Should we now call her "Lady Gaggag?" Lady Gaga appears to vomit several times on stage during a dance number. Usually it's the critics who do that. … [Read more...] about Should We Now Call Her “Lady Gaggag?” (Video)
A Realistic Perspective of a 47%’er by Robert P. Coutinho, (Guest Voice)
By: Robert P. Coutinho (guest voice) I recently received a request by popular demand that I tell my 47% story (okay, honestly, Dr. E. asked me to, after seeing one of my comments—Rcoutme is my pseudonym). What follows are some of the things that have happened to me in my life. Initially I started writing a short-story autobiography. That won't work here, so I will … [Read more...] about A Realistic Perspective of a 47%’er by Robert P. Coutinho, (Guest Voice)
Thirty Days of Disbelieving Everything
A month before they vote, Americans can’t believe anything they see or hear. Truth is malleable, figures are fungible, everything is subject to cuckoo conspiracy claims. As the President basks in a lower jobless rate, Jack Welch rises from the publicity dead to assert the numbers were cooked. No evidence, of course, but attention is back on a former GE CEO known as Neutron … [Read more...] about Thirty Days of Disbelieving Everything
Mr. Netanyahu: Squandering the Last Good Will of Many non-Israelis toward Israel?
Understand Netanyahu is anxious to secure US support. There has been much aggression in the Mideast, and people whose loved ones have been killed or maimed, whose homes have been torn down, who have been forced to refugee camps, have long memories. My father Jozsef who witnessed many wars in his time in E. Eu, said that memory of those killed and harmed in war, soldiers and … [Read more...] about Mr. Netanyahu: Squandering the Last Good Will of Many non-Israelis toward Israel?
Is Big Bird a Member of the Tea Party?
Is Big Bird a member of the tea party? You might well ask. The morning after the debate, "Big Bird" showed up in Washington -- in the production offices of public radio's WAMU, the public radio station on the American University campus and, for all I know, also a transmitter of public television. "Big Bird" said he was looking for a new job. General hilarity all around. … [Read more...] about Is Big Bird a Member of the Tea Party?
Chavez Re-elected in Venezuela: Partial Results
Chavez re-elected in Venezuela: partial results (via AFP) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was re-elected to another six-year term after seeing off a stiff challenge from youthful opposition leader Henrique Capriles, partial results showed. Chavez on Sunday took 54.42 percent of the vote compared to 44.97 percent for his opponent, the National Electoral … [Read more...] about Chavez Re-elected in Venezuela: Partial Results
America’s Most Dangerous Organized Crime Family — The Republican Party: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
There is no better example of the depths of deceitfulness to which the Republican Party has sunk than its efforts to suppress the vote by ramming through laws based on bogus claims of voter fraud that disenfranchise Democratic voters while it engages in systematic fraud itself. This outrage was on offer in Florida, where suspicious voter registration forms were found in … [Read more...] about America’s Most Dangerous Organized Crime Family — The Republican Party: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
Mitt Romney to Lay Out Foreign Policy, National Security Agenda
Mitt Romney to lay out foreign policy, national security agenda (via The Christian Science Monitor) When Mitt Romney gives what’s being billed as a major foreign policy speech at the Virginia Military Institute Monday, it’ll be a chance for the Republican challenger to demonstrate his bona fides as would-be leader of the free world and US commander-in-chief. And, … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney to Lay Out Foreign Policy, National Security Agenda
The Campaign’s Moral Hole
WASHINGTON -- Does our presidential campaign lack a moral core? The question arises in the wake of last week's presidential debate. However you analyze it in electoral terms, the exchange between President Obama and Mitt Romney was most striking as a festival of technocratic mush -- dueling studies mashed in with competing statistics. In many ways, the encounter … [Read more...] about The Campaign’s Moral Hole
Creative Political Videos and Animations Galore in Campaign 2012 (Videos)
Political videos and animations are taking off bigtime in campaign 2012. Here's a small sampling of them. Here's "Why Obama Now" by Simpsons / Family Guy animator Lucas Gray Next Media Animation's video on Mitt Romney clobbering Barack Obama in the debate: Outrageous Animation's South Park-like Paul Ryan's "Bleed to Death Medical Plan" And Rowdy House's … [Read more...] about Creative Political Videos and Animations Galore in Campaign 2012 (Videos)
How to Lie With Statistics: Fact-Checking The Soundbites
There are lies, damn lies and statistics, and the political season means that the lines between them are frayed and worn, like an electrical cord that is almost ready to short out. Three memes beloved of the conservative right were front-and-center this week, either during the presidential debates, the rumble between Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly, or both. Health care … [Read more...] about How to Lie With Statistics: Fact-Checking The Soundbites
Our Next President: The Best Liar?
Time Magazine has an interesting set of articles this week on which of the presidential candidates, if any, “is telling the truth.” In the first place, what a sad reflection on the state of our politics -- of our country -- that such a question needs to be even asked. But wait, it gets “better.” One of the articles in TIME discards any pretense of searching for the … [Read more...] about Our Next President: The Best Liar?
False Flag?
Remember this from the other day? That's the first thing I thought of when I read this: Israeli air force shoots down drone aircraft JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli air force shot down a droneafter it crossed into southern Israel on Saturday, the military said, but it remained unclear where the aircraft had come from. The drone was first spotted above the … [Read more...] about False Flag?
Latest Polls: Romney’s Uphill Fight Not as Steep
Latest polls: Romney's uphill fight not as steep (via The Christian Science Monitor) Everyone agrees that this past week was a big deal for Mitt Romney. Boffo reviews for his debate performance Wednesday night, a pirouette toward moderation that may attract undecideds and some disaffected Democrats – as long as they’re not cynically reminded of the infamous … [Read more...] about Latest Polls: Romney’s Uphill Fight Not as Steep
Thirty Days Until the Presidential Election: Fundamentals Still Favor Obama
As a new Rasmussen national poll puts Republican Presidential nominee ahead of Barack Obama 49 to 48, ABC News'Amy Walter takes a stand-back look at the race from within the new context of the defeat Obama Obama suffered in his Denver debate with GOPer Mitt Romney and concludes the "fundamentals still favor Obama." Here are some chunks of her analysis: 1) Voters are … [Read more...] about Thirty Days Until the Presidential Election: Fundamentals Still Favor Obama
US Lets S. Korea Raise Missile Range to Cover North
US lets S. Korea raise missile range to cover North (via AFP) South Korea Sunday announced a deal with the United States to almost triple the range of its missiles to cover the whole of North Korea -- a move likely to infuriate Pyongyang. The agreement will allow the South to deploy missiles with a range of 800 kilometres (500 miles), up from the current … [Read more...] about US Lets S. Korea Raise Missile Range to Cover North
Saturday Night Live Lampoons MSNBC Reaction to Obama Performance in Denver Debate (Video)
Here's SNL's lampoon of MSNBC's reaction to the Obama Romney debate in Denver -- but to those of us who worked in the media in entirely fact based journalism, this doesn't seem as amusing as the actual MSNBC post-debate reaction: … [Read more...] about Saturday Night Live Lampoons MSNBC Reaction to Obama Performance in Denver Debate (Video)
Saturday Night Live Lampoons the Denver Obama Romney Presidential Debate (Video)
Here's SNL's screamingly funny (and perhaps accurate) take on Wednesday's debate in Denver between President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney. When a perception spreads to comedy -- which is an audience laughing at shared assumptions -- it is not a good thing for the politician on the receiving end. h/T Political Wire … [Read more...] about Saturday Night Live Lampoons the Denver Obama Romney Presidential Debate (Video)
Weekend in the Heart of the American Dream
Last Sunday morning at a Harvest Fair, far from politicians and pundits, on the lawn of a Vermont church, a 90-year-old man spent a joyful hour swinging on clarinet with his sons on guitar and drums. The music was from the past, but the scene plumbed an American present and future beyond all the TV talking heads and attack ads. The nonagenarian, Edwin Moore, a brother of … [Read more...] about Weekend in the Heart of the American Dream
What are Progressives Going to do About Obama on Social Security?
ACROSS THE progressive landscape you can read about what Mitt Romney said that wasn't true if you look at the facts. What you won't see is a discussion about what Democrats are going to do about President Obama and Social Security. “On Social Security, I suspect we have a similar position.” – Barack Obama, Denver debate It had to be stunning for progressives to hear Obama … [Read more...] about What are Progressives Going to do About Obama on Social Security?