This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Deal To Extend Bush Tax Cuts
Compassion and Love Are Not Partisan, or Exclusive to Any One Religious View
Yesterday, I posted a commentary from Donald Douglas at American Power in which he said (among other things) that Elizabeth Edwards was a "nihilist" because she said in her last public remarks about her illness that she put her faith in "family, friends, and the power of resilience and hope," and did not explicitly mention God. … [Read more...] about Compassion and Love Are Not Partisan, or Exclusive to Any One Religious View
Polite Organic Soup Can
You can consider this post as a bit of comic relief from the stressful news of a very eventful news day. … [Read more...] about Polite Organic Soup Can
Remember Pearl Harbor
It's been 69 years which means those young brave soldiers and sailors are pushing 90. Won't be long before they are all gone, so let us remember and honor them now. If you see a veteran, shake his hand and thank him Better yet give him a hug. May we never forget what they did for us. … [Read more...] about Remember Pearl Harbor
BREAKING: Elizabeth Edwards Dies
One day after she publicly announced that her cancer had spread and that her doctor had advised against further medical treatment, Elizabeth Edwards died. … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Elizabeth Edwards Dies
The People Versus The Pols
That old saying that we have the best congress and president money can buy is wrong. With all the money that was spent buying these worthies in the last two election cycles we should have gotten a far better political product. We didn't end up with a president with liberal leanings as so many voters believed they would get in 2008. What we got instead is someone surrounded … [Read more...] about The People Versus The Pols
GO AHEAD, START GAMBLING
Our economy is based upon gambling – always has been, always will be. In the past, the gambles were based upon real economic, social, scientific, technological and political conditions and predictions of how things might change. Uncertainty was always present in widely varying degrees since no one is clairvoyant and hindsight is uselessly 20-20. All of life is a risk and … [Read more...] about GO AHEAD, START GAMBLING
Contingency, Counterfactuals and the Study of History
It's Pearl Harbor Day, which means it's as good a time as ever to reflect on what happened that fateful morning 69 years ago...and what didn't happen. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in the hopes of destroying the US Pacific Fleet, recently moved out there from San Diego. The Japanese wanted to buy time to secure the oil fields in Indonesia and they knew the US would never … [Read more...] about Contingency, Counterfactuals and the Study of History
A Most Sacred Christmas Tree
Ron’s nice “Yule Tree” post made me poignantly aware of a totally different tree that my family and I, along with possibly over one hundred other Austinites, will be gingerly---many with tears in our eyes---decorating tonight. You see, tonight marks the 20th "Tree of Angels" ceremony. A beautiful ceremony which we have been supporting and attending here in Austin, Tex. for … [Read more...] about A Most Sacred Christmas Tree
Texas Republican Leader Opposes Jewish House Speaker because “Christians Do the Best Job”
A Texas GOP leader opposes a Jewish House speaker because he ways "Christians do the best job.'' And YES he does use that old line about "Some of my best friends are..." … [Read more...] about Texas Republican Leader Opposes Jewish House Speaker because “Christians Do the Best Job”
UPDATE: Assange Arrested in London: Judge Denies Bail
UPDATE Tues Dev 7, 2010 2:11 Mountain Time. London judge refuses bail to Assange, saying that he has frail ties to British residency, has much money accessible, and is thereby too easily able to not re-appear in court. Mr. Assange has thus been sent to an undisclosed jail location (as is usual in London) until further hearing in a week or so. His charges were defended by his … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Assange Arrested in London: Judge Denies Bail
Parents of Children in School Breakfast and Lunch Programs are “Criminally Negligent”
These parents are criminally negligent, according to Kate O'Beirne -- a National Review editor who made these remarks at a Republican strategy session last week -- because they don't know how to give their children a bowl of cereal and a banana: … [Read more...] about Parents of Children in School Breakfast and Lunch Programs are “Criminally Negligent”
MasterCard Pulls Plug On WikiLeaks Donations
MasterCard "is taking action to ensure that WikiLeaks can no longer accept MasterCard-branded products." Yet as Glenn Greenwald writes: WikiLeaks has never been charged with a crime, let alone indicted for one or convicted of one. A consensus of legal experts agree that prosecuting the organization or Julian Assange for any of its leaks would be difficult in the … [Read more...] about MasterCard Pulls Plug On WikiLeaks Donations
A House With No Frame
One would think that we could all agree, regardless of religious belief or political affiliation, how crushingly sad it is to read that Elizabeth Edwards' doctor has advised her that her cancer has spread, that she has only a short time to live, and that further medical treatment would not be productive. One would think that the only feelings and responses that come to mind … [Read more...] about A House With No Frame
The U.S. Government’s Extra-Judicial Attack On WikiLeaks Is Wrong
I am conflicted about the right balance between the visibility required for counter-democracy and the need for private speech among international actors. Here’s what I’m not conflicted about: When authorities can’t get what they want by working within the law, the right answer is not to work outside the law. The right answer is that they can’t get what they want.The Unites … [Read more...] about The U.S. Government’s Extra-Judicial Attack On WikiLeaks Is Wrong
Palin vs. JFK on Church and State
In an intellectual mismatch, Sarah Palin is now instructing John F. Kennedy about religion and the presidency by critiquing his classic 1960 speech on church and state. This gives new meaning to the Catholic fallacy of invincible ignorance, wherein someone "simply refuses to believe an argument, ignoring any evidence given" and is absolved from sin on the basis of pure … [Read more...] about Palin vs. JFK on Church and State
The Deal Is Done
The deal is done, and it's no compromise: … [Read more...] about The Deal Is Done
Yule Tree
I may be a heathen but I enjoy the Christmas season. Of course you won't find much about the season in the Bible - it was an add on to bring Christianity into the winter solstice celebrations. One of those pre Christian traditions is the Yule tree. This was forcasted to be the last dry day here in the Pacific NW for at least a week so I took my mother up to the tree farm … [Read more...] about Yule Tree
Idaho Independent Puts Some Numbers on the Board Against Partisan Pros
Story by Randy Miller I now have a life experience that I share with a very small group of people; I ran for public office as a non-partisan candidate in a partisan race. (and I polled over 20% in doing so, even 39% and 42% in the 2 highest precincts) Utah is home to 1.5 Million registered voters, 51.5% of which selected "unaffiliated" on their voter registration. Not to … [Read more...] about Idaho Independent Puts Some Numbers on the Board Against Partisan Pros
WikiLeaks Poses Greater Risk to West’s ‘Enemies’: Global Times, China
The reaction of China to the disclosure by WikiLeaks of U.S. diplomatic cables is particularly interesting. According to this editorial from China's state-run Global Times, Beijing suspects that the U.S. may have some kind of 'tacit understanding' with WikiLeaks. But even if WikiLeaks developed organically, the editorial says that China is concerned that as a child of the … [Read more...] about WikiLeaks Poses Greater Risk to West’s ‘Enemies’: Global Times, China