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”
An Economic 9/11 on 8/2?
Tea Party terrorists elected last fall promised to change Washington, and they have—-turning it from a flawed vehicle that moves the nation’s business along, however bumpily, to a cockpit of fighting over a fabricated issue that is steering a shaky economy toward a smashup. The sorry spectacle has roused the largest American corporations to sound alarms and rating agencies … [Read more...] about An Economic 9/11 on 8/2?
The GOP Finds a Briar Patch (Guest Voice)
The GOP Finds a Briar Patch by The Magicial Sky Father Mitch McConnell may be politically craven and devoid of any pretense of a spine of the ideological variety but he should not be solely blamed for his latest attempt to resolve the debt ceiling debate. You see he is stuck between a rock and a hard place within his own party's coalition. The rock in this scenario is the … [Read more...] about The GOP Finds a Briar Patch (Guest Voice)
TPaw Flatlines in Quinnipiac Poll, While Many Await Perry
WASHINGTON - Frankly, I wouldn't even be writing this piece if it wasn't for Tim Pawlenty falling off the grid, because early polls aren't very illustrative. It's just that even after "Meet the Press," debates and pimping the press, he still can't get any respect. I don't know how it gets any worse for TPaw, someone I said from the start wouldn't pass muster and didn't have … [Read more...] about TPaw Flatlines in Quinnipiac Poll, While Many Await Perry
Rupert and James Murdoch “Too Busy” to Appear Before British Parliament
With each passing day it is more and more apparent that Rupert Murdoch at the very least is going to find his ascent has been curtailed in the UK and possibly eventually in the United States. Reports of phone hacking by his papers of the royal family, a murder victim, British veterans and a report (not particularly well sourced but there are now calls from two U.S. Senators for … [Read more...] about Rupert and James Murdoch “Too Busy” to Appear Before British Parliament
Political Quote of the Day: Obama on the Debt Ceiling and His Presidency
Our political Quote of the Day comes from President Barack Obama who reportedly said this at the contentious debt ceiling reduction talks that have failed so far: If Moody's, the credit rating agency that announced a review of U.S. credit, downgrades the United States, President Obama said, "it will be a tax increase on every American." There needs to be a long-term … [Read more...] about Political Quote of the Day: Obama on the Debt Ceiling and His Presidency
Banning Circumcision is Simply Banning Judaism (Guest Voice)
Banning Circumcision is Simply Banning Judaism by Yaakov Kirschen A bill to ban circumcision of all males under the age of 18 will be on the ballot in San Francisco this November. This is alarming because circumcision of all males is the single most basic ritual of Judaism. Banning circumcision is a direct attack on the practice of Judaism, even if it is presented as … [Read more...] about Banning Circumcision is Simply Banning Judaism (Guest Voice)
Debt Limit Talks: Feeding Off Anger
The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, warned on Wednesday of a “huge financial calamity” if President Obama and the Republicans cannot agree on a budget deal that allows the federal debt ceiling to be increased. Moody’s, the ratings agency, threatened a credit downgrade, citing a “rising possibility” that no deal would be reached before the government’s borrowing … [Read more...] about Debt Limit Talks: Feeding Off Anger
Debt Limit for Dummies
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Debt Limit for Dummies
U.S. Risks ‘Plunging World’ Into New Financial Crisis (Die Zeit, Germany)
Is there any truth to the notion that it would be no big deal if the U.S. Congress failed to lift the debt ceiling? According to Die Zeit columnist Christoph von Marschall, the world is cowering in fear over the fact that there are some U.S. lawmakers who fail to acknowledge the catastrophe of such an unprecedented event. For Die Zeit, Christoph von Marschall writes in … [Read more...] about U.S. Risks ‘Plunging World’ Into New Financial Crisis (Die Zeit, Germany)
Obama Can’t Celebrate Yet
WASHINGTON -- The wounded are especially dangerous fighters. President Obama now occupies the high ground in the debt-ceiling debate, having called the Republicans' bluff on the debt. He showed that deficit reduction is not now, and never has been, the GOP's priority. He dare not get overconfident. After thwarting the deal that House Speaker John Boehner was cooking up … [Read more...] about Obama Can’t Celebrate Yet
Peak Everything
Default on debt - that's the latest conversation but it's silly. The conversation recently has been all about a bail out of Greece. But who's getting bailed out? It's not the people of Greece but the banksters that loaned them money. In reality the citizens of Greece would be better off if the country defaulted. Ireland, Portugal, Spain and now … [Read more...] about Peak Everything
Global Economy Hangs on ‘Mood’ of U.S. Voters (O Globo, Brazil)
When it comes to the question of the U.S. defaulting on its debt, it seems that the old adage 'when the U.S. coughs, the world catches cold' isn't completely outdated. According to this editorial from Brazil's O Globo, the fortunes of billions may depend of the vicissitudes of America's cartoonish yet deadly serious political debate. The O Globo editorial says in … [Read more...] about Global Economy Hangs on ‘Mood’ of U.S. Voters (O Globo, Brazil)
Blue Republicans: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
My article of a few days ago -- If You Love Peace, Become a "Blue Republican" (Just for a Year) -- seems to have caused a stir. Many people of independent, liberal or Democratic sensibilities voted for Obama in 2008 in the hope of jolting America toward civil liberties and away from war, only to find themselves in 2011 disappointed that we are still starting wars and doing … [Read more...] about Blue Republicans: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
It’s Cocktail Hour in Washington, Meanwhile Minnesota is Going Dry
WASHINGTON - Oh, the horror! Miller time is just about over in Minnesota. Can you imagine a summer evening without cocktails? I'm sure many of you can, of course, but it's a tough road for the hospitality industry. This is what a shutdown looks like. From the Star Tribune: Hundreds of bars, restaurants and stores across Minnesota are running out of beer and alcohol … [Read more...] about It’s Cocktail Hour in Washington, Meanwhile Minnesota is Going Dry