Earlier, Robert Stein provided us with an excellent analysis of the sad demise of newspapers, magazines and books. While this is an important topic, particularly for those with an interest in history and how future generations will learn of our times, there is another form of the printed word which has already come to the point of extinction. That is the ancient practice of … [Read more...] about The Dead Letters File
Requiem for the Printed Word
The cover of Time this week shows not the Person of the Year but a vanishing artifact--the American newspaper--and reflects, in a larger sense, the coming end of journalism as we know it. After a lifetime of putting words and images on paper--selling them, if you will--the computer screen and the crashing economy are conspiring to make what I did obsolete. (The timely site … [Read more...] about Requiem for the Printed Word
Senate: Let’s Make A Deal
Washington Post: Tentative Deal Reached on Stimulus Bill Compromise Believed to Slash $90B in Spending, Tax Cuts Purported deal reached in closed-door negotiations among a bipartisan group of senators as debate on more than $900B bill continued on Senate floor. … [Read more...] about Senate: Let’s Make A Deal
Revisiting An Old Post: Still No Strategy
A comment on my prior post made me think of one I wrote back in the beginning of December about how there are no obvious "correct" answers at this point because each decision needs to take place in a larger strategical context. The "right" policy on taxes, spending, etc. depends largely on assumptions both about the degree and nature of the crisis we are in. We still have not … [Read more...] about Revisiting An Old Post: Still No Strategy
Time to Impeach Obama?
Haven't we labored under this incompetent, destructive, tax dodging administration long enough? … [Read more...] about Time to Impeach Obama?
Gallup: Stimulus Bill STILL Favored by Majority
This is not a post about the substantive merits of the stimulus package. I was AWOL this morning fighting off (successfully!) a speeding ticket in Sevier County so I've been a bit out of the loop. Sorry y'all! Anyway, this is about the public support of the bill. Gallup says that 52 percent of Americans support the stimulus bill and 38 percent oppose it. Interestingly, the … [Read more...] about Gallup: Stimulus Bill STILL Favored by Majority
Making Big Change Hard
I agree with Andrew that the following words from President Obama should make every conservative's heart sing, and I suspect no conservative's heart will sing louder at these words than the heart of Mickey Edwards. Thus said Obama: ... I value the constructive criticism and the healthy debate that's taking place around this [stimulus] package, because that's the essence, … [Read more...] about Making Big Change Hard
Gen. Shinseki: From “Soldier’s Soldier” to “Veteran’s Veteran”
One of the many problems facing veterans seeking just disability ratings, or seeking to redress wrongs in this area, has been that they are being bounced back and forth between the Pentagon and VA. The new VA Secretary, General Eric Shinseki, promised the House Veterans Affairs Committee to correct this: The secretary acknowledged ongoing challenges in creating a … [Read more...] about Gen. Shinseki: From “Soldier’s Soldier” to “Veteran’s Veteran”
Trade Barriers Will Damage All Nations: Le Monde of France
Suggestions that the United States is planning a 'buy American' provision in the stimulus package now under debate in the U.S. Congress has created a ripple of fear around the world, and comes on top of calls from workers and businesses in other countries to do the same. Here are headlines and excerpts on the subject that that WORLDMEETS.US has posted within the past 24 … [Read more...] about Trade Barriers Will Damage All Nations: Le Monde of France
Obama Expectations
Deng Coy Miel, Singapore This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Expectations
Will Afghanistan Be “Obama’s Vietnam”?
Ever since the Vietnam War, whenever our country gets militarily involved in a conflict that appears to be unwinnable, or (for) a lost cause, the Vietnam "quagmire" analogy seems to be freely invoked. Newsweek's editor, Jon Meacham, however, puts it in perspective: "To evoke the Vietnam analogy is not to be dovish or defeatish; it is, rather, to recognize that we are … [Read more...] about Will Afghanistan Be “Obama’s Vietnam”?
I Can’t Support The Stimulus Bill
And the Democrats are ruining things for themselves and the country by pushing an awful bill that will fail to improve things and make people even more anti-government at the worst possible time. I think we're going to have tough times ahead and we need people to be united and strong, so the impact of this failure will go far beyond the specifics of the bill itself. I made … [Read more...] about I Can’t Support The Stimulus Bill
Iran and America: Friends or Foes?: Kitabat of Iraq
For years there have been rumors in Iraq and the wider Arab world that Iran and the United States have been working together all along, merely pretending to be in conflict for nefarious purposes known only to them. As WORLDMEETS.US has documented on many occasions, these claims run the gamut, from wild conspiracy theories to well thought-out narratives. In this article from … [Read more...] about Iran and America: Friends or Foes?: Kitabat of Iraq
Regular Folks: The Real Majority
Whenever I attend a PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) meeting, the economy always becomes a point of discussion. This is conservative country here in Gwinnett County, Georgia. If you're a liberal here, you're going to get a healthy and hard spanking (rhetorically) with a dollop of Southern hospitality. Being more center-left, I just get more of a gentle slap on the wrist. … [Read more...] about Regular Folks: The Real Majority
Bad Economy Piggies
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Bad Economy Piggies
CNN’s Campbell Brown: Spade, You’re a Spade
Along with David Gergen, Campbell Brown is indisputably one of CNN's smartest, most even-handed political commentators. She demonstrated why last night. … [Read more...] about CNN’s Campbell Brown: Spade, You’re a Spade
Quote of the Day: GOP Models Taliban Insurgency
"Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban. And that is that they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes. And these Taliban -- I'm not trying to say the Republican Party is the Taliban. No, that's not what we're saying. I'm saying an example of how you go about [sic] is to change a person … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: GOP Models Taliban Insurgency
Stimulus: Rushing Over the Cliff
While we didn't see a Senate vote Thursday night on the stimulus package, it seems that it will only be a temporary reprieve. On such an important issue it is unfortunate that both the political generals and the talking heads have succeeded in turning it into a political football. One of the most annoying pieces of "analysis" for the week comes to us from Paul Krugman. It’s … [Read more...] about Stimulus: Rushing Over the Cliff
Obama Spanks
Obama's speech last night. It was a spanking. Not a beating. But a strong hand, admonishing to 'better un-usualize the usual DC song and dance' and pass this stimulus package. I laughed when he said some are complaining the stimulus package is going to cost money. His wry comment, along with vaudeville blink and roll of the eyes at end: "That's what a stimulus package … [Read more...] about Obama Spanks
Some More Thoughts On Executive Compensation And The Obama Non Plan
In an earlier post I discussed that while I favored the Obama plan to limit compensation of executives at firms receiving money from the bailout I thought it might be neccessary to adjust the limits somewhat. The reactions I got seemed to focus entirely on this segment of the posting without commenting on any of the others, so I thought I'd expand on the subject. To make it … [Read more...] about Some More Thoughts On Executive Compensation And The Obama Non Plan