I enjoy Disneyland. Disneyland is square footage within a well fortified boundary. Within the boundary is magic; outside the boundary is Southern California. Southern California is less magical. My family and I regularly travel to Southern California for the purpose of abiding within the fortified boundaries, within the magic. There are six in our family so the … [Read more...] about The Problem with a Magic Kingdom Christmas
Attack Ads Work – 2012 Iowa Caucuses Edition
Following in the footsteps of Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich's campaign seems to be imploding with the Iowa caucuses approaching as the skeletons come tumbling out of his closet in the form of attack ads by Ron Paul and a host of surrogate groups who fear that his nomination would be a disaster. No surprise here. Attack ads from … [Read more...] about Attack Ads Work – 2012 Iowa Caucuses Edition
Is Keynesian Economics Dead?
Robert Samuelson asks that question -- and gives his answer -- in this morning's Washington Post: Governments have ceded power to bond markets by decades of shortsighted behavior. The political bias is to favor short-term stimulus (by lowering taxes and raising spending), which is popular, and to ignore long-term deficits (by cutting spending and raising taxes), … [Read more...] about Is Keynesian Economics Dead?
American Manhood, Now and Then
When scoring athletes look upward and thank God for His help, why don’t opponents ever shake their fists at the sky for being disfavored? Debate over piety displays by Denver’s Tim Tebow and a Barry Bonds conviction for using testosterone enhancers prompt broader questions about the definition of manhood today and its manifestations. We are a long way from the culture’s … [Read more...] about American Manhood, Now and Then
Public Policy Polling Poll in Iowa: Paul Now Leading, Romney Second, Gingrich Tumbles to Third
No, this lady has not yet sung but a new Public Policy Polling poll in Iowa suggest that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is now "imploding": their poll shows him on the descent, with Rep. Ron Paul in the lead and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney coming in second: Newt Gingrich's campaign is rapidly imploding, and Ron Paul has now taken the lead in Iowa. He's at … [Read more...] about Public Policy Polling Poll in Iowa: Paul Now Leading, Romney Second, Gingrich Tumbles to Third
What’s the Ultimate Torture?
What's the ultimate torture? Some teens figured it out: it's this. … [Read more...] about What’s the Ultimate Torture?
When Good Things Have Unintended Consequences
It has often been said that you should be careful of what you wish for because often there will be very unexpected consequences. Looking at the current situation of international politics I have been thinking of this a lot lately. To offer a more local example, I live near the community of Lodi, California. For many years Lodi was known by police across the country as being … [Read more...] about When Good Things Have Unintended Consequences
Egypt Youth Delusioned – We Were Better Off with Mubarak
Egypt is caught in yet another round of violence as protesters refuse to leave Tahrir Square. This time around the revolution square is dominated by secular youth. Those same people that took to the streets in Egypt a year ago, demanding freedom and democracy, are now filled with all round despair. A year ago, the secular crowd demanded Mubarak step down from his 30 years … [Read more...] about Egypt Youth Delusioned – We Were Better Off with Mubarak
Yet Another Year Shot To Hell: The Best Of The Worst Of 2011
The planet has gone around the sun six times since my blog, Kiko's House, baby-walked onto the scene, and the inexhaustible supply of rich material keeps coming in torrents, making practically every day an adventure in bathos, pathos, mythos and . . . uh, hathos. Herewith some posts from the past 12 months, many of which were cross-posted at The Moderate Voice, in which I … [Read more...] about Yet Another Year Shot To Hell: The Best Of The Worst Of 2011
Newt and the Revenge of the Base
WASHINGTON -- It is one of the true delights of a bizarrely entertaining Republican presidential contest to watch the apoplectic fear and loathing of so many GOP establishmentarians toward Newt Gingrich. They treat him as an alien body whose approach to politics they have always rejected. In fact, Gingrich's rise is the revenge of a Republican base that takes seriously … [Read more...] about Newt and the Revenge of the Base
Kim Jong-Il Dies
Breaking news that North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Il has died at the age of 69. Early word is that he died of a heart attack aboard one of his luxury trains while on a 'tour'. South Korean forces and US forces in South Korea are on high alert. Given that in the past North Korea has dealt with crisis situations by launching missiles and staging attacks on South Korean … [Read more...] about Kim Jong-Il Dies
They’ll Do It My Way (The Poem)
Before doing his present number with a Payroll Tax extension, Eric Cantor, the Tea Party's man in Congress, almost brought about a government default in support of the same underlying issue: Taxes are off the table. Period. We can thus easily visualize him doing this karaoke in the style of Frank Sinatra... They'll Do It My Way And now, though crises loom, I hold one … [Read more...] about They’ll Do It My Way (The Poem)
‘How do You Ask a Man to Be the Last Man to Die’ in the Iraq War?
This morning, I -- probably along with millions of other Americans -- received this short e-mail from President Obama: Early this morning, the last of our troops left Iraq. As we honor and reflect on the sacrifices that millions of men and women made for this war, I wanted to make sure you heard the news. Bringing this war to a responsible end was a cause that … [Read more...] about ‘How do You Ask a Man to Be the Last Man to Die’ in the Iraq War?
Bob Dole Endorses Mitt Romney in Iowa Newpaper Ad
Former Kansas Senator and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole has endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the 2012 Republican nomination. The question now becomes: will Dole's endorsement prove to be political Viagra for Romney? Former Kansas Senator and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole endorsed Mitt Romney Sunday in an advertisement in the state’s … [Read more...] about Bob Dole Endorses Mitt Romney in Iowa Newpaper Ad
Why George Will was Right About Newt
WASHINGTON - Never once did I buy into the notion of a Newt nomination. As a writer on politics going back into the '90s, although I thought he'd have his moment, Mr. Gingrich simply isn't what he pretended to be. Thanks to Ron Paul, but especially Michele Bachmann's political vivisection of his record, the plummet is now in full swing. But it was George Will's "Newt Gingrich … [Read more...] about Why George Will was Right About Newt
Vaclav Havel Dies
Vaclav Havel, the leader of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia during the late 1980's has died at the age of 75. Havel is credited not only with inspiring the revolt which led to the collapse of Communism in his own country but also with helping to start the dominos falling all across Eastern Europe. He was for decades a leader of the underground opposition in the … [Read more...] about Vaclav Havel Dies
The Brilliance of Boardwalk Empire’s Finale
Boardwalk Empire season II finale has to rank as one of if not THE rpt THE best end-of-the-season episode I have ever seen. Since it'll be out in DVD soon (season one is yet to emerge) I won't spoil it. But if you have seen it or really want to know GO HERE. This show started off slow and started to build but has now begun to look like "another Soporanos" in terms of its … [Read more...] about The Brilliance of Boardwalk Empire’s Finale
How Can Israel Please the American Government, Media, and “Experts”? It Can’t (Guest Voice)
How Can Israel Please the American Government, Media, and “Experts”? It Can’t by Barry Rubin There is a constant effort—especially by the anti-Israel left–to portray those who express mainstream Israeli public opinion and the views of professional analysts as “right-wing” or “Likudnik.” This leads me to wonder what one would have to say to please these people. What would … [Read more...] about How Can Israel Please the American Government, Media, and “Experts”? It Can’t (Guest Voice)
Goodbye Gingrich?
His opponents sound like Occupy Wall Street protesters as the SEC files charges against six top executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who seem not to have profited from Newt Gingrich’s $1.6 million of advice as a historian. The indictments could be a harpoon to bring down the GOP’s white-haired whale, sharpening attacks on his self-enrichment with court cases rather than … [Read more...] about Goodbye Gingrich?
Voter, Do Not Spare the Rod
Like starry-eyed, irresponsible parents, we voters are guilty of elevating our adored candidates to a place where they can wreak havoc. In his latest column, Frank Bruni does a number on our past choices... and the current crew. All presidential candidates, he writes, have their share of self-regard. The latest? Well... Newt! Over the years he has directly or … [Read more...] about Voter, Do Not Spare the Rod