As the clock ticks louder and louder on the sequester (man-made) crisis in Washington, a new poll finds that President Barack Obama's numbers are rising and the Republican's numbers are tumbling: President Barack Obama enters the latest budget showdown with Congress with his highest job- approval rating in three years and public support for his economic message, while his … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Rising, Republicans Tumbling
Citizens United Revised … Upward?
Is the Supreme Court about to remove all limits on campaign contributions? The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a challenge to federal campaign contribution limits, setting the stage for what may turn out to be the most important federal campaign finance case since the court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United, which struck down limits on independent campaign … [Read more...] about Citizens United Revised … Upward?
Maddow’s ‘Hubris’ and Bush’s Hubris
A long-time reader reminded me that I was going to watch Rachel Maddow's documentary "Hubris [{long subtitle]" based on the eponymous book David Corn and Michael Isikoff, and wondered what I'd think. Little Green Footballs has it neatly segmented to watch from the MSNBC feed. Long-time readers might also note that I've been writing about this since before I ever blogged. … [Read more...] about Maddow’s ‘Hubris’ and Bush’s Hubris
Armstrong Refuses to Cooperate with USADA
Armstrong refuses to cooperate with USADA (via AFP) Lance Armstrong said Wednesday that he will not cooperate with a US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation into dope cheats in cycling but would be willing to help other anti-doping inquiries. The move greatly diminishes Armstrong's chances of having his life ban from World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA… … [Read more...] about Armstrong Refuses to Cooperate with USADA
Ship of Fools (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Ship of Fools (Cartoon)
Michelle Obama releases new White House portrait
Michelle Obama releases new White House portrait (via NJ.com) Michelle Obama released her official White House portrait today, and it's hard to miss the photo's most prominent feature: her bangs. The 49-year-old fashion-forward first lady debuted the bangs in January, sending the Internet into a frenzy. She recently told TV host Rachael Ray that the bangs were… … [Read more...] about Michelle Obama releases new White House portrait
Woman Denied Massage Because Of Her Weight
This is one of those stories that turns out to not be quite what you think it would be. A woman goes to a spa and wants to get a massage but she is turned down because the owner says she is too fat and could break the table. She gets upset and there is tons of media coverage. The reasonable conclusion most of us would reach is that the woman must have weighed hundreds of … [Read more...] about Woman Denied Massage Because Of Her Weight
Southern Baptists Urge Boy Scouts To Retain Ban On Gays
Not exactly surprising news that a group as intolerant of opposing views as the Southern Baptists would urge the Boy Scouts to retain the ban on gays in the organization. While I accept the right of anyone to hold differing views on an issue I find this position particularly upsetting. Remember that we are not talking about passing a resolution which would force units to … [Read more...] about Southern Baptists Urge Boy Scouts To Retain Ban On Gays
Jesse Jackson Jr. Could Face 4-5 Years In Prison
Based on his repeated admissions of guilt a judge today found Jesse Jackson Jr guilty of a variety of charges stemming from misuse of his campaign funds. The general guidelines for these offenses would lead to a sentence between 47 and 57 months but the final decision is in the discretion of the judge and could be longer or shorter than that. A sad end for a once … [Read more...] about Jesse Jackson Jr. Could Face 4-5 Years In Prison
Did a New York Daily News’ Reporter’s Tongue in Cheek Question Start Reported Hagel “Friends of Hamas”Rumor?
Did a New York Daily New reporter's tongue in cheek question start a reported rumor that beset Secretary of Defense nominee former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel may have taken "Friends of Hamas" money? It sure sounds that way, although the website that was reporting this (alleged) revelation is still standing by its story. Talking Points Memo has this (and look below since … [Read more...] about Did a New York Daily News’ Reporter’s Tongue in Cheek Question Start Reported Hagel “Friends of Hamas”Rumor?
Great Scott! For Legendary PA Pol, Not At Winning Votes
With Ted Kennedy (Washington Post photo) Historic Fact: In 1865, there was a Michigan Congressman who voted for 13th Amendment named Charles Upson, who represented Kalamazoo. One of his successors has an eerily similarly sounding name Fred Upton. He holds a descendant of the Upson seat that also encompasses Kalamazoo. Of course, Michigan had just six House seats in the … [Read more...] about Great Scott! For Legendary PA Pol, Not At Winning Votes
Why Pay Wages To Workers When Work Itself Is A Wage?
You listen to debates these days about why we should or shouldn't raise the federal minimum wage and you might get the idea that this argument is about the economic benefits or drawbacks of doing so. That's not actually the case on the Republicans' side of the argument. Yes, Republicans describe the negative economic consequences they claim might come about if the federal … [Read more...] about Why Pay Wages To Workers When Work Itself Is A Wage?
US, China Trade Charges on Cyberattacks
US, China trade charges on cyberattacks (via AFP) The United States and China traded charges over cyberattacks after a security firm alleged that Beijing controled hackers who have penetrated the US government, companies and media. The US firm Mandiant said cyberattacks had been traced back to a non-descript, 12-story building on the outskirts of… … [Read more...] about US, China Trade Charges on Cyberattacks
Confronting My Own Sexism: Up In The Air
Again, my weekly blog is here. … Back when I was at University, there was this TV show my best friend introduced me to - The Dead Zone. It was about a teacher who got into a car accident and was comatose for X amount of years. When he regained his consciousness, he finds out that he has superpowers – when he touches people, he can see past/future events. There was … [Read more...] about Confronting My Own Sexism: Up In The Air
The Blame Game
Probably the latest dumbest thing Congressional Republicans have done was to a) blame Obama for the sequester, b) pronounce the sequester a disaster, and c) leave town while refusing to do anything about the sequester. Already defeated at the polls on November, Republican numbers are sinking. The general public has caught on: the Republicans are largely responsible for the … [Read more...] about The Blame Game
America’s Poop Deck Politics
It's the ultimate stomach turner: how Carnival's 893-foot long cruise ship Triumph, along with its 4,200 passengers, was stranded due to a fuel engine leak for five days with no food, little water and few working bathrooms. Passenger cell phone photos showed slews of plastic bags brimming with human waste, and lumpy, raw sewage floating in big puddles. It gave a new meaning … [Read more...] about America’s Poop Deck Politics
GOP, Obama and the Sequester (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about GOP, Obama and the Sequester (Cartoon)
Hackers Hit Apple in Wake of Facebook Attack
Hackers hit Apple in wake of Facebook attack (via AFP) Apple on Tuesday said it suffered a cyber attack similar to the one recently carried out against Facebook, but that it repelled the invaders before its data was plundered. The maker of iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Macintosh computers said it is working with law enforcement officials to hunt down the… … [Read more...] about Hackers Hit Apple in Wake of Facebook Attack
A Sobering Look At Work-Life Balance In The U.S.
Ostensibly about gender roles and the 50th anniversary of The Feminine Mystique, this NYT essay is, at its core, an indictment of boomer leadership, political institutions and corporations in 21st century America. During the 1920s, hours worked (for pay) in the U.S. had "stabilized at about 49 hours a week." ]The "new economic gospel of consumption"] proclaimed that new … [Read more...] about A Sobering Look At Work-Life Balance In The U.S.
Johanns Departure A Cornhusker Shocker, But GOP Favored
Thought you were immune to shock? So did I. But the announcement by Nebraska Republican Senator Mike Johanns that he would not seek re-election came as a major surprise. Johnanns is an immensely popular Senator. While his voting record rarely departed from his Republican colleagues (he most recently joined 21 other Rs in opposing the Violence Against Women Act), Johanns … [Read more...] about Johanns Departure A Cornhusker Shocker, But GOP Favored