Six Degrees of Separation: What Wisconsin, Egypt and Libya Mean to You By Alex Hammer What is going on in the world? And why are we following it every day? It seems as if the world is waking up and moving from observer to participant (or at a minimum to participant observer). Is it because a critical mass of people are now using social media tools so as to feel … [Read more...] about Six Degrees of Separation: What Wisconsin, Egypt and Libya Mean to You (Guest Voice)
Charlie Sheen Children
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Jobless Rate falls to 8.9 Percent
The start of a hopeful trend? Or a mere hiccup? Time will tell about this: U.S. employers added 192,000 jobs last month, the government reported Friday — the biggest monthly jump since May and the latest sign that the nation’s employment picture is set to brighten this year. The monthly payrolls gain was above market expectations for 185,000 jobs, with factories, … [Read more...] about Jobless Rate falls to 8.9 Percent
Gov. Chris Christie Loves Collective Bargaining
"In fact, I love collective bargaining," Christie told the crowd Wednesday, packed into a room in the municipal building. "I've said let's get rid of civil service and let everything be collectively bargained, as long as collective bargaining is fair, tough, adversarial and there's someone in that room representing you." - Chris Christie: Collective Bargaining Something 'I … [Read more...] about Gov. Chris Christie Loves Collective Bargaining
When the World Was Young
No political or social infamy today but, as my odometer turns to 87, a memory about the sweetness of youthful longing. Seventy-four years ago, on my Bar Mitzvah day, I went to the movies to see the elegantly beautiful British actress Madeleine Carroll and, on the day the Jewish religion declared me a man, I fell hopelessly in love with the most golden shiksa of them … [Read more...] about When the World Was Young
Lincoln Plus 150
One hundred and fifty years ago today Abraham Lincoln stood on the steps of the Capitol to take the oath as the 16th President of the United States. Certainly few, if any Presidents faced a greater crisis on taking office. A significant portion of the country had left the union and even many of those who remained were hardly enthusiastic supporters of the new leader. Over … [Read more...] about Lincoln Plus 150
‘The Only Way To Save The Principles That Make Our Country Great Will Be To Sacrifice Them’
Al Weisel, widely known in the blogosphere as Jon Swift, was the best satirist this side of . . . well, Jonathan Swift. Sadly and unexpectedly, Al left this mortal coil one year ago today. Only the good die young, as they say, and he was a mere 46. Al was a tireless supporter of small blogs like mine -- Kiko's House -- and I was honored innumerable times to have him link to … [Read more...] about ‘The Only Way To Save The Principles That Make Our Country Great Will Be To Sacrifice Them’
A Musical Number Dedicated to Corrupt Politicians Everywhere
A great rendition of "A Little Tin Box" from the musical "Fiorerllo," performed by a talented student group: … [Read more...] about A Musical Number Dedicated to Corrupt Politicians Everywhere
Oscar Turns its Back on American Film: Cinematorio, Brazil
Can this year's Academy Awards be interpreted as a slap in the face to American cinema? According to columnist Renato Silveira of Brazil's Cinematorio, the fact that True Grit went away empty handed and 'The Social Network' nearly so to the benefit of The King's Speech was nearly inexplicable. For Brazil's Cinematorio, Renato Silveira writes in part: The Academy sent … [Read more...] about Oscar Turns its Back on American Film: Cinematorio, Brazil
GOP In Danger of Losing Younger Voters in Wisconsin?
A new Rasmussen Poll shows Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is starting to take a big political hit for his effort to deep-six collective bargaining from public unions (an effort I suspect will be successful in the end). But is this now posing a bigger danger to the GOP? TMPDC's Jon Terbush notes: Another key detail -- the poll shows younger voters being generally more … [Read more...] about GOP In Danger of Losing Younger Voters in Wisconsin?
Connecting the Foreclosure Fraud Dots
Today, the SEC announced fraud charges against a third banker for selling worthless and non-existent mortgages to Colonial Bank, leading to its collapse. This is on the heels said executive confessing to conspiracy and being sentenced to 30 years in prison. Most reporting on "mortgage fraud" centers on one of two themes: Joe Average knew perfectly well he couldn't afford the … [Read more...] about Connecting the Foreclosure Fraud Dots
Nine Boys and a General’s Son
Behind the headlines, two swatches of news reflect a reality that tells us much about our moral lives today. In Afghanistan, boys under 15 are collecting firewood when a U.S. helicopter swoops down to kill nine of them. Gen. Petraeus says, "These deaths should have never happened.” Meanwhile, another high-ranking General talks about losing his son there and the bitterness … [Read more...] about Nine Boys and a General’s Son
Obama’s Political Incompetence is Breathtaking
WASHINGTON -- The findings blare: NBC/WSJ Poll: 60% Say Reduce Social Security & Medicare Payments to Wealthier Americans. Like we needed yet another poll to tell us what we already know. Unfortunately, Pres. Obama and the Democratic Party do. From the latest NBC/WSJ poll: Less than a quarter of Americans support making significant cuts to Social Security or Medicare … [Read more...] about Obama’s Political Incompetence is Breathtaking
Time To Revisit Last Year’s “Compromise” Tax Breaks For the Rich
Here's a simple proposal to meet the federal budget crisis: Revisit the debate on the Bush-era tax cuts, and take back the extension of lower income tax rates given to well-to-do earners. This won't completely do away with the need to cut programs for the poor and middle class, of course, and the need to reduce the federal workforce that administers these programs. But it … [Read more...] about Time To Revisit Last Year’s “Compromise” Tax Breaks For the Rich
For Governors: Responsibility Equals Invisibility
WASHINGTON -- If you want to get national attention as a governor these days, don't try to be innovative about solving the problems you were elected to deal with -- in education, transportation and health care. No, if you want ink and television time, just cut and cut and cut some more. Almost no one in the national media is noticing governors who say the reasonable … [Read more...] about For Governors: Responsibility Equals Invisibility
This Isn’t Mere Duplication; It’s Unbridled Idiocy (Guest Voice)
This Isn’t Mere Duplication; It’s Unbridled Idiocy by Michael Reagan Uncle Sam is spending a lot of your tax dollars on programs that do the exact same thing as other federal programs, and you are paying the tab, a shocking new report shows. According to a report by the watchdog Government Accounting Office (GAO), Uncle Sam hosts 47 job-training programs, 44 of which do … [Read more...] about This Isn’t Mere Duplication; It’s Unbridled Idiocy (Guest Voice)
A Christian Argument for Civil Unions
Scripture reads: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.’ And they were amazed at him.” (Mark 2:17) In the Book of Mark, our Lord Jesus Christ states that there are some decisions that should be properly left to human government and other issues that clearly belong to God. In our system of government in the United States, the … [Read more...] about A Christian Argument for Civil Unions
Weird Dude
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China Threatens to Revoke Foreign Journalists’ Visas if they Cover Demonstrations
Add China to the list of countries that is more than ever cracking down on those who might communicate a non-p.r. message to the world and chronicle repression. And, the Christian Science Monitor reports, it's part of a larger package of clamp-down moves to keep a lid on politically assertive citizens: The Chinese government is threatening foreign correspondents that … [Read more...] about China Threatens to Revoke Foreign Journalists’ Visas if they Cover Demonstrations
State Rep. Debbie Riddle: Same Texas Twang, but with a Twinge and a Texas Tweak
First, a Texas state representative, Leo Berman, R-Tyler, joined the “birthers’ movement” by introducing a bill with a real Texas twang. A bill that would require presidential candidates to present their birth certificates to the Texas secretary of state “because we have a president whom the American people don’t know whether he was born in Kenya or some other place.” Now, … [Read more...] about State Rep. Debbie Riddle: Same Texas Twang, but with a Twinge and a Texas Tweak