Debt distress, partisan pollution... 'There is no middle ground, but there is way to bring Americans together. President Obama is trying to play to the center when there is no center... The parties have the system hard-wired... The President need to take a strong stand on structural political reform -- independents will respond to that...' -Jacqueline Salit on Fox & … [Read more...] about Independent Strategist Jackie Salit: I’m a Member of the Anti-Party
For Such A Time As This (cont’d)
For Such A Time As This, my documentary profile of the openly lesbian rural Georgia Baptist preacher, Genie Hargrove, premieres tonight at 9 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. My partner, Doug Keith, and I interviewed Genie for StoryCorps last February. That interview (scroll down) became the basis for the video profile. In it, Genie tells the story of her 2004 … [Read more...] about For Such A Time As This (cont’d)
The Spirit of 1861 – and 2011
From the moment John Brown led his failed raid on the Federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia on October 16, 1859 the American South went into battle mode. Decades of economic rivalry, mutual cultural denigration, tragicomic assaults on the honor of politicians, and tense negotiations over Western expansion had now reached a point of genuine crisis. To the slaveholding … [Read more...] about The Spirit of 1861 – and 2011
Looking Beyond The Deficit Fight: Obama Must Get His Cows In A Row
A giant sigh of relief will emanate from the White House once the budget deficit crisis passes. This presumes that the Republicans will have again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory -- or reasonable compromise -- as they have been in the habit of doing. This however will not be a victory for President Obama and the Democrats as much as a train wreck averted, but there are … [Read more...] about Looking Beyond The Deficit Fight: Obama Must Get His Cows In A Row
What Do the Debt Ceiling ‘Plans’ Say about the Pentagon Budget? (UPDATED)
UPDATE: For a more in-depth discussion on how “Struggling with debt, Congress talks defense cuts,” please click here. Starting with the words, “Taking a stance once unthinkable in a time of two wars, Democrats and Republicans alike are insisting that the billions spent on the military can be significantly cut back over the next decade as the nation struggles to reduce its … [Read more...] about What Do the Debt Ceiling ‘Plans’ Say about the Pentagon Budget? (UPDATED)
Truth With Consequences
As I read over the post former Governor Sarah Palin placed on Facebook, I have conflicting thoughts on how I feel about the message and the messenger. The message is sound. The freshmen members of the GOP were elected, in part, by Tea Party activists and other Republicans, Independents and yes even some Democrats to deal with the mess of the national debt and the deficit … [Read more...] about Truth With Consequences
When Will Wall Street Weigh In?
A Dow drop of almost 200 points Wednesday could be the first tremor of panicky bears preparing to escape an economic conflagration that Congress seems intent on setting off. Will the markets be full of investors with their hair on fire today or Monday as the debt-ceiling deadline looms? While the House and Senate continue to play chicken, Wall Street (Heaven help us all) … [Read more...] about When Will Wall Street Weigh In?
American Lawmakers Should ‘Stop Playing Political Games’ (Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan)
As members of Congress continue to rumble over raising the U.S. debt ceiling, they might spare a thought to the hundreds of millions if not billions of souls in other nations who are experiencing heartburn over their behavior. This editorial from Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun expresses concern that the debt ceiling brawl is hindering the recovery from Japan's triple catastrophe last … [Read more...] about American Lawmakers Should ‘Stop Playing Political Games’ (Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan)
U.S. Must Prevent Yet Another ‘Made in America’ Catastrophe (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan)
The normally retiring newspapers of Japan, the country that holds the second largest amount of U.S. debt, are letting out some of there inner tigers in reaction to the prolonged debt ceiling debate. This editorial from Japan's Mainichi Shimbun implores American lawmakers to act responsibly so as not to plunge the world into another major financial crisis. The Mainichi … [Read more...] about U.S. Must Prevent Yet Another ‘Made in America’ Catastrophe (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan)
You Can’t Herd Cats
Who has the worst job. Barrack Obama is expected to fix an economy that can't be fixed - a bad job. But then we have John Boehner - he has the job of herding cats - a group of teabillies who's hate of Obama makes economic catastrophe preferable to giving Obama what he needs to avoid catastrophe. The orange man is discovering you can't herd cats. Speaker John Boehner … [Read more...] about You Can’t Herd Cats
Global Smarming, or, Gone Fission
UPDATED BELOW We begin at the periphery of the chain-reaction: Dave Blount / Moonbattery: NASA Data Confirm Global Warming Is a Hoax The atoms keep smashing -- as with all chain-reactions, eventually damping down to zero, dependent on confinement and density as to the when but not the what. But when we trace the reaction back to its source, we find that the headline … [Read more...] about Global Smarming, or, Gone Fission
A New National Party That Will Contest 2012 Elections Becomes Inevitable
Public respect for both parties in congress is now at an all-time low. The president is increasingly seen as a well-spoken empty suit who occasionally mouths popular views he doesn't go on to defend, and invariably caves to people he purports to oppose. There's an opportunity here for a new national political grouping to not only challenge a political class in Washington … [Read more...] about A New National Party That Will Contest 2012 Elections Becomes Inevitable
On Display Now: A Dysfunctional Marriage
Tensions have been growing at the Jones family for quite a while now. Recently, it has been getting downright ugly. A couple of years ago, Mrs. Jones met an attractive, silver-tongued man---we’ll call him simply T.P. ---who at first wooed her with compliments and lured her with pied piper tunes. But as their romance grew, so did T.P.’s influence on and demands from Mrs. … [Read more...] about On Display Now: A Dysfunctional Marriage
Anders Breivik: Europe’s Own Osama bin Laden (Berliner Morgenpost, Germany)
What does the emergence of a man like Norway's mass killer and self-professed Tempar Knight Anders Breivik mean? This editorial from Germany's Berliner Morgenpost outlines the striking similarities between two men that would appear at first glance to be polar opposites. The editorial from Germany's Berliner Morgenpost says in part: Although he calls himself a Knight … [Read more...] about Anders Breivik: Europe’s Own Osama bin Laden (Berliner Morgenpost, Germany)
Is a U.S. Credit Downgrade Inevitable?
Is a U.S. credit downgrade inevitable? Here's a roundup. … [Read more...] about Is a U.S. Credit Downgrade Inevitable?
Winning
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Winning
Yo Republicans: A Party Divided Cannot Stand
With apologies to Abraham Lincoln, that is the harsh reality facing the Republican Party as it looks into an abyss called 2012. Having learned none of the lessons from its loses in 2006 and 2008 elections and having misread the victories of 2010 as a mandate, the GOP is not only no closer to recapturing the Senate and White House than it was a year ago, it is considerably … [Read more...] about Yo Republicans: A Party Divided Cannot Stand
The Rejuvenation of John McCain
The titular head of the Republican Party, known for his short-fused temper, has exploded after two and a half years of volcanic quiescence. John McCain, who had to placate far-right opposition to keep his Senate seat last year, is finally blowing his lid over “Tea Party Hobbits” for their “foolish” and “deceiving” behavior in pushing a balanced-budget amendment. Moreover, … [Read more...] about The Rejuvenation of John McCain
Yes to Moderation, No to Centrism
WASHINGTON -- What the country yearns for is moderation. What we hear about is the political center. But centrism has become the enemy of moderation. Moderation in politics is about balance. It means believing in a vibrant and innovative private sector and a government substantial enough to do what the private sector doesn't and to enforce sensible rules for economic … [Read more...] about Yes to Moderation, No to Centrism
A Proposal for a Quick and Simple Solution to the Debt Limit Crisis
The federal fiscal year runs from October 1st through September 30th. The current fiscal year 2010-2011 was a product of congressional compromise four months ago that was passed with Tea Party support. Congress already approved federal borrowing that would exceed the current debt limit. There are only two months left before this fiscal year ends and another fiscal year begins … [Read more...] about A Proposal for a Quick and Simple Solution to the Debt Limit Crisis