As the GOP wannabe dogfight gets uglier, the actual President is on a winning streak that parallels Linsanity in the sports world. In eye-to-eye confrontation, John Boehner has just blinked after more than a year of being held hostage by his Tea Party caucus, backing not only a bill to extend a $100 billion payroll tax rollback without spending cuts to pay for it but … [Read more...] about Broadening Obama’s Coattails
Romney’s Big Problem
WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney has lost his central asset. It is no longer obvious that he is the Republican with the best chance of defeating President Obama. Romney was never fully trusted or liked by the staunchest conservatives, a rather large Republican constituency. But until now, enough of them have been willing to swallow their doubts at critical moments because … [Read more...] about Romney’s Big Problem
Xi Jiping’s hall of mirrors
China’s Xi Jinping, comes across as a down home personality with a soft spot for rural values and the agricultural economy. But he has a mind steeped in Chinese nationalism devoted to making his country an equal of the United States. The Vice President, who is expected to succeed President Hu Jintao in late 2012, has given little away during his five-day visit to the US. But … [Read more...] about Xi Jiping’s hall of mirrors
“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”
There is a lot not to like about MEP Nigel Farage but when he is right he's right: For the actual people of Greece there is only one solution - default and leaving the Eurozone. The attempts at "bailout" are designed to bail out the big banks and give Germany an economic occupation of Greece. The austerity being forced on the Greeks only … [Read more...] about “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”
How the Parties Switched Stances on the Indvidual Mandate
Interesting article in today's New York Times http://nyti.ms/x77odY of the way Republicans and Democrats completely reversed their positions on the individual mandate since the concept was formulated by conservative economists in the early 1990s. Republicans in Congress, including Newt Gingrich, supported the idea and the Democrats were opposed. Subsequently, there's been a 180 … [Read more...] about How the Parties Switched Stances on the Indvidual Mandate
CONTRACEPTIVE DEBATE COMPLETELY MISSES THE BIGGER ISSUES
The fabricated contraceptive debate that has raged in certain quarters of Washington DC, in various places across the US, and within the blogosphere and our hyper-partisan political system, is another diversion from reality. I had hoped saner minds would have emerged by now, but unfortunately we are left with a narrow analysis of HHS guidelines and the various arguments by a … [Read more...] about CONTRACEPTIVE DEBATE COMPLETELY MISSES THE BIGGER ISSUES
The Hidden Meaning of Severely Conservative
Mitt Romney is severely conservative. He announced it at a CPAC meeting last week, perhaps trying to convince other conservatives that his conservatism was unbounded. In that context, it was an unusual use of the word ‘severe’ and one wonders whether there might have been a hidden meaning in that statement. Webster’s 20th century dictionary provides several definitions for … [Read more...] about The Hidden Meaning of Severely Conservative
From Joe Scarborough to Liz Trotta, Media Misinformation Aids Rick Santorum
The Daily Show with Jon StewartGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook WASHINGTON - Jon Stewart proves again why he's seen as indispensable to the American public, especially young people who have no interest in the elite media babble. Whether it's Joe Scarborough's implosion with me, or Liz Trotta's Fox News Channel … [Read more...] about From Joe Scarborough to Liz Trotta, Media Misinformation Aids Rick Santorum
A Religious War Out of Thin Air
WASHINGTON -- At ease, Christian soldiers. There is no "war on religion," no assault on the Catholic Church. A faith that has endured for thousands of years will survive even Nicki Minaj. It never occurred to me to evaluate the Grammy Awards show on theological rectitude, but apparently we're supposed to be outraged at the over-the-top "exorcism" Minaj performed Sunday … [Read more...] about A Religious War Out of Thin Air
(UPDATE) The Tempest Over Birth Control Grows Sillier Still
Roman Catholic bishops oppose birth control. Many Republican congressfolk and some Democrats oppose birth control. All of the Republican presidential candidates, to one degree or another, oppose birth control. All this despite the fact that a strong majority of Americans are adamant about having the right to decide whether to use birth control and what method to use, and … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) The Tempest Over Birth Control Grows Sillier Still
The American Past: Going, Going…
An encounter with an antiques appraiser brings an epiphany about what may be happening to us all now. Downsizing life for very old age has brought not only inevitable scaling back of inner expectations but the physical world that can no longer be managed with effortless ease. Parting piece by piece with what gave comfort over a lifetime is saddening, but there was … [Read more...] about The American Past: Going, Going…
Musharraf knew Bin Laden in Pakistan: Who Else Did?
Pakistan's former ISI chief General Ziauddin Khawaja, also known as Ziauddin Butt (head of the ISI, 1997-1999), claims that then President Pervez Musharraf knew about Osama bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad. Even if this news is true, it is not shocking. What the world would be eager to know is whether the then American President George W. Bush, the CIA and the Pentagon were … [Read more...] about Musharraf knew Bin Laden in Pakistan: Who Else Did?
Adorable Rescue Video
Ok folks time to start your day out with an awwwwwwww http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnGd71hVC5o … [Read more...] about Adorable Rescue Video
Why Iran-Israel ‘War’ Spilled to Indian Soil?
India's security agencies are worried. Initial investigations have revealed that the modus operandi employed by the person who attacked Israeli embassy staff in New Delhi - by fixing bomb to a car - "mirrored the method used by Mossad earlier to assassinate Iranian scientists." (Meanwhile, the Israeli diplomat's wife who was in the car when the explosion took place in New … [Read more...] about Why Iran-Israel ‘War’ Spilled to Indian Soil?
Poll: Big Support For Mandated Contraception Coverage
A new CBS News/New York Times poll finds big support for mandating contraception coverage - including among Catholics: Amid continued controversy surrounding an Obama administration policy mandating that women working at religiously-affiliated institutions be provided with free access to contraceptive health care, a new CBS News/New York Times poll shows that most … [Read more...] about Poll: Big Support For Mandated Contraception Coverage
That’s Amor, Eh?
Enjoy Valentine's Day. And this little e-card from the CDC, I guess, intended to ruin it for you. The timing is opportunistic without being opportune. No lunar pizza here; your eyes are safe. Thats amoré - Dean Martin Amor is a venerable word for the kind of love that we celebrate today. Even if we don't particularly "get" it and the more you look into it the more … [Read more...] about That’s Amor, Eh?
Una valentina para el mundo; la historia perdida A Valentine For the World: The Lost Story
ANNUAL VALENTINE'S STORY: The Underlying Meaning of Valentine's Day.............. Valentine’s Day Alert, Anywhere USA: A woman punches another woman to seize the last red-flocked candy box at the drug store. Children fear going to school for they might not get as many valentine cards as some other kids. What used to be honorable behavior during an onslaught of the citadel, … [Read more...] about Una valentina para el mundo; la historia perdida A Valentine For the World: The Lost Story
“Newt Who?” Number 79,401 (‘Romantic’ and Not so Romantic UPDATES)
Another UPDATE (Not so romantic this time): The Washington Post reports that Newt not only has plummeted in the GOP presidential race but that “he may be the most unpopular person in American politics right now.” Two new polls show him with “an absolutely atrocious favorability rating”: A CNN/Opinion Research poll on Monday showed 63 percent of All Americans … [Read more...] about “Newt Who?” Number 79,401 (‘Romantic’ and Not so Romantic UPDATES)
A Valentine’s Day for The Good Guys
WASHINGTON - Clint Eastwood called it. The Good Guys have won a couple. I like it. By Good Guys I mean the American people, which includes determined stiffs like Attorney General Beau Biden, then there is A.G. Eric Schneiderman and A.G. Koster of Missouri. Attorney General Chris Koster recently announced a 136-count indictment against DOCX, which a Boone, Cty. … [Read more...] about A Valentine’s Day for The Good Guys
There Is Hope Yet For RINOs
A new breeding program will: "[I]solate the few remaining specimens of moderate Republicans, mate them in captivity, and then safely release these rare and precious creatures back into the electorate. Within our safe, enclosed habitats, these middle-of-the-road Republican Party members can freely support increased funding for public education and even gay rights without … [Read more...] about There Is Hope Yet For RINOs