If policies about complex issues with far-reaching consequences could wisely be based on two, three or four word slogans, Congress could be replaced with a cage full of parrots who cast their votes by squawking "Government is the problem," "No taxes," "Starve the Beast." This, however, is not a very good mode of governance, the views of Grover Norquist on the matter … [Read more...] about Washington’s Norquist Affliction — LBS (Lazy Brain Syndrome)
Hiding the Church’s Treasure
WASHINGTON -- To say that the Belle Harbor neighborhood on New York City's Rockaway Peninsula was slammed by Hurricane Sandy understates the case. Like many other parts of the region, it has suffered the kind of devastation we usually associate with wars. In these circumstances, people turn to government, yes, but they look first to trusted friends and to neighborhood … [Read more...] about Hiding the Church’s Treasure
Republican Denial
"Denial," Mark Twain wrote, "ain't just a river in Egypt." And so, as John Boehner insists that raising taxes on the rich is off the table -- and Obamacare must be on the table -- Republicans continue to live, Frank Rich writes, in Fantasyland: As GOP politicians and pundits pile on Romney in defeat, they often argue that he was done in by not being severely … [Read more...] about Republican Denial
Obama Has Romney for Lunch (Again)
The President, who ate his challenger’s lunch on November 6, is repaying the social obligation with a White House meal today, thus confirming Tea Party fears that they had the wrong candidate this year. In their view, the loser should not be breaking bread with Barack Obama but still breaking heads. (Four years later, John McCain is showing how it’s done.) Soon after the … [Read more...] about Obama Has Romney for Lunch (Again)
Is Democracy Always The Best Option ??
This stems from a discussion I was having with a friend of mine. Obviously the ideal concept is for all people to live in free and democratic societies. But we have enough trouble managing one here, where we’ve had centuries of democratic concepts both in the US and in the UK. Even there it took centuries of effort to transition from the absolute monarchy system to various … [Read more...] about Is Democracy Always The Best Option ??
Panel to vote on new Egypt constitution amid turmoil
Panel to vote on new Egypt constitution amid turmoil (via AFP) A divisive panel boycotted by liberals and Christians was set Thursday to vote on a draft new Egyptian constitution, amid mounting protests over President Mohamed Morsi's assumption of sweeping powers. Morsi insisted in a magazine interview Wednesday that he will surrender his controversial new … [Read more...] about Panel to vote on new Egypt constitution amid turmoil
The Most Dangerous Man In America
OK, not really. Or mostly not really. Except maybe in the fiscal sense. I'm talking about Grover Norquist. In the past quarter-century, he has probably done more to distort US fiscal policy than anyone. There's nothing inherently wrong with a low-taxes policy. But when it's wielded like a mace in all situations, it isn't a policy, it's a creed, and as we're beginning to … [Read more...] about The Most Dangerous Man In America
What Motivates John McCain on Benghazi and Susan Rice? (Updates)
UPDATE III: Andrew Rosenthal at the New York Times also ‘takes note’ of how Republicans (I would be more specific and call it the ‘Benghazi Desperados’) have “applied standards to Rice, the current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, that they would never apply to a Republican administration official, and never have.” Rosenthal rightly adds parenthetically, “Where was … [Read more...] about What Motivates John McCain on Benghazi and Susan Rice? (Updates)
L’Affaire Doofus Enters Third Week
There is a reason that I haven't blogged much since the election. There has been little need. Last night was a rerun of Dave Letterman's 11-14-2012 show, but I was in the bathroom or something, and it wasn't until late in the monologue that I realized that I was watching a rerun. Because all of the news was pretty much still all the news from two weeks ago, specifically, … [Read more...] about L’Affaire Doofus Enters Third Week
Tales From the Infrared: Fear the men who fear!
Tonight on Tales from the Infrared by Dean Esmay and Typhon Blue: Good news on domestic violence research from professor Don Dutton, good news on boys in education, new A Voice for Boys site, Richmond Virginia newscaster Mark Holmberg takes a chance, feminist attacks against Warren Farrell rebuffed, latest Walking Dead game review, castration in comics featuring Habibi by Craig … [Read more...] about Tales From the Infrared: Fear the men who fear!
Quote of the Day: Yet MORE Sour Grapes from the Romney Campaign (UPDATE 2)
As a lifelong (beginning the day JFK was shot) political junkie, I cannot remember a time when we've seen a losing side be such ungracious losers as the Romney campaign. With comments like this, perhaps we should simply remove the word "ungracious": "There was a time not so long ago when the problems of the Democratic Party revolved around being too liberal and too … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Yet MORE Sour Grapes from the Romney Campaign (UPDATE 2)
Some Good News For Virginia Democrats
Those passing by Virginia Democratic Party headquarters are likely to hear cheering over the news that Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling is dropping out of the 2013 race for Governor. This will leave the GOP nomination to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Cuccinelli is a hard line evangelical conservative and that is not going to play well with the swing voters in Northern … [Read more...] about Some Good News For Virginia Democrats
The Military Industrial Complex
Who is in control of the budget talks? One thing that hardly anyone from either party talks about is cuts in defense (offense) spending and most of them are talking about cuts to medicare and Social Security. As Matt Yglesias points out that not the way the American people see it. Defense spending reductions, meanwhile, are much less popular. There's a nontrivial bloc of … [Read more...] about The Military Industrial Complex
Two World War II Veterans, Once an Ocean Apart, Meet One Final Time
At a Veterans Day reception in Austin, Texas, one year ago, two World War II veterans briefly met. She was in a wheelchair, looking proud and dazzling wearing the blue Air Force uniform, silver wings upon her chest. She was 91. He, also proud and dapper in his blue Air Force uniform, bombardier wings upon his chest, walked up to her and introduced himself. He was also … [Read more...] about Two World War II Veterans, Once an Ocean Apart, Meet One Final Time
Death Penalty Update
While most of the country watched Barack Obama being re-elected on election night, and perhaps noticed what happened in the Senate and to a lesser extent in the House, few outside California honed in on Proposition 34. California’s controversial referendum would have repealed capital punishment in our most populous state. It would also have commuted the sentences of more than … [Read more...] about Death Penalty Update
Obama and Romney to Have Lunch Thursday
Obama and Romney to have lunch Thursday (via AFP) US President Barack Obama will host his defeated Republican foe Mitt Romney for a conciliatory private lunch at the White House on Thursday in their first encounter since a bitter election. Obama's press secretary Jay Carney said the meeting would take place in the president's private dining room next… … [Read more...] about Obama and Romney to Have Lunch Thursday
Walmart is the real moocher
Who are the real government moochers? I think Walmart nicely fits into this category. So do many other huge corporations, especially in certain sectors like retail and the hospitality industry, that pay their top-tier executives ginormous compensation while paring their workers' wages and benefits at every opportunity. How do these behemoths mooch off the rest of us? Any … [Read more...] about Walmart is the real moocher
Can Mexico’s President-elect Peña Nieto and Obama set a new tone?
Can Mexico's President-elect Peña Nieto and Obama set a new tone? (via The Christian Science Monitor) As Mexico’s incoming President Enrique Peña Nieto visits newly-reelected United States President Obama today in Washington, he will try to set a new tone for the US-Mexican relationship that expands beyond drug war violence. His predecessor, Mexican … [Read more...] about Can Mexico’s President-elect Peña Nieto and Obama set a new tone?
Nude Protesters Butt In at Boehner’s Office
Some people get angry. Some people turn the other cheek. Nude protesters at House Majority Lead John Boehner did both: Some protesters dropped trou to launch a protest at House Speaker John Boehner’s office in the Longworth House Office building in Washington. U.S. Capitol Police public information officer Shennell Antrobus confirmed: “three females arrested for lewd … [Read more...] about Nude Protesters Butt In at Boehner’s Office
‘Fiscal Cliff’: Obama, Republicans Revert to Campaign Mode
'Fiscal cliff': Obama, Republicans revert to campaign mode (via The Christian Science Monitor) Three weeks after winning reelection, President Obama is returning to the campaign trail. But instead of stumping for himself, he’s pushing for tax hikes on the wealthy, in the name of deficit reduction. The president’s trip Friday to a toy factory in … [Read more...] about ‘Fiscal Cliff’: Obama, Republicans Revert to Campaign Mode