The Reality of PTSD by Craig Barnes Many years ago when I served in the infantry, my closest friend was a young West Pointer named Burt. He was a first rate soldier. When we rotated out, I came home and Burt went on to Vietnam. He led troops in combat and won a Silver Star for heroism. A little while later, still in combat and still in the jungles, Burt won a second … [Read more...] about The Reality of PTSD (Guest Voice)
The New Excellence
There's a new standard for excellence in the world. The old standard — no one could have done it better. The new standard — maybe it isn't that good, but it could have been worse. Ben Bernanke exemplifies this new way of judging excellence, and being rewarded for not doing things worse. He was just named Time's "Man Of The Year." Sure, Ben's policies have sunk this country's … [Read more...] about The New Excellence
Nice Base Ya Got There
Be a shame if anything happened to it. Patrick already weighed in on the story of how the White House is using the threat of closing a military base to twist the arm of Senator Ben Nelson on the health care bill, but there are a few more layers to this onion which need to be peeled away. First of all, bare knuckle, hard ball politics is nothing new in Congress, and both … [Read more...] about Nice Base Ya Got There
Why I liked Oral Roberts…
I just found out that Oral Roberts passed away at the age of 91. I never sent him any money, or attended any of his crusades, but I liked listening to him because he seemed genuine to me. He was old school. Never in your face about whether your theology, faith and belief was correct in his eyes. He often said, “I’ll leave them to their theology. I’m out to save souls. I … [Read more...] about Why I liked Oral Roberts…
Howard Dean’s Bombshell
He wants Senate Democrats to start all over, and use reconciliation to pass health care reform next year, because, he contends, without a public option or the Medicare buy-in replacement, the current bill isn't worth passing. … [Read more...] about Howard Dean’s Bombshell
Let’s Not Be Rude When Discussing Sociopaths
Yesterday, Ezra Klein responded to Joe Lieberman's cynical games-playing over health care reform by writing in his column that Lieberman "seems willing to cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in order to settle an old electoral score." Here is the entire paragraph and the one above it for context: … [Read more...] about Let’s Not Be Rude When Discussing Sociopaths
Ben Nelson… Meet Mayor Daley
So it looks like the White House is bringing some more of Chicago to Washington. Old Mayor Daley was well known for cutting off all city support to districts of alderman who didn't tow the line. It seems the Obama WH is giving the concept a new twist. Word is they are threatening to close Offutt Air Force Base if Senator Nelson (D-NE) does not vote for the health care … [Read more...] about Ben Nelson… Meet Mayor Daley
Ahmadinejad Announces Iranian Plans to ‘Administer the World’: Die Welt, Germany
Just when you thought Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad couldn't say anything more outrageous, he tops himself again. According to this analysis from Germany's Die Welt of the Iranian leader's comments during a visit to Isfahan, the site of four China-built nuclear reactors, Ahmadinejad not only claims to have "documents" proving that Washington seeks to prevent the … [Read more...] about Ahmadinejad Announces Iranian Plans to ‘Administer the World’: Die Welt, Germany
Adultery for Dummies, 2009 Update
As Tiger Woods is pelted by wisecracks about dating women with 8X10 glossies and Gov. Mark Sanford's wife decides to divorce him over his South American travels, the year's body count is mounting for public figures brought down by failure to rein in their private parts. Such consequences of low behavior by men in high places (gender equality has not yet evolved enough to … [Read more...] about Adultery for Dummies, 2009 Update
The Art of the Deal is No More
Good-faith negotiations produce good compromises that move all signatory parties forward as a result of a new agreement. Worthwhile public and private policies, contracts, laws, decisions, and agreements require that foreseeable options, benefits, and problems are discussed openly and honestly. There must be a pervasive willingness by all participants involved to be flexible … [Read more...] about The Art of the Deal is No More
Merry Christmas! Your Car’s Been Towed
Yes, Virginia, 'tis the season to celebrate with parades and glitter throughout cities and small towns in America. And with it comes the downside of no parking signs suddenly springing up like weeds and residential traffic blockaded from the parade routes. North Park, one of the oldest communities within the City of San Diego, is no different than any other small town … [Read more...] about Merry Christmas! Your Car’s Been Towed
Are Military Commissions Really Much Different?
Guest post by Michael Foote Many critics of Attorney General Holder's decision to prosecute Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and his fellow 9/11 conspirators in federal criminal court seem to believe military commissions would be an efficient and straightforward solution to all the weaknesses present in criminal courts. They promote military commissions as some kind of panacea … [Read more...] about Are Military Commissions Really Much Different?
Retail Sales In November: Another Case Of Government Statistics Insanity
Many people are pointing to the November retail sales report to argue that we are well on our way to recovery, even types that have previously shown a healthy dose of skepticism. However, that report did not square at all with private data or analyst summaries, so I have been very suspicious. At Barry Ritholtz's blog they have a complete evisceration of the report and … [Read more...] about Retail Sales In November: Another Case Of Government Statistics Insanity
A Banking Beast Now Beyond Reform
Here's the headline that topped yesterday's Yahoo Finance web site, a headline for an AP story: "Obama implores top banks to increase lending." And here's the dictionary definition of "implores:" begs, urgently entreats, beseeches. So in the view of this headline writer, based on the story written about our President's meeting with bankers, Mr. Obama is begging, urgently … [Read more...] about A Banking Beast Now Beyond Reform
Independents Are a Sleeping Giant Part 2 – How We Limit Our Own Success (Guest Voice)
Independents Are a Sleeping Giant Part 2 - How We Limit Our Own Success by Alex Hammer In Part 1 of Independents Are a Sleeping Giant I talked about how Independents represent a large section of the electorate but a minute slice of elected representation. I discussed in rather general terms the role that such a disconnect may play in our government overall. For … [Read more...] about Independents Are a Sleeping Giant Part 2 – How We Limit Our Own Success (Guest Voice)
Quote of the Day: Why Did Joe Lieberman Seemingly Change a Key Position on Health Care Reform?
Our political Quote of the Day is actually two quotes of the day dealing with the question of why Senator Joe Lieberman seemingly changed a key position -- on the medicare buy in. The quotes come from two sources generally considered reliable stand-back-and-analyze infooutlets, versus the typical left-right weblogs that seem engaged in permanent political campaigns for their … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Why Did Joe Lieberman Seemingly Change a Key Position on Health Care Reform?
A Surefire Way To Make $1 Billion
Here is a step by step guide to make a guaranteed $1 billion. Actually a friend and I came up with this scheme many months ago and commented that it was too bad we didn't have the moral depravity to undertake it. … [Read more...] about A Surefire Way To Make $1 Billion
The Four(teen) Camps of Global Warming
From an op-ed in today's NYT ... Climate talks have been going on in Copenhagen for a week now, and it appears to be a two-sided debate between alarmists and skeptics. But there are actually four different views of global warming. The writer proceeds to offer a "taxonomy of the four," labeling them the "Denialists," "Skeptics," "Warners," and "Calamatists." He then … [Read more...] about The Four(teen) Camps of Global Warming
At Least 29 Women Running For Governor In 2010
ElectWomen.com has the links and a list for "...the top, most viable female gubernatorial candidates..." and an asterisk after some of the names indicates that in addition to the women listed, there are also female primary challengers for some of the candidates. The number of states involved: 16! Currently, just six states (Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Washington, … [Read more...] about At Least 29 Women Running For Governor In 2010
Democrat Al Franken versus Republican John Thune in the Senate
The health care reform bill took a non-Joe-Lieberman-heated twist yesterday when Democratic Sen. Al Franken accused Republican John Thune of being highly selective, distorting facts and leaving some others out in how he characterized the bill. Here's the exchange: Bill O'Reilly nemesis Franken was both loved and hated as one of Air America's original talk show hosts. It's … [Read more...] about Democrat Al Franken versus Republican John Thune in the Senate