Al Qaeda has named a replacement to its killed leader Osama bin Laden -- and it's no surprise but does clarify Al Qaeda after bin Laden: Al-Qaeda named Ayman Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s top lieutenant, as leader after the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was killed in a U.S. raid in Pakistan last month. Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon, has for years been al- … [Read more...] about Al Qaeda Names Zawahiri to Replace Killed Osama bin Laden
GOP War on “Obama’s Wars”
Three years ago, Barack Obama was campaigning against dumb wars while John McCain was musing about staying in Iraq a hundred years. Now Republican hopefuls pound the President about military moves in the Middle East even as John Boehner warns him to get Congressional approval for his action in Libya by this weekend or face being in violation of the War Powers Act. Behind … [Read more...] about GOP War on “Obama’s Wars”
Coke or Pepsi? Form or Substance? (Guest Voice)
Coke or Pepsi? Form or Substance? by Peter Funt The presidential debate in New Hampshire Monday night produced no clear winner among seven Republicans, but it did expose CNN;s losing campaign to refine the quadrennial format. Easiest to lampoon was the so-called "This or That" line of questions from which we learned that Michele Bachmann has "Christmas with Elvis" on … [Read more...] about Coke or Pepsi? Form or Substance? (Guest Voice)
Cell Phone Use (Cartoon)
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For Japanese, Faded Nuclear Fears Return with a Vengeance (Chibanippo Shimbun, Japan)
Despite the fact that Japan was the first and only nation to suffer a nuclear attack, this editorial from Japan's Chibanippo Shimbun explains that with time, much of the insecurity felt by Japanese over nuclear fission had diminished. That is until that fateful day three months ago, when an earthquake and tsunami triggered one of the most devastating nuclear accidents in … [Read more...] about For Japanese, Faded Nuclear Fears Return with a Vengeance (Chibanippo Shimbun, Japan)
Gingrich’s Unfavorable Rating Skyrockets In New NBC/WSJ poll
If the new NBC/WSJ poll is correct, Newt Gingrich is now qualified to write a book called "How to Lose Friends and Influence Among Voting People." Forty-eight percent have a negative opinion of Gingrich -- an all-time high in the poll, even higher than it was during the Lewinsky scandal and Bill Clinton's impeachment when Gingrich was speaker. By comparison, just 16 … [Read more...] about Gingrich’s Unfavorable Rating Skyrockets In New NBC/WSJ poll
Ambitious Putin goes beyond a reset with Obama
Russia’s ambitions go far beyond the reset in relations sought by the Obama administration to achieving economic power capable of challenging the United States. This was the subtext of an unusual visit today to United Nations agencies by Vladimir Putin, the first by a Russian Prime Minister. Putin, who could be positioning himself for a further term as Russian President in … [Read more...] about Ambitious Putin goes beyond a reset with Obama
Focus on Jobs (Cartoon)
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Emails aren’t Sarah’s Problem, It’s Money
The Daily Show - PmailTags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook WASHINGTON - After Rep. Michele Bachmann's star turn in the Republican debate, Sarah Palin's fans have been very active rebutting the notion that Palin can't run because of Bachmann, while encouraging her to jump in. On MSNBC, Martin Bashir claimed that Bachmann … [Read more...] about Emails aren’t Sarah’s Problem, It’s Money
Avoiding Responsibility Through Rehab
Addiction and the use of treatment and rehabilitation to avoid ultimate responsibility for conduct is a subject I’ve taken up before. Rather than reinvent the wheel, here is some of what I raised in April of 2010 in the wake of the Tiger Woods revelations. It becomes pertinent again with the adventures of Anthony Weiner. “… are problems like eating disorders, gambling, … [Read more...] about Avoiding Responsibility Through Rehab
The Joys Of Working With Your Hands
One of the best decisions that I ever made was to take a deep breath after 10 years in the newspaper business, some of it spent covering big stories in exotic locales, and ponder my future. The upshot was that I quit the business to learn something that I had long yearned to do -- be a carpenter. I ended up apprenticing to a fine carpenter nearly 10 years my junior and over … [Read more...] about The Joys Of Working With Your Hands
Were CIA Informants Involved In bin Laden Raid Arrested by Pakistan?
Here's yet another sign of deteriorating U.S-Pakistan relations, the increasing question mark over the trustworthiness of Pakistan as an American intelligence ally, and yet another reason why Pakistan is going to face increasing resistance from Congress. The New York Times reports taht Pakistan has arrested CIA informants in the raid that got Osama bin Laden. But Pakistan … [Read more...] about Were CIA Informants Involved In bin Laden Raid Arrested by Pakistan?
Weiner at Half Mast (Cartoon)
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We Get the Media We Want (Guest Voice)
We Get the Media We Want by Tina Dupuy "The media"is our favorite whipping boy. It's shallow, petty and often stupid. It misses points, focuses on the wrong things, and completely ignores the bigger issues. It's prone to obsess on trivial rivalries and scandals instead of thoughtful substantive discussions about things which affect us most. Essentially, the media is a … [Read more...] about We Get the Media We Want (Guest Voice)
Tony Awards (Afterward)
If you missed it (Sunday night, CBS) you missed an amazing show. Thankfully, this year CBS allowed lots of clips on the web. 1 million views and counting for the opening number, Broadway isn't just for gays anymore! A Hugh Jackman & Neil Patrick Harris dance-off - Dueling Hosts. A mere 427,000 views: Neil Patrick Harris gives a closing rap. Only 9,000 views? No doubt … [Read more...] about Tony Awards (Afterward)
Kissinger: A Weiner of His Time
Introducing him to flog a new book, Stephen Colbert admiringly cites the days when Henry Kissinger chased women in his “Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac” days, an arresting contrast to the fate of Anthony Weiner for pursuing similar urges in our time. In fact, by all accounts, Kissinger actually netted some of his quarry (“When I’m boring, they think it’s their fault”) … [Read more...] about Kissinger: A Weiner of His Time
U.S. Finally Admits to Infiltration By Drug Cartels (La Jornada, Mexico)
Unbeknownst to much of the U.S. public, the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection admitted last week to 95 cases of corruption within his agency related to drug trafficking, undocumented immigrants and money laundering by organized crime groups in Mexico. In other words, U.S. customs officials are being bribed. According to this editorial from Mexico's La Jornada, this is … [Read more...] about U.S. Finally Admits to Infiltration By Drug Cartels (La Jornada, Mexico)
Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Collective Bargaining Law
The court voted 4-3 to uphold the law and was very critical of the lower court ruling. This particular case centered on whether the legislature violated the open meetings law which requires 24 hours notice of votes on a law. This law was passed with only 2 hours notice. The court based the decision on the fact that the 24 hour law is held to apply to regular committee … [Read more...] about Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Collective Bargaining Law
Quote of the Day: GOP Debate Didn’t Satisfy Moderates
Our political Quote of the Day comes from one of my favorite former officials and present pundits, CNN's David Gergen, who thinks the seven GOPers at last night's debate in New Hampshire played well to the Republican Party but may not have played well to the country at large. And, in particular, he believes moderate independents ended the night feeling more ignored than … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: GOP Debate Didn’t Satisfy Moderates
Court Upholds Prop 8 Ruling
A federal judge has upheldJudge Walker's ruling striking down Proposition 8, rejecting a challenge that claimed the ruling was invalid because Walker is gay and thus could theoretically benefit from the ruling. This was hardly an unexpected ruling, I've spoken with supporters of Proposition 8 who agreed that this was a pretty weak argument. If a gay judge cannot rule on same … [Read more...] about Court Upholds Prop 8 Ruling