Dear Readers: Dr. E., here. This is a tag team article by myself and Shaun Mullen. Below, his article re rubble of higher education I'd preface his good writing by commenting ON MONEY how noticeable it has become: the cost of a university education is out of reach of the average middle class citizen... without encumbering oneself or one's family for many decades after … [Read more...] about We Have The World’s Finest Universities, Why Then Is America Such A Mess?
A Labor Day Speech For The Ages
Following is a text prepared for delivery on Labor Day by Republican American Tea Party U.S. Sen. Forrest Washington Flagg. Good afternoon, my fellow patriots. Thank you for that 21-gun salute. Isn’t that music to our ears? Let’s give a big round of applause to our state militia honor guard. I come to you this last day our nation will honor the proletariat working class … [Read more...] about A Labor Day Speech For The Ages
Blood and Treasure and Blackwater
James Risen and Mark Mazzetti have a piece in the New York Times (posted online yesterday) about Blackwater, the rogue private security contracting company that lost its State Department contract in Iraq after a shooting spree by Blackwater employees that killed 17 unarmed civilians in Baghdad. Risen and Mazzetti report that in the years after that incident, which occurred in … [Read more...] about Blood and Treasure and Blackwater
Jan Brewer: No More Debates As She Already Avoids Reporters
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, the Republican Tea Party favorite who froze up during an opening debate statement and gave what many consider the worst opening debate statement ever, has now announced that she has no intention of participating in future debates. That in itself would not be unusual in politics -- except for two things: 1. Other politicians throughout political … [Read more...] about Jan Brewer: No More Debates As She Already Avoids Reporters
The Economy – Too Broken To Fix
In 1982 the economy was hurting and Ronald Reagan's approval ratings were even lower than Obama's in 2010. The economy got better on it's own and so did Reagan's approval but not before the Republicans took a drubbing in the midterms. In 1994 the economy was also hurting and Clinton's approval ratings were also lower than Obama's now. The economy once again righted itself, … [Read more...] about The Economy – Too Broken To Fix
The Journalistic Perils of “Exclusive Access”
What happens when the government gives one broadcast network or news organization "exclusive access" to cover a major news event? Inevitably, the news event gets spun the way the government wants it to be spun. The flip side is that other news organizations, not so dubiously "blessed," are free to report honestly and truthfully. This is essentially what happened with the "U.S. … [Read more...] about The Journalistic Perils of “Exclusive Access”
Palin Continues To Damage Women While Others Spend Time, Money To Help Them
In a week that saw the launch of a funded, organized, coordinated effort to help us get at the roots of sexism (check out Name It. Change It), we also get Sarah Palin demonstrating the carelessness with which she's accused many others in using sexist rhetoric. From CNN Politicalticker: "Those who are impotent and limp and gutless and they go on their anonymous - sources that … [Read more...] about Palin Continues To Damage Women While Others Spend Time, Money To Help Them
A Message from God
Please remind Stephen Hawking and Glenn Beck that they owe me a royalty check. All the best, God … [Read more...] about A Message from God
Why is the Idea of a Universe Without a God So Unsettling?
This seems to be the topic du jour at TMV today so allow me to throw in my two bits. Stephen Hawking was known as something of a mischievous youth, which makes me think his latest proncunciamento on the universe was deliberately calculated to raise the ire of believers of all stripes: God did not create the universe, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking argues in a … [Read more...] about Why is the Idea of a Universe Without a God So Unsettling?
Supreme Court – Not What You Think: Part V, New Deal Power Struggles
The Supreme Court in 1930 was not far different than the Court today. The Four Horsemen (Sutherland, Butler, McReynolds, and Van Devanter) constituted a staunchly conservative wing. Holmes, Brandeis and Stone constituted a more progressive wing, at least on social issues. New Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes and Justice Owen Roberts were swing votes. The Court was, … [Read more...] about Supreme Court – Not What You Think: Part V, New Deal Power Struggles
America’s Next Bank Bailout?
It's small potatoes by American financial rip-off standards. But the run now going on at the Kabul Bank in Afghanistan might soon lead to yet another U.S. government bailout, a new bit of fiscal idiocy to add to our country's other manic policies in the nasty pissant backwater in which we are currently drowning. The facts here are simple enough. As part of our policy-makers' … [Read more...] about America’s Next Bank Bailout?
Christine O’Donnell: Curiouser and Curiouser
Earlier this week I was preparing a column on the Delaware Senate race for Pajamas Media and having a bit of fun with it. Some skeletons have been rapidly emerging from the closet of Tea Party favorite Christine O'Donnell in terms of old campaign debt, IRS woes and sheriffs coming to foreclose on her home. (Since there is no sense rehashing it all, just follow the link if … [Read more...] about Christine O’Donnell: Curiouser and Curiouser
Iraq and History’s Eventual Verdict
So what should be made of the Iraq War and history's verdict? Cathy Young looks at this question on RealClearPolitics. Here's how she starts: As the United States' combat mission in Iraq draws to a close, it is fitting to look back on the war and its legacy so far. In most left-of-center commentary, the folly and criminality of the war in Iraq is now an article of faith, … [Read more...] about Iraq and History’s Eventual Verdict
Prioritize Prioritize (Guest Voice)
Prioritize, Prioritize by David Goodloe I think I was in college when I first heard a little jingle about plagiarism — "Plagiarize! Plagiarize! Let no one's work evade your eyes!" As a journalism major, I was constantly being warned by my instructors not to plagiarize anyone. It became an article of faith with me. So I guess that accounts for my appreciation for that … [Read more...] about Prioritize Prioritize (Guest Voice)
Gallup Poll: Anti-Democratic Party Wave Fuels Impending GOP Big Mid-Term Victory
A new Gallup Poll shows that an almost-record-setting anti-Democratic sentiment is what is fueling what pollster and experts are right now saying is shaping up to be a major Democratic party wipe out on election day. And the findings aren't hopeful for those who've advocated a more affirmative kind of politics than the country has seen in the early 21st century: it is clear … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Anti-Democratic Party Wave Fuels Impending GOP Big Mid-Term Victory
Creed Cred (Guest Voice)
Creed Cred Raging Moderate, by Will Durst A few years ago anybody who spoke disparagingly of the president of the United States was immediately labeled a traitor and accused of coddling the terrorists with a back rub. Not any more. Hammering, slamming, and pounding the president these days has once again become a cottage industry. A competitive blood sport. You’re even … [Read more...] about Creed Cred (Guest Voice)
Jan Brewer’s Very Worst (Ever) Opening Debate Statement In American Political History
There's an old joke that not much history can be made since so much has been made already -- but we have had some seen made now in Arizona. That's where incumbent Gov. Jan Brewer -- a padlock, dried in cement, superglued definite to be re-elected after riding the wave of Tea Party-type positions on immigration and other issues -- gave what political observers now call the very … [Read more...] about Jan Brewer’s Very Worst (Ever) Opening Debate Statement In American Political History
When Political Tweets Go Bad
Updated: Think about this for a moment: you tweet something you genuinely think is the truth, and then you discover that you made it up. In effect, it was a lie. What would you do? This is not an academic question: the odds that one day each of us will tweet something that is less than 100 percent true are pretty high. How might you effect a correction? I'm about to … [Read more...] about When Political Tweets Go Bad
Victory Mosque Removal
In The New Republic, Yossi Klein Halevi has a heartfelt letter addressed to "his friend" Imam Rauf. The objective behind the letter is twofold: first, to establish that he does consider Rauf to be an important figure in interfaith dialogue ("If you are not a worthy dialogue partner for the Jewish community, then there is almost no one in Islam with whom we can speak."), and … [Read more...] about Victory Mosque Removal
CEOs With Most Layoffs Have More Compensation
You get what you reward. A new report concludes that chief executives of the 50 firms that have laid off the most workers since the onset of the economic crisis in 2008 took home 42 percent more pay in 2009 than their peers at other large U.S. companies. The report, from the Institute of Policy Studies, found that the 50 layoff leaders received $12 million on average in … [Read more...] about CEOs With Most Layoffs Have More Compensation