Or did he? And what does it say about the state of publishing, writing -- and journalism? Details and thoughts here. … [Read more...] about Joe The Plumber Gets A Book Deal
Obama Vows Action On Economy ASAP In Weekly You Tube Address
One of the changes President-Elect Barack Obama has immediately made to nudge the Presidency into the 21st century is to move the President's weekly radio address into the realm of cyberspace as well by putting it on YouTube as well as on the broadcast airwaves. And it is a master stroke: how many people (particularly young people) are glued to their radios on Saturday morning … [Read more...] about Obama Vows Action On Economy ASAP In Weekly You Tube Address
A Bold New Way
There is no dispute that fossil fuels are finite. It took millions upon millions of years to give us the oil reserves we have today. And we aren't exactly replenishing the oil supply, unless we halt all life on this fine planet of hours (including mankind), break down into our carbon and hydrogen components over millions upon millions of years in order to form oil. Then we … [Read more...] about A Bold New Way
Quote Of The Day: An American Abroad’s Awe Of Post-Election America
Our political Quote of the Day comes from author Carol Guild, who writes via Pajamas Media of her awe as she looks at post-election America from London: Over the past two weeks the outpouring of British newspaper, radio, and television punditry has been staggering in volume. Staggering in variety? No. One theme that seems to obsess British journalists has been a grim, … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: An American Abroad’s Awe Of Post-Election America
Sarah Palin Still Potent Punchline For David Letterman
The election may be over but some punchlines still get a laugh. David Letterman, who got great mileage out of his feud with longtime guest Republican Sen. John McCain during McCain's unsuccessful campaign for president, is still getting big yucks out of his punchlines about defeated GOP Veep candidate Gov. Sarah Palin. The latest came when Letterman had on CBS News' … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Still Potent Punchline For David Letterman
Mount St. Helens, 28 Years Later
On this date in 1980 Mt. St. Helens in Washington State blew its top. A friend of mine who lived in nearby Yakima mailed us photos of people with shovels clearing out ash from their driveways and sidewalks as if it were an early snowfall. Area residents, much like the rest of the nation, were in shock, not really comprehending the nature and scope of the disaster. Many seemed … [Read more...] about Mount St. Helens, 28 Years Later
US-Iranian Relations Under Obama?
Howard LaFranchi has some informed speculations. Those with whom LaFranchi spoke speculate that, owing to our own financial crisis, the one precipitated by falling oil prices in Iran, and the upcoming Iranian presidential election in which incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is, by no means, a shoo-in, Obama will take deliberate approach to confronting and eliminating Iran's nuclear … [Read more...] about US-Iranian Relations Under Obama?
The Ongoing Tragedy of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and his military henchmen will do anything to maintain power in their country, even preside over the unnecessary deaths by starvation and disease of hundreds of thousands of their countrymen. After losing a presidential election but declaring victory, Mugabe et al entered into a power-sharing standoff with actual winner Morgan … [Read more...] about The Ongoing Tragedy of Zimbabwe
[UPDATE] The Lost Story: Attorney General Mukasey: What Actually Happened Before He Fainted
UPDATE ...a few moments before Attorney General Mukasey fainted at the podium during his speech last night, he had been attempting to give "a stinging rebuke to intellectuals and others who 'have viciously criticized' the Bush Admin" saying their arguments are completely untethered to Legal Reality. When Mukasey said he had been criticized for his stances and for defending … [Read more...] about [UPDATE] The Lost Story: Attorney General Mukasey: What Actually Happened Before He Fainted
Bombs Away
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen … [Read more...] about Bombs Away
The U.S.-Iraq Security Deal ‘Legitimizes the Occupation’: Iraqi News Agency
Readers of the Moderate voice will recall this article by one of Iraq's most pro-American Sunni columnists, Khadir Taahar, 'Beyond Allah, Only America Can Save Iraq' - which we posted yesterday. Continuing with our Iraqi coverage of the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, we have this article, apparently written by a Shiite, that is opposed to the deal. This is by … [Read more...] about The U.S.-Iraq Security Deal ‘Legitimizes the Occupation’: Iraqi News Agency
Bush’s Impossible Achievement
As he serves out his time, the self-styled Decider is putting Americans through the most agonizing period of indecision in three-quarters of a century, leaving a unified nation holding its breath until January 20th. Paul Krugman cites today's parallel with the "power vacuum" in 1932-1933 that was "disastrous for the U.S. economy, at least in part because the outgoing … [Read more...] about Bush’s Impossible Achievement
Can Americans Tolerate a Bush-Obama Transition—To Better English, That Is.
My English diction is far from perfect, and sometimes I rationalize for this weakness. Nevertheless, I would expect a little better from our politicians and national leaders. George W. Bush's malapropisms and other abuses of the English language are both embarrassing and legendary. Sen. Joe Biden "immortalized" Rudy Giuliani's political sentence structure as "a noun … [Read more...] about Can Americans Tolerate a Bush-Obama Transition—To Better English, That Is.
Clinton Pick a Bold Expression of Obama’s Strength: From Die Welt, Germany
There seems to be a chasm opening up between Britain and the Continent over whether Hillary Clinton is a good choice to be U.S. secretary of state. It seems the British are largely - but not universally - convinced that this isn't a good idea for Obama. On mainland Europe, however, the idea is much more widely seen a wise move by the President elect. Take for example, this … [Read more...] about Clinton Pick a Bold Expression of Obama’s Strength: From Die Welt, Germany
Foot Soldiers In The Cable News Wars
The three major cable TV news channels are backed into a corner reaching for niche audiences which in the broadest terms can be described as preaching to the choir: Fox for conservatives; MSNBC for liberals and CNN for those disgusted with the biases of the former two. The election of Barack Obama and strong Democratic majorities in both Houses has forced role-reversals for … [Read more...] about Foot Soldiers In The Cable News Wars
Time Magazine And Angelina Jolie
Will this raise eyebrows? … [Read more...] about Time Magazine And Angelina Jolie
Internet Usage Up, Sexual Offenses Against Kids Down
Counter intuitive? Michael Masnick at TechDirt: We've been pointing out for a while that the supposed "threat" of online sexual predators has been blown way out of proportion, thanks to the press and politicians' desire to create moral panics that allow politicians to make themselves look good while passing useless laws. The Berkman Center, at Harvard, is about to come out … [Read more...] about Internet Usage Up, Sexual Offenses Against Kids Down
‘Irrational Exuberance’ of 1990s Unwound
Aaron Task: Any way you slice it, the 2008 is shaping up to annus horribilis for the U.S. stock market. Heading into Friday's session, in which an early rally effort quickly faded, the S&P was down 49% year-to-date and on track for its worst year ever. Down 43% year to date, the Dow is heading for its second worst year in history, the WSJ reports, trailing only the 53% … [Read more...] about ‘Irrational Exuberance’ of 1990s Unwound
‘Get Out of Iraq Now’: End the Occupation – La Jornada Editorial, Mexico
It isn't only Iran, Syria and Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who are dissatisfied with the new U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement now in the hands of the Iraqi National Assembly. According to this scolding editorial from La Jornada of Mexico, there are a good number of people in that country who regard the American presence in that country as an unmitigated disgrace that … [Read more...] about ‘Get Out of Iraq Now’: End the Occupation – La Jornada Editorial, Mexico
Modern Pirates Making Big Bucks: $150 Million In 12 Months
The news is now out: Pirates are making big bucks. A warning to America's big three automakers: Don't let this give you any ideas... But using ships at sea to update and expand upon the centuries-old tradition of pirating is really raking the (tax-free) money in , according to reports: More than $150 million have been paid to pirates around the Horn of Africa over the … [Read more...] about Modern Pirates Making Big Bucks: $150 Million In 12 Months