Since Rick Santelli and Virg Bernero have had their chance to rant - one from the right and one from the left - now it's my turn to rant. I'm angry. Our whole economy is and has been little short of an elaborate Ponzi scheme since the 1980s. We have generated very little "real wealth" in over 20 years, most of it based on increasingly deceptive financial instruments designed … [Read more...] about My Rant
A Choice, Not an Echo
It's not a big shock to anyone that the GOP is in the middle of an identity crisis. After straying from its fiscally conservative roots and losing two national elections in a row, there is a lot of talk about how the GOP should go forward. Some suggest "going back to our roots" which means a method that will please the so-called base. The other is to be willing to be more … [Read more...] about A Choice, Not an Echo
Canadian Cartoonists Look At Obama Trip To Canada
President Barack Obama has been in Canada to meet Canadian Prime Minister Harper. Here's some info on one of the more interesting exchanges. Also read THIS and THIS. Meanwhile, Canadian cartoonists are having lots fun. Here are three cartoons: Obama in Canada Aislin, The Montreal Gazette … [Read more...] about Canadian Cartoonists Look At Obama Trip To Canada
The Politicalization of Bipartisanship — Or, How I Snowed My Constituents
Republicans have redefined bipartisanship. At least it is different from the definition I learned as a political science major in college. As I recall it was politicians from opposing parties reaching a compromise to solve a hot issue. The classic example: Henry Clay. Agreeing with him or not on the slavery issue, historians once dubbed Clay "the great compromiser" and … [Read more...] about The Politicalization of Bipartisanship — Or, How I Snowed My Constituents
British Reality TV Personality to Die on Camera
Stranger than fiction: Ms. [Jade] Goody, who has two young sons, learned she had cervical cancer last August, on camera, as she appeared in the Indian version of “Big Brother.” The cancer has since spread to her liver, bowel and groin; on Friday, her doctors told her there was nothing more they could do. And then she told the British public. “I’ve lived my whole adult life … [Read more...] about British Reality TV Personality to Die on Camera
Obama’s War on Terror
Not so different from Bush's? Analysis from the NYT and John McCormack. Cross-posted at Conventional Folly … [Read more...] about Obama’s War on Terror
Bailouts, Class And Social Acrimony
This is making its way around the Internets today. A couple of comments. First, I can't exactly disagree with anything he says. Well I mean I disagree with the gross generalizations as most people facing foreclosure don't exactly live in mansions, but his overall indictment of establishment logic is something I can get behind. That said, I find the video completely … [Read more...] about Bailouts, Class And Social Acrimony
Holder Speaks Out Against American Cowardice on Race
Attorney General Eric Holder, yesterday: Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial, we have always been, and we, I believe, continue to be, in too many ways, a nation of cowards. In predictable fashion, the right-wing likes of Michelle Malkin are turning this around and spewing their venom at Obama, among others, while … [Read more...] about Holder Speaks Out Against American Cowardice on Race
Egypt Releases Ayman Nour
Mr. Nour is the country's most prominent democracy advocate. He was imprisoned in 2005. NYT: Mr. Nour’s imprisonment ended Egypt’s brief experiment with allowing opposition politics to flourish. His Al Gahd Party had become the only legal opposition with a growing, anti-establishment following. In 2005 Mr. Nour garnered 600,000 votes in his bid for the presidency, placing a … [Read more...] about Egypt Releases Ayman Nour
Venezuela Votes to Entrench Hugo Chavez’s Tyranny
Over the weekend, as you might have heard, Venezuelans voted to lift the constitutional term-limit restriction on elected officials, thereby allowing Tyrant Chavez to run for re-election and essentially to remain in power as long as he wants. It was a huge victory for Chavez, who in December of 2007 lost a previous referendum on this and other constitutional reforms. As I … [Read more...] about Venezuela Votes to Entrench Hugo Chavez’s Tyranny
Next Stop: Arnold’s Desk
Sacramento Bee: Budget plan goes to Schwarzenegger after Legislature's OK The deal is done. — The California Legislature voted early today to approve a massive budget package of tax increases, spending cuts and borrowing to close a $40 billion deficit after granting major concessions to one holdout Republican senator. … [Read more...] about Next Stop: Arnold’s Desk
Can The Republican Party Use “Hip Hop” Marketing To Gain More Votes?
It is an innovative idea: the Republican National Committee's new Chairman Michael S. Steele wants to launch an “off the hook” public relations campaign to get younger voters -- African-American and Hispanic voters, in particular - -by framing the party's principles to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings.” Can it work? After all: people and organizations can adapt. What will … [Read more...] about Can The Republican Party Use “Hip Hop” Marketing To Gain More Votes?
More Charges Hurled in NY 20 Congressional Race
The Albany Times Union throws down the gauntlet for Republican Assemblyman Jim Tedisco this week, asking why he won't take a stand on the massive stimulus package. That Mr. Tedisco would suggest that his position on what just might be the most contentious issue in Washington is a "hypothetical question" raises serious questions about his qualifications to serve in Congress. … [Read more...] about More Charges Hurled in NY 20 Congressional Race
Kill “Qwerty”! (Guest Voice)
FOR GOD’S SAKE, THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY – LET’S GET RID OF “QWERTY”!! by Marc Pascal Why do computers still have keyboards? They represent a quaint vestige of their predecessor typewriters that were invented 130 years ago. The “qwerty” keyboard was patented by Christopher Latham Sholes under U.S. Patent #207,559 issued on August 27, 1878. The original patent did not … [Read more...] about Kill “Qwerty”! (Guest Voice)
Another Entrant in 2010 Dem Race for US Senate in Ohio?
Senate Guru is reporting: Ohio: Despite both Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher entering the 2010 Democratic Senate primary this week, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones is reportedly moving forward with a Senate campaign exploratory committee. It will be interesting to hear how he expects to get traction against two … [Read more...] about Another Entrant in 2010 Dem Race for US Senate in Ohio?
Competent Professionals Reappear At Last
President Obama presented a plan to aid the housing market yesterday. It had some good points and some drawbacks. It will give money to some people who don't deserve it and leave a lot of people who do deserve help still out in the cold. It was imperfect in a number of important respects. And yet... For the first time since the financial crisis began to make itself felt … [Read more...] about Competent Professionals Reappear At Last
On Beer and the (Dutch) Economy
Yesterday, I posted a piece on why I feared that the Netherlands' economy is also beginning to be seriously affected by the global financial/economic crisis. Lo and behold, this morning my worst fears seemed to be totally confirmed. A news article in the Dutch NRC Handelsblad carries the dreadful headline: "Heineken reports 87 pct fall in full year profit." You have … [Read more...] about On Beer and the (Dutch) Economy
Save the GOP: Candidates with Large, Diverse, Urban Constituencies
For those who hope for the return of a robust, viable, inclusive GOP -- a revitalized party that can more effectively counter today's Democratic Party -- take note of this story at Politico on the competing GOP factions represented by Florida Gov. Crist and South Carolina Gov. Sanford. The latter is old school; the former, more contemporary, more forward-looking. The … [Read more...] about Save the GOP: Candidates with Large, Diverse, Urban Constituencies
Culture War Continues in Georgia & Utah
Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a> Anyone who thought the culture wars had moved to the backburner -- Roll Call, is that you? -- should take a look at what's going on in the states. You will remember that a couple weeks ago I posted about Georgia legislators teaming up with the Christian Right to end Queer … [Read more...] about Culture War Continues in Georgia & Utah
My Unsolicited Advice for Walden Media and Fox for the ‘Dawn Treader’ Film
Last night, with our daughter visiting from Florida, we decided to watch a 2008 film that she hadn't yet seen: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. I love the Narnia novels and loved the Walden-Disney film based on the first in the series, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I wrote an enthusiastic review of the first film. But, on the … [Read more...] about My Unsolicited Advice for Walden Media and Fox for the ‘Dawn Treader’ Film