The economy is back. It's rolling, baby. I know this because the experts on Wall Street and in Washington have all detected signals that a recovery is now well and truly underway. The stock market, a harbinger of economic news so infallible that it's one of the 10 leading indicators used by the Fed to determine the direction of the economy, is also at record levels after that … [Read more...] about How’s This Recovery Working For Ya?
Scalia: The Constitution Does Not Prohibit Gender Discrimination
Here is the question as asked and the answer as given by U. S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia in an interview for California Lawyer. "In 1868, when the 39th Congress was debating and ultimately proposing the 14th Amendment, I don't think anybody would have thought that equal protection applied to sex discrimination, or certainly not to sexual orientation. So … [Read more...] about Scalia: The Constitution Does Not Prohibit Gender Discrimination
Four Hundred Years Later, Not Much Has Changed
I just live for connections like this; they fill me with delight! … [Read more...] about Four Hundred Years Later, Not Much Has Changed
WikiLeaks and Facebook: What Came Before Will Soon be Rubble (Sol, Portugal)
How transformational are WikiLeaks and Facebook? According to columnist Antonio Pedro Vansconcelos of Portugal's Sol newspaper, Julian Assange and Mark Zuckerberg have just heralded a brave new world, and those hoping for a smooth transition from the old civilization to the new are going to be 'sorely disappointed.' For Portugal's Sol, Antonio Pedro Vansconcelos writes in … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks and Facebook: What Came Before Will Soon be Rubble (Sol, Portugal)
Listening and Cutting
The new crop of congressional critters say they want to listen to the people and cut the deficit. Perhaps this would be a good place to start listening and cutting. Sixty-three percent of people questioned in the poll say they oppose the war, with 35 percent saying they support the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. "The war has not always been unpopular – back in March, … [Read more...] about Listening and Cutting
Gov. Barbour and the Scott Sisters: The Fallout Continues
Last week, I wrote on the suspension of the consecutive life sentences of Jamie Scott and Gladys Scott by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. Part of the post was on how and why the Scott sisters received such severe sentences for “their alleged role in a robbery in 1993 in which no one was hurt and $11 supposedly was taken.” The remainder of the post focused on a New … [Read more...] about Gov. Barbour and the Scott Sisters: The Fallout Continues
Navy Investigates USS Enterprise Captain’s ‘Clearly Inappropriate’ Videos
The Navy said yesterday that it is investigating the "clearly inappropriate" videos made by USS Enterprise Capt. Owen Honors in 2006 and 2007 while he was the ship's executive officer. Today they say it is unclear whether he will deploy with his ship when it leaves to support combat missions in Afghanistan this month. Broadcast to the crew of the nuclear-powered aircraft … [Read more...] about Navy Investigates USS Enterprise Captain’s ‘Clearly Inappropriate’ Videos
The State Budget Problem You Never Hear About
What do Ireland and Texas have in common? We know that California and New York have serious budget problems - no surprise they are after all liberal blue states. What we don't hear about is that Texas has just as many problems and perhaps even more since they spent very little money to begin with they have even less to cut. This month the state's part-time legislature goes … [Read more...] about The State Budget Problem You Never Hear About
FOOTBALL FANTASIES
Now that the NFL's 2010 season has been completed and we await the playoffs to decide the 46th Annual Super-bowl participants, it might be a good time to discuss bigger issues with respect to America’s favorite game. This exercise is far less stressful and depressing than discussing the barely-alive U.S. economy and its dysfunctional political system. I bring a dispassionate … [Read more...] about FOOTBALL FANTASIES
Further Thoughts on Income Inequality
Ezra Klein gives us two graphs. The first compares median household income to the wealthiest Americans' share of income over the last 60 years; the second shows us income gains since 1947 -- the gain for the top 1% compared with the median income gain. … [Read more...] about Further Thoughts on Income Inequality
Just Total Cynical, Hypocritical Business As Usual
I think it's hilarious that the government-funded Voice of America publishes an article about a Wikileaks-released cable that indicates Israel would have only 10 to 12 minutes warning before an Iranian rocket attack while this same government's State Department (among other government agencies) forbids its employees to read Wikileaks on government computers and the government's … [Read more...] about Just Total Cynical, Hypocritical Business As Usual
Will Surprises Never End?
A new poll conducted by 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair finds that fully two-thirds of Americans supporting bringing the deficit down by taxing the rich: … [Read more...] about Will Surprises Never End?
Did Christine O’Donnell Bring Down the Delaware GOP?
Former GOP Tea Party Sarah Palin favorite candidate for Senate Christine O'Donnell has responded to news that the FBI is investigating her by suggesting it's part of a plot by political thugs such as Vice President Joe Biden to bring her down. But the Frum Forum's Noah Kristula Green suggests that O'Donnell brought down the otherwise healthy Delaware GOP. Some … [Read more...] about Did Christine O’Donnell Bring Down the Delaware GOP?
Gallup Poll: Obama’s Presidential Approval Rating Now at 50%
And the see saw polls continue. Over the past few days there have been some blog posts and Tweets about how Barack Obama's poll numbers were going south. But according to Gallup's latest, his approval rating is now at 50 percent -- 3 points less than his 52 week high of 53 percent. Look for the see saw polls to continue. But what this means is: if his poll numbers are … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Obama’s Presidential Approval Rating Now at 50%
Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain: Not Even a ‘Rue Pétain’
Recounting our travels through France last September, I mentioned how touched we were by the numerous monuments and memorials the French people have dedicated to the World War II Allied heroes who gave their lives to help liberate France and by “the many other monuments, memorials and public and private expressions of pride and honor towards their hundreds of thousands of … [Read more...] about Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain: Not Even a ‘Rue Pétain’
D’s Trounced, Keep Leadership; R’s Romp, Steele On The Ropes
From the what-planet-are-you-on desk comes the illogic of politics in America. Democrats, who got their butts kicked in the most recent political season, will stay with the same team. No testing of the free agent market. No trades. Coaching staff remains in place. Granted, this is predictable. The Democrats have become the country’s most reactionary political party, … [Read more...] about D’s Trounced, Keep Leadership; R’s Romp, Steele On The Ropes
Quote of the Day: The Danger of Republican Overreach
Our political Quote of the Day comes from MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, a former Congressman and independent-minded Republican who warns GOPers of the danger of overreaching as they take over the House and have more numbers in the Senate: "If Republicans overreach in 2011, they will re-elect Barack Obama in 2012," he said. "They need to focus but make sure they don’t scare … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The Danger of Republican Overreach
Celebrating the New GOP Majority
WASHINGTON -- Welcome to the Republicans who take over the House of Representatives this week. Since it is a new year, let us be optimistic about what this development means for our nation. There is already a standard line of advice to Speaker-to-be John Boehner and his colleagues that goes like this: Democrats overreached in the last Congress by doing too much and … [Read more...] about Celebrating the New GOP Majority
So This Explains Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh
So this explains Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh: Today's human brain is 10% smaller than that of our Cro-Magnon ancestors, but scientists are divided on whether that means we are getting smarter or dumber. Some say it does represent a dumbing down, but that our increasingly complex society means individuals don't need as much intelligence to survive and reproduce. Others … [Read more...] about So This Explains Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh
Wall Street Terminator I — The Battle For Human Traders’ Survival
It's become a hackneyed theme of Hollywood sci-fi movies. A very high tech system developed to serve people's basic needs or defend a country against nuclear missile attack gains sentience and begins operating for its own benefit instead of the benefit of its human creators. Humanity then has to fight for its survival in very unfavorable circumstances. That hasn't happened … [Read more...] about Wall Street Terminator I — The Battle For Human Traders’ Survival