WASHINGTON -- One of Barack Obama's great attractions as a presidential candidate was his sensitivity to the feelings and intellectual concerns of religious believers. That is why it is so remarkable that he utterly botched the admittedly difficult question of how contraceptive services should be treated under the new health care law. His administration mishandled this … [Read more...] about Obama Owes More on Religious Freedom
Newt’s Long Term Memory Loss
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Newt’s Long Term Memory Loss
Reboot the Mittbot (Guest Voice)
Reboot the Mittbot by Jason Stanford These debates have turned the Republican presidential primary into a reality show. If the 2008 Democratic primary was The Amazing Race that followed compelling characters coast to coast, then the 2012 GOP primary is The Biggest Loser. Pity those poor Republicans. Mitt Romney will probably still be the nominee, but the longer the primary … [Read more...] about Reboot the Mittbot (Guest Voice)
Gingrich Moon Mission
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The Suicide Club
An interesting post on the current state of politics and the 2012 campaign from Roger Kimball. … [Read more...] about The Suicide Club
YouTube Politics: Obama To Hold Google+ Hangout Monday
In 2007, Google and YouTube broke into presidential politics by holding a "debate" in conjunction with CNN. At the time, Google had owned YouTube for less than a year. Flash forward almost five years. On Monday at 5.30 p.m. Eastern, Google+ (which is also less than a year old), is the stage for a presidential response to last week's State of the Union address. As in 2007, … [Read more...] about YouTube Politics: Obama To Hold Google+ Hangout Monday
John McCain and Sarah Palin: Like Two Peas in a Pod — Not Anymore
Of course two people -- even if they were once on the same ticket for president and vice president of the United States -- can, three years later, change some of their views and root for and endorse different candidates in the GOP presidential primaries. It happens to the best of us, and in the best of families, including husband and wife -- just look at James Carville and … [Read more...] about John McCain and Sarah Palin: Like Two Peas in a Pod — Not Anymore
Fun With Online Translation
Here is a fun diversion (hat tip to Jimmy Kimmel show who did it with a scene from Jersey Shore) Take a sentence and translate it into a foreign language on Babelfish or Bing Translator Then translate that sentence into a 2nd language Then back into English I tried "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal" and took it from English … [Read more...] about Fun With Online Translation
Cancers of the Body Politic
After months of trying to ameliorate a disease ravaging the GOP, Jon Huntsman Jr. has moved into fighting cancers that afflict human beings rather than the body politic by taking over as chairman of a foundation that funds his family’s Institute, a research, education and treatment center with a full-time faculty and staff of 1300. In his political hiatus, Huntsman worked … [Read more...] about Cancers of the Body Politic
Psilocybin A Treatment for Depression?
Maybe: Academy of Sciences published a study purporting to show how psilocybin, the active ingredient in what are known as "magic mushrooms" is helpful in the treatment of depression, PTSD and anxiety. Another study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found similar results. Meantime, researchers around the world have been experimenting with Ecstasy, whose … [Read more...] about Psilocybin A Treatment for Depression?
NBC/Marist Poll: Romney Up 15 Points Over Gingrich
Each new poll that coming out of Florida has worse news for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. I guess this one suggests voters didn't suddenly run to him following Sarah Palin's defense of him: Mitt Romney may be on his way to a decisive victory in the Florida GOP primary Tuesday, according to a new NBC/Marist poll. Romney leads Newt Gingrich by 15 points, 42 percent … [Read more...] about NBC/Marist Poll: Romney Up 15 Points Over Gingrich
Consensus of Polls: It’s Romney in Tuesday’s Florida Republican Primary
Nate Silver looks at a variety of polls and gives us the bottom line: unless there is some huge shift, a consensus of polls indicates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will beat former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Florida's presidential primary on Tuesday: You can find pretty much every species of poll in Florida right now. There are traditional polls and … [Read more...] about Consensus of Polls: It’s Romney in Tuesday’s Florida Republican Primary
Why Are Republicans So Worried About Debating Obama?
It's not as though Obama is a particularly adept debater. But the subject comes up constantly on the Republican side, or so Maureen Dowd believes. They seem to have forgotten that, while Obama has had dazzling moments of strength in executing Osama and in swashbuckling derring-do against Somali pirates — if not in dealing with Congress — he was no Abe Lincoln in … [Read more...] about Why Are Republicans So Worried About Debating Obama?
Gingrich, Romney Fely on Eurobashing to "Define Their America"
Four years ago, Obama campaigned with hope and change. He ran against George W. Bush's track record, even though Bush was not running again. Today, Republicans campaign with fear and "against Europe", although Europe won't be on the ballot box in November. For Obama, Bush was "the other" against which he defined himself. For Republicans that … [Read more...] about Gingrich, Romney Fely on Eurobashing to "Define Their America"
The Washington-Wall Street Revolving Door Just Keeps Spinning Along (Guest Voice)
The Washington-Wall Street Revolving Door Just Keeps Spinning Along by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship We’ve already made our choice for the best headline of the year, so far: "Citigroup Replaces JPMorgan as White House Chief of Staff." When we saw it on the website Gawker.com we had to smile -- but the smile didn’t last long. There’s simply too much … [Read more...] about The Washington-Wall Street Revolving Door Just Keeps Spinning Along (Guest Voice)
Mom, Dad: The “Choking Game” Must Be Stopped (Guest Voice)
Mom, Dad: The "Choking Game" Must Be Stopped by Danny Tyree Columnist's note: Let's get the "But seriously folks..." disclaimer out of the way first. This column's satirical tone is an exercise in "whistling past the graveyard." Asphyxiation "games" are deadly serious. Parents must be watchful. The DB Foundation has posted warning signs online at … [Read more...] about Mom, Dad: The “Choking Game” Must Be Stopped (Guest Voice)
The New Egypt
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I’m Turning Forty. . . Half Way to the Grave?
I'm turning forty years old this Sunday. Which means if I'm lucky I'm at the half way point. Although I think eighty might be wishful thinking if I don't start increasing my daily mobility. Sitting on my butt for prolonged increments of time is one of the shared job descriptions that unites my roles as pastor, writer, and radio host. Some days I feel like a stalagmite. … [Read more...] about I’m Turning Forty. . . Half Way to the Grave?
Mexico Drug Violence – ‘Business is Business’ (La Jornada, Mexico)
Why is Mexico's 'war on drugs' proving to be the longest and most deadly battle in the nation's history? Columnist Luis Javier Garrido of Mexico's La Jornada outlines in great detail how the companies and government agencies which are supposed to battle narco-trafficking are proving so profitable, neither governments nor the companies they pay wish it to end. For La Jornada, … [Read more...] about Mexico Drug Violence – ‘Business is Business’ (La Jornada, Mexico)
Poll: Romney Now Has 11 Point Lead Over Gingrich In Florida (UPDATED 2)
A new Reuters/Ipsos online poll mirrors what most polls are finding: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney seems to have Big Mo in Florida while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's poll numbers are going anywhere but in the direction of the moon: White House hopeful Mitt Romney widened his lead over rival Newt Gingrich to 11 percentage points in Florida, according to … [Read more...] about Poll: Romney Now Has 11 Point Lead Over Gingrich In Florida (UPDATED 2)