Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Obama Budget Heavyweight
The Hidden Issue of 2010 (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden is tired of seeing the Obama administration's economic stimulus plan demeaned, derided and dismissed, and he wanted to talk about it. But a funny thing happened in the course of an interview at Biden's White House office on Tuesday afternoon. The vice president's passions poured forth not when he was offering his point-by-point … [Read more...] about The Hidden Issue of 2010 (Guest Voice)
Taiwan Arms Sales a Gut Check for United States: Die Tageszeitung, Germany
Continuing with our theme today of global reaction to the latest U.S.-China sparring, this article from Germany's Die Tageszeitung ponders the question, just how committed to the defense of democratic Taiwan is the United States? According to columnist Jutta Lietsch, whether the U.S. approves the deal to sell $6.4 billion in weapons to what was once called "America's … [Read more...] about Taiwan Arms Sales a Gut Check for United States: Die Tageszeitung, Germany
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Changes of Mind but not of Integrity
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared yesterday before the Senate Armed Services Committee to call for an end to the 16-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” law. While the Admiral’s words were eloquent, heartfelt and powerful, I doubt that the appearance and the words of our highest ranking active-duty … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Changes of Mind but not of Integrity
PC vs. Expletive Deleted Warfare
The great B.T. Collins, a Viet Nam war hero and confidant of former California Gov. Jerry Brown, had one personal quirk that followed him to the grave. His obituary as reported by a female colleague of mine on the old San Diego Evening Tribune started with these words: "B.T. Collins, the foul-mouthed ..." Rahm Emmanuel, President Obama's chief of staff, be warned here … [Read more...] about PC vs. Expletive Deleted Warfare
Jon Stewart Drops the Ball on Brian Williams’ Self-Important Bloviating
When I saw Brian Williams was going to be the guest on last night's Daily Show, I checked to see if I was watching a rerun -- Williams has been on that many times before. The NBC Nightly News anchor is an affable fellow and he and Stewart clearly enjoy each others company. But I was brought to the point of yelling at the screen early on when, on the topic of Haiti, Williams … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart Drops the Ball on Brian Williams’ Self-Important Bloviating
MOSTLY CRAPPY JOBS IN OUR FUTURE
The U.S. economy has shed an unprecedented number of jobs during the past 2 years and it will probably continue losing a steady stream of jobs over the next decade in all industries. Most of these jobs will never return because of changing technology, increased robotics and massive outsourcing overseas. The U.S. private sector will inevitably create some new jobs so the … [Read more...] about MOSTLY CRAPPY JOBS IN OUR FUTURE
China Feels Her Oats at America’s Expense: Rceczpospolita, Poland
More chilling than the Chinese sword of Damocles hanging over Washington's head may be the reaction of other countries, particularly our NATO allies, to the obvious shift of global influence in the direction of Beijing. From NATO ally Poland, Piotr Gillert writes for the newspaper Rceczpospolita: Obama's attempts to begin a deep and intimate dialog with Beijing can now be … [Read more...] about China Feels Her Oats at America’s Expense: Rceczpospolita, Poland
Bedtime for Bonzo Bankers
Ronald Reagan's Fed Chairman Paul Volcker is back to bash bankers--and not a moment too soon--as he tells a Senate hearing that the solution for bailouts is "to arrange an orderly liquidation or merger--in other words, euthanasia, not a rescue.” This drastic solution unnerves outgoing Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd into warning that the Obama White House is “getting … [Read more...] about Bedtime for Bonzo Bankers
Brown To Be Seated Thursday ?
Senator-Elect Scott Brown has requested that Governor Deval Patrick sign his certification of election so he can be seated at once. Patrick has indicated he will sign the document tomorrow which would allow Brown to be seated the same day. Makes sense to me, he won the election 2 weeks ago and in the past newly elected Senators have been seated within a day or two. … [Read more...] about Brown To Be Seated Thursday ?
Colin Powell Says He Supports Repeal of DADT
From TPMLiveWire: … [Read more...] about Colin Powell Says He Supports Repeal of DADT
Colin Powell Backs Repeal of DADT
The general joins the chorus: “In the almost 17 years since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed,” General Powell said in a statement issued by his office. He added: “I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen.” Steve Benen … [Read more...] about Colin Powell Backs Repeal of DADT
News Feeding Frenzy: Making the Story Bleed
When it comes to the news, we’re all a bunch of roaming carnivores. We might feed on different levels of the food chain, but by day’s end everyone gets a piece of the story. A good news story is like a fresh kill. The less timid news hounds spot their prey’s weakness and rush in. Once the flesh is pierced, the rest of the ravenous pack joins the slaughter. The thrill of … [Read more...] about News Feeding Frenzy: Making the Story Bleed
Radical Thought: Obama Campaigning for Republicans
From today's NYT ... Matthew Dowd, a moderate Republican strategist who was an adviser to President George W. Bush, said that increasing cooperation between the two parties was possible, but difficult given the institutional constraints of the system and Mr. Obama’s role as the leading campaigner for House, Senate and governor’s races. “It’s going to take the president … [Read more...] about Radical Thought: Obama Campaigning for Republicans
Afghanistan Needs More Civil Projects
Following the London Conference on Afghanistan, I have interviewed Dr. Bente Scheller, the Director of the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s Kabul office. The German Boell Foundation is independent, but philosophically close to the Green Party, whose voters are more supportive of the Bundeswehr’s Afghanistan mission than those of the other parties. While 50% of the Green voters … [Read more...] about Afghanistan Needs More Civil Projects
Federal Deficits: A Problem That Must Be Addressed
The seriousness of the ongoing saga of US federal budget deficits is the topic of two interesting recent articles. First, this from The New York Times. Then, this from the BBC. My son, a seminary student with undergraduate degrees in History and Philosophy, linked to it over on Facebook. It elicited the following moderate, non-partisan rant from me.* (By the way, the … [Read more...] about Federal Deficits: A Problem That Must Be Addressed
COUNTDOWN TO OBAMA & BIDEN RESIGNATIONS
If Republicans retake both Houses of Congress this November, President Obama and Vice-President Biden should resign after the new Congress is seated in early January 2011. Following the U.S. Constitution and Federal Law, the person next in line to the Presidency would be the Speaker of the House. If the House were controlled by Republicans, then they would choose the next … [Read more...] about COUNTDOWN TO OBAMA & BIDEN RESIGNATIONS
Catch-22 of Aging Gracefully
Older Americans may find solace in David Brooks' report today on longitudinal studies "producing a rosier portrait of life after retirement. These studies don’t portray old age as surrender or even serenity. They portray it as a period of development..." So much for Charles DeGaulle's famous aphorism, "Old age is a shipwreck," and Freud's assertion, "Old people are no longer … [Read more...] about Catch-22 of Aging Gracefully
Illinois Primaries
UPDATE: As expected Kirk and Giannoulias will face off for the Senate. But the Governor's race is interesting. Right now on the Democratic side Quinn holds a lead over Hynes of about 6,500 votes out of 900,000 cast. This works out to about 0.6% of the vote. There are still around 25-50k votes to count so this race is up in the air. The GOP side is even closer. Brady … [Read more...] about Illinois Primaries
McCain ‘Deeply Disappointed’ by Gates and Mullen DADT Comments
Earlier, Patrick Edaburn noted the comments of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates at today’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I won’t quote them again here, but I will say I was very impressed by the comments. A cranky Sen. John McCain — note the big deal he makes over the … [Read more...] about McCain ‘Deeply Disappointed’ by Gates and Mullen DADT Comments