Don't Believe in Truth? Don't Be a Reporter by Barry Rubin A reporter just wrote me a letter that contains a single sentence which I think reflects on why the Western world is in such trouble today. After understandably discussing such real problems of reporting as short deadlines, complex issues, and the duty of the reporter to report what people say, the letter … [Read more...] about Don’t Believe in Truth? Don’t Be a Reporter (Guest Voice)
California Budget Deal Struck
It looks like California 'leaders' have reached a tentative deal to settle the 2009-10 budget. According to the San Francisco Chronicle: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders reached a tentative budget compromise Monday to plug a $26.3 billion deficit by making hefty cuts in education, health and welfare services, and taking billions of dollars from county … [Read more...] about California Budget Deal Struck
Pres. Obama Talks to the Bloggers
John Amato, who was one of the liberal bloggers on the conference call with Pres. Obama, David Axelrod, and Nancy DeParle, put up an audio clip of the first 24 minutes -- the entire portion with Obama answering bloggers' questions. After that, he had to leave, but Axelrod and DeParle stayed on the line -- that part is not included here. … [Read more...] about Pres. Obama Talks to the Bloggers
David Boies on Gay Marriage and the Constitution
In the WSJ no less. Favorite passage: [B]asic constitutional rights cannot depend on the willingness of the electorate in any given state to end discrimination. If we were prepared to consign minority rights to a majority vote, there would be no need for a constitution. A bit more: The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the right to marry the person you love is so … [Read more...] about David Boies on Gay Marriage and the Constitution
Trial of Alleged Nazi Guard Demjanjuk a Chance for German ‘Redemption’: Financial Times Deutschland
America has extradited alleged Nazi guard John Demjanjuk to stand trial in a Munich court as an accomplice to 27,900 murders. So how do Germans feel about what is likely to be the last great Nazi trial? Columnist Kathrin Werner, showing little concern for 90-year-old Demjanjuk's advanced age, writes for the Financial Times Deutschland, in part: "The trial of alleged … [Read more...] about Trial of Alleged Nazi Guard Demjanjuk a Chance for German ‘Redemption’: Financial Times Deutschland
Walter Cronkite and 40 Years of Progress
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Walter Cronkite and 40 Years of Progress
Cronkite and Me (Guest Voice)
Cronkite and Me by Bill Steigerwald Like most of my draft-dodging generation, during the 1960s I heard Walter Cronkite’s authoritative voice more often than I heard the voices of my own parents. I even ate dinner hundreds of times with the sainted TV journalist who anchored the CBS evening news from 1962 until 1981 and died last week at age 92. I grew up on a … [Read more...] about Cronkite and Me (Guest Voice)
The Sausage Factory Road To Health Reform
News flash: Anyone who says the health care bills now in Congress are doomed to failure. Or those who proclaim health reform is on the horizon. I say bunk. I have read portions of the versions of the House and Senate bills until the words became blurred as if viewing the world through cataracts. Frankly, I gave up in despair. I came to the only sane conclusion possible: Wait … [Read more...] about The Sausage Factory Road To Health Reform
The Case Against a Manned Mission to Mars
Everyone loves a good science fiction film where heroes set forth boldly to battle asteroids, comets, aliens or The Borg. On the anniversary of our first steps upon the moon, it's easy to fall into that old longing for adventure, heroism and exploration. But should we be pushing for a manned mission to Mars rather than further robotic explorations? Or even a permanent manned … [Read more...] about The Case Against a Manned Mission to Mars
Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates Jr. Arrested For Being “A Black Man in America”
Every one of us would have been just as outraged. The charges had better go should have gone away fast. With an apology. Instead, Gates is being represented by Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree, who has taken on previous cases with racial implications. The Boston Globe: Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of the nation's pre-eminent African-American … [Read more...] about Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates Jr. Arrested For Being “A Black Man in America”
Another Visit To Economist World
Let us now make one of our regular visits to Economist World, a distant world where California's medical marijuana experiment has apparently become adopted as the everyday alternative to a morning mocha. In a column I wrote yesterday, I pointed out how utterly detached from the rest of us economists have become. And today a number of them, perhaps having stumbled upon a new … [Read more...] about Another Visit To Economist World
The Politics of Attention Deficit Disorder
Six months of scrambling on all fronts--bank bailouts, economic stimulus, climate change--have brought the President lower approval ratings from a public suffering from crisis overload and left him needing a Hail Mary pass to score on his key issue. "With skepticism about the president's health-care reform effort mounting on Capitol Hill--even within his own party," the … [Read more...] about The Politics of Attention Deficit Disorder
Blue Dog in Charge: Rep. Mike Ross
Full disclosure: My other job gives me ample reason to interact with Blue Dog Congressman Mike Ross and his staff. Accordingly, I'm hardly an objective source. Still, I genuinely like this guy -- which is something I can't say about all elected officials and their staff, whether or not I have a reason (or obligation) to interact with them. So, why do I like Ross? … [Read more...] about Blue Dog in Charge: Rep. Mike Ross
Rasmussen Poll Shows Most Americans Hate Rasmussen
Please. Make. It. Stop 2012 Match-ups: Obama, Romney Tied at 45%; Obama 48%, Palin 42% It's not even nine months since the last election. Really. I can't take it. I think the only reason those numbers look the way they do is because they failed to offer all of the most likely responses. "If the election were held today, would you..." 1. Vote for Barack Obama 2. … [Read more...] about Rasmussen Poll Shows Most Americans Hate Rasmussen
The Problem with Polls
The problem with polls (or maybe it's the reporting of poll results) is that they ask (focus on) too many closed-loop questions. For instance: "Do you approve of the way the President is handling health care reform?" The answers to such questions lend themselves to neat and tidy conclusions -- perfect blog fodder -- such as Chris Cillizza's suggestion today that the … [Read more...] about The Problem with Polls
Guess Who Supports Mark Sanford And Wants Him To Stay In Office?
God. Editor's note: The wrong link was up earlier. It has been fixed. We regret the error. … [Read more...] about Guess Who Supports Mark Sanford And Wants Him To Stay In Office?
Captured PFC Bowe Bergdahl’s Father’s Advice To Son “Stay Strong”
The father of PFC Bowe Bergdahl -- the 23-year-old soldier captured by the Taliban -- has this advice for his son: "Stay strong." Go HERE for must-read details from Jules Crittenden, who also gives his own take on this troubling story. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary says the U.S. is doing all it can to try and get Bergdahl back: US Secretary of State Hillary … [Read more...] about Captured PFC Bowe Bergdahl’s Father’s Advice To Son “Stay Strong”
Can Pot Help California’s Budget Woes? If It’s Legal, Will Addiction Rise?
Pointing to the question posed by Time Friday, Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?, Gregor Macdonald says try it: By some estimates marijuana crop production in California accounts for roughly 14 billion in gross sales. That would make marijuana the states largest single cash crop. One has to believe that current growers would happily trade the costs and risks of … [Read more...] about Can Pot Help California’s Budget Woes? If It’s Legal, Will Addiction Rise?
Mumbai 2008 Attacks: Pakistani Terrorist Pleads Guilty
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, 22, a Pakistani terrorist (the only one to be captured alive during the Mumbai's deadly 26/11 siege last year) today pleaded guilty to 86 charges, including murder and waging war on India, in a Mumbai court. Admitting his role in the carnage which left more than 160 people dead, Kasab said Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi of the banned militant group … [Read more...] about Mumbai 2008 Attacks: Pakistani Terrorist Pleads Guilty
Good Luck, Mr. Kean
The former New Jersey governor attempts to sweep ocean waves with a broom. Give him credit for trying: ... the 74-year-old Kean spoke wistfully about growing up in a Washington where the two parties worked together in (almost) perfect harmony. He began with stories of his father, a congressman of 20 years who was a top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee … [Read more...] about Good Luck, Mr. Kean