US National Cathedral opens doors to same-sex weddings (via AFP) The Washington National Cathedral, a focal point of Christian worship in the United States, said Wednesday that, effective immediately, it will officiate same-sex weddings. In a statement, its dean, Gary Hall, said the cathedral -- one of the biggest in the nation -- would marry gay and lesbian … [Read more...] about US National Cathedral Opens Doors to Same-Sex Weddings
Chris Christie Talking Truth: Compromise NOT a Dirty Word
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie today said what many centrists, moderate, independent and traditional Republican conservatives have long wanted to hear a member of the current Republican Party say: “Compromise: it’s not a dirty word!” Here's the segment on Morning Joe: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy But here's the … [Read more...] about Chris Christie Talking Truth: Compromise NOT a Dirty Word
Lana Del Rey is Holding Me Captive
I don't know if I actually like Lana Del Rey's music or perhaps her voice is holding me hostage. I first heard her on Saturday Night Live. Her performance seemed to contrast the "live" aspects of the show. While watching her "sing" it appeared to me that a highly sedated villain from a 1970's bond film was participating in some sort of open mic rap karaoke. She kind of … [Read more...] about Lana Del Rey is Holding Me Captive
Elegy for a Poet of JFK, MLK and Bygone Times
On Thanksgiving Day, I suddenly realized it was also November 22, the anniversary of JFK’s assassination. Missing from the family table and in the hospital was Harvey Shapiro, whose son is married to my daughter-in-law’s sister, a man of my own age who also fought in World War II and spent his working life as a teacher and editor, most notably for prompting Martin Luther … [Read more...] about Elegy for a Poet of JFK, MLK and Bygone Times
Health Care and Private Enterprise
Interesting read from the New York Times on America's health care system: Patients entering church-affiliated nonprofit homes were prescribed drugs roughly as often as those entering profit-making “proprietary” institutions. But patients in proprietary homes received, on average, more than four times the dose of patients at nonprofits. Writing about his colleagues’ … [Read more...] about Health Care and Private Enterprise
Some Heads Explode: Biden Says Obama Exploring Executive Orders to Combat Gun Violence
Mark today as the day when Vice President Joe Biden made many conservative Republicans', NRA officials', and no-on-any-gun-regulation NRA members' (who don't reflect the opinion of many other NRA members) heads explode: he said that President Barack Obama is considering using executive orders to stem mass shootings in America. The police better get ready for a host of calls … [Read more...] about Some Heads Explode: Biden Says Obama Exploring Executive Orders to Combat Gun Violence
Chris Christie More Popular with Democrats Nationally than Republicans, Poll Says
Chris Christie more popular with Democrats nationally than Republicans, poll says (via NJ.com) A new poll finds Gov. Chris Christie, pictured here delivering the State of the State address Tuesday, is more popular with Democrats nationally than with members of his own Republican party. Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger TRENTON — Republican Gov. Chris Christie is more … [Read more...] about Chris Christie More Popular with Democrats Nationally than Republicans, Poll Says
Does America Need a Tourism Czar?
President Barack Obama last year signed an executive order creating a task force to design a National Travel & Tourism Strategy. It was a follow-up to his 2010 signing of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009. Believe it or not, it's the first time in our history that the US government has set promoting foreign travel to America as a national priority, something that most of … [Read more...] about Does America Need a Tourism Czar?
Obama Will Reportedly Name Jack Lew to Replace Geithner at Treasury
President Barack Obama has reportedly has decided who he'll name to replace Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner: President Barack Obama plans to name White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew tomorrow as his choice for Treasury secretary, replacing Timothy F. Geithner, a person familiar with the process said. Lew, 57, who also has served as director of the Office of … [Read more...] about Obama Will Reportedly Name Jack Lew to Replace Geithner at Treasury
Gallup Poll: Democrats Re-Take Lead in Party Indentification
At a time when pollsters are finding more and more Americans want to declare themselves independents, a new Gallup Poll finds that Democratic Party has re-taken the Republican Party in terms of voter party identification: An average of 47% of Americans identified as Democrats or said they were independents who leaned Democratic in 2012, compared with 42% who identified … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Democrats Re-Take Lead in Party Indentification
Why the GOP Won’t Get Hagel’s Scalp
The campaign to embarrass the President over his Defense nomination is weighed down by GOP history. How can a party that erased George W. Bush from its 2012 campaign re-litigate his foreign policy legacy to bring down Chuck Hagel? After Obama’s deft introduction Monday, the battle lines are clear. With Republican military-diplomatic heavyweights like Robert Gates, Colin … [Read more...] about Why the GOP Won’t Get Hagel’s Scalp
On Chuck Hagel’s Courage — With a Small ‘But’ and a Lot of ‘Digressing’
In a rapid-fire, double-down, follow-up to his first hit piece on Chuck Hagel’s alleged “Jewish Problem,” Wall Street Journal’s Bret Stephens praises Hagel’s honorable and courageous military service in somewhat of a qualified manner. In “Chuck Hagel’s Courage,” Stephens immediately follows his comments on Hagel’s personal courage with “This fact…will now be trotted out … [Read more...] about On Chuck Hagel’s Courage — With a Small ‘But’ and a Lot of ‘Digressing’
Does Fox News Have a New Competitor?
Does Fox News have a new competitor? And this time is it a competitor that isn't liberal, a competitor that offers an alternative to the often official GOP voice coming across loud and clear. Quite possibly, yes... … [Read more...] about Does Fox News Have a New Competitor?
2012 Warmest on Record for US
2012 warmest on record for US (via AFP) 2012 marked the warmest year on record for the United States and was also the second most extreme ever, the US government agency charged with monitoring weather events said. The hot weather contributed to a record drought which, at its peak, parched 61 percent of the nation, destroyed crops worth billions… … [Read more...] about 2012 Warmest on Record for US
Quote of the Day: Campaign against Hagel Losing Steam
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Talking Point Memo's Josh Marshall who says the campaign against former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination to be the Obama administration's new Secretary of Defense is losing team: Nominations lose steam or gain steam. Campaigns against nominations lose steam or gain steam. And at the moment, the campaign against Chuck … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Campaign against Hagel Losing Steam
The Third Apparition and Independent Voters
Amid the dwindling attention in the media to independent voters after President Obama's re-election in November (below see who won independents' votes in 2012), I'm drawn to re-read Jacqueline Salit's Obama and Independents: The Micro, the Macro and the Forest -- A Post Election Independent Analysis addressed in memo form on IndependentVoting.org's website to The … [Read more...] about The Third Apparition and Independent Voters
White House Considering Removing All Troops from Afghanistan After 2014
It truly sounds as if President Barack Obama is looking for ways to tie up a lot of loose ends by the time he leaves office in 2016. And one of them is clearly Afghanistan: the White House is indicating it's seriously considering getting all troops out of Afghanistan by 2014: The Obama administration is considering the possibility of removing all U.S. troops in Afghanistan … [Read more...] about White House Considering Removing All Troops from Afghanistan After 2014
Comedy Voice: A GREAT, Loose, Vaudeville Comedy Team Act
A GREAT vaudeville act. If you thought SNL invented the zany, loose style of comedy, think again. My fellow performers and all comedy fans NEED to watch this incredible act. Vaudeville folks did the same act over and over from city to city, perfecting their timing. Note how loose this is -- yet smooth, perfectly timed. MUST VIEWING (before my time so this is NOT nostalgia but … [Read more...] about Comedy Voice: A GREAT, Loose, Vaudeville Comedy Team Act
Gun Ownership and ‘We Did It Because We Could’ Journalism (Guest Voice)
Gun Ownership and 'We Did It Because We Could' Journalism by Carl Golden In the mid-1950's, I began my career in the newspaper business on the daily paper in my hometown in Pennsylvania and, as the new kid in the newsroom, my assignments often required unearthing information that others wished to remain secret. I was instructed by my city editor to be vigilant in … [Read more...] about Gun Ownership and ‘We Did It Because We Could’ Journalism (Guest Voice)
The Political Implications of America’s Oil & Gas Boom – James Kwak Interview (Guest Voice)
The Political Implications of America's Oil & Gas Boom – James Kwak Interview by James Stafford As we begin a new year we wanted to take a look at the current energy landscape and see what the future holds for the global economy, America's oil and gas boom, whether renewables will continue to be a favourite amongst investors and whether we should be focusing more attention … [Read more...] about The Political Implications of America’s Oil & Gas Boom – James Kwak Interview (Guest Voice)