The President's choice to succeed John Paul Stevens on the Court may be less significant for the country than the ugly confirmation process that is sure to follow. A legal saint, if there were one, would only be the excuse for a Senate auto de fe to embarrass the Obama Administration and curry favor for Tea Party votes in November. "Justice Stevens," the New York Times … [Read more...] about Supreme Degradation
Tiger Woods’ Nike Ad becoming Subject of You Tube Derision
So who was the genius who thought it would be great to make a Nike ad for Tiger Woods (as if he needs the money) at this point where his image has not yet been restored? And who thought of the idea of using his dead father's voice while Tiger sits there and contemplates? In one sense, if Nike wants to get its name out -- and is THAT what it's all about for a big company … [Read more...] about Tiger Woods’ Nike Ad becoming Subject of You Tube Derision
Sarah Palin Reloads and Fires
Sarah Palin gives a visual representation of her foreign policy experience ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarah Palin, who gave up her career as governor of Alaska to become a fresh, powerful and informed voice on U.S. foreign policy and … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Reloads and Fires
Bart Stupak Announces Retirement
RJ Matson, Roll Call This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Bart Stupak Announces Retirement
God I Love The Pope! No, Not in THAT Way, I’m Not Even Catholic (Guest Voice)
God, I love the Pope! No, not in THAT way, I'm not even Catholic by Taylor Jones However tragic the story of what Pope Benedict XVI might have known, and when he might have known it, the fact is that the current pope has a GREAT face for caricature! Also, his personality and, thus far, his papacy, are a blessing for editorial cartoonists the world over. Regardless of … [Read more...] about God I Love The Pope! No, Not in THAT Way, I’m Not Even Catholic (Guest Voice)
In West Virginia, Coal Miners’ Slaughter (Guest Voice)
In West Virginia, Coal Miners' Slaughter by Michael Winship The high cost of energy in America was paid in human lives this week, with the deaths of more than two dozen miners in a massive explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia. It's the worst mine disaster in a quarter of a century. Upper Big Branch is owned by Massey Energy … [Read more...] about In West Virginia, Coal Miners’ Slaughter (Guest Voice)
Obama’s Supreme Court Choice – Settle For Bronze Or Go For The Gold
With the retirement of Associate Justice John Paul Stevens from the United States Supreme Court, President Obama will make his second nomination to the nation's highest court. His previous choice, Sonia Sotomayor, was a center left mainstream judge. After a bit of grumbling and some delays, her nomination resulted in bipartisan confirmation. This time, the political … [Read more...] about Obama’s Supreme Court Choice – Settle For Bronze Or Go For The Gold
Analogizing Poland’s Political Loss to Future Possibility
I went to college, studying modern foreign governments among other things, in the era of Lech Walesa (so much did it affect my college years and learning that I thought the song, Safety Dance, was actually, Save Gdansk) and the Solidarity Movement. Additionally, I'm a quarter-Polish - my paternal grandfather came over as a stowaway in a pickle barrel during the later part of … [Read more...] about Analogizing Poland’s Political Loss to Future Possibility
Vast Majority of Gitmo Detainees Were Innocent: Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld Knew, and Didn’t Care
This, of course, is not news to anyone who has been paying attention all these years. What is newsworthy is that a senior staff member in the former administration has asserted this in a sworn affidavit: … [Read more...] about Vast Majority of Gitmo Detainees Were Innocent: Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld Knew, and Didn’t Care
Air Tragedy Kills Poland’s President
AP is reporting that a plane crashed in dense fog over Russia early this morning killing all 96 people on board. Among the dead, President Lech Kaczynski and his wife along with some of the country's top military and civilian leaders. The Telegraph: Poland has suffered more than is any country’s right. Its story is one of repeated occupations, partitions and tyrannies. … [Read more...] about Air Tragedy Kills Poland’s President
Birther with an MD and a commission
Birther stories are generally worth ignoring, regardless of whether they're about Barry or Trig. But this one really got under my skin:An Army flight surgeon could face reprimand or dismissal from the service after stating in an online video that he’ll refuse deployment to Afghanistan because of concerns he has about President Barack Obama’s birth certificate. Lt. Col. … [Read more...] about Birther with an MD and a commission
U.S. Adoptive Parents Return Their Child To Russia
This is obviously not the kind of issue I usually blog about, but I am doing so now because (a) it's absolutely horrifying; and (b) it has international implications: … [Read more...] about U.S. Adoptive Parents Return Their Child To Russia
So Soon We Forget Ye, Justice Stevens
Good grief! The ink had not dried from Justice John Paul Stevens resignation statement when media types and Supreme Court junkies were providing their replacement short lists to President Obama. I haven't seen a stampede of fearless predictions such as these at least since two weeks ago when the Baseball Writers Association predicted next October's World Series winner. I … [Read more...] about So Soon We Forget Ye, Justice Stevens
A Case For TV Ads
I skip ads when I watch television. I don't think of this behavior as "stealing" because I've paid to have those television signals beamed into my home*. I do, sometimes, worry about missing out on shared experiences that help bind people together. Let me give you an example. If I were to say "toy bunny" and "going-and-going" .... and asked you to write another word or … [Read more...] about A Case For TV Ads
Politics And Old Cars
My wife tells me I need to get rid of my beloved rotary engine Mazda RX-8. She makes a good case. Our three person, two driver family doesn’t need four cars. Sure, our 16 year old will get a license in a couple of weeks, but she can’t drive a stick shift, and we just got her a new car for her birthday. And, my wife points out, I almost never drive the RX-8. Then she … [Read more...] about Politics And Old Cars
GOP’s Roxie and Velma
Just as the two merry murderers were fated to team up for the finale of the musical "Chicago," Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann are together now for a doubles act to machine-gun any remaining sense in American politics. Ticket prices are higher, $10,000 a plate for a Bachmann reelection fundraiser, but the performances are pure Zellweger and Zeta-Jones parody. Palin does … [Read more...] about GOP’s Roxie and Velma
Retirement Day: Stevens and Stupak
News is breaking today of a double retirement. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who turns 90 this year, is going to retire. This gives President Obama a second court pick, though since he will be replacing a liberal with a liberal it's not that major of a shift (other than the age factor). A number of names have been mentioned as possible replacements, I'd put the … [Read more...] about Retirement Day: Stevens and Stupak
Where the GOP went wrong on healthcare
Reihan Salam and Josh Barro [subscription required]:Few conservatives have distinguished themselves in the course of this debate. The unwillingness of the congressional GOP to line up behind the McCain plan [from 2008], a tough and serious proposal to move toward health-insurance coverage based on individual ownership, was an early mark of unseriousness. During the 2009–10 … [Read more...] about Where the GOP went wrong on healthcare
Snail mail from Sean Hannity
Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for another episode of the fundraising follies. Today, I got a letter in the mail from Sean Hannity, soliciting funds from the Heritage Foundation. I learn from Sean that "the axis of Obama-Pelosi-and-Reid" has:Crippled our free-market economic system through the government's takeover and control of private businnesses, punishing regulations, … [Read more...] about Snail mail from Sean Hannity
Obama Responds to Palin Nuclear Policy Criticism
A politically smart idea or not? President Barack Obama has responded to criticism by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on his nuclear defense policy: President Barack Obama on Thursday made clear he was not going to take advice from Republican Sarah Palin when it comes to decisions about the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Palin, the former vice presidential candidate, has not been … [Read more...] about Obama Responds to Palin Nuclear Policy Criticism