NATO does very good work every day, but it is "a bit of an anachronism." 9/11 has accelerated the divergence of European and American geostrategic interests. Europe does not need American protection anymore, with the exception of the nuclear guarantee, says Nick Witney, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He gave an excellent and … [Read more...] about Europe Does Not Need American Protection Anymore
Deficit Debate: Air-Cooling a Desert
As the President prepares to confront Mitch McConnell and John Boehner on the deficit, an irresistible image arrives for the absurdity of those deliberations. Among the endless laundry list of government expenditures to be evaluated is $20.2 billion, an item larger than the entire N.A.S.A. budget, scheduled to go for air-conditioning in Afghanistan and Iraq next year. … [Read more...] about Deficit Debate: Air-Cooling a Desert
Sarah Who?
WASHINGTON - So, the Hillary effect continues to pave the way for women, bringing forth the first serious right-wing conservative candidate with a worthy resume, Michele Bachmann, who has announced her candidacy in Iowa. A meeting was immediately called by the GOP Establishment to figure out what to do about This Woman. I'm joking on that last one, but I bet phone calls have … [Read more...] about Sarah Who?
Afghanistan War: Criminal Waste of American Tax-Payers’ Money
The Obama administration had at least the guts to justify the continued squandering of public money on the so-called war-on-terror in Afghanistan by formally handing over the foreign policy to the CIA and the Pentagon with a seemingly "limitless budget".(see here). But why is the American media quiet on the cost of war that is crippling US economy --- such as the U.S. … [Read more...] about Afghanistan War: Criminal Waste of American Tax-Payers’ Money
“Partisan” Fight Over Debt Ceiling Inside One Party
Yup. It's Boehner v. Cantor, according to Juan Williams. Both men are pretty bad (and pretty good examples of GOP quality). This time Cantor has the edge on nastiness, but Boehner is the one getting crushed. This battle is Republican versus Republican. It features John Boehner (R-Ohio), the Speaker of the House on one side, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor … [Read more...] about “Partisan” Fight Over Debt Ceiling Inside One Party
Bin Laden Thinking About Changing Al Qaeda’s Name: Now That Would Have Been Some Marketing Meeting!
Now That Would Have Been Some Marketing Meeting! WOW! If this marketing meeting had taken place, about the only thing that could rival it would be Lenny Bruce's "Religion Inc." Seems the former Big Cheese of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, was fretting that his creation of terrorism and murder was losing its' marketing punch. Osama wanted new name for al-Qaida to … [Read more...] about Bin Laden Thinking About Changing Al Qaeda’s Name: Now That Would Have Been Some Marketing Meeting!
Defying Stereotypes : America’s Got Talent
The tweet read "Susan Boyle moment." I trusted the sender, so I clicked ... and was treated to the spectacle of American talent judges being as dismissive (nonverbally) as those British ones had been. This singer, however, is male, black and from America's backwater to top all backwaters: West (by-god) Virginia. And for 10 years, the 36-year-old has made his living washing … [Read more...] about Defying Stereotypes : America’s Got Talent
Blagojevich on Freedom (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Blagojevich on Freedom (Cartoon)
Judge Blocks Georgia Immigration Law
”HB 87 is state regulation of immigration. Section 8 attempts an end-run – not around federal criminal law – but around federal statutes defining the role of state and local officers in immigration enforcement….[B]oth the United States government and several foreign nations have expressed concern about the international relations impact of HB 87. “In reference to HB 87, … [Read more...] about Judge Blocks Georgia Immigration Law
Quote of the Day: David Frum Says “I Was Wrong About Same-Sex Marriage”
Our political Quote of the Day is actually an entire column by David Frum for CNN. I often retweet Frum's Tweets on my Twitter account. Frum is the former special assistant to President George W. Bush who has increasingly broken from his party as it has become more identified with conservative talk radio hosts and the Tea Party movement in the post-Bush years. Here's part of … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: David Frum Says “I Was Wrong About Same-Sex Marriage”
An Electric Car Update
Today on PRI's "The World," I heard a heartening story. Somebody was listening, somewhere. And that's a good thing. Here is my original post: 5 APRIL 2010 · 8:55 PM Lazy Pro-Animal Blogging – Oregon Edition Electric cars are coming to Oregon, and they’re trying to figure out where to site the charging stations. I had been waiting for the right time to make this … [Read more...] about An Electric Car Update
TSA Grope (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about TSA Grope (Cartoon)
A Government Of, By And For The Elite (Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett)
In 1998 the citizens of Arizona passed a referendum to reduce political corruption in the state, The Arizona Citizens Clean Election Act. The citizen’s initiative came about after AzScam, a scandal in which roughly 10% of state legislators were found to have taken bribes, including campaign contributions, in exchange for supporting legislation that gave tax breaks to … [Read more...] about A Government Of, By And For The Elite (Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett)
Today in Not The Onion
The Supreme Court rules that allowing poor candidates the ability to respond to rich ones violates the latter's First Amendment rights. Chief Justice Roberts: "All else being equal, an advertisement supporting the election of a candidate that goes without a response is often more effective than an advertisement that is directly controverted." Can't argue with that logic! … [Read more...] about Today in Not The Onion
Republican Political Survival Suit (Cartoon)
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UPDATE: BLAGO GUILTY ON 17 COUNTS (former: Jury Reaches Verdict On Former Governor Soprano)
UPDATE: JURY FINDS BLAGO GUILTY ON 17 COUNTS Experts are now commenting on possible sentence for Blago, looks like he'll be looking at about a decade behind bars. The jury has convicted former Governor Soprano on 17 of the 20 counts against him. He was found not guilty on one count and they hung on two counts. He was found guilty on all counts related to the alleged … [Read more...] about UPDATE: BLAGO GUILTY ON 17 COUNTS (former: Jury Reaches Verdict On Former Governor Soprano)
Tea Party Star Michele Bachmann Formally Announces Republican 2012 Presidential Nomination Candidacy
Rep. Michele Bachman, the Tea Party favorite who is quickly filling the space Sarah Palin once filled in media interest, Tea Party interest, and as the symbol of a powerful wing of the Republican party -- and who has upped her political game in terms of her own professional political performance -- is now officially "in." She has announced her bid for the 2012 Republican … [Read more...] about Tea Party Star Michele Bachmann Formally Announces Republican 2012 Presidential Nomination Candidacy
Chris Wallace Steps In It. Again.
Burning up the internets this morning, Chris Wallace asking Michele Bachmann, "Are you a flake?" Bachmann calls the question “insulting,” she's "a serious person." Wallace apologized but Bachmann's apparently not accepting. This following on the heels of the week-long aftermath of Wallace's Jon Stewart interview. In that interview Stewart said that Wallace stands out … [Read more...] about Chris Wallace Steps In It. Again.
Is College for Everyone? A Very Old Story
From the current debate over whether a college education is worth the price in money and time for every American child, a memory seven decades old arises as testimony to the life-changing difference those four years used to make for generations born to immigrant parents. The teacher's name, improbably, was Mr. Crabb. His grim face rose from a stiff rounded collar anchored … [Read more...] about Is College for Everyone? A Very Old Story
When Did America Become Rome?
There has been a fascinating discussion going on over at Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish concerning when America became Rome. That is, when did it forswear faith in its leaders and morality for greed and decadence. The comparison, of course, is somewhat precious as well as a time-worn cliche, but it works well enough for the purposes of trying to figure out why we are going … [Read more...] about When Did America Become Rome?