Is the sudden emergence of Barack Obama the 'fruit' of a model democracy - or an aberration resulting from a capricious, unpredictable and more often than not - dangerous form of government? Those are the central questions explored in this article by Daniel Samper Pizano, one of the most sharp-tongued and popular Colombian editorial writers. Pizano writes in … [Read more...] about We Owe Lady Democracy for Obama – and Bush: El Tiempo of Colombia
March for Life Co-opts Obama’s Rhetoric, but Religiosity Still Dominates
The two most tired phrases of 2008 got a makeover at the March for Life in Washington Thursday, where pro-lifers used the new president's rhetoric to argue for an overhaul of the federal stranglehold on abortion policy for the past 36 years. It surely didn't compare to the million-plus at the inauguration Tuesday, but the crowd was fairly packed as evidenced by my failed … [Read more...] about March for Life Co-opts Obama’s Rhetoric, but Religiosity Still Dominates
Arab Leaders Should Heed Obama’s Words: L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
Once again, this article from Lebanon's L'Orient Le Jour makes it absolutely clear, that in the Middle East, President Obama's inaugural address was registered loud and clear, with direct quotes from the speech being wielded by editorial writers as a warning to leaders perceived to be 'on the wrong side of history.' For L'Orient Le Jour, Issa Goraie writes in part: "With … [Read more...] about Arab Leaders Should Heed Obama’s Words: L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
He’s Mavericky Once Again
This does my heart good: A joke made its way around the Capitol yesterday: How do you know the 2008 election is really over? Because John McCain is causing trouble for Republicans again. Two and a half months removed from his defeat in the race for the presidency, colleagues say, McCain bears more resemblance to the unpredictable and frequently bipartisan colleague they … [Read more...] about He’s Mavericky Once Again
Bush Team Reportedly Irked Over Obama Inaugural Address
If you thought the transition from Republican President George Bush to Democratic President Barack Obama was lovey-dovey, think again: the Bush team is reportedly angry over Obama's inaugural address that they felt dissed Bush by sharply criticizing the Texan and not showing him the respect they feel he deserved even though he was gracious to Obama. The New York Times … [Read more...] about Bush Team Reportedly Irked Over Obama Inaugural Address
Interview with Almerindo Ojeda
On this day in which my college classmate (and coincidentally, the President) Barack Obama signed a number of significant executive orders altering his predecessor's policies with respect to detentions and interrogations in the so-called "war on terror," I am pleased to be able to bring you another in my series of interviews with those knowledgable in this area, today, with … [Read more...] about Interview with Almerindo Ojeda
Israel’s Arab Diplomats Explain Gaza to US Protesters
A month or so back I attended a lecture presented in Cincinnati by Ismail Khaldi, a Bedouin shepherd boy and Sunni Muslim from the Galilee who is now an Israeli diplomat. He currently serves as the State of Israel's deputy consul general in San Francisco. An interesting speaker, he shared his life story with us. Now I see his name in the news: Druze, Bedouin diplomats wage … [Read more...] about Israel’s Arab Diplomats Explain Gaza to US Protesters
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE HONEYMOON BEGINS
Larry J. Sabato on THE HONEYMOON BEGINS: Questions and Answers About Obama's First Year Almost every American recognizes January 20, 2009 as a red-letter date in U.S. history. No one who witnessed the swearing-in of President Barack Obama will ever forget it, and rarely has so much emotion been wrapped up in an inauguration. The good feelings that have been generated cannot … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE HONEYMOON BEGINS
Barack Obama and the ‘Dream of Iraq’: From Sotal Iraq
The ripple effects of President Obama's inauguration around the world have been powerful and immediate, and Iraq is no exception. What an irony it would be if the unpopularity and perceived incompetence of President Bush led most to an event that inspired Iraqis to build a democracy: the election of Barack Obama. In this extremely moving tribute to America and its … [Read more...] about Barack Obama and the ‘Dream of Iraq’: From Sotal Iraq
School Apologizes After 100-0 Win
Anyone playing or watching basketball knows a 100-0 win is impossible. Sorry, sports fans. It happened in Dallas in a girls high school 32-minute regulation basketball game. The winning team has offered to forfeit. “It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened,” the head of the school said Thursday on The Covenant School’s Web site. He added that Covenant has made … [Read more...] about School Apologizes After 100-0 Win
In Obama’s Words, President Ortega Must ‘Unclench His Fist’: La Prensa of Nicaragua
OBAMA: 'No hand extended to corrupt and authoritarian governments ... and no money!' ORTEGA: 'No explanations about election fraud to those who extend a hand to us! [La Prensa, Nicaragua] For those who wonder whether the world’s ‘dictators and corrupt politicians’ are feeling any heat after President Obama’s inaugural address, one need look no further than this … [Read more...] about In Obama’s Words, President Ortega Must ‘Unclench His Fist’: La Prensa of Nicaragua
Afterthoughts
Excuse me if I'm wrong, but isn't that William Ayers, the domestic terrorist Sarah Palin said Obama palled around with, sitting about three rows back of Obama during the swearing-in ceremonies? Most of us have seen the TV instant replay and still photos of that particular scene. The guy appears in back of Obama's right shoulder. If it is Ayers, the more I think about it the … [Read more...] about Afterthoughts
Quote Of The Day: Obama And A Return To Normalcy
Our political Quote of the Day comes from one of the Internet's most thoughtful writers, James Hertsch, who used to have a blog and wrote under a pen name. He writes on his new blog about one of several major shifts in the ascension of Barack Obama to the Presidency: the return to normalcy: With all the hope and change that Obama threw around for the past two years, you'd … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Obama And A Return To Normalcy
The Economic Tipping Point And Start Of The Third Wave
Nearly every single bank in Europe is at risk of being full nationalized. Japan and other Asian countries are reporting Depression sized dropoffs in exports. China is close to having an official recession. There is growing worry in the UK that they are about to go the way of Iceland, with a complete currency collapse. People are starting to wonder if the UK as a country is … [Read more...] about The Economic Tipping Point And Start Of The Third Wave
The Sickness of Partisanship
I mean, really...People will devote three hours of their life a day listening to someone demonize people who disagree with them. Just read and re-read the quotes in that link. Racism is the province of the left, just as stupidity and a penchant for trying to divide people and whip them up by arousing hatreds that this linked interview illlustrates is the absolute province … [Read more...] about The Sickness of Partisanship
Obama Finds White House In Fred Flintstone Technology Era
The Obama staff took position in their new digs on Pennsylvania Avenue and when they took a look around them thought they heard the pitter patter of feet. The pitter patter of Fred Flintstone, riding in a car so ancient that it was powered by his feet. The Washington Post reports: If the Obama campaign represented a sleek, new iPhone kind of future, the first day of the … [Read more...] about Obama Finds White House In Fred Flintstone Technology Era
The Doctor’s Choice?
One of the last spasms from an outgoing Bush Administration was a ruling that allows doctors and other medical professions to opt out of certain medical treatments if they violate a personal sense of right and wrong. It was aimed, of course, at medicos who oppose a woman's right to choose an abortion. But it got me wondering if this ruling might have larger implications. … [Read more...] about The Doctor’s Choice?
Hoocoodanode?
That's become the catch phrase amongst economics blogs when something that they have anticipated for years happens and everyone is shocked...simply shocked! Well here's a hoocoodanode? about the warantless wiretapping under Bush. At the time Congress was reworking FISA, many legal and security experts didn't trust that it was being used in the way that the Administration … [Read more...] about Hoocoodanode?
Caroline Kennedy: The Accidental Senator Who Wasn’t
It would seem that Caroline Kennedy has spared New York Governor a lot of political problems by removing herself from the equation. Who will replace Hillary Clinton now is still up in the air, but there may be some lessons to be taken from the Kenny heiress' efforts to take the position. I examine some of these in my new column today at Pajamas Media. Caroline Kennedy: The … [Read more...] about Caroline Kennedy: The Accidental Senator Who Wasn’t
The American Mutts – And Proud of It!
We are all proud, and we should be, that Barack Obama is the first African American president. As a tall white Anglo male, I represent the group most favored of this great country and I am extremely proud of this national accomplishment. I think it is time for a great celebration. Of course our President, like you and me, has a very diverse lineage. Kenyan and Irish among … [Read more...] about The American Mutts – And Proud of It!