No matter who faces him for the White House, Barack Obama starts 2012 with one advantage against the GOP—-the poster boy for intransigence, Eric Cantor, who proves again on 60 Minutes that there is no way to “humanize” him. In an interview, the usually genial Lesley Stahl starts by saying flatly, “President Obama's nemesis throughout the year was 48-year-old Congressman Eric … [Read more...] about Mission Impossible: Humanizing Eric Cantor
The Duggars Endorse Santorum
Well I'm not sure if this is news or not but it is a funny image. … [Read more...] about The Duggars Endorse Santorum
Paul Or Romney In Iowa ?
Although you should never make too many assumptions in Iowa most current polling suggests that the winner in Iowa will be either Romney or Paul with Santorum likely to come in 3rd. My guess is that Romney will come out on top because the latest polls seem to suggest that the undecided are not ideologues but pragmatists wanting the candidate who can win. Given a choice … [Read more...] about Paul Or Romney In Iowa ?
Ethics and Politics in a Centrist Third Party
“If there be no penalty annexed to disobedience, the resolutions or commands which pretend to be laws will, in fact, amount to nothing more than advice or recommendation.” -- The Federalist Papers, Number 15, Alexander Hamilton In a recent dialogue in the New York Times on the need for a centrist third party, I listed ethical conduct as one of the necessary hallmarks of … [Read more...] about Ethics and Politics in a Centrist Third Party
Chart of the Day: China’s Historical GDP
Imagine what the world might be like had China not entered into a protracted war with Great Britain in the 1800s ... a war that resulted from Great Britain's smuggling opium into the country: Ordinary wars of conquest are to me far less wicked, than to go to war in order to maintain smuggling, and that smuggling consisting in the introduction of a demoralizing drug, which … [Read more...] about Chart of the Day: China’s Historical GDP
Truly Heartbreaking But So Hopeful
I will be haunted for a long time by this. On the other hand, it gave lots of hope. FOOTNOTE: My father had an experience like this about three years before he died. … [Read more...] about Truly Heartbreaking But So Hopeful
Iowa Caucus Craziness and Israel
A post to We Are For Israel by my friend Rabbi David Jay Kaufman of Des Moines IA: So here we are with the Iowa Republican Caucus tomorrow. Friday night, we hosted Shmuel Rosner, who is in town for the Caucus and spoke about the Arab Spring at my congregation. Yesterday, I was among about forty Jews, hosted by the Chabad rabbi and a Conservative Jewish supporter of Gingrich, … [Read more...] about Iowa Caucus Craziness and Israel
“Moderate” Is Big Dirty Political Word to Some In the GOP
Warning to the GOP: The way rhetoric is being used in the Republican primary campaign, there may come a point where moderates may simply decide they cannot vote for a Republican candidate. No, this isn't just a personal reaction. You can bank on this being a problem if trending continues. Why would moderates vote for a political party that has increasingly used the word … [Read more...] about “Moderate” Is Big Dirty Political Word to Some In the GOP
With Mitt Romney It’s “Meet the (Liberal) Press”
Conservatives on talk radio and on the web have noted that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is starting to be more accessible to thne mainstream news media and liberal infooutlets. The Daily Caller reports: Mitt Romney is running for president as a Republican, but his recent media strategy includes granting exclusive interviews to news outlets that cater to a … [Read more...] about With Mitt Romney It’s “Meet the (Liberal) Press”
The Real Housewives Of Iowa
The Real Housewives Of Iowa by Cliff Schecter This year we've seen it all. Protest movements have swept the world, as people from Cairo to Cleveland have stood up against oligarchy and its kissing cousin venality. Osama bin Laden, the murderous mastermind of the 9/11 attack and many others like it, at last met his Waterloo. And finally, with reality TV stars, … [Read more...] about The Real Housewives Of Iowa
Quote of the Day: Iowa Caucus Myths and Realities
CNN independent analyst John Avlon gives us our political Quote of the Day on the myths versus reality of tomorrow's Iowa caucus. This must-read-in-full article gives us this chunk at the end: One of the real questions in this caucus is whether retail politics matters as much as it used to. Mitt Romney basically dissed the state for the first 10 months of 2011, still … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Iowa Caucus Myths and Realities
Five Ways to Look at the Most Recent Iowa Poll
So what should we make of the most recent Iowa poll as the political world gets ready for tomorrow's big event? Here are five ways to look at it. … [Read more...] about Five Ways to Look at the Most Recent Iowa Poll
Ron Paul, Mitt Romney & Rick Santorum Headed for Photo Finish in Iowa Caucus
Latest poll results show Ron Paul leading at 20%, Mitt Romney 19% and Rick Santorum at 18% in a dead heat, as Newt Gingrich fades fast, in home stretch for lily-white Iowa caucus. The latest Public Policy Polling survey in Iowa shows the three leading contenders all within two points or less of each other -- Ron Paul leads at 20%, followed by Mitt Romney at 19%, and Rick … [Read more...] about Ron Paul, Mitt Romney & Rick Santorum Headed for Photo Finish in Iowa Caucus
The Wrong Analogy
No doubt the folks at the Heritage Foundation will pillory Paul Krugman for his column in this morning's New York Times. Their disrespect for him matches his own disrespect for them. On the subject of the national debt, Krugman writes: Perhaps most obviously, the economic “experts” on whom much of Congress relies have been repeatedly, utterly wrong about the … [Read more...] about The Wrong Analogy
Best Wishes For A Directionless, Cowardly & Courage-Free New Year
This is the sixth year that I am kicking off a new year with a post on the overall state of affairs in the U.S. Some three of these posts riffed on the cowardice of our political elite while a fourth was on what I called The End of an Error, the merciful conclusion of the eight-year Bush-Cheney interregnum, which was as visceral an example of cowardice masquerading as courage … [Read more...] about Best Wishes For A Directionless, Cowardly & Courage-Free New Year
The Truthiness Of John Boehner
Sometimes, albeit rarely, politicians speak truths. They don't mean to do so, but the words come tumbling out. And so it was with House Majority Leader John Boehner, who in his last press conference of the year following the House's reluctant passage of the extension of pay roll tax deductions and unemployment benefits, spoke the following truth: "Sometimes it’s hard to … [Read more...] about The Truthiness Of John Boehner
Obama: Can a Messiah Win Twice?
WASHINGTON -- Four years ago this week, a young and inspirational senator who promised to turn history's page swept the Iowa caucuses and began his irresistible rise to the White House. Barack Obama was unlike any candidate the country had seen before. More than a mere politician, he became a cultural icon, "the biggest celebrity in the world," as a John McCain ad … [Read more...] about Obama: Can a Messiah Win Twice?
PSA: Ticketmaster Customers, Double-Check Your Email
Jump Links Back Story How Much Does Ticketmaster Charge In Fees? What About The Competition? What Do Competing Ticket Companies Charge? How Should Fees Be Structured? Text of Settlement Email From the "you may have missed this in real time" department: If you are an online Ticketmaster customer, you may be eligible for a $1.50 per purchase discount on … [Read more...] about PSA: Ticketmaster Customers, Double-Check Your Email
Heaven’s Rap Sheet in Iowa
The new year brings news of a 16-year-old girl named Heaven Chamberlain, arrested with Occupy the Caucus protesters in Des Moines along with her mother. Heaven, detained once before at an Occupy rally in October, says her rap sheet is like lines on a résumé (“It shows that I’m active with the community and that I care about people’s opinions”) and that she plans to run for … [Read more...] about Heaven’s Rap Sheet in Iowa
Ron Paul Tries To Defuse Accusations That He’s a 9/11 Truther
Rep. Ron Paul continues to zoom in the polls in Iowa, although the latest news is that as he undergoes more scrutiny former Sen. Rick Santorum is picking up steam and he is stalling. But the bottom line is this: Paul has a solid organization in Iowa so the polls could be misleading. On the other hand, an allegation that continues to dog him are accusations that in the … [Read more...] about Ron Paul Tries To Defuse Accusations That He’s a 9/11 Truther