It's test time for the Legislative branch of our government. As the Associated Press correctly points out, House members and Senators are now heading home where they will face questions, criticism and scrutiny from their many employers (i.e. the voters) who will decide in the months and years to come whether or not they will keep their jobs. The problem they face in this … [Read more...] about Congress Faces Summer School Final Exams
How the NY Times maximizes efficiency in tough economic times
Kevin Drum notes that the NYT had three correspondents all live-blog the President's beer with Skip Gates and Jim Crowley. Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about How the NY Times maximizes efficiency in tough economic times
Palin: Anatomy of the divorce rumor
The Orlando Sentinel reports on an Alaska blog's claim that Sarah Palin is getting a divorce: The No. 1 search term in Google right now is “sarah palin divorce.” The reason? A couple of bloggers in Alaska posted stories this morning claiming to have inside information that former Gov. Sarah Palin is divorcing her husband, Todd. The bloggers went on to claim that Sarah Palin … [Read more...] about Palin: Anatomy of the divorce rumor
U.S. Health Care: Pay More, Get Less
Tyler Cowen quotes one of his readers: … [Read more...] about U.S. Health Care: Pay More, Get Less
The Prince of Gracie Square and the Paupers of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama -- which includes the city of Birmingham -- is facing draconian cuts in county and municipal services that will affect thousands of people: … [Read more...] about The Prince of Gracie Square and the Paupers of Jefferson County
Red and Blue Hypocrites
Zack Space and Roy Blunt -- from Ohio and Missouri, respectively -- are members of the House of Representatives. Blunt is a Republican and Space is a "Blue Dog Democrat," which means for all practical purposes he's a Republican. … [Read more...] about Red and Blue Hypocrites
Scary and Depressing Times
Extended unemployment benefits are ending, with jobs nowhere in sight: … [Read more...] about Scary and Depressing Times
Another ‘Victory Day’ Over the United States: Daily North Korea, South Korea
It's 'Victory Day' again in North Korea - or to be precise, the 'Day of Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War,' over the United States and United Nations. For those who have wondered how Pyongyang has come to call the 50-year standoff a 'victory,' South Korea's Daily North Korea, staffed by people who have escaped the land of Kim Jong-il and work to alert the outside … [Read more...] about Another ‘Victory Day’ Over the United States: Daily North Korea, South Korea
How “Kill Granny” Slogans Pollute Health Reform Talks
On a recent Thursday company bus ride taking a group of my fellow seniors to shop at local grocery stores, Rosa announced how shamed she was because President Obama was born in Kenya and wanted to kill the elderly to save medical costs. "What gives you that idea?" I asked. "It's true," Rosa said. "It's all over TV and radio. My neighbors John and Mary said the same thing. … [Read more...] about How “Kill Granny” Slogans Pollute Health Reform Talks
Israel and Iran: Washington’s Changed Security Posture
Iran is pushing ahead with its covert nuclear weapons program while Israel bangs its head against a wall because of a change in Washington’s security posture that is already taking place. Hilary Clinton’s so far informal offer of a security, including nuclear, umbrella, to its friends in the Middle East is an admission that Washington is unsure of stopping Iran from … [Read more...] about Israel and Iran: Washington’s Changed Security Posture
UPDATE 2: Attack on Gay Teenagers in Tel Aviv Kills 3, Wounds 10-15
UPDATE: J POST: Three people were killed and 14 people were wounded - two seriously, three moderately and the rest lightly - in a shooting at the Bar Noir, a center for youth run by the Tel Aviv gay community, on Saturday night. ============================================================== Ynetnews: 2 killed in Tel Aviv shooting GLBT activist says shooting that … [Read more...] about UPDATE 2: Attack on Gay Teenagers in Tel Aviv Kills 3, Wounds 10-15
All Went Well At Bath Iron Works—We Now Have the USS Jason Dunham
In my post yesterday ( "A Great Navy Tradition On Display at Bath Iron Works Tomorrow, August 1), I wrote that, today, at the Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine, the Navy planned to christen its newest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, named after Medal of Honor recipient Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham. Scanning for news reports on the christening ceremony this morning, I searched the … [Read more...] about All Went Well At Bath Iron Works—We Now Have the USS Jason Dunham
BREAKING: Sarah and Todd Palin To Divorce? (TWO UPDATES)
Question mark because the reports are not 100 percent solid yet, but the news, which was broken by a local Alaska publication called Alaska Report News and a blog called the Immoral Minority, is starting to be picked up by other blogs and publications, including Mudflats -- an Alaskan blog that is highly regarded: … [Read more...] about BREAKING: Sarah and Todd Palin To Divorce? (TWO UPDATES)
Ben Nelson Threatens “Outside Special Interest Groups”
Considering how beholden Sen. Ben Nelson is to health insurance industry interests in his home state, he's awfully touchy about criticism from liberal advocacy groups: … [Read more...] about Ben Nelson Threatens “Outside Special Interest Groups”
The GOP was doomed!
Analogies are flying. What year is this for Republicans? 1964? 1976? 1992? I think 1937 deserves more attention. I noticed this in a review of a book about FDR: Roosevelt had won the 1936 election by a crushing landslide--a total of 61 percent of the popular vote that enabled him to carry all but two of the 48 states--and his Democratic coalition of labor, northern … [Read more...] about The GOP was doomed!
Gates Sends Flowers and a Note to Whalen
The three guys meeting over beers at the White House was surely a positive thing, but this is genuinely moving: … [Read more...] about Gates Sends Flowers and a Note to Whalen
David Brooks mixes politics and religion
This may make sense if you're Jewish:Gail, as you know, I begin and end my days by reciting Congressional Budget Office reports. I even put on tefillin, just to make it seem holy.FYI, Wikipedia has a pretty good description and photo of tefillin. Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about David Brooks mixes politics and religion
Um, what’s our mission in Afghanistan?
Are we committed to nation-building, or are we just going to take out Al Qaeda? Here's Obama announcing his new strategy in March:I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future.Here's how the Pentagon described our … [Read more...] about Um, what’s our mission in Afghanistan?
Michael Savage: Crunchy hippie liberal
What leads someone to become a fire-breathing right-wing talk show host? Answer: A Ph.D. from Berkeley in nutritional ethnomedicine. Seriously. The current issue of The New Yorker has a very interesting profile of Michael Savage [registration required]. Although the magazine's profiles of conservatives often degenerate into caricature, this one is surprisingly … [Read more...] about Michael Savage: Crunchy hippie liberal
Trial by television: NBC pursues Rwandan genocidaire
This week's New Republic has a great feature on Leopold Munyakazi, a Rwandan exile and American college professor accused of initiating a mass murder during the genocide in 1994. NBC is going after Munyakazi as part of a new series focused on war criminals living in the United States. For NBC, it's a simple, compelling story about good vs. evil: After class, a swirling … [Read more...] about Trial by television: NBC pursues Rwandan genocidaire