Everyone now understands that on August 2 or shortly thereafter, the Treasury is going to have to prioritize which bills it pays and play triage with other obligations. Here's my own list of the bills that should be the first that don't get paid: 1, The salaries of every member of Congress, the President, and all their respective staffers. Before hundreds of thousands of … [Read more...] about Prioritizing Spending Cuts If Debt Ceiling Talks Fail
Remy: Raise The Debt Ceiling Rap (Video)
The raise the debt ceiling rap. Quite good. Send a copy of this to your Congressman or Congresswoman: On the other hand, it may have no impact on politicians They're giving the American public and markets a song and dance on the debt ceiling right now. (Read this column.) … [Read more...] about Remy: Raise The Debt Ceiling Rap (Video)
Norway’s Monster
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Norway’s Monster
More Evidence of Vanishing Republican Moderates
As the American political system continues to be shaken by the debt ceiling limit stalemate, one thing is evident: the lack of powerful moderates -- or even moderates -- in the Republican Party. A Boston Globe article provides further evidence and insight. Parts of it: The Republican Party has, in fact, moved away from its moderate wing in recent years, according to … [Read more...] about More Evidence of Vanishing Republican Moderates
Clear Sailing in America’s Often Rocky Relationship with India?
With the deterioration in relations between the United States and Pakistan is it clear sailing now in America's often rocky relationship with India? Not necessarily, writes Daniel Larison in The Week: As relations between the U.S. and Pakistan reach new lows, building a more stable U.S.-India relationship has obvious advantages for American interests in South Asia. The … [Read more...] about Clear Sailing in America’s Often Rocky Relationship with India?
Legal Guns Would Make Norway Safer (Guest Voice)
Legal Guns Would Make Norway Safer Making Sense, by Michael Reagan How long would the Norway gunman have lasted in Texas or any state where concealed-carry laws are on the books? I ran a survey while on a cruise: in Texas, 3 minutes; in Montana, 7 to 8 minutes; in Arizona, 2 minutes; and in Nevada, 3 to 5 minutes. Had Norway not surrendered to the anti-self-defense … [Read more...] about Legal Guns Would Make Norway Safer (Guest Voice)
‘Radical’ Republicans Threaten the United States with Ruin (Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany)
As the United States nears the August 2 deadline for raising its astronomical debt ceiling, much of the world is watching with dismay. Frankfurter Rundschau columnist Thomas Spang writes that Tea Party lawmakers are close to achieving what America's enemies 'have only dreamed of.' For Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau, Thomas Spang writes in part: Not even warnings from the … [Read more...] about ‘Radical’ Republicans Threaten the United States with Ruin (Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany)
America and the Soviet Union: From Pyramid Builders to Pyramid Raiders (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
Is America going the way of ancient Egypt and the Soviet Union? Columnist Avtandil Tsuladze of Russia's Yezhednevniy Zhurnal writes that America built a pyramid based on a gold-backed dollar. It then proceeded to loot it for all it was worth by making it the global currency of choice, rejecting the gold standard and exploiting its inflated value - until now. For Russian's … [Read more...] about America and the Soviet Union: From Pyramid Builders to Pyramid Raiders (Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia)
“Elections” Held In North Korea
Nice to see the incumbents doing so well. … [Read more...] about “Elections” Held In North Korea
Quote of the Day: Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis Forever Opens Ugly New Conflict Door
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Daily Beast's John Avlon, who details the hypocrisy of Speaker of the House John Boehner against the backdrop of Boehner's televised speech that countered President Barack Obama last night. Here are some key parts of his piece (go to the link and read it all): This is starting to give Kabuki theater a bad name. The competing … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis Forever Opens Ugly New Conflict Door
Boehner’s ‘Inexorable’ Math Turns Out to Be Lousy Math, too (UPDATED)
UPDATE: Politico reports: In the battle of budget scores, the Senate Democrats’ deficit reduction bill is the clear leader thus far over an alternative by Speaker John Boehner, which had to be pulled back from the floor Tuesday night for retooling. The Congressional Budget Office released a report Wednesday morning that credits the Senate bill with reducing … [Read more...] about Boehner’s ‘Inexorable’ Math Turns Out to Be Lousy Math, too (UPDATED)
The Best Political Illustration Of The Day
David Colarusso's illustration is a riff off of Twitter's infamous "Fail Whale", an image users see when the site is overloaded. He writes (on Flickr) I wanted a visual expression of my frustration with partisan gridlock in Washington, and this is what I came up with. It was sparked by the talks surrounding the debt ceiling, but I'm afraid it could work for just about … [Read more...] about The Best Political Illustration Of The Day
Boehner’s Wool, Your Eyes
House Speaker John Boehner’s new budget proposal would require deep cuts in the years immediately ahead in Social Security and Medicare benefits for current retirees, the repeal of health reform’s coverage expansions, or wholesale evisceration of basic assistance programs for vulnerable Americans. The plan is, thus, tantamount to a form of “class warfare.” If enacted, it … [Read more...] about Boehner’s Wool, Your Eyes
Glenn Beck & Hitler Youth : Tracking The Story
On Monday 25 July 2011, conservative commentator Glenn Beck compared the Norwegian youth killed on Friday with Hitler's youth camps. "As the thing started to unfold and there was a shooting at a political camp, which sounds a little like the Hitler Youth. Who does a camp for kids that"s all about politics? Disturbing," Beck said. [Listen to the first minute of his … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck & Hitler Youth : Tracking The Story
Financial Brinkmanship (Guest Voice)
Financial Brinkmanship by Martha Randolph Carr This weekend's news cycle was either an indication that we have become over the top self-absorbed or more accurately, a really good indicator of how much trouble the U.S. economy will be in if we falter and default on our obligations, even if it only lasts for a few days. It's an amazing moment in journalism when a … [Read more...] about Financial Brinkmanship (Guest Voice)
Pea Party
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Will America Even Be Able to Afford Dunce Caps for Political Class?
The debt ceiling limit crisis has revealed one fact: the current political class of leaders who are largely from the Baby Boomer and post-Baby Boomer generations could never be confused with “The Greatest Generation.” The Most Partisan Generations? Perhaps. Based on what is leading up to that fateful day of Aug. 2, our political class — weighted down by Baby Boomers’ hubris … [Read more...] about Will America Even Be Able to Afford Dunce Caps for Political Class?
Running On Empty
The title is from the Jackson Browne song of the same name. It’s been rattling around my brain for a day or so. Written about a personal journey through life, the song seems to speak to our national conundrum. “Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels I look around for the friends that I used to turn … [Read more...] about Running On Empty
The Debt Crisis: Systemic and Uncontrolled Disease of Partisanship
Lot's of blame, no room for new ideas. Why? The spirit of party gone mad. Solution? Structural political reform. See video of CBS New York Q&A on the debt crisis between journalists John Avlon and Margaret Hoover, and New York City independent activists. Dr. Jessie Fields (she asks the last question) tells us 'I'm not an expert on the economy, I'm a 25 year physician and I … [Read more...] about The Debt Crisis: Systemic and Uncontrolled Disease of Partisanship
Wu Resigns
Congressman David Wu (D-OR) has announced his resignation from Congress. Wu's announcement came moments after both of the states Democratic US Senators called for him to step down. Wu has been a controversial figure for some time now, during the 2010 election season his conduct was so odd that his staff kept him from the campaign trail to avoid possible outbursts. This means … [Read more...] about Wu Resigns