One day this week two things happened in Spain. Its banks received another bailout to help "save" them. And the government announced crushing new austerity measures in the form of reduced services, worker firings, and higher taxes. One might easily conclude from this confluence that saving the banks and saving the economy don't run in tandem. But central bankers and … [Read more...] about Let’s NOT Save The Banks
Blogging Atlas Shrugged: Chapter 6
My entry on this chapter is going to be shorter than others But I really liked this chapter. And also hated it. Ultimately, I had what I think was an epiphany that made me at least a little more sympathetic to Rand and some of her acolytes. Anyway, the basics: Hank Rearden reluctantly attends his wedding anniversary party, where he meets a bunch of people he can't stand who … [Read more...] about Blogging Atlas Shrugged: Chapter 6
Romney Cyborgs in Alternate Realities
The GOP campaign is a sci-fi movie with computerized flashbacks to former times and places. Last night took “the candidate” to a Wyoming of yore, transporting the Mitt cyborg for fund-raising to a bygone Bush-Cheney era that has otherwise been erased from memory in 2012. In Jackson Hole, it spent congenial hours in a virtual reality simulation of a decade ago, mingling … [Read more...] about Romney Cyborgs in Alternate Realities
MSM: The Public Would Be Very Interested To Know What These Famous Penn State Graduates Think of The Child Molestation Coverups
Some went to school at Penn State for several years during the Sandusky/ Paterno/Curley/Schultz years of domination. I think each one, regardless may add other pieces to the puzzle in terms of their opinions back then re any shred of rumor they may have heard, and their current opinions now re how/ why/ who/when /where these crimes against innocent children took place on campus … [Read more...] about MSM: The Public Would Be Very Interested To Know What These Famous Penn State Graduates Think of The Child Molestation Coverups
Joe Pa’s Shame
WASHINGTON -- Outside the Penn State football stadium stands a statue of legendary coach Joe Paterno, his arm raised in victory. Right next to it, university officials should erect another figure in bronze: A young boy crying out in anguish and being coldly ignored. Penn State's Board of Trustees commissioned former FBI Director Louis Freeh to investigate how child … [Read more...] about Joe Pa’s Shame
Pew Research Center: Obama Maintains “Significant” Lead Over Romney
A new Pew Research Center poll finds that President Barack Obama enjoys a "significant" lead over presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney -- and that the Supreme Court's standing with voters has diminished mostly due to Republican discontent: Despite the stagnant economy and broad dissatisfaction with national conditions, Barack Obama holds a significant lead over Mitt … [Read more...] about Pew Research Center: Obama Maintains “Significant” Lead Over Romney
Chief Justice John Roberts: ‘Judas’ Who Sold America (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
How could it have happened? And why should the uninsured be forced to pay for health care they have been getting for free? For Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, in this satirical look at the American right, columnist Mariusz Zawadzki explores the convoluted arguments for and against President Obama's health care reform - and tries to explain to readers why right-wingers, 'so vocal … [Read more...] about Chief Justice John Roberts: ‘Judas’ Who Sold America (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
The Boston Globe Refuses to Run Correction on Mitt Romney Bain Capital Story (UPDATED)
Earlier today we ran THIS POST about a Boston Globe story reporting that presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney was at Bain Capital three years longer than he had been saying. The Romney campaign had asked for a correction. The newspaper has now refused. Here's the Globe's response, via Politico: Dear Ms. Gitcho: We received your request late this afternoon for a … [Read more...] about The Boston Globe Refuses to Run Correction on Mitt Romney Bain Capital Story (UPDATED)
Joe Paterno Legacy
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV can CANNOT be reproduced without proper authorization. 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 Joe Paterno Legacy
Eureka, Epiphany, and Enlightenment
[This is the 10th in the series Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship.] The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. – Albert Einstein While it’s true that science aims to explain and, in that sense, demystify, there remains something ineffable about the process of discovery. I’ve mentioned the … [Read more...] about Eureka, Epiphany, and Enlightenment
A “Radical” Voice
It's sad that Glen Poole, featured in the following TED video, is considered radical: In the meantime, here's more statistics no one wants to talk about. As the father of two young boys, I am tired of living in a world that marginalizes, demeans, and dismisses these issues--when it doesn't outright demonize or mock those who bring them up. There is nothing radical … [Read more...] about A “Radical” Voice
What I Saw at the 99% Declaration (Part 2 of 2)
Philadelphia, July 4, 2012. I found a prime parking spot near the National Constitution Center, grabbed a bottle of cold water from a street vendor and hurried toward the meeting place. According to my trusty cell phone, it was exactly 3 p.m. and 97 degrees Fahrenheit. I arrived at grassy, shade-deprived Independence Mall just in time to watch the 99% Declaration delegation … [Read more...] about What I Saw at the 99% Declaration (Part 2 of 2)
Boston Globe: Romney Stayed at Bain 3 Years Longer Than He Stated
The Boston Globe reports that presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney stayed at Bain Capital 3 years longer than he stated. The Romney camp has just called the report "inaccurate," but in this kind of story it'll probably have to offer specifically why and how it's inaccurate. Until that happens, the story is likely to be troublesome for Team Romney for several … [Read more...] about Boston Globe: Romney Stayed at Bain 3 Years Longer Than He Stated
Health Care: Theatrics in Washington, Angst in Texas (Updated)
(Update Below) On the same day that the GOP stages its 33rd theatrics to repeal the health care reform law without offering an alternative, Rick Perry’s hometown newspaper, the Austin American-Statesman, paints a gloomy picture of how badly Perry's decision to reject an expansion of Medicaid will sting health care providers and taxpayers. The Statesman … [Read more...] about Health Care: Theatrics in Washington, Angst in Texas (Updated)
Learning to Love Obama Again
Four months from now, voters will either have renewed their vows in a shaky marriage or taken their chances with a parody of the rich guy who promises them the moon with no evidence of reliability. For guidance, they can turn back to a primary source about the ups and downs of life with Barack Obama—-Michelle Obama herself. Back in 2007, the future First Lady warned against … [Read more...] about Learning to Love Obama Again
They took Orwell’s 1984 as a guide
Boy these guys are brilliant - the top Republicans. They took Orwell's 1984 as a guide, not the cautionary tale the rest of us all thought it was. And they've run with it. Perverting issue after issue by manipulating language. It's really hard to even keep track of all the bad ideas dressed up as good by warping the language used to talk about the issues. These guys are good … [Read more...] about They took Orwell’s 1984 as a guide
Political Priorities
For House Republicans the question has to be asked- which is more important, defeating Obama or improving the economy? While the Republicans are engaged in meaningless political drama, such as rescinding the Affordable Care Act for the 32nd or 33rd time, the economy is stalling and they have been unwilling to address its problems or ways to fix them. One of the major … [Read more...] about Political Priorities
(UPDATED) Moral Calculus & Joe Paterno: Championships Do Not Counterbalance Sexual Predation
A lot of people believe that late great Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was neither villain nor saint. I held to that view after the initial revelations that Jerry Sandusky, his longtime defensive coordinator, was a serial pedophile and that the university and possibly Paterno himself had engineered a cover-up in an effort to protect the university's image. But with the … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Moral Calculus & Joe Paterno: Championships Do Not Counterbalance Sexual Predation
Quote of the Day: Did Romney Want to be Booed by the NAACP?
Our political Quote of the Day touches on a theory that slowly began to make its way into the mainstream punditry by late afternoon yesterday. The Daily Beast's Michael Tomasky believes Team Romney wanted their candidate to be booed and he accuses Romney of being a race baiter in the way the speech was constructed to frame him to a portion of moderate and not so moderate … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Did Romney Want to be Booed by the NAACP?
Defense Update: An Expert Assesses the Syrian ‘Maturing Insurgency’ (UPDATED)
UPDATE: The latest, high-level Syrian defector, Nawaf Fares, Syria’s ambassador to Iraq, has urged “all honest members” of Assad’s Syrian Baath Party to follow his path “because the regime has turned it to an instrument to kill people and their aspiration to freedom,” according to the New York Times. Burhan Ghalioun, a member of executive bureau and former leader of the … [Read more...] about Defense Update: An Expert Assesses the Syrian ‘Maturing Insurgency’ (UPDATED)