UPDATE, WaPo, 9:14 PM, "The Senate approved the measure 78 to 19." ----------- AP reports that Kentucky Republican Sen. Jim Bunning has relented. The vote on 30 day stopgap legislation to extend help for the jobless and get federal highway dollars flowing again will come tonight. Roll Call: In the end Bunning agreed to a deal allowing him one vote on an amendment to pay … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Bunning’s Roadblock Broken
Bunning, McCarthyism, Same-Sex Marriage, and Justice Texas-Style
Justin Elliott at Talking Points Memo traces the development of the "Al Qaeda seven" smear against Justice Department attorneys who represented Gitmo detainees before being hired by the DOJ. … [Read more...] about Bunning, McCarthyism, Same-Sex Marriage, and Justice Texas-Style
Change is needed in the Democratic Party psyche before there can be change in Washington.
Someone in the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America or the White House needs to be fired. Point blank. Ok, maybe I shouldn’t start with that point. As a fairly independent observer of American Politics, it’s been both puzzling and frustrating to see the Democrats in America lose the public debate and support over important issues since Obama has taken … [Read more...] about Change is needed in the Democratic Party psyche before there can be change in Washington.
Chilean Quake Spikes Gasoline Prices In California
Speculators are driving up gasoline prices in California, already the highest in the nation, in anticipation of West Coast refineries exporting large volumes of its supply to Chile in response to the massive earthquake there. The Chilean national oil company ENAP reported losing two major refineries and left with 10 days of diesel in the wake of the 8.8 magnitude quake. … [Read more...] about Chilean Quake Spikes Gasoline Prices In California
No Saturday Mail Proposed
The U.S. Postal Service, facing a $7 billion loss this year and $238 billion over the next decade, for the umpteenth time wants to cut Saturday mail delivery. Each time Congress has rejected the idea. Postmaster Gen. John Potter also wants rate increases from 3 to 10% for first class postage and merge the closing of thousands of post offices to relocate in large grocery and … [Read more...] about No Saturday Mail Proposed
Extending the Second Amendment
The US Supreme Court is hearing McDonald v Chicago -- a case in which the plaintiff is challenging Chicago's handgun ban as unconstitutional. Here's how CNN describes the issue: The court will ultimately decide two fundamental questions: Do strict state and local gun control laws violate the constitutional "right to keep and bear arms"? And can an individual's right to … [Read more...] about Extending the Second Amendment
How Obama Misread America
Unlike JFK, Barack Obama's defining moment has arrived, not in the clarity of going eyeball-to-eyeball with a foreign power over nuclear weapons but head to head with Congress in a muddled confrontation he failed to anticipate sufficiently or control. No matter how incredibly unfair it may be to compare the Cuban Missile Crisis to today's impasse over health care, presidents … [Read more...] about How Obama Misread America
Don’t Bother. You’re All Doomed Anyway
Just in case any of you were having too pleasant of a week, allow me to come along and just drag you down into a bottomless pit of despair. I've taken some time for reflection over these past few days on the subject of change. And no, I don't mean the campaign slogan of the last presidential campaign. I refer, instead, to what seems to be the presiding theme of the history … [Read more...] about Don’t Bother. You’re All Doomed Anyway
Left And Right Circling Wagons Around Blanche Lincoln
Since I don't plan to visit Arkansas, I can say from a safe distance that in my humble opinion, the liberal group MoveOn.org and the service employees union attempting to raise millions of dollars for what they consider a liberal candidate for U.S. Senator is not a wise investment. The object of their affection is Lt. Gov. Bill Halter who is attempting to unseat two-term … [Read more...] about Left And Right Circling Wagons Around Blanche Lincoln
Obama Smokes
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama Smokes
British Museum: Enjoying Jews & Humanity
The Jewish Museum reopens at Albert Street in London on March 17. Writes David Aaronovitch in The Times of London: "The all-new Jewish Museum in North London has the sights and even the smells of an ancient British way of life. He recalls: "Five years ago I first went to an exhibition at the small Jewish Museum in North London. I suppose I saw it as a rather charming bijou … [Read more...] about British Museum: Enjoying Jews & Humanity
2010 Has Seen Warmest January And February In Satellite Record
Famous Teacher Stricken With Cancer
Last week I wrote a column on America's troubled school systems and referred to Jaime Escalante, former Garfield High School math instructor in the barrio community of East Los Angeles, as an inspiration of what good teachers can accomplish. Today, actors who portrayed him and his uplifting story in the movie "Stand and Deliver," are making public pleas for donations to … [Read more...] about Famous Teacher Stricken With Cancer
Tea Party Not for You?
You might consider the "Coffee Party" ... The slogan is “Wake Up and Stand Up.” The mission statement declares that the federal government is “not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will, and that we must participate in the democratic process in order to address the challenges we face as Americans.” But don't assume the Coffee-ites are the … [Read more...] about Tea Party Not for You?
Senator James Bunning 2010, Scorns Others’ Financial Needs/ But in 2007 Made Sure His Special Groups had Their Incomes Protected
Sen. Bunning, reported tonight as giving the unsenatorial 'middle digit' to a reporter, also threw a hissy fit on camera. He was outraged that the press would dare to question him, he an elected public offical, about his purposely standing in the way of vulnerable others' income support today, essentially monkey-wrenching the government. But wait, I remember in 2007, … [Read more...] about Senator James Bunning 2010, Scorns Others’ Financial Needs/ But in 2007 Made Sure His Special Groups had Their Incomes Protected
Latin America’s Inexorable March Toward ‘Autonomy from the Imperial Center’: La Jornada, Mexico
Now that Latin American and the Caribbean nations have formed a new alliance that pointedly excludes the United States and Canada, what can we expect? Earlier we posted an article from Brazil headlined Latin American Unity Cannot Be Dependent on Excluding the U.S.. Now, providing an overview about what was and was not agreed to at the launch of the Community of Latin … [Read more...] about Latin America’s Inexorable March Toward ‘Autonomy from the Imperial Center’: La Jornada, Mexico
Photo ID Strikes Again
Although most of the attention in Tuesday's Texas primary election is focused on the GOP race for Governor there is another issue that is attracting controversy (primarily from the left). On the Republican primary ballot are several non binding resolutions, one of which expresses the view that some form of photo ID should be required to vote. This is purely an advisory … [Read more...] about Photo ID Strikes Again
Roger Ebert’s New Voice Debuts On ‘Oprah’ Tomorrow
When Roger Ebert appears on Oprah tomorrow (Tuesday) he'll be using software to find the voice he lost to cancer. Ebert tells the tale on his blog: One day I was moseying around the Web and found the name of a company in Edinburgh named CereProc. They claimed they could build voices for specific customers. They had demos of the voices of George W. Bush and Arnold … [Read more...] about Roger Ebert’s New Voice Debuts On ‘Oprah’ Tomorrow
Can moderates and independents agree on systemic political reform?
Lots going on on the independent voter front: CNN launched a series this week called Broken Government, featuring interviews by Don Lemon with independents Dr. Omar Ali, Joe Gandelman and Nicole Kurokawa on Broken Government VIDEO Opeds last week by Jackie Salit, a leading independent activist-analyst in the Christian Science Monitor "Tea Party Activists: Don't Confuse Them … [Read more...] about Can moderates and independents agree on systemic political reform?
(Sigh…)
And here's why... … [Read more...] about (Sigh…)