Anastasia Pantsios, a lifelong journalist, does a great job in Ohio Daily Blog's post, "A Disturbing Pattern" with the subject of how the Cleveland Plain Dealer's primary endorsements for 12 newly-created elected positions read as gender-biased reviews though the motivation seems unintentional. But just because there is no intention does not mean that there is no bias. It … [Read more...] about Newspaper Political Endorsements Reinforce Gender Bias
The Takeover Makeover Of San Diego’s Grand Old Lady
There is a brotherhood of newspaper, radio and television folks in San Diego that are in a twitter (the old definition) over the face of one of the city's oldest institutions. -- Its daily newspaper. The San Diego Union-Tribune under new ownership last year chose this week to launch a Botox version of its former self. Both the print version and its on-line close cousin some … [Read more...] about The Takeover Makeover Of San Diego’s Grand Old Lady
The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part II
In Part I, the history of the First Amendment’s prohibition against the establishment of religion or abridging the free exercise thereof was examined. With today’s more literal reading of the First Amendment, incorporating religious tolerance, Part II examines a) what constitutes a church for constitutional and regulatory purposes, b) the RLUIPA and c) the impact of the First … [Read more...] about The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part II
More Bad Economic News: Weekly Jobs Claims Climbs to 500,000
More bad economic news -- signs of an ailing recovery which has sparked speculation about what kind of recovery is it and whether the patient is heading towards a relapse: New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to a nine-month high last week, yet another setback to the frail economic recovery. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits … [Read more...] about More Bad Economic News: Weekly Jobs Claims Climbs to 500,000
The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part I
Historical Perspective The preeminent act of America’s first Congress was passage of the Bill of Rights on September 25, 1789. Comprised of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratification was completed on December 15, 1791 with Virginia providing the necessary final vote to complete the process. The first section of the First Amendment reads, “Congress shall … [Read more...] about The Mosque, Freedom And The Law: Part I
Poll: Nearly One In Five Americans Think Obama is a Muslim
Who says that negatively defining someone -- facts to the contrary -- doesn't work? It sure does in 21st century American politics. Just look at this Pew Research Center poll which indicates nearly one in five Americans think President Barack Obama is a Muslim: A substantial and growing number of Americans say that Barack Obama is a Muslim, while the proportion saying he … [Read more...] about Poll: Nearly One In Five Americans Think Obama is a Muslim
More Publishing When There Was No Copyright Law
Der Spiegel on a historian who argues Germany's rapid industrial expansion in the 19th century was due to an absence of copyright law: Höffner has researched that early heyday of printed material in Germany and reached a surprising conclusion -- unlike neighboring England and France, Germany experienced an unparalleled explosion of knowledge in the 19th century. German … [Read more...] about More Publishing When There Was No Copyright Law
San Diego Union-Tribune: A Newspaper Redesigns Itself To Adapt to a New Era
These are wrenching times for companies that own newspapers and those who've dedicated their lives to working on them. And, in many cases, if a newspaper wants to survive it must decide on some changes. Nowhere has that been more evident in my home-base city of San Diego, California, where my former employer the San Diego Union-Tribune has over the past year changed hands as … [Read more...] about San Diego Union-Tribune: A Newspaper Redesigns Itself To Adapt to a New Era
Shirley Sherrod To NAACP: ‘I Look Forward to Working and Struggling Right by Your Side’
Shirley Sherrod in an open letter on behalf of the NAACP: Not long ago, I sat here in my living room in Albany, Georgia for an afternoon of deep conversation with NAACP President Benjamin Jealous. As he has done in public, Ben movingly apologized for the fact that the NAACP was initially hoodwinked by Breitbart and Fox into supporting my removal. I told him what I want to tell … [Read more...] about Shirley Sherrod To NAACP: ‘I Look Forward to Working and Struggling Right by Your Side’
Legal Victories for Shameless Liars
Truth may set you free, but lies are running a close second these days as Rod Blagojevich, Tom DeLay and a politician who falsely claimed to have won the Congressional Medal of Honor are doing well in the court system. The legal principle involved in persuading only 11 of 12 jurors that Blago tried to sell Obama's Senate seat, according to Scott Turow, author of "Presumed … [Read more...] about Legal Victories for Shameless Liars
Cordoba House: The ‘Impossible Mosque’ – ABC, Spain
Perhaps it's because Spain was hit with an al-Qaeda terrorist attack that killed 191 and wounded 1,800; it may be Spain's long history with Islam, which goes back to the 8th century; it might even be simply because the 'Cordoba House' is the namesake of that Spanish city, in which Jews, Christians and Muslims coexisted peacefully for centuries. But whatever the reason, there … [Read more...] about Cordoba House: The ‘Impossible Mosque’ – ABC, Spain
The Cordoba House and ‘Hussein of Yankeeland’: La Opinion de Zemora, Spain
Do Western countries have a right to demand 'reciprocation' from Muslim nations when it comes to freedom of religion? And was President Obama in error to come out apparently in favor of the building of a controversial Muslim community center near New York's Ground Zero? Continuing with our global coverage of this expanding controversy, columnist Rufo Gamazo Rico of Spain's … [Read more...] about The Cordoba House and ‘Hussein of Yankeeland’: La Opinion de Zemora, Spain
Ground Zero Mosque
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Ground Zero Mosque
A Critical Look At The NYC Mosque Polling Data
Opponents of the New York City community center and mosque located near the site of the former World Trade Center routinely cite polling data as evidence that the project should be killed. Setting aside for a moment the fact that public opinion impeded such civil right advances as giving women the right to vote and freeing slaves, let's take a look at two of the most cited … [Read more...] about A Critical Look At The NYC Mosque Polling Data
Newt Gingrich Loves America
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich Loves America
Senate Candidates Tackle Congressional Revolving Door
The two leading candidates for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Joe Biden when he became Vice President -- Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) and New Castle county executive Chris Coons (D) -- have publicly criticized the Congressional revolving door. In early August, Rep. Castle -- who was first elected to Delaware's single House seat in 1992 -- filed the Accountability and … [Read more...] about Senate Candidates Tackle Congressional Revolving Door
GOPer and 9/11 Widower Ted Olson Says Obama Did Right Thing On Mosque Near Ground Zero (UPDATED)
Republican Ted Olson, the former Bush administration Solicitor General Ted Olson whose wife Barbara died on the hijacked airplane that crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11, says President Barack Obama did the right thing in defending plans to build a mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero: Once again: this points out the difference between those participating in what I … [Read more...] about GOPer and 9/11 Widower Ted Olson Says Obama Did Right Thing On Mosque Near Ground Zero (UPDATED)
Bill Bennett Says Iraq Is “Going Nifty”
Bill Bennett says Iraq is "going nifty." Details and video HERE. As I said on my Twitter page: That's groovy, Bill, let's rap about it when we get our heads together! … [Read more...] about Bill Bennett Says Iraq Is “Going Nifty”
Why The Middle Has Turned To The Right
One of the most glorious things I witnessed in my lifetime was the way working class consciousness largely evaporated in this country after World War II. A Beatles song neatly summed up the reason: "A working class hero is no way to be." Indeed, it had only seemed a good way to be in years when people in this very large and diverse group of Americans didn't have a clear shot at … [Read more...] about Why The Middle Has Turned To The Right
Is Obama “Another Carter” or “An Obama?”
As his Presidency runs into increasingly rocky and oily waters, the debate has now begun in earnest about whether Barack Obama is a struggling President, a poorly understood President, or an already-failed President. I give my take on this issue in my weekly Cagle.com column. Here's the beginning of it: Some political talking heads and pundits are increasingly using the … [Read more...] about Is Obama “Another Carter” or “An Obama?”