Washington Governor Chris Gregoire (D) isn't running for re-election in 2012. That freedom could be the impetus for her signing on to November 30 letter (pdf) to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that petitions DEA "to initiate proceedings for the issuance of an amendment of a rule or regulation" that would reclassify medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II of … [Read more...] about Federal Classification of Marijuana Is “Fundamentally Wrong”
Giving Politicians a Good Name
WASHINGTON -- Two politicians from different countries and with very different political pedigrees made news this week. Both spoke difficult truths and reminded us that we shouldn't use the word "politician" with routine contempt. The better-known story is the retirement of Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who was never afraid to make people angry -- or to … [Read more...] about Giving Politicians a Good Name
Mitt Romney
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Zoot Fest 2011: When Greatness Rubs Shoulders With Greatness, The Result Is Superb Jazz
LEW TABACKIN If you're not an aficionado of jazz, you'll probably want to skip this post. But if you are, read on and groove to the sounds and sensations of Zoot Fest 2011. Zoot Fest is an annual do in honor of two of the all-time great sax players -- John Haley "Zoot" Sims and Alvin Gilbert "Al" Cohn (photo, below left). Long story short, Cohn was among the … [Read more...] about Zoot Fest 2011: When Greatness Rubs Shoulders With Greatness, The Result Is Superb Jazz
Euro Crisis Turns Germany into Europe’s United States (Die Welt, Germany)
With the world looking to Berlin to save the euro, Germans may be reevaluating their decades of nearly constant criticism of the way the United States wields its influence. Die Welt columnist Clemens Wergin warns his readers not to expect gratitude from Europeans for saving the common currency, and lays bare the irony of Europe's growing need for German help - and its fear of … [Read more...] about Euro Crisis Turns Germany into Europe’s United States (Die Welt, Germany)
Gingrich and Cain Affairs
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The Song Conservatives Are Now Singing to Mitt Romney
If you boil it down, here's the song that with a slight bit of adaption is what conservatives are singing to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: … [Read more...] about The Song Conservatives Are Now Singing to Mitt Romney
Poll Shocker: Gingrich Now 30 Points Ahead of Mitt Romney in Florida
There was an old song "to know know know him is to love love love him" but that Mitt Romney seems to be inspiring among many GOP conservatives is "to know know how him is to hate hate hate him" as the scramble is on to find someone who can head the ticket who is not Mitt Romney. An exaggeration? What's unfolding now with the polls showing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich … [Read more...] about Poll Shocker: Gingrich Now 30 Points Ahead of Mitt Romney in Florida
Facebook Settles With FCC, Basically Unrepentant
After learning that Facebook had settled with the FCC (pdf) for what is basically a slap on the wrist regarding its history of privacy violations, this is what I tweeted Tuesday: Facebook's settlement with the FTC shows the company cannot be trusted with your personal info: econ.st/vUlr51 Why? From The Economist: On November 29th America’s Federal Trade Commission … [Read more...] about Facebook Settles With FCC, Basically Unrepentant
Support For The Tea Party Drops, Taking The Republican Party Down As Well
As predicted here in the wake of its 2010 mid-term election gains, support for the Tea Party is falling precipitously and it is dragging down the Republican Party with it only a few weeks before campaigning for the 2012 elections begin in earnest. A Pew Research Center analysis found that the decline is occurring in places not long ago considered Tea Party bastions, while … [Read more...] about Support For The Tea Party Drops, Taking The Republican Party Down As Well
Bipartisan Liars: Lowering the Bar
The final nail in the Cain campaign’s coffin is a disheartening reminder of how far Americans have come in being vulnerable to figures “telling public lies with the utmost sincerity.” Four years ago, John Edwards gave us a preview of hypocrisy taking a candidate close to the White House, but his mendacity was hidden by six years in the U.S. Senate and a substantive campaign, … [Read more...] about Bipartisan Liars: Lowering the Bar
Quote of the Day: Voters Blame Republicans More for Supercommittee’s Failure
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Daily Beast's John Avlon who looks at polling numbers and other data and notes that Republicans are being blamed more by many voters -- including crucial swing voters -- for the Supercommittee's spectacular failure. Here are a few highlights: Dig beneath the surface of Gallup’s new poll showing that 55 percent of Americans … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Voters Blame Republicans More for Supercommittee’s Failure
South Sudan Offers Khartoum “Package” Over Oil Shipments (Guest Voice)
South Sudan offers Khartoum “package” over oil shipments by John C. K. Daly Call it a “package,” though a more accurate word might be “bribe.” South Sudan’s government has offered Sudanese authorities in Khartoum a “package” to break the rising tension-filled gridlock over South Sudan using its northern neighbour’s pipeline network to ship out its oil exports. … [Read more...] about South Sudan Offers Khartoum “Package” Over Oil Shipments (Guest Voice)
Your Local Broadcast News is Making Us Stupid
Your Local Broadcast News is Making Us Stupid by Tina Dupuy "The media," as it's referred to, is not a monolith. We don't just have one channel, one paper or one Web site with one nefarious dude pulling levers. "The media" consists of books, newspapers, magazines, television, billboards, radio, blogs, vlogs, ebooks, webcasts, podcasts and movies etc. The media is a vast and … [Read more...] about Your Local Broadcast News is Making Us Stupid
Obama Sets Record: His Job Approval Now Below Jimmy Carter’s
We're getting the answer at least in terms of poll numbers fo the big question that was raised at the start of Barack Obama's Presidency: would he turn out to be another FDR, another JFK, another Reagan or another Carter? In terms of polling he is now officially "another Carter" -- and future Presidents may be get the label "another Obama" unless this changes: President … [Read more...] about Obama Sets Record: His Job Approval Now Below Jimmy Carter’s
The Wrath of Grover
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How to Make the Republican Debates Less Boring
The Republican Party’s stream of debates is coming under fire for being “increasingly intolerable,” hurting the Republicans’ brand — and becoming boring. Here are two suggestions on how to liven things up. Suggestion One: USE HUMOR: Jon Huntsman’s campaign has fizzled and many call him dull. Huntsman could gain traction by adding “switched” classic comedy club, Las Vegas … [Read more...] about How to Make the Republican Debates Less Boring
In China, Eyes Wide Open
BEIJING -- Even the briefest acquaintance with this smoggy, sprawling capital is basis enough to conclude that much of the campaign rhetoric we're hearing about China is unrealistic, dishonest or just dumb. This is my first visit to China, and I plan to spend the next few columns reporting what I see and learn. I spent enough years as a foreign correspondent to know how … [Read more...] about In China, Eyes Wide Open
New Slogan for Cain
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Cain Pain
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