And so Mike Huckabee, who two weeks ago jettisoned his status as Republican conservative who could be supported by many independent voters when he dove into being a birther (and later tried to partially walk the comments back) has now come full circle: he is now just one more Republican pandering to the party's right wing. Who ever thought you'd see the day when Mike Huckabee … [Read more...] about Mike Huckabee Supports Reinstating Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Military Policy
Catastrophe Jackpot
This copyrighted cartoon is license to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Catastrophe Jackpot
Rand Paul Pondering Presidential Run?
Should we get ready to say "President Rand Paul?" Maybe we shouldn't, but apparently he is starting to say it and is thinking it might sound very nice: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., visited Charleston Monday to talk about his possible presidential bid, how to rein in the national debt and the current military action in Libya. Paul, a tea party favorite who won his Senate … [Read more...] about Rand Paul Pondering Presidential Run?
Poll: Nearly 7 in 10 Support Air Strikes in Libya
A new CBS poll finds that nearly 7 in 10 support air strikes in Libya -- a sign that the U.S. public will give early efforts a chance. But if the history of past wars is any indication, patience won't last forever -- and probably even less in the case of Libya: Nearly seven in ten Americans support the use of military air strikes in Libya in order to protect civilians from … [Read more...] about Poll: Nearly 7 in 10 Support Air Strikes in Libya
Scott Brown Against Cutting All Planned Parenthood Funding
Here's yet another indication that Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown intends to vote in a way that more reflects his state's electorate and less in the way Tea Party movement Republicans demand him to vote: he's against eliminating all Planned Parenthood funding. Look for Rush, Sean, et. al to start going after him with frequency and a Tea Party primary challenge when he's up for … [Read more...] about Scott Brown Against Cutting All Planned Parenthood Funding
War of Empty Words
As usual, the air is filled with sounds but nobody is saying much. In this era of certainty about everything, Libya has exposed the soft underbelly of politics and punditry by reducing expertise to belaboring the obvious. A New York Times editorial, after describing Qaddafi as "a thug and a murderer who has never paid for his many crimes, including the bombing of Pan Am … [Read more...] about War of Empty Words
Suggestive Selling Is Even At Work In the Political and Media Worlds
I had just finished paying for some magazines at Hartford’s Bradley International Airport before heading back to San Diego when the cashier asked me: “Do you want some gum with that?” “No,” I told her.” “Some water?” “No.” “A newspaper? “ “No!” “How about a candy bar?” “No!! Just the magazines.” I went to my doctor due to a stomach problem. After the … [Read more...] about Suggestive Selling Is Even At Work In the Political and Media Worlds
(UPDATE II) Why There Was No Right Decision On The Libyan No-Fly Zone
If all you have is a hammer -- which in this case is the world's biggest military -- then every problem ultimately resembles a nail. ~ WILL BUNCH I have reluctantly come around to supporting the no-fly zone over Libya because, as belated as the action may be, it is in the service of a larger cause -- the democratic transformation of the Arab world, warts and all as well as … [Read more...] about (UPDATE II) Why There Was No Right Decision On The Libyan No-Fly Zone
Feckless Italy Shoots Itself In The Foot Yet Again
QADDAFI AND BERLUSCONI MAKE NICE Napoleon famously observed that no Italian state had ever finished a war on the same side as that on which it had started, except when it had changed twice, and no European nation has had a closer if sometimes ambivalent relationship with Libya than NATO partner Italy. Libya became an Italian colony in 1910 and remained so until … [Read more...] about Feckless Italy Shoots Itself In The Foot Yet Again
Why I’m Supporting My President
In a word - it's complicated. First and foremost, I am supporting the president because he is Commander in Chief and he has taken the United States to war. He didn't take the Obama administration to war, or the Democratic party, or (many) liberals. He has taken the country to war - my country, our country. If we have disagreements - and believe me, I've got a ton - they can … [Read more...] about Why I’m Supporting My President
A Survey on Emotions in Politics
Please do me a favour -- and, more importantly, a favour for academic research. I was contacted recently by a team of researchers at Appalachian State University in North Carolina that is currently studying the role of emotions in politics. They're conducting a survey that they hope will help them with their research. I can't take the survey myself, as I'm not a U.S. … [Read more...] about A Survey on Emotions in Politics
Reports That Charlie Sheen May Soon Be Back on TV
To another season of "Two and a Half Men" or not to another season of "Two and a Half Men?" Actually that is NOT the question. Now it's more like, will Charlie Sheen return to another season of "Two and a Half Men" or will he say "LOSING! DUH!" to CBS and say "WINNING! DUH!" as he signs a contract for a new show at Fox? A variety of reports are now suggesting that apart from … [Read more...] about Reports That Charlie Sheen May Soon Be Back on TV
Newsweek Asks ‘How Dumb Are We?’ Ask Oprah.
[National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon speaking] [...] Fourth, the circumstances arose with the passage of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, the night before a congressional recess. So he did, even with that, call Congress, those who remained in town on Friday and those who are out of town, on the phone to consult with them. - David Dayen WASHINGTON -- If … [Read more...] about Newsweek Asks ‘How Dumb Are We?’ Ask Oprah.
NPR: Defunding or Defanging? (Guest Voice)
Defunding or Defanging? by Peter Funt There was plenty of passionate poppycock on the House floor Thursday, as members debated the Republicans' "emergency" bill to eliminate funding for National Public Radio. Although the bill passed, as did a proposal last month to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, neither measure will advance beyond the House chamber. … [Read more...] about NPR: Defunding or Defanging? (Guest Voice)
Significant News Stories You May Have Missed (With Some Personal Commentary)
While the world has been focused on the start of yet another U.S.military adventure, this one in Libya (so many tyrants, so few missile firing submarines), and on an earthquake that moved Japan's largest island 17 feet, a lot of other news was being reported that didn't get the attention it deserved. Here's a quick catch up in case the following headlines passed under your … [Read more...] about Significant News Stories You May Have Missed (With Some Personal Commentary)
The Comic Superficiality of the Conservative Critique of Obama and the Military Intervention in Libya
I'm still on the fence over the intervention in Libya, though I'm leaning more towards support than opposition. (Yes, I'm still something of a liberal interventionist, despite Iraq, despite Afghanistan.) Well, maybe. It depends. (The humanitarian objectives are noble, but I just can't see how this plays out well.) But I genuinely feel for Obama, who finds himself in a no-win … [Read more...] about The Comic Superficiality of the Conservative Critique of Obama and the Military Intervention in Libya
The Birth Of Richard M. Obama
Note: This post got somewhat mangled for some reason but has been updated and corrected. One of the major events of US military policy in the last part of the 20th century was the passage of the War Powers Act of 1973. In brief the act requires that if a President is going to commit US forces that he must obtain the consent of Congress. This would seem to have been an … [Read more...] about The Birth Of Richard M. Obama
Weakened Obama Can Do Little for Brazil on Trade (O Globo, Brazil)
Greatly overshadowed by the ongoing crisis in Japan and the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya, President Obama has been on his first visit to Brazil and its first woman president, Dilma Rousseff. This news item from Brazil's O Globo reports that while the mood music was great, actual progress on issues of importance to Brazil were very thin on the ground. For Brazil's O … [Read more...] about Weakened Obama Can Do Little for Brazil on Trade (O Globo, Brazil)
Will First ‘Atomic Earthquake’ Trigger Another Recession? (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
While natural or man-made disasters rarely have a lasting impact on the global economy, Financial Times Deutschland columnist Thomas Fricke warns that there is a good chance that, as with the tremendous loss of confidence in the banking system in 2008, the tragedy in Japan could trigger an extremely damaging loss of confidence in the global energy supply - leading to yet … [Read more...] about Will First ‘Atomic Earthquake’ Trigger Another Recession? (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
Operations ‘Odyssey Dawn’ and ‘Tomodachi’ — Bullets and Blankets (UPDATED)
UPDATE, March 28 Yokota Air Base, just outside Tokyo, has become the nerve center and logistical hub for “Operation Tomodachi,” the U.S. humanitarian assistance efforts to help earthquake/tsunami/nuclear-power-plant-disaster-ravaged Japan. In the weeks that have followed the disaster, some 1,300 military and government workers have converged on Yokota, and “[s]uddenly, … [Read more...] about Operations ‘Odyssey Dawn’ and ‘Tomodachi’ — Bullets and Blankets (UPDATED)