The Ms. Special Winter 2009 Inaugural Issue is now out with a cover image of President-elect Barack Obama wearing a t-shirt that says, "This is what a feminist looks like." From a media advisory prepared by Ms.: When the publisher of Ms., Eleanor Smeal, and the chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation board, Peg Yorkin, met Barack Obama, he immediately offered … [Read more...] about Women’s Issues, Obama the Feminist and the 111th Congress
Santorum Apoplectic about McCain, Obama Getting Along
I've never been a fan of the self-righteous Rick Santorum. I celebrated his departure from the Senate two years ago. And today, he does absolutely nothing to convince me to modify my decidedly non-moderate dislike for him. Why the editors of the Philadelphia Inquirer agreed to give Santorum a bully pulpit is a mystery, but they did. And the ex-senator uses that forum to … [Read more...] about Santorum Apoplectic about McCain, Obama Getting Along
Barack Obama & The Australian Model
Who should be the role model for centre-left US president-elect Barack Obama? The Sydney Morning Herald's political editor quotes the Wall Street Journal columnist William McGurn, formerly chief speechwriter for George Bush: "It should be Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd" whose Labor Party has made their peace with the global economy. Knowledgeable Americans have pointed … [Read more...] about Barack Obama & The Australian Model
Cheneyworld: Robot Gone Wild
Watching the VP interview by Jim Lehrer on PBS last night recalled the movie "Westworld" about a theme park in which lifelike robots run amok and start killing. It came out at the time that an automaton named Dick Cheney, codenamed Backseat by the Secret Service, was serving in the White House, getting toilet leaks fixed and installing a headrest for Betty Ford on the … [Read more...] about Cheneyworld: Robot Gone Wild
Bob Woodward On What Obama Should (Not) Emulate From Bush
Who better to look back on the Bush legacy and to advise the incoming President on what to emulate or not to emulate from Bush's presidency, than Bob Woodward. Bob Woodward is the author of four books on President Bush, "Bush at War," "Plan of Attack," "State of Denial" and "The War Within," and in Woodward's own words: There's actually a lot that President-elect … [Read more...] about Bob Woodward On What Obama Should (Not) Emulate From Bush
Obama and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Will He or Won’t He?
In what Fox News calls "a startling pronouncement," President-elect Obama is said to be planning to overturn the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy. I am not gay, but I am ex-military and I have long and often supported a change in not only how we treat those who want to serve their country---regardless of sexual orientation---but also in how we view our active … [Read more...] about Obama and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Will He or Won’t He?
Steve Jobs Takes Medical Leave Through June
Late yesterday afternoon in a letter to employees, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced he will take a medical leave of absence until the end of June, "during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought." Jobs said he will "remain involved in major strategic decisions" throughout. Tim Cook, Apple's chief operating officer, … [Read more...] about Steve Jobs Takes Medical Leave Through June
California Budget
I had been planning to write a couple of columns, one on the issues of the federal budget and one on the budget here in California. Since Governor Arnold will be giving his State of the State address this morning it seemed to make sense to do California today. I will be reworking a prior post on the subject and would welcome comments. However I would like to make a request. … [Read more...] about California Budget
Is Bush Honoring Uribe for Peace or for War?: Semana of Colombia
Criticism of the three 2008 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients - and the man who gave it to them "for their work to improve the lives of their citizens and for their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad" is widespread. This year is unusual in that all of those who President Bush awarded are from other nations - former British Prime Minister Tony … [Read more...] about Is Bush Honoring Uribe for Peace or for War?: Semana of Colombia
The Logic of Choosing Hillary is Now ‘Obvious to All’: Le Figaro, France
How are Europeans reacting to Hillary Clinton's performance during her confirmation hearings to be secretary of state? Judging by this gushing editorial from France's Le Figaro - 'bowled over' might be a good phrase. For Le Figaro, Pierre Rousselin writes in part: "The care she took preparing for her hearing, her grasp of the issues and her natural authority worked … [Read more...] about The Logic of Choosing Hillary is Now ‘Obvious to All’: Le Figaro, France
How Far Should We Accommodate ?
I caught this story on the local news and it struck a chord with me because of a broader topic which is a personal pet peeve for me. I don't really intend this post to be a specific comment/discussion of the story cited, since there is some debate as to whether or not the zoo comment was made. If it was actually made it was entirely improper and the woman was properly upset. … [Read more...] about How Far Should We Accommodate ?
Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll: Americans Strongly Back Obama And His Stimulus Proposals
A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds that Americans strongly support President Elect Barack Obama -- and that a whopping majority of Americans want Republicans to compromise rather than stand on principle and oppose his proposals...a number that includes a huge number of Republicans. The percentage who approve the way he's handling the transition: 71 percent -- … [Read more...] about Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll: Americans Strongly Back Obama And His Stimulus Proposals
NY Post Offensive Headline about Shaking Babies (Guest Voice)
Note: This was sent to us as an email. Due to the media and other issues it raises -- and its possibility for discussion in comments -- we asked permission to run it as a Guest Voice post. We're only removing phone numbers from the original, due to the controversy over some websites clogging up phone lines. Otherwise, it is run here intact. Subject: Re: NY Post Offensive … [Read more...] about NY Post Offensive Headline about Shaking Babies (Guest Voice)
“We Cannot Live Without Our Lives” Either: Jews, Privilege, and Anti-Subordination
The guest-posting stint at Feministe has begun! It'll will be a seven part series on Jews, anti-Semitism, anti-subordination, and Israel. I'll post a link to each post here as it comes up, but you'll need to head over yonder to get the full bit. Part one is now available here. … [Read more...] about “We Cannot Live Without Our Lives” Either: Jews, Privilege, and Anti-Subordination
Hollywood Loses Two Of The Greats
News today that two of the legends of Hollywood have passed on. The first loss came this morning with word that Patrick McGoohan had died at the age of 80. McGoohan gained his fame during the James Bond mania of the 1960's when he starred in two spy series, first the show Secret Agent and then leapt to superstardom in The Prisoner. Once described in The Times as an … [Read more...] about Hollywood Loses Two Of The Greats
Bush Countdown
Patrick Corrigan, The Toronto Star … [Read more...] about Bush Countdown
Smart Power or Just Dumb Policy? (Guest Voice)
In her Secretary of State confirmation hearing, Senator Hillary Clinton said the new administration would use "smart power." In this Guest Voice, conservative talk show host Michael Reagan asks whether she's talking about "smart power or just dumb policy." Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of TMV or its writers. Smart Power or Just Dumb Policy? … [Read more...] about Smart Power or Just Dumb Policy? (Guest Voice)
Cheney: We Did It Our Way And We Aren’t To Blame For Anything
Remember how in the year 2000 and other years Republicans talked about entering the age of "personal responsibility"? Apparently that message didn't filter up (or down) to Vice President Dick Cheney who, in an interview with PBS' Jim Lehrer seems to be doing a Bart Simpson imitation, saying he didn't do it you can't prove anything. Here's Editor & Publisher's report with … [Read more...] about Cheney: We Did It Our Way And We Aren’t To Blame For Anything
The Real Worst Case
What happens if Israel "wins" in Gaza and manages to actually crush Hamas? Flowers? Fairies? Fatah? Or an even more radical, Salafist-inspired organization that makes Hamas look timid? Jews should know -- it can always get worse. … [Read more...] about The Real Worst Case
“We Do Not Torture.”
So said President Bush in 2005 (when asked about reports of secret CIA prisons). And yet, in truth, the U.S. does torture. So says Susan Crawford, the convening authority of the Guantanamo military commissions, a Gates appointee and Bush administration official: The top Bush administration official in charge of deciding whether to bring Guantanamo Bay detainees to … [Read more...] about “We Do Not Torture.”