The third time seems to be the charm as the Space Shuttle Discovery roared off the pad shortly before midnight Florida time. Soaring with it was migrant farm worker turned astronaut Jose Hernandez. He was quoted as saying that as high as he will be flying tonight his parents will probably be flying even higher. I can just imagine how correct he is. Imagine starting out life … [Read more...] about LIFTOFF !!
By Any Other Name
Ronald Bailey at Reason objects to Ezra Klein's objection to Charles Krauthammer's repetition of the rightist canard that government-funded health care will lead to rationing. … [Read more...] about By Any Other Name
Happy Friday
You may think you've got it bad, but at least you're not part of the next generation of punk rock. Think about the low points of your life, then watch this video and just be glad you are who and where you are. (Warning: Some inappropriate language, so avoid if that would offend.) I'm Fat and Nobody Likes Me … [Read more...] about Happy Friday
Joseph McCarthy and the ‘Martyrdom’ of Hollywood: Rceczpospolita, Poland
Senator Joe McCarthy covers the microphone as he listens to his nearly-as-notorious legal aide, Roy Cohen, in 1954. Is Hollywood being too hard on America's one-time anti-communist crusader, Senator Joseph McCarthy? Furthermore, is the 'factory of dreams' too kind to those whose lives the late senator ruined? In the newspaper Rceczpospolita, Poland's very own … [Read more...] about Joseph McCarthy and the ‘Martyrdom’ of Hollywood: Rceczpospolita, Poland
China Must Stop Relying on U.S. Justice to Halt Bribery: Beijing News, People’s Republic of China
In this surprisingly critical article from China's state-controlled Xinjingbao [Beijing News], the author castigates the authorities for relying on foreign justice to identify graft - and for failing to pursue those who have taken bribes from American companies. Given the appearance of this article in the state-controlled press, one can assume that Beijing has been embarrassed … [Read more...] about China Must Stop Relying on U.S. Justice to Halt Bribery: Beijing News, People’s Republic of China
The NFL Does A Sandlot Do Over
Remember those kid sandlot games we played where the oak tree was the goal line on one side of the field and the public restroom the goal line on the other. The sidelines were marked by Fatso's dad's Chevy on one side and Jimmy's mom's lawn chair on the other. Any disputes over the mock gridiron's imaginary chalk lines were settled with a do over. Folks, welcome to the … [Read more...] about The NFL Does A Sandlot Do Over
More Over The Top Rhetoric
It's barely political debate or discussion any more -- it's pure polemics and varying degrees of demonization. … [Read more...] about More Over The Top Rhetoric
Bernanke Does A Cheney
We've all heard the same argument in different contexts—the argument that the public has no right or need to know important information because some officials think it would hurt the public's interests if the information got out. We've heard it when the issue is police brutality. Oh, no, we're told, if that's examined too closely, it would hurt the morale of police officers … [Read more...] about Bernanke Does A Cheney
What Secrets Lie Behind Redacted Portions of CIA Report?
Daphne Eviatar at The Washington Independent reports that ABC's Brian Ross and Matthew Cole were told by a former CIA intelligence official that the blacked-out sections contain information about three detainees who died while under CIA interrogation, and an unspecified number whose whereabouts are unknown: … [Read more...] about What Secrets Lie Behind Redacted Portions of CIA Report?
Jonathan Chait On Who, Or What, Is Really to Blame for the Whole Health-Care Debacle
Well, the Republicans are to blame, of course. But, for Democrats, here's some much-needed perspective from TNR's Jon Chait: The Senate is what controls the process. That's the chokepoint for any health care bill. The question isn't how badly Obama wants a public plan, or how much he cares about bipartisanship. It's whether moderate to conservative Democrats in the Senate … [Read more...] about Jonathan Chait On Who, Or What, Is Really to Blame for the Whole Health-Care Debacle
Is The Economy Looking Up?
Three indicators suggest the answer may be yes. First, orders for durable goods jumped 4.5 percent from June to July, the largest gain in two years. … [Read more...] about Is The Economy Looking Up?
Three Journalism Giants on Senator Edward Kennedy
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