The Debt Song Of The Potomac On the shores of the Potomac By this river’s murky waters Policy is shaped and crafted Opposition views ignored. In the chambers of the mighty Where once issues were debated When the deficit is mentioned Legislators just look bored. Will such policies so ditzy Be allowed to last forever Will our Asian banker lenders And the markets … [Read more...] about The Debt Song Of The Potomac
The Demonization Of Obama Escalates While GOP Congressional Leaders Drag Their Heels
And so the demonization escalates as you can see here. Note to Republicans who choose to go this route. There are a lot of independent voters who are truly tired of this kind of rhetoric and will not cast their vote for a party that indulges in it or encourages it. The fact is: Barack Obama has not even been in office a week yet. Give it a rest. There will be plenty of time … [Read more...] about The Demonization Of Obama Escalates While GOP Congressional Leaders Drag Their Heels
Obama Gets His Mega-Secure BlackBerry
See what happens when you have a little influence? President Barack Obama's long, feared nightmare is now over: he will get to be the will be the first president to use a BlackBerry while in the White House -- and by all accounts he is Berry Berry happy. ABC reports: Since winning the election, Obama has argued that he should be allowed to bring his BlackBerry to the Oval … [Read more...] about Obama Gets His Mega-Secure BlackBerry
New York Senator On Friday? (UPDATED)
Yep, it's Gillibrand. News reports are indicating that the seat vacated by Secretary Of State Clinton will be filled by New York Governor Paterson sometime on Friday. With Caroline Kennedy out of the running the front runners are Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand but I would not rule out a dark horse. Kennedy reportedly dropped out for the … [Read more...] about New York Senator On Friday? (UPDATED)
How Bad Is The Economic Crisis?
Who ever thought it would come to this? … [Read more...] about How Bad Is The Economic Crisis?
A Song For Our Times: Financial Crisis Revisited
A song for our times: Financial Crisis Revisited byThe Astroturf: … [Read more...] about A Song For Our Times: Financial Crisis Revisited
Ideas Have Consequences: The Closing of Guantanamo
Someone in the Obama Administration has to be thinking this was just bad timing: The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda’s Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order President Obama signed Thursday that the detention center be shut down within a year. The militant, Said Ali … [Read more...] about Ideas Have Consequences: The Closing of Guantanamo
Carping About Caroline Kennedy
If she ever had doubts about getting into the rough-and-tumble of politics, the mean-spirited aftermath of JFK's daughter's withdrawal from seeking Hillary Clinton's Senate seat should reinforce her decision. Governor David Paterson's aides are anonymously attacking Caroline Kennedy (“The fiasco of the last 24 hours reinforced why the governor never intended to choose her”) … [Read more...] about Carping About Caroline Kennedy
Dissent We Can Believe In
Two days ago, I declined to accept the crass, cynical theatrics of Mr. Limbaugh when he wished for President Obama's failure. Today, I generally applaud what seems to be a more sincere form of dissent from Christine Flowers, a lawyer published on the opinion pages of the Philadelphia Daily News. I favor Ms. Flowers' approach because she consistently tries to focus her … [Read more...] about Dissent We Can Believe In
Caroline Kennedy, Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Ridiculous Senate Seat Drama in New York
It was supposed to be Caroline Kennedy, or so it was thought, given how hard she was campaigning for the job, and given her last name, but she suddenly withdrew from contention on Wednesday, reports conflicting, and since then it has been all about the spin. The reason was Uncle Ted's health, but that wasn't really a valid reason, given that Uncle Ted has been unwell for … [Read more...] about Caroline Kennedy, Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Ridiculous Senate Seat Drama in New York
Conflict and Cooperation
Good morning, Mr. President! It seems that yesterday evening you received the first of your wake up calls regarding the love / hate / love relationship between the President and the White House Press Corps. President Obama made an impromptu visit to the cramped press corps suite and discovered that there is no such thing as an off day with reporters (gasp)! Obama wanted to … [Read more...] about Conflict and Cooperation
Released
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen The above cartoon is copyrighted and is licensed to run on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Released
Winning On Our Terms
Hilzoy over at Obsidian Wings points to a very important phrase in the comments President Obama made as he signed an executive order to close the Guantanamo detention facility within a year: "The message we are sending around the world is that the US intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism and we are going to do so vigilantly, we are going to … [Read more...] about Winning On Our Terms
Will Kirsten Gillibrand Split the New York Democratic Party?
It seems that New York Governor David Paterson will announce today that he is appointing second term House member Kirsten Gillibrand to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. No sooner had the news hit the wires than talk began about a revolt in the New York Democratic Party over Gillibrand's blue dog credentials and support for 2nd Amendment rights. Representative Carolyn … [Read more...] about Will Kirsten Gillibrand Split the New York Democratic Party?
Third Global Press Roundup: Obama Inauguration
The global press output about Obama's inauguration remains huge. The global financial crisis is also an issue of great interest but most of the pieces that are tackling that are also about Obama's power, or lack of power, to do anything about it. Moreover, the inauguration, and indeed the very idea of Obama, provide a single reference point that seems to help explicate … [Read more...] about Third Global Press Roundup: Obama Inauguration
We Owe Lady Democracy for Obama – and Bush: El Tiempo of Colombia
Is the sudden emergence of Barack Obama the 'fruit' of a model democracy - or an aberration resulting from a capricious, unpredictable and more often than not - dangerous form of government? Those are the central questions explored in this article by Daniel Samper Pizano, one of the most sharp-tongued and popular Colombian editorial writers. Pizano writes in … [Read more...] about We Owe Lady Democracy for Obama – and Bush: El Tiempo of Colombia
March for Life Co-opts Obama’s Rhetoric, but Religiosity Still Dominates
The two most tired phrases of 2008 got a makeover at the March for Life in Washington Thursday, where pro-lifers used the new president's rhetoric to argue for an overhaul of the federal stranglehold on abortion policy for the past 36 years. It surely didn't compare to the million-plus at the inauguration Tuesday, but the crowd was fairly packed as evidenced by my failed … [Read more...] about March for Life Co-opts Obama’s Rhetoric, but Religiosity Still Dominates
Arab Leaders Should Heed Obama’s Words: L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
Once again, this article from Lebanon's L'Orient Le Jour makes it absolutely clear, that in the Middle East, President Obama's inaugural address was registered loud and clear, with direct quotes from the speech being wielded by editorial writers as a warning to leaders perceived to be 'on the wrong side of history.' For L'Orient Le Jour, Issa Goraie writes in part: "With … [Read more...] about Arab Leaders Should Heed Obama’s Words: L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
He’s Mavericky Once Again
This does my heart good: A joke made its way around the Capitol yesterday: How do you know the 2008 election is really over? Because John McCain is causing trouble for Republicans again. Two and a half months removed from his defeat in the race for the presidency, colleagues say, McCain bears more resemblance to the unpredictable and frequently bipartisan colleague they … [Read more...] about He’s Mavericky Once Again
Bush Team Reportedly Irked Over Obama Inaugural Address
If you thought the transition from Republican President George Bush to Democratic President Barack Obama was lovey-dovey, think again: the Bush team is reportedly angry over Obama's inaugural address that they felt dissed Bush by sharply criticizing the Texan and not showing him the respect they feel he deserved even though he was gracious to Obama. The New York Times … [Read more...] about Bush Team Reportedly Irked Over Obama Inaugural Address