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.”
Geithner Taxes
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune … [Read more...] about Geithner Taxes
Sarah Palin Hates Us
Bored, anonymous, pathetic bloggers who lie annoy me, she told Esquire, in yet another of her post-election blame-everyone-else-but-me sessions. It is Andrew Sullivan who has been all over the is-she-really-Trig's-mom story -- like the rest of us, he just wants the truth, and Palin has been nothing if not sketchy about the whole affair (hence the lingering suspicions) -- … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Hates Us
Final Bush Gallup Poll: Bush More Popular Than Nixon
President George Bush got some (marginally) good news from the Gallup Poll today: it turns out that he will leave office more popular than Richard Nixon: A new USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted Jan. 9-11, finds 34% of Americans approving of the overall job George W. Bush is doing as president and 61% disapproving. Those ratings are a shade better than what Bush has received … [Read more...] about Final Bush Gallup Poll: Bush More Popular Than Nixon
Money, It’s a Crime: Ben Bernanke and the Bottomless Bailout
Well, you knew this was coming. As the Times puts it, "the banks need more taxpayer money," "a lot more money." Isn't this partly why so many of us were against the bailout, at least in principle, from the start? It wasn't just that it's a bailout of Wall Street instead of Main Street, which is to say, a bailout of the stinking rich, of those who are at the very core of the … [Read more...] about Money, It’s a Crime: Ben Bernanke and the Bottomless Bailout
Obama You Tube: You, Too, Can Get Involved In The Inauguration
Yet another sign that the new President Barack Obama intends to be in close touch with the public via radio, TV....and the Internet (hey, Barack, do you wanna exchange links?). But a key theme of this, towards the end, is that he's calling on indivduals to provide service to others and to the country in general: h/t Mark Halperin … [Read more...] about Obama You Tube: You, Too, Can Get Involved In The Inauguration
Bush Library
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star … [Read more...] about Bush Library
Obama and OJ?
This just in... … [Read more...] about Obama and OJ?