Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates delivered a lecture at Duke University last week on the all-volunteer force. The separation between the "narrow sliver of our population" that serves and the rest of us is growing: We should not ignore the broader, long-term consequences of waging these protracted military campaigns employing - and re-employing - such a small portion of our … [Read more...] about A Growing Civilian-Military Divide
Paying For Services
Judging from the blog reactions I'm on the wrong side according my peers on the left but I don't have a problem with this. Tennessee County’s Subscription-Based Firefighters Watch As Family Home Burns Down As ThinkProgress has noted, there are currently two competing visions of governance in the United States. One, the conservative vision, believes in the on-your-own … [Read more...] about Paying For Services
NYT’s Room For Debate Asks: What’s Ohio’s Doom, Gloom Mean For Midterms?
Earlier today I was asked to write a 300 word oped on Ohio, our voters, our economy and what the heck do we want done with it all as part of the New York Times' Room For Debate platform. You can see my thoughts next to those of five others here. Question for my fellow co-bloggers here and the community that reads us: What do you think about the Room For Debate format? … [Read more...] about NYT’s Room For Debate Asks: What’s Ohio’s Doom, Gloom Mean For Midterms?
More Poor in America than China? Think Again!: Global Times, People’s Republic of China
It's the battle of the titans - but one that neither side wants to win. Who has more poor people: the United States or China? And who's poor are worse off? For the state-controlled Global Times, columnist Chiang Meng writes that despite recent statistics from the Chinese themselves, China's poor are more numerous and far worse off than their American counterparts. For the … [Read more...] about More Poor in America than China? Think Again!: Global Times, People’s Republic of China
Tea Party Movement Candidates Continue To Verbally Stun
When some said they'd shake things up...they most certainly are. The question then has an answer that depends on your political outlook: If the tree is shaken will it help it grow? (If you are a Tea Party movement fan). Or if the tree is shaken will some nuts fall to the ground? (If you're not). One thing is for sure: political junkies, the news media, bloggers and … [Read more...] about Tea Party Movement Candidates Continue To Verbally Stun
Reflections on Six Years of Blogging
Before the parade passes by Before it goes on, and only I'm left Before the parade passes by I've gotta get in step while there's still time left I'm ready to move out in front Life without life has no reason or rhyme left With the rest of them With the best of them I wanna hold my head up high I need got a goal again I need got a drive again I wanna feel my heart … [Read more...] about Reflections on Six Years of Blogging
As Sure As Death, Taxes, And Trickle Down Economics
A headline in today's New York Times read: "Cheap debt for corporations fails to spur the economy." A line in this story goes on to explain: "The situation underscores the limits of Washington policy makers' power to stimulate the economy." Not true. What is underscored here is these policy makers' endless and mindless commitment to trickle down economics. Cheap debt … [Read more...] about As Sure As Death, Taxes, And Trickle Down Economics
Palin Perfected
Sarah Palin took us halfway there, and now her Delaware clone is the final product--the completely content-free politician. Disappearing for three weeks after a primary victory, Christine O'Donnell emerges at an invitation-only crowd of 100 supporters and, in a no-cal interview with AP, "vows to control her political message." Decades ago, when Marshall McLuhan asserted … [Read more...] about Palin Perfected
I mean, REALLY Folks…
I mean, REALLY, folks: hasn't politics in this country now gotten to where it looks like a Mad Magazine article? And don't people who say things like this lose ALL credibility. G.A.L. (Get A Life). … [Read more...] about I mean, REALLY Folks…
Anti-Gay Bullying is a Theological Issue
Before this most recent spate of media attention to anti-gay bullying, Dan Savage set up a YouTube channel aimed at young lgbt people. The It Gets Better project invites anyone with a YouTube account who wants to share their experiences in order to give hope to teens facing discrimination and bullying. Dan and his husband shared their own experiences in the first … [Read more...] about Anti-Gay Bullying is a Theological Issue
Moments Matter: The Tyler Clementi Tragedy
Moments matter. That's the first of many lessons we are likely to derive from the suicide of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi this past September 22. If allegations made by local law enforcement officials are correct, Clementi's tragic death followed the filming and webcasting of a sexual encounter involving Clementi and another person in a college dorm room. It's alleged … [Read more...] about Moments Matter: The Tyler Clementi Tragedy
Whose Populism?
As tens of thousands of Americans gathered on the National Mall this past weekend, Frank Rich -- in the New York Times -- warned them and their supporters not to underestimate the "useful idiocy" of the Tea Party's most recent star, Christine O'Donnell. For comedians -- particularly Bill Mahar -- she is the gift which keeps on giving. But, Rich wrote: O'Donnell is … [Read more...] about Whose Populism?
Some Like It Not
Some Like It Not by Tom Watson Tony Curtis would have made a terrific Rahm Emanuel. I can see him as a tortured, angry chief of staff in a tense fin de siècle drama of rising shadows in a White House under siege. Just as easily, I can picture Curtis joyfully elbowing his way through a comical role as Emanuel the Picaresque, jabbing lefty bloggers with glee and keeping his … [Read more...] about Some Like It Not
Nathalie Dupree Joins Crowded South Carolina Senate Race
Celebrity chef Nathalie Dupree, 70, has launched a last-minute write-in campaign in the South Carolina U.S. Senate race. She faces the Republican incumbent, Jim DeMint; the Democratic nominee, Alvin Greene; Tom Clements, the Green Party nominee; and two other write-in candidates, high school teacher Greg Snoad and an inactive attorney, Mazie Ferguson. From the Washington … [Read more...] about Nathalie Dupree Joins Crowded South Carolina Senate Race
Health Care’s Second Wind
WASHINGTON -- Here is another piece of conventional wisdom about this year's election that is being rendered patently false. It's been said over and over that no Democrats are running on the health care bill. Actually, more and more of them are proudly campaigning on what the plan has achieved -- and they should. In a fight for his political life in Wisconsin, Sen. … [Read more...] about Health Care’s Second Wind
In Praise of Intolerance
"The Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens."-- George Washington What's happened to good citizenship lately? Andrew Shirvell, a paid state official during off hours, calls a gay student body president a racist … [Read more...] about In Praise of Intolerance
The Rise of Black Republicans
Jack Kelly has an interesting article up on RCP about the number of minorities running for office as Republicans in 2010 as well as the general lack of media attention. I do think he has a point. Admittedly some of them have no chance of winning, but you would think that with our first black President that having black Republicans running for office would be worthy of some … [Read more...] about The Rise of Black Republicans
America’s ‘Cry of Agony’ Through the Tea Party: Le Temps, Switzerland
What is the Tea Party and where did it come from? This editorial from Switzerland's Le Temps attempts to put things into context, describing the Tea Party as a 'cry of agony' that Europeans shouldn't scoff at, but should recognize in their own right-wing upsurge. The Le Temps editorial says in part: There is drinking and eating in the Tea Party. As has happened … [Read more...] about America’s ‘Cry of Agony’ Through the Tea Party: Le Temps, Switzerland
The Pixie Dust Blues
The Pixie Dust Blues Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Who is that masked superhero zoooming across the country on treacherous adventures to save the Democratic damsel? It’s President Obama, in a desperate attempt to erase the midterm election enthusiasm gap. Two words: Good luck. We’re talking about a chasm that makes the Grand Canyon seem but a crack in the sidewalk. Wider … [Read more...] about The Pixie Dust Blues
Blessed are the sociopaths, for they shall have everything.
This is the 21st Century addition to the original eight beatitudes of Jesus Christ found in Matthew’s Gospel recounting the Sermon on the Mount. This new phrase probably turns Christianity and many other religions on their heads, but it may best describe humanity in its current worldview. One view of human history is a continuous war between those who have some sense of … [Read more...] about Blessed are the sociopaths, for they shall have everything.