I have had mixed feelings about the question of whether to build a mosque and community center 2 miles from Ground Zero, which is the major reason I've been mostly silent about it. But the myth makers and apologists for radical Islam who feel no compunction in smearing all opponents of the mosque as bigots and haters have changed my mind. The constant appeal directed to the … [Read more...] about Wading into the Mosque Controversy
Ground Zero
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Anti Same-Sex Marriage & Pro-Slavery Arguments: Answering NOM’s Maggie Gallagher
I'll be in Atlanta today for the "Love + Commitment = Marriage" rally. The event is a counter-protest to coincide with the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) Summer for Marriage Bus Tour's arrival there. You will recognize my partner and me by our t-shirts. They were commemorative gifts handed out at a Renewing Our Commitment ceremony we held for our 10th anniversary … [Read more...] about Anti Same-Sex Marriage & Pro-Slavery Arguments: Answering NOM’s Maggie Gallagher
Hiroshima Bomb Survivors to Obama: ‘Come Stand Here’ – Asahi Shimbun, Japan
Is there some way for the idealistic vision of a total abolition of nuclear weapons to take hold in the real world of global politics? In one of a series of articles we've posted on the 65th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, this editorial from Japan's Asahi Shimbun, heralds President Obama's decision to send an American ambassador to a ceremony at the site of the world's … [Read more...] about Hiroshima Bomb Survivors to Obama: ‘Come Stand Here’ – Asahi Shimbun, Japan
CNN’s and Newsweek’s Fareed Zakaria Returns ADL Award Due to Group’s Anti-Mosque Stand
Fareed Zakaria, the high profile, high quality Newsweek staffer who is also a rising star as a CNN host, has returned an award he received from the Anti-Defamation League to the ADL due to the group's stand opposing a mosque two blocks away from 9/11's Ground Zero. The Huffington Post reports: Newsweek writer and CNN host Fareed Zakaria has returned an award he received in … [Read more...] about CNN’s and Newsweek’s Fareed Zakaria Returns ADL Award Due to Group’s Anti-Mosque Stand
New Report Shows Health Care Reform Boosting Medicare Solvency
Dan Froomkin (emphasis mine): … [Read more...] about New Report Shows Health Care Reform Boosting Medicare Solvency
Let’s Hope Iraq Has Taught Us Something: Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
Continuing with our tour of what the rest of the world thinks of President Obama's declaration of an end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq, this editorial from Sweden's Dagens Nyheter has one very succinct message for the United States and any nation with similar intentions: learn the limits of military power. The Dagens Nyheter editorial says in part: ... the … [Read more...] about Let’s Hope Iraq Has Taught Us Something: Dagens Nyheter, Sweden
What Is the Real Magnitude of the BP Oil Spill? (Updated)
After three months of spewing millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, it appears that BP’s runaway well has been permanently plugged, albeit both BP and the U.S. government won’t claim victory until the relief well is completed sometime this month. We will not know the short and long-term effects of the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history for … [Read more...] about What Is the Real Magnitude of the BP Oil Spill? (Updated)
Kagan Prepares To Be Sworn In Saturday
Elena Kagan will be sworn in as the newest U.S. Supreme Court justice tomorrow, after a fairly close vote: 37 Senators voted "nay". Here are the most recent Supreme Court nomination votes. Do you see a trend? 1975, John Paul Stevens confirmed, 98-0 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor confirmed, 99-0 1986, Antonin Scalia confirmed, 98-0 1987, Robert Bork not confirmed, … [Read more...] about Kagan Prepares To Be Sworn In Saturday
Shameless Self Promotion: Help Me Save The World
I'm someone that puts his brain where his mouth is, meaning that I actively try to work to address problems that I talk about. One of these days I'm going to do comprehensive posts about everything I'm involved with from health care to energy to food production to economic modeling, there may be some other stuff I don't remember now. I've been wanting to do so, but until we've … [Read more...] about Shameless Self Promotion: Help Me Save The World
How Chicken Democrats And Creepy Republicans Killed The 9/11 First Responders Bill
For three days I fumbled how to write my disgust over House Democrats and Republicans killing needed help for 9/11 first responders. I’ll do it by letting the experts lay it on the line. First, this news release on the website of Rep. Carolyn Maloney, author of HR 847. Next this fact check Q&A. And, finally, this from Jon Stewart of the Daily Show. The guy nailed … [Read more...] about How Chicken Democrats And Creepy Republicans Killed The 9/11 First Responders Bill
Hiroshima Plus 65
Note: This is a reposting from a couple years ago This week marks the 65th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and the beginning of the end of World War 2. As is usually the case every year, we have the stories of those who attack the incident as a ‘war crime’. These historical revisionists miss (or ignore) the fact that they are looking back with … [Read more...] about Hiroshima Plus 65
The New York Mosque Controversy and Religious Freedom
The controversy over a mosque in NYC two blocks from 911's Ground Zero continues to boil -- heated up by both genuine issues on each side of the argument and also by those who are transparently pressing hot buttons to get TV ratings or mid-term election votes. One of the many issues at play is the issue of religious freedom. And yesterday a group of rabbis rallied in support … [Read more...] about The New York Mosque Controversy and Religious Freedom
Obama’s Foreclosure Program Is Flopping
The Government’s Naked Scanner Scandal
There's a new scandal about a government agency that has collected naked images from advanced body scanners at airport security points. Details HERE. No wonder the TSA people were pointing and laughing at me as I approached the inspection area on my second trip from San Diego airport this month. In the future I'll just turn the other cheek. Now you can follow Joe … [Read more...] about The Government’s Naked Scanner Scandal
Is the Tea Party Losing Steam?
Is the Tea Party losing steam? CNN's Rick Sanchez (whose Rick's List show is getting better and better) looks at the issue with some guests who raise the issue of whether lower profile means losing steam or just shifting to work with...a somewhat lower profile. Aother question is how the media covers the Tea Party and the accuracy of coverage: Now you can follow Joe … [Read more...] about Is the Tea Party Losing Steam?
Tightrope Dollar
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Coca Cola: No Consumer Could Reasonably Think Vitaminwater Is Healthy
This is so annoying: Coca-Cola is being sued by a non-profit public interest group, on the grounds that the company's vitaminwater products make unwarranted health claims. No surprise there. But how do you think the company is defending itself? In a staggering feat of twisted logic, lawyers for Coca-Cola are defending the lawsuit by asserting that "no consumer could … [Read more...] about Coca Cola: No Consumer Could Reasonably Think Vitaminwater Is Healthy
More Bad Economy News: 131,000 Jobs Lost In July
The economic news continues to be grim on the jobs front -- partially due to the loss of U.S. jobs: With the American economic recovery hanging in the balance, private employers added 71,000 jobs in July, up from a downwardly revised 31,000 in June but below the consensus forecast of 90,000. The unemployment rate stayed steady at 9.5 percent. Over all, the nation lost … [Read more...] about More Bad Economy News: 131,000 Jobs Lost In July
Hitler’s Parents Lose Custody
I can't wait to see what Adolf has to say about this on You Tube: New Jersey parents have lost custody of a son they named Adolf Hitler, as well as daughters Jocelynn Aryan Nation and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie. The Appeals court ruling overturned a family court decision, and found that the parents suffer from unspecified physical and psychological disabilities. Heath and … [Read more...] about Hitler’s Parents Lose Custody