The reluctance of Tea Party Republicans in the House fo Representatives to accept any compromise on the debt ceiling is generally attributed to three things: ideologically-based economics; fear of Grover Norquist and the no-tax pledge he made them sign; and retribution at the polls by Tea Partiers if they caved on anything. All these factors play into the behavior of these … [Read more...] about Walter Mittys In The Tea Party House
Quote of the Day: Republicans’ Base Instincts Could Sink Them With Independents
Our political Quote of the Day comes from political analyst Charlie Cook from a column in The National Journal titled "Cook: Partisan Myopia Can Be Deadly." He explores many Republican's fixation on pleasing their Tea Party base at the expense of turning off independent voters who decide elections -- a turn off that a parade of polls show is now occuring. Some key … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Republicans’ Base Instincts Could Sink Them With Independents
Blowing Up the House
WASHINGTON -- Media reports are touting the Senate’s Gang of Six and its new budget outline. But the news that explains why the nation is caught in this debt-ceiling fiasco is the gang warfare inside the Republican Party. We are witnessing the disintegration of tea party Republicanism. The tea party’s followers have endangered the nation’s credit rating and the GOP by … [Read more...] about Blowing Up the House
Grover Norquist: A Democrat’s Best Friend
SSH! GENIUS AT WORK The last time that I visited the budget deficit debacle was in a post titled "The Great Republican Retreat of 2011." The headline pretty much said it all -- that the GOP House leadership was hell bent on grabbing defeat from the jaws of compromise -- and would rue the day it made promises that defied fiscal reality. After weeks of moving deck chairs … [Read more...] about Grover Norquist: A Democrat’s Best Friend
Murdoch Channels George W. Bush
In the Parliamentary hearing about media misdeeds, Rupert Murdoch resembled his favorite American President. During eight years in office, George W. Bush, who called himself the Decider, never took responsibility for anything that went wrong. At the low point of the Iraq war, he would go only as far as to admit, “Mistakes were made.” In the same way, Murdoch and his son … [Read more...] about Murdoch Channels George W. Bush
WELCOME HOME ATLANTIS !
After 30 years and 135 missions the Space Shuttle program is at an end. The shuttle Atlantis made a picture perfect landing at the Kennedy Space Center at 5:56am (EST) ending its final mission and the final mission of the shuttle program. For the time being the United States will step out of the manned space launch program, though we will continue to send people to the … [Read more...] about WELCOME HOME ATLANTIS !
Happy Moon Day 2011
Perhaps the finest moment in the life of our species. Forty-two years ago today, on a hot summer evening. A species from this planet ... … [Read more...] about Happy Moon Day 2011
F-16s for Iraq? (UPDATED)
UPDATE: Gen. Ray Odierno, who has been nominated to be the next Army chief told Congress during his confirmation hearings, “I think it’s important that we provide [Iraq] the support they think is necessary.” Commenting on recent Iranian efforts to arm Shiite extremist groups in Iraq Odierno said, “It is clear that Iran is attempting to influence this decision with … [Read more...] about F-16s for Iraq? (UPDATED)
Whether Difficult or Incapacitated, Ladies? We’re Not Fit to be Elected or Public Officials
What is it with women like Sheila Bair, former head of the FDIC, who is just soooo difficult, and Elizabeth Warren, creator and designer of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, who is just soooo controversial and now U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D, FL-20) who is just soooo not acting like a lady? I mean, really. Who do we think we are when we use our voice - a … [Read more...] about Whether Difficult or Incapacitated, Ladies? We’re Not Fit to be Elected or Public Officials
Budget Debate Straight Talk (Guest Voice)
Budget Debate Straight Talk And the truth about Medicare by Susan Stamper Brown If indeed the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, President Obama and his cohorts in the Democratic Party must be feeling the heat on their backsides on the eve of the Cut, Cap and Balance (CCB) vote. In response to the GOP's proposal, it should come as no surprise that White House … [Read more...] about Budget Debate Straight Talk (Guest Voice)
Compassionate Conservatism
This copyrighted Cagle Cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Compassionate Conservatism
Rothenberg Says House Probably Not In Play In 2012
Stuart Rothenberg is a well respected analyst and far from a conservative hack and he says that House is probably not in play in 2012. He bases this on a review of redistricting changes that he says probably give the GOP a slight edge. I tend to agree with his review although I certainly can see where people could dispute one part or another. Also worth remembering is that … [Read more...] about Rothenberg Says House Probably Not In Play In 2012
Borders Closing
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Borders Closing
Classic Partisan Lash-out Hyperbole
I mean, yeah right. … [Read more...] about Classic Partisan Lash-out Hyperbole
Talking Congress Off the Ledge
We have seen this movie before: the deranged figure threatening to take the plunge from on high as a negotiator tries to talk him down by taking all his rambling complaints seriously and trying to reason them away as if they were not totally loopy. Barack Obama keeps calmly engaging Congress, the would-be jumpers, with promises to work on grievances once they come in off the … [Read more...] about Talking Congress Off the Ledge
VIDEO: Jon Stewart on Fox News’ Spin to Downplay or Defend Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
Ahh, they are good employees. And since they help set the narrative, you're seeing the same talking points regurgitation now by some who use Fox News' arguments in their verbal and written arguments. But this is a media story. Of course, it's hard to really badmouth the person issuing your paycheck. And even harder to admit it. Stewart also notes how Fox reacted to NPR (not … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Jon Stewart on Fox News’ Spin to Downplay or Defend Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
Can Online Games Make Economics and Politics Fun?
If you're Britain's Channel 4 Education, then you think the answer to that question is more than a resounding "yes". That's because Channel 4 (owned by Espresso Education, not BBC4) recently launched a free online game designed to shine more than a wee of light on global fashion culture. Game designers at Littleloud consulted the UK-based charity, Labour Behind The Label, … [Read more...] about Can Online Games Make Economics and Politics Fun?
Austin, Texas, Resident to Receive Medal of Honor (UPDATES)
UPDATE 2: The Austin American-Statesman reports that Medal of Honor nominee Dakota Meyer moved back from Austin to his home state of Kentucky in May. According to the Statesman, Meyer worked in Austin for a defense contractor from March to May. The Marine Corps Times had reported earlier that Meyer “now lives in Austin, Texas.” Regardless, whether Meyer lived in … [Read more...] about Austin, Texas, Resident to Receive Medal of Honor (UPDATES)
Quote of the Day: Tea Party Position On Debt Limit Ceiling Is Losing Independent Voters
Our political Quote of the Day is from MSNBC's required-reading First Read which notes that Tea Party members of Congress standing in the way of lifting the debt limit ceiling are losing independent voters -- a perilous trend for Republicans if they hope on winning in 2012 or even holding on to what they won in 2010. After noting the "disconnect" between the White House and … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Tea Party Position On Debt Limit Ceiling Is Losing Independent Voters
Republican Tea Party Freshman Have Been Earmarking Our Money. Billions.
Yes, Virginia, you too may have a Santa Claus. South Carolina does. New Jersey's "tea party" representative has been "replenishing" the beaches of Jersey's coastline with sand that you and I paid for. Even Michele Bachmann has been working on a bridge to -- well, not nowhere, just Wisconsin, with the cooperation of tea party Wisconsin rep, Sean Duffy, and in spite of … [Read more...] about Republican Tea Party Freshman Have Been Earmarking Our Money. Billions.