I'd like to complicate the way that we're talking about what is democratic and what's a coup. So far, one side has been saying that if the Honduran military gets rid of the president, it's bad, it's undemocratic and it's a coup. The other says that if the military is doing the right thing, it isn't a coup. Instead of seeing this as either/or, I'd prefer to think in terms … [Read more...] about Honduras: Can You Have A Democratic Coup?
What May Matter Most About Honduras, Truly… The USA’s Long Involvement There
When I was barely 23 in 1969, I drove the entire Pan-American Highway from the Rockies to the tip of Panama, then floated Jeep around the Darian Jungle to South America. One of those inspired dead-dangerous things young people do. I barely made it home alive. Especially while driving my battered Jeep through the jungles and mountains and lakelands of Guatemala, Honduras and El … [Read more...] about What May Matter Most About Honduras, Truly… The USA’s Long Involvement There
What So Many Liberals Don’t Understand About Adultery
On ABC, Paul Krugman effectively summed up what many liberals are saying about Sanford-gate: If a liberal sees somebody who talks about moral values and does something like this, and they call it hypocrisy. A conservative looks at it and says, well, but at least he stands up for moral values.As Krugman's tone of voice made very clear, his comment about conservatives was meant … [Read more...] about What So Many Liberals Don’t Understand About Adultery
Honduras: Qualifying the Four-Letter Word
The four-letter word in this case would be "coup." Kathy argues that, in Honduras, that's exactly what we're witnessing. But at least one of the day's commentators argues that not all coups are created equal, and distinguishing between them is perhaps more than an exercise in semantics: ... what is happening in Honduras may be an example of a coup that is not only legal, … [Read more...] about Honduras: Qualifying the Four-Letter Word
Monica Conyers Resigns After Accepting Bribes
From the "Keep On Keeping The Bad Bad Leadership Forever And Ever And A Day And Then Some With Sugar On Top Extra Onions and Anchovies" department, Detroit Councilwoman Monica Conyers, wife of Representative John Conyers, will resign July 6th after accepting cash to vote in favor of a Houston, Texas company getting a lucrative sludge treatment contract: Detroit (WWJ) -- … [Read more...] about Monica Conyers Resigns After Accepting Bribes
Jackson: The Tragic ‘Genetically Modified’ Icon of Globalization: Le Figaro, France
As in North America, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Oceania are united in at least one way: shock over the death of Michael Jackson. As part of our coverage of this cultural border-shattering event, we present this editorial by Sebastien Le Fol of France's Le Figaro newspaper, which investigates why Michael Jackson's demise has had the incredible impact … [Read more...] about Jackson: The Tragic ‘Genetically Modified’ Icon of Globalization: Le Figaro, France
White House Gay Reception Streamed Live Today
The White House blog notes the event will be streamed live at 4:25 EDT at WhiteHouse.gov/live. In the accompanying post, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Brian Bond writes: As a gay kid growing up in rural Missouri – I never thought I would end up helping to organize an LGBT Pride event in the White House. Then again, I never thought I would … [Read more...] about White House Gay Reception Streamed Live Today
Guest Voice, Eye Witness: Media Ganglia at Bernie Madoff Sentencing
Hi there, Dr. E. here. Writing and photographing under the name Michael M'Guire, a colleague in New York has sent me this exclusive photo of just a small part of today's NY courthouse-encampment-- in which we see early-muster photogs and reporters bristling with their silver and black weaponry. The red and white sign in the upper left field says, No Standing Anytime. And … [Read more...] about Guest Voice, Eye Witness: Media Ganglia at Bernie Madoff Sentencing
Myth & Legend Of Woodstock Lives On 40 Years Later
1969 was the year I began my career as a journalist with a leading Indian daily. That was also the year when a memorable event called The Woodstock Festival took place in a far-away rural town of Bethel, New York, and caught my fancy. As The Independent recalls: "Performers flying in on helicopters – a portentous sight in the Vietnam era – food and drinks spiked with LSD, … [Read more...] about Myth & Legend Of Woodstock Lives On 40 Years Later
Yes, It Is A Coup
There is quite a bit of Honduras coverage on Memeorandum right now. A roundup might be helpful in understanding what is happening there. … [Read more...] about Yes, It Is A Coup
California Two Days From Paying Bills With IOUs?
Barring a miracle -- I'd say a billion-to-one shot -- the California legislature will not pass a budget by its constitutional deadline at midnight tomorrow forcing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to pay bills by issuing IOU notes as he has vowed. The state's Democratic-dominated Assembly late Sunday passed a series of tax fees in an effort to balance the budget's $24 billion … [Read more...] about California Two Days From Paying Bills With IOUs?
If Sotomayor Sat On The Supreme Court Today
Assuming Judge Sotomayor had not been involved in the lower-court decision and thus would not have had to recuse herself from today's vote, the 5-4 split on the New Haven case would still have been a 5-4 split. Justice David Souter (whom Sotomayor would replace, if confirmed) voted with the other three dissenters: Ginsburg, Breyer, and Stevens. So remind me, why does … [Read more...] about If Sotomayor Sat On The Supreme Court Today
Madoff Receives 150 Years
The New York Times has just reported that a federal judge sentenced Bernard L. Madoff to 150 years in prison for operating a huge Ponzi scheme that devastated thousands of people, calling his crimes "extraordinarily evil." Apparently, Mr. Madoff finally expressed some regret before a courtroom packed with victims: I’m responsible for a great deal of suffering and pain, … [Read more...] about Madoff Receives 150 Years
Congress’ Insider Trading
Members of the House Financial Services Committee were wheeling and dealing in the stocks of banks they were about to bail out last fall, a revelation that may test Congress' rock-bottom approval ratings. Both Democrats and Republicans were scurrying to profit from cashing in or out, according to enterprising reporters from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who mined disclosure … [Read more...] about Congress’ Insider Trading
Madoff Gets 150 Year Sentence
NYTimes: A federal judge sentenced Bernard L. Madoff to 150 years in prison on Monday for operating a huge Ponzi scheme that devastated thousands of people, calling his crimes “extraordinarily evil.” In pronouncing the sentence — the maximum he could have handed down — Judge Denny Chin turned aside Mr. Madoff’s own assertions of remorse and rejected the suggestion from … [Read more...] about Madoff Gets 150 Year Sentence
New Haven Firefighters: The Divide Remains
As already noted by Joe Windish, the Supreme Court has overturned the decision of the 2nd Court of Appeals in the case where results of a promotion exam failed to produce advancement for a sufficient number of minority candidates. While the ruling itself will likely come as no surprise to many observers, the close, 5-4 margin tells me that we still have a looming divide in our … [Read more...] about New Haven Firefighters: The Divide Remains
Justices Rule for White Firefighters
As expected: The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of white Connecticut firefighters in a 5-4 ruling that reverses an appeals court finding by Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, the Associated Press report. The high court found that the firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that Sotomayor endorsed … [Read more...] about Justices Rule for White Firefighters
Note to Cass Sunstein: Animals Don’t Have “Rights”
President Obama's selection to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Cass Sunstein, is running into a stiff headwind regarding some previous writings on the subject of animals' rights. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) has blocked President Obama’s candidate for regulation czar, Harvard law professor Cass Sunstein, because Sunstein has argued that animals should … [Read more...] about Note to Cass Sunstein: Animals Don’t Have “Rights”
King David, Governor Sanford, and Republican Party Platforms—Not Necessarily in that Order
According to Wikipedia, a political party platform is “a list of the actions which a political party supports in order to appeal to the general public for the purpose of having said party's candidates voted into office…Individual topics are often called planks of the platform." During the past five national elections, Republican Party leaders, candidates and politicians have … [Read more...] about King David, Governor Sanford, and Republican Party Platforms—Not Necessarily in that Order
Press Sensations
Olle Johansson, Sweden This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Press Sensations