I could not agree more: The traditional TV industry--cable companies, networks, and broadcasters--is where the newspaper industry was about five years ago: In denial. [...] Specifically, the TV industry's attitude is the same as the newspaper industry's attitude was circa 2002-2003: Stop calling us dinosaurs: We get digital; We're growing our digital businesses; We're … [Read more...] about No Way To Save The TV Business
Healthcare Reform With Rabbits and Hats
A scene from somewhere in my imaginary world: "Good news!" said Madge, my hypothetical business unit manager. "You're getting a raise!" "Really? That's great!" I hypothetically responded in the precise fashion that I always react when somebody tells me I'm getting some money. "Yep," she answered. "An extra two thousand per year. Just sign these forms and we'll get it … [Read more...] about Healthcare Reform With Rabbits and Hats
Senior Bush’s Wonderful Five Year Itch
What a way to celebrate one's 85th birthday!!! A jump from the plane...Up in the sky...And enjoying a wonderful bird's eye view. That's what former US President H.W. Bush did, and got an affectionate kiss from wife Barbara on safe landing. Also present on the scene was his son, former US president George W. Bush, who generally sought thrills of different kind!!! Bush … [Read more...] about Senior Bush’s Wonderful Five Year Itch
Russia Can Help Obama With Muslims: Izvestia, Russia
OBAMA: 'WHY DO THEY LOVE US?' BUSH: 'WHY DO THEY HATE US?' Could Russia turn out to be a source of great advice about how to deal with Muslims? Whether or not one agrees with Izvestia's Malor Stuorua, there are some good arguments to assume Moscow could, if properly motivated - help President Obama 'reach out' to the Muslim world with the experience the Kremlin has … [Read more...] about Russia Can Help Obama With Muslims: Izvestia, Russia
Goode Family And Double Standards
ABC has recently started showing the new animated series The Goode Family, brought to you by the same people who brought you King Of The Hill. Personally I find it quite entertaining, it's basically the same thing as King Of The Hill but instead of poking fun at the right it takes jabs at the left. What I find interesting in surfing the net is the reaction on the left. … [Read more...] about Goode Family And Double Standards
The Facebook Land Rush Is On
I got mine! From the beginning of Facebook, people have used their real names to share and connect with the people they know. This authenticity helps to create a trusted environment because you know the identity of the people and things on Facebook. The one place, though, where your identity wasn't reflected was in the Web address for your profile or the Facebook Pages you … [Read more...] about The Facebook Land Rush Is On
A Little Lesson In Humility
Given all our debates of late, a little lesson in humility as we examine the beauty and vastness of the Universe (to the wonderful music of Vangelis) … [Read more...] about A Little Lesson In Humility
The Republican Case for Gay Marriage
Stephen H. Miller points to Maura Flynn who makes The Republican Case for Gay Marriage at Big Hollywood: The Republican Party has made a huge mistake in advocating a kind of Cafeteria Constitutionalism. (I’ll take some guns, no helmet laws, please, a free market, and…yuck, hold the gay marriage!). One can’t legitimately invoke the Constitution to oppose federally mandated sex … [Read more...] about The Republican Case for Gay Marriage
More Reihan Salam Than You Can Handle
Reihan has a new blog at NRO called The Agenda. If you want to feel more educated, read Reihan's book, just out in soft-cover. Personally, I'll always think fondly of Reihan because he introduced me to Yes, Minister, the greatest political satire in history (and a better explanation of how bureaucracy works than any political science treatise I've read). Cross-posted at … [Read more...] about More Reihan Salam Than You Can Handle
Both Sides Claim Victory In Iran
BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY IN IRAN: Ahmadinejad and Mousavi both say they've won. What would a victory for either man mean for US-Iranian relations? Michael Singh has many good thoughts, including this one: It is vital to keep in mind that Iran’s presidential elections are not about the United States. As with elections everywhere, foreign policy will be only one element of … [Read more...] about Both Sides Claim Victory In Iran
Remember Iraq?
REMEMBER IRAQ? The excellent Kori Schake explains why we should be paying more attention to Iraq, even though a reduction in bloodshed has removed Iraq from the headlines. Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about Remember Iraq?
Fight The Smears!
Remember when "Fight the smears!" was the Obama campaign's rallying cry? It's a lesson Paul Krugman should learn. Krugman writes, "Whatever dividing line there was between mainstream conservatism and the black-helicopter crowd seems to have been virtually erased." The recent murders of an abortion provider and a Holocaust Museum guard supposedly prove his point. But that … [Read more...] about Fight The Smears!
AmeriCorps Controversy Brewing?
The Inspector General for AmeriCorps (the public/private cooperative venture for doing all sorts of community service jobs) has been fired for his conduct in investigating an Obama-connected politician. Is it a justifiable firing of an over-zealous investigator, a payback for political favors, or -- something I happened to run across that hasn't entered the storyline yet -- an … [Read more...] about AmeriCorps Controversy Brewing?
Cross-Fertilization of Hatred and Extremism
Paul Krugman's column today focuses on the growing overlap between mainstream conservative discourse and viewpoints that used to be considered far right fringe territory exclusively, in the context of that DHS report on right-wing extremist violence that caused such a ruckus a couple of months ago: … [Read more...] about Cross-Fertilization of Hatred and Extremism
A Little More Audacity, Mr. President
I had a Keith Olbermann WTF moment when I saw President Barack Obama on NBC shilling for that network's Conan O'Brien show and several nights later making a cameo appearance on the Colbert comedy program. The Man is omnipresent on every news medium on the planet. All right, Mr. President, we get it. Enough's enough. When liberal comic Bill Maher complains about Obama's … [Read more...] about A Little More Audacity, Mr. President
After Obama’s Visit, Germans Sense Waning Influence: Financial Times Deutschland
What has been the reaction in the German 'heartland' to Obama's visit - in particular his trip to Nazi death camp Buchenwald, his perceived 'chemistry' with Chancellor Angela Merkel and whether Germany should accept Guantanamo detainees? To find out, Germany's Financial Times Deutschland took an editorial sampling from 11 smaller, regional newspapers in that country - the … [Read more...] about After Obama’s Visit, Germans Sense Waning Influence: Financial Times Deutschland
Save Shep Smith Now
From Think Progress: ... conservative blogger Pamela Geller, who writes at Atlas Shrugs, titled a post, “Please Shepard Smith Out the Door!” She followed it up with a post saying, “Shepard Smith has got to go.” Geller’s call for Smith to be fired is beginning to get traction with some conservatives online. For those interested, let's ask Fox News to not only keep Shep … [Read more...] about Save Shep Smith Now
J. B. Priestley: “A Voice Of Our Times”
It is interesting how John Boynton Priestley (13 Sept 1894 – 14 Aug 1984) an English novelist, playwright and broadcaster, whose works I have admired/enjoyed, has become "a voice of our times". Writes Benedict Nightingale in The Times: "Whether Priestley was writing tragedies, comedies or a mix of both, he was scathing about hypocrisy, pomposity, callousness, selfishness, … [Read more...] about J. B. Priestley: “A Voice Of Our Times”
An Open Letter to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright
Dear Reverend, Please. Stop. I didn't hold Obama's long association with you against him, and I still don't. He was a congregant, yes, but so were so many in the community. Your church was a sort of community center. He was an active member of the community, and he was there. And you were important to him, an important figure in his life. Whether he agreed with you or not … [Read more...] about An Open Letter to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright
John Avlon’s “Wingnuts of the Week”: Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Pastor Wiley Drake
Centrist writer John Avlon has named the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Pastor Wiley Drake as his "Wingnuts of the Week" on his weekly CNN American Morning segment -- Wright for his comment about "them Jews" supposedly keeping Wright from talking to President Barack Obama and Drake for his repeated statement that he is praying for Obama's death. Avlon also notes that when … [Read more...] about John Avlon’s “Wingnuts of the Week”: Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Pastor Wiley Drake