NOTE TO READERS: I am at a motel in Missouri with exceedingly slow internet and the hotel does not get Fox News. Due to these to factors I cannot live blog the debate tonight. I may monitor the debate on line. This means I may take some excerpts from live blogging or news reports about the debate. But I myself will not be able to watch it online or on television. Post from here … [Read more...] about Tonight’s Republican Debate (UPDATED)
Lese Majeste -15 Years For Insulting The King
Lese Majeste is translated to English as “injured majesty”. The concept dates back to at least ancient Rome, making it a crime to insult the dignity of a reigning sovereign. You’d think such concepts would have left the statute books long ago, but not so. Known both for its rich history and its scandalous sex trade, Thailand still follows lese majeste. The law there imposes … [Read more...] about Lese Majeste -15 Years For Insulting The King
Wall Street And The City Versus The People: The Same Old Cross Of Gold
In 1896 William Jennings Bryan, a liberal populist, won the Democratic nomination for president. He did it largely on the basis of the rousing speech he made at the party's nominating convention — his famous "Cross Of Gold" speech. The specific economic issue that speech addressed, the question of whether bimetalism, using silver as well as gold as the backing for our … [Read more...] about Wall Street And The City Versus The People: The Same Old Cross Of Gold
Secret Haditha Massacre Documents Are A Fitting Coda To The End Of Iraq War
That the true story of the 2005 massacre of 20 Iraqi civilians, including an elderly man in a wheelchair and women and children, has finally come out because an Iraqi was using transcripts of secret interviews with the Marines involved to cook dinner is a fitting coda to a nearly nine-year war that officially ended today. The events in the town of Haditha in Anbar Province … [Read more...] about Secret Haditha Massacre Documents Are A Fitting Coda To The End Of Iraq War
A Huntsman Moment?
PETERBOROUGH, N.H. -- Since all things seem possible in the Republican presidential contest, is there another turn coming that could benefit Jon Huntsman? That would be the former Utah governor polling nationally at 3.2 percent, according to Wednesday's Real Clear Politics average of national polls, slightly behind Rick Santorum. Huntsman is occasionally touted by the … [Read more...] about A Huntsman Moment?
“Against Gingrich”: National Review Editorial Comes Out Against Newt Gingrich
The longtime conservative icon magazine National Review has now gone back to its William F. Buckley roots: in a scathing editorial it has come out against former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's candidacy for the 2012 Republican nomination. This should temper some of Gingrich's polling support. Here is a chunk of it. First, the magazine notes the opportunity at the GOP's grasp … [Read more...] about “Against Gingrich”: National Review Editorial Comes Out Against Newt Gingrich
Gallup Poll: Gingrich Running Strong With Traditionally Reliable Voters
A new Gallup Poll gives evidence to what many pundits have concluded: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is running strong with traditional reliable Republican voters -- but young Republicans (as is the case with the general electorat) favor former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Newt Gingrich's current lead in Republican preferences for the GOP presidential nomination is … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Gingrich Running Strong With Traditionally Reliable Voters
And the Winner Is…Rick Santorum?
I dozed off last night watching one of those Liam Neeson action movies in which he wrecks cities for reasons too complicated to explain and switched channels to find more of the same in the Republican demolition derby. Ron Paul is surging in Iowa to bump the tailpipes of Gingrich and Romney while the first frontrunner Donald Trump has been waved off the track, canceling his … [Read more...] about And the Winner Is…Rick Santorum?
eBay Auction
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Good Question: Is Obama Trying to Sabotage the GOP?
ABC News' The Note asks a good question: Is President Barack Obama trying to sabotage the GOP -- former Massachusetts Mitt Romney in particular? They do make a good case for it: President Obama might want to look like the adult in the room, but his surrogates in the Democratic Party are playing the role of prankster as they try to derail the Republican nomination of Mitt … [Read more...] about Good Question: Is Obama Trying to Sabotage the GOP?
A Republican Bill That Worsens Health Care Costs and Budget Deficits
Robert A. Levine 12-15-11 Republican conservatives and Tea Party types have ranted about how the Accountable Care Act will increase health care costs and federal budget deficits, though the Congressional Budget Office has presented contrary data. But legislation just passed by House Republicans would in itself both raise health care costs and federal budget deficits. In an … [Read more...] about A Republican Bill That Worsens Health Care Costs and Budget Deficits
Democrats’ Major Concession on Payroll Tax: Will Dump Millionaire Surtax
It sounds like the Democrats are ready to meet the Republicans halfway on extending the payroll tax cut -- but the question now is whether the GOP will demand the Dems meet them 100 percent of their way as talk looms of a government shutdown: In what would be a major concession, President Obama and Senate Democrats will drop their insistence that a surtax on millionaires … [Read more...] about Democrats’ Major Concession on Payroll Tax: Will Dump Millionaire Surtax
Newt’s Child Labor Laws
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Newt Gingrich’s ‘Fervent’ Wish: A ‘Final Solution’ for Palestinians (Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria)
Not surprisingly, Arabs aren't taking too kindly to Newt Gingrich's recent comment that the Palestinians are an 'invented people' seeking little more than the destruction of Israel. For Algeria's Le Quotidien d’Oran, K. Selim writes that if Gingrich makes his way into the White House, at least Arabs will be able to stop pretending that there is any hope of Washington being a … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich’s ‘Fervent’ Wish: A ‘Final Solution’ for Palestinians (Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria)
Rick Perry’s Collateral Damage
As Texax Gov. Rick Perry's campaign has sunk, there has been a lot of collateral damage on several fronts.. … [Read more...] about Rick Perry’s Collateral Damage
Iraq and Shelley
The Iraq War is over. Or, so we are informed. The BBC: Obama speech at Fort Bragg marks end of Iraq war US President Barack Obama has marked the end of the Iraq war with a speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, telling troops, "welcome home!" His address paid tribute to the soldiers who served in the conflict - both those who died and veterans who returned home after … [Read more...] about Iraq and Shelley
Is It Time to Totally Ban Cellphones from Cars?
Is it time to totally ban cellphones from cars? This issue has been raised on a federal level, the dangers of any kind of cell use are being documented and it sounds as if this is beginning of a new movement that could eventually prevail: The federal agency charged with overseeing transportation safety recommended Tuesday that US states should forbid the use of all … [Read more...] about Is It Time to Totally Ban Cellphones from Cars?
Trump Provokes, Paul Threatens, Holder Warns, Obama Secretly Smiles & Other GOP Morsels
Africa is a country. The Taliban rule in Libya. Muslims are terrorists. Immigrants are mostly criminals, Occupy Wall Street protesters are always dirty. And women who claim to have been sexually molested should kindly keep quiet. Welcome to the wonderful world of the Republican Party. ~ DER SPIEGEL Barack Obama, his back to the wall because of a recession he inherited, … [Read more...] about Trump Provokes, Paul Threatens, Holder Warns, Obama Secretly Smiles & Other GOP Morsels
Is Syria’s Election a Sham?
Is Syria's election a sham? A cross section of thoughts HERE. … [Read more...] about Is Syria’s Election a Sham?
Gingrich
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