What's going on with Israel, Hamas and the Gaza Strip? In this Guest Voice, columnist Bill Steigerwald interviews Aaron David Miller, a top Middle East adviser to six secretaries of state (Shultz to Powell) and Woodrow Wilson International Center scholar, and gets some answers. The Gamble in Gaza -- Interview With Aaron David Miller by Bill Steigerwald If anyone can … [Read more...] about The Gamble in Gaza — Interview With Aaron David Miller (Guest Voice)
House Rules Changes: Be Careful What You Wish For
We shall file this one under the already crowded, "Careful what you wish for" category. CQ Politics reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pondering some rule changes designed to make it harder for the Republican minority to slow down the Democratic majority's efforts to push through new legislation. An early partisan skirmish is likely in the House next week, when … [Read more...] about House Rules Changes: Be Careful What You Wish For
Zarganar, Hold on, We Know You Are Alive: Comedian of Burma Jailed for 45 Years
Writing today about Kathy Griffin and other comedians in the USA, I thought for the millionth time about dear Zarganar; the great comedic heart of Burma who just two months ago was insanely punished by the bloated multi-millionaire dictator of Burma, Than Shwe... Than Shwe, surely the lost twin brother of Mugabe in Zimbabwe... Than Shwe, the walking talking roasted pig with … [Read more...] about Zarganar, Hold on, We Know You Are Alive: Comedian of Burma Jailed for 45 Years
A Blogger Gets Terrible News
The worst....but the person has a message to all: don't cry for me... … [Read more...] about A Blogger Gets Terrible News
Clueless in Gaza
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Clueless in Gaza
Blagojevich’s Evil Genius
Like many of my fellow bloggers, I don't have the credentials to argue the legal issues. I'm inclined to believe no matter what the constitution or case law says, if the Senate wants to keep Burris out, it can find the legal way to do it. Politically, on the other hand, I'm betting Burris gets sworn in. And Blagojevich -- after providing plenty more fodder for the late night … [Read more...] about Blagojevich’s Evil Genius
Stewart-Huckabee Marriage Interview a ‘Top Gay Video of 2008’
Here's #4 in 365gay's Top 8 gay videos of 2008... Separately, and significantly, David Bianculli named the Daily Show #1 in his Top 10 TV List of 2008. And when Terry Gross asked on Fresh Air recently if he could give an example of how the comedy shows have demonstrated a new model for the political interview, Bianculli said the Huckabee interview was a great … [Read more...] about Stewart-Huckabee Marriage Interview a ‘Top Gay Video of 2008’
Kathy Griffin X-Rated? In Defense of Trickster Comedians
Kathy Griffin and the lower-case 'd-word' Joe Gandelman, our editor-in-chief, put up the video clip of Kathy Griffin fire-bombing back at a verbal sniper on the streets of Times Square during New Year's Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper. I had to listen to the video to learn what the 'd' word was that the MSM news have been carrying on like a bunch of chickens in a … [Read more...] about Kathy Griffin X-Rated? In Defense of Trickster Comedians
Better Broadband Through Better Regulation
Siva Vaidhyanathan has a book in progress, The Googlization of Everything. There he posted today an August interview he did with Vint Cerf, Google's Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist. Siva calls it a brief but rich exchange. When Cerf says Google is committed to keeping the Internet open, Siva follows up: SV: Let's talk about that. There is all this dueling lobbying … [Read more...] about Better Broadband Through Better Regulation
Are Pro-Forma Senate Sessions the Wave of the Future?
The Washington Post reports today that Jeff Bingaman opened and closed the last of the pro-forma sessions for the chamber in the now-ending 110th Congress. In less than 30 seconds this morning, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) gaveled to a close a 14-month standoff between Senate Democrats and President Bush, effectively ending the contentious 110th Congress and also blocking any … [Read more...] about Are Pro-Forma Senate Sessions the Wave of the Future?
Welcome Senators Kennedy And Bennet!
According to news reports the Governors of Colorado and New York have chosen candidates to fill the pending Senate vacancies in their respective states. In New York, Governor Paterson will reportedly tap Caroline Kennedy to fill the Clinton seat though it remains unclear as to whether she would be a caretaker Senator or would run for the seat in 2010. Clinton was last … [Read more...] about Welcome Senators Kennedy And Bennet!
Parenting Tip of the Day
Being tolerant of your gay, lesbian, or bisexual child significantly reduces their risk of suicide. Trying to "help" them by trying to change or challenge their sexual orientation, by contrast, causes their risk of suicide to spike. Stunning, isn't it? … [Read more...] about Parenting Tip of the Day
Hypocrisy Among Partisans
There are some who refuse to look the other way. … [Read more...] about Hypocrisy Among Partisans
Kathy Griffin’s X-Rated CNN New Year’s Eve Moment
The glories -- and pitfalls -- of live TV were on full foot-in-mouth display on New Year's Eve when comic Kathy Griffith surprised CNN bigwigs, most-likely raised eyebrows with some viewers -- and most assuredly triggered exclamations of "Oh no, not THAT LINE AGAIN!!" responses from professional comedians. She used an anti-heckler line that many news reports insinuate (by … [Read more...] about Kathy Griffin’s X-Rated CNN New Year’s Eve Moment
Israel’s Gaza Attacks: A Return To Deterrence Or Miscalculation?
Will Israel's assault on Gaza prove to be the strengthening of Israel's traditional policy goal of strong deterrence or prove to be a costly miscalculation? In a Newsweek web exclusive, Kevin Peraino looks at the issue. Several key parts: Of all Israeli casualties in the 2006 war with Lebanon, the loss of the Jewish state's aura of invincibility was perhaps the most … [Read more...] about Israel’s Gaza Attacks: A Return To Deterrence Or Miscalculation?
Thousands Of Shoes Clutter Miami Highway
Uh, oh: was President George W. Bush just in Miami? State troopers are looking for a charity to take thousands of shoes that were dumped on a Miami expressway, tying up rush hour traffic. Lt. Pat Santangelo says the Florida Highway Patrol received a call about the shoes Friday morning. Santangelo says he's not sure where the shoes came from. There were no signs of a … [Read more...] about Thousands Of Shoes Clutter Miami Highway
New Year’s Resolutions
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about New Year’s Resolutions
Burris and Kennedy (U.S. Senate 2009 – 2010)
Aren't Roland Burris and Caroline Kennedy vying for the same type of job? How come the Democratic Party seems ready to embrace one and is ready to throw the proverbial kitchen sink at the other one? The Burris / Kennedy Senate picks (or soon to be picked) is an example of one of the problems of the political class: they like the rules just fine...if it works for people they … [Read more...] about Burris and Kennedy (U.S. Senate 2009 – 2010)
Blogger Mood Disorder
It was first defined at Legal Insurrection as a "a condition in which one's mood swings up and down in sync with the level of blog traffic." The Other McCain expands on two closely-related syndromes: SiteMeter Fever -- A neurosis typified by obsessively refreshing your SiteMeter to see if your traffic has increased since the last time you checked it, seven minutes … [Read more...] about Blogger Mood Disorder
From Boxy Beige to Silver Sleek, MacWorld Declines But Apple Still Shines
I'm not sure I understand the headline of the Wired News story, Apple Says Farewell to Macworld, Hello to the Big Time. There's plenty about the impending decline of Apple, not a word about a big-time hello: Apple and its cult following have much to celebrate, but its future is uncertain. The majority of speculators believe that Jobs' era -- and the entire Apple era -- is … [Read more...] about From Boxy Beige to Silver Sleek, MacWorld Declines But Apple Still Shines