Is 2011 already a baby saddled with a burden from old-fogey-2010 heavier then its diaper’s contents? Does the world already have multiple swords of Damocles hanging over its head? Will the sea of change caused by economic upheaval and new technologies continue to accelerate in 2011? The humorists have weighed in already with their witty predictions of what will happen. And, … [Read more...] about ‘Real’ 2011 Psychic Predictions and What to Watch
Glenn Beck Loses a Big New York Radio Station Due to Poor Ratings
Whoever said New Yorkers don't have good taste? Glenn Beck may be one of the hottest talk show hosts in the country, but he apparently left New York's WOR cold. WOR (710 AM), one of the city's two biggest talk radio stations, said this morning it is dropping Beck's syndicated show as of Jan. 17 and replacing him with a familiar New York name: Mike Gallagher. "The … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck Loses a Big New York Radio Station Due to Poor Ratings
“We’ve got to stop Top-2 from coming, but how?”
CARTOON BY RANDY MILLER (Utah League of Independent Voters) California will hold its first open "top two" primary on Feb. 15. Voters, including decline-to-state independents, will choose among all candidates in two races being held to fill vacancies for 2 Los Angeles-area state Senate seats. California voters approved Proposition 14 (brought forth through the efforts of … [Read more...] about “We’ve got to stop Top-2 from coming, but how?”
Scalia Says Constitution Allows Discrimination Against Women, Gays
As HuffPo's Amanda Terkel is reporting, right-wing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia gave an interview recently during which he said that the Constitution does not prohibit discrimination against women and gays: 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 … [Read more...] about Scalia Says Constitution Allows Discrimination Against Women, Gays
Tom Sawyer Censorship (Yeah Again)
Mark Twain once defined a classic as a book people praise but don't read. It seems that his truism is still quite accurate. In another of the sadly ironic PC events of the day there will be a new version of Tom Sawyer which will remove 'offensive words'. The word nigger (my sincere apologies to those who are offended by the use of this word but it would be sort of … [Read more...] about Tom Sawyer Censorship (Yeah Again)
How’s This Recovery Working For Ya?
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’