Justin Elliott at Talking Points Memo interviewed her earlier today. She compared herself to Nelson Mandela and accused Judge Clay Land of treason. No point in trying to quote from the TPM piece. I wouldn't know which part to choose. Just read it. It's jaw-dropping. … [Read more...] about Orly Taitz Has About 17 Screws Loose
Mary Travers is Dead
Mary Travers has died at age 72. Her group, Peter, Paul, and Mary, were often scorned by folk purists who disdained their popularization of the folk idiom in the early-60s. But there can be little doubt that the group's harmonies opened mainstream US society folk, with its long history of advocacy for civil rights, unions, and peace. Through their covers of Bob Dylan's … [Read more...] about Mary Travers is Dead
Did Secretary Gates Tame the Lion?
As I wrote yesterday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates planned to address the Air Force Association (AFA) today. U.S. News & World Report compared Gates’ appearance at the AFA, an association “made up in part of retired pilots and Air Force brass who were shocked when Gates last year fired the Air Force secretary and chief of staff over reports of a nuclear mishap,” and who … [Read more...] about Did Secretary Gates Tame the Lion?
The Little Poet of Laugh-In Has Died: Henry Gibson, Age 72
Henry Gibson, who was born James Bateman in Germantown, PA, served in the USAF and later took Henry Gibson as his stage name... a play on the name of the great playright Henrik Ibsen, who wrote amongst others, the play Hedda Gabler, which you may remember was about a willful soul who raced her father's horses while standing on the seat of the coach, yet married a dry academic … [Read more...] about The Little Poet of Laugh-In Has Died: Henry Gibson, Age 72
Testing The Obama Effect (Guest Voice)
McLEAN, Va. -- Will the bitter, smoldering feelings let loose by Washington's health care fight ricochet across the Potomac River and decide Virginia's race for governor? Will a Republican be able to escape his right-wing record and his incendiary past writings to rebrand himself as a pragmatist? The battle for the Virginia statehouse always gets outsized national … [Read more...] about Testing The Obama Effect (Guest Voice)
Bipartisanship – Compare and Contrast
I found this headline interesting, in the context of I do NOT recall ever seeing the like during the eight years of the administration of President George W. Bush: White House To Meet With Anti-Abortion Activists Next Week Did President George W. Bush ever meet with people who were in vocally public opposition to the policies and positions of his political base? I do not … [Read more...] about Bipartisanship – Compare and Contrast
How Many Seas Must A White Dove Sail… Mary Travers Takes Wing
It was a time, it was a time... hard rain's gonna fall,.. but don't think twice it's alright, it's all gonna be alright babe... Mary Travers, has passed the bar at age 72 from leukemia after a bone marrow transplant gave her three more years. The long blonde-haired original was the female contralto voice in the American folk group, Peter, Paul and Mary which rose to … [Read more...] about How Many Seas Must A White Dove Sail… Mary Travers Takes Wing
Science, the press, and politics – Can even experimentally verified facts be reported correctly with context? It appears not…
People who read "hard sci-fi" or who paid attention in their basic Physics class (assuming they were even required to take one, sigh...) are aware of the concept of magentic monopoles. If they exist, they would be similar in behavior to the proton and electron, the electric monopoles for positive and negative charge respectively. In other words, there would be a "north pole" … [Read more...] about Science, the press, and politics – Can even experimentally verified facts be reported correctly with context? It appears not…
Jimmy Carter & Racism Without Racists
Over at The Corner, Abigail Thernstrom has about had it with the white racist chorus: It’s a sad and dangerous moment in American politics. As Stanford law professor Richard Thompson Ford has written, “self-serving individuals, rabble-rousers, and political hacks use accusations of racism . . . to advance their own ends." Those accusations provoke "resentment rather than … [Read more...] about Jimmy Carter & Racism Without Racists
BREAKING: Mary Travers Has Died of Cancer
I just found out, via TPM, that Mary Travers, of the 1960s and '70s trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, has died of cancer at the age of 72. … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Mary Travers Has Died of Cancer
What’s In and Not In the Baucus Health Care Plan?
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus's plan has been released -- and has set off a flurry of news articles, analysis and blog posts on the left, center and right, many of which take positions on the proposed plan. In response to a reader's email about offering a compact roundup on the plan, here are some must reads/must views. The Christian Science Monitor offers … [Read more...] about What’s In and Not In the Baucus Health Care Plan?
Judge Throws Out Birther Case, Blasts Lawyer
This is utterly delicious: … [Read more...] about Judge Throws Out Birther Case, Blasts Lawyer
Poll: Obama as “Anti-Christ?”
From Public Policy Polling (sigh): We've been uncovering a remarkable level of anger toward Barack Obama in a lot of our recent polling so for New Jersey we decided to go a step further in determining how extreme some people's feelings are about the President and asked respondents if they think he is the Anti-Christ. 8% said yes. 13% aren't sure. Among Republicans 14% … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama as “Anti-Christ?”
Health Care Frankenstein
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Health Care Frankenstein
Hamas Seeks New Doctrine after Gaza War Failures (Guest Voice)
Hamas Seeks New Doctrine after Gaza War Failures by Jonathan Spyer Hamas has undertaken a major process of examination and investigation into its deeply flawed performance in the course of Operation Cast Lead, sources say. The review process is aimed at developing a new doctrine for Hamas to enable it to achieve its ambition of rivaling Hizbullah in its abilities. It … [Read more...] about Hamas Seeks New Doctrine after Gaza War Failures (Guest Voice)
Snowe Tells Baucus, No Deal
As my brother would say, What a tool. He really thought he could get Republican support if he only gave up enough, ceded enough ground, mollified and appeased just a little more. Good going, Max. You jettisoned the public option to get the support of so-called "moderate" Republicans, and now you're left with nothing. … [Read more...] about Snowe Tells Baucus, No Deal
Enough’s Enough America
There comes a time in history when an adult enters the fray of uncivil discourse, shakes America by her broad shoulders, and admonishes everyone that enough is enough. I'm uncertain whether former President Jimmy Carter is that heroic adult. Carter in an interview Tuesday and later in an address to his own forum said Rep. Joe Wilson's "You lie" outburst to President Barack … [Read more...] about Enough’s Enough America
Frank Rich on Obama’s “Squandered Summer”
From Sunday's op-ed: In the meantime, a certain damage has been done -- to Obama and to the country. The inmates took over the asylum, trivializing and poisoning the national discourse while the president bided his time. The lies that Obama called out so strongly in his speech — from "death panels" to "government takeover" -- ran amok. So did all the other incendiary faux … [Read more...] about Frank Rich on Obama’s “Squandered Summer”
Baucus Plan Looks Promising
Obviously at this point with the need to reconcile the various proposals we do not know what the final form will be for the Baucus proposal (America’s Healthy Future Act). But from the details contained in his announcement and outlined in this press release my preliminary reaction is positive. It looks to be a balanced approach which works to solve the current problems without … [Read more...] about Baucus Plan Looks Promising
Hey, Max Baucus, What’s the Point?
That's right, what's the point of Sen. Max Baucus's health-care reform proposal? Is it to win bipartisan support? Yes, probably, given that Baucus all along has been trying to work with the few Republicans who have shown a slight (if hollow) interest in reform -- namely, the GOP members of the Gang of Six. Not surprisingly, though, the Republicans in question, notably Sens. … [Read more...] about Hey, Max Baucus, What’s the Point?