Oregon is a progressive state and is well represented by Senator Jeff Merkley. Ron Wyden has been slowly moving to the right but his latest move is a knife in the back of all Democrats running in 2012. Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Paul Ryan propose overhaul of Medicare WASHINGTON – In an unlikely partnership, Sen. Ron Wyden joined Rep. Paul Ryan on Wednesday in a plan … [Read more...] about A sad day for Oregon: Is this a future weather report on Medicare?
Those Intrepid Women AirForce Service Pilots (WASP)
A missing chapter in the history of U.S. military aviation On the eve of this most recent Veterans Day, I had the privilege of accompanying World War II veteran John Tschirhart to a reception hosted by the Texas Veterans Land Board at the Capitol Visitors Center, in Austin, Texas. Tschirhart, a B-17 bombardier with 35 bombing missions over Nazi occupied Europe under … [Read more...] about Those Intrepid Women AirForce Service Pilots (WASP)
Newt’s Last Gasp, Romney’s Gain?
WASHINGTON - Last night's Iowa debate will not help Mr. Gingrich reverse his slide, with Michele Bachmann delivering merciless blows, as the video above reveals. Another one came today when South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley endorsed Mitt Romney, with robocalls now going out across the state touting Romney. But it was last night's debate that could be the killer for Newt. Bret … [Read more...] about Newt’s Last Gasp, Romney’s Gain?
Devastating Testimony In The Penn State Scandal
Former Penn State defense coordinator Jerry Sandusky has continued to declare his innocence despite a small mountain of allegations against him, but in testimony at a preliminary hearing today former assistant coach Mike McQueary put a stake through Sandusky's claim that he merely engaged in horseplay with the 10 boys who have accused him of sexual abuse. McQueary, recalling … [Read more...] about Devastating Testimony In The Penn State Scandal
Reverse Newtmentum: What to Make of Gingrich’s Fall in the Polls?
What goes up, must come down. (Even science-denying Republicans can't refute Newton. Well, they can, but it just makes them look like idiots.) And The Newt is, apparently, coming down. Nate Silver: The polling data I've seen over the past two or three days suggests that Newt Gingrich's momentum has stopped -- and has probably reversed itself. The most troubling … [Read more...] about Reverse Newtmentum: What to Make of Gingrich’s Fall in the Polls?
Driving Distracted
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Christopher Hitchens: Minerva’s Owl Has Taken Wing
Christopher Hitchens left this mortal coil on Thursday. Herewith my review of his biography, which was originally posted in October 2010. The last of the several times that I have had the pleasure of being in the same room with Christopher Hitchens was at a university colloquium on the Iraq War. The indefatigable journalist-essayist had supported this fool's errand at … [Read more...] about Christopher Hitchens: Minerva’s Owl Has Taken Wing
Eulogies For Christopher Hitchens
ROY GREENSLADE: Christopher Hitchens managed to be both inspirational and infuriating company. Inspirational because of his wit and his ability in discussions to adopt a counter-intuitive position and argue it with vigour even when it became obvious he believed the opposite. He was infuriating because he always dominated conversations and effortlessly attracted female … [Read more...] about Eulogies For Christopher Hitchens
Holder and Walking Guns
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Quote of the Day: The Iowa Debate and the Last Gingrich Standing
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Democratic strategist Paul Begala, who steps back and looks at last night's debate and concludes -- as many have concluded -- that Newt Gingrich is likely to emerge out of it undamaged, undiminished in the GOP race: As Gingrich roared back, Romney faded. Romney doesn’t need to win Iowa, so perhaps he’s writing it off. But then why … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The Iowa Debate and the Last Gingrich Standing
Been There Thought That
WASHINGTON -- Can we please bury the notion that Newt Gingrich is some kind of deep thinker? His intellect may be as broad as the sea, but it's about as deep as a birdbath. I'm not saying the Republican presidential front-runner is unacquainted with ideas. Quite the contrary: Ideas rain through his brain like confetti, escaping at random as definitive pronouncements … [Read more...] about Been There Thought That
Slouching Out of Iraq
Our departure, after nine years, almost 4500 deaths and trillions of dollars, comes not with a bang but a whimper of exhaustion and relief. “Iraq will be tested in the days ahead,” says Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, “by terrorism, and by those who would seek to divide, by economic and social issues, by the demands of democracy itself.” No senior Iraqi official … [Read more...] about Slouching Out of Iraq
Indefinite Detention, A Round-Up
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed The National Defense Authorization Act (S 1867), to the tune of $662 billion. Authored by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), the bill first passed in the Senate (93-7) on Dec. 1. The House passed the bill Wednesday on a 283-136 vote. Thursday's Senate vote was 86-13. There hasn't been a lot of mainstream reporting on a … [Read more...] about Indefinite Detention, A Round-Up
Christopher Hitchens, Author and Vanity Fair Writer Has Died: The Man Who Would Not Submit to O’Brien
Christopher Hitchens seemed to some to have been born in a bad mood or under a bad moon on the right. He was, I think, more so a man who despised --as in George Orwell's book, 1984 too, that there would ever be "The Party" run by the Big Brothers of the world, that would tell men and women what to think, when to think it and when to unthink it, or else. Christopher … [Read more...] about Christopher Hitchens, Author and Vanity Fair Writer Has Died: The Man Who Would Not Submit to O’Brien
‘Thank You Newt Gingrich …Your Insolence is Required’! (Samidoon, Palestinian Territories)
Newt Gingrich's comment that Palestinians are an 'invented people' is proving to be one of the most globally devisive of the 2012 campaign season - particularly in the Muslim world and especially among Palestinians. For Samidoon in the Palestinian Territories, columnist Abd Al Bari Atwan expresses the frustration felt among Palestinians over the wider meaning of Gingrich's … [Read more...] about ‘Thank You Newt Gingrich …Your Insolence is Required’! (Samidoon, Palestinian Territories)
Big Moment in Tonight’s Fox News Republican Presidential Debate
As noted earlier, due to technical difficulties from my blogging site in Missouri, I can't view the Fox News debate on TV or online and the connection is far too slow to do live blogging. However, Andrew Sullivan who is doing live blogging reports on what SOUNDS as if it is the kind of moment that is going to get Ron Paul a lot of votes and hurt Newt Gingrich: 9.39 pm. A … [Read more...] about Big Moment in Tonight’s Fox News Republican Presidential Debate
Poll: Romney Retakes the Lead in Iowa
Here's yet another in the string of recent polls that suggests that the more former House Newt Gingrich is seen under the microscope, the more conservatives who are looking for a pure conservative (and the more independent voters who are looking for a problem solver) don't like what they seem. Romney is now leading. Andrew Sullivan: As I've said before, Rasmussen is the … [Read more...] about Poll: Romney Retakes the Lead in Iowa
A Period of Eight Years
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Two Former Bush Attorneys Generals Call Gingrich Idea on Courts “Dangerous”
You can't say Republicans -- and Americans -- have not been warned if former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gets the GOP Presidential nomination and is elected. Two former Bush Attorneys General have called his idea on how to deal with the Supreme Court "dangerous": Two former attorneys general under President George W. Bush have found a few things to like in Newt Gingrich's … [Read more...] about Two Former Bush Attorneys Generals Call Gingrich Idea on Courts “Dangerous”
Tonight’s Republican Debate (UPDATED)
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)