With the Middle East once again in flames, the American economic system in shambles and the planet in a generalized funk, is there anything that can turn public perceptions of President George W. Bush around? According to French editorialist Pierre Rousselin, there is one thing: amnesia. Rousselin writes in part: "If he has the lucidity to recognize that he had … [Read more...] about The Hope of Bush’s Legacy: Amnesia – Le Figaro, France
Research Suggests Tall People Earn More Because They’re Smarter
I'm skeptical, but there's data. Taller people average about 1.5% higher wages, and that holds up for both men and women. Researchers attribute about half of that to higher educational attainment and half due to taller people selecting higher status occupations. But does that mean they're smarter? I wonder if there isn't some sort of difficult-to-measure confidence variable … [Read more...] about Research Suggests Tall People Earn More Because They’re Smarter
Singing Bush Out Of Office
A just-completed poll found that three out of four Americans are glad that George W. Bush is finally leaving office. If Woody Guthrie were writing a song to herald his departure, it might go like this... So long, By now we all know you. So long, The door we'll now show you. So long, In Crawford we'll stow you. And not see your like soon again. You started a war … [Read more...] about Singing Bush Out Of Office
Caroline Kennedy: Not Ready
In 1980, Edward M. Kennedy ran to wrest the Democratic presidential nomination from incumbent Jimmy Carter. Early enthusiasm for Kennedy's candidacy gave way to mystification and finally, indifference. Why? Well, for one thing, in an interview with that era's version of Oprah Winfrey, Phil Donahue, the Massachusetts senator couldn't say why he was running for president. In the … [Read more...] about Caroline Kennedy: Not Ready
Robert Graham, FDR Memorializer, Has Died
Robert Graham, whose unique design for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., manages, in turn, to be moving, evocative, informative, and fun, has died. I didn't know what to expect when my family and I first went to the FDR Memorial a few years back, but was pleasantly surprised. It's the sort of place to which a civic-minded parent could take a … [Read more...] about Robert Graham, FDR Memorializer, Has Died
The David Paterson Caroline Kennedy New York Senate Seat Saga Continues
Is Caroline Kennedy on the fast track to be named to fill out Senator Hillary Clinton's Senate seat -- or have the wheels come off the Royalty Express that's trying to speed down New York's political tracks? Stories about Kennedy and Governor David Paterson continue to proliferate...one story suggesting she has a fast track...others suggesting that the Governor is irked that … [Read more...] about The David Paterson Caroline Kennedy New York Senate Seat Saga Continues
Where the Hell is Matt 2008
He’s a 30 something from Connecticut and his videos have been going around the Internet for some years now. Still, he's number 4 on NewTeeVee's Top 10 Pretty Obvious Video Favorites For 2008: The latest installment in Matt Harding’s world travels spread even more viral than before, a triumph of sponsorship that also legitimately spread goodwill throughout the world. More than … [Read more...] about Where the Hell is Matt 2008
Lincoln’s Birthday Present: Will Blagojevich Be Gone?
Will Illinois, the land of Lincoln, get a gift by the time Abraham Lincoln's birthday in February rolls around? The state's Lieutenant Governor thinks so. He thinks that by then Illinois' Governor Rod Blagojevich -- he of the hair, Senate Seat For Sale Scandal, and four-letter words -- will be gone: The lieutenant governor of Illinois said Sunday he is certain … [Read more...] about Lincoln’s Birthday Present: Will Blagojevich Be Gone?
‘Star Spanglish Banner’ – Worse than the ‘Magic Negro’
Everybody is jumping over Chip Saltsman for including the song "Barack the Magic Negro" in his Christmas "present" to fellow RNC members. But few have notice another doozy in the Paul Shanklin-vintage collection: a parody of Mexican immigrants called "Star Spanglish Banner." Here's a fine YouTube presentation of this work of "parody." Now, getting to Tony Campbell's … [Read more...] about ‘Star Spanglish Banner’ – Worse than the ‘Magic Negro’
One More Second With Bush
The New York Times has a delightful little article today in "Ideas and Trends." It is all about time---but not years, days or even minutes. We are talking about how, in order to keep time precise, the "international authorities" charged with such matters will add one second to, in effect, our lives on December 31. The reason for this is explained in the Times article … [Read more...] about One More Second With Bush
Chip’s Shoulder Boulder
There are days that I want to turn in my Republican voter registration card. Any thinking person with half a gram of decency understands that Chip Saltsman's parody entitled "Barack the Magic Negro" is bad form, however, there is another problem with the song... it does not make any sense politically. Wasn't it just last month that we Republicans got our heads handed to us? … [Read more...] about Chip’s Shoulder Boulder
Caretaker For Clinton’s Seat
If Gov. David Paterson wants to resolve his dilemma over replacing Hillary Clinton by naming a caretaker and letting the public decide in 2010, the perfect choice is at hand--a wise, experienced, respected politician who knows New York State better than any other: Mario Cuomo. At 76, the former governor would be junior to a platoon of octogenarians in the Senate, not to … [Read more...] about Caretaker For Clinton’s Seat
The Purr is Gone
Samuel the Cat has gone to Critter Heaven after 17 years of purring in my lap. He was the last of the Fur Family, the 3 critters who moved to Cincinnati with me 8 years ago. Here is a photo of Samuel in March 2008: … [Read more...] about The Purr is Gone
Happy New Year! Let the Post-Bush ‘Purification’ Begin!: La Jornada, Mexico
What do the end of the Bush era, the war on drugs and the arrest of a Mexican beauty queen have in common? They are all part of Jorge Camil's goodbye to 2008 published on Friday in the pages of Mexico's La Jornada. In regard to President Bush, Camil writes in part: "We're in a hurry to distance ourselves from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, the shattering of Wall Street, … [Read more...] about Happy New Year! Let the Post-Bush ‘Purification’ Begin!: La Jornada, Mexico
The Events In Israel
GO HERE for some great live blogging. … [Read more...] about The Events In Israel
“Magic Negro” Satire
Limbaugh, Shanklin and now Saltsman would like to convince you that the parody calling our next President a "Magic Negro" is merely good-humored, lighthearted, innocent satire. I have used satire myself in several of my writings, but none of them makes fun of or ridicules someone's race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. I also looked up the definition of satire … [Read more...] about “Magic Negro” Satire
Senate Races 2010: Jeb Bush And Sarah Palin As Republican Senate Candidates?
The election is over and already the speculation -- and some positioning -- has begun for the Senate races in 2010. Right now considerable speculation centers on possible Senate candidacies of two big GOP names: former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the brother of you-know-who, and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the former running mate of Joe the Plumber's former publicist. What … [Read more...] about Senate Races 2010: Jeb Bush And Sarah Palin As Republican Senate Candidates?
What Did Barack Obama Know and When Did He Know It? (Guest Voice)
President Elect Barack Obama released his team's report indicating there was nothing inappropriate in its actions in the Senate Seat For Sale scandal involving Illinois' Governor Blagojevich, a politician now as famous for his tape-revealed four-letter word vocabulary as for his hair. To some, it settled the issue. To others, it raised questions. In this Guest Voice post, … [Read more...] about What Did Barack Obama Know and When Did He Know It? (Guest Voice)
Sex-Offender Residency Restrictions Cause Homelessness
The WaPo today: Strict new laws aimed at keeping track of sex offenders after they leave prison appear to be having the opposite effect, encouraging homelessness in a population believed more likely to re-offend if cast into the streets without structure or family support, say prosecutors, police, parole officials and experts on managing sex offenders. The issue is starkest … [Read more...] about Sex-Offender Residency Restrictions Cause Homelessness
“Magic Negro”—Follow-Up
According to Politico.com, Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan has issued a statement Saturday distancing the party’s leadership from Chip Saltsman, who distributed a CD containing “Barack the Magic Negro” as part of his campaign to be elected chairman of the Republican National Committee next month. Duncan's statement, in full: The 2008 election was a … [Read more...] about “Magic Negro”—Follow-Up