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
(Mis)-Understanding Generation X
I wanted to respond - in part - to this intriguing piece in the Washington Post on the much-derided "Generation X." I am one of them, after all. In fact, as a 37-year old born in 1973 I am right in the middle of the GenXers and I've experienced and felt most of what our generation is known for: the cynicism, the pessimism, the penchant for ironic detachment, and the iconoclasm. … [Read more...] about (Mis)-Understanding Generation X
Big Problems in 2012 for Joe Lieberman?
Once the Republicans won big, the question became "Will Joe Lieberman become a Republican?" Lieberman seemed to throw cold water on the idea. But now a political tidbit that has started snaking its way around the Internet will raise the possibility of whether Lieberman would have to switch to the GOP if he wants to serve beyond 2012. The Hartford Courant reports: Add the … [Read more...] about Big Problems in 2012 for Joe Lieberman?
A Key Reason for Barack Obama’s Failures
Was it Rahm Emanuel? … [Read more...] about A Key Reason for Barack Obama’s Failures
Is the Democratic Party Really Out for the Count? (UPDATED)
Is there a slowly emerging twist in the developing conventional wisdom? Are the Democrats truly down for the count? Since the Democrats suffered such huge loses in the mid-terms that THIS should be their theme song, the conventional wisdom by a variety of pundits of both parties have included points such as a)the Democrats are decimated, b)this could be the beginning of a … [Read more...] about Is the Democratic Party Really Out for the Count? (UPDATED)
Right Wing Rag Calls On Obama To Not Run For Re-Election
One of those right wing rags has called on President Obama to pledge he will not run for re-election in 2012. Oh wait... it's the Washington Post. … [Read more...] about Right Wing Rag Calls On Obama To Not Run For Re-Election
Rethinking The Federal Budget Mess: Part 2, Taxes
Part 1, Social Security : Part 2, Taxes : Part 3, Defense Spending In part one of this series, I argued that we need to think about federal budget components, and I started with Social Security. In this installment, I'll propose something heretical: an excess profits tax. War-time excess profits taxes were the norm in the 20th century. Congress levied them during … [Read more...] about Rethinking The Federal Budget Mess: Part 2, Taxes
At G20, Obama Tastes ‘Bitter Reality’ of America’s Decline: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
This is a challenging moment in history, and according to columnist Peter Ehrlich of Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, President Obama is a victim of it: The United States, relative to other nations, is growing comparatively weaker. And with economics rather than military prowess the modern measure of true influence, Ehrlich contends that presidents of the United States, … [Read more...] about At G20, Obama Tastes ‘Bitter Reality’ of America’s Decline: Financial Times Deutschland, Germany
What the Latest Zogby Poll Could Tell Us
Yesterday over on Facebook, Ohio's outgoing Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, posted a link to a new Zogby Poll. Brunner, a progressive Democrat, understandably highlighted Zogby's finding that, in spite of the "shellacking" that Democrats took in the 2010 midterm elections a few weeks ago, voter majorities still favor government spending on infrastructure in order to … [Read more...] about What the Latest Zogby Poll Could Tell Us
Watch Out for Beijing
Charles Krauthammer is no fan of President Obama, but he had no use for the silly (and largely misinformed) carping over the cost of the president's recent trip to Asia. I agree with Krauthammer. It's important for Presidents of the United States to go abroad for these diplomatic missions. The president is America's diplomat-in-chief. When presidents take such trips, it is in … [Read more...] about Watch Out for Beijing
More Blue Dogs?
I never did understand the Joe Miller campaign in Alaska. There is no state in the union that depends on the Federal Government more than Alaska. For every dollar Alaskans pay in Federal income tax they get five dollars back. One third of the jobs in Alaska depend on funding from the Federal government. This has always been a grudge match between Sarah Palin and Lisa … [Read more...] about More Blue Dogs?
Cindy McCain Betrays LGBT Americans, and Herself
It's hard to say which is worse, but betraying her own principles (if that's what they were) is, in my opinion at least, the most pathetic part of this: … [Read more...] about Cindy McCain Betrays LGBT Americans, and Herself
TSA Body Scans Rubs Passengers the Wrong Way
When it comes to TSA's full-body scans and pat-downs, many passengers are not willing to turn the other cheek: A growing pilot and passenger revolt over full-body scans and what many consider intrusive pat-downs couldn't have come at a worse time for the nation's air travel system. Thanksgiving, the busiest travel time of the year, is less than two weeks … [Read more...] about TSA Body Scans Rubs Passengers the Wrong Way
My Emotional Chaos is Nothing to Hide
Sometimes I feel like I’m an emotional ball of nerve endings waiting to be poked by a not so gentle stick. There is most likely a psychological term for this feeling. Even so, I am not yet willing to fork out the necessary copay to label my neurosis. So for now, I use less scientific sounding terms to describe this frequent state of unease. Sometimes I call it worry, fear, … [Read more...] about My Emotional Chaos is Nothing to Hide
Gallup: Sarah Palin’s Unfavorable Rating Hits New High
Apparently for many Americans who are not avid listeners of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck or Tea Party movement members to see, read or listen to Sarah Palin is apparently not to love her. According to Gallup her unfavorable ratings are at an all time high: More than half of Americans, 52%, now view Sarah Palin unfavorably, the highest percentage holding a … [Read more...] about Gallup: Sarah Palin’s Unfavorable Rating Hits New High
Kangaroo Courts and Retroactive Legality
What if you robbed a bank and got caught? You then used some of your ill gotten gains to buy enough lawmakers and they passed a law to make your crime legal. That's exactly what the banks themselves are doing in an attempt to save their hides from mortgage/foreclosure fraud. Matt Taibbi has an article explaining how the Florida Kangaroo Courts known as "rocket dockets" … [Read more...] about Kangaroo Courts and Retroactive Legality
Are Republicans Set Now For A Big Political Fall?
To those of us who are lifelong political junkies, the narratives are familiar. The Republican Party is dead and will never be a majority party again (1964 after LBJ's landslide against Goldwater and whopping GOP defeats)...The Democratic Party is decimated and the beginning of a new, long Republican era has begun (after Bill Clinton faced huge Democratic losses in his party's … [Read more...] about Are Republicans Set Now For A Big Political Fall?
The Rich Get Going
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about The Rich Get Going
Catholic Bishops: We Need More Exorcists
Apparently the handful of priests in the U.S. who are trained exorcists have been overwhelmed with requests from people who fear they are possessed by the Devil. The NYTimes: American bishops are holding a conference on Friday and Saturday to prepare more priests and bishops to respond to the demand. The purpose is not necessarily to revive the practice, the organizers say, … [Read more...] about Catholic Bishops: We Need More Exorcists