My secretly held view (I suppose I was hedging my blogger bets) that the Occupy Wall Street protests wouldn't last a month was a product of the pessimism that has chased my life-long optimism about all things American. I am now happy to admit that I was wrong, perhaps very wrong, and you better believe that I'm paying attention when a friend who is a wise old head of some 70 … [Read more...] about One Months On: Random Observations On The Occupy Wall Street Protests
Success: Luck or Work ?
Given the debates raised by Occupy Wall Street I thought I'd bring up this topic again, since it seems quite timely. The basis of my original post was a caller to a local talk show. He was the father of 5, the youngest in her 5th year of college, so you figure he's around 60ish. He grew up as one of 12 children in a working class family, not abject poverty but very tight … [Read more...] about Success: Luck or Work ?
1991: Herman Cain Sings (Beautifully) Imagine There’s No Pizza (VIDEO)
Here's then Godfather's Pizza CEO singing "Imagine There's No Pizza" in 1991 -- beautifully. So now we have the answer as to whether Cain is qualified to be President. Once in office Presidents give voters a song and dance. He's half way there. … [Read more...] about 1991: Herman Cain Sings (Beautifully) Imagine There’s No Pizza (VIDEO)
The Strikes of 1877 & 1886: Historic Precedents For Occupy Wall Street
THE HAYMARKET MASSACRE There is an historic precedent for the Occupy Wall Street movement -- the labor strikes of 1877 and 1886. While thuggish police and troops made those late 19th century strikes as violent as Occupy Wall Street protests have been peaceful, the two sets of events are inextricably bound by the same dynamic: In 1877 and 1886, the hundreds of … [Read more...] about The Strikes of 1877 & 1886: Historic Precedents For Occupy Wall Street
Herman Cain Has Likely Lost the Largest New Voting Block in the US: Latinos
One wonders what would have happened for Cain if he made jokes about lynching black people who make no effort to work...but then later, much later, he said 'awwwwww, that was a joke, and America needs to get a sense of humor.' Unfortunately, Cain himself is becoming not a leader, but is seen as a reason to laugh as he blunders along trying to find his way into a … [Read more...] about Herman Cain Has Likely Lost the Largest New Voting Block in the US: Latinos
50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Pot
To be blunt,that number has never been, uh, higher: PRINCETON, NJ -- A record-high 50% of Americans now say the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 46% last year. Forty-six percent say marijuana use should remain illegal. When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana, in 1969, 12% of Americans favored it, while 84% were opposed. Support remained in the mid-20s … [Read more...] about 50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Pot
Lady Gaga Serenades Bill Clinton (and Hillary, too)
WASHINGTON - A girl does not live by politics alone, well, at least not exclusively. So when music, entertainment and celebration collide, sometimes I just cannot help myself. That goes double when it includes the Hollywood Bowl (where I've been many times), the Clintons (including Chelsea) and a spectacular female singing star. Gaga — who also crooned a Marilyn Monroe-esque … [Read more...] about Lady Gaga Serenades Bill Clinton (and Hillary, too)
Demand One From Wall Street Occupiers: Fire Tim Geithner!
Democratic Party strategists are busily trying to figure out how they can tap into the enthusiasm and spreading popular appeal of the Occupy Wall Street movement. President Obama is recasting his own rhetoric to sound like he supports what these occupiers want, and he is even traveling around by bus as a sign that he is in tune with their Main Street populism. But none of … [Read more...] about Demand One From Wall Street Occupiers: Fire Tim Geithner!
Cain, Koch Brothers and Media Geese
Force-feeding was an unexpected subject this weekend as Herman Cain aces a “Meet the Press” grilling while gourmands stuff themselves with soon-to-be-illegal foie gras at a Los Angeles eat-in protest. David Gregory does little to ruffle the candidate’s smooth-as-pate patter, even as Associated Press reveals that Cain’s “economic ideas, support and organization have close … [Read more...] about Cain, Koch Brothers and Media Geese
Car Care Takes On A Whole New Meaning
From Technology Review: Your car may soon be able to warn you if your blood sugar dips, alert you to high pollen counts, and remind you to take your medication. Ford demonstrated the new in-car technology—currently a research project—this week at the Wireless Health 2011 conference in La Jolla, California. Many carmakers see a big opportunity in adding new … [Read more...] about Car Care Takes On A Whole New Meaning
The Park of Protests and Dreams
Police arrested 175 Occupy Chicago protesters in Grant Park yesterday, recalling not only the night Barack Obama was elected but one when I was tear-gassed there 43 years ago. [corrected: see comments] "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible," the President-elect told 250,000 celebrants three years ago, "who still … [Read more...] about The Park of Protests and Dreams
Occupy Wall Street
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Occupy Wall Street
Rick Santorum’s Family Provocation
WASHINGTON -- Lost in the hubbub over Herman Cain's love affair with the number nine during last week's Republican debate were some compelling observations by Rick Santorum about "the breakdown of the American family" and its relationship to poverty. His comments deserved more attention than a wacky tax plan or Newt Gingrich's proposal to jail two Democratic foes. "You … [Read more...] about Rick Santorum’s Family Provocation
Occupy Wall Street Wins Labor’s Love (Guest Voice)
Occupy Wall Street Wins Labor’s Love by Michael Winship Early last Friday morning, as the Occupy Wall Street protesters were just uncurling from their sleeping bags, I went downtown for a walkthrough of their campsite at Zuccotti Park, now also known as Liberty Plaza. I met up there with AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka and New York City Central Labor Council President Vincent … [Read more...] about Occupy Wall Street Wins Labor’s Love (Guest Voice)
Who Will Lead?
We may be at one of those moments when the whole world changes. Like 1848, 2011 may turn out to be a historic year for world governments. David Ignatius writes in Friday's Washington Post that: What’s intriguing about the eruption of Occupy Wall Street is that it’s so similar to other populist movements that are demanding change in nearly every major region of the … [Read more...] about Who Will Lead?
How Greed in the Financial Sector Tramples on Human Rights (Il Sole 24 Ore, Italy)
What is at the root of what's wrong with our economy and our civil society? Weaving the issue of the U.S. death penalty into the global financial crisis, columnist Guido Rossi of Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore is unequivocal: our system of 'financial capitalism' has slowly but surely eaten away at the fabric of society, which demands protecting the rights of not only the powerful and … [Read more...] about How Greed in the Financial Sector Tramples on Human Rights (Il Sole 24 Ore, Italy)
Zachary Quinto Comes Out; Must See Margin Call
My hero: when i found out that jamey rodemeyer killed himself - i felt deeply troubled. but when i found out that jamey rodemeyer had made an it gets better video only months before taking his own life - i felt indescribable despair. i also made an it gets better video last year - in the wake of the senseless and tragic gay teen suicides that were sweeping the nation at the … [Read more...] about Zachary Quinto Comes Out; Must See Margin Call
Wall Street Uprisings Herald Victory of Islam and Iran! (Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran)
Call it propaganda or call it delusion, but Tehran is crowing about not only predicting Occupy Wall Street and allied groups, but says it considers itself primarily responsible for all the unrest - Eastern and Western - since the Arab Spring began. So could it be that the protests which began in New York on September 17 and have now spread across the developed world reflect a … [Read more...] about Wall Street Uprisings Herald Victory of Islam and Iran! (Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran)
Putin’s New Vision of “Eurasia” (Guest Voice)
Putin's New Vision of "Eurasia" by John Daley Many western politicians have harbored deep suspicions of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Vladimorovich Putin since he first emerged on the Russian political stage in 1999. This is hardly surprising, given his KGB background, though those with longer historical memories will recall that Yuri Andropov came from the same … [Read more...] about Putin’s New Vision of “Eurasia” (Guest Voice)
Obama Dedicates MLK Memorial
I would have posted about this earlier but was having connectivity issues. President Obama today formally dedicated the Martin Luther King memorial in Washington DC. The original ceremony was delayed by Hurricane Irene and the aftermath. There is something truly fitting that King's memorial would be dedicated by the first black President. During his lifetime King was … [Read more...] about Obama Dedicates MLK Memorial