Imperial Hubris by David Goodloe "Mr. Obama and the Democrats have wasted the once–in–a–lifetime opportunity handed to them in the 2008 election. They did not focus on jobs, jobs, jobs as their primary mission, and they did not call on Americans to join in a bold national effort (which would have required a great deal of shared sacrifice) to solve a wide range of very … [Read more...] about Imperial Hubris (Guest Voice)
Pulling the Race Card
I realize that when liberal Democrats use the word 'racist' to characterize messages like these at Tea Party rallies, it's called 'pulling the race card,' but when conservative white Southern senators grill Elena Kagan about her association with the dangerous "outcome-oriented" judicial activism of Thurgood Marshall -- a civil rights giant who successfully argued Brown v. … [Read more...] about Pulling the Race Card
Capitol Hill Pest Control
John Boehner, who succeeded career exterminator Tom DeLay, is being bugged by insect metaphors. The House Minority Leader told a reporter the Wall Street reform bill was like using a nuclear weapon to kill an ant and was stump-jumped by the White House in Wisconsin. "He compared the financial crisis to an ant," the President told a crowd. "The same financial crisis that … [Read more...] about Capitol Hill Pest Control
Breaking with the President
As regular readers know, I'm among the President's most consistent supporters. Granted, I blinked on his early handling of the Gulf oil spill. But ultimately, I decided he was probably doing the best he could, given the circumstances and the clear limitations on what any one person, even the chief executive of the United States, can accomplish in these situations. All … [Read more...] about Breaking with the President
Which Countries are Best Weathering The Global Recession?
Which countries are best weather the global recession? RealClearWorld has been working with Gallup to find out. Here is how they explain it: Scour the headlines of just about any major newspaper these days, and you're likely to come across a story on the global economic crisis plaguing so many developed and developing nations alike. Whether it's the debt crisis roiling … [Read more...] about Which Countries are Best Weathering The Global Recession?
The Passionless Party
WASHINGTON -- One of the strangest lead sentences I have ever encountered appeared in Politico last week. It read: "John Kerry has been the most aggressive advocate of climate change legislation in the Senate this year -- so aggressive that it's rubbed some of his colleagues the wrong way." The story went on to say that Kerry's "zeal" is "making some swing-vote … [Read more...] about The Passionless Party
Ranking America’s Presidents
From Siena polls comes the most recent ranking of U. S. presidents from best to worst. The rankings are the results of polling 238 presidential scholars, considering personal qualities and accomplishments in varying policy areas. Take a look and see if you agree. … [Read more...] about Ranking America’s Presidents
Citizens Union Backs NYC Nonpartisan Elections
The New York Times reports today that Citizens Union is now backing nonpartisan elections. Here's Citizens Union's report. From the Times: In a reversal, a prominent government watchdog said Wednesday that it now supported eliminating the role of parties in city elections, adding momentum to an effort to bring the issue before voters in November. The group, Citizens … [Read more...] about Citizens Union Backs NYC Nonpartisan Elections
Attack of the Vuvuzelas
The world has now gone Vuvuzela crazy....with some calling for the plastic horn that is so hugely popular in South Africa to be banned at some events. In case you've lived on Mars and didn't hear about it, this will fill you in: They're popping up everywhere -- and I do mean everywhere: It has been propelled into world consciousness by the World Cup in South … [Read more...] about Attack of the Vuvuzelas
Happy Canada Day !
To our Canadian friends, I hope you have the happiest of holidays. Try not to eat too much ! And since HRH is visiting, both anthems this time … [Read more...] about Happy Canada Day !
Calm Heads Prevail in Arizona
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Calm Heads Prevail in Arizona
Krugman: Another Depression Is Likely
Paul Krugman thinks we're headed for a third depression -- in fact, it may already have begun: … [Read more...] about Krugman: Another Depression Is Likely
Picking A Road To Economic Recovery Blindfolded
The $787 billion stimulus package passed by Congress in 2009 did better than Republicans would have you believe and worse than the progressive Democrats maintain. The U.S. economy needs another transfusion of gigantic proportions but without the pratfalls of the last one to avoid what Kensyian economist Paul Krugman predicts a third prolonged depression since … [Read more...] about Picking A Road To Economic Recovery Blindfolded
Politics As Total War
Andrew Sullivan nails it: on so many fronts now you see how politics is no longer about the vigorous iand even aggressive debate about ideas with who have different ideas but about trying to destroy them to gain or keep power or discredit them from presenting their ideas. This is what seems to be now rewarded with ratings, audience and votes. There has always been some of this … [Read more...] about Politics As Total War
Like the Region’s Oil, Israel Has its Limits: Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah, Palestinian Territories
Has the U.S. goal in the Middle East been to fragment and even dissolve Arab nations in order to plunder their wealth? Furthermore, now that using Israel as a beachhead toward this goal has run its course, has Israel become a liability in this Western colonialist plan? Columnist Hafiz al Barghouty from Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah of the Palestinian Territories writes that Israel is … [Read more...] about Like the Region’s Oil, Israel Has its Limits: Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah, Palestinian Territories
News from the Cold War Nursing Home
The FBI and KBG are still playing the old games. The Bureau, which failed to anticipate the Times Square bomber, has been relentlessly tracking Russian agents posing as suburban homeowners for years, and the former spymaster Vladimir Putin is kvetching about it "Back at your home," he tells another retiree, Bill Clinton, drawing a laugh, "the police went out of control … [Read more...] about News from the Cold War Nursing Home
Selig Cartwright And Mr. B Share A Laugh (A new Goldman Sachs washroom attendant adventure — #12)
Mr. B. I haven't seen you this happy since you suckered the Beltway crowd on that A.I.G. bailout. That was fun alright, and we haven't lost our touch. You may not have known it, Selig, but all that talk of real financial reform awhile back had me worried. Actually sir, there were hints. You seemed digestively challenged for a time. Well, that's water under the bridge. … [Read more...] about Selig Cartwright And Mr. B Share A Laugh (A new Goldman Sachs washroom attendant adventure — #12)
Hey, Arizona, Let’s Refuse Water And Electricity To Immigrants
Hoping to ride anti-immigrant sentiment to victory in the fall elections, Arizona Corporation Commission candidate Barry Wong has proposed cutting off public utility service to those who cannot prove their legal status. The Corporation Commission regulates public utilities including gas, water and electricity in the state. Under Wong’s proposal, public utilities would be … [Read more...] about Hey, Arizona, Let’s Refuse Water And Electricity To Immigrants
Dave Weigel and the rise of young libertarian journalists in DC
In the wake of Dave Weigel's resignation from the Washington Post after a number of his emails were leaked to online news outlets, dozens of bloggers and journalists penned posts honoring and defending Weigel's journalistic integrity. One such defense was written by Julian Sanchez for The Atlantic's website and is notable not because it's different from all the other posts but … [Read more...] about Dave Weigel and the rise of young libertarian journalists in DC
To Think John Boehner Could Be The Next House Speaker
To hear Democratic media cheerleaders tell it, Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner had a tough day at the office Tuesday. The office of the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, that is. His interview did not go well and the film clips I saw made him look like he swallowed a month's prescription of a sedative moments before the sit down. I disagree … [Read more...] about To Think John Boehner Could Be The Next House Speaker