In a financial world now turned upside down on several fronts, it was a shock when the venerable The Christian Science Monitor (the most underrated newspaper in the country) announced that it would say good bye to its paper edition and would become a web-only news source. Many quickly pooh-poohed that as a general trend, noting that Monitor wasn't your typical newspaper and … [Read more...] about Are Detroit’s Newspapers Planning To Halt Home Delivery?
On Supporting the Troops — More
I bristle when gung-ho Iraq war supporters accuse those who do not support the war in Iraq of "not supporting the troops," and I have written extensively on what it truly means to support our men and women in combat and our veterans. The Boston Globe this morning in "Veterans still waiting on disability appeals," provides yet another story of what is NOT an example of … [Read more...] about On Supporting the Troops — More
Obama’s Press Conference: Takes Strong Stand Against Blagojevich
Amid an increasingly loud chorus of pundit and talk radio discussion and some raised eyebrows, President Elect Barack Obama tackled the controversy of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Senate Seat For Sale scandal head on during his news conference -- denying his staff was involved and blasting the four-letter-word-fan Governor: President-elect Barack Obama fired off his … [Read more...] about Obama’s Press Conference: Takes Strong Stand Against Blagojevich
Blagojevich: The Psychological Lust for Swag, A Lost Story
There is story told by the old people about the wages of lusting for gold... Regarding the Conquest of Mexico: The conquistadores, were not as many think, Spanish only, but rather a group of mercenaries from Greece, Spain and Italy with quite a few mongrel types thrown in... all sailing under the flags of the Spanish king and queen with one mission only: get gold, get … [Read more...] about Blagojevich: The Psychological Lust for Swag, A Lost Story
Gay Marriage Fight Moving to New Jersey
Close on the heels of the proposition 8 battle in California, the public debate over gay marriage may be moving over to the East coast. It seems that a blue ribbon panel commissioned by the Governor has returned findings that the Garden State's current program of civil unions doesn't meet constitutional muster and should be replaced with full and equal marriage as an option for … [Read more...] about Gay Marriage Fight Moving to New Jersey
Blagojevich Scandal
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about Blagojevich Scandal
The Incredibly Shrinking Coalition of the Willing: Now Britain
In "The 'Coalition of the Willing' Comes to an End," I wrote how very few countries are still supporting our mission in Iraq, and that of those few left most will be out by the end of the year when the United Nations mandate authorizing the presence of foreign military troops in Iraq expires. Britain was the notable exception to the mass exodus. Britain still has about … [Read more...] about The Incredibly Shrinking Coalition of the Willing: Now Britain
Democrats and Conservatism’s Future
And now for something that has nothing to do with the Governor of Illinois: “The defeat of the Republican Party in the November election is widely thought to signal the decline of conservatism in the United States. But it is important to distinguish between the Republican Party and conservatism rather than to equate them.” Thus Judge Richard Posner opened a Nov. 30 post … [Read more...] about Democrats and Conservatism’s Future
Michael Steele Shows Some…Steel
While I don't agree with him on every issue, I have to like Michael Steele. The former Lt. Governor of Maryland is running for the leadership of the GOP. There have been rumblings from some "true believers" that, because of his work in reviving the moderate Republican Leadership Council (a group I support), he would make a bad leader for the Republican party. For a while, he … [Read more...] about Michael Steele Shows Some…Steel
Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll: Obama Increases Support
Take that Rush Limbaugh...Take that Sean Hannity: a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds President Elect Barack Obama is gaining support -- but the incoming President might well remember the old saying "the bigger they are, the harder they fall": President-elect Barack Obama is entering the White House with an enormous reservoir of goodwill from an American public … [Read more...] about Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll: Obama Increases Support
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: CORRUPTION MOST FOUL
Larry J. Sabato on CORRUPTION MOST FOUL: Revisiting the Timeless Principles of Corruption in Politics After reading the federal criminal complaint filed against the Illinois governor this past Tuesday we at The Crystal Ball could think only one thing: Willie Stark, meet Rod Blagojevich. Of course the governor is innocent until proven guilty, but the indictment is thick, well … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: CORRUPTION MOST FOUL
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Tainted As Candidate #5 In Blagojevich Criminal Complaint
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. a young, rising star in Illinois and national politics, has aggressively denied any wrongdoing in light of reports that tainted him as "Candidate #5" in the Blagojevich criminal complaint as the politico whose emissaries allegedly suggested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich might get something of value if he picked their man to fill out President Elect … [Read more...] about Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Tainted As Candidate #5 In Blagojevich Criminal Complaint
Blagojevich and Ryan
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune … [Read more...] about Blagojevich and Ryan
Our Dirty Little Secret: The Mexican Drug Wars
It was less than two years ago outrage spread through U.S. cities on the pretext illegal immigrants from Mexico were taking jobs from Americans. Today, the Mexican drug cartels are killing more people on an average day than in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and in the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks. Nary a whimper in protest is heard. The Mexican drug wars are more … [Read more...] about Our Dirty Little Secret: The Mexican Drug Wars
Obama vs. “The Bubble”
Even before he moves into the White House, the new President is feeling hemmed in and planning to do something about it. Asked by Chicago reporters about his face painted on sides of buildings and lamp posts, Barack Obama complained that "because I'm in this bubble, I don't get to see all this stuff...I don't get a chance to wander around neighborhoods," saying that he … [Read more...] about Obama vs. “The Bubble”
Dutch Government Refuses to Follow Bush’s Lead on Iraq “Regrets”
In my post "Iraq War---A Dutch Connection?", I mentioned how some in The Netherlands are criticizing the Dutch government for not coming clean on what it knew---or didn't know---before the invasion of Iraq. This morning, de Volkskrant is reporting that Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende continues to refuse to admit that the Dutch government made misjudgments, similar … [Read more...] about Dutch Government Refuses to Follow Bush’s Lead on Iraq “Regrets”
Prayer and Partisanship
Via Secular Right comes this interesting graph suggesting people who pray more tend to be more partisan (or perhaps people who are more partisan tend to pray more). One of Andrew Sullivan's readers offers up the best explanation I've seen: "The more willing you are to "believe" in anything, the more likely you are to "believe" in something else." But it isn't necessarily a … [Read more...] about Prayer and Partisanship
Symbols of Delusion: Chambliss, Cao, Boehner, and the Future of the Republican Party
At WaPo's The Fix on Monday, Chris Cillizza asked if Republicans are "on the march" and concluded that the recent Republican victories in Georgia (Senate) and Louisiana (House) "give Republicans something to rally around" and "lay the foundation for at least the possibility of a comeback in 2010 and beyond." Oh... really. While I do not deny that things can change quickly … [Read more...] about Symbols of Delusion: Chambliss, Cao, Boehner, and the Future of the Republican Party
Netflix on TiVo Here Now
Minutes after I got the email I had followed its simple instructions and was comfortably watching a selection from my Netflix "Watch Instantly" queue on TiVo. I'm dazzled by the technology! Over 10,000 titles are available (including a good number in HD) and the video quality is quite good. Still, there are some problems. I can pause (but not for too long), fast forward, or … [Read more...] about Netflix on TiVo Here Now
Joe The Plumber Turns On Senator John McCain
"Et tu, Joe The Plumber?" Those might be defeated Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's words in light of conservative talk show host Glenn Beck's interview where the man John McCain would not stop talking about in debates, on commercials and on the stump -- the man who became a major political motif during the past few weeks of campaign 2008 -- has verbally … [Read more...] about Joe The Plumber Turns On Senator John McCain