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)
The New York ‘Show Trials’ Not as Simple as They Seem
I'm a bit conflicted about Eric Holder's decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other 9/11 defendants to New York City to stand trial for their parts in planning the attacks. Today, on Mid Stream Radio -- 1 pm eastern, Noon central, 10 am left coast -- we'll have some special guests on to discuss this subject, if you'd care to stop by and contribute your thoughts, … [Read more...] about The New York ‘Show Trials’ Not as Simple as They Seem
Sarah Palin’s Missing Skin
I'm looking forward to reading Sarah Palin's book. Like Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father, Palin's Going Rogue will likely give insights into how she thinks, and who she is at a much deeper level than hyper-partisan electoral politics could ever give. I expect to come away from reading it with an even stronger liking for her personally -- just as I did Obama's book. She … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Missing Skin
The Cost of War: More than the “Billions Spent on Guns and Bullets”
I have consistently supported publicly honoring our fallen heroes---with the consent of family members---when they touch American soil for the last time at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Much apprehension and controversy have surrounded this issue. Finally, this spring, the Obama administration implemented a similar policy as we have at Arlington National Cemetery which … [Read more...] about The Cost of War: More than the “Billions Spent on Guns and Bullets”
The Good Old Sixth Amendment Days
Remember when conservatives used to say that "enemy combatants" like the guys at Gitmo had no right to basic legal protections because they weren't U.S. citizens? You know, like in the post I wrote just before this one? … [Read more...] about The Good Old Sixth Amendment Days
The Science of 2012
Chris Mooney -- he wrote the book on The Republican War on Science -- says the scientific plot of the movie is not only bizarre but incomprehensible. Still, he says Roland Emmerich's catastrophic sci-fi blockbuster is evidence that anti-science sentiment in Hollywood is declining: We’re seeing a lot fewer mad scientists in major Hollywood films today, and a lot more … [Read more...] about The Science of 2012
Situational Justice
Charlie Savage on the Obama administration's plans to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four of Mohammed's alleged accomplices in federal court in New York City -- and to use the military tribunal system at Guantanamo to try five other high-profile detainees. This decision is part of a strategy Obama revealed in his National Archives speech last May: … [Read more...] about Situational Justice
Hutchison To Keep Senate Seat
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has announced that she will keep her Senate seat while running for Governor of Texas. She had previously indicated she would resign the seat to allow for a special election. Officially she is doing so because she wants to remain in Washington to participate in the ongoing debates over health care, financial issues, global warming, etc. This … [Read more...] about Hutchison To Keep Senate Seat