WASHINGTON -- "Populism" is the most overused and misused word in the lexicon of commentary. But thanks to a reckless decision by Chief Justice John Roberts' Supreme Court and also the greed of the nation's financial barons, we have reached a true populist moment in American politics. The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision last week giving American corporations the right to … [Read more...] about The Urgency of a Teddy Roosevelt Moment (Guest Voice)
Health Care and the Moderate Republican
It can be hard at times to be a Republican that supports health care reform, because you are immediately tagged with wanting some kind of massive state system ala Canada or the UK. There are shouts of wanting "liberty" and a "free market" in health care without really putting forward real plans. Shay over at Booker Rising, assumes that because I want a "government … [Read more...] about Health Care and the Moderate Republican
Gerrymandered States
James Fallows points to Neil Freeman at FakeIsTheNewReal.org who has mapped out a proposal for Electoral College Reform: The electoral college is a time-honored system that, has only broken down three times in over 200 years. However, it's obvious that reforms are needed. the organization of the states should be altered. This Electoral Reform Map redivides the territory of the … [Read more...] about Gerrymandered States
Corporations Are A Legal Fiction, And Now So Is Political Speech
Fiction. As in, not real. Which is pretty much what the United States Supreme Court has made of our fundamental right to freedom of speech when political speech is involved. As in, made it not real but just a fiction of a concept. From SCOTUSblog on this point of corporations being only legal fiction: Justice Stevens, writing for the dissenters, turned Chief Justice John … [Read more...] about Corporations Are A Legal Fiction, And Now So Is Political Speech
The Tragically Missed Economic And Political Opportunity
Democratic Party policy-setters are overly smart people. In consequence, they have a gift (of sorts) for avoiding the obvious. There was an easy way to give a dramatic and effective boost to the economy; one that would not have cost more than the cumbersome and half effective policy chosen; one that would have been viewed very favorably by most Americans and mightily helped the … [Read more...] about The Tragically Missed Economic And Political Opportunity
Progressives: Don’t Mourn, Organize (Guest Voice)
Progressives: Don't Mourn, Organize by Michael Winship Tragic events continuing out of Haiti make all the bad news for progressives this week wither in comparison. Nonetheless, over these last few days, for liberals in particular, there has been no joy in Mudville - aka American politics. Just for starters: Thursday's Supreme Court decision opening the floodgates for … [Read more...] about Progressives: Don’t Mourn, Organize (Guest Voice)
Eternal Damnation to Mouse Over Pop-Up Ads
There was a time I feared for human civilization because of the rise in cell phone usage. The ubiquitousness of these gadgets - their effect on the manners of ordinary folk who thought nothing of bringing these infernal machines wherever they went, endlessly talking gibberish while impolitely ignoring the rest of the world - caused me a lot of angst until about 5 years ago. It … [Read more...] about Eternal Damnation to Mouse Over Pop-Up Ads
Yglesias on liberal condescension
Matt Yglesias on Ben Bernanke: I note that liberals, in their condescension toward conservatives, sometimes wind up tying themselves into knots about guys like Bernanke. Bernanke is very smart and incredibly accomplished. Many smart liberals think conservatives are dumb. So if Bernanke is so smart, it must be that he’s not really a conservative! But no. Smart conservatives are … [Read more...] about Yglesias on liberal condescension
The Barack H Obama 2010 State of the Union Drinking Game (Guest Voice)
The Barack H Obama 2010 State of the Union Drinking Game Raging Moderate, by Will Durst What You Need to Play: • Four taxpayers: One rich white guy banker type wearing a suit (Bank Boy). Two ordinary folks wearing jeans, one in a blue work shirt, the other in a white shirt, no tie, sleeves rolled up (the Jeans), and one person wearing clothes that look like they were … [Read more...] about The Barack H Obama 2010 State of the Union Drinking Game (Guest Voice)
Supreme Court on Campaign Bucks
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Supreme Court on Campaign Bucks
Seducing Scott Brown
The Republicans' new Great White Hope could turn out to be a disappointment for the Right wing of the GOP--and an opportunity for Democrats. "I know what I want to do: Go down there and be a good person, a good and competent senator," Scott Brown tells Peggy Noonan. "I have huge shoes to fill, the legacy is just overwhelming. I'm a consensus builder...I can disagree in the … [Read more...] about Seducing Scott Brown
Can you blame soldiers for getting killed?
It sounds like a crazy question, but it's coming from Andrew Exum, formerly an infantry officers and Army Ranger. Exum's comments are a response to Leon Panetta's insistence that no one should blame either a CIA officer or a soldier who is killed in the line of duty.Panetta assumes that [it] is beyond the pale to say that Marines or U.S. soldiers died in a firefight due to … [Read more...] about Can you blame soldiers for getting killed?
Obama will win in 2012
I'll do my best to falsify that prediction, but I think it's still the most likely outcome. I made this point two months ago. But in light of Scott Brown's victory, it needs to be made again. However, rather than quoting myself, I'll quote Bob Woodward, who said it quite well last Sunday on NBC:Lou Cannon, who [was] the White House correspondent for The Washington Post, … [Read more...] about Obama will win in 2012
Swiss artisanal chocolates: the right stuff!
“All I really need is love but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt,” said Lucy van Pelt of Peanuts. To that I’d add, “A little Swiss chocolate please, especially chocolate coated almonds that caress the tongue.” Is there really anything better than plain milk chocolate or truffles that melt in the mouth?. Not for me! And to my delight that is also where innovations … [Read more...] about Swiss artisanal chocolates: the right stuff!
Libertarians: Stop trying so hard
Every time I meet libertarians, they seem hellbent on making themselves look like horrible human beings. Not for their pro-limited government views, which seem refreshing in a time when The Government Is Taking Over Everything and still retaining the Bush administration's national-security rationales (best of both worlds!). … [Read more...] about Libertarians: Stop trying so hard
EveryDay Now, The News Comes to Kill Me With Eidetic Images
"I see so many twinned images each day; one of life, one of death; one of happiness, one of such sorrow. So similar, so deadly different. May there be good for those who are safe; may there be good for those who are not. May we who are disappointed idealists Turn away from the specifics of incessant accusations, and instead turn toward simply clothing with such … [Read more...] about EveryDay Now, The News Comes to Kill Me With Eidetic Images
Two Naked People in a Garden with Tyrannosaurus Rex
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species, and the 201st anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, a writer for Vanity Fair visited the Creation Museum in Kentucky "to see what the world looks like without the benefit of science" (h/t P.Z. Myers): … [Read more...] about Two Naked People in a Garden with Tyrannosaurus Rex
A sensible case against Citizens United
Sonny noted earlier that he literally cannot fathom objections to a Supreme Court ruling that strikes down restraints on freedom of speech. I'm no constitutional scholar, but let me try to do some fathoming. The following points are all borrowed directly from Kevin Drum. who comes at this from a liberal Democratic perspective. First, There's no question that political … [Read more...] about A sensible case against Citizens United
Obama: I am Scott Brown
How exactly? Did the President also pose au naturel to pay his way through law school? No, the similarity is political. In his interview Thursday with ABC, Obama explained,The same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office.Wait a second...does that mean Obama went up to Massachusetts to campaign against the same forces that got him elected in 2008? No. … [Read more...] about Obama: I am Scott Brown
Conan O’Brien’s Final NBC Tonight Show Monologue
Here's Conan O'Brien's final monologue as he leaves the NBC building with a $45 million settlement that includes a provision that forces him to shut up for 8 months about his now former bosses and now former network: … [Read more...] about Conan O’Brien’s Final NBC Tonight Show Monologue