A widely respected Indian astrologer living in Mumbai predicts that Barack Obama will be better for peace and prosperity in the world than American Presidents of the past four decades. He will succeed in bringing some useful solutions to the deluge of problems he faces around the world in addition to restoring a lot of America’s dented prestige among foreigners. … [Read more...] about Obama, His Horoscope and the World
CNN Poll: 68 Percent Consider Bush Presidency A Failure
A new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. finds that 68 percent of those polled consider the President George Bush's presidency a failure and that many don't accept the argument used by Bush supporters and talk show hosts that circumstances were largely to blame: As George W. Bush spends his final days in office, a national poll suggests that two-thirds of Americans see his … [Read more...] about CNN Poll: 68 Percent Consider Bush Presidency A Failure
Presidential Inaugural Speeches: Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address
Two things have happened to Ronald Reagan in recent years. Historians now generally believe he was one of the greatest communicators among Presidents, and his historical ranking has been on the upswing. He was certainly the most natural Presidential communicator, sounding as if he was talking to each individual listening to him. When you watch his first inaugural address, you … [Read more...] about Presidential Inaugural Speeches: Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address
Lincoln Overload and Life Lessons
Yes, yes, we get it. Barack Obama has themed his installation to the Great Emancipator--"A New Birth of Freedom" from the Gettysburg Address, yesterday's train trip to Washington, last week's family visit to the Lincoln Memorial, the swearing-in with Lincoln's bible, everything but a stovepipe hat for the Inaugural Address. No fault of Obama's, but it may all be on the brink … [Read more...] about Lincoln Overload and Life Lessons
Homework
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star … [Read more...] about Homework
The Onset of Obama Exhaustion
I'm unsure whether it might be the bleak weather currently shrouding the Northeast or the fact that I watch far too much political news coverage, but this morning I'm finding myself exhausted by the emotional firestorm and soaring genuflection surrounding this Tuesday's inaugural festivities. I get a similar sense from Bloomberg's Hans Nichols in his article discussing how the … [Read more...] about The Onset of Obama Exhaustion
Obama’s Economic Team Gets To Work
A little humor (and a little reality) on the team as it gets to work. … [Read more...] about Obama’s Economic Team Gets To Work
What If The White House Needed a Crib: Barack and Michelle Obama
I don't want to start anything negative, or crazy-rumorish, especially after the debacle of non-news shuttle-cocking all over the place regarding Governor Palin's newborn child supposedly not having been born from her own body. (Leaving further commentary and analysis on that news-ganglia for another time when I've had too many Turkish coffees thick as mud.) But, tonight I … [Read more...] about What If The White House Needed a Crib: Barack and Michelle Obama
Circuit City and Mervyns: Economy Or Destiny?
Let me begin this post by making it clear that I feel nothing but empathy for those who are losing/have lost their jobs in the shutdown of these two companies. I also feel some regret for the families of the founders as in both cases they remained part of the business until the very end. I also certainly agree that the economy played a role in the shutdown and just to … [Read more...] about Circuit City and Mervyns: Economy Or Destiny?
Obama Sets New Tone: Says Bush Is A “Good Guy”
As cartoonists continue to have a field day lampooning him (see above) and polls continue show him falling in popularity faster than Circuit City stock, President George Bush got some words in his defense from someone who some wouldn't expect to speak so fondly of him -- President Elect Barack Obama. This is yet one more indication that when Obama said he wanted to "change … [Read more...] about Obama Sets New Tone: Says Bush Is A “Good Guy”
The George Bush Years: ‘Not According to Plan’ – Nachrichten of Switzerland
As we all prepare for Barack Obama to take the oath of office, the world seems to be relishing bidding George Bush farewell with a swift kick in the caboose. While it slipped by rather quickly during his last press conference on Monday, President Bush's use of the phrase, 'things didn't go according to plan,' to explain the mistakes regarding the Iraq invasion, the travesty … [Read more...] about The George Bush Years: ‘Not According to Plan’ – Nachrichten of Switzerland
Obama On Track On Historic Train Ride To Washington D.C.
The big media story today is President Elect Barack Obama via train ride to Washington D. C. It's causing yet more uses of the world "Lincolnesque." Here's the AP's raw footage: The view from an excited You Tuber's yard: Before Obama left, he delivered what CBS calls "Obama's Philadelphia Address" in Philadelphia: … [Read more...] about Obama On Track On Historic Train Ride To Washington D.C.
On the Strip Searching of Students and the ACLU
I must not be very imaginative. I say that because I can't think of a single thing that is so important that it's worth strip searching a child in a public school, but so unimportant that it's not worth calling that child's parents first, and not worth calling the police first. And the thing is that an appeals court pretty much agreed that if the Fourth Amendment right … [Read more...] about On the Strip Searching of Students and the ACLU
Record Deficit, Record Debt
Bigger is not always better, is it? (Click the cartoon for a full size image.) For more, visit Small World Cartoons. … [Read more...] about Record Deficit, Record Debt
Enough!
I have a real problem with the government attempting to keep our financial system propped up, because I don't think it is possible. I believe that the mainstream understanding of financial crises is wrong on many crucial levels, so attempts to solve the problem won't work, but even more to the point, traditional analysis suggests we have to spend so much that I don't think we … [Read more...] about Enough!
History Made
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star … [Read more...] about History Made
Obama’s America
Today Obama announced … [Read more...] about Obama’s America
The Bail-Out and Stimulus Package
Every economist will tell you any time you ask that the Federal Government is a closed system. Whenever it gives out money to someone it has to take that money from somewhere else. This includes higher taxes, fewer programs or mortgaging the future through higher deficits. There is no free money. Politically, the Bush administration and the Obama administration and both … [Read more...] about The Bail-Out and Stimulus Package
Repossessing Patriotism
In the most important foreclosure of all, the White House will be taken back Tuesday by the majority of Americans who lost it to lawyers in 2000 and the legions who have joined them while watching in disgust as George W. Bush lowered American property values in the world neighborhood. Our new tenants, the Obamas, are holding an open house as they move in and, although … [Read more...] about Repossessing Patriotism
American Painter, Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), RIP
I don't agree with assessments of Andrew Wyeth's work that label it "drab and kitschy" but toward the reviews of it as "profound reflections of 20th Century alienation and existentialism." This Washington Post obit includes a photo gallery of Wyeth and his work. Here's one of his most famous images, Christina's World: The Christian Science Monitor has republished its … [Read more...] about American Painter, Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), RIP