Congress returns to work today, and we'll once again be treated to a nearly endless series of "lame duck" proclamations. They have 16 days to accomplish something, or do nothing, or waddle somewhere in between. And despite what you've heard, it isn't all about the fiscal cliff (a term I already hate with something approaching a passion). Somewhere out there is a farm bill, … [Read more...] about Lame Ducks And Polar Bears
A Who’s Who of the Petraeus Military Sex Scandal
A Who's Who of the US military sex scandal (via AFP) The sex scandal that downed CIA chief David Petraeus has ensnared another top US general and is becoming ever more complex as it reverberates around the corridors of power in Washington. Here is a look at the main characters and the tangled web of intrigue that links them: GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS The… … [Read more...] about A Who’s Who of the Petraeus Military Sex Scandal
Petraeus Poor Judgement (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 Petraeus Poor Judgement (Cartoon)
Quote of the Day: Bobby Jindal Joins Ranks of GOPers Edging and Urging Towards More Moderate
Republicans aren't shifting further to the center as fast as quickly or sharply as defeated Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney discarded past positions-- even NASCAR racers at the Daytona 500 can't move that fast -- but our Quote of the Day comes from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, whose comments to The Politico are indicative of an emerging parade of GOPers who are … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Bobby Jindal Joins Ranks of GOPers Edging and Urging Towards More Moderate
Israel Concerned about US Support Post-election (Guest Voice)
Israel concerned about US support post-election (via GlobalPost) Will there be a price for the perception that Netanyahu favored Romney? Abraham Rabinovich JERUSALEM — “Netanyahu gambled,” read a recent headline in the Tel Aviv daily Yediot Achronot. “We will pay.” The article by political commentator Sima Kadmon was referring to Prime Minister Benjamin… … [Read more...] about Israel Concerned about US Support Post-election (Guest Voice)
The Jobs Proposal That Should (But Won’t) Happen
Now that we are moving into a new administration and a new Congress there are new debates on how to solve the many problems we face, including unemployment The first thing I would propose is a major public works program that would be on par with those of the New Deal. There is almost nobody out there who disputes the fact that our infrastructure is a mess. For example I’m … [Read more...] about The Jobs Proposal That Should (But Won’t) Happen
Lessons from FDR’s Reelection to Obama’s
Week One of soul-searching ends with Democrats happily stunned and Republicans still just stunned. Profundity about 2012 will have to wait, but intriguing questions arise not only about the future of American politics but culture. Consider polling failures to predict the President’s victory compared to those that misread FDR’s reelection in 1936. Back then, a previously … [Read more...] about Lessons from FDR’s Reelection to Obama’s
A Couple of Credit Tips (Thanks To Clark Howard)
Note: This is a repost of an earlier article, but with the holidays coming up I thought it worth a repeat One of the talk shows I periodically listen to is the Clark Howard show. Howard is a consumer advocate and often provides some useful advice regarding how to protect yourself financially. I have heard a couple pretty important tips in the last few weeks so I thought I … [Read more...] about A Couple of Credit Tips (Thanks To Clark Howard)
Gerrymandering: Time To End The Not-So-Slight of Hand
One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again ... while expecting a different result. By that measure, there are many things wrong with our electoral system. Let's look at just one: political gerrymandering. It helps explain why last week most voters cast Democratic ballots in the races for the U.S. House of Representatives but a majority of the … [Read more...] about Gerrymandering: Time To End The Not-So-Slight of Hand
It’s the Demographics, Stupid (Updated)
Update: Although titled, “The GOP is no party for blacks, Latinos and gays,” Jonathan Capehart’s piece in today’s Washington Post discusses how the GOP can fix this by spending less time “figuring out what went wrong and more time figuring out how to talk to these voters in a way that broadens its appeal rather than insults potential supporters.” Good read. … [Read more...] about It’s the Demographics, Stupid (Updated)
Mushrooms Needed Here
It would be difficult to envision, without the aid of psilocybin, a more vivid sign of the GOP’s dawning recognition of the peril it is now facing. With Democrats having gained a potent hold on the coalition of the ascendant, Republicans find themselves in a situation like the one their rivals met in the wake of the 1988 election: markedly out of step with the country, shackled … [Read more...] about Mushrooms Needed Here
A Spy Tale with Missing Pieces
WASHINGTON -- The one familiar aspect of the David Petraeus scandal is that he had an affair. Everything else about this story is weird. Petraeus, who resigned Friday as director of the CIA, is brilliant, brave, dedicated and accomplished. But he is also vain. Even his most loyal and ardent supporters have to acknowledge the care with which he has always burnished his … [Read more...] about A Spy Tale with Missing Pieces
The Republican War Against Scientific Methodology (Guest Voice)
The Republican War Against Scientific Methodology By Jan Ting A lot of Republicans seemed genuinely surprised that they lost, that Mitt Romney was defeated by President Obama, and that Republicans lost seats in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. They actually thought they were going to win! How could they have believed this? Scientific polling offered … [Read more...] about The Republican War Against Scientific Methodology (Guest Voice)
NY Times in Spotlight as ex-BBC Chief Takes Reins
NY Times in spotlight as ex-BBC chief takes reins (via AFP) Former BBC chief Mark Thompson took the reins Monday at The New York Times Co. amid questions about whether the crisis engulfing the British broadcaster would spill over to the US news organization. Thompson, named in August as the US media firm's president and chief executive, remains on the news… … [Read more...] about NY Times in Spotlight as ex-BBC Chief Takes Reins
GOP Blame Finding (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 Blame Finding (Cartoon)
Anti-virus Legend McAfee Wanted for Murder in Belize
Anti-virus legend McAfee wanted for murder in Belize (via AFP) John McAfee, founder of the eponymous anti-virus company, is on the run for killing another US citizen in a resort town, Belizean police said. Police raided McAfee's mansion on Ambergris Caye, an island off the northeastern coast of Belize, late Sunday to question him about the murder of American … [Read more...] about Anti-virus Legend McAfee Wanted for Murder in Belize
Who Goes to the State Department? How About Richard Lugar?
By many accounts, Senator John Kerry wants to take the place of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she leaves here post soon. But the conventional wisdom, which I find compelling, says that President Obama won't want to put Kerry's seat up for grabs by Republicans in Massachusetts, who would likely nominate Senator Scott Brown as their candidate in a special … [Read more...] about Who Goes to the State Department? How About Richard Lugar?
MSNBC Wins, FNC Loses Ugly
WASHINGTON - The Obama network, aka MSNBC for those in an alternate universe, is annoying, because the American public has learned not to trust anyone because of our media picking sides. However, considering the prowess Fox News had achieved since its founding it's clear something had to be done, so NBC did it. In the election of 2012, MSNBC became absolutely … [Read more...] about MSNBC Wins, FNC Loses Ugly
Please, Oh Please, Not Another Four Years Of A Reasonable President Obama
At the end of a story about the president and his strategy on tax changes in coming weeks and months, this sentence appeared in today's New York Times: "The president did not mention rates on Friday in his first post-election remarks on the budget talks, and people in both parties interpreted that as a sign of his bargaining flexibility." A sign of bargaining flexibility? At … [Read more...] about Please, Oh Please, Not Another Four Years Of A Reasonable President Obama
The Cult of Petraeus
Over at Balloon Juice Bernard Finel explains The Real Sin in the Petraeus Case. Read the entire thing but here is a snippet: Petraeus deliberately sought to woo a range of folks, compromising them with access, and using them in ways that blurred lines of professional integrity. Just as it isn’t clear what Broadwell was in this—a grad student? Reporter? Publicist? Officer? … [Read more...] about The Cult of Petraeus