From an excellent Adam Gopnik essay in The New Yorker on whether America is in decline: Despite their title, the authors seem, for instance, determined to avoid the obvious point that one American who shares their outlook and ambitions in almost every detail -- who hates partisan wrangling, doubts the wisdom of big foreign wars, proposes a faith in a brisk mixture of private … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day
A Memory of Sports, Sex and Shame
The Penn State Scandal has many losers—-not the only the legendary coach who lost his job, his reputation and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the university that fed on football and is now disgraced by it, a student body in shock and, beyond the campus, millions who have lost some of their innocence about an “amateur” game that, as years of covering up the crimes of a … [Read more...] about A Memory of Sports, Sex and Shame
Quote of the Day: What Polls Say about Romney, Cain and Gingrich
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Time's Joe Klein who looks at a recent CBS News poll that showed former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain still going strong, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney frozen at his usual polling take and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich rising: There are three messages being delivered in this poll. The first is about Mitt … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: What Polls Say about Romney, Cain and Gingrich
Italy: Kick Out
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McClatchy-Marist Poll: Strong Sign that Cain is Sinking and Gingrich Is Rising as Anti-Romney?
Various polls have shown beset former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain holding his own or in some cases seemingly strengthening his status as the emerging Anti-Romney, but these polls also have revealed some of his support -- particularly from women -- sagging in light of sexual allegations. But now a new McClatchy-Marist nationwide poll has Cain in third place with former … [Read more...] about McClatchy-Marist Poll: Strong Sign that Cain is Sinking and Gingrich Is Rising as Anti-Romney?
BREAKING: Massive Explosion Reported at Military Base West of Tehran (UPDATES)
Several news sources are reporting a huge blast occurring inside an Iranian military base near the capital, Tehran. BBC News: There has been at least one explosion inside a military base west of Iran's capital, Tehran, officials say. Windows in buildings in the nearby village of Bidganeh have been shattered. Some deaths have been reported, according to the … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Massive Explosion Reported at Military Base West of Tehran (UPDATES)
The Power of Conformity (Video)
This old Candid Camera clip showing a stunt involving the power of conformity says more than original viewers may have thought. It explains some of what goes on in our schools, with peer pressure and some of the tiresome rhetoric and political attacks we see by partisans of both parties (and how quickly they fall in line with a new attack line): … [Read more...] about The Power of Conformity (Video)
BREAKING: Wilson Ramos Rescued, Safe in Venezuela
Both ABC News and the Washington Post are reporting that kidnapped Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been found alive and well in Venezuela. According to the Washington Post: Wilson Ramos has been rescued in Venezuela and is with the police on his way back home, his agent, Gustavo Mercano, said in a phone conversation. The Interior Minster called to tell … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Wilson Ramos Rescued, Safe in Venezuela
CBS News Poll: Cain Now On Top in Three Way Race Between Romney and Gingrich
A new CBS News Poll -- which might be dubbed "consquences schmonsequences" -- finds former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain at the top of the Republican nomination sweepstakes heap, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich rising fast and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will hanging in there as a front-runner: In the Republican race for the presidential nomination, Newt … [Read more...] about CBS News Poll: Cain Now On Top in Three Way Race Between Romney and Gingrich
The Enabler
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Trying to Topple Elizabeth Warren
Rove & Co. have a campaign going to discredit Elizabeth Warren and OWS with one nasty video. Greg Sargent thinks (hopes?) they're making a mistake. I think and hope he's right. Their recent forays into Ohio just made people mad and got them nowhere. Let's hope their smug,vicious attack is just another part of unproductive Republican extremism that more and more Americans … [Read more...] about Trying to Topple Elizabeth Warren
Paterno feet of clay
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Hopes Raised in Europe and U.S.: Greece Swears in New Prime Minister Lucas Papademos
Hopes are being raised a bit in Europe and the United States: Greece has sworn in a new Prime Minister as Lucas Papademos replaces George Papandreou: Alexis Papachelas writes that perhaps it'll be different this time: Clearly people’s rage won’t just die down overnight. Unemployment, high taxes and the incessant attack on the middle classes’ quality of life make this … [Read more...] about Hopes Raised in Europe and U.S.: Greece Swears in New Prime Minister Lucas Papademos
Penn State
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(UPDATED) The Scandal In Happy Valley: Where Does Penn State Go From Here?
Penn State players head to their first practice under interim coach Tom Bradley Having given its legendary football and coach and long-serving president the heave-ho in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal that overnight turned Happy Valley into a very unhappy place, should the Penn State board of trustees have cancelled tomorrow's game against Nebraska? And were their … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) The Scandal In Happy Valley: Where Does Penn State Go From Here?
Supporting Our Troops And Their Families
Today is the day we honor those who have served our country, both the troops and their families. On days like this there are always debates about how to honor them, with views as diverse as the political spectrum. Some honor them by fighting for peace while others do so with flags. But there is one thing I think we can all agree on. Those who are killed or wounded in … [Read more...] about Supporting Our Troops And Their Families
The drums of war and the economy
It used to be that the drums of war would boost the economy. When that war would involve the Strait of Hormuz not so much. To get the WTI oil price, please enable Javascript. Why? This: "every $1 per barrel rise in oil decreases U.S. GDP by $100 billion per year and every 1 cent increase in gasoline decreases U.S. consumer disposable income by about $600 million … [Read more...] about The drums of war and the economy
Child Rape In An Infotainment World
The flap in Happy Valley, Home of Penn State University, reminds us again that we receive our “news” from an entertainment driven media. What is news is squeezed out by deciding who should get star billing. Multiple children, likely more than a dozen, were raped, their bodies, souls and psyches violated. They will live their entire lives with the emotional fallout of … [Read more...] about Child Rape In An Infotainment World
Birth Control or Family Planning: the Politicization of Abortion by the GOP
Jill Lepore's must read New Yorker piece about the past and future of Planned Parenthood is locked up tight behind a paywall, so too few of us actually will read it. For those of you who don't subscribe, I point to Amanda Marcotte: [W]hat I really enjoyed was Lepore's depiction of the midcentury struggle between the feminist radicals and the moderate social … [Read more...] about Birth Control or Family Planning: the Politicization of Abortion by the GOP
My Rick Perry Moments
I know just how Rick Perry felt during his “brain freeze” the other night. As other GOP candidates were spewing out new versions of their non-sequiturs about Barack Obama and the economy, my eyes were drawn to the Texas governor every time the cameras showed him in a shot. A curious combination of expressions fleeted across his face, some of earnest determination to … [Read more...] about My Rick Perry Moments