Republican Rep. Joe Barton at today's hearing has said he is "ashamed" that the White House did a "shakedown" of BP yesterday by getting a pledge from the oil company to set up a $20 billion escrow fund. Do I hear a collective AWWWWWWWWW from most readers? So here it is: the real victim in all of this is BP. Watch Barton: UPDATE 2 Barton has apologized for … [Read more...] about GOPer “Ashamed” That White House Is “Shaking Down” BP (UPDATED II)
Live Video Feed: Congressional Testimony of BP CEO Tony Hayward
BP CEO Tony Hayward is testifying before a Congressional panel. Here is a live video feed: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about Live Video Feed: Congressional Testimony of BP CEO Tony Hayward
A Different Kind of Malaise
WASHINGTON -- A weird malaise is haunting the Democratic Party. That's a risky word to use, I know. It's freighted with bad history and carries unfortunate implications. So let's be clear: President Obama is not Jimmy Carter, not even close. And Obama's speech on Tuesday was nothing like Carter's 1979 "malaise speech" in which Carter never actually used that word. … [Read more...] about A Different Kind of Malaise
Afghanistan: There’s Gold in Them Thar Students
We have been writing about those “newly discovered” mineral riches in Afghanistan ad nauseam. We have been asking—and hypothesizing about—how this find will affect Afghanistan, its people, the war… We have been speculating as to whether these newly found riches will enrich the Afghan people, or central government officials, or provincial and tribal leaders, or the … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: There’s Gold in Them Thar Students
Emerging Question: Is Barack Obama Politically Tone Deaf?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson who notes something that several commentators on the left and right have noted: Barack Obama and his administration seem fixated on hyping a cabinet member's credentials in talking about the Gulf Oil spill - and those credentials a)are not important to the people, environment and wildlife … [Read more...] about Emerging Question: Is Barack Obama Politically Tone Deaf?
Do You Wear A Watch?
The end of email conversation got going again this week when Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg told the audience at Nielsen's Consumer 360 conference that only 11% of teens email daily: "E-mail--I can't imagine life without it--is probably going away," she said. With that I remember the 2006 prediction of the end of the wristwatch: Have you looked at any kids lately? I mean … [Read more...] about Do You Wear A Watch?
Rise Of The New Right, According To The Old Left
Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball," launched what the network called a documentary Wednesday night on the Tea Party, militia groups and the other various and sundry extremes purporting to be the base of the Republican Party. Except for one segment on a housewife explaining how she stumbled into forming a Tea Party in her neighborhood, the one-hour show was dominated … [Read more...] about Rise Of The New Right, According To The Old Left
Catch the Wave
Surfin' USA. … [Read more...] about Catch the Wave
Valley of Pain
"I'm walking through, I'm walking through, the valley of pain." … [Read more...] about Valley of Pain
Obama’s 90 Percent Clean Up Promise: That’s Not What He Said
Two articles have clashed in my brain with a resounding cacophony: a Tribune Bureau/Seattle Times headline screamed Obama vows 90% cleanup of oil this summer and, in Nieman Reports, Douglas Rushkoff asserted that "There's More To Being A Journalist Than Hitting The 'Publish' Button." I read the Obama story slack-jawed because no where, no where, did the reporters (there … [Read more...] about Obama’s 90 Percent Clean Up Promise: That’s Not What He Said
Weekend Public Radio: The Marxist’s Sabbath
Weekend public radio is a warm cozy cup of liberal chamomile tea. Saturday is the progressive’s radio Sabbath. Weekdays are reserved for Marxist plots and socialistic schemes. Saturday is set aside for organic gardening techniques, car repair advice, word puzzle games, family fiddlers, and narcissistic human interest soliloquies. Weekend public radio is a safe, soothing … [Read more...] about Weekend Public Radio: The Marxist’s Sabbath
An Internet activist’s war against police brutality
"I'm not a cop hater." Carlos Miller felt the need to tell this to me after we'd spent nearly 20 minutes talking about his blog's role as an internet refuge for those who have been blighted by the law and have the video evidence to prove it. Naturally, as someone who has become semi-famous for exonerating American citizens from bogus charges -- charges often brought about … [Read more...] about An Internet activist’s war against police brutality
BP Says $20 Billion Check In The Mail
BP says the $20 billion check is in the mail. Let's hope it doesn't bounce. As critical as I have been on President Obama for too many misguided efforts in micromanaging America's worst environmental disaster, on the $20 billion + escrow account, he hit a home run or in terms of his favorite sport, a game-winning three-point basket from half court. Using the full powers … [Read more...] about BP Says $20 Billion Check In The Mail
Obama’s Moby Dick Moment
In the Oil Spill, the President is sounding like Ishmael but Americans want him to act more like Ahab. “My power is not limitless," he told Gulf residents before The Speech last night. "I can’t dive down there and plug the hole. I can’t suck it up with a straw.” That exasperation is reflected in postmortems of his attempt to take political charge of an unmanageable mess … [Read more...] about Obama’s Moby Dick Moment
Why You Should Want BP To Stay In Business
Who cares if President Obama's "order" for BP to establish an escrow account cuts into their profits? You should, if you want BP to actually pay the bill. Contrary to some people's assumptions, BP is not a bottomless pit of wealth from which an endless amount of personal claims and government containment and cleanup costs can be paid. If the bill presented to BP is … [Read more...] about Why You Should Want BP To Stay In Business
I Respect President Obama Now
The title of this post is not my title nor my quote. It is what was said by my ultra-conservative, proud Tea Party neighbor (and friend) after he viewed President Obama's speech on the BP oil well disaster last night. Compared to what is flowing in Memeorandum, seems like my neighbor (we'll call him "Greg") is in the minority. I asked Greg why he respected President Obama … [Read more...] about I Respect President Obama Now
Sarah Palin’s Bad Moment on Cable TV
Sarah Palin had an awkward moment while being questioned on a cable TV show. She clearly could not answer an important specific question and didn't look as good as when her words are framed by Sean Hannity et. al. The bad, mean, evil mainstream media? Yes/no (circle the one that fits your bias.) In fact, her bad moment came on Fox News when questioned by Bill O'Reilly who … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Bad Moment on Cable TV
Should Bob Etheridge Be Charged With Assault?
Perhaps you've already seen this now-notorious clip of Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC) confronted by a student-reporter (and a cameraman) and responding, well, let's just say, inappropriately: Glenn Greenwald thinks that it's a clear-cut case of assault -- or at least that Etheridge should be arrested and charged with assault (I assume that Glenn does not presume … [Read more...] about Should Bob Etheridge Be Charged With Assault?
No BP Dividend; Feinberg to Oversee $20B Spill Claim Fund
BP shares climbed as the company suspended dividend: BP has apologized for the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and agreed to put $20 billion aside to make sure all compensation claims are handled swiftly and fairly. BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg told reporters after meeting President Obama at the White House that BP will not pay any further dividends this … [Read more...] about No BP Dividend; Feinberg to Oversee $20B Spill Claim Fund
Facing Defeat in Afghanistan, U.S. ‘Lies’ About Pakistan’s ISI: The Frontier Post, Pakistan
Is the United States so desperate about impending defeat in Afghanistan that it is setting up Pakistan as a scapegoat? Continuing with our coverage of the Pakistan-media onslaught, recent charges that Pakistan Intelligence has been aiding Taliban militants appear to have triggered this angry retort from the editorial board of Pakistan's Quetta and Peshawar-based Frontier … [Read more...] about Facing Defeat in Afghanistan, U.S. ‘Lies’ About Pakistan’s ISI: The Frontier Post, Pakistan