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)
Out hoping the great hoper
Obama Obama Obama. A name that evokes passion (and divides) so many. Not even a year has passed since he stepped into the Circular Office and everywhere you read, everyone and their dog has a bone to pick with the President. “Why is Gitmo still open? Why are we still in Iraq? Why are we still in Afghanistan? Where are the jobs? Where’s our rights?” There is also an … [Read more...] about Out hoping the great hoper
The Yokels Are At It Again
Once again, Barack Obama has demonstrated his appalling hatred for America, and his elitism, and his arrogance, and his tearing down and bashing of his country and his predecessor's foreign policies, by greeting Japan's prime minister with a deep bow in a culturally appropriate way. … [Read more...] about The Yokels Are At It Again
What To Call The ’00s
The NYTimes looks at naming the ’00s. I like this guy, science fiction writer David Brin: “I would recommend the Noughty-aughts,” he said. “ ‘Nought’ as in zero. ‘Aught’ as in nothing. Both words contain essentially nothing, because this was an era when no progress was made.” Mr. Brin looks at the ’00s as a great lost opportunity, the decade when “the drug high of … [Read more...] about What To Call The ’00s
Obama Can Teach Shanghai Officials a Thing or Two: The China Daily, People’s Republic of China
This article from the China Daily either indicates an opening up of China's state-run media, or officials in Shanghai have done something serous to anger Beijing. Whatever the case, in this China Daily op-ed, columnist Hong Liang uses the imminent visit of Barack Obama to explain why young people in Shanghai love the president - and loath the 'authoritarian excess' that … [Read more...] about Obama Can Teach Shanghai Officials a Thing or Two: The China Daily, People’s Republic of China
Dutch Declare Dominance in Dominoes
As a little boy, I used to crawl on the floor for hours setting up dozens of dominoes in various patterns, only to topple them down---and doing it over and over again. Well, the Dutch have taken this pastime to new levels. Today, "Domino Day," they set a new world record---again---for the most consecutive dominoes to fall in succession, using over 4.5 million dominoes … [Read more...] about Dutch Declare Dominance in Dominoes
The Trouble with the 9/11 Trial
The attacks brought Americans together briefly, but the aftermath is still sowing division--as the decision of Attorney General Eric Holder to try five of the 9/11 terrorists in lower Manhattan brings conflict and confusion. On the surface, it's hard to argue with Holder's logic: "After eight years of delay, those allegedly responsible for the attacks of September 11th will … [Read more...] about The Trouble with the 9/11 Trial
Fort Hood: Hindsight Is Always Perfect
Americans such as myself step into troubled waters when we try to understand why an Army shrink would kill 13 and wound 33 on the pretext he didn't want to be assigned to Afghanistan. Therefore, I find it not at all unusual that today's authors of Op-Ed columns in today's Los Angeles Times argue amongst themselves. The issue is not whether Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan committed a … [Read more...] about Fort Hood: Hindsight Is Always Perfect
Dollar Costs In Afghanistan
If you haven't read the article in today's New York Times titled "High Costs Weigh on Troop Debate for Afghan War," please do so. If all the other reasons for not dramatically expanding our military effort in that land of beaten down invaders has not yet convinced you that a major buildup there would be insane, this one should do the trick. The article points out that even … [Read more...] about Dollar Costs In Afghanistan
Breaking the Prenup (Guest Voice)
Breaking the Prenup Raging Moderate, by Will Durst For liberals, Election Day ‘08 was the marriage of hope and opportunity. Election Day ‘09: not so much. More like a summons from a partner’s divorce lawyer to give a deposition. After regaining statehouses in both Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans are fighting amongst themselves to see who can grab the megaphone and … [Read more...] about Breaking the Prenup (Guest Voice)