When bringing to the attention of our readers articles written by others, I normally try to add some of my views, my own perspective---my two cents' worth. In the wake of Senator Kennedy's death, three giants at the Washington Post have written opinion pieces on the Senator's passing. Yesterday, David S. Broder and George F. Will wrote "A Man Unbowed and Unchanged," and … [Read more...] about Three Journalism Giants on Senator Edward Kennedy
Rhetoric Is Now Dangerously Beneath Contempt
I mean, REALLY. The bottom line is that even with U.S. politics' steady decline into demonization over the past decades, the bar is being lowered each day. There's always the "Oh, I didn't really mean it that way" afterward - but the bar is being lowered in political discourse in public and on the airwaves, seemingly each day. It can be argued that the bulk of people don't … [Read more...] about Rhetoric Is Now Dangerously Beneath Contempt
Quote for the Day: Incrementalism
David Brooks: We have been taught since, well, since the days of Camelot to admire a particular sort of politician: the epic, charismatic Mount Rushmore candidate who sits atop his charger leading transformational change. But the founders of this country designed the Constitution to frustrate that kind of leader. The Constitution diffuses power, requires compromise and … [Read more...] about Quote for the Day: Incrementalism
Mission for the Mourner-in-Chief
It will be a short trip for Barack Obama from his vacation site in Martha's Vineyard to Ted Kennedy's funeral in Boston tomorrow, but the Senator's interment will be the start of a longer, tougher journey for the President. He will have to follow his mourning by channeling the departed's gift for inside politics, summoning up Kennedy's legendary blend of toughness and people … [Read more...] about Mission for the Mourner-in-Chief
What is Beautiful: Small or Big?
The Economist magazine announces in almost celebratory tone that "big business" is back. But a spirited discussion follows in the comments section on the merits and demerits of big corporations. Recalls The Economist: "In 1996, in one of his most celebrated phrases, Bill Clinton declared that 'the era of big government is over'. He might have added that the era of big … [Read more...] about What is Beautiful: Small or Big?
Book Review: The Leopard Hat: A Daughter’s Story
The Leopard Hat: A Daughter’s Story, by Valerie Steiker, Random House, 2002 Tolstoy’s novel, Anna Karenina, famously opens with the sentence, “All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Leopard Hat: A Daughter’s Story
AT&T, Apple and Getting To Ubiquitous Open Networks
I've not paid a lot of attention to the fury over Apple, AT&T and GoogleVoice, but this AT&T "about face" from FreePress made me sit up and take notice: … [Read more...] about AT&T, Apple and Getting To Ubiquitous Open Networks
Media Wake, Biden Tears
The etiquette of celebrity death brings the usual talking head tributes to Ted Kennedy but largely unseen is Joe Biden with an authentic outpouring of human grief. In an era when empathy is an accusation, the Vice President is an anachronism--a politician often demeaned right and left for speaking his mind and heart, exposing himself to political ridicule. Yesterday … [Read more...] about Media Wake, Biden Tears
America’s Duty to Iraq: Azzaman, Iraq
Carnage outside the Iraqi Foreign Ministry in Baghdad, August 19. At least 100 were killed. For those tempted to think that America's involvement in Iraq is drawing to a close, this article by Fateh Abdulsalam of Iraq's Azzaman newspaper might come as a rude awakening. According to Abdulsalam, the government is either winking at or directly involved in the truck … [Read more...] about America’s Duty to Iraq: Azzaman, Iraq
Ted Kennedy
Nerilicon, CagleCartoons.com, Mexico City This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Ted Kennedy
‘Redemption’ and the Kennedy Clan: Libération, France
Continuing with our global coverage of the reaction to Ted Kennedy's death, this article by Laurent Joffrin of France's Liberation frames the saga of the Kennedy clan as one of redemption from a merciless thirst for power. For Liberation, Laurent Joffrin writes in part: "In the 1940s and 50s, There wasn't a clan that was more cynical or more determined in its quest for … [Read more...] about ‘Redemption’ and the Kennedy Clan: Libération, France
Embarrassing Moments for Both Parties
Embarrassing for the Republicans: RNC Chair Michael Steele on NPR. Embarrassing for the Democrats: Rep. Pete Stark calling moderate Dems "brain dead." Some of you might challenge the inclusion of one or both of these moments on this list. Some of you might argue that one is more embarrassing than the other, and they thus don't belong on the same list. I won't weigh … [Read more...] about Embarrassing Moments for Both Parties
G.W. Bush: The Real Jimmy Doolittle of ‘Nam?
In some ways, I had to suppress a bit of a nostalgic smile when I saw my friend Ed Morrissey at Hot Air picking off the scab of an old wound from the 2004 presidential campaign today. You see, Ed and I have been agreeing on so much lately when it comes to health care reform and dire economic news that people tend to forget that we used to fight tooth and claw, hammer and tong … [Read more...] about G.W. Bush: The Real Jimmy Doolittle of ‘Nam?
Watching the Democratic Implosion
Speaking as one who was a moderate, Northeastern member of the Republican party (generally referred to in abusive terms as a "RINO" by the party faithful) for many years, I find that I can definitely relate to the Blue Dog Democrats these days. It's not easy when you decide to eschew the most radical, fringe ideas of your party and attempt to reach across the aisle and work … [Read more...] about Watching the Democratic Implosion
We Are A Culture Of Liars
Believe mewhen I tell you I am writing a column about a review by Jessica Bennett of Newsweek about psychologist Robert Feldman, the author of a new book, The Liar in Your Life, the inspiration for a new film, The Invention of Lying, as well as a Fox TV series Lie To Me. We are a nation of liars, Feldman is quoted. Writes Bennett: Time and time again, public-opinion … [Read more...] about We Are A Culture Of Liars
The Importance of Geothermal Power
Guest post by John Malone John Malone, a VP/Senior Analyst with John S. Herold, an energy investment research firm in Connecticut, is a Truman National Security Project fellow. In the world of renewables, most of the attention is on the wind and the sun. Geothermal power just hasn't gotten the same respect. That could be changing, as both the Obama Administration and … [Read more...] about The Importance of Geothermal Power
Health Reform is Not the End of America as We Know It
Hanna Rosin posted yesterday on this NPR interview with James Morone, one of the authors of The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office. In that interview, NPR cites Ronald Reagan, opposing the creation of Medicare, thus: One of the traditional methods of imposing statism, or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It's very easy to disguise a … [Read more...] about Health Reform is Not the End of America as We Know It
Healthcare: Obama vs. Schumer
Give Chuck Schumer credit. He was trying really, really -- yes, really -- hard to pretend that the President hasn't waffled on the public option, backing away from his commitment to liberal reform. Here's Schumer and David Gregory on Meet the Press: MR. GREGORY: You're not backing away from [the public option], but there is concern within the Democratic Party that … [Read more...] about Healthcare: Obama vs. Schumer
Afghanistan: No, we are…sort of…nation-building?
I've been looking for some clarity on our strategy in Afghanistan. The President seems to have one foot on each side of the fence. Now it seems the military brass is a bit confused. Here's Adm. Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Meet the Press: MR. GREGORY: We're rebuilding this nation? ADM. MULLEN: To a certain degree there is, there is some of … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: No, we are…sort of…nation-building?
The mystery of a “liberal Conservative” foreign policy
Will Inboden ably explores the mystery of what British foreign policy will look like once the Tories take charge (since everyone in London knows the will). Will explains why, from a British perspective, it actually makes a certain amount of sense for the Tories to talk about having a "liberal Conservative" foreign policy." Still, its contents are more than somewhat vague. … [Read more...] about The mystery of a “liberal Conservative” foreign policy