Last week we ran this post giving excerpts from Caroline Glick's an intriguing article on RealClearWorld asking whether Turkey has left the West to join up with the Iranian axis. Now Steven Taylor, aka, Poliblogger has his own response. Here is a small part of it: Until Turkey quits NATO, rescinds its request to join the EU, and makes a public statement about joining … [Read more...] about Has Turkey Been Lost To The West II: An Answer
Obama Can’t Forget The Young (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Will the young and hopeful abandon the political playing field to older voters who are angry? That is the quiet crisis confronting President Obama and the Democrats. Left unattended, it could become a formidable obstacle for them in next year's midterm elections. Moreover, the sour mood that has gripped the nation's politics could only further turn off the … [Read more...] about Obama Can’t Forget The Young (Guest Voice)
Afghanistan Election Vote Runoff? Audit Reportedly Shows Karzai With 48 Percent
Are new tensions about to swirl around Afghanistan? At a time when President Barack Obama and his advisers are huddled in comprehensive reviews of the war and what do do next, recent elections and the next phase of U.S. involvement, the New York Times reports that an audit of election results submitted today "appeared likely to show that President Hamid Karzai had won about 48 … [Read more...] about Afghanistan Election Vote Runoff? Audit Reportedly Shows Karzai With 48 Percent
The Poor Man’s Friend
I vaguely remember a Canadian politician named Pierre Trudeau. He did some important things for his country, I believe, but I can't be sure because I'm not much on Canadian history. But one thing I do remember quite well about the man was his campaign song. It was called "Pierre Trudeau: The Poor Man's Friend." That has always struck me as a great way to be remembered. By your … [Read more...] about The Poor Man’s Friend
The GOP and the Coming Civil War
With a title so inviting of hyperbole and hysteria, the first question which likely comes to mind may be, "Is he talking about a fight within the Republican party or open combat in the streets?" It's a fair question, and to be honest, I'm not sure which we should focus on right now. What I do know is that we are living in a period where persons with my particular hybrid, … [Read more...] about The GOP and the Coming Civil War
Not My President
When "your man" didn't become President, what did you say? … [Read more...] about Not My President
Gyrobike Reinvents The Training Wheel
I don't know bupkis about physics but they say that if you create a wheel that contains another rapidly spinning wheel, the gyro effect will keep the wheel upright. That's the idea behind Gyrobike. Ars Technica spoke with CEO Daniella Reichstetter: "Our challenge was not only to develop a front bike wheel with a disk that could do this, but also to find a way to get the disk … [Read more...] about Gyrobike Reinvents The Training Wheel
Terror Attack on Revolutionary Guard ‘Backed By U.S. and Britain’: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Some of Iran's top military commanders were killed in a terrorist attack on Sunday, and according to this article from Iran's state-controlled Kayhan newspaper, the regime holds the U.S. and Britain responsible. The Kayhan news item says in part: "A terrorist blew himself up at a meeting of tribal elders in southeastern Iran Sunday, martyring at least 31 people, including … [Read more...] about Terror Attack on Revolutionary Guard ‘Backed By U.S. and Britain’: Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Are American Soldiers Bait For The Taliban?
This morning I posted about a soldier from my town who was killed in Afghanistan. I did not know him, though in my few years living here in small-town Georgia, I have met more soldier boys than in the decades I lived in NYC. The post included only the facts and only three people commented. But those three comments spanned the gamut of opinion, from honoring the dead to … [Read more...] about Are American Soldiers Bait For The Taliban?
Videos On Balloon Boy Story Officially Branded a Hoax
If you thought the "balloon boy" story would float away, think again. With the latest news that a key law enforcement official has now branded the nationally covered incident a hoax, it will be more in the news than ever. Scroll below to read our blog posts, but here's a cross section videos showing of how some of the news organizations are covering the latest news. Sheriff … [Read more...] about Videos On Balloon Boy Story Officially Branded a Hoax
A Thank You to Our 41st President from a Democratic Aggie
A few days ago, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés shared with us a letter from former president George H. W. Bush (#41) informing his "Fellow Members of the Texas A&M Family" of the gracious invitation he had extended to President Obama to come down to Aggie land to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bush's "points of light" initiative, and to talk about "an issue that unites all … [Read more...] about A Thank You to Our 41st President from a Democratic Aggie
UPDATE: Guns vs. Butter
For critics claiming we cannot afford health care reform for our own people in which 45,000 uninsured die annually -- a report I admit may be high -- consider these apples. It costs about $400 a gallon to deliver fuel to our troops in Afghanistan. The Pentagon reports it costs about $1 billion for ever 1,000 troops in that land-locked nation which has an infrastructure worse … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Guns vs. Butter
Kiss the iPhone Goodbye: Verizon Launches Droid Attack
Fred Wilson calls it "a real competitor to the iPhone" and says he loves the ad (above). The new site DroidDoes.com is a direct attack against the iPhone: Verizon isn’t pulling any punches: it calls out basically every major weakness on the iPhone, from its inability to run background applications to the App Store’s walled garden. The site kicks off with a stream of things … [Read more...] about Kiss the iPhone Goodbye: Verizon Launches Droid Attack
Hundreds Mourn Fallen Georgia Soldier
Weekend Edition from my town this morning: In Milledgeville, Ga., hundreds turned out to pay their respects to a small-town hero with a larger-than-life personality. Following two tours of duty in Iraq, Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, a member of Georgia's 48th Brigade, was killed in a suicide bomb attack Sept. 30 in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. Local coverage from The … [Read more...] about Hundreds Mourn Fallen Georgia Soldier
Balloon Boy Update: HOAX
The sheriff of Larimer County Colorado has just held a press conference in which he has confirmed that this was a hoax and a publicity stunt. The father did stage this, it turns out he was an actor in California before he moved to Colorado and this is part of a plot to promote a new TV show. There have been two former 911 calls to this location. The first was determined to … [Read more...] about Balloon Boy Update: HOAX
Saudi Arabia: Braggart, Sex & Lashes
It came as no surprise to me when I read a recent article "Saudi jailed for 'bragging' about sex". You see, like an average man (or MCP) I, too, never lose an opportunity to brag...well, about everything!!! So, when I landed in Jeddah in the late-1970s to take up my journalistic assignment, my friends warned me to be very, very careful about two subjects -- drinks and women -- … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia: Braggart, Sex & Lashes
Liberals uneasy with power
It’s funny the way power influences people. It’s funny how power influences people that hadn’t had a sniff of it for a very long time. It funny how people react to power after never seeing it for (oh lets see) eight years. President Obama’s recent town hall meeting saw a young boy ask the question ‘why do people hate you?’ Now, most observers instantly thought he was … [Read more...] about Liberals uneasy with power
The Race Heats Up in the NY 23rd
The the relative quiet of an off year election, there are still some special elections to watch. One of them is taking place up near the Canadian border with New York in the largely rural, mountainous 23rd district. (You may recall that I usually spend part of my summer up there fishing with disappointing results.) This district is about as conservative as they come in the … [Read more...] about The Race Heats Up in the NY 23rd
Democratic Accountability: A Tale of Two Countries
Glenn Greenwald tells us about an important turn of events in a lawsuit filed by Binyam Mohamed, a former Guantanamo detainee (emphasis is in original): … [Read more...] about Democratic Accountability: A Tale of Two Countries
Charges To Be Filed In Balloon Boy Case
Word is coming out that there will be charges filed in the balloon boy case. This would certainly suggest that it was a hoax, although it could also relate to putting the child in danger (however since he wasn't in the balloon that would seem to be unlikely). It also seems there has been some serious side damage, a family may have lost their livelihood because rescuers … [Read more...] about Charges To Be Filed In Balloon Boy Case