One meme that has emerged on the front lines of the upcoming nomination fight over Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court is that she is "anti-military". The argument goes something like this: While Dean of Harvard Law School, Kagan expressed strong opposition to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars homosexuals from serving openly in the U.S. military. To implement her … [Read more...] about Kagan Is Not Anti-Military
Steven Harper and The Triumph of Cynicism (Guest Voice)
The Triumph of Cynicism by Owen Grey When historians tell the story of the Harper government, they will surely dwell on the fact that this prime minister was Cynicism personified. That cynicism was apparent again last week, when Mr. Harper had a supposedly freewheeling discussion with Canada's youth. When the event was over, one of the participants -- Raimey Gallant, a … [Read more...] about Steven Harper and The Triumph of Cynicism (Guest Voice)
Obama Creates Oil Spill Panel: Too Little Too Late?
Amid increasing criticism from politicians of both parties --except one notably high profile one -- that he is not tough enough or doing enough, President Barack Obama has created an oil spill panel: but is it too little too late? The news that in addition to trying to assess the situation and slap a band aid on it comes via this news story: The president has called on … [Read more...] about Obama Creates Oil Spill Panel: Too Little Too Late?
Congress Gets a Kick in the… Pants (Guest Voice)
Congress Gets a Kick in the... Pants by Michael Winship There's a story about a member of the British House of Commons who was stopped in the halls of Parliament by a constituent, an elderly pensioner. The little old man had a specific concern about his fellow senior citizens that he hoped the politician could solve. He made his case clearly and intelligently and … [Read more...] about Congress Gets a Kick in the… Pants (Guest Voice)
BP Bob
Quick Personal Answer to Emails
In answer to a batch of emails: I have posted little the past few days due to my being on a long trip to Northern California in my nonblogging incarnation. This involves being at a hotel with Internet that sometimes works and sometimes is unusable (I have found the best, most reliable medium priced motel chain for Internet is Best Western and this hotel is not Best Western), … [Read more...] about Quick Personal Answer to Emails
Rand Paul: ‘Why’s Everybody Always Pickin’ On Me?’
Rand Paul to George Stephanopoulos this morning on GMA: … [Read more...] about Rand Paul: ‘Why’s Everybody Always Pickin’ On Me?’
New CNN “Belief” blogger says he’ll give voice to atheist and nonbeliever issues
It's been more than two years since CNN's Paula Zahn Now showed "Beliefs Under Attack," a segment featuring a Mississippi couple who had been ostracized from their community because of their disbelief in God. Following the segment, Zahn hosted a panel that included two Christians and Jewish conservative columnist Debbie Schlussel but no actual atheists. "What does an atheist … [Read more...] about New CNN “Belief” blogger says he’ll give voice to atheist and nonbeliever issues
Reconnecting with the Constitution and its Principles
Something remarkable has been happening in America since even before President Obama took office. There has been a dedicated effort on both sides of the political divide to reconnect with our founding document and its principles in an effort to understand, and counteract what they see as dangerous unconstitutional actions by our government. It is more widespread today than … [Read more...] about Reconnecting with the Constitution and its Principles
The Dangers Of Complexity
I have just finished The Collapse of Complex Societies by Joseph Tainter and should have a review up the first of next week. In short Tainter makes the case that it's increasing complexity that eventually results in the collapse of complex systems. Is it that same increasing complexity that is responsible for the Deepwater Horizon disaster? Kurt Kobb says yes:While … [Read more...] about The Dangers Of Complexity
While We Were Sleeping
Guest post by Nancy Brune Dr. Nancy E. Brune is currently the director of Research and Policy at UNLV's Institute for Security Studies, where she works on energy security and national security issues. She is a Truman National Security fellow, as well as a member of Women in International Security and the Pacific Council on International Policy. ********** There's a … [Read more...] about While We Were Sleeping
Quote of the Day: Paul and Blumenthal Live (for now) For Another Day
Our political Quote of the Day comes from MSNBC's First Read on two beset politicos who got in trouble with their own mouths: Connecticut Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul: *** Blumenthal and Paul: Richard Blumenthal’s struggles in Connecticut (over questions about his military service) and Rand Paul’s (over his views … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Paul and Blumenthal Live (for now) For Another Day
Rand Paul: Obama’s Criticism of BP is “Un-American” since “Accidents Happen”
At a time when the general consensus is that most politicians and Americans consider British Petroleum responsible for the massive Gulf oil spill -- and some members of both parties are saying the administration needs to get tougher on the company -- Kentucky Republican candidate Rand Paul says President Barack Obama's increasingly tough talk about GP is … [Read more...] about Rand Paul: Obama’s Criticism of BP is “Un-American” since “Accidents Happen”
Rand Paul Revisited
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY Shortly after my initial rants, I saw a news alert that Rand Paul had issued a more definitive (and coherent) comment on this matter. Unfortunatley, I could not find the time to immediately revisit the subject. Out of fairness, I will now. Finally, Mr. Paul is saying all the right things, and without equivocation. Of course, questions will … [Read more...] about Rand Paul Revisited
The Rodent From The Far Right
Andrew Malcolm, the acerbic writer for the Los Angeles Times "Top Of The Ticket" segment, filed this report Friday: First, there were the gate-crashing Salahis who got by the crack White House protocol and security forces. Now, there's the rat. Or vole. Or some kind of rodent, who crashed a Thursday White House event in the Rose Garden. Prof. Obama was droning on about the … [Read more...] about The Rodent From The Far Right
America loves incumbents!
When I agree with Kathy on a matter of substance, that matter almost always deserves a post. Rightly, I think Kathy challenges the conventional wisdom that yesterday's primaries demonstrated the power of anti-incumbent passion. Example: the NY Times headline about Joe Sestak's win read Specter Defeat Signals a Wave Against Incumbents. Nate Silver writes,Joe Sestak is a … [Read more...] about America loves incumbents!
Feds Direct Oil Spill Evidence To Lab Whose Biggest Client Is Big Oil
The New York Times offers a riveting story Friday about the "cozy relationship," as President Obama has claimed, between Big Oil and the government. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration insists that all water, sediment and marine animal tissue samples be sent for analysis to TDI-Brooks International testing laboratories in College Station, Tex.., … [Read more...] about Feds Direct Oil Spill Evidence To Lab Whose Biggest Client Is Big Oil
Rand Paul: The transcript (not the video)
Embedded video is a great thing, but who wants to spend the time watch talking heads talk when you can just read the transcript. So for all of you following the Rand Paul tempest, here's a link to the transcript of his interview with Rachel Maddow, courtesy of Dave Weigel. It's absolutely worth reading the whole transcript, which can be seen from two very different but … [Read more...] about Rand Paul: The transcript (not the video)
Main Street Wins, Wall Street Loses As Financial Reform Bills Go To Conference — Fact Or Fiction?
While Main Street voters high-five themselves and raise a toast to Congress for bashing Wall Street, perhaps some sober reflection is in order. The financial reform bill passed by the Senate Thursday goes to a joint conference committee to iron out differences with the House bill passed in December. The earliest it could reach President Obama's desk for signing is the July 4 … [Read more...] about Main Street Wins, Wall Street Loses As Financial Reform Bills Go To Conference — Fact Or Fiction?
Secret Weapon (Guest Voice)
Secret Weapon by Will Durst The best news the Democrats have gotten all year long has little to do with early primary results, or regenerating their spine with health care reform. The best news the Democrats have gotten all year is the chair of the Republican National Committee is going to keep his job. He’s been a disaster on the order of Michael Cimino directing … [Read more...] about Secret Weapon (Guest Voice)