Here's some of what ABC has released from its interview (set to air tomorrow) in which President Barack Obama said he believes same sex marriage should be legal: video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Part of Barack Obama’s Comments to ABC News In Favor of Same Sex Marriage
Evolved Obama Appeals To Hollywood Campaign Donors
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No Panic Across Atlantic, But ‘Contentious Issues’ Await Obama and Hollande (Le Figaro, France)
What kind of welcome can France's new head of state - its first socialist president in decades and only its second ever - expect in Washington? Le Figaro correspondent Laure Mandeville writes that this time around, no alarm bells have been ringing at the White House, but that on a range of issues having to do with Afghanistan, NATO, the euro and eurozone debt, the election of … [Read more...] about No Panic Across Atlantic, But ‘Contentious Issues’ Await Obama and Hollande (Le Figaro, France)
Obama Evolves on Gay Marriage
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Obama Finally & Belatedly ‘Mans Up’ On Same-Sex Marriage
My Monday column originally was going to riff off of the words of former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell for Barack Obama "to man up" and endorse gay marriage, an issue which took on a new urgency with North Carolina this week becoming the 30th state to ban same-sex unions. Whether the president was heeding Rendell's advice or not, his endorsement in a television interview … [Read more...] about Obama Finally & Belatedly ‘Mans Up’ On Same-Sex Marriage
Soros at Odds With Democratic Party
George Soros announced the other day that he and a group of big donors will invest $100 million in a get-out-the-vote effort before the November election. The decision has angered and inconvenienced Democratic leaders who need money for TV ads in a (possibly useless) attempt to battle the Republican Super Pacs' advertising campaign. The resulting acrimony and what the Times … [Read more...] about Soros at Odds With Democratic Party
Is Barack Obama Poised to Announce that He Supports Gay Marriage Soon? (UPDATED)
Is President Barack Obama about to announce his support of gay marriage? Speculation is increasing on some of the cable networks that he will -- and very soon. On MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell show, talking heads including Time's Mark Halerpin predicted Obama will announce his support and let the political chips fall where they may. Four reasons why some think this will happen … [Read more...] about Is Barack Obama Poised to Announce that He Supports Gay Marriage Soon? (UPDATED)
U.S. Obeisity
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Romney’s Attempt to Take Credit for Auto Bailout Isn’t Playing Well (UPDATED)
Talk about a flat tire. Presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney's latest attempt to re-write his own political history has gone about as smoothly as a cross country trip on a flat tire. Romney's latest breathtaking shift was his attempt to take credit for the auto bailout that he had opposed in a big, high-media profile way (see the blow up of his New York … [Read more...] about Romney’s Attempt to Take Credit for Auto Bailout Isn’t Playing Well (UPDATED)
A Padded Resume Isn’t Good
A padded printed book jacket is even worse. … [Read more...] about A Padded Resume Isn’t Good
Bad Week for Barack Obama’s Campaign
Yes, it was a political train wreck. First Thoughts nicely summarized the official launch of President Barack Obama's political campaign: *** Obama’s terrible campaign week: The campaign roll out over the weekend went well. Despite Republicans talking about the empty seats at Ohio State, he still draw four times the crowds (if not more) than Romney. But then Biden’s … [Read more...] about Bad Week for Barack Obama’s Campaign
John Edwards and the Two Americas
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Colombia Government Must Come Clean on Battle Drones (El Tiempo, Colombia)
How long will it be before America's friends and adversaries all have the same drone technology that the U.S. is using to such effect in places like Pakistan's tribal areas? Based on this article by columnist Laura Gil of Colombia's El Tiempo, that time has already arrived - along with some of the most complicated questions involving civil liberties, human rights and … [Read more...] about Colombia Government Must Come Clean on Battle Drones (El Tiempo, Colombia)
Ousted Richard Lugar’s “Scathing” Farewell Letter Details America’s Partisan, Ideological Mire
Shortly after he was ousted in a Republican primary yesterday by a Tea Partier for a variety of reasons including daring to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats, Indiana Senator Richard Lugar issued a kind of political farewell letter that several sites called blunt and scathing and ran in full. The letter is of particular interest to independent voters, centrists, … [Read more...] about Ousted Richard Lugar’s “Scathing” Farewell Letter Details America’s Partisan, Ideological Mire
If Things Don’t Work Out For ‘Ya’ in November, Change ‘Coarse’
For an example of the coarsening of our political discourse read this “eloquent” clarion call by the Greene County, Virginia, Republican Committee to change “coarse” in November to “armed revolution” should things not turn out to one's liking at the ballot box. Of course, “coarse” should be “course,” but when one calls for such a coarse course change, who really … [Read more...] about If Things Don’t Work Out For ‘Ya’ in November, Change ‘Coarse’
Book Review – Guest of Honor
In 2008 the United States elected a black President – the result was a very negative reaction by about 25% of the population. It's not the first time there was a reaction to shifts in racial equality. In his concession speech in 2008 John McCain mentioned T.R, Roosevelt's dinner with Booker T. Washington in 1901. Like most of us this was the first time author Deborah Davis … [Read more...] about Book Review – Guest of Honor
Book Review: Celluloid Strangers by Eric Wasserman
This is probably the first book review you've ever read by someone killed off in a book. Well, not me exactly -- but my namesake. Joe Gandelman (a different one, assuredly not as good-looking, wise or modest as me) was killed off in a great book I found by accident in one of my periodic searches on Amazon.com to see if there is anything with the name "Gandelman" on the … [Read more...] about Book Review: Celluloid Strangers by Eric Wasserman
Lukewarm Endorsements
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Amendment One Passes In North Carolina
Update: AP and other networks are projecting that Amendment One has passed. With about 30% of the vote in the people of North Carolina seem to be voting in favor of prejudice. About 57% of voters are currently supporting legislation that would ban all legal recognition of any relationship other than male-female marriage. … [Read more...] about Amendment One Passes In North Carolina
Lugar Loses Primary (UPDATE 3)
One of the better members of the US Senate has been defeated in the GOP primary in Indiana. From what I can tell his defeat is partly attributable to the perception that he has lost touch with voters and a poorly run campaign, so I can accept that in many ways he blew it. At the same time I am deeply troubled by the campaign run against him, attacking him for working with … [Read more...] about Lugar Loses Primary (UPDATE 3)