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
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?