In terms of public relations, it has been a tough week for the U.S. military. First there was the flurry of scolding commentary over the 'Wikileaked' video of U.S. Apache helicopter pilots gunning down a group of people in Baghdad. Now this article by Dietmar Ostermann of the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau writes with some disappointment that in terms of protecting … [Read more...] about Even Under Obama, No End to ‘Execution without Trial’: Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
Ratings: Could Glenn Beck’s Schtick Be Getting Old?
Possibly if these ratings charts and figures are any indication. One problem some talk show hosts (cable and radio) will invariably face is that they gain new viewers by being outrageous and pushing the envelope on their content and how it is delivered. They have to keep doing it and top themselves. For instance, on the left, Keith Olbermann's initial "Special Comment" a … [Read more...] about Ratings: Could Glenn Beck’s Schtick Be Getting Old?
In Praise of the IRS (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- You might imagine that if a terrorist attack killed an American public servant and threatened the lives of 200 people, it would have been big news for weeks and an enduring symbol of the risks taken by those who serve their country. Yet when an American named Joseph Stack flew a plane into an office building in Austin, Texas, in February, killing Vernon … [Read more...] about In Praise of the IRS (Guest Voice)
The PURRFECT Cat Toy: the iPad
Do you need a great cat toy? How about an iPad? A video 4 U: … [Read more...] about The PURRFECT Cat Toy: the iPad
Iceland Volcanic Ash Stops Northern Europe’s Flights
Volcanic ash from Iceland has caused flights all over Northern Europe to be cancelled -- and air space even closed. The culprit is under a glacier in Iceland.The BBC reports: Flights have been disrupted across northern Europe by volcanic ash drifting south and east from Iceland. Airspace was closed or flights cancelled in countries including the UK, the Republic of … [Read more...] about Iceland Volcanic Ash Stops Northern Europe’s Flights
Happy April 15
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Happy April 15
Scott Brown sent me a letter!
It's only been a week since my last dispatch from the fundraising world, but I'm totally psyched about getting a personal letter from Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts. The letter really drove home one critical message about what Sen. Brown stands for:I love my dusty old truck because it brings me closer to the people.Boldface in the original. Underlined, too. When my wife … [Read more...] about Scott Brown sent me a letter!
Cheney: I respect Prof. Kagan
Once again, we're talking about Liz, not Dick. On the same panel where she condemned the Bush administration's "failure" on Iran, Cheney noted that Elena Kagan had been one of her professors in law school and that Kagan was scrupulously fair-minded. Cheney then pivoted to a condemnation of Kagan's "radical" effort to keep military recruiters off campus, but that seemed a bit … [Read more...] about Cheney: I respect Prof. Kagan
Texas Governor Perry’s Moment of “Pants-on-Fire”
When I picked up my newspaper from the driveway yesterday morning, it felt heavier than usual. As I generally go directly to the Opinion section, I found the reason almost immediately. While normally there are less than a dozen Letters to the Editor in my hometown newspaper, yesterday there were a whopping 21 of them, all heavily laden with sarcasm, ridicule, scorn and … [Read more...] about Texas Governor Perry’s Moment of “Pants-on-Fire”
Tax Cuts Be Damned — Lets Abolish Taxes Altogether
A great many Americans are angry about the taxes. There are endless calls to reduce them, almost always a good idea. But why settle for half-measures. Why not just do away with taxes altogether? The simple fact is that everything the government now does can be abolished, done better by private enterprises, or funded by foreign countries that still retain their own tax … [Read more...] about Tax Cuts Be Damned — Lets Abolish Taxes Altogether
Twitter Deeds Archive To The Library of Congress
This morning, @biz (Biz Stone) and @ev (Evan Williams) kicked off Twitter's first official developer conference, Chirp, with some facts and data and a stunning announcement related to the Library of Congress. First, the numbers. There are 105.8 million registered users but 180 million monthly unique visitors to the website. The deduction: non-registered users read tweets. … [Read more...] about Twitter Deeds Archive To The Library of Congress
NY Times/CBS Poll: Tea Party Supporters More Pessimistic, More Angry?
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