A Summer of Discontent by Michael Reagan President Obama has had a rather challenging start to the Summer of 2010: Gen. McChrystal’s remarks to Rolling Stone magazine and the resulting shift of NATO control in Afghanistan to Gen. Petraeus; the continuation of the high-profile and painful BP oil spill; the Elena Kagan Supreme Court nomination hearings; and the move by … [Read more...] about A Summer of Discontent (Guest Voice)
Poll: Obama Independent Voter Support Now Under 40 Percent
You can now say that President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party have official entered the grave political crisis zone: two new polls bring more bad news for the Democrats and one of them finds that Obama's crucial support from independent voters is now slid to under 40 percent. The LA Times' Andrew Malcolm offers this summary: Two new polls this morning augur ill … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Independent Voter Support Now Under 40 Percent
Stop & Frisk: Where’s the Outrage?
Bob Herbert explains that NY governor David Paterson is being pressured by NYC officials including Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to veto a law that would ban the NYC police from maintaining a database of the personal data of those stopped by police for questioning for any or no reason whatsoever. Herbert says it's an easy call -- don't do it Dave! -- but the … [Read more...] about Stop & Frisk: Where’s the Outrage?
World Cup: Paul the Psychic Octopus Eats Spanish Mussel (UPDATE!!)
Yesterday, we told you about Paul the German Octopus who has correctly predicted the winner of Germany’s five 2010 World Cup matches so far. Paul does so by selecting, and eating, a mussel out of two plastic containers in his aquarium. One of the containers has the German flag on it and the other the flag of the opposing team. The flag on the container from which the … [Read more...] about World Cup: Paul the Psychic Octopus Eats Spanish Mussel (UPDATE!!)
U.S. Scheme to Shut Down Web Rivals the Censorship of Beijing: La Stampa of Italy
It has long been argued that the United States has too much influence over the Internet. But abroad, a recent proposal making its way through the U.S. Senate has raised the debate to a fever pitch. The proposal drawn up by Senator Joe Lieberman would give the U.S. president the authority to 'shut down' the Internet for 90 days without Congressional authorization. Columnist … [Read more...] about U.S. Scheme to Shut Down Web Rivals the Censorship of Beijing: La Stampa of Italy
Iran Air Problems: First Refueling, Now a Ban on Use of EU Air Space
Yesterday, we reported that Iran was accusing England, Germany and the UAE of refusing to provide fuel to its passenger aircraft. The BBC theorizes that fuel companies might be worried that their annual sales of refined petroleum products to Iran might add up to $5 million. This is the maximum value of annual sales permitted under unilateral U.S. sanctions signed by … [Read more...] about Iran Air Problems: First Refueling, Now a Ban on Use of EU Air Space
Run RNC
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Run RNC
It Works Both Ways
There's a lot of blogging going on today about the economy, and here is another good piece, from Matthew Yglesias. He points to the conservative fear that once spending programs are put into place, they will never be dismantled. The liberal/progressive response to that, of course (or at least the one that comes immediately to mind) is, Why should they be? What's so funny 'bout … [Read more...] about It Works Both Ways
Obama Economic Team Seeks Scapegoats
Obamanomics has now clearly failed. The reason is easy to understand. Obamanomics is just a replay of Clintonomics,with many of the same people calling the shots. Obama-Clintonomics was based on puffing up Wall Street investment banks every way imaginable, thus encouraging them to rig the stock market upwards, so as to jolly up the rubes on Main Street, who would be so giddy … [Read more...] about Obama Economic Team Seeks Scapegoats
A Mania for Short-Term Profits Is Inhibiting Long-Term Growth
Yves Smith and Rob Parenteau make an interesting argument on the op-ed pages of the New York Times today. If I'm understanding them correctly, they are pushing back on the prevailing view that deficit-cutting austerity programs are the path to economic growth -- in other words, spending, not saving, is the key to solving our economic woes. This is not, obviously, an unfamiliar … [Read more...] about A Mania for Short-Term Profits Is Inhibiting Long-Term Growth
A Blogger’s Worst Nightmare
When someone hacks into your Blogspot account, what recourse do you have if nobody at Google will speak to you? As horrifying as it would be to have your credit card stolen and used by someone to make unauthorized purchases, at least you can take refuge in the fact that your credit card company likely has a customer service number -- perhaps one available 24/7 -- that you … [Read more...] about A Blogger’s Worst Nightmare
Deficit Reduction Requires Cuts in Military Spending
Did you know that the United States has spent $700 billion in Iraq since the war began -- on direct military costs alone? … [Read more...] about Deficit Reduction Requires Cuts in Military Spending
‘Double-Dealing’ America Should Avoid Yellow Sea: China Daily, People’s Republic of China
No one who's been paying attention these past few years could have failed to notice the increasingly strident challenge Beijing is mounting against the U.S. over issues that Washington and the Pentagon once considered sacrosanct. Once such topic is American surveillance of Chinese military activity. According to this warning shot across America's bow from the … [Read more...] about ‘Double-Dealing’ America Should Avoid Yellow Sea: China Daily, People’s Republic of China
Justice Sues Arizona In Immigration Law Turf Battle
The Justice Department filed suit as promised Tuesday against Arizona claiming the state's anti-illegal immigrant law is invalid under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution and must be struck down.” Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 is scheduled to become effective July 31. The Justice Department's next step is seeking an injunction to block its enforcement. The … [Read more...] about Justice Sues Arizona In Immigration Law Turf Battle
What If?
Now that Dave Weigel is no longer employed by the Washington Post, Matthew Yglesias points to a hypothetical scenario proposed by David Carr at the New York Times (emphasis is in original): … [Read more...] about What If?
Has White House Fallen for “Confidence” Argument?
Paul Krugman thinks it's possible: … [Read more...] about Has White House Fallen for “Confidence” Argument?
Few Political Bloggers Run For Office – Let’s Fix That
Some of my co-bloggers here might roll their eyes if I'd indicated in that title that it continues to appear to be true that I'm in fact the only female political blogger who has run for and won elected office (Pepper Pike City Council) just because I emphasize the where are the women thing a lot. I get it, promise. But the truth is, hardly any political bloggers of either … [Read more...] about Few Political Bloggers Run For Office – Let’s Fix That
No Pain, No Gain Is Not Good Economics
David Brooks' column today is 828 words of pompous supply-side drivel. Paul Krugman takes just 207 words to demolish it (bold emphasis is mine): … [Read more...] about No Pain, No Gain Is Not Good Economics
Stimulate This, The Professor Tells Obama
There's a former White House policy adviser in the Carter and Clinton administrations who says President Obama can bypass Congress on additional stimulus efforts by the stroke of his pen. If I understand this law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, an executive order to compliant federal contractors would improve wages and job standards that would set an … [Read more...] about Stimulate This, The Professor Tells Obama
Are We Really Less Free Under Obama?
It is an article of faith among most conservatives that the growth of government under the presidency of Barack Obama has resulted in a loss of individual liberty. This is an extremely serious criticism of any president and the manner in which the charge is so casually tossed about by my friends on the right makes me uneasy. A deeper examination of the subject is necessary in … [Read more...] about Are We Really Less Free Under Obama?