Question: How many people will take the time to read through the House Republicans “Pledge to America”? My answer: Not enough. If you remove the political claptrap from the document, what you get is deja vu: We heard this before: Lower taxes, less spending, a return to “core values” and an unlimited national missile defense fund. There is both good and bad in the pledge … [Read more...] about GOP To America: Our Way Or The Highway
Obama’s Economic Failures Explained
A couple of days ago I wrote a post about a declaration by the National Bureau of Economic Research's (NBER) that the recession ended in June 2009. The point of that post was that it was silly and indeed cruel for a few academic economists to broadcast their technical definition of recession at a time when so many Americans are suffering in what for them is a very real on-going … [Read more...] about Obama’s Economic Failures Explained
Troubled Days In Andrew Cuomoland
New York State's Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has long been considered a shoo-in for Governor. His popularity has not been a matter of him being the son of Mario a.k.a "Hamlet" Cuomo (who dithered and dithered about running for President until his moment passed). But he is popular in his own right. So it was considered a "given" that he would easily beat the GOP candidate … [Read more...] about Troubled Days In Andrew Cuomoland
Sexist Language Lobbed At Women Candidates Hurts Their Campaigns, Says Survey
Here's Susan Page on new survey results from Celinda Lake coming out today: The poll, taken Sept. 1-8, asked 800 likely voters to listen to descriptions of two hypothetical congressional candidates, Jane Smith and Dan Jones. Half then heard a back-and-forth about the candidates that used the words "ice queen" and "mean girl," then the word "prostitute" to characterize the … [Read more...] about Sexist Language Lobbed At Women Candidates Hurts Their Campaigns, Says Survey
Demonization 101
Here's a little primer for those wanting to prepare for political careers and who are researching demonization. Here's an easy way to use this technique and get away with it because it'll be picked up by like minded talk show hosts and websites. 1. Find a joke your opponent told about himself/herself. One that was presented as such -- not presented as actual fact. 2. Repeat … [Read more...] about Demonization 101
The Social Construction of Controversy
Guest post by Peter Henne Peter Henne is a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project and a doctoral candidate at Georgetown University. (This post originally appeared at The Huffington Post.) Observers and participants in the recent Park51 debate likely noticed some parallels to the 2005 Danish Muhammad cartoon controversy. Potent religious issues mixed … [Read more...] about The Social Construction of Controversy
Titanic Fault
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Titanic Fault
Nate Silver: Republican Senate Takeover Chances Better But Checkmated by Democratic “Firewall”
FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver now calculates that the Republicans' changes for taking over the Senate have improved but their goal is stymied by a Democratic "firewall": Polls show the Republican candidate having gained ground in a key Senate race, Wisconsin — and Republicans have put another Senate race, in West Virginia, squarely into play. But strong polling for … [Read more...] about Nate Silver: Republican Senate Takeover Chances Better But Checkmated by Democratic “Firewall”
Quote of the Day: Jim Carrey on Cultivating a Better Universe
Yesterday I published THIS POST from the press room of New York City's Sheraton Hotel while attending the Clinton Global Initiative. It began by noting the presence of actor Jim Carrey, who was there in a serious capacity as founder of the Better U Foundation. The post contrasted the huge array of government officials from all over the world, academics, actors, writers, … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Jim Carrey on Cultivating a Better Universe
The War Behind the Endless Wars
From reports on Bob Woodward's new book, an old story emerges--how wars now take on a life of their own with the military pressing for more troops, handcuffing even a President desperate for a way out. "I don't think you win this war," Woodward quotes Gen. David Petraeus. "I think you keep fighting. It's a little bit like Iraq, actually...Yes, there has been enormous … [Read more...] about The War Behind the Endless Wars
Why Does Obama Hate Tax Cuts? (Guest Voice)
Why Does Obama Hate Tax Cuts? by Michael Reagan In his recent town-hall appearance, President Obama sought to pin the blame for the nation’s economic troubles on the so-called Bush tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003. That’s not all that surprising, since the president appears to believe that the federal government is the sole and rightful owner of what you think is … [Read more...] about Why Does Obama Hate Tax Cuts? (Guest Voice)
Don’t Ask Me Again
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask Me Again
Haggard Defends Bishop Eddie Long On Sex With Teen Boys
So far three young men are claiming anti-gay Bishop Eddie Long used cash, cars and expensive trips to pressure them into sexual relationships. On Inside Edition last night, Ted Haggard said he can empathize: "I think he's heartbroken, I think he's confused," Haggard said on the program Wednesday. "I'll tell you how I felt. I felt like I'd ruined my life." Haggard's wife, … [Read more...] about Haggard Defends Bishop Eddie Long On Sex With Teen Boys
Would Ronald Reagan Fit into Today’s Tea Party?
It has been noted now by many commentators that former President Ronald Reagan would probably not be accepted into today's Tea Party becausse the Republican party in general and the Tea Party in particular has moved so far right and also practices a different brand of conservatism. Is that a fair statement or not? Here's a roundup of varying views. … [Read more...] about Would Ronald Reagan Fit into Today’s Tea Party?
Drop in Obama’s Gallup Daily Tracking Poll
President Barack Obama's numbers have varied a bit on the Gallup Daily tracking poll for weeks -- but today there is bigger overall jump. 48% disapprove and 43% approve which is unusual because BOTH his approval and disapproval ratings changed by 2% (2% less approval and 2% approval). There has not usually been a 48-43 gap. On some recent days Obama seemed closer to edging … [Read more...] about Drop in Obama’s Gallup Daily Tracking Poll
Tempest in a Very Small Teapot
WASHINGTON -- Is the tea party one of the most successful scams in American political history? Before you dismiss the question, note that word “successful.” Judge the tea party purely on the grounds of effectiveness and you have to admire how a very small group has shaken American political life and seized the microphone offered by the media, including the so-called … [Read more...] about Tempest in a Very Small Teapot
Chambliss’ Office Says It Was Source of Threatening Anti-Gay Slur
Following up on last night's post... Saxby's office says it was the source of yesterday's hateful slur. AJC: But in a statement, Chambliss' office said it has not discovered exactly who was behind the slur, and has turned the matter over to the Senate sergeant at arms. The office employs 42 people. "The [sergeant at arms] has worked side by side with our personnel to … [Read more...] about Chambliss’ Office Says It Was Source of Threatening Anti-Gay Slur
Do former Republican Senator Al D’Amato and the Clinton Global Initiative Have Anything in Common?
Solutions and Consensus Focus at Clinton Global Initiative Versus Partisan Bile
New York City, NY -- The Clinton Global Initiative's panel on Building Parternships to Empower the World's Smallholder Famers at the Sheraton Hotel on 7th Avenue here sat down and there were two familiar faces on the stage. One was from the political world: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak. The other...you just KNEW you knew his face from somewhere. Why, it was … [Read more...] about Solutions and Consensus Focus at Clinton Global Initiative Versus Partisan Bile
Extremists and the Media Put World on a Hair Trigger: La Nacion, Chile
As we've been pointing out over the past few weeks, concerns over events in the United States that are perceived as Islamophobic are global in scope - in this case, from South America. This article by Raul Sohr of Chile's La Nacion warns that people both in and out of the Muslim world best tread carefully, so as not to allow the next attack to trigger events even worse than … [Read more...] about Extremists and the Media Put World on a Hair Trigger: La Nacion, Chile