I was going to wait until next week to write about the Newt Gingrich boomlet, but given the speed with which the keys to the Republican presidential clown car are being passed on that might be too late. As predictably as Gingrich then Donald Trump then Michele Bachmann then Rick Perry and now Herman Cain went and are going down, Gingrich is now neck and neck or slightly … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich Redux: Now Its His Turn To Drive The GOP Presidential Clown Car
The Daily Newt: Greece Edition
Stephen Colbert remembers Newt's two week Greek vacation in June. Apparently Newt now claims that luxury cruise was a fact-finding mission... ABC News: At a stop in Jefferson, Iowa on Monday Gingrich reiterated that the luxury vacation was a chance for him to listen and talk with the Greek people and “reflect” on the American economy. “I was in Greece in early June I … [Read more...] about The Daily Newt: Greece Edition
Mavericks: Rick Perry, Meet Tom Coburn
Two Southwestern stars of the GOP, the Governor of Texas and the Senator from Oklahoma, are riding off in opposite ideological directions. Rick Perry, who keeps falling off his horse in the Republican debates, has now mounted a bucking bull by proposing a radical and, in some respects, clearly unconstitutional tearing down of the federal government, which includes making … [Read more...] about Mavericks: Rick Perry, Meet Tom Coburn
Get Real: Dealing With Illegal Immigration (Guest Voice)
Get Real: Dealing With Illegal Immigration by Robert A. Levine The influx of undocumented aliens into the United States has recently slowed, mainly the result of two factors. 1) Economic conditions here have reduced job opportunities in construction and other industries that employ large numbers of immigrants. 2) Enhanced monitoring of the nation’s southern border and … [Read more...] about Get Real: Dealing With Illegal Immigration (Guest Voice)
More Rick Perry
Sigh... … [Read more...] about More Rick Perry
Canada’s Stephen Harper and Iran
Israel is moving -- inexorably -- towards a confrontation with Iran. As Tom Walkom points out in today's Toronto Star, the Israelis do not necessarily believe that Iran will unleash a nuclear attack on their country. The result would surely be mutually asssured destruction. But the bomb is Israel's trump card. The Israelis are: terrified that the loss of Israel’s … [Read more...] about Canada’s Stephen Harper and Iran
Alleged Penn State Victim’s Mother Interviewed on CNN (VIDEO)
Here's an interview CNN did with alleged victim #1 in the Penn State child sexual abuse scandal involving allegations that Jerry Sandusky raped children did with Anderson Cooper: … [Read more...] about Alleged Penn State Victim’s Mother Interviewed on CNN (VIDEO)
McQueary Inaction
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about McQueary Inaction
Turning Budget “Failure” Into Success
WASHINGTON -- Here is a surefire way to cut $7.1 trillion from the deficit over the next decade. Do nothing. That's right. If Congress simply fails to act between now and Jan. 1, 2013, the tax cuts passed under President George W. Bush expire, $1.2 trillion in additional budget cuts go through under the terms of last summer's debt ceiling deal, and a variety of other … [Read more...] about Turning Budget “Failure” Into Success
99 percent VS OWS
My partners at Newshoggers John and BJ have covered the latest developments in the OWS movement. I'm going to give a slightly different take. We learned today that public support for the OWS movement is falling. It's easy to blame the media for this but I think that's simplistic. I am 65 years old and remember the the protests against the war in Vietnam. The protests of the … [Read more...] about 99 percent VS OWS
Texas College Republican Leader Suggests Obama Assassination is “Tempting”
Read this story and just think about the assumptions behind the statement made by a Texas college Republican leader: Hours after Pennsylvania State Police arrested a 21-year-old Idaho man for allegedly firing a semi-automatic rifle at the White House, the top student official for the College Republicans at the University of Texas tweeted that the idea of assassinating … [Read more...] about Texas College Republican Leader Suggests Obama Assassination is “Tempting”
Occupy Parents Basement
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Occupy Parents Basement
Quote of the Day: Mitt Romney’s Hostile Takeover of the Right
With the news that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was (no surprise here) collecting nearly $2 million to essentially be a lobbyist for Freddie Mae and him starting to respond to it in a way that will likely attract more media coverage and more questions, if you had to place bets in Vegas on him getting the nomination, the odds would not be as great as they were two days … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Mitt Romney’s Hostile Takeover of the Right
When They Say “Take Our Country Back,” What Do They Mean?
When the Tea Party was at its heyday during the 2010 elections, when the Palins and the Bachmanns ruled the day, we were treated to some soaring oratory by real, "take-our-country-back" Americans: You know, those real Americans, real patriots, real believers who belong to the party of core values, of family values -- the good party, the party of God. Feeling quite dejected, … [Read more...] about When They Say “Take Our Country Back,” What Do They Mean?
Post-Racialism and the End of Strict Scrutiny (Draft Posted)
I've got a new paper just posted on SSRN, entitled "Post-Racialism and the End of Strict Scrutiny". Abstract is below, comments are appreciated! In recent years, a growing social consensus has emerged around the aspiration of a “post-racial” America: one where race is no longer a fault line for social strife or, perhaps, a morally significant trait whatsoever. This ambition, … [Read more...] about Post-Racialism and the End of Strict Scrutiny (Draft Posted)
Proposition 8 Ruling Pending (Sort Of)
The California Supreme Court has announced that they will issue a ruling/advisory opinion tomorrow regarding Proposition 8. But this will not be a ruling on the validity of Proposition 8 nor will it be a binding ruling. To briefly explain. The 9th Circuit Court Of Appeals (or more directly a 3 judge panel from the court) asked the California Supreme Court to offer its … [Read more...] about Proposition 8 Ruling Pending (Sort Of)
Not To Worry, Pizza Is Still A Vegetable
With the Supreme Court having ruled that corporations like ConAgra, Coca-Cola and Del Monte have the same rights of people, it makes sense in a bass-ackwards sort of way that Congress has blocked proposed rule changes by the Agriculture Department that would have overhauled the nation's school lunch program in an effort to add more fruits and greens to menus in the service of … [Read more...] about Not To Worry, Pizza Is Still A Vegetable
Associated Press: Poll Indicates Most Want Wisconsin Gov. Walker Recalled
Is there another successful recall in Wisconsin's future? If this AP story is any indication, it sounds that way. And -- surprisingly -- the shift seems to be coming from Republicans who want to see him get the boot: As jubilant opponents of Republican Gov. Scott Walker launched their effort to try to recall him from office, a new poll showed he has lost support among his … [Read more...] about Associated Press: Poll Indicates Most Want Wisconsin Gov. Walker Recalled
U.S. Moving To Counter The Threat Of A Growing Chinese Navy
With the exception of Japanese dominance in the Pacific at the outset of World War II, the U.S. has ruled the seven seas since Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet circumnavigated the globe in the first decade of the 20th century. But that is slowly but surely changing as China's first aircraft carrier undergoes sea trials and it moves to assert territorial claims in contested … [Read more...] about U.S. Moving To Counter The Threat Of A Growing Chinese Navy
Gloria Cain: ‘He would have to have a split personality…’
WASHINGTON - Back in the '90s, I was "relationship consultant" at the LA Weekly, so I've interviewed enough men, as well as women, on relationships to know a bit about this subject. Gloria Cain has a very sad case of denial. But she's got a partner there, with Rush Limbaugh leading the indefensible for the right-wing. We've seen this before and it never has a pretty … [Read more...] about Gloria Cain: ‘He would have to have a split personality…’