Souring U.S. Pakistan relations are now poised to get much worse: Pakistan is vowing to shoot down U.S. drones that it sees in its airspace: Pakistan will shoot down any U.S. drone that intrudes its air space per new directives, a senior Pakistani official told NBC News on Saturday. According to the new Pakistani defense policy, "Any object entering into our air space, … [Read more...] about Pakistan Vows to Shoot Down U.S. Drones In Its Air Space
Double Dose of Political Inertia
Newton’s First Law tells us objects stay at rest or continue in motion if nothing changes, an apt description of this year in American politics: an inert Congress and a careening GOP presidential race that keeps dropping former frontrunners off the turnip truck. This was not the kind of Change Barack Obama had in mind when he was elected, but he has now gone through three … [Read more...] about Double Dose of Political Inertia
So Why Is America Struggling?
Having completed a Masters degree in political communication, with a special focus on American politics, I am left with more questions than answers on how American Politics has gotten to the state it’s in. I know a lot of people will argue that the American system is built to encourage conflict and to an extent gridlock, but surely politics at it stands in the US has crossed a … [Read more...] about So Why Is America Struggling?
Exercising Poetry’s Economic Power To Enhance Its Political Voice
For a long time I've had a personal dream. That poetry becomes a regular feature of political commentary and analysis in major media. Not just in a few high-profile publications, not just when a new poet laureate is named or a famous poet reads her verse at a presidential inaugural. But on a regular basis on radio, TV, print publications, and well-trafficked media of all … [Read more...] about Exercising Poetry’s Economic Power To Enhance Its Political Voice
My Birthday Wish
The coin minted by Brutus (et tu, Brute?) to celebrate the assassination of Caesar and restoration of Roman "freedom" - with unintended irony I will finish "Selling the New Nixon" presently. Meantime, I am too busy unwrapping cakes and eating presents (or is that the other way 'round?) to fully give attention to a blog today. HOWEVER, I would like to ask you, Gentle … [Read more...] about My Birthday Wish
Obama and Teddy Roosevelt
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama and Teddy Roosevelt
Merry Christmas: No More Insider Trading on Capitol Hill (Guest Voice)
Merry Christmas: No More Insider Trading on Capitol Hill? by Michael Winship The other day, a couple of kids up in Kingston, NY, called 911 looking for Santa Claus. Law enforcement arrived to tell them that what they had done was naughty, not nice, but in deference to the holiday, no pepper spray was involved. Meanwhile, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, a guy dressed up like … [Read more...] about Merry Christmas: No More Insider Trading on Capitol Hill (Guest Voice)
Not Surprising: GOP Establishment Is Fading Out
Chris Cillizza, smart analyst, looks at the latest debate and singles out three clear losers: Saturday night debates (like, obviously!), Mitt Romney (he's been looking like a loser for a long time, though) and the GOP. The latter is the most interesting. For all of those folks predicting (or hoping) that Gingrich would implode, tonight was not their night. Make no … [Read more...] about Not Surprising: GOP Establishment Is Fading Out
Noriega Is Going Home Again to Panama
Hey: whoever said you can't go home again? Panama's ex-dictator Manuel Noriega is going home again to Panama so there's hope for us all. Well, it is a bit more complicated than that: he's going from a prison in France to a prison in Panama (you can't win them all). He is quite ill. Former dictator Manuel Noriega left France for Panama on Sunday, nearly 22 years after U.S. … [Read more...] about Noriega Is Going Home Again to Panama
Spanish Rock With an Attitude: Que Se Mueran Los Feos
When I lived in Spain from May 1975 through December 1978 and was Special Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor one of my favorite records (the days before CDs) was a collection of old songs from the 30s and 40s on an album called "Canciones Para Despues de una Guerra." One was Que Se Mueran Los Feos (the literal translation is "to die the ugly" or thereabouts but … [Read more...] about Spanish Rock With an Attitude: Que Se Mueran Los Feos
Live Blogging of ABC Yahoo Republican Presidential Debate (FINAL CONCLUSIONS)
Here is live blogging of tonight’s economy-driven ABC Yahoo Republican Presidential Debate from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. All attention tonight will be on the new front-runner, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is zooming in the polls and the former front runner Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney who many believe must take off the globes to cut Gingrich down and … [Read more...] about Live Blogging of ABC Yahoo Republican Presidential Debate (FINAL CONCLUSIONS)
Quote of the Day: Glenn Beck On Tea Partiers Supporting Newt Gingrich
I never thought I would see the day, but here it is: our political Quote of the Day is from Glenn Beck who wonders how Tea Party members can possibly continue to flock to former House Speaker and ultimate Washington insider Newt Gingrich as the possible (and at this point increasingly probable) 2012 Republican Presidential nominee: “If you have a big government … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Glenn Beck On Tea Partiers Supporting Newt Gingrich
Setting Stage for Tonight’s Republican and Larger Debate: Gingrich Calls Palestinians an “Invented People”
The prime focus of political junkies, commentators and participants in tonight's 2012 Republican Presidential contenders' debate will be on former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who continues to skyrocket in polls as the clear anti-Romney, shattering the conventional wisdom that he's through and that Romney is the "inevitable" nominee. And now Gingrich has given a taste of how … [Read more...] about Setting Stage for Tonight’s Republican and Larger Debate: Gingrich Calls Palestinians an “Invented People”
Finally – Latin America Achieves ‘True Unity, Free of Imperlialism’ (Aporrea, Venezuela)
Will the newly-launched Community of Latin American and Caribbean States end up displacing the Washington-based Organization of American States, as Venezuela President Hugo Chavez hopes, or will it fizzle out as so many previous attempts at Latin American unification have done? Columnist Nelson Ortega from Venezuela's Aporrea is certain that the formation of CELAC is the … [Read more...] about Finally – Latin America Achieves ‘True Unity, Free of Imperlialism’ (Aporrea, Venezuela)
Saving The Plutocrats
Here is some economic history from Barry Ritholtz: We’ve known for literally thousands of years that debts need to be periodically written down, or the entire economy will collapse. And see this. We’ve known for 1,900 years that that rampant inequality destroys societies. We’ve known for thousands of years that debasing currencies leads to economic collapse. We’ve … [Read more...] about Saving The Plutocrats
A ‘Pixelated Cloud’ or a 9/11 Image? (UPDATES)
UPDATE, Dec. 13: Bloomberg News reports that MVRDV, the Dutch architecture company that designed the much criticized “pixelated cloud” buildings may modify the design in the wake of the negative reactions. Bloomberg: “It may be difficult for the developer to go on with the current design after getting negative attention in the mass media,” Lee Sang Yun, a … [Read more...] about A ‘Pixelated Cloud’ or a 9/11 Image? (UPDATES)
Obama, The Campaign Season Populist?
If you're old enough to remember the Shirelles, a great pop singing group that started recording in the late 1950s, you'll also probably remember one of their biggest hits — "Will you still love me tomorrow." Whenever I hear President Obama speak these days, I'm reminded of the lyrical sentiment of that song. In a recent speech, Mr. Obama said that economic inequality is … [Read more...] about Obama, The Campaign Season Populist?
More Sports Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: Memphis Sports Official Accused of Molesting Two Youths
Yet another sports child abuse sex scandal is breaking and whether it turns out to be valid or not, it's clear sports officials will face very hesistant parents in the future and that organizations will start to put a bunch of safeguards in place. This time the allegations are coming via ESPN from Memphis. CNN reports: The Memphis police and the Amateur Athletic Union … [Read more...] about More Sports Child Sexual Abuse Allegations: Memphis Sports Official Accused of Molesting Two Youths
The Top-10 Comedic News Stories of 2011
The Top-10 Comedic News Stories of 2011 Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Okay. You can stop vibrating like a shaved poodle duct-taped to the foul pole at Wrigley during a night game in April. It's finally here. The eighth annual Top-10 Comedic News Stories of the Year. Veterans, please advise the newbies this list is NOT to be confused with the Top-10 Legitimate News … [Read more...] about The Top-10 Comedic News Stories of 2011
Crucial Romney-Gingrich Mudfights
The next two Republican debates, tonight and Thursday, “are shaping up to be the most important--and nasty--yet.” Both come only weeks before Iowa caucuses on January 3rd, with primaries soon after in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida. These debates, predicts the Caucus, “are likely to be slugfests as desperate candidates search for a magic bullet to improve their … [Read more...] about Crucial Romney-Gingrich Mudfights