Two days ago, I declined to accept the crass, cynical theatrics of Mr. Limbaugh when he wished for President Obama's failure. Today, I generally applaud what seems to be a more sincere form of dissent from Christine Flowers, a lawyer published on the opinion pages of the Philadelphia Daily News. I favor Ms. Flowers' approach because she consistently tries to focus her … [Read more...] about Dissent We Can Believe In
Caroline Kennedy, Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Ridiculous Senate Seat Drama in New York
It was supposed to be Caroline Kennedy, or so it was thought, given how hard she was campaigning for the job, and given her last name, but she suddenly withdrew from contention on Wednesday, reports conflicting, and since then it has been all about the spin. The reason was Uncle Ted's health, but that wasn't really a valid reason, given that Uncle Ted has been unwell for … [Read more...] about Caroline Kennedy, Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Ridiculous Senate Seat Drama in New York
Conflict and Cooperation
Good morning, Mr. President! It seems that yesterday evening you received the first of your wake up calls regarding the love / hate / love relationship between the President and the White House Press Corps. President Obama made an impromptu visit to the cramped press corps suite and discovered that there is no such thing as an off day with reporters (gasp)! Obama wanted to … [Read more...] about Conflict and Cooperation
Released
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen The above cartoon is copyrighted and is licensed to run on this site. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Released
Winning On Our Terms
Hilzoy over at Obsidian Wings points to a very important phrase in the comments President Obama made as he signed an executive order to close the Guantanamo detention facility within a year: "The message we are sending around the world is that the US intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism and we are going to do so vigilantly, we are going to … [Read more...] about Winning On Our Terms
Will Kirsten Gillibrand Split the New York Democratic Party?
It seems that New York Governor David Paterson will announce today that he is appointing second term House member Kirsten Gillibrand to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. No sooner had the news hit the wires than talk began about a revolt in the New York Democratic Party over Gillibrand's blue dog credentials and support for 2nd Amendment rights. Representative Carolyn … [Read more...] about Will Kirsten Gillibrand Split the New York Democratic Party?
Third Global Press Roundup: Obama Inauguration
The global press output about Obama's inauguration remains huge. The global financial crisis is also an issue of great interest but most of the pieces that are tackling that are also about Obama's power, or lack of power, to do anything about it. Moreover, the inauguration, and indeed the very idea of Obama, provide a single reference point that seems to help explicate … [Read more...] about Third Global Press Roundup: Obama Inauguration
We Owe Lady Democracy for Obama – and Bush: El Tiempo of Colombia
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