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
Aftermath of the Obama-Boehner Infomercials
As the President and the Speaker gave competing pitches on prime time, they were aiming at different audiences. Barack Obama was urging millions of indifferent Americans to pressure Congress against taking the economy over a cliff, while John Boehner was trying to keep a handful of his Tea Party mavericks in line for the same purpose. The chairman of the conservative … [Read more...] about Aftermath of the Obama-Boehner Infomercials
Glenn Beck Compares Norway’s Young Victims To Hitler Youth
Glenn Beck has been laughing all the way to the bank for years as he knowingly and cement-headedly stirs up ratings garnering controversies. Fox News' Roger Ailes must be down on his knees now thanking God that he parted ways with Beck given this one: Controversial talk show host Glenn Beck has sparked outrage by comparing the 68 young victims of the horrific shooting on … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck Compares Norway’s Young Victims To Hitler Youth
Democratic Left Political Death Wish Part IV
I've often written about or noted how Democratic Party liberals tend to go after their own Presidents in primaries, or stay home when they don't like something their party does. Then they spend the next few years shocked about how the GOP seems to be taking over the courts more and more, seems to get a bigger foothold in controlling the Supreme Court, gets its members … [Read more...] about Democratic Left Political Death Wish Part IV
Populism, Right And Left, In Present Day American Politics
There was a fascinating article about Rep. Eric Cantor in yesterday's Washington Post. Cantor is the leader of the Tea Party clique in Congress that has turned a standard, non-controversial debt ceiling increase, one done more than 70 times over the years, into a mechanism to push an ultra-conservative fiscal agenda. Cantor, this Post article also notes, is a long time defender … [Read more...] about Populism, Right And Left, In Present Day American Politics
What In The Name Of God Is Going On With American Politics?
Politicians have been invoking the name of God since forever, but in an era when a substantial portion of the Republican base is hard-core Christianist -- true believers who openly disparage Islam and other faiths -- the practice has become particularly tiresome. And troublesome when you consider the number of homegrown incidents in which Christianists have backed up their … [Read more...] about What In The Name Of God Is Going On With American Politics?
Debt Ceiling
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To The Norwegians: A Tiny Nation of Stalwart Hearts… and Stalwart Trees
Dear Souls of Norway: I looked for a picture of something of Norway and her people that might represent this time. I found this picture of a beautiful Norway Pine, one who is limber and leans to the side, and yet remains strong. Like you. This tree belonging to you, is literally called "weeping Norway spruce," like our "weeping willow" trees here in the USA are named too, for … [Read more...] about To The Norwegians: A Tiny Nation of Stalwart Hearts… and Stalwart Trees
On Crime and Punishment: Shining A Light On Norwegian Prison Sentences
It's the outrage du la semaine: Twitter, Facebook and mainstream news sites remain a virtual maelstrom of people who are beside themselves because Norway reportedly has a maximum prison sentence of "only 21 years." In holier than thou fashion, many of these folks believe that they know best how Norway should treat Anders Behring Breivik, the 32-year-old man charged with killing … [Read more...] about On Crime and Punishment: Shining A Light On Norwegian Prison Sentences
Children on Their Summer Vacations
In Norway, a blond young man who might have stepped out of a Calvin Klein ad kills scores of people, most of them kids at a lakeside camp, to call attention to his 1500-page online rant, some of it plagiarized from the Unabomber. His politics are beside the point, as were those of the lunatic who shot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in the head last January, killing six in Tuscon, … [Read more...] about Children on Their Summer Vacations
The Kochtopian Nerve Seems to have been Struck
WARNING: VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS PIECE MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME VIEWERS. Something about my Nick Gillespie post (appearance on Bill Maher's Real Time on HBO this weekend) struck a nerve among "libertarians" on YouTube. What's the big deal? Aren't the Kochs our benefactors? This is nonsense! Harrumph. Harangue. Harass. But there IS something fundamental in not revealing … [Read more...] about The Kochtopian Nerve Seems to have been Struck
Norwegian Tragedy: Is Anders Behring Breivik Alone To Blame?
Was this tragedy waiting to happen? Are Anders Behring Breivik's murders another brutal manifestation of the hysteria that started building up post 9/11? George W. Bush and his team in the White House began an era of hatred and revenge, and have added enough fuel to create confusion and fire to last a few decades. We can still see widespread smoke, if not flames, in the West … [Read more...] about Norwegian Tragedy: Is Anders Behring Breivik Alone To Blame?
The Debt Ceiling Limit: An Outsider’s View from the Water Cooler
In a rebuttal to the President tonight the Speaker of the House, John Boehner at one point said a “serious bipartisan committee of Congress would begin the hard work necessary of dealing with the tough challenges our country faces.” He went on to say “The individuals doing this work will not be outsiders, but elected representatives of the people.” Boehner also continued to … [Read more...] about The Debt Ceiling Limit: An Outsider’s View from the Water Cooler
Don’t Tread on Who?
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