You heard about his dinner with conservatives and his meeting with "liberals"*, but, just as much, one of the more intriguing meetings Obama has had recently was with Lee Hamilton and a group of foreign policy experts, mostly on the Middle East and South Asia, who work outside "the presidential bubble that is rapidly closing around him," as Laura Rozen put it. It is, … [Read more...] about Bursting Obama’s Bubble
David Pogue on Twitter for Beginners
NYTimes Tech Guru, David Pogue, has a Twittering Tips for Beginners piece in the Circuits Section: Basically, you sign up for a free account at Twitter.com [link]. Then you're supposed to return to that site periodically and type short messages that announce what you're doing. (Very short -- 140 characters max.) Then, you're supposed to persuade your friends and admirers to … [Read more...] about David Pogue on Twitter for Beginners
10 Lessons From The Bush Presidency
When Barack Obama puts his hand on a bible on January 20th and is sworn in as the new President, it marks the beginning of a new era. But as anyone who has studied history -- or worked for or run a big business -- knows starting a "new era" can mean little if the new person in charge of an organization doesn't study the errors of the previous one. So now the question for … [Read more...] about 10 Lessons From The Bush Presidency
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Here We Are Back in Culture War Hell
So Obama, it is being reported, intends to do away with the military's (and Clinton's) ridiculous "don't ask, don't tell" policy, one that allows gays to serve in the military only if they remain in the closet and everyone else remains in the dark. When asked about it directly, soon-to-be Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave a direct answer: "Yes," meaning, it will be be gotten … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Here We Are Back in Culture War Hell
Worth a Try
We, the fiscally concerned, will be waiting and watching. … [Read more...] about Worth a Try
Bush and Sullenberger
Whatever else he is, George W. Bush has not been a lucky president. Here he is, after eight disastrous years in office, in the TV spotlight to make his case for history in a sentimental setting, and millions of viewers can't wait to see the last of him and get back to watching a miracle in Manhattan--a crippled airliner with 155 people landing without loss of life on a strip of … [Read more...] about Bush and Sullenberger
Famous Presidential Inaugural Speeches: John F. Kennedy 1961
Considered by many to be the gold-standard of inaugural speeches due to content and delivery: The first of a series of videos of Presidential inaugural speeches heading up to Barack Obama's speech on January 20th. … [Read more...] about Famous Presidential Inaugural Speeches: John F. Kennedy 1961
Exit Bush
RJ Matson, The New York Observer … [Read more...] about Exit Bush
How Will Blogs Handle The Transition ??
As I was pondering the Bush/Obama transition today it occurred to me that this is really going to be the first one of the blogging era. To be sure sites like Moveon.org were around in the late 90's and did play a role in the 2001 changeover, but it really was not until 2004 and 2008 that blogging became a major factor on the net. This made me wonder how the more ideological … [Read more...] about How Will Blogs Handle The Transition ??
Andrew Sullivan, Rod Dreher, and Eightmaps
A mash up of public information about who donated to Proposition 8 in California and a Google map plotting all of that information out is causing a bit of a stir in the old blogosphere. Rod Dreher of Crunchy Con first wrote about the map saying this, Here is a Google map that allows you to find your way to the homes of people who donated money to Prop 8 in California. It's … [Read more...] about Andrew Sullivan, Rod Dreher, and Eightmaps
Calderon Displays Mexican Weakness in Meeting With Obama: La Jornada, Mexico
According to the editorial board of Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Mexican President Felipe Calderon badly mishandled his first meeting with President-elect Obama on Monday, by offering to cooperate in a 'war on terror' that has little to do with Mexico, and that Obama is unlikely to espouse in the first place. According to the daily, this once more reveals the ineptness and … [Read more...] about Calderon Displays Mexican Weakness in Meeting With Obama: La Jornada, Mexico
USA TODAY/Gallup Poll: “Stratospheric Expectations” For Obama
A new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds there are "stragospheric expectations" that incoming President Barack Obama will be able to deliver on his many campaign promises and help the US be in better shape four years from now: Americans are as down as they've been in decades about the state of the country and its polarized politics, even as they express soaring confidence that … [Read more...] about USA TODAY/Gallup Poll: “Stratospheric Expectations” For Obama
The Hyperpowerful Jew
Part II of the Feministe guest post series is now up. This was originally supposed to be Part III, but I flipped it with the second post -- it will be coming next. I am so looking forward to these comments again. … [Read more...] about The Hyperpowerful Jew
In Farewell Address, Bush Touts Homeland Security and Rightly Praises Our Military, But…
During his numerous recent legacy-building interviews culminating in his farewell address to the nation tonight, President Bush has repeatedly touted that his actions have kept the country safe since 9-11. This might well be one of the few accomplishments of which Bush could be rightly proud. It is thus especially regrettable that his administration has failed to take … [Read more...] about In Farewell Address, Bush Touts Homeland Security and Rightly Praises Our Military, But…
Two (Different) Views Of George Bush’s Legacy
First, here's outgoing President George Bush's legacy as described by the great CBS newsman Bob Schieffer: Watch CBS Videos Online And, second, here's George Bush's legacy as described by George Bush in his farewell speech tonight. Which seems closest to the mark? Your views and discussion are welcome in our comments section below. … [Read more...] about Two (Different) Views Of George Bush’s Legacy
Almost Done
Tab, The Calgary Sun … [Read more...] about Almost Done
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: The 2008 Election in Perspective
Larry J. Sabato on The 2008 Election in Perspective: Just What We Would Have Expected The following is an excerpt from the forthcoming book, The Year of Obama: How Barack Obama Won the White House. The book, which features several frequent Crystal Ball contributors as well as other journalists and scholars, will be published by Pearson Longman in March 2009. --The … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: The 2008 Election in Perspective
Thanking the SCHIP Republicans
As reported yesterday, the House passed a bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), similar to the bills that President Bush rejected last year (twice, as I recall). Though I have not relinquished my fiscally conservative tendencies, I believe this latest House vote on SCHIP was the right thing to do. In fact, of all the types of programs funded … [Read more...] about Thanking the SCHIP Republicans
Miracle On The Hudson Continues Amazing Record
As news reports continue to suggest that everyone survived the jet crash in New York City, we cannot help but to reflect on the miracle of that fact. By all accounts the pilot and crew deserve major credit for this by making an amazing 180 degree turn around Manhattan to land safely on the Hudson River. The passengers also deserve a lot of credit for reacting quickly and … [Read more...] about Miracle On The Hudson Continues Amazing Record
US Airways Flight Crashes Into Hudson River
Breaking news via WCNC: A US Airways flight headed to Charlotte has crashed into the Hudson River in New York City. Flight 1549 left from Boston and was headed to Charlotte when it tried to divert to La Guardia Airport in New York City. The plane landed in the Hudson River. New York City firefighters are responding to the crash. It was not immediately clear if there … [Read more...] about US Airways Flight Crashes Into Hudson River