The United States has extradited former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega to France instead of back to Panama to face murder charges - and some Panamanians are upset. But this editorial from Panama's 'Critica' newspaper says that it's better for him to be sent to Paris, because Panama's legal system is too corrupt to hold him. The Critica editorial says in part: Manuel … [Read more...] about U.S. was Right Not to Return Noriega to Panama: Critica, Panama
Video: Senator Carl Levin Questions Goldman Sachs on “S****y Deal” Creating Instant Video Classic
Talk about high concept. Listen to some of the morning drive local and national radio shows, and turn on TV and what do you see? Democratic Senator Carl Levin grilling former Goldman Sachs Mortgages Department head Daniel Sparks, Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigation, on an internal company memo that called a deal being sold to customers a "sh***y deal." … [Read more...] about Video: Senator Carl Levin Questions Goldman Sachs on “S****y Deal” Creating Instant Video Classic
A Law George Will Can Easily Live With
In a column this morning, Washington Post columnist George Will attempts to justify--- even praises---Arizona's new immigration law. He plays Constitutional semantics with words and phrases such as "reasonable," "reasonable attempt," and "reasonable suspicion" and even brings in Norwegian grandmothers being "wanded" by airport screeners as a puzzling, perhaps sarcastic … [Read more...] about A Law George Will Can Easily Live With
Human Rights Watch vs. Israel
Cliches are dangerous, especially when they are built around the truth. Are human rights watchdogs biased against Israel? Probably, but that shouldn't be an excuse to dismiss everything they say. Then again, what if the watchdogs are so biased that it may make sense to dismiss their work out of hand? Sadly, that may be the case with regard to Human Rights Watch (HRW). In … [Read more...] about Human Rights Watch vs. Israel
NY Times vs. Politico
The current issue of the NY Times Magazine features a condescending cover story about Mike Allen and his colleagues from Politico. I'm guessing that Allen & Co. will like the story, since it can't stop talking about how influential they are. But the story dismisses their success in the same way that the Times often dismisses the success of the blogosphere -- it caters to … [Read more...] about NY Times vs. Politico
The March of Economic Ignorance
Financial analysts have downgraded Greek bonds to "junk" status, indicating a heightened risk of default. Portugal, Spain, and Ireland are also inching towards the brink at which bond traders simply refuse to buy more sovereign debt because they do not believe it will be paid. This is a crisis of confidence -- a problem based on a widespread, justified belief that high … [Read more...] about The March of Economic Ignorance
OJ’s Deep Dark Secrets; Peak Phosphorus
Boing Boing's David Pescovitz points to Alissa Hamilton, author of Squeezed: What You Don't Know About Orange Juice for some secrets of the Orange Juice Industry: Think about it; how could it be truly fresh year-round, when oranges are a seasonal product? Sure, it may be “not from concentrate,” but raw juice is often heated, stripped of its volatile compounds and flavor-rich … [Read more...] about OJ’s Deep Dark Secrets; Peak Phosphorus
Republicans Jeb Bush, Karl Rove, Marco Rubio Troubled By Arizona Immigration Law
Three GOP heavy hitters have expressed reservations about Arizona's new draconian immigration law -- a law that polls show is supported by a big majority of Arizona residents but threatens to undue more than a decade of Republican efforts to attract Hispanic voters. And hand Democrats an issue they use to consolidate their own Latino base. The raised eyebrows and voiced … [Read more...] about Republicans Jeb Bush, Karl Rove, Marco Rubio Troubled By Arizona Immigration Law
Faces of the Fallen/Faces of the Dead—Lest We Forget
As the war in Afghanistan is well into its eighth year and Operation Iraqi Freedom is hopefully winding down, and so many “more important things” are competing for our attention back home, there is the temptation for some us to lose sight of the sacrifices that continue to be made by our brave troops in Afghanistan and, still, in Iraq. Did you know that, for example, on … [Read more...] about Faces of the Fallen/Faces of the Dead—Lest We Forget
From The Most Rehabilitated Prisoner In America
In the Place of Justice: A Story of Punishment and Deliverance, by Wilbert Rideau. Out today. Who is Wilbert Rideau? From his Wikipedia entry: [D]escribed by Life magazine in March 1993 as "the most rehabilitated prisoner in America" ... Rideau was incarcerated in Louisiana State Penitentiary (better known as Angola Prison) from 1961 to 2000, convicted in three successive … [Read more...] about From The Most Rehabilitated Prisoner In America
Spending Cuts Are Easier Said Than Done
And not for the reason you might think. Politicians and media pundits love to talk about how we have to make "tough decisions" and "painful choices" in order to get spending "under control." Of course, the pain is almost always felt by somebody else and the decision not at all tough for the people who actually make it. … [Read more...] about Spending Cuts Are Easier Said Than Done
Are Tea Partiers Racist?
Are Tea Partiers racist? Cathy Young looks at some data and says: "Not so fast." Writing on Real Clear Politics she explains: Ever since the "Tea Parties" gained national attention, the debate has raged on whether they are a grass-roots protest movement in the proud tradition of American dissent, or a hysterical mob driven by fear, intolerance and selfishness. Recently, … [Read more...] about Are Tea Partiers Racist?
From Yesteryear, Tea Party Motto Might Be ‘In You’re Heart, You Know We’re Right’
I didn't realize it at the time I was growing up in Orange County, Calif., in the 1950s that a large percentage of family friends were members of the Tea Party movement before the name became a part of our national discussion some six decades later. They were white, well-educated middle and upper class folks who recognized the country was headed in a direction foreign to … [Read more...] about From Yesteryear, Tea Party Motto Might Be ‘In You’re Heart, You Know We’re Right’
Editors from LA Times, Salon, CrunchGear, Hot Air, and Mediaite Weigh in on whether Gizmodo Editor Should be Considered a “Journalist” (Guest Voice)
Editors from LA Times, Salon, CrunchGear, Hot Air, and Mediaite weigh in on whether Gizmodo editor should be considered a "journalist" by Simon Owens It was the shot heard round the blogosphere. After nearly a week of speculation on whether Gizmodo had purchased a "stolen" next-gen iPhone, one it then flaunted to the tune of millions of pageviews, police raided Gizmodo … [Read more...] about Editors from LA Times, Salon, CrunchGear, Hot Air, and Mediaite Weigh in on whether Gizmodo Editor Should be Considered a “Journalist” (Guest Voice)
Too Big To Fail…Or Disband
"Too big to fail" began as the description of a problem. In 2008, federal regulators realized that it was simply too risky to allow the country's largest banks to go under, as the secondary effects on other financial institutions would result in a chain reaction that would crash the entire American economy into a deflationary depression. Since then, "too big to fail" has … [Read more...] about Too Big To Fail…Or Disband
Russia’s Record on Child Adoption is More Dismal By Far than in United States: New Region, Russia
Ever since an adoptive American mother sent her foster child back to his Russian homeland - alone on a long-haul flight from Tennessee to Moscow - Russians have been indignant, and the adoption of Russian children by foreigners has been suspended. But according to this news item from Russia's New Region newspaper, despite undeniable mishaps, statistics show that most orphaned … [Read more...] about Russia’s Record on Child Adoption is More Dismal By Far than in United States: New Region, Russia
Petitions, Boycotts And Lawsuits – Arizona Gets What It Deserves
A former Phoenix City Councilman will start a petition drive today to repeal Arizona’s new anti-Latino legislation. Meanwhile the Mayor of Phoenix will ask his City Council to authorize a lawsuit against the state and has vowed to sue personally if the City Council declines. Other interests, Latino groups in particular, are vowing lawsuits and asking members not to spend … [Read more...] about Petitions, Boycotts And Lawsuits – Arizona Gets What It Deserves
Financial Reform Battle Brings Big Wall Street Contributions To Republicans
The battle over financial reform has been a boon -- to the Republican party, which is seeing a big spurt in campaign donations from Wall Street: Republicans may lose the fight over Wall Street regulations, but the fight has helped their campaign accounts. For the first time since 2004, the biggest Wall Street firms are now giving most of their campaign donations to … [Read more...] about Financial Reform Battle Brings Big Wall Street Contributions To Republicans
What Doesn’t Get Measured, Doesn’t Get Done
It would be hard to find an economist or Wall Street analyst these days who doesn't speak positively about an economic recovery. At the same time, polls show that more than two-thirds of the American public think the economy is not improving, is not recovering, or is actually getting worse. How is one to explain this dichotomy? Are the experts lying? Are two-thirds of the … [Read more...] about What Doesn’t Get Measured, Doesn’t Get Done
PowerPoint As Political Culture
PowerPoint is ubiquitous in modern business, government, and military culture. It is the last of these hegemonies that is potentially devastating in the short term, as "PowerPoint poisoning" increasingly saps the energy and creativity of U.S. forces deployed to fight al-Qaeda and reduces complex strategic problems to vague bullet points. Moreover, the military increasingly … [Read more...] about PowerPoint As Political Culture