Pulitzer Prize judges should reconsider their decision. By declining to name an award-winning novel this year, they have overlooked the greatest creation of all, a huge work of collective fiction titled “Obama.” In other categories, the Board expanded its vista beyond the printed page to Politico and the Huffington Post. Why not recognize an achievement that brings … [Read more...] about “Obama,” Year’s Greatest Fiction
Money Struggles, Not Mommy Wars
WASHINGTON -- Instead of fighting a phony mommy war over what Hilary Rosen said about Ann Romney, we should face the fact that most families these days cannot afford to have one parent stay home with the kids. This is not about "lifestyle" or "values." This is an economic struggle highlighting yet again the social costs arising from decades of stagnating or declining wages and … [Read more...] about Money Struggles, Not Mommy Wars
Which Presidential Candidate Will Most Turn Off Independent Voters?
The 2012 Presidential election campaign is now shaping up as a political life and death battle over independent voters, where the losing candidate will be the one who turns them off the most. Comedian-columnist Will Durst likened the 2012 Presidential primary race to the mania surrounding the video game Angry Birds: "The object of 'Angry Birds' is to use a slingshot to fling … [Read more...] about Which Presidential Candidate Will Most Turn Off Independent Voters?
Partying Federal Workers
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Partying Federal Workers
The Race is Either Dead Even or Really Tight
A New York Times report today shows the Obama-Romney race is already very, very close. Mitt Romney has solidified support within his party for the presidential nomination after Rick Santorum’s exit from the race, but is locked in a tight race with President Obama as attention turns to the general election phase of the campaign, the latest New York Times/CBS News poll … [Read more...] about The Race is Either Dead Even or Really Tight
Egyptians Can Learn from American Presidential Race (Amal al-Oumma, Egypt)
With Egyptians headed to the polls on May 23 to choose the nation's first democratically-elected head of state, columnist Dr. Hamdi Radwan of Egypt's Amal al-Oumma (Voice of the Nation) offers his readers a look at the U.S. presidential race, using it to highlight what is lacking in Egypt's nascent democratic system. His misconceptions are as interesting as his factual … [Read more...] about Egyptians Can Learn from American Presidential Race (Amal al-Oumma, Egypt)
Dick Clark Dies Of Heart Attack At 82
Word just breaking today that Dick Clark has died of a heart attack at the age of 82. Clark was an institution in the music and television industries, hosting American Bandstand for 30 years (the day the show debuted nationally his guest was Elvis Presley). He also hosted numerous game shows, including a several versions of the pyramid. For many years Dick Clark was a … [Read more...] about Dick Clark Dies Of Heart Attack At 82
The Failing Rhetoric of Bitter America
"We must remember our history so we can find new reasons to justify the same mistakes." I hope this is that election. The moment when it finally crumbles. . .the moment when all this righteous rhetoric is seen for what it is. . .political pandering and meaningless shell game shuffling. The tired narrative has been the claim of past Christian nation, past noble foundations, … [Read more...] about The Failing Rhetoric of Bitter America
Who Is Media Matters?
The Daily Caller sheds light on Media Matters' founding. No great surprises there, although there seems to be some room for parsing the phrase "conservative, Christian-influenced." … [Read more...] about Who Is Media Matters?
The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders — Only Five Remain
Today, April 18 (April 19, Japan time), is the 70th anniversary of one of the most daring, dangerous and heroic aircraft raids in American history. The Washington Times: Nothing like it had ever been done before. But faced with an enemy that already had proved its ability to strike the U.S. homeland, 80 brave men volunteered for what had all the makings of a suicide … [Read more...] about The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders — Only Five Remain
Good Regulation
One of the great problems with publicly-traded corporations (which, I will never stop pointing out, are a creation of government and not the free market) is what's known in economics (and political science) as the Principle-Agent problem. Once a corporate entity becomes publicly traded, in most cases those running the corporation do not own it, and thus no matter how honorable … [Read more...] about Good Regulation
Napoleon Was Not Short
This and other amazingly common misconceptions are analyzed by the always-wonderful CGP Grey: 5 Historical Misconceptions Rundown! (This item cross-posted to DeanEsmay.com.) … [Read more...] about Napoleon Was Not Short
The War on Moms — Once More, with Feeling
I know some of our readers don’t like New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. But sometimes you have to -- begrudging as it may feel to some -- give credit where credit is due. Starting with the title of her Times column today, “Phony Mommy Wars,” even our conservative friends will have to agree that they are phony -- no one would dare go to war against our own … [Read more...] about The War on Moms — Once More, with Feeling
Team Obama Finds The Slogan and The Message
WASHINGTON - This year, it will take more than First Lady Michelle Obama's lofty campaign rhetoric to reelect Pres. Obama, which drew a lot of attention from Republicans yesterday. Polls don't mean much now, but everyone in the polling business has got one, with the snap shot of today revealing Romney and Obama are near even with registered voters in a CBS/New York Times poll, … [Read more...] about Team Obama Finds The Slogan and The Message
Department of Give Me a Break
I mean...really... … [Read more...] about Department of Give Me a Break
Video Animation: Secret Service Agents in Colombia Prostitution Scandal
Another great video animation commentary by Taiwan's Next Media Animation -- this time on the Secret Service scandal: … [Read more...] about Video Animation: Secret Service Agents in Colombia Prostitution Scandal
Quote of the Day: A Deal in the Works with Iran?
Our Political Quote of the Day comes from the Washington Post's David Ignatius who reports that a deal could be in the works with Iran: The nuclear talks with Iran have just begun, but already the smart money in Tehran is betting on a deal. That piece of intelligence comes from the Tehran stock index, which on the day after the talks opened posted its largest daily rise in … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: A Deal in the Works with Iran?
The Paradox of Mobility in America (Guest Voice)
The Paradox of Mobility in America by Tina Dupuy We're a species that has gotten around; we've wandered, pioneered and migrated to every corner of the world. The spear tip of technology is how we can get somewhere else: the wheel, the sailboat, the rocket. In short: we're movers. We are now as mobile as we've ever been as a culture. Our phones are not tethered to any … [Read more...] about The Paradox of Mobility in America (Guest Voice)
Good Old Days of the Secret Service
Amid a furor about misbehaving morons in Colombia, a citizen who once worked closely with them is moved to share his fondness for those who protect Presidents and their families, including the time they almost shot me in a restaurant that serves drinks with tiny umbrellas on top. In 1966, with her father in the White House, Lynda Bird Johnson came to work for me at McCalls, … [Read more...] about Good Old Days of the Secret Service
The Obama Administration Is Trying To Have It Both Ways on Bank Bailouts (Guest Voice)
The Obama Administration Is Trying To Have It Both Ways on Bank Bailouts by Kathleen McKinley When the Obama administration is not even fooling the most liberal of magazines, you know they have a problem: The Obama administration wants Americans to realize what a good job they and the Bush administration did saving the economy from a second Great Depression. But … [Read more...] about The Obama Administration Is Trying To Have It Both Ways on Bank Bailouts (Guest Voice)