A March 1 article in The New York Times was my first introduction to the Coffee Party. Over the next six weeks, I spent multiple hours attempting to learn more about this movement, with a focus on its manifestation in my back yard. I summarized what I learned in my latest commentary for KWMU, St. Louis Public Radio, an NPR affiliate. Three-and-a-half minutes of air time … [Read more...] about Up Close and Personal with the Coffee Party
Brown: But What About The Children?
A sure sign of desperation in a politician is when they trot out The Children. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi does it so regularly that it seems to be some kind of public-relations tic, for example. "The Children" are politically unassailable, an abstract group of innocents without an inconvenient political voice of their own that can be conveniently offered up as victims of The … [Read more...] about Brown: But What About The Children?
Police Seize Computers In iPhone Prototype Probe
Gizmodo: Last Friday night, California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen's home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers. They did so using a warrant by Judge of Superior Court of San Mateo. According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of … [Read more...] about Police Seize Computers In iPhone Prototype Probe
The Guilty of Goldman and Abul Ghraib
For outrageous behavior by American organizations, only underlings are punished. Just as top people escaped responsibility in the Abu Ghraib tortures, the sole culprit named so far in the massive Goldman Sachs fraud is a 31-year-old trader named Fabrice Tourre, who is on leave and facing Congressional grilling today. Even after filing civil charges, the SEC, according to a … [Read more...] about The Guilty of Goldman and Abul Ghraib
Seven New Yorkers Walk By As Man Dies Of Stab Wounds
A homeless man lay in a pool of blood from stab wounds after attempting to rescue a woman being attacked while seven New Yorkers walked and gawked passing by for an hour, police said. Police said it was unknown if Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax, a Guatemalan immigrant, was dead as passersby watched. It took four 911 calls until police and firemen arrived at the correct address and … [Read more...] about Seven New Yorkers Walk By As Man Dies Of Stab Wounds
Bush-Cheney For 2010
Former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have taken different paths after leaving the White House but neither can escape the wrath of their critics. Chris Mathews on his MSNBC show "Hardball" Monday was both harsh and catty on news that Bush's memoirs will be published Nov. 9. Matthews, author of several books with paltry sales, sniped that Bush's book … [Read more...] about Bush-Cheney For 2010
My Quote Of The Day
More sex. … [Read more...] about My Quote Of The Day
Arizona Law Author Not As Portrayed By Rachael Maddow
I happened to be watching Rachael Maddow's show on MSNBC Monday night and naturally my interest peaked when she introduced viewers to the man who she said wrote the Arizona law that allows police officers to ask for legal papers from suspected illegal immigrants. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law Friday and ever since the state has been subject to ridicule by … [Read more...] about Arizona Law Author Not As Portrayed By Rachael Maddow
Of Immigrants Willing to Fight and Die for Our Country
As an immigrant to the United States and as one who went on to serve my adopted country in its military, I am always interested in the stories of the men and women who do likewise. They are the stories of young people who come to this country because they view America as the land of opportunity, freedom, and hope. Often they leave their native countries---not a casual … [Read more...] about Of Immigrants Willing to Fight and Die for Our Country
Did You Hear The One About The Jewish Merchant And The Taliban Fighter?
National Security Adviser retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones told a joke about a Jewish merchant and Afghanistan Taliban fighter in opening remarks to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy this past weekend. It drew laughter from the group and an immediate slapdown by Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League. Jones immediately apologized. Here's the joke as reported by … [Read more...] about Did You Hear The One About The Jewish Merchant And The Taliban Fighter?
The Danger of Ethnic Humor: National Security Advisor Jones Upsets Anti-Defamation League With Jewish Merchant Joke
Oy, vey (hey, I can say that since I'm Jewish)! President Barack Obama's National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones told a Jewish merchant joke as warm up and while some in the audience who were Jewish laughed, the joke has emitted scowls and admonitiions from the venerable Anti-Defamation League. At issue here are several factors: the wisdom of telling any ethnic jokes … [Read more...] about The Danger of Ethnic Humor: National Security Advisor Jones Upsets Anti-Defamation League With Jewish Merchant Joke
For Americans and Russians, Kyrgyzstan Overshadows Nukes: Gazeta, Russia
The recent unrest in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan hardly registered on America's radar screen, but according to Fyodor Lukyanov of Russia's Gazeta newspaper, the events there and around Eurasia far outweigh U.S.-Russia cuts in the nuclear weapons. In Lukyanov's words, the U.S. and Russia require a 'new deal' to replace the understandings reached between Putin and … [Read more...] about For Americans and Russians, Kyrgyzstan Overshadows Nukes: Gazeta, Russia
Gallup Poll Bad News for Democrats: Younger Voters Less Enthusiastic
Gallup has a new poll out that provides no unexpected results -- but results that nonetheless are bad news for Demoocrats. Young voters are less enthusiastic about voting in the upcoming mid-terms: Younger voters remain less enthusiastic about voting in this year's midterm elections than those who are older, underscoring the challenge facing the Democratic Party in its … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll Bad News for Democrats: Younger Voters Less Enthusiastic
Senate Vote Stalls Debate On Financial Reform
It is no big deal Senate Republicans blocked debate Monday on the financial reform legislation and sent it back to Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd's Senate Finance Committee for additional bipartisan haggling. Republicans are probably correct that the legislation needs more work which most likely result in a shorter floor debate towards passage. With 60 votes required, the … [Read more...] about Senate Vote Stalls Debate On Financial Reform
A Lesson for our Post-Modern Media Environment
This is one of the more amusing stories about modern media you'll ever read. Today was supposed to be "Everybody Draw Muhammad" Day on the internet, where those with a creative bent were to draw the prophet in caricature or representationaly, ostensibly to stand in solidarity with the creators of South Park who were threatened by Islamic bullies for dressing Muhammad up in a … [Read more...] about A Lesson for our Post-Modern Media Environment
A Case Study In 21st Century Political Spin and Hot-Button Pushing
If historians and journalism professors in years from now want a little time capsule example of 21st century political spin and hot-button pushing SAVE THIS POST. Here's a classic example of a solid piece of for-the-record journalism reporting on The Politico and how it resurfaces as A SCREAMING HEADLINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at the top of the Drudge Report, which often sets the tone … [Read more...] about A Case Study In 21st Century Political Spin and Hot-Button Pushing
Even Tame Palin Protest Too Much for Conservatives to Handle
The right-wing Gateway Pundit blog had an unintentionally funny post up over the weekend, by one Jim Hoft, with the following title: "Leftists Wave Vile, Violent Signs At Sarah Palin in Oregon... Media Silent." You see, there's been a good deal of attention, and rightfully so, on the vileness and violence of conservatives, and so the intent here, one supposes, is to show … [Read more...] about Even Tame Palin Protest Too Much for Conservatives to Handle
Which Financial Reforms?
Financial reform has seized Congress' attention now that the political bloodbath over health care reform has finally sputtered to a temporary cease-fire. Unfortunately, most media analysis has focused on the political horse race instead of the substance. One can find endless coverage of the degree to which financial reform may be a solution to Democrats' … [Read more...] about Which Financial Reforms?
The Right Court Fight
WASHINGTON -- The genius of American conservatives over the last 30 years has been their understanding that the most effective way to change the country is to change the terms of our political debate. On issue after issue, they have done just that. Sensible regulation was cast as a dangerous quest for government control. Modest measures to alleviate poverty became … [Read more...] about The Right Court Fight
Kaboom: Embracing The Suck In A Savage Little War (Guest Book Review)
Book Review: Kaboom: Embracing The Suck In A Savage Little War Reviewed by Ron Beaseley I graduated from college in June, 1968. This was a few months after the Tet Offensive. The United States still had a draft and I was caught in it. I received my draft notice in September and I was ordered to report in November. If I went the draft – two year route it was almost … [Read more...] about Kaboom: Embracing The Suck In A Savage Little War (Guest Book Review)