The Tea Party won’t take yes for an answer. Even as the President caves in to their debt-ceiling demands, the Speaker of the House comes out like a ventriloquist’s dummy and demolishes the deal they were making. “I have decided,” John Boehner harrumphs, “to end discussions with the White House and begin conversations with the leaders of the Senate in an effort to find a path … [Read more...] about Boehner in a Box, Obama in a Rage
Politico: Boehner Gave House Republicans What They Wanted
As the United States now is poised on the brink of what experts and non-talk-show-political-culture analysts (including establishment Republicans) say is a financial catastrophe, when House Majority Leader John Boehner walked away from negotiations over the debt ceiling limit with President Barack Obama, according to The Politico he gave House Republicans what they wanted. … [Read more...] about Politico: Boehner Gave House Republicans What They Wanted
What Default Would Look Like
What would default look like? It would be scary -- and many Americans would feel its impact in terrible ways. But some really don't seem to care since they are blinded by other considerations and influences. … [Read more...] about What Default Would Look Like
Why San Francisco’s Bay Bridge is the ‘Pride of China’ (Beijing Youth Daily, People’s Republic of China)
Should China's people feel pride that the state of California contracted over two dozen giant steel modules for the San Francisco Bay Bridge out to a firm in Shanghai rather than building them in America? In this article from the state-run Beijing Youth Daily, the author, Wang Chuantao, mixes in equal measure national pride over the progress this represents for the "Made in … [Read more...] about Why San Francisco’s Bay Bridge is the ‘Pride of China’ (Beijing Youth Daily, People’s Republic of China)
Caught Between Obama and the Tea Partyers, Boehner Faints. Dissolve to 14th Amendment?
House Speaker John Boehner has walked away from negotiations with President Obama over a deal to raise the debt limit. "In the end, we couldn't connect. Not because of different personalities, but because of different visions for our country," Boehner said in a letter to colleagues. He said Mr. Obama " is emphatic that taxes have to be raised" and "adamant that we cannot … [Read more...] about Caught Between Obama and the Tea Partyers, Boehner Faints. Dissolve to 14th Amendment?
STALEMATE: Boehner Walks Out of Debt Ceiling Limit Talks With Obama (UPDATED with ROUNDUP)
First Rep. Eric Cantor walked out of talks with Vice President Joe Biden on raising the debt ceiling limit -- and now Majority Leader John Boehner has walked out on talks with President Barack Obama. Consider this crisis now extra grave -- although there have been predictions it would reach this stage and eventually be settled in the Senate. And it's likely some of the crisis … [Read more...] about STALEMATE: Boehner Walks Out of Debt Ceiling Limit Talks With Obama (UPDATED with ROUNDUP)
Attack On Norway Takes Me Back In Time
In 1975, I spent the summer in Oslo, at the International Summer School hosted at the University of Oslo. It was my first trip abroad (although I'd been across the Texas border into Mexico). The school was top of mind after I saw the headline: Oslo hit by bomb explosion and youths shot at camp. I was tipped to the story by a tweet which had been retweeted by someone in my … [Read more...] about Attack On Norway Takes Me Back In Time
Libya: NATO and US in a labyrinth
Steadily, NATO and the US are digging themselves into a hole in Libya. Six months into the war, victory is far from sight and the anti-Gaddafi fighters recently recognized by Washington as Libya’s legitimate regime are fracturing by the week. The only quick end would be an Osama bin Laden-style assassination of Gaddafi but that it unlikely any time soon. Of course, the US … [Read more...] about Libya: NATO and US in a labyrinth
Obama’s Blink
The President has apparently caved in to Tea Party blackmail, the cliché about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory has become a working principle in Washington, and the future could be even worse. Behind news of ”a package calling for as much as $3 trillion in savings from substantial spending cuts and future revenue produced by a tax code overhaul” is the reality … [Read more...] about Obama’s Blink
I Am no Michael Smerconish, but …
Today’s headlines on the Pentagon being set to certify that it is ready to end “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell,” remind me of a recent column written by Michael Smerconish at the Philadelphia Enquirer. At the time I read the Smerconish column, I said to myself, “Wow, I could have written this myself---perhaps even better than Smerconish.” Now, do not get me wrong, I am no … [Read more...] about I Am no Michael Smerconish, but …
Special Quote of the Day: Roger Ebert on Today’s Republican Party
A special political Quote of the Day comes from Roger Ebert, who nails it in a post titled "The Republicans Exit History": What I read,and hear is that the Republican Party is abandoning its hopes of speaking for a majority of Americans. It will still win elections. It controls the House. Perhaps it will elect the next President. But steadily and fatally it is moving out … [Read more...] about Special Quote of the Day: Roger Ebert on Today’s Republican Party
UPDATED AGAIN: Terrorists Hit Oslo
UPDATE: The New York Times: After the shooting the police seized a 32-year-old Norwegian man on the island, according to the police and Justice Minister Knut Storberget. He was later identified as Anders Behring Breivik and was characterized by officials as a right-wing extremist. The man was arrested in connection with both attacks. CNN: [Update: 10:20 p.m. ET, … [Read more...] about UPDATED AGAIN: Terrorists Hit Oslo
How Little Wisdom
Paul Krugman has a right to be pessimistic. The powerful elites on both sides of the Atlantic suffer from group think. And, instead of proving the truth of the old adage, "great minds think alike," they offer a vivid illustration of the flip side of that coin: fools never differ. The movers and shakers are entirely out of touch with the people whose interests they are … [Read more...] about How Little Wisdom
Larry Summers: People in Glass Houses
People in glass houses .... Former Government, and Harvard, hack, Larry Summers is in the news again today. No, he isn't bellowing some inane financial wisdom, rather, dissing two of the original Facebook founders, the Twinkle Toes Twins, or whatever their name is; Larry Summers calls Winklevoss twins 'A**holes' "One of the things you learn as a college president … [Read more...] about Larry Summers: People in Glass Houses
LIVE VIDEO FEED: Obama Townhall: Expected to Discuss Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis
Here's a live video feed of a Townhall meeting Barack Obama will hold in Maryland. He's expected to discuss the debt ceiling crisis. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about LIVE VIDEO FEED: Obama Townhall: Expected to Discuss Debt Ceiling Limit Crisis
Is Quiznos Going Under?
Is the high-quality sub sandwich chain Quiznos about to go under? It seems they have a problem making enough paper bread in the economy to keep going. Will it go the way of Borders? pp Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com It will be sad indeed if Quiznos vanishes from the scene. What was its main problem? The International … [Read more...] about Is Quiznos Going Under?
Are Cigars Endangered? (Guest Voice)
Are Cigars Endangered? by Tom Purcell Are premium cigars next on the federal government's hit list? You see, as part of the 2010 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has the authority "to regulate marketing and promotion of tobacco products and to set performance standards for tobacco products to protect the public … [Read more...] about Are Cigars Endangered? (Guest Voice)
Obama: Too Much Anger Management
With their fabricated debt ceiling fiasco, the GOP has tested the President’s patience and not found it wanting. As the deadline nears, the question is: What will it take to enrage him? Barack Obama is edging into testy now: "This is actually a self-created crisis in some ways. It has to do with folks who are digging into set positions rather than saying how do we solve a … [Read more...] about Obama: Too Much Anger Management
MSNBC Replaces Cenk Uygur With Al Sharpton: Uygur Burns His Bridges (UPDATED II)
By now you must have heard that Cenk Uygur is out at MSNBC and Al Sharpton is in. And by now you must smell the smoke -- as Uygur systematically burns his MSNBC bridges behind him. Hey, kiddies, if you lose your job, don't try this at home as you exit your old workplace. The New York Times: Mr. Uygur, who by most accounts was well liked within MSNBC, said in an … [Read more...] about MSNBC Replaces Cenk Uygur With Al Sharpton: Uygur Burns His Bridges (UPDATED II)
Pentagon Ready For Gay And Lesbian Troops To Serve Openly
Another step to allowing those who fight for our freedom to enjoy some of it. I think the key word there is OPENLY because anybody who thinks there have not been gay and lesbian troops serving since the start of this country is a fool. Some of them have died for us. … [Read more...] about Pentagon Ready For Gay And Lesbian Troops To Serve Openly