The heart sinks at the ongoing struggle of a President who exalts American decency trying to maintain it in fighting enemies imbued with the holiness of a cause that sanctions any and all abuses of human beings. The inner conflict is crystallized in his decision yesterday to resist court-ordered release of photographs showing alleged torture of Mideast detainees following a … [Read more...] about Staying Clean in a Dirty War
The Blago Effect
Yes, the shamed former Governor of Illinois is still rippling the political fabric, including in his state's neighbor to the West: Missouri. ... a bill sponsored by [Missouri State] Rep. Jason Smith, a Republican from Salem, would require special elections to fill mid-term openings in statewide offices, including U.S. Senator. The bill was approved earlier by the House, … [Read more...] about The Blago Effect
Myanmar: Brute Force Vs A Brave Burmese Lady
An ailing 63-year-old Nobel laureate, who happens to be the most popular leader of Myanmar (Burma), is being further traumatized by the brute military junta that has locked her up in her house for most of the past two decades. The Burmese democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, faces as long as five years in the country’s most notorious jail after new charges were brought … [Read more...] about Myanmar: Brute Force Vs A Brave Burmese Lady
If Only Our President Would Have Dinner with Reporters: El Universo, Ecuador
People in the United States often don't realize the significance of events like the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was held just days ago. But for people in other parts of the world, particularly journalists where press freedom of any kind is still a distant dream, such an event is hard to imagine. In this article from Ecuador's El Universo, Manuel Ignacio … [Read more...] about If Only Our President Would Have Dinner with Reporters: El Universo, Ecuador
President Speaks at ASU Graduation
May 13, 2009, Wed., 8:30 PM: NEWS ITEM FROM PHOENIX/TEMPE, ARIZONA: President Obama Gives Stirring Graduation Address at ASU and Jokes about Honorary Degrees after most of the country in the first 3 time zones had already gone to bed. President Obama gave his first commencement address as U.S. President at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ at an outdoor early evening … [Read more...] about President Speaks at ASU Graduation
Are We All Done Now with Left and Right?: Nachrichten of Switzerland
Now that we're all tied up into ideological pretzels, is it time once and for all, to reconsider the labels 'left' and 'right'? That's the question addressed in this article by Patrik Etschmayer, columnist for the Swiss newspaper Nachrichten. Etschmayer writes in part: "More than ever, the Left condemns the market economy, demands an end to globalization and the … [Read more...] about Are We All Done Now with Left and Right?: Nachrichten of Switzerland
Millennials Have Liberals Counting Chickens Before They’ve Hatched
The headline in The Chronicle, Millennial Generation Will End Culture Wars, Researchers Say. The story is on two new reports released today by the liberal Center for American Progress: “The story throughout this survey is one of conservative decline and progressive ascendancy among young people,” says the first report, “The Political Ideology of the Millennial Generation,” … [Read more...] about Millennials Have Liberals Counting Chickens Before They’ve Hatched
Reid: Not Enough Votes to Stop GOP Filibuster on Johnsen
Maybe I'm missing something, but I have not noticed either the President or the Senate Majority Leader exerting themselves too vigorously on behalf of Dawn Johnsen, who, according to Roll Call, is about to be cut loose by Reid, who is thinking that he needs to "ease a backlog of executive branch nominations." This one isn't going anywhere, move on. I'm certainly no expert on … [Read more...] about Reid: Not Enough Votes to Stop GOP Filibuster on Johnsen
Arab Leaders Prefer to ‘Listen to Obama’s Fables’: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
'NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT': Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman is seen chasing an Arab child. With President Obama slated to give his much-awaited 'speech to the Arab world' in Cairo on June 4, it seems Arabs are afraid to hope for too much. There may be, compared to President Bush, wide Muslim support for Obama, but there is far less confidence - even now - that he will … [Read more...] about Arab Leaders Prefer to ‘Listen to Obama’s Fables’: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
Abusive-Treatment Photos: Main Street Wisdom
Andrew Sullivan has been relentless today on Obama's decision to "oppose the release of several dozen photos depicting abuse of detainees held in U.S. military custody abroad." He's not the only one (h/t RCP's "Best of the Blogs") -- but Sullivan is one of the few such critics who (consistent with his past practice on other issues) is willing to grant prime real estate to … [Read more...] about Abusive-Treatment Photos: Main Street Wisdom
Demjanjuk and Sobibor
Demjanjuk and Sobibor. Two names that are emerging out of some relative obscurity. Two names that may share a common, very dark and odious past. Bloomberg.com has just reported that suspected Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk is “fit enough” to stay in jail in Germany. The 89-year-old Demjanjuk, after a long court battle, was finally deported from the U.S. to … [Read more...] about Demjanjuk and Sobibor
Rare Disease Honors
At a time when health care in these United States is once again the subject of heated debate, we thought it might be a good time to pause for a moment and consider some of those who are making a positive difference in the health of millions of Americans; specifically, in this case, the individuals and companies listed below the fold, who will be honored by the National … [Read more...] about Rare Disease Honors
The Circuitous Game Of Card Check
Earnings of America's blue collar working class has lost ground in recent years because of a variety of factors, one of which is the decline of organized labor as the nation shifts from a manufacturing to a service-oriented economy. To reverse this trend, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, labor leaders and a Democratic-controlled Congress are pushing for … [Read more...] about The Circuitous Game Of Card Check
Don’t Trust the Stock Market Rallies
The recent stock market rallies around the world hold peril because they are encouraging governments, especially in Europe, China and India, into thinking that the worst is over and reforms are less urgent. The toxic assets of major global banks are far from being on the path to purification, mostly because of policy confusion. This is despite the nearly 3 trillion … [Read more...] about Don’t Trust the Stock Market Rallies
‘A Nicety We Could Not Afford’
Thus Sen. Lindsey Graham describes the Bush administration's attitude toward the law and "enhanced interrogation techniques." Eric Zimmermann has the scoop. (Note: I would have plugged this into my just-published post on torture, but ultimately decided Graham's soundbite deserved its own spotlight.) … [Read more...] about ‘A Nicety We Could Not Afford’
Waterboarding v. Truth Serum
“This is the destiny of democracy, as not all means are acceptable to it, and not all practices employed by its enemies are open before it. Although a democracy must often fight with one hand tied behind its back, it nonetheless has the upper hand.” – Supreme Court of Israel, 1999 --------------------- Torture. It was a prominent topic in yesterday’s news -- with … [Read more...] about Waterboarding v. Truth Serum
Dick Cheney / Rush Limbaugh
Taylor Jones, Politicalcartoons.com The above cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney / Rush Limbaugh
Colbert Singing to the Choir
A recent study looked at liberal and conservative reactions to Stephen Colbert's satire. Heather LeMarre, one of the study's authors, was a guest on On The Media Friday. She explains that both liberals and conservatives actually think Colbert shares their political beliefs: You might watch that and you might think that’s hilarious, he’s making fun of conservatives, look how … [Read more...] about Colbert Singing to the Choir
Healthcare Crisis: Step 2 Let People Unite
Yesterday I proposed a multi-baby-step process to resolve the healthcare crisis. Step 1, in yesterday’s post, is to get the State governments out of the mix thus reducing layers of regulation, oligopolies by the large insurers who can afford these regulations and thus allowing smaller innovative players to get into the mix and create both options and lower costs. … [Read more...] about Healthcare Crisis: Step 2 Let People Unite
GOP’s Get Out Of Jail Free Card: Charlie Crist (Guest Voice)
GOP's Get Out Of Jail Free Card: Charlie Crist by Dalitso Njolinjo Let me say from the start that Charlie Crist will be a problem for the Democratic Party. Team Obama and Governor/ Chairman Kaine have taken great steps to paint the face Republican Party to resemble individuals such as Rush Limbaugh, George Bush and Dick Chaney but Charlie Crist does not fit snugly into … [Read more...] about GOP’s Get Out Of Jail Free Card: Charlie Crist (Guest Voice)