CNN's John Avlon looks at the dangers of the partisan news media in this MUST READ here. May I say: "Ditto"? … [Read more...] about The Dangers of the Partisan News Media
Carnival Economy
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Carnival Economy
Incentivizing Israel to Negotiate in Bad Faith
I have a new post up at Comments from Left Field on Israel's agreement to freeze new settlement construction in the West Bank in exchange (among other things) for the United States never asking Israel to do it again. … [Read more...] about Incentivizing Israel to Negotiate in Bad Faith
Book Review by Globe and Mail Ottawa Bureau chief John Ibbitson: GW Bush’s Legacy In Seven Words: ‘Nobody Lied. We Were All Wrong’
George W. Bush is asking the impossible of us: to consider his legacy without passion. In Decision Points, a plainly written tale of key moments during Bush’s presidency, we are offered an uncomplicated account of an uncomplicated man devoid of Oedipal issues with his father, a devout Christian who gave up alcohol when he realized it was starting to control his life, a loyal … [Read more...] about Book Review by Globe and Mail Ottawa Bureau chief John Ibbitson: GW Bush’s Legacy In Seven Words: ‘Nobody Lied. We Were All Wrong’
On George Bush’s Animus: “A Small Fraction of a Man” by William Rivers Pitt/ (Op Ed from Truthout)
A Small Fraction of a Man Saturday 13 November 2010 by: William Rivers Pitt, t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed George W. Bush was all over my television this past week, all over the newspapers, and the feelings inspired by his sudden reappearance are almost beyond my capacity to describe. There was the story about his hearty approval of waterboarding. There was the story that had … [Read more...] about On George Bush’s Animus: “A Small Fraction of a Man” by William Rivers Pitt/ (Op Ed from Truthout)
Take the Test
This is a graded quiz: … [Read more...] about Take the Test
Left Brain, Linear, Analytical People are Destroying the World
Left brain, linear, analytical people are destroying the world. I’d like to clearly articulate three distinct observations that prove this well thought out assertion. However, I’m not going to do that, because I refuse to let the overly organized and anal retentive masses dictate my rebellion. Right brainers unite! Well at least let’s hang out and make a viscerally … [Read more...] about Left Brain, Linear, Analytical People are Destroying the World
Wanted: A New Party Of Progressive Conservatives
A great blues lyric goes: "He was a good old wagon but he done broke down." That's a pretty good description of both the Democrats and Republicans today — two good old political parties that have both broken down to such an extent that neither any longer is configured to meet our country's strained and painful domestic realities, or the challenges of our fast eroding position … [Read more...] about Wanted: A New Party Of Progressive Conservatives
For Democrats, Unity and Continuity in the House
I'm not a big fan of Steny Hoyer, quasi-leader of the Blue Dogs, and I'd prefer to see someone else back up Nancy Pelosi as minority whip, but Pelosi's move to keep Hoyer in the #2 spot and make James Clyburn, his chief rival for minority whip, "assistant leader" is simply brilliant. It ensures peace, albeit tenuous, and continuity. And while there's something to be said for … [Read more...] about For Democrats, Unity and Continuity in the House
The Fiscal Commission’s “Tough Choices”
You've heard it a zillion times. … [Read more...] about The Fiscal Commission’s “Tough Choices”
Getting Off Obama’s Back
Memo to presidential bashers of the progressive persuasion: Chill. A verbal assault from the Left recalls what Lyndon Johnson would snarl to quiet his critics, "I'm the only president you've got." Yet LBJ had no cable news or Internet to amplify the noise, and his aggressive personality was 180 degrees from that of Barack Obama. In the wake of November 2nd, the White … [Read more...] about Getting Off Obama’s Back
Rethinking The Federal Budget Mess: Part 3, Defense Spending
Part 1, Social Security : Part 2, Taxes Conservatives need to hearken back to our Eisenhower heritage, and develop a defense leadership that understands military power is fundamentally premised on the solvency of the American government and the vibrancy of the US economy. – Kori Schake, Hoover Institution Fellow and former McCain-Palin Foreign Policy Advisor The … [Read more...] about Rethinking The Federal Budget Mess: Part 3, Defense Spending
Tavakoli on Foreclosure Fraud
Janet Tavakoli calls em as she sees em when it comes to the fraud in the financial industry. She doesn't hesitate to take on the big guys. This is a rather long interview but well worth the time. Janet Tavakoli on Bank Foreclosure Fraud from David Fry on Vimeo. She said one thing that jumped right out at me - the big banks are not just too big to fail they are too … [Read more...] about Tavakoli on Foreclosure Fraud
A Lame and Spineless Duck
WASHINGTON -- The lame-duck session of Congress that kicks off this week will test whether Democrats have spines made of Play-Doh, and whether President Obama has decided to pretend that capitulation is conciliation. Congress faces an enormous amount of unfinished business, largely because of successful GOP obstruction tactics during the regular session. Republican … [Read more...] about A Lame and Spineless Duck
One Thing We Know for Certain About the Economic Crisis
Kevin Drum debunks one of the sillier memes the right has been pushing to explain why the economic crisis shows so few signs of improvement: … [Read more...] about One Thing We Know for Certain About the Economic Crisis
A Sacred Day On Sacred Ground
My Veterans Day post is obviously a bit late this year but there is a reason for that. This past week a family member and I had to take a quick trip to Virginia for a memorial service. We flew out Tuesday and attended the memorial on Wednesday with our return flight on Thursday. Because of the way DC to California flight schedules work we ended up with a flight leaving at … [Read more...] about A Sacred Day On Sacred Ground
The Same Situation
Again and again the same situation for so many years/Tethered to a ringing telephone in a room full of mirrors.... … [Read more...] about The Same Situation
Inspector Javert Will Not Be a Winning Role for Republicans
The New York Times, on its Sunday editorial page, notes that it's a lot more difficult to govern than to obstruct -- but if Republicans go ahead with their promise to choose the second, easier path, they will be the losers in the end: … [Read more...] about Inspector Javert Will Not Be a Winning Role for Republicans
This Is News?
That the U.S. State Department allowed former Nazis to resettle in the United States? According to Eric Lichtblau, although the U.S. government has "acknowledged the C.I.A.’s use of Nazis for postwar intelligence purposes[,] ... this report goes further in documenting the level of American complicity and deception in such operations." … [Read more...] about This Is News?
The Power of Warning—‘Browbeat’—Labels
Most of us have seen or heard of the new warning labels to be placed on cigarette packets rightly warning people, in particular our young ones, of the dangers of cigarette smoking. Some of them are sufficiently gruesome to give people nightmares. Well, last night I had a dream---to some of us who like to express our opinions in writing it could qualify as a … [Read more...] about The Power of Warning—‘Browbeat’—Labels