At FiveThirtyEight.com, separate comments by Nate Silver and Tom Schaller -- Nate first: … [Read more...] about Pres. Obama’s Speech: Reaction Roundup
As if viruses and bacteria weren’t enough to worry about
Rogue proteins spread prion diseases all by themselves --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- … [Read more...] about As if viruses and bacteria weren’t enough to worry about
The Political Shell Game Begins On Joe Wilson
And so it begins: an attempt to obscure and downplay something that happened -- something that Republican party elders clearly did not want to happen and moved quickly to get the person involved to rectify. Rep. Joe Wilson yelled out "You lie" during Barack Obama's speech to Congress and that was the issue last night. But now, via the Drudge Report and other new and old … [Read more...] about The Political Shell Game Begins On Joe Wilson
Joe Wilson as Preston Brooks
No, calling the President a liar is not the same thing as beating a fellow Senator to a pulp with a cane. But there was something intriguing about the response to the Joe Wilson outburst that reminded me of the infamous 1856 caning of Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner by South Carolina Senator Preston Brooks. Consider a bit of the background to that incident. The Democrats … [Read more...] about Joe Wilson as Preston Brooks
“Man With Gun Arrested During Obama Address”
Just-tweeted from matttbastard. The article linked from matt's tweet is Associated Press, and I do not link to or quote from their articles, but I can and will link to mattt's tweet. Apparently, an attentive security officer's radar was triggered by the man's attempt to park in a secure area. His car was searched (that's a requirement for parking in that area, anyway), and they … [Read more...] about “Man With Gun Arrested During Obama Address”
Joe Wilson Has His Activist Fans
And some visit his office to congratulate him for calling breaking traditional and shouting out and calling a President delivering an address to a joint session of Congress a liar. … [Read more...] about Joe Wilson Has His Activist Fans
The Speech: Obama Defends Health-Care Reform Before Joint Session of Congress
It wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear, but it was close... close enough, I suppose. Alas, President Obama left open the possibility that his preferred public option -- which, in my view, should be non-negotiable (see also Krugman on this) -- could be replaced with some other alternative to private insurance, such as a non-profit co-op system or a "trigger" (which would … [Read more...] about The Speech: Obama Defends Health-Care Reform Before Joint Session of Congress
Joe Wilson, Fight Club Master? No, Joe Wilson Wet-Dynamite Disaster
Where is the public place for loss of personal control? Where is the place for 'fight club?' The gridiron, the clay court, the roped ring, and other similar, are where that all belongs... there are many many venues for men (and women and children) who 'cant bear the burden' one moment longer, to vent their particular pique or outrage. Long ago I knew Chained Lightning … [Read more...] about Joe Wilson, Fight Club Master? No, Joe Wilson Wet-Dynamite Disaster
Energy Policy and National Security Clearly Linked
Guest post by Frankie Sturm Frankie Sturm is communications director at the Truman National Security Project and a free-lance journalist. The debate over climate change and energy legislation is becoming a debate over America's national security. And this is just where the debate belongs. As nearly 150 veterans gear up to visit Washington to ask their senators to take … [Read more...] about Energy Policy and National Security Clearly Linked
Politifact Truth-O-Meter: Joe Wilson Wrong When He Said Obama Lied
The St. Petersburg Times' Pulitzer Prize winning Politifact has its Truth-O-Meter look at Rep. Joe Wilson's shouted "You lied!" to President Barack Obama and finds: Wilson erred. It's an extensive post that needs to be read in full, but here is the conclusion: The best argument that we find that health reform would help illegal immigrants is that some might be able to … [Read more...] about Politifact Truth-O-Meter: Joe Wilson Wrong When He Said Obama Lied
Obamacare We Can Live With
In an attempt to regain control of the health care debate if not his presidency, President Barack Obama crafted a speech a fifth grader could grasp and Congress could follow allowing all Americans to receive affordable medical services. What struck me was all the goals and specifics outlined by the president seem reasonable enough for Congress to adopt with all sides of the … [Read more...] about Obamacare We Can Live With
Why are Jews so darned liberal?
One Right wing blogger raised a bit of a stir earlier this week with his "interesting" explanation of why so many Jews are "liberal" when, if they had the brains God gave a goat, they should be hard core, conservative Republicans. Here's one Jewish lady who was shocked to find out how unintelligent she must be and how Republicans are the real philo-semitic party. (Don't feel … [Read more...] about Why are Jews so darned liberal?
Don’t Expect NATO To Help The U.S. As Afghanistan Crisis Worsens
A new poll brings unwelcome news for U.S. policymakers. … [Read more...] about Don’t Expect NATO To Help The U.S. As Afghanistan Crisis Worsens
On the Radio: The Aftermath of the Obama Speech
This morning, Mid Stream Radio will be back on the air picking through the aftermath of Obama's health care speech. Cindy and I will be joined by Rick Moran, of Right Wing Nuthouse, to replay a few of the highlights and lowlights and see what it all means. You can listen live at the show's web site, join in our comments section (if you have done your free registration at the … [Read more...] about On the Radio: The Aftermath of the Obama Speech
Who is watching the watchers?
There is a new consortium of media entities who propose to replace the venerable Nielsen ratings with a new, high tech viewership tracking service. There's no question that Nielsen's numbers are fraught with problems. College students living away from home between the ages of 18 to 24 remain virtually uncounted. Minorities in urban areas are consistently over-represented, and … [Read more...] about Who is watching the watchers?
Afghanistan: Bhagavad Gita & Business Schools
India's favourite spiritual book, The Bhagavad Gita, has made a dramatic impact at Harvard, Wharton and other business schools with its universal message of "concentration, consistency, and cooperation". In a nutshell: "You can't succeed in business (or war) unless you develop the intellect, which controls the mind and body." The Gita remains relevant in the conduct of any … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: Bhagavad Gita & Business Schools
Obama’s Health Care Reset (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- After a listless summer during which his opponents dominated the health care debate, President Obama used a dramatic appearance before Congress on Wednesday to seize control of the autumn, the season of decision for the initiative he has turned into the central test of his presidency. Having avoided specifics in order to give the House and Senate room to … [Read more...] about Obama’s Health Care Reset (Guest Voice)
Newest Hero To Some: Rep. Joe Wilson Who Yelled “You Lie” At Obama
An appointment in L.A. for non-blogging business meant that I'd miss part of President Obama's speech on health care but I knew I could catch at least some of it on the radio. Switching the dial, I heard always-lively conservative talker Mark Levin talking over Obama's speech, making sarcastic negative comments throughout. So I switched to trusted news radio KNX for the … [Read more...] about Newest Hero To Some: Rep. Joe Wilson Who Yelled “You Lie” At Obama
Obama Throws Down the Gauntlet
If passion, eloquence and moral gravity were the main currency of American politics, Barack Obama would have changed the course of the health care debate tonight. But with Washington as it is, the President could hope for no more than to restore some sanity by calling out the opposition for its "scare tactics," indicting insurance companies for greed and evoking the … [Read more...] about Obama Throws Down the Gauntlet
The Obama Health Care Speech: One Republican’s View
I heard most the President's speech tonight over the radio. Here are some of what I thought were highlights and what I thought. What this plan will do is to make the insurance you have work better for you. Under this plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. As soon as I sign this bill, it will be … [Read more...] about The Obama Health Care Speech: One Republican’s View