One of the more disturbing trends we are seeing is the increasingly contemptuous way some politicians are starting to behave towards what is called the "mainstream media." First, we had some politicos deciding that only Fox News is where they will do interviews. Next, we see Newt Gingrich and in effect Sean Hannity saying that Chris Wallace is a lousy or ideological reporter … [Read more...] about Mediaite: CNN’s Don Lemon: Marcus Bachmann ‘Elbowed Me Into A Golf Cart’
Rick Perry’s Ketchup Campaign
In a popular 1960s movie, an aged President recalls the good old days when “we poured God over everything like ketchup.” That line elicited a laugh after John F. Kennedy moved a new generation into the White House and promised to send a man to the moon. Today, ketchup will be back on the American political menu as Texas Governor Rick Perry declares his presidential candidacy … [Read more...] about Rick Perry’s Ketchup Campaign
“G.O.P. on Defensive” as the Mantra Becomes “It’s the Politics, Stupid!”
A weekend New York Times column on the depressing---and depressed--- fiscal condition our nation finds itself in begins as follows: The boasts of Congressional Republicans about their cost-cutting victories are ringing hollow to some well-known economists, financial analysts and corporate leaders, including some Republicans, who are expressing increasing alarm over … [Read more...] about “G.O.P. on Defensive” as the Mantra Becomes “It’s the Politics, Stupid!”
S&P Comments Blame Administration more than Tea Party (Guest Voice)
S&P Comments Blame Administration more than Tea Party by Steve Suranovic A Politco story released this week regarding comments by S&P senior director Joydeep Mukherji is being used to suggest that Tea party intransigence is the root cause of the debt downgrade. However, I think the finger is really pointing at the Administration instead. Joydeep Mukherji said the … [Read more...] about S&P Comments Blame Administration more than Tea Party (Guest Voice)
President Barack Obama’s Weekly Address: It’s Time to Put Country Ahead of Party
In his weekly address President Barack Obama asks Americans that want to put country ahead of party let their members of Congress know during this Congressional recess period: … [Read more...] about President Barack Obama’s Weekly Address: It’s Time to Put Country Ahead of Party
Rick Perry is Running: Why Perry Will Become the GOP’s Instant Front-Runner
Texas Governor Rick Perry is running for President. And The Daily Beast's Michael Tomsky makes a convincing case that he'll become the GOP's instant front-runner -- and likely nominee. Here are some key parts of it: First, I think Perry becomes the frontrunner, even ahead of Mitt Romney, for three main reasons. No. 1, he fires up large chunks of the base in a way Romney … [Read more...] about Rick Perry is Running: Why Perry Will Become the GOP’s Instant Front-Runner
Can We Call It The Tea Party Downgrade Yet?
Without mentioning them by name S&P made it clear the Tea Party was responsible for the downgrade in the US credit rating. A Standard & Poor’s director said for the first time Thursday that one reason the United States lost its triple-A credit rating was that several lawmakers expressed skepticism about the serious consequences of a credit default — a position put … [Read more...] about Can We Call It The Tea Party Downgrade Yet?
LinkedIn Joins Facebook In “Personalized” Ad Push; Here’s How To Opt-Out
To some of you, this may be old news. After all, LinkedIn announced the change via a blog post last month. But I learned about it today on GooglePlus. First, there were announced changes in the LinkedIn privacy policy in June. (Missed those, too.) Then last month, under the familiar guise of "deliver[ing] ads that are more useful and relevant to you," LinkedIn opted-you-in … [Read more...] about LinkedIn Joins Facebook In “Personalized” Ad Push; Here’s How To Opt-Out
Iowa Republican Presidential Primary Debate Review
When I wrote about June's New Hampshire debate, I wrote that answering the question of what I want in a candidate has two parts: first, the policy part, and second, the competency part. Neither takes precedence over the other in any absolute way, but I defined the competency piece as going "...to overall experience, dedication, integrity, sincerity, thoughtfulness, consistency … [Read more...] about Iowa Republican Presidential Primary Debate Review
Sarah Palin’s Not So Nice Treatment of Her Employer (Fox News)
I bet that somewhere Fox News' maven Roger Ailes is not smiling. Even though he later denied it, I bet the famous New Yorker profile that indicated that he wasn't totally pleased with Sarah Palin is now accurate due to this report from The Politico's Ben Smith: Whatever Palin's aim today, it wasn't to please her current employer. I passed a frustrated Fox News team, … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Not So Nice Treatment of Her Employer (Fox News)
Quote of the day
If the United States simply had the per-person health-care costs of Switzerland, which has the second-most expensive health-care system in the world, we would spend $3,000 less per person and save about $900 billion a year. Assuming we need to reduce deficits by about $4 trillion over the next 10 years, those savings would do the heavy lifting with about $5 trillion to … [Read more...] about Quote of the day
Republicans Go Beyond Obama-Bashing
For entertainment value, last night’s Iowa debate was irresistible as GOP wannabes finally realized that pounding the President is not enough to make any one of them stand out. So they finally took out after one another (Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul vs. Rick Santorum) and that ever-reliable villain, the media (Newt Gingrich belaboring Chris Wallace for gotcha … [Read more...] about Republicans Go Beyond Obama-Bashing
Why Excessive Debt is the Real Problem – Part I (Guest Voice)
Why Excessive Debt is the Real Problem – Part I by Steve Suranovic In the national conversation about the economy the continual refrain is that we need to create more jobs. However, one of the main reasons for the unemployment problem around the world is excessive debt. Only when we eliminate the underlying source of our problems will we be able to sustainably reduce the … [Read more...] about Why Excessive Debt is the Real Problem – Part I (Guest Voice)
Pawlenty “Iowa’s Straw Man”
I had high hopes for Tim Pawlenty. Besides the fact that he was a conservative governor of a mid-western state that traditionally is about as liberal as my own deep blue state of Maryland, he actually put out policy ideas that made sense and articulated them well enough to get and keep my attention. Unfortunately, as we have seen time and time again, presidential politics … [Read more...] about Pawlenty “Iowa’s Straw Man”
Unlike Russia’s Duma, the U.S. Congress is No ‘Vestigial Organ’ (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
Here's a truism that Americans need to better absorb: U.S. policy is global in impact and is the concern of a good portion of the world's inhabitants. And here's another truism: a lot of people out there are deeply frustrated because they can't vote, so they intend to do everything in their power to liberate themselves from U.S. influence. But as this column by Maksim Blant of … [Read more...] about Unlike Russia’s Duma, the U.S. Congress is No ‘Vestigial Organ’ (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
Appeals Court Strikes Down Health Care Requirement
In the continuing back and forth rulings on the Affordable Care Act, the 11th Circuit Court Of Appeals has struck down the portion requiring everyone to purchase health care coverage. However the Atlanta based court also ruled that the remaining provisions of the law could remain in effect. The health care madate is the most controversial part of the law as it requires … [Read more...] about Appeals Court Strikes Down Health Care Requirement
America: ‘No Country for Black People’ (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
The shocking statistics about Black family income released by the Pew Research center have not only caught the attention of Americans. For Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza, columnist Mariusz Zawadzki writes with surprise that all the gains of the civil rights movement seem to have been either lost or diminished in the span of the last few years. For the Gazeta Wyborcza, Mariusz … [Read more...] about America: ‘No Country for Black People’ (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
Quote of the Day 2: Joe Scarborough on Michele Bachmann Saying She Wanted U.S. Government to Default
Our second political Quote of Day comes from MSNBC's Joe Scarborough on Michele Bachmann's breathtaking-to-all-but-ideologues statement at last night's GOP Presidential hopeful debate in Iowa: “Michele Bachmann’s first answer was, I wish the federal government had defaulted,” Scarborough recalled Bachmann saying during Thursday night’s Republican debate. “Had defaulted! A … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day 2: Joe Scarborough on Michele Bachmann Saying She Wanted U.S. Government to Default
UK’s David Cameron Considers Banning Rioters from Social Media
The social media revolution that was garnered international praise in bringing down Egypt's government is now being blamed for contributing to the turmoil in London -- and British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that the government is looking into banning people suspected of being involved from social media sites: - In response the this week's riots in London … [Read more...] about UK’s David Cameron Considers Banning Rioters from Social Media
Who Will Be Elected in 2012?
Who will be elected in 2012? James Moore, author of the book "Bush's Brain" (about Karl Rove) predicts Texas Gov. Rick Perry will win -- and that Sarah Palin will be his Vice Presidential pick. And he is not pleased about that prospect and what it will mean to the United States. … [Read more...] about Who Will Be Elected in 2012?