Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Miss Me Yet?
Andrew Sullivan, anti-Semite? No, but…
Warning: This post describes the intramural wars of current and former staffers at The New Republic. It should not be read by anyone who thinks pundits spend too much time analyzing themselves. That said... It all started on Monday when Leon Wieseltier published a long essay in TNR suggesting that Andrew Sullivan has begun to sink into the poisonous mire of anti-Semitism. … [Read more...] about Andrew Sullivan, anti-Semite? No, but…
Sanctions, Not Bombs, Will Bankrupt Iran
Neo-cons as Bill Kristol and new adoptee Sarah Palin are suggesting the U.S. go to war against Iran if that nation continues its path to develop nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, a more pragmatic President Obama is seeking tougher sanctions against the Islamic regime on the same issue. Palin's approach is strictly political. She said an Obama get-tough stand on Iran could be a … [Read more...] about Sanctions, Not Bombs, Will Bankrupt Iran
The Party of NO Fiscal Responsibility
In the middle of the worst recession since the Great Depression, with the stimulus package having helped significantly but much distance left to travel, conservative Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee have decided that a massive tax cut for the rich in the form of estate and gift tax cuts is just the thing to put into a jobs bill. … [Read more...] about The Party of NO Fiscal Responsibility
Sarkozy’s ‘Spite for Obama’: Le Temps, Switzerland
It's been brewing for some time, but the apparent antipathy between Presidents Sarkozy and Obama - particularly expressed by the French leader, is becoming increasingly difficult to deny. According to this news item by the Paris correspondent of Switzerland's Le Temps, Sylvain Besson, Sarkozy has begun openly using President Obama as an example of how not to do … [Read more...] about Sarkozy’s ‘Spite for Obama’: Le Temps, Switzerland
Bill Clinton Hospitalized With Chest Pains
Former President Bill Clinton has been hospitalized in New York. A press release says he admitted after suffering chest pains and was given two stents in his coronary arteries. If so then it would be a fairly minor incident. Best wishes for a speedy recovery … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Hospitalized With Chest Pains
Weather is not Climate: What the Bad Winter Storms in the U.S. Northeast Have to Do With Global Warming
Jon Stewart had a nice bit last night on the bad winter weather in the northeast, poking fun at those, mostly on the right, who think that all the snow is evidence that global warming is a myth. The fact is, weather is not the same thing as climate, and a single weather event doesn't really tell us anything meaningful about climate, let alone global climate. This is simple … [Read more...] about Weather is not Climate: What the Bad Winter Storms in the U.S. Northeast Have to Do With Global Warming
On Iran: Time for the Next Step
Guest post by Amir Farokhi Amir Farokhi is an Atlanta attorney and a principal with the Truman National Security Project. Ed. note: Today is the 31st anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. At a rally in Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran is now a "nuclear state." This past Sunday, Ahmadinejad gave the order to proceed with uranium enrichment. This … [Read more...] about On Iran: Time for the Next Step
Listening Again to Republicans, Ctd.
In my prior related post, I acknowledged agreement with certain points made by Republican friends and party leaders, citing one example for each. Echoing a Republican friend, I noted the errancy of a White House proposal to “require employers who do not offer a retirement plan to enroll their employees in a direct-deposit individual retirement account unless the employee … [Read more...] about Listening Again to Republicans, Ctd.
Escaping Presidential Sex Tapes
Things could be worse. If the millions who wanted John Edwards as President in the past decade had had their way, the nation would now be involved in a scandal to make Bill Clinton look like Mr. Monogamy. The prospect of an X-rated video starring a Commander-in-Chief surfaces in the current court battle over possession of tapes showing Edwards in carnal congress with Rielle … [Read more...] about Escaping Presidential Sex Tapes
The Tea Party’s Radicalism (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- So what exactly is the Tea Party movement and why has it risen up? The ferocity of its opposition to President Obama is mystifying to political progressives. Most of the left simply doesn't see the current occupant of the White House as especially liberal, let alone "socialist." Obama, after all, is the man who saved the banks and the capital … [Read more...] about The Tea Party’s Radicalism (Guest Voice)
Poll: Most Americans Not Fans of Government or Sarah Palin
A new ABC/Washington Post poll reveals to tantilizing findings: (1)most Americans are unhappy with government (2) Sarah Palin has a long way to go with most Americans. But Palin and her supporters on another front should be happy, indeed. Two major mainstream media commentators who are considered about as mainstream as they come have in effect declared her a serious … [Read more...] about Poll: Most Americans Not Fans of Government or Sarah Palin
Afghanistan: Gorbachev’s delusional history
William linked earlier to a Gorbachev op-ed, available in translation from worldmeets.us. Based on the lessons of the Soviet experience, Gorbachev recommendsa political settlement and withdrawal of troops. And this requires a strategy of national reconciliation.But what exactly was the Soviet experience and its lessons? First, instead of an invasion of a sovereign country, … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Gorbachev’s delusional history
Iran is Feeling the Heat
While protesters celebrate the thirty-first anniversary of their country's Islamic revolution by taking to the streets and the country's president declares Iran to be "nuclear," the regime in Tehran is already feeling the heat from imminent US sanctions, according to Mark Dubowitz. [This has been crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about Iran is Feeling the Heat
A Nice Rendition of ‘The Times They Are A-Changing’
This comes from Bob Dylan's appearance at a White House celebration of the Civil Rights movement. The use of the upright bass and the piano are exquisite. [Thanks to Ann Althouse for pointing me to this.] [I post things like this at my personal blog frequently.] … [Read more...] about A Nice Rendition of ‘The Times They Are A-Changing’
Graphic Novel Comic Review: Crude Behavior
Graphic novels come in different forms. You see them in extended commercial comic book hero formats, where it's like reading a mega-comic book -- a comic form novel that clearly is the result of extra time, effort and love put into its drawing and scripting. There are the ones that are descendents of classic "underground comics," offering what the Comics Code Authority would … [Read more...] about Graphic Novel Comic Review: Crude Behavior
Tracking 22 Bahman Events in Iran
Matthew Weaver at the Guardian is live-blogging the evolving situation. Andrew Sullivan continues his coalesced reports, as well, including this link to another live blog, purportedly from the streets of Iran. … [Read more...] about Tracking 22 Bahman Events in Iran
Comment for the Day
Greg Sargent takes a closer look at President Obama's Bloomberg-interview remarks about the bonuses paid to Goldman's and JPMorgan's CEOs, conceding that what the President said is probably "a bit more nuanced than" the simplistic reaction of certain pundits. Going a step further, the first commenter on Sargent's post writes ... [Oh] for god’s sake. Is he supposed to … [Read more...] about Comment for the Day
We Taiwanese ‘Must Risk Our Lives’ for Freedom: Taipei Times, Taiwan
Often ignored in discussions about U.S.-China relations are the 23 million people of Taiwan who are caught in the middle - and the freedom that they enjoy, which seems to them to be on the line every day. In Democratic Taiwan, the subject of what America could, should and might do to protect the island is a constant preoccupation. We posted two articles from Taiwan today. … [Read more...] about We Taiwanese ‘Must Risk Our Lives’ for Freedom: Taipei Times, Taiwan
Gays in the Military: The Wall Street Journal and the Israel Defense Forces
In a recent opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, Bret Stephens lists some “excellent arguments for ending the U.S. military's ‘don't ask, don't tell’ policy” and some “lousy ones.” As some of the “lousy ones” Stephens dismissively—even contemptuously—mentions the support of U.S. Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen to end DADT; the … [Read more...] about Gays in the Military: The Wall Street Journal and the Israel Defense Forces