Laura Bush was on Fox News yesterday, probably the last in a round of appearances to drum up interest in her memoirs. For some reason, publishers have not been bidding up any proposals for Bush nostalgia, even those of the relatively popular First Lady. "One question that seems to be weighing on prospective editors," the New Yorker reports, "is whether a book by Mrs. Bush … [Read more...] about Lowballing Bush Memoirs
‘Too Big to Fail’
One of my former bosses from the late 1990s recently penned a guest commentary for our hometown daily, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It was published yesterday and essentially asked, if certain financial companies have become 'too big to fail,' why did U.S. regulators allow them to get that big in the first place, and why do they continue to protect said firms' disproportionate … [Read more...] about ‘Too Big to Fail’
Smoking Police Handcuff Obama
The anti-smoking police are thrusting their will on President-Elect Barack Obama to stop smoking. We assume they mean cigarettes. By all intents and purposes, Obama seems to be trying. A medical report on Obama's health quotes his physician saying Obama smokes three to five cigarettes a day. He has quit and relapsed on numerous occasions. Three to five cigs a day? Some … [Read more...] about Smoking Police Handcuff Obama
Quote Of The Day: Some Republicans Are Trying To Rewrite Election 2008 History
The political quote of the day comes from centrist Republican Louis Zickar , editor of the Ripon Forum, from an op-ed piece he wrote for the Des Moines Register: As Republicans debate the future of the party, it's worth noting that some in the party are already trying to rewrite the past. In recent weeks, several members of the more conservative wing of the GOP have … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Some Republicans Are Trying To Rewrite Election 2008 History
Kashmir: “Triumph Of Democracy”
A large majority of voters in the Indian-part of Kashmir have sent a clear message to the world that they want democracy and will not bow to the diktats of militants/separatists. London's Financial Times reports: "Separatists who want an independent state. or a merger with Pakistan, had urged Kashmiris to boycott the election (to the State assembly). Yet the turnout was … [Read more...] about Kashmir: “Triumph Of Democracy”
How the Independent Movement Went Left By Going Right (Guest Voice)
The election of Barack Obama was a watershed moment for the United States in many ways. One way: it was a key moment for independent voters. Some independent are exactly that -- totally off by themselves. But there are other independent voters who see the need for an independent voter movement. In this Guest Voice post cross-posted on the independent blog The Hankster, … [Read more...] about How the Independent Movement Went Left By Going Right (Guest Voice)
Building Wheelchair Ramps
In today's NYT, Paul Krugman frets about "state governors who are slashing spending in a time of recession, often at the expense both of their most vulnerable constituents and of the nation’s economic future." Krugman's worries are sparked, in part, by reports like this one, published in Friday's WaPo: States from Rhode Island to California are being forced to curtail … [Read more...] about Building Wheelchair Ramps
“Magic Negro”—What Will Limbaugh Say?
While this weekend's firestorm over the crude and offensive "Barack the Magic Negro" so-called parody centered on RNC's top office candidate Chip Saltsman, the person who proudly introduced this crap to Americans was none other than His Conservative Majesty (HCM) Rush Limbaugh---previously a.k.a. the "role model for America's youth." As such it will be interesting to hear … [Read more...] about “Magic Negro”—What Will Limbaugh Say?
The Wisdom of Hamas
Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about The Wisdom of Hamas
The Hope of Bush’s Legacy: Amnesia – Le Figaro, France
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