President Barack Obama’s visit to India has set the foundations for a deep and broad partnership that will create a new powerbase in Asia alongside China if things go as planned. I am currently in Delhi for the visit and can report a new openness and realism in the bilateral dialogue taking the relationship to a more robust level. The basic and urgent needs of most Indians … [Read more...] about Start of a new US-India power base in Asia
Independent Voters: Call Us Whatever You Want, But Not Late for Dinner
As someone who has participated in building a grassroots from-the-bottom-up independent political movement for more than 25 years and has monitored news by, for, and about independent voters for ten years, I can tell you "we've come a long way, baby." Twenty-five years ago, high school students thought it was illegal to run for President as an independent. Starting in … [Read more...] about Independent Voters: Call Us Whatever You Want, But Not Late for Dinner
The Disconcerting Swings of America’s Political Pendulum: Gazata, Russia
Our 'round the world survey of global reaction to the new U.S. political landscape continues with this article from Russia's Gazeta. Columnist Fyodor Lukyanov offers a detailed analysis of why such things as the Tea Party and wild swings in the political climate occur in the United States - and what the foreign policy ramifications might be, particularly for Russia and the New … [Read more...] about The Disconcerting Swings of America’s Political Pendulum: Gazata, Russia
Obama will be a one-term President
2010 is not a parallel to 1994, 1894, or to any other noteworthy year identified by various pundits across the political spectrum. What worked sufficiently well in the 1980’s and the 1990’s for Presidents Reagan and Clinton will not be appropriate for the myriad of challenges facing our nation in 2010 and beyond. The 2010 midterm elections at the National, State and local … [Read more...] about Obama will be a one-term President
New York Times Editorializes Against Pelosi As House Minority Leader
Here is the editorial, in full: … [Read more...] about New York Times Editorializes Against Pelosi As House Minority Leader
Is Barack Obama Now Hopelessly Isolated?
Reuters has this article that echoes my growing belief that President Barack Obama is increasingly isolated due to political stumbles and a less than stellar-political team. Here's are some key parts of it: President Barack Obama has performed his act of contrition. Now comes the hard part, according to Democrats around the country: reckoning with the simple fact that he’s … [Read more...] about Is Barack Obama Now Hopelessly Isolated?
Olbermann’s Return Won’t Restore Sanity
Two weeks of media melodrama bracket a tumultuous election that shook up American politics, putting a spotlight on the people who presumably report on the spectacle but more and more are out there strutting on the stage. Keith Olbermann will be back from the on-camera dead tomorrow night after his constituency, and many journalists, showered NBC with Tea Partyish rage. But … [Read more...] about Olbermann’s Return Won’t Restore Sanity
Hope in a Time of Sorrow (Guest Voice)
Hope in a Time of Sorrow by Craig Barnes There seems to be a constant series of examples in history that reflect what we are living through this week: from Psistratus in Athens to Caesar in Rome to the Duke of Lancaster in 15th-century England to Napoleon to Lenin and Hitler and now to Karl Rove, a multitude of fellows have harnessed populist outrage to their own carriage … [Read more...] about Hope in a Time of Sorrow (Guest Voice)
Quote of the Day: On Journalists and Political Donations
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Dick Polman, commenting on MSNBC's suspension (which will be lifted) of Keith Olbermann for donating to three Democratic candidates in the recent mid-term elections: The bottom line is that journalism takes many forms today; the ethics rules need to become more nuanced in order to reflect that reality. With respect to the … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Journalists and Political Donations
Fast Food Advertising to Kids: Healthy Options Hard To Find
A report [pdf] out today from Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity looks at fast food marketing targeting kids. Among the findings, of 12 fast food restaurant chains offering more than 3,000 kids meal combinations only 12 meet the nutritional guidelines for preschool-aged kids. CNN: "The worst meal was at Dairy Queen," said Jennifer Harris, director of marketing … [Read more...] about Fast Food Advertising to Kids: Healthy Options Hard To Find
Barack Obama Mesmerizes Indian Parliament Members
Members of Indian Parliament listened mesmerized as US president Barack Obama today transformed himself from being a mere salesman-in-chief of America to a visionary world leader who aspired to live up to the great ideals that had inspired Indian and US founding fathers in laying the foundations of the two democratic republics. (Of course, he did also make major policy … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Mesmerizes Indian Parliament Members
The 2012 Project: Leveraging Redistricting for Women
Studies show that women are more effective legislators than men. Now, women are also going to prove how effective they can be at getting past the historic declines in representation they suffered last week. How? Through The 2012 Project, which is hosting a media call today about what's next for efforts to increase the number of American women in political office. The 2012 … [Read more...] about The 2012 Project: Leveraging Redistricting for Women
Europe Baffled By Midterm Defeat of ‘Bloodless’ Obama: Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
As we've seen, Europe's reaction to the Tea Party, with the exception of Spain and some in Great Britain, has been tepid at best. Right up until now, Obama reigns supreme and as far as Europeans are concerned, is one of the most popular leaders in the world. Which is why, according to Sueddeutsche Zeitung columnist Christian Wernicke, the midterm election results have thrown … [Read more...] about Europe Baffled By Midterm Defeat of ‘Bloodless’ Obama: Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
Keith Olbermann Will Be Back on the Job in Two Days
Phil Griffin has decided he's been punished enough. Funny how that happened: … [Read more...] about Keith Olbermann Will Be Back on the Job in Two Days
A Party Without Conscience or Principle
Eric Cantor told Chris Wallace today that he would not rule out shutting down the government and allowing the United States to default on its debts -- and then he announced that if Republicans did do that, Pres. Obama would be responsible. … [Read more...] about A Party Without Conscience or Principle
In Memory of Jill Clayburgh
If future generations want to know what life was like for smart, sensitive urban women in the 1970s, a time capsule should be stocked with the movies of Jill Clayburgh, the lovely actress who died this week. When a feminist wave was wrecking marriages and reordering relationships, Clayburgh brilliantly embodied their emotional chaos in "An Unmarried Woman" (1978), "Starting … [Read more...] about In Memory of Jill Clayburgh
Elections Can’t Cure America’s ‘Disease’: The Beijing Times, People’s Republic of China
So what's the view of Beijing to the recent 2010 midterms? Not only do the U.S. elections appear unlikely to encourage China to set aside dictatorship for pluralism, according to this article by Mao Yingying for China's state-run Beijing Times, America itself would be better off reconsidering how its 'so-called democracy' should run. For the Beijing Times, Mao Yingying … [Read more...] about Elections Can’t Cure America’s ‘Disease’: The Beijing Times, People’s Republic of China
No Inflation, But Things Cost More Anyway
One of the few upsides of a down economy is supposed to be a lack of inflation. And indeed, all the experts agree inflation in our own economy hardly exists these days. Except, of course, it does. The latest contradiction of the officially decreed "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" approach to inflation reality came to me the other day in the form of a notice … [Read more...] about No Inflation, But Things Cost More Anyway
There is More at Stake than Obama’s Presidency: Tages Anzeiger, Germany
Does the result of the midterm elections threaten the very future of the United States? Correspondent Martin Kilian of Germany's Tages Anzeiger outlines for readers his concern that the apparent gridlock in the American system could threaten not only America's future - but the world. For the Tages Anzeiger, Martin Kilian writes in part: Instead of paving the way for a … [Read more...] about There is More at Stake than Obama’s Presidency: Tages Anzeiger, Germany
Obama’s Interaction With Students At Mumbai’s Famous College
One of the highlights of President Barack Obama's visit to Mumbai was a visit to St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, founded by German Jesuits in 1869. Obama seemed so much at ease with the students, and so communicative, that one wonders whether he should have been a professor or a diplomat instead of being a politician/president, a task some say he should have perhaps left to Ms … [Read more...] about Obama’s Interaction With Students At Mumbai’s Famous College