On a somber day in April, 1957, I said goodbye to my parents and little sister as I boarded the KLM airplane at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport that would take me to the promised land, the United States of America, where I would realize my dream. I was only 17. I use these words, because I just read a heartrending article in the Dutch NRC Handelsblad that includes these … [Read more...] about Farmer Hans to U.S. Bankers: “Welcome to the Kill”
The Curious Case Of Citigroup Running For Cover
As sad as it is to say, it is impossible to gauge whether Citigroup Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit is cooking the books to save his job and his company. Or is the troubled gigantic financial institution really on a road to recovery. Pandit reported in a letter to employees Monday Citigroup had an operating profit of $8.3 billion before taxes and "special items" … [Read more...] about The Curious Case Of Citigroup Running For Cover
Unfecking Brooks and the Moderates
David Brooks has received mostly taunting for his trouble in writing a New York Times op-ed last week lamenting Obama's failure to govern from the center. Most of taunts have come from the right, deriding Brooks for failing to recognize earlier that Obama is a classic, dyed-in-the-wool, tax and spend, big government liberal. That taunting may be fair all told, but I think it … [Read more...] about Unfecking Brooks and the Moderates
Obama Education Reform Could Upset Unions, Democrats And Republicans
President Barack Obama's long promised education reform plans could set the stage for yet another bruising political battle since it contains things that unions, teachers, Democrats and Republicans could oppose: President Barack Obama embraced merit pay for teachers Tuesday in spelling out a vision of education that will almost certainly alienate union backers. A … [Read more...] about Obama Education Reform Could Upset Unions, Democrats And Republicans
Hillary Visits Middle East: Sky Still In Place (Guest Voice)
Hillary Visits Middle East; Sky Still In Place by Barry Rubin Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the Middle East and the sky didn’t cave in. Two very large groups spun the story to the contrary: the purveyors of the conventional wisdom on the region (that is, academics, media, and other opinion-makers) who were speaking out of wishful thinking that … [Read more...] about Hillary Visits Middle East: Sky Still In Place (Guest Voice)
Tobacco: Oh! What A Drag…
During my six-month stay in Adelaide (Australia) last year, I was struck by the fact that more women (as compared with men) smoke in public. While in the US more and more smokers are kicking this addiction. In India an increasing number of women are lighting up. Why? The typical response of all women: Tension! Men don't give a clear answer! (Last year, a WHO study revealed … [Read more...] about Tobacco: Oh! What A Drag…
Obama’s Bay of Pigs?
Today's suicide-bombing of an Iraq peace conference and the American commander's warning that we are "not winning" in Afghanistan are sobering reminders that the Obama troop withdrawal plan did not close the file on US misadventures in the Middle East. They underscore the final assessment of Thomas Ricks' new book, "The Gamble": "The quiet consensus emerging among many … [Read more...] about Obama’s Bay of Pigs?
Why Haven’t The Banks Been Nationalized?
Elrod postulated that the reason why the banks haven't been nationalized is because they believe the economy will recover. That could be, but I'm not entirely sure that's the case. The larger issue is the sheer size of losses. Here's an excerpt from Hussman Funds (h/t Mish) marked up by me: Make no mistake. Buying up “troubled assets” will not materially ease this crisis, … [Read more...] about Why Haven’t The Banks Been Nationalized?
A Quick Question on Card Check
It seems that the "Employee Free Choice Act" or Card Check will head to the floor for a vote in both chambers this week. Support in the Senate, however, seems to be wavering. At least six Senators who have voted to move forward with the so-called card-check proposal, including one Republican, now say they are opposed or not sure -- an indication that Senate Democratic … [Read more...] about A Quick Question on Card Check
Separation of Church and Health. A Modest Proposal.
Introductory question: What do foreign, oil producing nations, American farmers and trash collectors have in common with the Catholic Church? Hopefully we will be able to address that question here today. To begin with, we'll look at this article from the St. Louis Dispatch which addresses concerns that many Catholic run hospitals are threatening to shut down if the Obama … [Read more...] about Separation of Church and Health. A Modest Proposal.
Quote of the Day: John McCain Doesn’t Want Obama To Fail
Our political Quote of the Day must provide definitive proof that Sen. John McCain is a RINO -- at least from the standpoint of the GOP's WHHF ("We Hope He Fails") movement which includes some Republican politicians, talk show host Glen Beck and is lead by talk show and party powerhouse Rush Limbaugh: After a losing presidential campaign in 2000, John McCain came back to … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: John McCain Doesn’t Want Obama To Fail
Late Night Comics in the Age of Obama
David Letterman, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert spent most of the last eight years abusing the Bush administration with gusto. Given that the person in charge presents the largest target, this shouldn't come as any surprise. But when Barack Obama took office I fully expected that the gun-sights would swing around and take aim at the new boss, same as the old boss. Are the … [Read more...] about Late Night Comics in the Age of Obama
Revisionism
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Revisionism
Why Reforming Health Care Can Help Heal The Economy
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE The two biggest lies being told by opponents of President Obama's health-care reform plan is that it will be financed entirely on the backs of the rich and that the depths of a protracted recession is no time to go forward with such a bold and expensive initiative. If you believe, as I and a majority of Americans do, that health care is a … [Read more...] about Why Reforming Health Care Can Help Heal The Economy
Vince Lombardi, Old Warrior Coach
I'm an admirer of coach Vince Lombardi. How can you resist a coach who has the psychological insights of, say, Shakespeare? It could have been Bassinio who said: "Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence." But, it was Lombardi. It could have been Ariel from The Tempest who mysteriously whispered, 'If thou art not fired with enthusiasm, thou'll be fired with … [Read more...] about Vince Lombardi, Old Warrior Coach
Obama’s Stress Test
In the absence of an outrage du jour by the Bush Administration, the American Commentariat is now caught up in a more complex, elusive project--analyzing the nation's fall into future shock and Barack Obama's fitness to deal with it. Is the President on a speeding-up treadmill struggling not to fall behind, as Paul Krugman suggests today? "The problem with the budget," … [Read more...] about Obama’s Stress Test
Now It’s Newt Gingrich Versus Rush Limbaugh Versus Newt Gingrich
Let's face it the Rush Limbaugh Versus (you fill in the blank) story isn't just a story with "legs" -- but a story with as many legs as a centipede. First it was Rush against President Barack Obama. Then Obama's associates against Rush. Then RNC Chair Michael Steele against Rush and Rush against Steele. The latest is that the conservative icon with the big radio ratings … [Read more...] about Now It’s Newt Gingrich Versus Rush Limbaugh Versus Newt Gingrich
Gay “Lifestyle” Will Not Be Counted in Census
The 2010 Census will not count same-sex marriages or ask respondents about their sexual orientation: Census takers will ask same-sex couples who live together to define themselves as "unmarried partners," as they did in 2000 before some states - currently only Connecticut and Massachusetts - allowed gay marriage. "This is all about the numbers. This not about lifestyle or … [Read more...] about Gay “Lifestyle” Will Not Be Counted in Census
Obama’s Error On Recovery
Like many others across the political spectrum, I've been increasingly frustrated with the refusal of the Obama Administration and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to bite the bullet and nationalize the large, troubled banks at the core of our economic crisis. While the many arguments for and against nationalization have been hammered out many times over, I don't think any … [Read more...] about Obama’s Error On Recovery
Did You Know THIS About Stem Cell Research?
It turns out that scientists, Nancy Reagan, Orrin Hatch, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others who strongly support stem cell research are apparently full of this or short-sighted and not as deep a thinker as this guy. Why? Because all of America is apparently missing its real significance. The REAL meaning of President Barack Obama lifting Bush-era restrictions on stem cell … [Read more...] about Did You Know THIS About Stem Cell Research?