Even as tension over the Strait of Hormuz escalates, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is touring Latin America as a way of showing Iran has friends in the U.S. 'backyard.' But this tongue-in-cheek welcome to the Iranian leader by columnist Luis A. Vivanco of Ecuador's La Hora goes to show that not everyone is buying the story. For La Hora of Ecuador, Luis A. Vivanco … [Read more...] about ‘Welcome, Mahmoud!’ (La Hora, Ecuador)
It’s Not 2008
The 2008 presidential contest was marked by enthusiastic participation among the younger voter demographic (pdf), a demographic that skewed towards Obama on the Democratic side. This time 'round, that doesn't seem to be the case. Democrats, in general, are unenthusiastic. On the GOP side, Ron Paul is polling the best of the candidates in the "younger voter" demographic, no … [Read more...] about It’s Not 2008
What Kind of Capitalist Was Romney?
WASHINGTON -- Thanks to Mitt Romney and such well-known socialist intellectuals as Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich, the United States is about to have the big debate on the nature of modern capitalism that should have started back in 2008. The focus will be on whether some kinds of capitalism are bad for the system as a whole. As a political matter, the discussion will be … [Read more...] about What Kind of Capitalist Was Romney?
Mitt Romney, the Front Runner
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Two-for-Two and Game On
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- It's going to be mean and dispiriting, this campaign. We'll be assailed with talk of "European socialism" and "vulture capitalism" -- not "hope" and "change" -- and the months between now and November will seem an eternity. There's no use trying to gainsay or belittle Mitt Romney's victory here Tuesday. Yes, he might have hoped for a bigger turnout. … [Read more...] about Two-for-Two and Game On
Cagle Cartoons: David Fitzsimmons of The Arizona Star on Mitt Romney’s Firing-gate
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Pullback Beginning on Romney Foes’ Bain Attacks?
Is a pullback now beginning on attacks by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and perhaps others on attacks on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for Romney's role at Bain Capital? It sounds that way. Actually, I figured a pullback would begin once I learned that conservative talker (and Ruler of the GOP in some ways) Rush Limbaugh was blasting it. The Politico … [Read more...] about Pullback Beginning on Romney Foes’ Bain Attacks?
Ahmadinejad and Chavez Agree: ‘Our Weapon is Love’ (El Universal, Venezuela)
Is it the United States - and not Iran or Venezuela - that the world's people need to worry about? According to this news account by María Lilibeth Da Corte of Venezuela's El Universal, the arrival of Iran President Ahmadinejad in Latin America has begun with a Venezuelan 'love fest' of sorts, with lots of spicy language about the United States. For Venezuela's El Universal, … [Read more...] about Ahmadinejad and Chavez Agree: ‘Our Weapon is Love’ (El Universal, Venezuela)
Amnesia or Forgiveness? American Voters’ Disregard of Ethics Violations
Robert A. Levine 1-11-12 In the current Republican presidential primaries, Newt Gingrich has garnered significant levels of support despite past ethical “missteps.” He was involved in the House banking scandal with bad checks in the late 80s and early 90s. The House Ethics Committee levied a $300,000 fine on him in 1997 for using non-profit organizations for partisan … [Read more...] about Amnesia or Forgiveness? American Voters’ Disregard of Ethics Violations
Yes, It’s Legalized Gambling
And it reflects ills far more insidious than the current GOP presidential contest. A Wall Street Journal analysis of Mitt Romney's days at Bain Capital (1984-1999, the "greed is good" ... "Bonfire of the Vanities" ... pre-dot-gone era) reminds us that investment banking (and the far-too-often vaunted stock market) is simply a legalized form of gambling: The Journal … [Read more...] about Yes, It’s Legalized Gambling
Anti-War Vote in New Hampshire?
After all the demographic slicing and dicing, the final primary figures disclose one New Hampshire result pundits are ignoring: The only two candidates who unequivocally want to take us of out of Afghanistan and most of the Middle East muddle now, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman, together received 39.8 percent of the vote to Mitt Romney’s 39.6 percent. In contrast, Rick Perry, who … [Read more...] about Anti-War Vote in New Hampshire?
Romnevitability
The Romney machine is rolling now. After barely surviving that eight-vote squeaker in Iowa, the Mittster rebounded by throttling the competition in New Hampshire. The man with the granite jaw won the Granite State with a convincing 40 percent of the vote -- equal to second- and third-place finishers Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman combined. Sure, Ron Paul won the independent … [Read more...] about Romnevitability
New Hampshire As Bellwether: Are The Times Changing? [updated]
As expected, Mitt Romney skated to victory in New Hampshire on Tuesday. In the process, he "became the first Republican to sweep the first two contests in competitive races since 1976." New Hampshire was a leading indicator of who would get the nomination and possibly the White House until 1992. That's when Bill Clinton made history by being the first presidential … [Read more...] about New Hampshire As Bellwether: Are The Times Changing? [updated]
Risky Profession: Yet Another Iranian Nuclear Scientist Killed
What's a risky business to go into? Apparently one of the riskiest is to be a nuclear scientist in Iran -- since yet another one has been killed: At a time of growing tension over its nuclear program and mounting belligerence toward the West, Iran reported on Wednesday that an Iranian nuclear scientist died in what was termed a “terrorist bomb blast” in northern Tehran … [Read more...] about Risky Profession: Yet Another Iranian Nuclear Scientist Killed
Oh Those Silly Republicans: They Were For Capitalism Before They Were Against It
That grinding sound you hear are the tectonic plates of Republican presidential politics shifting. In what direction and how far they shift may determine whether Mitt Romney has a chance of beating Barack Obama in November. That is if he can survive brutal attacks from some of his opponents. Although it was not noticeable, the shift began with the burst of Occupy Wall … [Read more...] about Oh Those Silly Republicans: They Were For Capitalism Before They Were Against It
Is Mitt Romney Now Unstoppable?
Is Mitt Romney now unstoppable? Here's a roundup on this question. … [Read more...] about Is Mitt Romney Now Unstoppable?
Mitt Romney’s Edgy Win
What's interesting about New Hampshire is not Romney's (fairly strong) win but the number of Democratic votes for Romney and the number of independent votes in general. Here's how the Washington Post's Dan Balz sees it: Romney’s campaign advisers are bracing for what they expect will be the nastiest contest yet. South Carolina has a history of negative politics, and the … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney’s Edgy Win
Mutually Assured Destruction
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(UPDATED) On Beyond New Hampshire: Why Mitt Romney Is Unemployable & That Includes Being President
Mitt Romney wouldn’t have caught Bin Laden. He would have bought Al Qaeda and fired him. ~ Commenters at DAILY KOS The clashes over class warfare that have bubbled to the surface as the Republican Party scrambles to anoint a challenger to President Obama is a healthy sign that addressing real issues is not completely dead, although the warfare happens to be for the wrong … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) On Beyond New Hampshire: Why Mitt Romney Is Unemployable & That Includes Being President
Great Performers: Mandy Patinkin doing “Buddies Blues” from “Follies”
Many TV viewers have no idea what an incredible performer Mandy Patinkin is. Watch him here doing a live performance of "Buddie's Blues," one of the songs from the masterpiece score of "Follies." The character is having a bit of a breakdown: Here's another great interpretation of this piece, by Danny Burstein: … [Read more...] about Great Performers: Mandy Patinkin doing “Buddies Blues” from “Follies”