In an April Fools’ Day surprise, Arianna Huffington, president and editor in chief of Huffington Post Media Group, announced today that her company will start paying non-staff contributors and bloggers for their content. In recent months, Arianna Huffington has faced pressure from freelance journalists who are frustrated with the Huffington Post’s unwillingness to pay for the … [Read more...] about The Huffington Post Will Start Paying All Contributors Tasty Sandwiches
Huffington Post’s New Digital Subscription Plan
As you may know, The Times is now charging for unlimited access to NYTimes.com and NYTimes apps. Arianna Huffington has decided to follow suit. In an announcement just published, she starts: Today marks a significant transition for The Huffington Post Media Group, as we introduce digital subscriptions for employees of The New York Times. It's an important step … [Read more...] about Huffington Post’s New Digital Subscription Plan
No Boots on the Ground, Only Sneakers
The whatever-it-is in Libya gets more convoluted daily as Defense Secretary Gates tells Congress there will be no U.S. boots on the ground "as long as I'm in this job," while non-uniformed C.I.A agents soft-shoe their way in to find out who the rebels are and what they need. In the Senate, John McCain proclaims that "Hope is not a strategy" as Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen … [Read more...] about No Boots on the Ground, Only Sneakers
The Tea Party Threatens John Boehner and the Future of the GOP
(This is the latest entry in the Elephant Dung Series over at my blog. For an explanation of this ongoing series, tracking the GOP civil war, see here. For previous entries, see here.) Jon Chait had a post the other day arguing that John Boehner has no choice, if he knows what's good for him, but to shut down the government. Basically, Boehner is in a tough spot. (No, … [Read more...] about The Tea Party Threatens John Boehner and the Future of the GOP
Employment (And The Overall Economy) Summed Up In Two Headlines
If you want to understand where the U.S. job market is headed these days, and by extension, the direction of the entire U.S. economy, you need only look at the two top headlines on today's New York Times website. The first reads "U.S. Economy Added 216,000 jobs in March: Rate at 8.8%"; the second reads "Many Low-Wage Jobs Seen as Failing to Meet Basic Needs. There it is. The … [Read more...] about Employment (And The Overall Economy) Summed Up In Two Headlines
Budget Crunch
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Tax Reform: Close the Bank of America-Size Loop Hole
Tax Reform: Close the Bank of America-Size Loop Hole by Tina Dupuy The ravages of the economic downturn have left a series of empty storefronts in my neighborhood. They exist as specters of a former up-and-coming enclave of local businesses. Now they’re home to hurried graffiti, the occasional panhandler and once a year to tax accountants. Yes, the hallows of what used to … [Read more...] about Tax Reform: Close the Bank of America-Size Loop Hole
April Fool
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The ‘Birthers’: Leonard Pitts Tells It Like It Is
One thing about Pulitzer Prize winner Leonard Pitts over at the Miami Herald, he doesn't mince words. In his most recent article about “birthers,” Pitts calls them “morons,’’ ‘‘jackasses,” “imbeciles,” “idiots,’’ “doofuses” and “pinheads.” After admitting that name calling “lowers the level of discourse… forestalls thoughtful response and…does not suggest an excess of … [Read more...] about The ‘Birthers’: Leonard Pitts Tells It Like It Is
Springtime has Become the Winter of My Discontent
I missed writing my annual paean to the change of seasons this year. In the past, my blog sang the praises of the return of the robin, the blooming of the dogwood, the eternal hope engendered by opening day at Wrigley Field, and the quiet joy that feeling the warmth of the sun on my face after months of bitter cold brings to my fatalistic Irish soul. I just didn't have it in … [Read more...] about Springtime has Become the Winter of My Discontent
Mission Creep on a Creepy Mission
Is anyone surprised that the C.I.A. is on the ground in Libya, along with who-knows-what Special Forces, presumably to find out who the rebels are and how to help them? How could it be otherwise? The President's disingenuous speech evoked "images of slaughter and mass graves," then insisted that "broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a … [Read more...] about Mission Creep on a Creepy Mission
Republican Double Standard: Target AARP, While NRA Gets a Pass
WASHINGTON -- Waaaaaaah---waaaaaaaaah--wah. The big bad AARP is beating us senseless with their huge numbers, so the Republican We'll Show Them Report is out. And Republican allies have come up with a scary title for AARP to rev up the Right: "AARP is the Death Star of American entitlements." Through AARP the Right hopes to do a tricky bank shot over to Social Security and … [Read more...] about Republican Double Standard: Target AARP, While NRA Gets a Pass
Obama and Libya
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Poll: Obama’s Popularity Increasing Among Young People
Coming at a time when some polls show President Barack Obama's poll numbers taking a big dip, he has some good news: his numbers are up among young people, The Hill reports: President Obama's job-approval rating among young people has gone up, even as his overall approval rating has hit an all-time low in certain surveys. A new poll of 18- to 29-year-olds by Harvard … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama’s Popularity Increasing Among Young People
Losing Democracy
These are raw thoughts, not fully formed, subject to change. Just reflections bouncing about through otherwise unoccupied brain cells. The question is easy; the answer and the why and the solution, not so much. Are we losing our democracy? I think, in these raw thoughts, the answer is yes. Walking through some of today’s news bits - the ones on the margins - you’ll see … [Read more...] about Losing Democracy
Canada’s Grudge Match
Stephen Harper's suggestion that he and Michael Ignatieff go one on one in a leaders debate is intriguing. I doubt that it will happen. As Elizabeth May is proving once again, you simply can't exclude the leaders of the other parties. Nonetheless, Harper's suggestion is interesting because of what it reveals about him. For Harper, this election isn't about the budget. It's not … [Read more...] about Canada’s Grudge Match
The South Is A Bad Place To Be Poor
So says Ezra Klein: A few weeks ago, Andy Kroll caught Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour saying he’d “dug out of a $720 million budget hole in two years without raising anybody’s taxes.” The problem? Barbour had raised a couple of taxes. But give him his credit: He hadn’t raised income taxes. Rather, he’d raised cigarette taxes and taxes on … [Read more...] about The South Is A Bad Place To Be Poor
Mother’s Milk (The K Street Poem)
Money, money is what talks, No one in the Beltway walks; Nothing tops the mighty power Of this endless dollar shower. Need a special taxing break? Legislators soothe the ache. Having trouble with a reg? Heavy hitters need not beg. Money, money, is what talks, No one in the Beltway walks. Year by year the anger grows ‘Bout these tawdry money flows. Pols beat … [Read more...] about Mother’s Milk (The K Street Poem)
Obama Meet Obama
WASHINGTON -- Someone should introduce the Barack Obama who addressed the nation Monday on Libya to the Barack Obama who has been dancing around the edge of the budget fight. In his Libya speech, Obama was clear, forceful and principled. Yes, there were some ambiguities but these were dictated by a genuinely uncertain situation on the ground, not by muddled thinking. … [Read more...] about Obama Meet Obama
Does This Spell Google?
That's the question the students greeted me with when I came into work this morning. They were gathered around a computer looking at today's Google Doodle... The doodle celebrates the inventor of the Bunsen burner, Robert Bunsen, on what would have been his 200th birthday. The link goes to Bunsen's Wikipedia page, where it says his birthday was yesterday. The Mail online … [Read more...] about Does This Spell Google?