On that dreadful Saturday afternoon in January, I along with many others started blogging on the tragedy in Tucson and updated the story at first every few minutes, then every few hours. Then, after the political and finger-pointing comments abated, I started updating the story almost daily, via comments, focusing on the miraculous recovery of Representative Gabrielle … [Read more...] about Gabby Giffords’ Recovery, and Beyond.
Coming Very Soon — The Next Big Obama “Compromise”
Maybe you just started having a drink or two to help you sleep after a hard day. Then a drink or two to mellow out when you got home after a hard day. Then a drink or two at lunch to get through a hard day. Then a drink or two before you actually left for work so you could get through a hard day. Well, for some pols — like our president — it's the same slippery slope syndrome … [Read more...] about Coming Very Soon — The Next Big Obama “Compromise”
Karl Rove: Trump is a “Joke” Candidate (UPDATED)
GOP political maven Karl Rove -- the quintessential, hard-nosed political realist -- calls Trump a "joke" candidate. Rove also thinks Rep. Paul Ryan truly bugs Obama. He notes that Trump had promise and embracing the birther issue makes him "a joke." "The American people are not going to be hiring him and the Republicans are not going to hire him..Weird conspiracy … [Read more...] about Karl Rove: Trump is a “Joke” Candidate (UPDATED)
The 100 Percent Death Tax
GoozNews on the dangerous but beguiling econometric logic behind the Republican plan to undo Medicare: It’s an idea that could catch on if the general public became convinced that there is nothing we can do acting together as a society to lower the cost of care. Only the market can do it, the Republicans claim. Force seniors (or the poor or anyone, for that matter) to have … [Read more...] about The 100 Percent Death Tax
Tea Party Movie Bomb
As if Tax Day weren't painful enough, it brings the premiere of "Atlas Shrugged: Part I," a film 50 years in the making that, from reviews, seems almost as long to sit through. Nonetheless, Paul Ryan, Rand Paul and Tea Party members will be on the edge of their seats watching Ayn Rand's epic of how "men are slave to society and government, and destruction of the profit … [Read more...] about Tea Party Movie Bomb
Gallup Poll: Obama is now Tying His Lowest Approval Rating 41%
A new Gallup Poll finds President Barack Obama's approval rating is now tied to his lowest -- at 41 percent. His problem: a resumption of vote support erosion from independent voters: The latest Gallup Daily tracking three-day average shows 41% of Americans approving of the job Barack Obama is doing as president. That ties his low as president, which he registered three … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Obama is now Tying His Lowest Approval Rating 41%
Saving Medicare
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Saving Medicare
House Republicans Pass Ryan Budget By Huge Margin
They did it. House Republicans passed a budget plan that eliminates Medicare and Medicaid while giving the military a pass and handing huge tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. … [Read more...] about House Republicans Pass Ryan Budget By Huge Margin
Obama Issues Signing Statement on Defunding of Czars
Jake Tapper reports: … [Read more...] about Obama Issues Signing Statement on Defunding of Czars
Rush Limbaugh Confirms It: He Does Hate Radio
I mean, really. What else is this? How does this qualify by any definition as politics or even dislike? It's sheer hate radio. But he makes big bucks so each week he'll continue to top -- or rather lower -- himself. Which he is consistently doing. … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh Confirms It: He Does Hate Radio
The Ryan Budget Plan Versus the Affordable Care Act
Benjy Sarlin at TPMDC explains why private companies might not be eager to insure Americans who are currently covered by Medicare under a voucher program such as the one Paul Ryan is proposing: … [Read more...] about The Ryan Budget Plan Versus the Affordable Care Act
David Brooks Is Being Sillier Than Usual
Another Left-Handed post. … [Read more...] about David Brooks Is Being Sillier Than Usual
Democrats Pwn Republicans on Budget Vote
Brian Beutler reports on an amazing political coup that House Democrats came within a hair’s breadth of pulling off: … [Read more...] about Democrats Pwn Republicans on Budget Vote
Commerce Secretary Locke’s Digital Identity Initiative Rests On Flawed Justification
The White House made a big statement about (digital) identity theft on Friday, with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke announcing a public-private sector effort, National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC). "The administration hopes to see a robust trusted ID market in the U.S. in three to five years," according to PC World. The trusted ID technologies … [Read more...] about Commerce Secretary Locke’s Digital Identity Initiative Rests On Flawed Justification
Obama’s Reelection Hinges on Proving Government Can Work (O Globo, Brazil)
This editorial from Brazil's O Globo demonstrates again how important American economic soundness and foreign policy is to the rest of the world. Commenting on foreign affairs and the spectacle now taking place in Washington over the budget, O Globo takes a look at what it will take for President Obama to win in 2012, and suggests that if his more multilateral foreign policy … [Read more...] about Obama’s Reelection Hinges on Proving Government Can Work (O Globo, Brazil)
Arizona Passes Birther Bill
Arizona has become the first state in the Union to pass a birther bill requiring presidential candidates to prove natural born citizenship in order to appear on the state’s ballot. HB 2177 now goes to Governor Jan Brewer who has not indicated whether she will sign or veto the measure. She also has the option of letting it sit for five days and become law without her … [Read more...] about Arizona Passes Birther Bill
Is Donald Trump Imagining Things? Daily News Publisher Says Trump Never Saved Paper
Is Donald Trump imagining things? Sounds that way: he's mad over an unflattering New York Daily News cover and claims he once saved the paper. But the paper's publisher Mort Zuckerman says it never happened. Zuckerman, a fellow real estate mogul who also recently considered stepping into politics, said he has "no idea what [Trump's] talking about" and can't recall ever … [Read more...] about Is Donald Trump Imagining Things? Daily News Publisher Says Trump Never Saved Paper
For A Such A Time As This
My friend, Genie Hargrove, believes God put her on this earth, at this time, to be minister of a small country Baptist church. The place, Devereux, GA, is in the heart of the poorest county in Georgia. The church, at the end of a winding dirt road, was founded in 1791. Genie, the pastor, is an out lesbian. When she first told me the story of her ordination council I knew I … [Read more...] about For A Such A Time As This
Obama the Dragonslayer (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama the Dragonslayer (Cartoon)
“You Think We’re Stupid?” What Obama Says He Said Behind Doors During Budget Negotiations
"You think we're stupid?" That quote from what a CBS reporter picked up from a closed door meeting with donors will likely be swirling through the new and old media -- part of what Obama reportedly told donors about what went on behind the scenes during the budget negotiations: In what he thought was a private chat with campaign donors Thursday evening, President Obama … [Read more...] about “You Think We’re Stupid?” What Obama Says He Said Behind Doors During Budget Negotiations