Romenesko notes that when the legendary White House reporter said it yesterday afternoon at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, the crowd gasped: "I was the interviewer and it rocked me a little," writes Phil Bronstein [link]. "In the same conversation Ms. Thomas said 'Nancy Reagan was a heroine in my opinion,' expressed tender sympathy for Lyndon Johnson and great respect … [Read more...] about Helen Thomas: Obama “Lacks Courage”
Now for the Ugly Part…
The assembly line in the Congressional sausage factory is ready to roll, to stuff what Max Baucus' butchers have hacked up into a casing with scraps from four other committees in the Senate and House. Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and the "Bill Blenders" start work today in a process that will make the past few months look like the Lincoln-Douglas debates as lobbying groups … [Read more...] about Now for the Ugly Part…
Wall Street Pay Record
From Yahoo: Just one year from the much discussed "death of Wall Street," major U.S. banks and securities firms are set to pay their employees about $140 billion this year, according to a study by the Wall Street Journal. That's a record level, just passing the pay levels of the boom year of 2007. Elsewhere people are taking the largest pay cuts since the … [Read more...] about Wall Street Pay Record
Does the Left Understand the Faithful?
Guest post by Peter Henne Peter S. Henne is a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project and a doctoral candidate at Georgetown University. ********** As the Supreme Court took up Salazar v. Buono last week, deciding the fate of a cross on public land, I was put in an awkward position. Once again, I squirm at the unrestrained histrionics of both sides, … [Read more...] about Does the Left Understand the Faithful?
Collins Signal A Cover for Snowe?
AP reported this morning that a second Republican, Sen. Olympia Snowe's Maine colleague Susan Collins, has indicated that she's open to voting for health care legislation this year. The opening lines of Collins' statement could be read that way: “There simply is no question that our nation’s health care system requires substantial reform. The status quo of soaring health … [Read more...] about Collins Signal A Cover for Snowe?
Dow Approaches 10,000
Some good news/bad news on the economic front. The good news is that the Dow has approached 10,000. The bad news is that retail sales are still lousy. The good news: Stocks rallied Wednesday morning, with the Dow industrials nearly hitting the 10,000 level for the first time in a year, following better-than-expected quarterly profit reports from Intel and JPMorgan … [Read more...] about Dow Approaches 10,000
People First: HuffPost Sets Example For Media
As a journalism teacher I am often asked: Should media cater to what interests the public or PUBLIC INTEREST? In recent times the media, with honorable exceptions, has brazenly catered to the lowest common denominator (generally pandering to the basest instincts) under the cloak of infotainment. Arianna Huffington, the moving spirit behind Huffington Post, has started HuffPost … [Read more...] about People First: HuffPost Sets Example For Media
Sexuality and Orthodoxy
Sex sells. And in Jerusalem, with its large religious population, a session on if Jewish Orthodoxy can come to terms with sexual activity – both in and out of marriage – drew an overflow crowd at the recent Gateways Festival of Jewish Learning and Culture. The festival is a remarkable event: two days of pluralistic learning throughout the city, with sessions ranging from … [Read more...] about Sexuality and Orthodoxy
Quote of the Day: Republicans Need to Moderate Tone and Embrace Conservative Ideas
Our political Quote of the Day comes from conservative talk show host Michael Medved who, in a detailed column and analysis on Town Hall, argues that if the Republicans want to make their way out of the national political wilderness they need to do two things: (1)embrace conservative ideas (2)moderate their tone to reach out to actually win over moderates. But, wait: when … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Republicans Need to Moderate Tone and Embrace Conservative Ideas
Britain: Looming Neo-Nazis’ Threat…
How much danger terrorists pose in Britain? "The campaign I am talking about is not being planned by Jihadis or fringe Irish nationalists but by white 'neo-Nazis' who want to murder Asians, black people, Jews and gays in the bizarre belief it will trigger a 'race war', says Johann Hari in The Independent. "The police are warning ever-more urgently that similar attacks seem … [Read more...] about Britain: Looming Neo-Nazis’ Threat…
Olympia Snowe Is the Wicked Witch, and She Should Be Melted
The above sentiment comes from Erick Erickson at RedState. Now, before I quote what he says, I want to point out the difference, for me as a strong liberal, between a conservative blogger with whom I completely and unequivocally disagree on this issue (and most others!), but who is nevertheless in possession of his sanity. There are actually many such, but I'm going to let Ed … [Read more...] about Olympia Snowe Is the Wicked Witch, and She Should Be Melted
“Mother Night: Learning to See in the Dark”
Sounds True is the superlative audio company that has produced my audio books for the last twenty years... my works like The Radiant Coat, Stories about the Crossings Between Life and Death... a work used by many professionals in health, healing and hospices. Other of my works: Theatre of the Imagination: Thirteen weeks of live performances of myths and stories revolving around … [Read more...] about “Mother Night: Learning to See in the Dark”
Assuming Global Nuclear Disarmament, What Wars Would We Fear?
Yesterday I wrote a post questioning the need for so many countries in the 21st Century, particular vulgar, repressive military dictatorships, to have nuclear weapons. My premise was not the relative civility of non-nuclear nations vis-à-vis those that possessed nuclear weapons but the proper use of U.S. military power. However, many nice places can be found that have no … [Read more...] about Assuming Global Nuclear Disarmament, What Wars Would We Fear?
Teenage Heartthrob: Archie Magic Continues
When we were growing up, teenagers, especially girls in our extended family, were mostly Archie fans. These comic books, to be found scattered around in many teenage bedrooms, invited my occasional curiosity. Interestingly, the nearly 70-year-old Archie is still evergreen and his romantic pursuits still invite media spotlight. "That perennially teenage redhead from … [Read more...] about Teenage Heartthrob: Archie Magic Continues
Man Sleeps Through House Fire
One of those too bizarre to believe stories. A man sleeps through his house burning down and is awakened by the fireman doing the post fire walk through. Amazing … [Read more...] about Man Sleeps Through House Fire
GOP.com: A Forward-Looking Trip Into Web 0.00000
Michael Steele's latest attempt to lead Republicans kicking and screaming into the 21st century is seriously underwhelming. Seriously, folks: There's no there there. Oh, there are words on the pages. But they don't say anything. They're the linguistic equivalent of rice krispies. Go ahead, click on the tabs, click on the links -- they just take you from one nothing to another … [Read more...] about GOP.com: A Forward-Looking Trip Into Web 0.00000
Nobel Peace Prize Could Cripple Young President: Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, France
If one were to point out a central theme for most of the global reaction to President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize win, it would be the fear on the part of the overwhelming percentage of the planet's population that our young leader will be hamstrung by the award. This article by Olivier Picard of France's Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace puts it this way in part: "Barack Obama … [Read more...] about Nobel Peace Prize Could Cripple Young President: Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, France
Global Warming Is Dead! Long Live Global Warming!
I've had some...spirited...discussions with people claiming that the last ten years has seen a flattening of temperature as alluded to by David earlier. He covered some basic points, while leaving out that smoothing of the data across the El Niño-La Niña cycle has shown no decline thus far. In the discussions, I've pointed out that the last few years has seen La Niña … [Read more...] about Global Warming Is Dead! Long Live Global Warming!
Much Ado Over Almost Nothing
With all the celebrating going on over the Finance committee vote today you would think that health care reform was a done deal and we were all going to have free coverage tomorrow morning. The truth is that this is only one fairly minor step, though admittedly getting it past this committee is a step, it is only one step. As I previously wrote, I am relatively pleased with … [Read more...] about Much Ado Over Almost Nothing
Health Reform Snowe Job
The Senate Finance Committee finally voted 14-9 its sweeping health care bill out of committee Tuesday with the lone Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine on board. Whoopty doo. Now maybe we can get down to business and fix the system. This bill is a massive subsidy to private insurance carriers who are not happy because it falls short of universal coverage which would mean more … [Read more...] about Health Reform Snowe Job