Is Iraq in for a re-eruption of the kind of ethnic and religious strife it experienced during the height of the U.S. occupation? For Iraq's Al Iraq News, Dr. Fadhil Al Badrani warns his countrymen that unless Iraqi leaders 'review their political inclinations and renounce their differences,' those fearing a U.S. pullout - and those celebrating it - will end up as 'wood' for … [Read more...] about The Coming Iraqi Storm (Al Iraq News, Iraq)
Senate Kabuki On Payroll Tax Cut
The US Senate tonight put on another kabuki show as they 'rejected' two plans to extend the payroll tax cut. The Democratic plan, which would have paid for the cut with a surtax on millionaires, got a 51-49 majority but failed to get the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture. A proposal by Senator Heller (R-NV) which would have paid for the cut by cutting spending failed by a … [Read more...] about Senate Kabuki On Payroll Tax Cut
Pakistan and Obama
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Gingrich Amid Rapidly Rising Polls: “I’m Going to Be the Nominee” (UPDATED)
It's been said of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that there's the good Newt and the bad Newt -- and the bad Newt is also an arrogant Newt who often destroys himself with his mouth. He isn't there yet, but his tone has now changed as he is zooming up in the polls and as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney can no longer in reality be called "the front-runner." In an … [Read more...] about Gingrich Amid Rapidly Rising Polls: “I’m Going to Be the Nominee” (UPDATED)
A New Bit Of Drollery From Republican Pranksters In Congress
In these per'lous times, it's good to see that at least one major political party still has a sense of humor. I refer, of course, to the Republicans. Their latest beau jeste, in he form of a proposal to keep funded the Payroll Tax reduction for all working Americans, had me rolling with laughter when I read it over. The Democrats want to fund this lower Payroll Tax rate … [Read more...] about A New Bit Of Drollery From Republican Pranksters In Congress
Selling the New Nixon, part i
The Republican strategy for 2012 is simple: stop anything from being done, watch the economy collapse, claim it's the Democrats' fault. Reap the rewards of frustration, anger and fear. But it goes deeper than that. By successfully prohibiting classes of action and endorsing classes of action -- the abstract notion of, say, "taxes" rather than the concrete notion of this … [Read more...] about Selling the New Nixon, part i
What Is It About Closeted Gay Republicans & Methamphetamine?
That question is being asked again with the arrest of Patrick Sullivan, a 68--year-old retired Colorado country sheriff, on charges that he tried to exchange the powerful stimulant for sex with a man. The short answer is that the methamphetamine high, among other things, frees users from inhibitions and gives them the ability to screw for all day or even longer. Or so I've … [Read more...] about What Is It About Closeted Gay Republicans & Methamphetamine?
Quote of the Day: Is the GOP About to Blow a Historic Opportunity?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from conservative blogger Betsy Newmark, who we have linked to often over the years. She has begun to fear that the GOP could be on the verge of blowing a historic political opportunity. She notes that Barack Obama is seriously on the political ropes and notes a few things that could improve for him. Then she writes: Or, and this is his … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Is the GOP About to Blow a Historic Opportunity?
The Voters’ Lobbyist Disclosure Enhancement Act of 2012
There is a little section in the New York Times, published by its editorial page editor, Andrew Rosenthal, that I sometimes overlook -- but shouldn’t. For that little section is usually very big on insightful, razor-sharp political commentary. Yesterday’s piece, “Not-Lobbyists in Name Only,” written by David Firestone, was no exception. Firestone discusses the fact that … [Read more...] about The Voters’ Lobbyist Disclosure Enhancement Act of 2012
Washington’s Secret Santas
Al Franken, who used to be a comic and perhaps still is, has created a holiday solution to the Senate’s civility shortage—-a “Secret Santa” exchange of gifts between the opposing parties. Just as in grade school, 21 Republicans and 37 Democrats have drawn names from a Santa hat and will present each other with gifts worth $10 or less in mid-December. That won’t violate … [Read more...] about Washington’s Secret Santas
Wanted: A Better Caption For This Foto
BE NICE, OKAY? … [Read more...] about Wanted: A Better Caption For This Foto
(UPDATE III) Cain: I Will Talk To My Wife About My 13-Year Affair Before Deciding What To Do
I have never questioned Herman Cain's intelligence. He's obviously got a fair amount of gray matter if he was able to graduate from prestigious Morehouse College, worked as a mathematician in ballistics for the U.S. Navy developing fire control systems, and then made millions by building a pizza empire. What has been clear from the outset of Cain's improbable "campaign," … [Read more...] about (UPDATE III) Cain: I Will Talk To My Wife About My 13-Year Affair Before Deciding What To Do
Federal Classification of Marijuana Is “Fundamentally Wrong”
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire (D) isn't running for re-election in 2012. That freedom could be the impetus for her signing on to November 30 letter (pdf) to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that petitions DEA "to initiate proceedings for the issuance of an amendment of a rule or regulation" that would reclassify medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II of … [Read more...] about Federal Classification of Marijuana Is “Fundamentally Wrong”
Giving Politicians a Good Name
WASHINGTON -- Two politicians from different countries and with very different political pedigrees made news this week. Both spoke difficult truths and reminded us that we shouldn't use the word "politician" with routine contempt. The better-known story is the retirement of Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who was never afraid to make people angry -- or to … [Read more...] about Giving Politicians a Good Name
Mitt Romney
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Zoot Fest 2011: When Greatness Rubs Shoulders With Greatness, The Result Is Superb Jazz
LEW TABACKIN If you're not an aficionado of jazz, you'll probably want to skip this post. But if you are, read on and groove to the sounds and sensations of Zoot Fest 2011. Zoot Fest is an annual do in honor of two of the all-time great sax players -- John Haley "Zoot" Sims and Alvin Gilbert "Al" Cohn (photo, below left). Long story short, Cohn was among the … [Read more...] about Zoot Fest 2011: When Greatness Rubs Shoulders With Greatness, The Result Is Superb Jazz
Euro Crisis Turns Germany into Europe’s United States (Die Welt, Germany)
With the world looking to Berlin to save the euro, Germans may be reevaluating their decades of nearly constant criticism of the way the United States wields its influence. Die Welt columnist Clemens Wergin warns his readers not to expect gratitude from Europeans for saving the common currency, and lays bare the irony of Europe's growing need for German help - and its fear of … [Read more...] about Euro Crisis Turns Germany into Europe’s United States (Die Welt, Germany)
Gingrich and Cain Affairs
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The Song Conservatives Are Now Singing to Mitt Romney
If you boil it down, here's the song that with a slight bit of adaption is what conservatives are singing to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: … [Read more...] about The Song Conservatives Are Now Singing to Mitt Romney
Poll Shocker: Gingrich Now 30 Points Ahead of Mitt Romney in Florida
There was an old song "to know know know him is to love love love him" but that Mitt Romney seems to be inspiring among many GOP conservatives is "to know know how him is to hate hate hate him" as the scramble is on to find someone who can head the ticket who is not Mitt Romney. An exaggeration? What's unfolding now with the polls showing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich … [Read more...] about Poll Shocker: Gingrich Now 30 Points Ahead of Mitt Romney in Florida