Don't take most of what you read about the economy these days too seriously. If you're not a Wall Street trader or a still employed economist, it will only make you unhappy and/or furious. Rather, just peruse web sites on the Internet for headlines that are good for a chuckle. Here's a few I picked off various sites just today. "S&P 500 Claims the 1,100 Mark — Recovering '07 … [Read more...] about Amusing Economic Headlines
What Big Pharma And Mexican Drug Cartels Share
The murderous Mexican drug cartels are known for their viciousness conducting their illicit trade. U.S. drug manufactures are less sanguine but equally adept at protecting their profits. In anticipation of new health reform legislation that would curb their oligarchy, drug makers have raised their prices about 9% this past year while the Consumer Price Index has fallen by … [Read more...] about What Big Pharma And Mexican Drug Cartels Share
The Political Assassination of Greg Craig
The Obama administration's approach was often likened to Abraham Lincoln's "Team of Rivals," coupled with vows of transparency and vows that an Obama administration would operate differently than George W. Busjh's. But Steve Clemons, writing in The Daily Beast, suggests that the ouster of Greg Craig indicates such hopes have been dashed. Here's how he starts his piece: The … [Read more...] about The Political Assassination of Greg Craig
Atlantis Heads To Space Station
The Space Shuttle Atlantis has just launched for the International Space Station. The launch took place at 2:28pm EST and appears to have been a perfect takeoff. No matter how many times I watch a launch there is always a part of me that wishes I was going along. Details on the mission can be found at the NASA web site. … [Read more...] about Atlantis Heads To Space Station
Obama Calls on Burma to Release Aung San Suu Kyi, Pushes for Democratic Reform
I'm not sure if it'll accomplish anything, but I think Obama's efforts to engage the totalitarian military junta that rules Burma* and brutalizes the Burmese people are admirable, yet more evidence of the dramatic shift away from the military-oriented, unilateralist approach that characterized Bush's foreign policy. "Despite years of good intentions," said the president, … [Read more...] about Obama Calls on Burma to Release Aung San Suu Kyi, Pushes for Democratic Reform
Palin’s Magical Mystery Book Tour: Birth or Death of a Serious Presidential Candidacy?
Sarah Palin's magical mystery book tour has begun -- a media blitz in which she'll appear far and wide, and get interviewed by all and sundry. The immediate, short-term goal: to hype up interest in her new book and sell a zillion copies. She'll be appearing with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Rush Limbaugh -- the ying and yang of modern American media. You can rest assured … [Read more...] about Palin’s Magical Mystery Book Tour: Birth or Death of a Serious Presidential Candidacy?
A Diplomatic Surge in Pakistan
Guest post by Ziad Haider Ziad Haider is an MPA/JD candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and Georgetown Law, and a Truman National Security Fellow. He conducted field research on governance in FATA with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in the summer of 2008 and previously worked as a foreign policy advisor in the U.S. Senate. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary … [Read more...] about A Diplomatic Surge in Pakistan
Lou Dobbs
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Lou Dobbs
Quotes reflecting on rogues, celebrity and presidential substance
In an NPR story this morning, David Gergen, professor of public service at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and director of its Center for Public Leadership, comments on Sarah Palin's book tour and whether it has anything to do with her possible candidacy for the GOP nomination to the White House in 2012: I don’t think this looks like a presidential campaign…[it … [Read more...] about Quotes reflecting on rogues, celebrity and presidential substance
Predictions: 2010, 2012, 2014
These are nothing more than placeholders, based on nothing more than a random reading of the tea leaves this morning. Obviously, a lot could happen in the next one to five years, and these predictions could easily prove to be very, very wrong. But what the hell. 1. Concerned independents and a re-motivated base will hand Republicans control of the House of … [Read more...] about Predictions: 2010, 2012, 2014
Senator Coburn’s “Support the Troops”
Some feel that those who did not support the invasion and occupation of Iraq do not support the troops. It is my conviction that supporting the troops is more than just supporting a war. There are millions of Americans who do not support this or that war, but certainly respect, honor, love, and, yes, support the troops---not just through bumper stickers or yellow ribbons, … [Read more...] about Senator Coburn’s “Support the Troops”
The Still Wonderful Wizard Of Oz
TBS was good enough to broadcast the classic film this weekend and I found myself once again swept away in the magic. Even though I knew the lyrics to every song and most of the dialogue it is still a joy to watch. I thought I'd share a little of the magic. … [Read more...] about The Still Wonderful Wizard Of Oz
David Broder to Obama: Stop Taking the Time to Get it Right
Make a decision -- any decision. That is the Dean of Washington Journalism's advice to Pres. Obama on Afghanistan: … [Read more...] about David Broder to Obama: Stop Taking the Time to Get it Right
Texas A&M Preparing for the Big One
Well, Ok, yesterday the Longhorns got lucky, again, and beat the Baylor Bears 47-14. And yes, yesterday the Aggies happened to face some misfortune, again, and lost against the Oklahoma Sooners by a mere 55 points. (My local newspaper said something about "atrocious," but what do they know.) While for some reason, the Aggies don't appear in the Top 25 rankings this week, … [Read more...] about Texas A&M Preparing for the Big One
The Ugly American Syndrome
The right-wing tsk tsk tskers are at it again. This time it is a deep bow of respect President Barack Obama offered when greeting Japanese emperor Akihito this weekend in Tokyo. That bastion of conservatism, The Drudge Report, signaled its disgust by shouting in 42-pt. boldface headlines "How Low Can He Get?" And, get this. Drudge uses as an example of diplomatic decorum … [Read more...] about The Ugly American Syndrome
Nidal Hasan: Homicidal and Suicidal Psychoses Is Not Terrorism, Rather, It Comes From Being Psychotically Terrified
Brain Chemicals, Not Will Alone We don't know the qualified diagnoses of Nidal Hasan. But it may have markers of a serious chemicological and brain disturbance. The subject about how the brain chemicals in the body can go haywire, wrongly signaling a person about events and stimulii around them, causing interpretations and behavior that are either too much or too little-- … [Read more...] about Nidal Hasan: Homicidal and Suicidal Psychoses Is Not Terrorism, Rather, It Comes From Being Psychotically Terrified
The Birth of Death Panels
A Congressman offers a lesson today about how politics and the media collude to distort rational discussion. In an Op Ed, Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon explains how his bipartisan proposal to have Medicare pay for voluntary end-of-life discussions morphed into death panels: "I found it perverse that Medicare would pay for almost any medical procedure, yet not reimburse … [Read more...] about The Birth of Death Panels
Of Bows and Stern Looks
I was reading Rick Moran's analysis of the Great Obama Japanese Bow Disaster of Ought Nine today because, well... I'm not really sure what it is about this topic that snagged my attention, but I read Right Wing Nuthouse pretty much every day anyway, so there you are. The fact is, I didn't get terribly excited when Obama decided to bow to King Abdullah either. Though I do agree … [Read more...] about Of Bows and Stern Looks
Religious Terrorism
There seems to be a deep-seated need by some folks to cast Major Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, as something -- anything -- other than a religious fanatic who killed in the name of his religion. In spite of the ever-mounting information regarding his extremism, his self-declared status as a "Soldier of Allah", his statements that he viewed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a … [Read more...] about Religious Terrorism
Mix Apple with Politics – Not a Good Recipe (Guest Voice)
Mix Apple with Politics - Not a Good Recipe By Daryl Cagle I’m holding my breath. I’m now into my third month of waiting for Apple to approve my iPhone app. Yesterday I heard from Apple that they need more time to think about it. My app is pretty cool; it is called “MSNBC.com Cartoons” and it features a real time news feed of political cartoons by top cartoonists from … [Read more...] about Mix Apple with Politics – Not a Good Recipe (Guest Voice)