Barack Obama is a President of firsts, to be sure. Obama is the first African-American President, he is the first gen-xer to be elected President, and he's arguably the first President to enter office with such a large raft of problems to attempt to address. The first thing that caught my eye, though, is that in his ever expanding and impressive display of commitment towards … [Read more...] about More of Obama’s “Team of Rivals”
Microsoft Cuts 5,000 jobs; Intel 6,000
Ouch: Software maker Microsoft announced Thursday it will cut up to 5,000 jobs in the next year and a half, or 5.5% of its global workforce, citing further deterioration of global economic conditions. The company also posted lower fiscal second-quarter earnings that missed analysts' forecasts. Microsoft will slash 1,400 positions immediately, with the rest of the cuts … [Read more...] about Microsoft Cuts 5,000 jobs; Intel 6,000
Real Stories that Reinforce Stereotypes
Get ready for the insulting joke parade. This is apparently not a hoax. … [Read more...] about Real Stories that Reinforce Stereotypes
(Gasp) Bible Not Used In Obama Swear In
A big website (we will decline in promoting it further) now has a headline declaring that no bible was used at the Obama re-swearing in -- ushering that site into special honored status in TMV's world-famous Get A Life Club. Actually, we've awarded it memberships before, but the site's headlines and track record for journalistic accuracy on some of its inside reports really … [Read more...] about (Gasp) Bible Not Used In Obama Swear In
Today is 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade: What are you doing about it?
And I mean that in terms of whether you support or oppose the results of Roe. You can read the decision itself here or read a nice breakdown at About.com. For the record, I support the constitutional rights recognized in the U.S. Supreme Court decision which made a woman's medical decision regarding her reproductive rights legal and I am against the erosion of those … [Read more...] about Today is 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade: What are you doing about it?
Obama’s First Dance after the Inaugural Ball
Qaddafi, Isratine and the one state solution in NYT op-ed
Read it here. An excerpt: Assimilation is already a fact of life in Israel. There are more than one million Muslim Arabs in Israel; they possess Israeli nationality and take part in political life with the Jews, forming political parties. On the other side, there are Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israeli factories depend on Palestinian labor, and goods and services … [Read more...] about Qaddafi, Isratine and the one state solution in NYT op-ed
Elizabeth Alexander: The Inaugural Poem at Obama’s Swearing In
Elizabeth Alexander read her poem at Barack Obama's inaugural. I've tracked down a written version and put it at the end of this article for you... so you can see her line breaks... Remember, for those who are poetry-phobic from creepy experiences with non-understandable poetry forced onto them in highschool... though you can measure most poetic metre with an electronic … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Alexander: The Inaugural Poem at Obama’s Swearing In
Great Orator Poor Speech (Guest Voice)
President Barack Obama seeks unity but his first act created a bit of division: some felt he gave a great inaugural speech, others felt it was just good, still others felt you can't judge an inaugural speech until the President serves awhile. And some, like conservative talk show host Michael Reagan, felt it was a poor speech and not as good as Reagan's Dad's. Guest Voice … [Read more...] about Great Orator Poor Speech (Guest Voice)
Anti-Semitism Stories
My good friend Richard Jeffrey Newman is collecting stories of anti-Semitism in a post over at Alas, a Blog. He's looking for stories from Jews and non-Jews alike -- his only rule is that you can only give a story: no analysis, no critique of some politician's rhetoric. Just a story. It's a good project, and an interesting one, and Mr. Newman has specifically told me he's … [Read more...] about Anti-Semitism Stories
Change May Be Good
The word of the week is "change", folks. Whatever that means. (Click the cartoon for a full size image.) For more, visit Small World Cartoons. … [Read more...] about Change May Be Good
Because There Will Be Some Who Will Feel Absolutely COMPELLED to Make an Issue of It …
...President Obama restated, reaffirmed, and re-swore the Oath of Office today, showing far more regard for both the letter and the spirit of our Constitution than his predecessor did, you know, the one who appointed the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who flubbed the Oath in the first place, along with ignoring needs for search warrants before wiretapping or habeas corpus … [Read more...] about Because There Will Be Some Who Will Feel Absolutely COMPELLED to Make an Issue of It …
Barack Obama: ‘Boy President’ – La Stampa of Italy
Continuing with our coverage of the global reaction to President Obama's inauguration, this article from Italy's La Stampa fingers an issue that is sure to emerge again and again as America's new president attempts to grapple with the challenges that confront this nation. It's the geopolitical elephant in the room: Has American adherence to the idea of absolute national … [Read more...] about Barack Obama: ‘Boy President’ – La Stampa of Italy
Obama Day One
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner This cartoon is copyrighted by Cagle Cartoons and licensed for use on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Day One
Barack Obama Retakes Oath of Office
It was actually done by two presidents before, shocking that the reporter on Fox News doesn't know that. As of tonight, apparently Prez Obama re-did the recitation without the flub-up put forth by the Chief Justice, who put the oath's words in the wrong order at the inaugural oath proper yesterday. Frankly, though some want to take a thin thing and turn it into a big fat … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Retakes Oath of Office
Caroline Kennedy Withdraws from Senate Appointment
According to the NY Post, Miss Kennedy has withdrawn her name from the running to be appointed to fill former Senator Hillary Clinton's seat. Some speculate this may have to do with Senator Ted Kennedy's being taken to the hospital during the inauguration ceremonies yesterday. Others claimed she would be the best choice because of her fund-raising abilities for Governor … [Read more...] about Caroline Kennedy Withdraws from Senate Appointment
Second Global Press Roundup: Obama Inauguration
All of the world is saying "Hello Barack", and "Goodbye George", and thankfully, Michelle's inauguration dress, lovely as it was, doesn't get much play... Navbharat Times, India India Too Needs An ‘Obama’ Students believe that now America will progress more than ever before. They also believe that now even India’s command should be handed over to a younger leader, … [Read more...] about Second Global Press Roundup: Obama Inauguration
Who’s Afraid of the Big Tent?
John Avalon has a great piece up at David Frum's New Majority website about how the GOP can win in New England again. He notes that before the Bush-era there were still an favorable number of Republicans holding office in New England and now there are none (two if you include New York State.) One of his tips that the party has to become a Big Tent party: Somehow … [Read more...] about Who’s Afraid of the Big Tent?
The Booing of President George Bush and Mrs. Bush: Old School Conduct In The Here and Now
Old School I'm Old School in most ways, with, I hope, mostly clear vision for the present and future, as you may, like me, be striving to master too.... It's a winding road of trackbacks and do-overs and the occasional brilliant en puentes, right on the head visions, that's for sure. Yet there are time-tested ways and means to rely on, many which create rather than stifle; … [Read more...] about The Booing of President George Bush and Mrs. Bush: Old School Conduct In The Here and Now
Quick Update: Israeli Supreme Court Overturns Ban On Two Arab Parties
According to Ha'aretz, the decision was unanimous. Obviously, I'm pleased by the decision, but it is not a positive sign for a putatively liberal democracy that it needs to be bailed out by a notoriously aggressive judiciary in cases like this. It never should have come to the court's attention, because we have the right to expect that the Knesset will behave like a mature, … [Read more...] about Quick Update: Israeli Supreme Court Overturns Ban On Two Arab Parties