I've been meaning to write this post the last couple of weeks but couldn't figure out an angle. The basic premise is that I agree with Obama's economic vision nearly 100% ideologically, but am increasingly believing that it cannot be implemented due to sins from our past. This post isn't just an explanation, but also a question: what do you do when you agree with the basic … [Read more...] about Ideas Whose Time Have Come…Too Late
Hillary Clinton: USA’s Pakistan Policy “Incoherent”
Who is responsible for the mess in Pakistan? Secretary of State Hillary Clinton trashed USA's policy towards Pakistan over the last 30 years calling it “incoherent”, reports The Hindu. "She also acknowledged the U.S. shared the blame for the current mess in Pakistan." More here... The world had known this fact for decades, except perhaps the mandarins in Washington. Now the … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton: USA’s Pakistan Policy “Incoherent”
Yoga Guru Pattabhi Jois Passes Away
Indian yoga guru Krishna Pattabhi Jois, pictured above aged 90 instructing a female student, passed away Wednesday. Jois, 93, brought the physically challenging form of yoga to the west, and counted among his followers Madonna, who included the traditional ashtanga chant on her Ray of Light album, and the actor Gwyneth Paltrow, reports The Guardian. "Ashtanga practitioners … [Read more...] about Yoga Guru Pattabhi Jois Passes Away
Pew Poll: Independent Voter Identification And Centrism Are Surging
A new Pew Research Center polls find that more than ever the true battleground for elections is going to be over which party can win over independent voters -- since independent voter identification and centrism are surging: Centrism has emerged as a dominant factor in public opinion as the Obama era begins. The political values and core attitudes that the Pew Research … [Read more...] about Pew Poll: Independent Voter Identification And Centrism Are Surging
Dick Cheney’s Poll Numbers Are Going Up
Former Vice President Dick Cheney may still not be Mr. Popularity when it comes to national poll numbers, but he has some good news today: on a day when the media will cover a speech on national security by President Barack Obama and then a speech by Cheney on the same subject, his poll numbers are going up: As Dick Cheney prepares to give a major speech on the battle … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney’s Poll Numbers Are Going Up
Terminating the Terminator (Guest Voice)
Editor's Note: After the massive defeat of his budget proposals at the polls Tuesday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he got the voters' message loud and clear -- as the state now careens into yet a new stage of crisis and expected draconian service cuts and layoffs. Conservatives see several losers in this vote. Talk show host Michael Reagan offers this … [Read more...] about Terminating the Terminator (Guest Voice)
Credit Card Sharks
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Credit Card Sharks
Vampire Banks: Thriving on Death and Taxes
Banks getting taxpayer bailouts are also cashing in on the demise of people who work for them or once did. The Wall Street Journal has a tutorial explaining how banks are holding $122.3 billion in life insurance on workers and retirees with themselves as beneficiaries in order to escape taxes, inflate their earnings and to fund bonuses and pension benefits: "Though not … [Read more...] about Vampire Banks: Thriving on Death and Taxes
Germany Must Accept U.S. Request on Guantanamo Prisoners: Die Zeit, Germany
The controversy in Europe over whether to accept detainees from Guantanamo has just been raised a few notches, after the Obama Administration formally asked Germany to accept nine Uyghur men who were wrongfully arrested, held and reportedly tortured at the base - and who if returned to China, would likely go through the same thing all over again - and worse. In this second … [Read more...] about Germany Must Accept U.S. Request on Guantanamo Prisoners: Die Zeit, Germany
Germany Must Refuse U.S. on Guantanamo Prisoners: Die Zeit, Germany
The controversy in Europe over whether to accept detainees from Guantanamo has just been raised a few notches, after the Obama Administration formally asked Germany to accept nine Uyghur men who were wrongfully arrested, held and reportedly tortured at the base - and who if returned to China, would likely go through the same thing all over again - and worse. In this first of … [Read more...] about Germany Must Refuse U.S. on Guantanamo Prisoners: Die Zeit, Germany
Justice Wood ?
Speculation is growing that the next Justice of the US Supreme Court will be Judge Diane Wood of the 7th Circuit Court Of Appeals. From the Washington Post President Obama is intensifying his search for a Supreme Court nominee and has interviewed Judge Diane P. Wood of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago, believed to be among a handful of top … [Read more...] about Justice Wood ?
Media “Point Counterpoint” Culture Reaches Height With “Dueling” Thursday Obama Cheney Speeches
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