There's an apocryphal story told in our neck of the woods... When the men came shuffling home after the auto plant closed suddenly that day-- without prior notice to the workers-- many of the factory men had left their cars at the plant... They were in the midst of purchasing a family sedan, but now, suddenly without jobs, with not even a remote prospect of a job in auto … [Read more...] about The Autoworkers of Detroit: Salt of the Earth
Obama’s Blagojevich Review: One Lawyer’s Unsolicited, Very Bad Advice
Commenting on the Obama team's promise to conduct its own review of "who talked with disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and when -- and precisely what they said," Politico quotes a "top Washington defense lawyer," who does not approve of the effort and is willing to say so. His summation: "It never helps when you dig up the dirt in your own yard and you find … [Read more...] about Obama’s Blagojevich Review: One Lawyer’s Unsolicited, Very Bad Advice
A Weeklong Orgy of Crooks
Chalk up the week of Dec. 8, 2008, as the week that will go down in infamy. It was a contest in which an Illinois governor, Wall Street titan and Florida mortgage manipulator competed for Scam Artist of the Year. It was a short work week, too. In the span of four days federal authorities charged: Gov. Rod Blagojevich trying to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to … [Read more...] about A Weeklong Orgy of Crooks
The Taliban Tax
Looks like the NATO forces in Afghanistan are indirectly funding the Taliban insurgency they're fighting against. The Times has the story of why contractors supplying military bases are forced to pay protection money to the Taliban in order to avoid attacks: The business of moving supplies from the Pakistani port of Karachi to British, US and other military contingents in the … [Read more...] about The Taliban Tax
Scholarships for Spouses of Military
We have devoted a lot of print to the fierce battles Democrats fought with the McCain-Bush team to provide a decent GI Bill for our troops. The bill finally passed with some great education benefits for our troops. Such benefits can run into the tens-of-thousands of dollars for an individual. But how about the spouses of active duty and retired military? The new GI … [Read more...] about Scholarships for Spouses of Military
The Outrage Aimed At The Normal
In thinking about the new Obama-Blagojevich Affair (doesn't roll off the tongue to well does it?), is the President-Elect just unlucky to be the next Leader of the Free World (who happens to be black) where millions upon millions of microscopes are aimed at? Because this whole dust up just doesn't sound new and isolated to Chicago. Governor Blagojevich's reaction when the … [Read more...] about The Outrage Aimed At The Normal
Minnesota Senate Update
The canvassing board in Minnesota met today and made a few decisions. 1. It looks like they will be including the 133 votes per the count on Election Day so that is +46 for Franken 2. They also recommended that most or all of the rejected absentee ballots be reviewed and/or counted but left the decision to each county. Some would argue that this benefits Franken on the … [Read more...] about Minnesota Senate Update
While Detroit Burns…
Megan McArdle has written some good pieces over the last few weeks about the domestic auto industry. While I haven't always agreed with her, she does put forth some sound arguments. But the day after the auto bailout bill dies in the Senate and Michigan newspapers are talking about what could happen next in my home state, what is McArdle talking about on her blog? Holiday … [Read more...] about While Detroit Burns…
Throw Out the Playbook
Eugene Robinson provides some needed cold water on President Elect Obama's approach to political purity in the Washington Post today. In examining Obama's approach to and spin on the Blagojevich story, he seems to view the cautious, neutral doublespeak as less of a breath of fresh air and more of the same old same old. In handling questions about the arrest of Illinois Gov. … [Read more...] about Throw Out the Playbook
Localism, the Internet, & Evil Google News
Google News refuses to index MyBallard.com and Cory Bergman, who runs the Seattle neighborhood news site with his wife, is bugged big-time: Both my wife and I are longtime journalists, and I have several national and regional journalism awards. Approximately 80-90 percent of our coverage is original (the rest is aggregation). We publish multiple stories and photos a day, and … [Read more...] about Localism, the Internet, & Evil Google News
The Real Failure of the Auto Bailout That Wasn’t
I turned 40 in 2005. The resulting ‘midlife crisis’ was remarkably subdued. I didn’t buy a fancy sports car. I didn’t cheat on my wife. I didn’t join a rock band. I didn’t start drinking more or visiting casinos every night. I did, however, attempt to write a book. In fact, I completed a draft of 200-some-odd pages; a treatise on re-imagining the practice of public … [Read more...] about The Real Failure of the Auto Bailout That Wasn’t
Death Of Print
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star … [Read more...] about Death Of Print
How To Draw Governor Blagojevich The Pay To Play Way
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about How To Draw Governor Blagojevich The Pay To Play Way
Mumbai Terror: “Don’t Depend On USA”
Under the recent UN sanctions Pakistan government has begun a crackdown on a section of the known terror structure on its soil. It is believed that even this step might not have been taken if the incoming Obama administration in the US had not "pushed" its old ally Pakistan to act. (Meanwhile the father of the lone Pakistani gunman, arrested for the Mumbai terror, has … [Read more...] about Mumbai Terror: “Don’t Depend On USA”
The War Against Festivus
Fox News' Bill O'Reilly often talks about the "war" against Christmas. But he has never mentioned the war against Festivus. What is Festivus? If you don't know, then it proves that this holiday has been frozen out by the new and old media. Watch the video below for a primer: … [Read more...] about The War Against Festivus
Minnesota Recount Challenge
As previously discussed there is a fascinating system at the Star Tribune web site where you can play election judge and review the 5000 or so challenged ballots (though now down to I think around 3000). As you vote on each ballot, the system starts to apply your voting pattern to the remaining ballots to show how your choices would play out in the election. It is a very … [Read more...] about Minnesota Recount Challenge
A Poem from Arabic: E-Mail Message from Obama … to All Arab Peoples and Rulers: Al Wahdawi, Yemen
In the category of foreign press exotica, Arabic poems about American politics rank pretty high. They are very hard to translate - but every so often the people of WORLDMEETS.US come across one and bring it to our readers. Written by Egyptian poet Ahmed Matar for the Yemen newpaper Al Wahdawi, this poem uses the election of Barack Obama and what Arabs expect from him as a … [Read more...] about A Poem from Arabic: E-Mail Message from Obama … to All Arab Peoples and Rulers: Al Wahdawi, Yemen
Auto Bailout Fails in Senate
The Detroit News is reporting that the bailout deal has failed in the Senate. In the weeks since this has become an issue, I've gone from saying let them hang, to doing what we can to help the Big Three, to thinking that maybe bankruptcy wouldn't be such a bad idea. In normal times, I would say, no to any government help, but then these aren't normal times. Maybe my … [Read more...] about Auto Bailout Fails in Senate
Bush Medal for Nixon Felon
In one of his last presidential acts, the Compassionate Conservative pinned a medal yesterday on Richard Nixon's Watergate hatchet man, Chuck Colson, for "sharing the message of God’s boundless love and mercy with prisoners, former prisoners, and their families." In the season of Scrooge and redemption, it would be surly to see anything autobiographical in the gesture, … [Read more...] about Bush Medal for Nixon Felon
Governor Soprano at 7%
Polls show that Governor Soprano's approval rating is at 7% and dropping. I wonder how long he'll stick around ? We might see the first negative approval rating ever. … [Read more...] about Governor Soprano at 7%