The New York Times has just released the results of a New York Times/CBS News Poll conducted April 5 through April 12. The findings just reported by the New York Times are intriguing: The fierce animosity that Tea Party supporters harbor toward Washington and President Obama in particular is rooted in deep pessimism about the direction of the country and the … [Read more...] about NY Times/CBS Poll: Tea Party Supporters More Pessimistic, More Angry?
The War Against Tom Campbell
Tom Campbell, a former Republican congressman from California, decided late last year to drop his bid for Governor of the Golden State and instead join the race the GOP Senate primary in the bid to unseat Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer. Early on, some feared that Campbell's entry would split the socially moderate vote between Campbell and Carly Fiorina, the former head of … [Read more...] about The War Against Tom Campbell
Access Is Not Journalism
Dana Milbank had a full-blown temper tantrum in his column today over media access at the recently concluded global nuclear security conference, shrieking, "Obama's Disregard for Media Reaches New Heights at Nuclear Summit." … [Read more...] about Access Is Not Journalism
Dodd Accuses McConnell of Lying about Financial Reform Bill
The fur has begun to fly in Congress in the latest controversy in that body where bipartisanship is as now as much in style as the pay telephone. The latest: Democratic and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd has accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of lying about Dodd's financial reform bill: The architect of sweeping legislation that would … [Read more...] about Dodd Accuses McConnell of Lying about Financial Reform Bill
Lies, damned lies, and statistics, and how they relate to climate change research (or, mathematics as a language with many dialects)
Although other issues have become the focus of the manufactured tempests of both new and old media, that does not mean that there is no fallout from previous hyperbolic storms. The Dot Earth Blog at NYTimes.com has a post on the report from a committee of experts recommended by the Royal Society inquiring into the climate change research at the University of East Anglia, where … [Read more...] about Lies, damned lies, and statistics, and how they relate to climate change research (or, mathematics as a language with many dialects)
The Economy: A Pragmatist View
I come here today to assess the nation's economic recovery efforts and will provide links to support and fill in the details at the end of this essay. Just as a sick patient, the economy is out of intensive care and on the road to recovery. A return to full health is fragile. The wrong combination of events could return it to the OR where the coroner's call is on … [Read more...] about The Economy: A Pragmatist View
Did the White House Correspondents’ Association Really Snub World Net Daily? (Guest Voice)
Did the White House Correspondents’ Association really snub World Net Daily? by Simon Owens Yesterday, the Washington Examiner reported that Arianna Huffington was extremely displeased with the White House Correspondents' Association, the reason being that in its first year attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner the Huffington Post had requested three tables for … [Read more...] about Did the White House Correspondents’ Association Really Snub World Net Daily? (Guest Voice)
Gov Candidate Aligns With Tea Party On Forming State Militia To Confront Feds – Update
Oklahoma State Senator and Republican candidate for Governor, Randy Brogden, says he believes a volunteer citizens’ militia is authorized under the Second Amendment. The idea is the brainchild of the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance, an umbrella group of Tea Party factions. Brogden has actively reached out to Tea Party supporters in his electoral bid. Joined by … [Read more...] about Gov Candidate Aligns With Tea Party On Forming State Militia To Confront Feds – Update
It’s Now Seemingly Partisanship and Partisan Rage 24/7 In the U.S. of A
To some of us, it's now become as welcome as the sound of chalk screeching as a teacher slowly scrawls on a blackboard. It's today's world of mega partisanship 24/7 -- it's a world Americans dabbled in before, but with the new media, the efficacy of over-the-top and at times provocative rhetoric to mobilize partisans, a non-ending seemingly "looped" news cycle, it's now … [Read more...] about It’s Now Seemingly Partisanship and Partisan Rage 24/7 In the U.S. of A
The Good and the Bad From New Orleans
Pajamas Media paid my way to New Orleans last weekend to attend the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, and I am just today recovered enough from my trip home on Sunday to write something about it. The journey back to Chicago from New Orleans was actually more like an Icelandic Saga than the return leg of a round trip. The only thing missing is Odin hurling … [Read more...] about The Good and the Bad From New Orleans
Does Multi-National Corporate Success Mean Anything To US?
I don't want to harp on Dorian's post of optimism (OK I do slightly) but I do find it telling that Daniel Gross' breezy article argued for US economic success made up nearly entirely of anecdotes about major multi-national corporations. It is becoming less clear whether success of these corporations really helps the USA in many ways other than the stock market. Mish has a … [Read more...] about Does Multi-National Corporate Success Mean Anything To US?
Is Our Economy Back? The Record Downturn Makes It Hard To Know
Dorian, the site's (increasingly less lonely) optimist wrote a post earlier linking to Daniel Gross' article in Newsweek. I have long been skeptical of "green shoots" talk as being bad statistics; for instance the economy grew 5.9% in the fourth quarter, but after inventory adjustment is stripped out the increase was only 2%. There are many measures showing that inventory … [Read more...] about Is Our Economy Back? The Record Downturn Makes It Hard To Know
Politically Uninformed Americans Don’t Like Anybody
With most pundits predicting that voters will hand the Democrats their heads in this fall's midterm elections, you'd think Republicans would be basking in the glow of public affection. Not so says a recent poll by Public Policy Polling. Only 28% of respondents view the current direction of the Republicans favorably, while 51% disapprove. Only 54% of registered Republicans … [Read more...] about Politically Uninformed Americans Don’t Like Anybody
7.1 Earthquake Hits China: 400 Dead So Far
The pattern of earthquakes following other earthquakes in other parts of the world continues with news that a 7.1 earthquake hit a remote area of China, killing at least 400 people an injuring 1000. Here's a CNN video report on the quake: Russia Today offers this: ABC News reports: A magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck a remote mountainous region in western China … [Read more...] about 7.1 Earthquake Hits China: 400 Dead So Far
Tax Day
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Tax Day
Judges, Conservatives, Liberals: We Are All Activists
I've written on defining "activism" before but this op-ed in today's New York Times is superb, as an op-ed and as an argument for why U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is as activist as was the late U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger. From professor of law, Geoffrey R. Stone (University of Chicago - yeah yeah yeah where President Obama taught) who also is an … [Read more...] about Judges, Conservatives, Liberals: We Are All Activists
Cheney: Bush “failed” on Iran
The Cheney in question would be Liz, not Dick. On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace challenged Cheney's assertion that President Obama is doing nothing at all to prevent Iran from getting the bomb. As Wallace pointed out, wouldn't it be fair to say that the Bush administration also did nothing to prevent Iran from getting the bomb. (Forgive the absence of direct quotes. … [Read more...] about Cheney: Bush “failed” on Iran
Jacqueline on JFK, 44 Years Late
An old wound reopens with news that a book of Jacqueline Kennedy interviews about her husband will be published next year, recalling a story of my naïveté that ended in disappointment and insight in how the Kennedys protected their legend. In 1965, I had asked Mrs. Kennedy to become a contributing editor of McCalls, but she seemed too deep in grief, musing, "If there were … [Read more...] about Jacqueline on JFK, 44 Years Late
Mutual Disappointment in Transatlantic Relations
Chancellor Merkel is traveling across America this week. She loves the United States, but she is still having trouble connecting with Barack Obama, writes Spiegel International (HT: David). The media loves to personalize politics. I think at the end of the day the problem is not the personal relationship between Obama and Merkel, but its structural. After long descriptions of … [Read more...] about Mutual Disappointment in Transatlantic Relations
The Past Week in Crazy
Courtesy of Memeorandum River: … [Read more...] about The Past Week in Crazy