One of my favorite places on the web has been the Google News Archive, a wonderful storehouse of digitized newspapers, some of them stretching back 150 years or more. It was fascinating to just pick a year and go back and see what life was like. In May Google announced they would no longer be updating the site with new resources but that the search feature would remain … [Read more...] about Wither Google News Archive ?
Exploding Cigars
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Say Goodbye to Michele
A new national poll of Republican voters gives pro-life Texas Gov. Rick Perry a big lead over his GOP presidential competitors despite Michele Bachmann’s victory in the Iowa Straw poll on Saturday. The survey has Perry with a double digit lead following his entrance into the Republican race Saturday evening after a speech at the Red State gathering of conservative political … [Read more...] about Say Goodbye to Michele
Fiscal Blindness (Guest Voice)
Fiscal Blindness by Robert A. Levine. M.D. Washington legislators have been afflicted with a new and terrible disease, fiscal blindness, which has spread throughout the city in epidemic proportions. In addition, Senators and members of Congress are disseminating the illness around the United States when they hold meetings in their home districts. Ideologic rigidity is a … [Read more...] about Fiscal Blindness (Guest Voice)
Arab Spring, American Fall
The overthrow of despotic Middle East governments is followed by an insurrection in the U.S., not against decades of tyranny but to destroy centuries of democracy that have served the national well. Today’s “hyper-connected world” cuts both ways, empowering both the oppressed in the Arab world and the over-entitled and ignorant here. As Barack Obama’s approval ratings … [Read more...] about Arab Spring, American Fall
MEDIA: Mainstream-Embracing Disappointingly Ignorant Advocates
My first choice for the "A" word in the title was not "Advocates," but I settled on it because it is more conducive to intelligent discussion than the word I wanted to use. There is nothing more tiresome than the imputation of intent where none exists. For example, as I have become a political writer at an increasing number of publications, I have often had to defend a … [Read more...] about MEDIA: Mainstream-Embracing Disappointingly Ignorant Advocates
Money and Politics, An Old Game With Big Players
From the LA Times: Perry has received a total of $37 million over the last decade from just 150 individuals and couples, who are likely to form the backbone of his new effort to win the Republican presidential nomination. The tally represented more than a third of the $102 million he had raised as governor through December, according to data compiled by the watchdog group … [Read more...] about Money and Politics, An Old Game With Big Players
Remembering Elvis
Thirty four years ago today my parents took my sister and I on our first trip to Disneyland. When we arrived at the hotel there were the banner headlines.. Elvis Dead. At the time, I didn't really realize what it meant, but my Mom sure did. If anything demonstrates the tragedy of drug addiction, this was it. A once in a generation talent lost in his 40's. Here is a … [Read more...] about Remembering Elvis
What Happened in the Republican Party Didn’t Stay in the Republican Party
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — By most measures, Las Vegas looks the same. You drive into town and see glitzy billboards announcing shows such as Celine Dion at Caesar’s Palace. But it’s a time of stress and change here, as it is in America’s economy — and on our political scene. Like everywhere, Vegas grapples with the dream-killing recession. Less spending means less gambling and … [Read more...] about What Happened in the Republican Party Didn’t Stay in the Republican Party
Rick Perry’s Brand of Birtherism
WASHINGTON - It's the lazy summer season of August politics, bringing with it the usual flame-throwin', g-droppin' GOP wingnut that fuels the presidential primary season, but doesn't offer the leadership so desperately needed to get the country out of the Obama economic malaise. Rick Perry's low-wage race to the bottom certainly isn't the answer for the middle class. 19. It … [Read more...] about Rick Perry’s Brand of Birtherism
Obama’s Next (Last?) Chance To Show Presidential Leadership
One of the truly surprising things about our president is his seeming inability to jump in front of a wave that's already peaking. He failed to do this early this year when he let the Republicans extend the Bush-era tax breaks for the wealthy, though the public clearly wanted them ended. He did it again, big time, when he caved to the Tea Party House members in negotiations … [Read more...] about Obama’s Next (Last?) Chance To Show Presidential Leadership
Indian Government Throws Top Anti-Corruption Activist in Jail
Anna Hazare, 73, is no ordinary social activist. Hazare has emerged as a sort of national hero battling against the government that has been reeling under mind-boggling corruption scandals. An Indian government attempt to head off a political crisis by arresting him appeared to backfire Tuesday when parliament's opposition members walked out and demonstrations broke out across … [Read more...] about Indian Government Throws Top Anti-Corruption Activist in Jail
Five Questions That The Republicans Can’t Answer
THE PRESIDENT AT A TOWN HALL MEETING IN MINNESOTA As I noted here, the Republicans who show up at Iowa's quadrennial straw polls and caucuses are about as representative of American voters in general as two-headed cows are representative of cows in general. Furthermore, only two of the six candidates who have won the straw poll in the last 20 years have become the … [Read more...] about Five Questions That The Republicans Can’t Answer
Hold The Ron Paul Stuff
Where's Ron Paul in all the Iowa straw poll coverage? You'll remember he came in a close second. John Stewart asks, "How did libertarian Ron Paul become the [political equivalent of] the 13th floor in a hotel?" Watch... Politico's Roger Simon agrees Paul got shafted. But Kevin Drum says no, Ron Paul doesn't deserve any more attention: Ron Paul isn't getting any … [Read more...] about Hold The Ron Paul Stuff
Whose Lunch Will Rick Perry Eat?
At first glance, the Texas governor looks most likely to rain on Michele Bachmann’s parade by out-evangelizing her with the Religious Right and setting a high bar, as he did in her Iowa hometown, for practicing local politics as a contact sport. But Perry’s well-financed campaign is going after Mitt Romney, too with a jab at him, “Take a look at his record when he was … [Read more...] about Whose Lunch Will Rick Perry Eat?
Hypocritical Americans Disable Social Networks to Prevent Free Assembly (La Stampa, Italy)
When it comes to social media, are officials in the United States once again following a policy of 'do as we say, not as we do'? La Stampa columnist Juan Carlos De Martin warns U.S. and British officials that shutting down cell phone service and social media to prevent protest is precisely what the Chinas and Irans of the world are hoping for. For Italy's La Stampa, Juan … [Read more...] about Hypocritical Americans Disable Social Networks to Prevent Free Assembly (La Stampa, Italy)
U.S. Cellphone Use: Texting, Retrieving Information Top Activities
On the same day that Google announced it was buying Motorola Mobility, Pew Internet told us that one-third of Americans now one a smartphone and that half of al cellphone owners use their phones to "get information they needed right away." Most of the headline writers focused on an inconsequential data point - people sometimes pretend to use their cellphones to avoid other … [Read more...] about U.S. Cellphone Use: Texting, Retrieving Information Top Activities
Why Excessive Debt is the Real Problem – Part II (Guest Voice)
Why Excessive Debt is the Real Problem – Part II by Steve Suranovic One of the main reasons for the unemployment problem around the world is excessive debt. Only when we eliminate the underlying source of our problems will we be able to sustainably reduce the unemployment rate. In my last post about debt I talked about mortgage debt. This post is about government debt. … [Read more...] about Why Excessive Debt is the Real Problem – Part II (Guest Voice)
GOP Gone Wild
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So Exactly What DOES a President Look Like?
Yes, it's that time again, when pundits deliver to news consumers a whole bunch of assumptions that are gobbled up as rapidly as a fish gobbles up a baited hook. One common one already making the rounds: someone who "looks like" a President. But, as Kevin Drum notes, exactly what is a President supposed to look like? In advance of the 2008 presidential campaign, many … [Read more...] about So Exactly What DOES a President Look Like?