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
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
Pork and Chimps
I have a solution for the public uproar over yesterday's cartoon in the New York Post. Next time, increase the amount of pork spending in the Department of Education's fiscal budget to help chimps write better stimulus bills. But seriously, the only fault I find with the whole scenario is how fast Al Sharpton picked up his flute to fulfill his role as the "pied piper of … [Read more...] about Pork and Chimps
What’s Good And Bad About Obama’s Housing Plan
So now President Obama has presented his housing plans -- and you have to sift through the usual perspectives on the left and right which are often (but these days not always) as predictable as tuning in and listening to the reactions of right wing talker Rush Limbaugh or left wing talker Randi Rhodes. What's a concerned citizen TO DO? For one thing, read this primer from … [Read more...] about What’s Good And Bad About Obama’s Housing Plan
This Just In: Liberals Can’t Lead Because Americans Believe In Republican Values
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE At the core of the tiresome argument over whether Americans are center-right or center-left that is currently raging following the passage of President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package is the belief of conservative pundits that the liberal-left is incapable of leading because Americans are deeply traditional and therefore only … [Read more...] about This Just In: Liberals Can’t Lead Because Americans Believe In Republican Values
California Budget Deal?
UPDATE #1: It is now nearly time for the vote and word is that the Democrats have issues with the proposed open primary ballot measure. They reportedly worry it could cut into their power base since more moderates could shift power away from the liberal leadership Probably no vote right now but it could go all night. I will post if I hear news, or trust my fellow bloggers to … [Read more...] about California Budget Deal?
Some California Republicans Just Don’t Get It
For some time now I have been debating whether I am a Moderate Independent Leaning Republican or a Moderate Republican Leading Independent. The latest battle over the budget here in California has led me to question the subject again as the hard core conservatives within the GOP have held the state hostage to their own agendas. About the only thing that keeps me from jumping is … [Read more...] about Some California Republicans Just Don’t Get It
Minnesota Secretary of State Proposes Voting Reforms
New York Post’s Chimp Cartoon: Racist Or Politically Motivated PC Firestorm?
The latest political firestorm of the day in a country that increasingly craves, wants, desires, and thirsts for angry firestorms and controversy centers on a cartoon that ran in the New York Post. Is it racist, does it use a shocking story in the news as a take off point or does it use a story to make a point that wasn't sufficiently thought through? We post -- you … [Read more...] about New York Post’s Chimp Cartoon: Racist Or Politically Motivated PC Firestorm?
North Dakota to Take a Run at Roe?
It's certainly looking like they might, since their House of Representatives has now passed a bill which is obviously designed to do just that. The House voted 51-41 this afternoon to declare that a fertilized egg has all the rights of any person. That means a fetus could not be legally aborted without the procedure being considered murder. Our friend Ed Morrissey of … [Read more...] about North Dakota to Take a Run at Roe?
Time for a Global Stimulus Plan?
First, a disclaimer: I am not an economist. But I can sure complain about the economy. We are all too well aware that the U.S. is not the only country facing an economic crisis, an economic meltdown some say. It is truly a global crisis. But I was still very surprised to read this morning in the Dutch NRC Handelsblad: A perfect storm is bearing down on the Dutch … [Read more...] about Time for a Global Stimulus Plan?
Presidents: Ranking the Rank and the Righteous
After that C-SPAN poll of presidential historians came out I had my doubts about the entire process. Presidencies are not like hockey scores where you can stack them up on a point spread basis. But I give it some time to sink in and have now come up with a final verdict on the project which you can read in my latest column at Pajamas Media today. In this episode, we'll … [Read more...] about Presidents: Ranking the Rank and the Righteous
Roland Burris Must Resign
With investigations underway in Illinois, an ethics probe launched in the Senate, and more and more evidence that he's a lying, corrupt scoundrel, it is indeed time for Roland Burris to resign. The Washington Post From the moment that Mr. Burris was selected, he strove to portray himself as a blameless public servant. The sad pictures of Mr. Burris being cast out into the … [Read more...] about Roland Burris Must Resign
A Veterinarian Shortage Puts Nation at Risk?
This report from the Government Accountability Office says it does. Steve Kolowich: The country’s 28 veterinary colleges combine to graduate 2,500 new professionals each year, the report says, but that limited corps of veterinarians is failing to meet the nationwide demand for animal-health specialists, especially those who “care for animals raised for food, serve in rural … [Read more...] about A Veterinarian Shortage Puts Nation at Risk?
Home-Owning as a Ponzi Scheme
As the Obama Administration unveils its $75 billion plan today to prevent foreclosures, an urban theorist argues that a nation of renters would be better for America's future. In the Atlantic, Richard Florida takes on the sanctity of home ownership by calling decades of housing growth in the Sun Belt and elsewhere a Ponzi scheme: "To an uncommon degree, the economic boom … [Read more...] about Home-Owning as a Ponzi Scheme
The Murphy and Tedisco Campaigns Take to the Air
The special election race in New York's 20th Congressional District is heating up, with both campaigns releasing their first media ad buys in what is shaping up to be a well funded, hotly contested fight. The media spots come out just as more news breaks where the candidates are taking some serious swings at each other. Opponents of Republican State Assemblyman Jim Tedisco are … [Read more...] about The Murphy and Tedisco Campaigns Take to the Air