Our political Quote of the Day comes from Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball's guest columnist Alan I. Abramowitz who notes that Obama is holding onto the base that got him elected: Despite the grumbling on the left, however, there is little evidence thus far of erosion in support for the president among the groups that comprised his electoral base in the last election. [Gallup … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Obama Is Retaining His Base (But Now What?)
When Government is the Better Option
Nicholas Kristof approaches the health care debate from a starting point that I and others have previously acknowledged, namely: We don't leave everything to the free market. There are certain areas in which we commonly acknowledge that government is the better actor. Perhaps health care coverage is one of them. Granted, Kristof seems to suggest (upon first read at least) … [Read more...] about When Government is the Better Option
Australia: Mending Relations With Muslims
In the wake of 9/11 attacks in the USA, the relations between the "Christian West" and the "Muslim World" took a nose-dive. Australia is among the few countries who made a concerted effort to win over the hearts and minds of the Muslims in their own country and elsewhere. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, now on a visit to India, announced in New Delhi that … [Read more...] about Australia: Mending Relations With Muslims
Health Care Reform: Quote for the Day
Ezra Klein: "This is the irony of the health-care endgame: The bill becomes much more conservative if it loses its final Republican." … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Quote for the Day
Distorting the Voice of the People (Guest Voice)
Distorting the Voice of the People by E.J. Dionne, Jr WASHINGTON -- Health care reform is said to be in trouble partly because of those raucous August town hall meetings in which Democratic members of Congress were besieged by shouters opposed to change. But what if our media-created impression of the meetings is wrong? What if the highly publicized … [Read more...] about Distorting the Voice of the People (Guest Voice)
Pat Buchanan’s Vile Defense of Hitler
Pat Buchanan's anti-Semitic, ahistorical screed about Hitler and World War II (linked through Matthew Yglesias) has caught some attention today, although not nearly enough considering that this is the same man who accused Sonia Sotomayor of being a racist: … [Read more...] about Pat Buchanan’s Vile Defense of Hitler
Soviet Theft of American Nuclear Secrets Was Fully Justified: Vedemosti, Russia
Russia's first nuclear test, Operation Joe Lightning. Soviet designs for the bomb were in large part stolen from the United States. Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. As part of its coverage, Russian newspaper Vedemosti carried this article defending the admittedly wholesale theft of Manhattan Project data. For Vedemosti, columnist Igor … [Read more...] about Soviet Theft of American Nuclear Secrets Was Fully Justified: Vedemosti, Russia
Sometimes Advertising Will Flop Bigtime
Sometimes its happenstance...other times its due to an incredible lack of judgment and bad taste LIKE THIS. … [Read more...] about Sometimes Advertising Will Flop Bigtime
Disney Buys Marvel Comics
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Disney Buys Marvel Comics
Happy 75th Birthday to Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Lost in the debate over whether or not the government can run anything right is the glaringly obvious: our National Park System is absolutely fantastic. My family and I had the chance to explore many parks in the West last summer, including Grand Canyon, Bandelier, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce, Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore. The natural beauty, cultural and historical … [Read more...] about Happy 75th Birthday to Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Garamendi Likely To Head To Congress
In a low turnout election last night to fill the seat left vacant by former Rep. Ellen Tauscher (and current Obama administration official) California Lt. Governor John Garamendi was the top finisher with 26% of the vote. Given the heavy Democratic tilt of the district (about 2-1) it is likely he will win the November runoff. This would leave a vacancy in the office of Lt. … [Read more...] about Garamendi Likely To Head To Congress
Is Technology to Blame for Our Fattened Country?
Ezra Klein has a column today in the WaPo's Food section. In it he ponders, Is Technology a Friend or Foe to Food? A 2003 study [link to abstract or purchase] by economists David Cutler, Ed Glaeser and Jesse Shapiro found that the rise in obesity over the past few decades could not be explained simply by food becoming cheaper or people consuming more meals in restaurants. It … [Read more...] about Is Technology to Blame for Our Fattened Country?
Not-a-Republican look at Afghanistan
In so many words, Andrew Exum (aka Abu Muqawama) describes himself as a hesitant, hedging, uncertain and humble supporter of the war in Afghanistan. What mystifies him is why Washington is turning so rapidly against the war and why the Obama White House is so afraid of criticism from the left regarding Afghanistan. Andrew also prescribes a measure of humility and … [Read more...] about Not-a-Republican look at Afghanistan
George Will, anti-war activist
I felt some serious deja vu while reading Robert's post about the hopelessness of our "endless bloody occupation" of Afghanistan. Just two years ago, the conventional wisdom was that there was nothing we could do to salvage our bloody and endless occupation of Iraq. Harry Reid told us "the war is lost" and Barack Obama insisted that sending more troops would accomplish … [Read more...] about George Will, anti-war activist
Sen. Barrasso’s tribute to Sen. Kennedy
Why did so many Republican senators have such strong feelings for Ted Kennedy? John Barrasso of Wyoming describes the personal touch that Kennedy had:The day I got sworn into the Senate, June 25, 2007, to my knowledge he [Kennedy] was the only Democrat -- well, somebody would have been in the chair presiding -- who was there in the chamber for my swearing-in... Later they … [Read more...] about Sen. Barrasso’s tribute to Sen. Kennedy
David Gregory uses the ‘C’ word
No, not that 'C' word. I'm talking about Chappaquiddick. This weekend, Meet the Press, Face the Nation and This Week all devoted their full broadcasts to fond remembrances of Sen. Kennedy. I was curious whether they would mention the most controversial episode in his long career. On the one hand, a special measure of deference is appropriate for the recently departed. … [Read more...] about David Gregory uses the ‘C’ word
Kennedy nephew: Senate contender and proud Chavista
KENNEDY NEPHEW: SENATE CONTENDER AND PROUD CHAVISTA. Not only does Jamie Kirchick have a new essay up on Doublethink Online; he also has a new article up at TNR about the warm feelings of Joe Kennedy II for Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez. With his uncle's passing, Joe II is now a leading contender for the open Senate perch in Massachusetts. Here's the kind of wisdom Joe … [Read more...] about Kennedy nephew: Senate contender and proud Chavista
If You Want To Go Where It’s Really Wild
Go to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. h/T Hinessight, "The anti-Drudge" … [Read more...] about If You Want To Go Where It’s Really Wild
Coming Consensus on Afghanistan
The President is finally getting bipartisanship, not on health care, but against a war that has morphed into Iraq II as George Will, no bleeding heart liberal, now says it's "Time to Get Out of Afghanistan." With calls for more troops and casualties rising, American abhorrence of an endless bloody occupation is coalescing into a demand for rethinking exactly what we are … [Read more...] about Coming Consensus on Afghanistan
Fired For Email Shouting
This one's made its way around my office today. Technically Incorrect: [C]onsider the plight of Vicki Walker, an accountant with ProCare Health in Auckland, New Zealand. According to the trusty New Zealand Herald, ProCare, in dismissing Walker, told her that her e-mail style had caused ripples of disturbance in the serene landscape of her fellow workers' minds. Her sins, … [Read more...] about Fired For Email Shouting