After quoting Doug Mataconis and citing the LATimes and Brad Plumer on Michele Bachmann and other conservatives skeptical about the payroll tax cut, Steven L. Taylor at Outside the Beltway concludes: First, opposing cuts to payroll taxes undercuts several key Republican claims in regards to fiscal policy, including the notion that it’s “the people’s money, not the governments” … [Read more...] about On GOP Oposition to the Obama Payroll Tax Cut
Did the Post-9/11 Decade Make Us Stronger?
Did the post-9/11 decade make us stronger? GO HERE for a great roundup. … [Read more...] about Did the Post-9/11 Decade Make Us Stronger?
NBC Report: Two of Three Terror Suspects in 911 Terror Anniversary Threat Plot Could Be Americans (UPDATED)
A new NBC report seemingly brings to reality a development terrorism experts have long warned could be coming: it turns out that two of the three suspects sought in a 911 terror anniversary plot could be Americans: Update 6:40 p.m. ET: NBC's Pete Williams, citing several U.S. officials, reports that there's been no major progress in the attempt to run down the intelligence … [Read more...] about NBC Report: Two of Three Terror Suspects in 911 Terror Anniversary Threat Plot Could Be Americans (UPDATED)
Samuel Stokes: An American Jailed For India’s Cause
At a time when America appears lost, and its leadership continues its reckless bid for global supremacy, it is interesting to recall the story of the only American who participated in India's freedom struggle and was imprisoned by the British-Indian government. He gave up Western clothes and donned home-spun Khadi dress. A highly impressed Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his Young … [Read more...] about Samuel Stokes: An American Jailed For India’s Cause
Decision Fatigue
Best not make decisions late in the day: ...decision fatigue can make quarterbacks prone to dubious choices late in the game and C.F.O.’s prone to disastrous dalliances late in the evening. It routinely warps the judgment of everyone, executive and nonexecutive, rich and poor — in fact, it can take a special toll on the poor. Yet few people are even aware of it, and … [Read more...] about Decision Fatigue
Red Meat Slam Dance (Guest Voice)
Red-Meat Slam Dance Raging Moderate, by Will Durst A full complement of Republican presidential candidates gathered for the battle royale at the Ronald Reagan Library in Seamy (Simi) Valley, Calif. And though he was only there in spirit, the Great Communicator could easily have supplied the power for the entire proceedings had the networks harnessed him spinning in his … [Read more...] about Red Meat Slam Dance (Guest Voice)
Ten Years After
Israel’s Embassy Overrun in Cairo: Only Obama Speaks Up
The violence underway currently at the Israeli embassy in Cairo, which was overrun by demonstrators forcing the ambassador and some 70 staff to flee, has so far caused less concern in the major European capitals than the US. The ambassador and his staff are expected to land in Israel in coming minutes but only President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton have … [Read more...] about Israel’s Embassy Overrun in Cairo: Only Obama Speaks Up
Ten Years Later, Belief in Iraq Connection With 9/11 Attack Persists
Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. - George Santayana, from Volume One of The Life of Reason, … [Read more...] about Ten Years Later, Belief in Iraq Connection With 9/11 Attack Persists
Since 2001 47 Jihadist Terrorist Plots Have Been Thwarted
The big news is the feds looking into a "credible threat" of a terrorist plot involving New York City and Washington DC to mark the 10th anniversary of 911 -- but The Daily Beast's John Avlon notes that there is a more reassuring context: since 2001 47 jihadist terrorist plots have been thwarted: As news of a new “credible” threat swept across the nation on the 10th … [Read more...] about Since 2001 47 Jihadist Terrorist Plots Have Been Thwarted
9-11: The Battle of the Little Big Tinhorn
I used to think that "history is what it was" but that really isn't true. History is what it is, and that "is" is eternally in flux. One of the most popular images of "Custer's Last Stand" It hung in bars and saloons across Budweiser's distribution network Let me give you the most obvious example: when I was a kid, Col. George Armstrong Custer was a venerable American … [Read more...] about 9-11: The Battle of the Little Big Tinhorn
The President Stops Pleading
For anyone coming out of a two-year coma, Barack Obama’s jobs speech to Congress may have looked like the familiar sight of an American President exhorting lawmakers to legislate solutions to a crisis. For the rest of who have had the misfortune to be wide awake, what was striking was Obama’s discovery of the imperative mood in his address. “Pass this jobs bill,” he kept … [Read more...] about The President Stops Pleading
Coulter and Ingraham to Palin: ‘Fish or cut bait’
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com WASHINGTON - What a difference one year makes. Last year Sarah Palin was the queen of the midterm elections. This was a long time in coming and much deserved. Sarah Palin's celebrity tease has made her besotted fans look stupid, which isn't the worst of it. Live by fan politics, be humiliated by it. So, two powerful … [Read more...] about Coulter and Ingraham to Palin: ‘Fish or cut bait’
This 9/11 Anniversary, Follow the Lead of Our Military
A couple of days ago, I wrote about the need for us, Americans, on this 10th anniversary of 9/11, to recommit ourselves to strengthening and bonding our nation from within… An Army chaplain, Major James Key, conducted his final funeral at Arlington National Cemetery a few weeks ago for an active duty soldier who died in combat while serving in Afghanistan. As his eyes … [Read more...] about This 9/11 Anniversary, Follow the Lead of Our Military
Moody’s: Obama’s Plan Would Add 1.9 Million Jobs
Moody's chief economist says President Barack Obama's plan would put 1.9 million people back to work. But that misses the point of what is going on now: ideology, the "we want our political sports team to win this one" attitude, preventing the other sports team from scoring a point, and upcoming elections make it highly unlikely Obama will get enough of this in place to … [Read more...] about Moody’s: Obama’s Plan Would Add 1.9 Million Jobs
Obama On Jobs
This morning,Paul Krugman finally has some words of praise for President Obama : I was favorably surprised by the new Obama jobs plan, which is significantly bolder and better than I expected. It’s not nearly as bold as the plan I’d want in an ideal world. But if it actually became law, it would probably make a significant dent in unemployment. Krugman … [Read more...] about Obama On Jobs
New 911 Recordings During Hijacking Released (ABC News)
New 911 recordings have been released with the voices of air traffic controlers, a doomed stewardess on one of the flights -- and even one of the hijackers: … [Read more...] about New 911 Recordings During Hijacking Released (ABC News)
Something is Going On But We Don’t Know What
ABC's Good Morning America: U.S. authorities are scrambling to sort through information that the CIA developed in the past 24 hours indicating that at least three individuals entered the U.S. in August by air with the intent to launch a vehicle-borne attack against Washington, D.C. or New York around the anniversary of 9/11, according to intelligence officials. Officials … [Read more...] about Something is Going On But We Don’t Know What
Video Animation: Obama’s Big Jobs Speech
Here's another greatly timely video animation from Taiwan's Next Media Animation -- this time on President Obama's big jobs speech and reaction to it. … [Read more...] about Video Animation: Obama’s Big Jobs Speech
Quote of the Day: What Was In Obama’s Speech and What Comes Next?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Ezra Klein, who was always one a must-read blogger when he wrote on a smaller blog and is even moreso as a blogger for the Washington Post. His subject: what was in President Barack Obama's jobs speech last night and what comes next? Two sections from it: The proposal itself is called “The American Jobs Act” and amounts to about … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: What Was In Obama’s Speech and What Comes Next?