papal conclave begins (via AFP) Gabriel Bouys/AFPCardinals attend mass at the St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican before the start of the papal conclave on March 12, 2013. There is no clear frontrunner for pope after Benedict XVI's historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics left behind a Church beset by scandals… … [Read more...] about Live Blogging: Papal Conclave Begins
Quote of the Day: Ryan Vows to Persist in “Destroying the Health Care System” (Department of Oops!)
Our political Quote of the Day is a particularly delicious one, via Rep. Paul "Cut Help to the Poor So Taxes Don't Have to Go Up" Ryan, whose slip of the lip perhaps said more than a nonslip of the lip: "This is something we will not give up on because we are not going to give up on destroying the health care system for the American people." (This is one promise I do … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Ryan Vows to Persist in “Destroying the Health Care System” (Department of Oops!)
Hagel ‘Has Heard the Concerns,’ Directs Review of Distinguished Warfare Medal
As one of his last acts as Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta authorized a new Medal, the Distinguished Warfare Medal (DWM), to be awarded to service members whose extraordinary achievements, regardless of their distance to the traditional combat theater, deserve distinct department-wide recognition. Some of the recipients of this new medal who Panetta had in mind were the … [Read more...] about Hagel ‘Has Heard the Concerns,’ Directs Review of Distinguished Warfare Medal
Canada’s Judicial Activism (Guest Voice)
Canada's Judicial Activism by Jared Milne For years, conservative writers have been complaining about what they call “judicial activism”. Writers like Ted Morton, Rainier Knopff and Robert Martin sharply criticize judges whose rulings, based the Charter of Rights, make social policy that elected politicians are reluctant to challenge. Social activists use the courts to try … [Read more...] about Canada’s Judicial Activism (Guest Voice)
Crass Commercialism Crassly Commercialized
Santa's Little Helper Sarah Palin's ghostwriter's pen-flipper must be tired. But the third tome in the "Makin' Money From Politics" trilogy is now scheduled for fall/winter release from that most literate of enterprises, Rupert Murdoch's sleaze-o-rama, in this case the tentacle identified as "HarperCollins." Sarah Palin tackles ‘War on Christmas’ in new book ‘Amidst the … [Read more...] about Crass Commercialism Crassly Commercialized
Cardinals Poised to Begin Historic Conclave
World waits as historic papal election looms (via AFP) Johannes Eisele/AFPItalian carabinieri police stand in front of St Peter's square on March 11, 2013 at the Vatican. The historic conclave to choose a successor for the first pope to resign in over 700 years begins on Tuesday, with the world in suspense over a secret election with no clear frontrunnerThe… … [Read more...] about Cardinals Poised to Begin Historic Conclave
Top Republican Strategist: GOP “Doesn’t Give Equal Opportunity to Women”
SCHMIDT: I think in any organization where women are not at the table, where it is skewed male in today’s day and age, that’s an organization that’s deficient. That’s an organization that’s going to have problems. It’s one of the problems we have structurally in the Republican Party. We don’t have enough women at the table. But any company, any organization in today’s day and … [Read more...] about Top Republican Strategist: GOP “Doesn’t Give Equal Opportunity to Women”
A Tyranny of the Conservative Minority Controls the Legislative Process
In 1787, when the nation’s Founding Fathers created the Constitution, with all its checks and balances to protect against autocracy, they could not have envisioned the way their system would make America nearly ungovernable far into the future. One of their concerns was that an uninformed majority, perhaps led by populist demagogues, would trample on the rights of minorities … [Read more...] about A Tyranny of the Conservative Minority Controls the Legislative Process
North Korea: Does Nullifying the 1953 Korean Armistice Mean War?
North Korea: Does nullifying the 1953 Korean armistice mean war? Some thoughts HERE. … [Read more...] about North Korea: Does Nullifying the 1953 Korean Armistice Mean War?
GOP Rebranding Pains: Palin and Trump Get Longer Times at CPAC
So much for progress on GOP rebranding: Time to address conservatives from across the country at CPAC is a prime commodity, especially for politicians eyeing a 2016 run — and it’s not being distributed equally. According to an internal draft of the minute-by-minute schedule at CPAC, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, and Scott Walker are each slated to give 13-minute … [Read more...] about GOP Rebranding Pains: Palin and Trump Get Longer Times at CPAC
Brown Walks Through A Revolving Door
Gone are the days when a loss at the ballot box meant a loss in political currency. Today the revolving door leads to TV riches as often as lobbying power. And sometimes doors number one and two both open. According to The Boston Globe, former U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) is celebrating his loss to Elizabeth Warren with two lucrative positions. First, he's signed on … [Read more...] about Brown Walks Through A Revolving Door
Ryan in Fantasyland
WASHINGTON -- If Rep. Paul Ryan wants people to take his budget manifestos seriously, he should be honest about his ambition: not so much to make the federal government fiscally sustainable as to make it smaller. You will recall that The Ryan Budget was a big Republican selling point in last year's election. Most famously, Ryan proposed turning Medicare into a voucher … [Read more...] about Ryan in Fantasyland
Breaking the Silence: Secrets of Papal Elections
Breaking the silence -- secrets of papal elections (via AFP) Arturo Mari/Osservatore Romano/AFP/FileCardinals enter the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican before the start of the conclave in April 18, 2005. The conclaves of cardinals which elect a new pope are laden with rituals and shrouded in secrecy, but tantalising details have emerged from previous votes of… … [Read more...] about Breaking the Silence: Secrets of Papal Elections
VIDEO: “Pica” – Weird Eating Obsessions
No this isn't about people who love to eat school food. In this segment on San Diego's 6 News, Dr. Michael Mantell explains what causes people to eat things that aren't necessarily edible (things like chairs): … [Read more...] about VIDEO: “Pica” – Weird Eating Obsessions
Of a 16-oz. Soda Cup, of Afghanistan and of Frustration
I usually check once or twice a day at Memeorandum to see what the important news of the day is, to get an idea of what America is talking about, to take America’s pulse, to check the barometer of public opinion, to… Well, you get the idea. When I checked Memeorandum around 7 p.m., the headlines (around 40 of them) were all about soda, sugar and “big cups.” Some were as … [Read more...] about Of a 16-oz. Soda Cup, of Afghanistan and of Frustration
DSCC On Ashley Judd for Kentucky Senate: Not So Faaaaaaaaaast!
During the 1940s and 50s, comedian Joe Besser -- who was to gain TV fame as "Stinky" the (middle aged) kid on the Abbot & Costello Show and as the most unloved Curley replacement "third Stooge" in the Three Stooges -- was famous for a saying: "Not so faaaaaaaaaaast!" You might say that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee of the Kentucky will soon say "No so … [Read more...] about DSCC On Ashley Judd for Kentucky Senate: Not So Faaaaaaaaaast!
Even For Junkies, Predicting House Retirements A Tricky Affair
Historic Tidbit: Arkansas Senator Dale Bumpers would often provide his new colleagues with a tip. He said they'd "spend the first two months wondering how they got here, then spend the rest of their careers wondering how everyone else got here." Fitting words from a Senator considered to be among the most competent and congenial of his generation. By Scott … [Read more...] about Even For Junkies, Predicting House Retirements A Tricky Affair
Quote of the Day: Why Jeb Bush Will Never Be President
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Daily Beast's Peter Beinhart, who notes that Jeb Bush's magical mystery tour of Sunday talk shows yesterday (he's really only considering running, you know) and then bluntly explains why he believes Jeb Bush will never be elected President: he does have Bush baggage. On five talk shows Sunday morning, Jeb Bush reminded … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Why Jeb Bush Will Never Be President
Ideological Online Journalism Strikes Out Again UPDATED: and Again
Online ideological journalism strikes out again. [UPDATE: And AGAIN.] It's yet another one of these "I've got a story that will bust this town wide open!!" scoops that as I noted HERE don't always work out. Especially when ideology drives reporting, and not news gathering. … [Read more...] about Ideological Online Journalism Strikes Out Again UPDATED: and Again
Bloomberg’s NYC Large Sugary Soda Ban Goes Flat in Court
So much (for now) of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's ban on large sugary sodas. It has gone flat in court: New York City's planned ban on the sale of large sugary drinks won't go into effect Tuesday after a state judge blocked the restrictions, calling them "arbitrary and capricious." "The court finds that the regulation ... is laden with exceptions based on economic and … [Read more...] about Bloomberg’s NYC Large Sugary Soda Ban Goes Flat in Court