Advanced age has its privileges, one of them to fantasize publicly about asking out a married woman without fear of being beaten up for it. So with apologies to my loved ones (and Todd, of course), my dream date for New Year's Eve is bubbly Sarah Palin. Imagine being greeted at the door, corsage in hand, with congratulations for dodging death panels and some snappy remark … [Read more...] about Dating Sarah Palin
Feliz Año Nuevo and all that Good Stuff
Nicholas Kristof starts a very interesting column in today’s New York Times with the question: A quiz: If a person who speaks three languages is trilingual, and one who speaks four languages is quadrilingual, what is someone called who speaks no foreign languages at all? Before I give you the answer, an observation. I noticed that my spellchecker flagged … [Read more...] about Feliz Año Nuevo and all that Good Stuff
The Four C’s Tie for Number Two Worst Nonfiction Books of 2010
The four C's are Karl Rove's Courage and Consequence, and John Yoo's Crisis and Command. The winner of the number one spot on that list does not have to share the spotlight: It's George W. Bush, for Decision Points. … [Read more...] about The Four C’s Tie for Number Two Worst Nonfiction Books of 2010
A Historic Day
Kodachrome You give us those nice bright colors You give us the greens of summers Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah! I got a Nikon camera I love to take a photograph So Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away ~Paul Simon This was a historic day, Paul Simon lived to see the day when Mama Kodak would take his Kodachrome away for good. A victim of the … [Read more...] about A Historic Day
The Aisle
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about The Aisle
If Only WikiLeaks Existed Before the Iraq War Began: Die Zeit, Germany
Here's an interesting question: would the release of internal White House documents before the Iraq War began have prevented the Bush Administration from going ahead with it? According to columnist Ulrich Ladurner of Germany's Die Zeit, not only is it likely that the war would have been prevented - but Julian Assange may well have won the Nobel Peace Prize. For Die Zeit, … [Read more...] about If Only WikiLeaks Existed Before the Iraq War Began: Die Zeit, Germany
Truth-Telling About War and War Recruiters on College Campuses
Colman McCarthy has an op-ed in the Washington Post today that is drawing the ire of military and right-wing bloggers. I write about it here. … [Read more...] about Truth-Telling About War and War Recruiters on College Campuses
Pres. Obama’s Recess Appointments
Jennifer Rubin, in her new role as Fred Hiatt's latest right-wing blogger hire for the Washington Post (you can read Dave Weigel's classy write-up here), is apoplectic about the six recess appointments Pres. Obama just made. 'Egregious'! 'Imperious'! 'So much for bipartisanship'! … [Read more...] about Pres. Obama’s Recess Appointments
RIP Factory Worker Who Inspired “Rosie the Riveter” and We Can Do It!” Poster
As The Washington Post points out, her name was never Rosie and she wasn't a riveter. But Geraldine Doyle and the original image of her that led to the iconic image of a working woman staring us into action are unlikely to fade from our political landscape any time soon. Thank you, Geraldine, and RIP. … [Read more...] about RIP Factory Worker Who Inspired “Rosie the Riveter” and We Can Do It!” Poster
For a Better World: The U.S. Senate Must Pass Nuclear Test Ban (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia)
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has had raised his public profile of late. After last week signing off on a partnership between WikiLeaks and Rossiyskaya Gazeta - the newspaper he partly owns - this week he is opining on the New START Treaty, which was passed by the U.S. Senate last week. Gorbachev wrote one op-ed piece for the English-speaking press, and a … [Read more...] about For a Better World: The U.S. Senate Must Pass Nuclear Test Ban (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia)
Jon Stewart, Journalist?
Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, Jon Stewart. In a 30-paragraph "news analysis," the New York Times puts the Daily Show host into the journalism pantheon, omitting only Woodward and Bernstein. Well, yes but... As a comedian, satirist and, not incidentally, media critic, Stewart is a gifted figure, but lines are being blurred here in a way that tells much about our times … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart, Journalist?
What’s Wrong, Really, With Using Campaign Funds For Personal Purposes?
I'm not a big fan of Christine O'Donnell, the Tea Party favorite and unsuccessful candidate for the Senate from Delaware. Indeed, whenever one of her "I'm you" commercials appeared on my TV, I got up and shouted: "No you're not." But whatever the merits of recent reports that say she may be under investigation for inappropriately using campaign funds, I have to say that … [Read more...] about What’s Wrong, Really, With Using Campaign Funds For Personal Purposes?
2010’s Top Five Political Gaffes
2010 was a productive year for those of us who love to watch and hear political gaffes. CNN gives us the top five: h/T Political Wire … [Read more...] about 2010’s Top Five Political Gaffes
Economy Healing? Jobless Claims Lowest in More than Two Years
A sign that the economy may be finally on the mend? The latest news is that jobless claims are now the lowest in more than two years: New claims for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week to their lowest level in more than two years, suggesting the labor market recovery was gaining strength. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 34,000 … [Read more...] about Economy Healing? Jobless Claims Lowest in More than Two Years
McCain and Graham
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Will Liberals Learn From Adversity?
WASHINGTON -- Was 2010 American liberalism's Waterloo? How are we to square the achievement of so many goals that have long been on progressive wish lists with the resounding defeat suffered by supporters of these measures in November? Let's begin with what is a most painful fact for liberals: Conservatism, a doctrine that seemed moribund on election night in 2008, … [Read more...] about Will Liberals Learn From Adversity?
Quote Of The Day
The quote of the day comes from Dave Cohen: As 2010 winds down, I am reminded that there is no Imperial policy more reprehensible and shameful than the war in Afghanistan. This war is constantly presented to Americans as an integral part of the War On Terrorism, but it is no such thing. The Afghan war is a pointless, expensive, destructive exercise in futility whereby … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day
Jon Swift Memorial Blogpost Roundup
The Vagabound Scholar has resurrected the late "Jon Swift's" yearly roundup "The Best Posts of the Year, Chosen by the Bloggers Themselves". It was a great thing Jon did, and a great thing the Vagabound is doing, both for the blogosphere community and to honor Jon's memory. Head over and check it out. … [Read more...] about Jon Swift Memorial Blogpost Roundup
2010 From My Rear View
In the news business, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day is known as dead week. There is news, of course, but it generally centers around the weather, natural or man-made disasters. And, then, of course, are the year-end reviews to fill space. Among these noble efforts, all existing in the minds of the individual authors, is the Remmers Report annual awards ceremony … [Read more...] about 2010 From My Rear View
Punishment and Reentry — The Case of Michael Vick
Over the past several years, the case of Michael Vick has registered a continual and deep discomfort with a lot of how we talk about (and practice) crime and punishment, and the disjuncture between the moral justification of punishment and the way it is actually operationalized in our society. As Vick is enjoying a successful year in the NFL, there are still those who are … [Read more...] about Punishment and Reentry — The Case of Michael Vick