Sometimes some partisans will not join in an over-the-top partisan attack and go over the top with the party hierarchy. Just look at GOPers Orrin Hatch and Jeff Sessions... … [Read more...] about GOPers Jeff Sessions and Orrin Hatch Distance Themselves from RNC Attack On Kagan
Investors Riled Over 60% Rule Of Stock Market Glitch
Executives for the New York Stock Exchange Euronext and Nasdaq told a House Finance Committee Tuesday it canceled more than 10,000 trades May 6 when automatic electronic trading computers created chaos during a brief 20-minute gyration. They said those trades were "clearly erroneous" when their values declined or increased by as much as 99% in value. Nasdaq Executive Vice … [Read more...] about Investors Riled Over 60% Rule Of Stock Market Glitch
Blaming Instead Of Governing
More than three years after seizing control of Congress with a claim of sweeping mandate, Democrats in Congress still seem unable to respond to charges of Congressional overspending without merely pointing their fingers at Republicans and running away from the issue. With annual deficits projected in excess of $1 trillion per year as far as the eye can see, this is an … [Read more...] about Blaming Instead Of Governing
Toxic Atheism Update
My post from a few days ago on "toxic atheism" provoked quite a few comments. Most commenters went out of their way to be civil and disprove what they saw as an unfair generalization that all atheists were "toxic" and intolerant. While this effort is appreciated, it would be even more appreciated if they had read the part of the post that said specifically that most atheists … [Read more...] about Toxic Atheism Update
GUEST VOICE: What Do (Those Goofy?) Libertarians Believe?
Hello there, Dr. E here: At a time when what the GOP actually stands for and who is truly invited to be deep in their tent besides those who can give money for various campaigns, and what the Democrats stand for and who is invited to be in the front row in their tent besides being solicited for dollars for their various campaigns (seven solicitations in today's snail mail … [Read more...] about GUEST VOICE: What Do (Those Goofy?) Libertarians Believe?
Ten Bricks Short of Half a Load
That's Marc Thiessen, who opines in his WaPo column today that if only the Obama administration had forced the Pakistani intelligence authorities to hand over Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar -- second-highest-ranking leader in the Afghan Taliban behind Mullah Muhammad Omar -- to the C.I.A. when Baradar was captured in February, and if only the C.I.A. could have taken Baradar for a … [Read more...] about Ten Bricks Short of Half a Load
Oil Execs: You Did It, No You Did
I couldn't write this any better than this. Disgusting. Appalling. To think we rely on these Big Oil people to supply our energy needs. They make our elected officials and bureaucrats look almost credible. Cross posted on … [Read more...] about Oil Execs: You Did It, No You Did
Brown Resigns
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has officially tendered his resignation. This means David Cameron will, at least in the short term, be the new PM of the United Kingdom … [Read more...] about Brown Resigns
Prohibition: Then & Now
Daniel Okrent, who served as the first public editor of The NYTimes and most recently authored the new book, Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, was interviewed yesterday by Terry Gross on Fresh Air. Here's how she kicked off the session: GROSS: [C]an you see a style of activism or a moralistic streak in American politics today that you think is descended from the … [Read more...] about Prohibition: Then & Now
Is It Time for a New Center-Right Party?
For many years, I've been part of an effort to make the Republican Party more inclusive in various ways. I believe it is important to have a good and strong center-right party in order to counter the Democrats. That said, I am not as certain that the GOP can reform itself anymore. From the recent ouster of Utah Republican Senator Bob Bennett, to the ultra-crazy Maine GOP … [Read more...] about Is It Time for a New Center-Right Party?
Selig Helps Set Standards At Goldman Sachs (Episode VIII of a Goldman Sachs washroom attendant’s adventures)
Mr B? Surprised to see you again today. And carrying all those papers. They're for you, Selig. Kind of you, sir. But I'm already well stocked with paper down here. Single ply. Double ply. Quilted. We got a new shipment of Charmin in the other day if you'd like to... No, Selig. These are papers for you to read. To read. Didn't you get the memo? Get a memo? In the … [Read more...] about Selig Helps Set Standards At Goldman Sachs (Episode VIII of a Goldman Sachs washroom attendant’s adventures)
Senator Bennett’s Mistake: Too Rational for the GOP
How can you claim that a senator who has a lifetime score of 85 from the American Conservative Union to be "not conservative enough" for any state? You can if you are a member of the modern Republican party. You can if the senator in question - Bob Bennett of Utah - made the horrible mistake of taking his responsibilities as a senator seriously. Senator Bennett was unaware … [Read more...] about Senator Bennett’s Mistake: Too Rational for the GOP
Is the Era of Democratic and Republican Voter Amnesia Over?
Is the era of Democratic and Republican voter amnesia over? Once upon a time voters could be counted on to seemingly forget some past statements or even votes if a survival-seeking politico's commercial was strong enough or if the politician repeated a mantra at variance with previous mantras often enough. But could it be that Americans of both parties have finally had enough … [Read more...] about Is the Era of Democratic and Republican Voter Amnesia Over?
Obama Chooses Himself for the Court
The torrent of words about the new Supreme Court designee suggests that Barack Obama has come as close to choosing himself as is humanly possible. His former colleague on the University of Chicago Law School faculty, Elena Kagan is variously characterized as brilliant, ambitious, open-minded, pragmatic and progressive--qualities that carried the President into the White … [Read more...] about Obama Chooses Himself for the Court
Betsy Ross, military contractor
It may be a pure myth that Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag at the request of George Washington. But it turns out that Ross was an actual flagmaker for the US military. Reviewing a new biography of Ross, the WSJ reports Ross's reputation for producing American flags lasted well beyond the Revolutionary War; as the War of 1812 loomed, Betsy Ross was "the primary flag … [Read more...] about Betsy Ross, military contractor
Does Kagan’s sexuality really matter?
Elijah has up a very interesting post about one nominee and four justices who were suspected of being gay. Yet while I agree that Kagan's alleged preferences are hardly a first, she would, if gay, inevitably become the first openly gay justice on the Court. On a personal level, I don't have any problem with that. Yet the White House is setting itself up for a fall if Kagan … [Read more...] about Does Kagan’s sexuality really matter?
Google’s Android Bumps iPhone From #2 in U.S.
Reuters: Smartphones featuring Google's Android operating system accounted for 28 percent of U.S. smartphone unit sales in the first quarter, according to NPD Group, behind top-ranked Research in Motion Ltd, maker of the Blackberry phone, which had a 36 percent share of the market.... Apple's iPhone, which is available exclusively on the AT&T wireless network in the United … [Read more...] about Google’s Android Bumps iPhone From #2 in U.S.
American Soldiers ‘Capture’ Red Square!: Argumenty y Facty, Russia
For the first time, American soldiers have marched on Red Square - but not in anger. According to this article from Russia's Argument y Facty, U.S. and allied troops - including the Poles - were warmly welcomed by Moscow residents, as they participated in the 65th annual Victory Day celebrations. Argument y Facty reporter Olga Bozh'eva writes in part: American soldiers … [Read more...] about American Soldiers ‘Capture’ Red Square!: Argumenty y Facty, Russia
Is the Tooth Fairy Dead?
Thomas Friedman says so. (Thanks to Jill Miller Zimon, TMV contributor, for linking to this over on Facebook.) For an eye-opening discussion of the US national debt and what it may take to dig out from under it, I recommend David M. Walker's book, Comeback America. I watched the BBC coverage of the British elections, first online and then on CSPAN, this past Thursday … [Read more...] about Is the Tooth Fairy Dead?
Disturbing News About Elena Kagan and Abortion
Via Glenn Greenwald, Elena Kagan supported a ban on late-term abortions as White House adviser in the Clinton administration. Glenn's link is to an AP article picked up by the New York Times. Given that there is virtually no paper trail to illuminate Kagan's positions on any of the issues she might be ruling on, it's hard to know what this might mean for abortion rights, but … [Read more...] about Disturbing News About Elena Kagan and Abortion