One of our favorite journalists -- print or newspapers -- is CBS's Bob Schieffer. Vice President Joe Biden gave Schieffer (the epitome of the centrist journalist who tries to play it straight down the middle) his first interview as Vice President. This is already a shift: Vice President Dick Cheney seemed to most enjoy being interviewed by Fox News and by Sean Hannity (who is … [Read more...] about Joe Biden On The Economic “Mess” Obama Is Inheriting
Obama and the Economy
Jianping Fan, Guangzhou, China This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed for use on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama and the Economy
A Case To Revisit Buying Toxic Assets
If you ask a thousand economists how to solve the banking crisis, you'll probably receive 999 different solutions. One of the earliest endeavors announced by former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson was buying up all the bank system's toxic assets. After several weeks of pushing his $750 billion financial sector bailout he nixed the idea, deeming it a can of worms. Unraveling … [Read more...] about A Case To Revisit Buying Toxic Assets
A Very Belated Ethics Question
The New York Times (Sunday) Magazine has as one of its regular columns “The Ethicist,” where readers can pose questions as to whether something they, or others, have done or said is ethical---or not. I have had a question nagging me for about 50 years now, but the issue is too nuanced, too long and too dated (the statute of limitations has hopefully expired on this one) for … [Read more...] about A Very Belated Ethics Question
We’re In Trying Times…
...but at least we don't have goats robbing people at gunpoint. … [Read more...] about We’re In Trying Times…
Obama’s Words of Hope and Disappointment: El Mundo of Colombia
However much better than George W. Bush Barack Obama may be, there are many on the Latin American left that have yet to be sold on the idea that President Obama is anything more than a palatable new face for the same old bad 'Empire'. They don't exactly reject Obama - but their views are expressed with the tinge of a sinking feeling. One recent example of this narrative is … [Read more...] about Obama’s Words of Hope and Disappointment: El Mundo of Colombia
Why The Stimulus Plan Isn’t
I have such conflicting thoughts on the stimulus plan I have no idea how to characterize them. The Republicans are so right, and completely wrong. The Democrats are feckless as usual. President Obama comes out by far the best, but is being disingenuous in his marketing and is thus open to very valid criticisms. I really hope he changes his pitch or otherwise a very good program … [Read more...] about Why The Stimulus Plan Isn’t
On Alexandra Pelosi’s Film & Ted Haggard’s Closet
A new documentary -- and new revelations triggered by it -- have Ted Haggard in the news again. The HBO film by Alexandra Pelosi, The Trials of Ted Haggard, premieres Thursday. The revelation it unintentionally triggered is that Haggard had a previously undisclosed "consensual sexual relationship" with a twenty-something male volunteer that "went on for a long period of time … [Read more...] about On Alexandra Pelosi’s Film & Ted Haggard’s Closet
Oh Boy, Here We Go Again
Every so often it seems that temperate blogs come down with an acute case of hand wringing over what "partisanship" is, whether it's good or bad, and which people are guilty of doing it more, or if it's equal. This is often a flareup of the chronic What is a Centrist/Moderate Syndrome and the dreaded Civility vs. Decency Debate. It drives me up the wall. This post is a bit … [Read more...] about Oh Boy, Here We Go Again
Is Bipartisanship Evaporating On Obama’s Economy Stimulus Plan?
Is bipartisanship evaporating on President Barack Obama's stimulus plan -- where each side, after talking about the lofty and elusive goal of national unity, reverting to the dominant position of the past two decades: where each party digs in its heels? What is unfolding now could ultimately be part of the process where party leaders forcefully air their preferences and, in … [Read more...] about Is Bipartisanship Evaporating On Obama’s Economy Stimulus Plan?
The Right Job for Caroline Kennedy
Writing about her withdrawal from seeking Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, I committed a journalistic sin--burying the lead. The last sentence was: "The Obama Administration should ask her to serve as ambassador to Great Britain (as her grandfather did) or France or Ireland, where her intelligence and instincts, along with her Kennedy and Bouvier background, could be an … [Read more...] about The Right Job for Caroline Kennedy
Banking Crisis
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Banking Crisis
Getting all Squirrely
My friend and old partner in blogging crime, Ron Beasley, has been on hiatus from Newshoggers for while, dealing with some medical issues and the forces of mother nature. Today, though, he rejoins the fold. In addition to years of incisive political and social commentary, Ron is also a skilled photographer and digital artist. This weekend he shares a photograph of a squirrel … [Read more...] about Getting all Squirrely
Lincoln’s Metamorphosis From Frontiersman To Great Emancipator
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE When I used to go into the homes of African-Americans as a newspaper reporter there were two constants: I was there because something bad had happened and the images of three famous Americans would be on the living room walls. They were John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln. I was reminded of this as I read several pieces … [Read more...] about Lincoln’s Metamorphosis From Frontiersman To Great Emancipator
“Billions” Of Frogs Eaten By People Every Year
Get ready for some news that is shocking: each year billions of people have frogs in their throats. Literally: Up to one billion frogs are taken from the wild for human consumption each year, according to a new study. Researchers arrived at this conclusion by analysing UN trade data, although they acknowledge there is a lot of uncertainty in the figure. France and … [Read more...] about “Billions” Of Frogs Eaten By People Every Year
Political Duet: Obama Girl And Obama Sing
Politicians are notorious for giving voters a song and dance. Here's President Barack Obama giving a song, at least, with one of his favorite fans -- Obama girl (with the little help of some media technology): … [Read more...] about Political Duet: Obama Girl And Obama Sing
Bookmark it: Recovery.Gov
Towards the close of his first weekly address, President Obama promises: We’ll launch an unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government, and every American will be able to see how and where we spend taxpayer dollars by going to a new website called recovery.gov. More transparency via the web. For now the site is only the … [Read more...] about Bookmark it: Recovery.Gov
Blagomania; or, My Own Personal Pearl Harbor
Here's what (still) Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich told the AP a couple of days ago: Dec. 9 to my family, to us, to me, is what Pearl Harbor Day was to the United States. It was a complete surprise, completely unexpected. And just like the United States prevailed in that, we'll prevail in this. (TNR's Isaac Chotiner calls it the Quote of the Century. At the very least, … [Read more...] about Blagomania; or, My Own Personal Pearl Harbor
Throw Some Meat At The GOP Feet
If President Obama wants to see his $850 billion stimulus package approved by 80% of Congress, perhaps he should throw dissident Republicans and conservative Democrats a morsel of meat to nibble. That would be House Republican leader John Boehner's call for deeper tax cuts. Boehner proposes lower federal income tax rates in the two lowest brackets rather than provide a $500 … [Read more...] about Throw Some Meat At The GOP Feet
Conservative Double Standards: J. Harvie Wilkinson III on Judicial Appointments
I quote Chait, who quotes Wilkinson: In today's Washington Post, conservative judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III appeals for an ideological truce in appointments that just happens to coincide with the exact moment Democrats have retaken the nominating power: So the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit is set for a takeover. Popular commentary has it that the court, on … [Read more...] about Conservative Double Standards: J. Harvie Wilkinson III on Judicial Appointments