The data points sound horrifying: 46 percent of American children enter kindergarten lacking the basic language skills they need to learn to read 61 percent of low-income children have no children's books in their homes The verbs convey urgency (currency is an intentional affect, as the factoids are used for fundraising, establishing organizational mandates) and … [Read more...] about Meme Chasing: Literacy In America
Forget Mitt
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Forget Mitt
Unwise Facebook Parenting for the Troubled Teen
This video, apparently made by angry father Tommy Jordan, has "gone viral" and had more than a million views in under 72 hours, with a torrent of commentary. Most of the commentary seems to express either enthusiastic support or simple shock. I suspect it will get a few million more hits before it dies down or the father pulls it down. I am assuming this is real and not … [Read more...] about Unwise Facebook Parenting for the Troubled Teen
Male “Other Types of Emotions” May Endanger Military’s Mission
Do people really not pay attention to what is said anymore? Yesterday, while being interview by John King about possible questions Santorum may face as Commander-In-Chief, Santorum was asked about having women in combat roles. Santorum responded with this answer: "Look, I want to create every opportunity for women to be able to serve this country, and they do so in an … [Read more...] about Male “Other Types of Emotions” May Endanger Military’s Mission
The Electability Question
Who can beat President Obama in the fall on the Republican side? The question of electability is the main point of concern among Republicans so far in this cycle. To date, a handful of former first-tier candidates have succumbed to the specter of electability including Rick Perry, Tim Pawlenty and yes, even the "perfect candidate" Michelle Bachmann. With only four candidates … [Read more...] about The Electability Question
White House Contraception Announcement Set as GOP Candidates Address CPAC **UPDATED**
WASHINGTON - The White House compromise on the contraceptive mandate is set for 12:15 pm EST, sandwiched in between the CPAC speeches of Santorum, Romney and Gingrich. But if you want to know what this debate is about, see Joe Scarborough from yesterday. "... I think women should be deacons as well as men. ...But if the federal government, if the Justice Department offers a … [Read more...] about White House Contraception Announcement Set as GOP Candidates Address CPAC **UPDATED**
The USS Enterprise: Sacrificial Trigger for War Against Iran? (Wprost24, Poland)
Would the United States, utilizing what is known as a 'false flag' strategy, sacrifice a nuclear aircraft carrier to persuade the world that a war against Iran must be waged? According to columnist Anna Pinderak of Poland's Wprost24, a theory is making the rounds that the Pentagon has sent the famed USS Enterprise to the Persian Gulf - to sink it - and then to blame Tehran for … [Read more...] about The USS Enterprise: Sacrificial Trigger for War Against Iran? (Wprost24, Poland)
Bishops & Republicans Sitting In A Tree K-i-s-s-i-n-g
BISHOP DOLAN IS GROUCHY In for a dime in for a dollar seems to be the modus operandi in the latest round of culture warfare and even when reasonable compromise is within reach it remains elusive. And so we have the sight of Catholic bishops locking horns with the Obama administration over its principled view that all women need affordable access to contraceptive services … [Read more...] about Bishops & Republicans Sitting In A Tree K-i-s-s-i-n-g
The Republican War On Women Continues Apace
A centerpiece of the Republican Party's social agenda in the new millennium has been to deny women new rights and take away old rights, but it stands to reason that everyone of every political stripe would be opposed to neutering laws that seek to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. But Republicans are less reasonable with every passing election cycle, and so we had … [Read more...] about The Republican War On Women Continues Apace
Weakening the STOCK Act- Stock and Trade of the House Republicans
Once again, House Republicans have been unwilling to take a strong stand against insider trading. Though a revised version of the STOCK Act (Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge) was passed yesterday by the House by an overwhelming margin, it was only after Republicans had weakened the bill. In December, Republican Spencer Bachus from Alabama, Chairman of the House Financial … [Read more...] about Weakening the STOCK Act- Stock and Trade of the House Republicans
Santorum and JFK on Church and State
Faced with the threat that a slowly improving economy may buoy the President’s reelection chances, Republican campaign strategy is tilting toward the Religious Right. After winning a tiny sliver of voters in three states, Rick Santorum is in Texas talking to pastors: “There's not a management problem in Washington, all right. There's a more foundational problem there that … [Read more...] about Santorum and JFK on Church and State
Mitt Romney Speech Before CPAC Considered Make or Break As Conservatives Ponder Alternative
It's High Noon for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney when he talks before the Conservative Political Action Conference: CPAC's largely young attendees will have a chance to compare the currently sagging Romney with his other GOP Presidential wannabe rivals who have painted themselves as real versus pretend conservatives, including the on-the-ascent Senator Rick … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Speech Before CPAC Considered Make or Break As Conservatives Ponder Alternative
Tom Alter: Why Indians Love This American
As compared with the Brits, few Americans have made India their home. Among those Americans who became well-known, I wrote about the legendary Samuel Evans Stokes Jr who fought along with Mahatma Gandhi to free the country from the colonial rule, and also brought horticulture revolution in the hills. The other well-known figure is an Indian actor of American origin - Tom Alter … [Read more...] about Tom Alter: Why Indians Love This American
You Just Gotta Love Michelle Obama
Comics don't mind making a fool of themselves, but first ladies? Yes, if you're Michelle Obama, who has been making the rounds of talk show hosts and beating them in feats of physical fitnessl in the name of her "Let's Move" initiative. Her latest victim was Jimmy Fallon of "Late Night," who visited the White House to take on Mrs. Obama in a series of event, including … [Read more...] about You Just Gotta Love Michelle Obama
President Barack Obama’s “Escape Artists”
At a time when President Barack Obama seems to have handled relatively well diverse foreign policy challenges, many inherited from his predecessor, his handling of the economic policy and the Wall Street have remained a big question mark. Obama's continuing reliance on U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, and kowtowing to the bankers, makes one wonder whether the President has … [Read more...] about President Barack Obama’s “Escape Artists”
Maureen Walsh Says It Well
A touching commentary on the same sex marriage vote in Washington http://youtu.be/UiGmgqW6ES8 … [Read more...] about Maureen Walsh Says It Well
Quote of the Day: Herman Cain Says “Stupid and Ignorant People Are Ruining America”
Our political Quote of the Day comes from former Godfather Pizza and fizzled Republican presidential front-runner candidate Herman Cain, who told had this to say to the CPAC: “We must outsmart the liberals,” Cain said. “We must outsmart the people who are trying to ruin this country.” But, he said, it wasn’t just the stupid people who were ruining the country: “Stupid and … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Herman Cain Says “Stupid and Ignorant People Are Ruining America”
Can Mitt Romney Move to the Center If He’s the Republican Nominee?
(NOTE: This column was written the morning before former Sen. Rick Santorum's three big wins Tuesday. However, it's more timely than ever as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney now tries to prove that he's a genuine conservative to short-circuit Santorum's quick rise as the anti-Romney). KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Barring some big political development that again upends the … [Read more...] about Can Mitt Romney Move to the Center If He’s the Republican Nominee?
Romney’s Overriding Ambition
WASHINGTON -- Criticism of Mitt Romney for lacking a coherent message is grossly unfair. He has been forthright, consistent and even eloquent in pressing home his campaign's central theme: Mitt Romney (BEG ITAL)desperately(END ITAL) wants to be president. Everything else seems mushy or negotiable. Romney is passionate about the need, as he sees it, to defeat President … [Read more...] about Romney’s Overriding Ambition
Why I Shop At JC Penny
OK, I have always liked JC Penny and have always shopped there. But I now have an other reason: It's nice to see a corporation doing the right thing. Even if they are doing it because they realize the new demographics make it a plus it's still a plus. It's a sign of the times. The old order is dying - that's what scares old white people and the election of Obama was a … [Read more...] about Why I Shop At JC Penny