Here is a live video feed to President Barack Obama's press conference, which is now underway: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about Live Video Feed for President Barack Obama’s Press Conference
Is The Debt Ceiling Unconstitutional?
With negotiations to raise the debt ceiling taking water, many are asking the critical question: Is the debt ceiling unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment. That Amendment, at section 4, reads: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law,…shall not be questioned.” Since the current debt, and increases to it, are the result of … [Read more...] about Is The Debt Ceiling Unconstitutional?
Senators Criticize Obama for Tepid Leadership on Debt Ceiling Issue
President Barack Obama is being criticized by some Senators for not being forceful enough on the debt ceiling issue. This has become a recurring theme of the Obama Presidency: that he lags in providing forceful political leadership on some issues and finally snaps into action at the eleven hour after letting his political foes seemingly get the upper hand. His tendency to "lead … [Read more...] about Senators Criticize Obama for Tepid Leadership on Debt Ceiling Issue
Dems and GOP Will Not Move on Budget (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Dems and GOP Will Not Move on Budget (Cartoon)
CBS Poll: Obama’s Ratings Still Under 50 Percent (UPDATED)
A CBS News/New York Times poll finds President Barack Obama's approval ratings below 50 percent -- in the political danger zone with some improvements in some areas that do not change his overall grim appoval rating: President Obama's job approval rating remains just below 50 percent, virtually unchanged from three weeks ago, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll … [Read more...] about CBS Poll: Obama’s Ratings Still Under 50 Percent (UPDATED)
Palin-Bachmann: Iowa Dancing With the Stars
Ballet comes to mind for what GOP divas as doing in the Hawkeye State, a new variation on the graceful duet in which dancers usually make their moves in harmony but in this case as if the other were invisible. La Palin comes into the state on tiptoe for the premiere of an adoring movie about her, cloaked in classic subtlety that sets off equal and opposite images in the eyes … [Read more...] about Palin-Bachmann: Iowa Dancing With the Stars
Has Google Finally “Got” The Ideas Presented In EPIC2015?
On Monday, I shared the classic EPIC2015 with my undergraduate new media class. We discussed which companies had been less or more influential than this 2004 vision and how the vision missed mobile and YouTube. … [Read more...] about Has Google Finally “Got” The Ideas Presented In EPIC2015?
How Dumb Do They (We) Think We (They) Are?
I was watching C-Span, again. This would be pretty sad but, I have to tell you, it is better than Ambien. Anyway, C-Span was rerunning a talk between David Wessel of the Wall Street Journal and Representative Dave Camp (R-MI), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. This talk was conducted at the Wall Street Journal’s recent CFO Network Conference. In general the … [Read more...] about How Dumb Do They (We) Think We (They) Are?
Failure to adapt
While Germany, the rest of Europe and even China embrace the future, alternative energy, resistance continues in the United States. The reason of course is that big oil and big coal own enough lawmakers to stop it. This is why the US will be left behind. Germany is leading the way in smart grids: The US put the first and only men on the moon and led the world in … [Read more...] about Failure to adapt
Obama’s Boldest Bet Yet (Estadao, Brazil)
Is it reasonable to assert, as President Obama did the other day, that, the 'wave of war is receding'? According to this editorial from Brazil's Estadao, while the last few years have proven the 'folly' of Bush's 'war against terrorists,' President Obama's belief that the 'tide of war' is receding may well turn out to be just as far fetched. The Estadao editorial says in … [Read more...] about Obama’s Boldest Bet Yet (Estadao, Brazil)
Obama Sends Mistaken Message to the Taliban (Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Switzerland)
Is President Obama's decision to follow through with plans to withdraw from Afghanistan just a misbegotten election-year ploy? According to columnist Andreas Ruesch of Switzerland's Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Mr. Obama has sent the Taliban the wrong message at precisely the wrong time, apparently for strictly electoral purposes. For Switzerland's Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Andreas … [Read more...] about Obama Sends Mistaken Message to the Taliban (Neue Zurcher Zeitung, Switzerland)
Who Can Replace America as the World’s Policeman? (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Has the world seen the last of the major U.S.-mounted invasions? For Poland's Rzeczpospolita, columnist Marek Magierowski writes that while electoral politics played a role in President Obama's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, the explanation goes much deeper. For Rzeczpospolita, Marek Magierowski writes in part: Obama also knows that his country is no longer … [Read more...] about Who Can Replace America as the World’s Policeman? (Rzeczpospolita, Poland)
Obama in the East Room Tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.
WASHINGTON - From Press Secretary Jay Carney via Twitter. Taylor Marsh is a Washington based political analyst, writer and commentator on national politics, foreign policy, and women in power. A veteran national politics writer, Taylor’s been writing on the web since 1996. She has reported from the White House, been profiled in the Washington Post, The New Republic, and … [Read more...] about Obama in the East Room Tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.
The Undie Feted
Feted, n. 1. To celebrate or honor with a festival, a feast, or an elaborate entertainment. 2. To pay honor to. [French fête, from Old French feste; see feast.] The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. There must have been a typo. You might remember this, from 2008 … [Read more...] about The Undie Feted
Lessons From Sweden : Economics and Culture
Imagine a country that has weathered the global recession (5.5 percent growth last year v 2.8 in the U.S), where unemployment is dropping (7 percent v 9 percent in the U.S.) and where gross debt is manageable (45 percent of the economy v 100 percent in the U.S.). That country is Sweden, the pinko-socialist country that many U.S. conservatives love to hate. One reason Sweden … [Read more...] about Lessons From Sweden : Economics and Culture
Taliban Thumbs Its Nose At West
Some of you may have noticed that the Taliban has engaged in a terror attack on Kabul, Afghanistan's Intercontinental Hotel. They just don't seem interested in cooperating with the Afghan government or any Western entity. This attack may or may not be over. Apparently helicopters just shot terrorists on the hotel roof. Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Gunmen and suicide … [Read more...] about Taliban Thumbs Its Nose At West
Will Andrew Cuomo Run for President in 2016?
Will Andrew Cuomo run for President in 2016? The conventional wisdom is suggesting just that, due to the New York Governor's leadership in achieving his state's same sex marriage law – an achievement that turned Cuomo into the political Justin Bieber of Democratic Party liberals. The narrative took on such a frenzied life that the New York Post reported Cuomo ordered his … [Read more...] about Will Andrew Cuomo Run for President in 2016?
Once Again Degrading Free Speech In The Service Of Buying Elections
Campaign spending has long been a slippery slope, and finding a balance between private and public interests and wealthy benefactors and nickel-dime contributors has been difficult. But the goal -- trying to mitigate the impact of big bucks on election campaigns -- has been a worthy one. And one that the Roberts Supreme Court has once again determined to be less worthy than … [Read more...] about Once Again Degrading Free Speech In The Service Of Buying Elections
Free Speech: The Means Tested Constitutional Right
Imagining that the founding fathers intended that free speech be a commodity to be bought and sold like ham hocks has never resonated with my understanding of the Constitution. It’s true that five current members of the U. S. Supreme Court disagree with me and insist that speech is a market item that comes with a price tag attached. Those with the cash in pocket to pony up … [Read more...] about Free Speech: The Means Tested Constitutional Right
Quote of the Day: How Michele Bachmann Differs from Sarah Palin
Our political Quote of the Day comes via Morning Joe from the host of the same name Joe Scarborough who notes the differences between Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann. Mediaite has this quote where Scarborough notes how Bachmann has upped her game since hiring veteran GOP consultant Ed Rollins: “When she doesn’t have the trainer in the corner she swings wildly, like Mike … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: How Michele Bachmann Differs from Sarah Palin