The 21st century news media loves a controversy, particularly when an issue or event can be set up as a point/counterpoint type happening -- someone on the right faces off against someone on the left...the words fly...the charges are hurled..partisans on each side diss the opposite side while they effusively praise and conduct CYA for their own side. Tomorrow, the media … [Read more...] about Media “Point Counterpoint” Culture Reaches Height With “Dueling” Thursday Obama Cheney Speeches
For an Obama on the Make, Egypt is the Wise Choice: Kuwait Times, Kuwait
Well the competition is over: Barack Obama has chosen which Muslim capital to deliver his long-awaited speech to the Islamic world. So in choosing Cairo, has he made the right choice? According to Meshary Alruwaih of the Kuwait Times, for a Western leader looking to woo Muslims, Egypt is a superb place to start. For the Kuwait Times, Alruwaih writes in part: "The … [Read more...] about For an Obama on the Make, Egypt is the Wise Choice: Kuwait Times, Kuwait
The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Not Having Anything to Fear
For Democrats in Congress, however, that does not appear likely to happen anytime soon: … [Read more...] about The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Not Having Anything to Fear
The New York Times Must Be Saved – and With It … Air Travel: Folha, Brazil
How vital is the survival of America's leading newspapers, such as The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal? In the seismic transformation of the media all of us are living through, the very fate of modern journalism seems to some - to hang in the balance. According to Fernando Canzian of Brazil's Folha newspaper, blogs and forums are no substitute for enterprises like … [Read more...] about The New York Times Must Be Saved – and With It … Air Travel: Folha, Brazil
California Dreaming
We've heard this before. General Motors, AIG and Citigroup are too big to fail. But, what about California, the most populous state in America? It is on the brink of insolvency. Less than 15% of the state's registered voters Tuesday trashed five state special election ballot measures the legislature proposed in a first step of reforming the ever-increasing deficit now … [Read more...] about California Dreaming
Coming or Going? GPS in Trouble
As Americans struggle metaphorically with where the country is heading comes news of an imminent loss of our literal sense of direction. A GAO report on the $2 billion Air Force modernization of global position satellites warns that the system is at risk of failing as early as next year: "If the Air Force does not meet its schedule goals for development of GPS IIIA … [Read more...] about Coming or Going? GPS in Trouble
Show Me The Money
Sure, the marketplace is swayed a great deal by psychology. And all the recent golly talk about recovery, green shoots, glimmers, turnarounds, no longer falling off a cliff, et. al. have made many people a bit more optimistic, while turning some investors positively glassy-eyed and slack jawed with glee. But when push comes to shove, there's only one that that brings an economy … [Read more...] about Show Me The Money
Senate Nixes Obama’s Request For Gitmo Closure Funds
In an increasingly rare show of bipartisanship, the Senate scuttled President Barack Obama's request for money that would have helped shut down Gitmo: The Senate on Wednesday handed President Obama a major setback by denying him money to shut down the Guantanamo prison and block the transfer of detainees to the United States. The sweeping 90-6 vote matches steps taken … [Read more...] about Senate Nixes Obama’s Request For Gitmo Closure Funds
The Threat From Iran
Real or overblown? … [Read more...] about The Threat From Iran
Obama’s Ball and Chain
That would be Nancy “Ball” Pelosi and Harry “Chain” Reid. After Pelosi’s stammering press conference about what she knew (or not) and when re: waterboarding ... we get this from Reid. REID: I’m saying that the United States Senate, Democrats and Republicans, do not want terrorists to be released in the United States. That’s very clear. QUESTION: No one’s talking … [Read more...] about Obama’s Ball and Chain
Quote Of The Day: Powell Tells Cheney & Limbaugh There’s Room For Him In “Emerging” Republican Party
Our political Quote of the Day comes from former Bush administration Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has an answer to former Vice President Dick Cheney and talk show host Rush Limbaugh who basically said there's no room for his kind of moderate Republican in the GOP and that he should take a hike, if he hasn't already done so: Before some 1,500 business leaders in … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Powell Tells Cheney & Limbaugh There’s Room For Him In “Emerging” Republican Party
This Day and Age
From today's NYT: [New York's] Roman Catholic bishops have been somewhat distracted, too, having focused their lobbying energies this session on defeating a bill that would extend the statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse to bring civil claims, and have appeared unprepared for the battle over marriage. H/t Patrick Appel. … [Read more...] about This Day and Age
Magic & Mystery Of Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Was Shakespeare better known for his plays or his sonnets? Well we can go on arguing about that. The Independent carries a piece by Boyd Tonkin who introduces his selection of sonnets, while fans nominate their favourites to mark the 400th anniversary. "In 1609, the publisher Thomas Thorpe issued Shakespeare's 154 sonnets in a handy quarto-sized edition, with a mysterious … [Read more...] about Magic & Mystery Of Shakespeare’s Sonnets
UPDATE: House Severs Guns in Parks from Credit Cards; Must Pass Separately to Move On
Huffington Post reported last night that the U.S. House Rules Committee separated what I call the Sunday in the Park with Guns amendment, which got tacked on via a Senate amendment put forth by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and was approved there, from the credit card reform bill. You can read the bill here and see that Sec. 512 is the Coburn amendment. You can also read here the … [Read more...] about UPDATE: House Severs Guns in Parks from Credit Cards; Must Pass Separately to Move On
Turning Point For U.S.-Israeli Relations?
No matter what course it takes, it's clear that the U.S. -Israeli relations are at a turning point -- with yet another factor added just today with news that Iran has announced a new surface-to-surface missile test -- a missile that can reach Israel. RealClearWorld's Associate Editor Gregory Scoblete writes: Typically a meeting between an Israeli Prime Minister and an … [Read more...] about Turning Point For U.S.-Israeli Relations?
Retro Quote of the Day
"Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite." -- John Kenneth Galbraith … [Read more...] about Retro Quote of the Day
The Cheney Doctrine (Guest Voice)
The Cheney Doctrine by Will Durst I’m sick of torture. And the fact that we’re one of the countries way up there on the J.D. Powers annual “torture reliability” list makes me unwell as well. As does talking AROUND torture. What this country needs is an up-front national referendum on whether we should or shouldn’t be torturing people. Oh wait. That’s right, we did … [Read more...] about The Cheney Doctrine (Guest Voice)
What Makes U.S. Great
Here’s the self esteem boost our country needs. Read this week's cartoon and be proud, America! (Click the cartoon for a full size image.) For more, visit Tom Briscoe's Small World cartoons. … [Read more...] about What Makes U.S. Great
Not Only Should Obama Not Send Flowers for the Confederate Monument at Arlington…
The thing ought to be dismantled. … [Read more...] about Not Only Should Obama Not Send Flowers for the Confederate Monument at Arlington…
California Voters Reject Ballot Measures
In a not very surprising move the voters in California appear to have rejected a series of ballot measures intended to help cure the recent budget crisis. This means that the legislature and the Governator will have to figure out a way to work through about $ 20-40 billion in deficits through some other method. As I previously discussed, this was basically a choice between … [Read more...] about California Voters Reject Ballot Measures