Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Daily Beast's John Avlon, who looks at the GOP's debt ceiling kamikazes -- GOPers who insist despite what experts say that default on the debt would be catastrophic. Some excerpts from this must-read-in-full column: Call them Debt Ceiling Deniers. Believers in faith-based fiscal policy. Math-challenged … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The GOP’s Debt Ceiling Kamikazes
More Murdoch Phone Hacking Fallout: Rebekah Brooks Resigns from News Corp.
The person who headed Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.'s British newspaper division has finally resigned. You can say "finally" because Murdoch reportedly looked upon Rebekah Brooks as one of the family and had resisted calls for her corporate scalp so far. But no more: Rebekah Brooks resigned as chief executive of News Corp.'s British newspaper unit on Friday, yielding to … [Read more...] about More Murdoch Phone Hacking Fallout: Rebekah Brooks Resigns from News Corp.
The Misadventures of Michele and Murdoch
To keep our heads from exploding over the debt-ceiling debacle, it’s time to turn back to figures who keep public life from being boring. After a summer of Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump, Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Anthony Weiner, Americans badly need a fresh dose of the peculiar and piquant to divert their attention. Michele Bachmann fills the bill so well that Jon Stewart … [Read more...] about The Misadventures of Michele and Murdoch
Michele Bachmann’s Husband Problem
The Daily Show - Comedy Repression TherapyGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook WASHINGTON - The Bachmanns have been making a lot of news lately. The few women who have attempted the national ticket tango have all had spousal issues, but Michele Bachmann has had a tremendous start since announcing, including a … [Read more...] about Michele Bachmann’s Husband Problem
DC Government: Stop Designing Proprietary (Discriminatory) Online Systems
Governments should not privilege one company over another. The World Wide Web had as its genesis the problem of proprietary systems. These two truisms make the District of Columbia website an affront beyond compare. The DC Corp Online system, although designed for "businesses to conduct many transactions online", can also serve as a citizen tool for finding information … [Read more...] about DC Government: Stop Designing Proprietary (Discriminatory) Online Systems
Boehner and Cantor
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Boehner and Cantor
A Way Out of the Debt Ceiling Deadlock?
Is there a way out of the debt ceiling deadlock? As always, CNN's David Gergen, who has served Presidents of both parties, steps back and gives an analysis that suggests that, despite the uproar in the blogosphere and ideological talk shows of the left and right and talk radio, the seeds of a possible solution that could signal a partisan "cease fire" can be seen. Gergen … [Read more...] about A Way Out of the Debt Ceiling Deadlock?
Confusing Principle with Intransigence
prin•ci•ple [prin-suh-puh l] noun 1. an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct: a person of good moral principles. 2. a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived: the principles of modern physics. 3. a fundamental doctrine or tenet; a distinctive ruling opinion: the principles of the Stoics. in•tran•si•gent [in-tran-si-juh nt] … [Read more...] about Confusing Principle with Intransigence
Taxes and Job Creation
My state of Oregon used to be dependent on logging and lumber but that was replaced by manufacturing in the 80's. When the economy goes south both suffer quickly. This recession was no different - at one point Oregon unemployment was two points higher than the national average. In January of 2010 the voters in Oregon passed a tax increase for the wealthy and business. Of … [Read more...] about Taxes and Job Creation
The ALEC Right-Wing State Distopia
A state government of the corporation, by the corporation and for the corporation may be coming to a state near you. If you like your laws drafted and passed by corporate politicians for the corporations which own them, apparently you can call ALEC to arrange it. A secret group, until now, whose sole purpose is to diminish your rights in favor of corporations has been … [Read more...] about The ALEC Right-Wing State Distopia
Ride Safety Video
For your enjoyment, especially if you've ridden Soaring Over California Rollercoaster Safety with Patrick Warburton - watch more funny videos … [Read more...] about Ride Safety Video
Nostalgia TV Bringing A Smile.
With the passing of Peter Falk I am taking the evening to watch a couple Columbo episodes via Netflix streaming. I may follow it up with a few episodes of the Brady's or Gilligan in respect for Sherwood. I'm a junkie for shows of the 60's and 70's (and to a lesser degree the 80's) and when I watch I can't help but marvel that this was network programming. When you look at … [Read more...] about Nostalgia TV Bringing A Smile.
Budget Talks
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Budget Talks
Crowdsourcing Request: Votes On Debt Ceiling (And Reagan’s Legacy)
Updated: Chart: There have been a lot of Congressional votes to raise the debt ceiling since FDR (1940). I've put together a public spreadsheet based on White House data. Vote dates and PL info are there, as well how much the debt ceiling was raised. Note: if you have ever had any doubts about the effects of Reagan's tax cuts and expanded military spending, I hope this … [Read more...] about Crowdsourcing Request: Votes On Debt Ceiling (And Reagan’s Legacy)
Small Town America
Let me warn you up front: I don't pretend to have the answers here, and if the question is too disturbing, or you'd prefer to chase butterflies through greener pastures, well, I don't blame you. But we DO have a problem and it DOES need a solution. Let me tell you a story about a little petty larceny -- the larceny of memory, not of dollars. There was a man who served in the … [Read more...] about Small Town America
U.S. Help with Mexican Drug War Insufficient’ (El Universal, Mexico)
Is the United States doing enough to put an end to the drug violence south of the border? According to this editorial from Mexico's El Universal, while the Obama government has taken tiny steps in the right direction, opposition from the U.S. gun lobby and the legalization of marijuana in 15 U.S. states has hindered progress. The editorial from El Universal says in … [Read more...] about U.S. Help with Mexican Drug War Insufficient’ (El Universal, Mexico)
Mea Culpas In The Digital Era
There have always been mistakes made in journalism. Newspapers report "errata", usually on page two. Unknown how many people actually read those corrections. In the digital space, it is easier to make corrections, but there is no agreed-upon norm for how to go about it. This hasn't been a good week for me; ditto Reuters and Wired. An original analysis that I wrote Sunday … [Read more...] about Mea Culpas In The Digital Era
Debt Ceiling “Debate” – The Hottest Show on Earth
As the Hottest Show on Earth rages in the mainstream media, a very much less-than-sexy campaign is being waged for structural political reform from the grassroots. For example, Michael Lewis and William Bowe from Independent Kentucky (IK) met with Congressman John Yarmouth. IK has been leading a fight to open the primaries. Said Lewis "We highlighted how Kentucky and other … [Read more...] about Debt Ceiling “Debate” – The Hottest Show on Earth
Eric Cantor Singalong
If Eric Cantor, the Tea Party's rep in Congress, were singing karaoke these days, it might be in the style of an old Frank Sinatra favorite. They'll Do It My Way And now, though defaults loom, I hold one steadfast notion; It's that, tax hikes mean doom, To this I swear, my full devotion; For me, negotiate, A lesser rich folks exalted payday, That game I'll never … [Read more...] about Eric Cantor Singalong
Of “Dits” and “Dahs”
As a young U.S. Air Force airborne radio operator in the late 50s and early 60s, I became very good at using Morse code---you know, the art of sending dots and dashes in the form of short and longer bursts of radio energy through the atmosphere, and beyond. I became very good partially out of necessity. You see, as a recent immigrant to the United States, I still had a … [Read more...] about Of “Dits” and “Dahs”