Obama plans to give what he called "a major address" in an "Islamic capital" soon after taking office. Would he do it in Baghdad maybe? Somewhere in Saudi Arabia? Either way, it will do a lot of good. The whole clash-of-civilizations theory was in many ways a self-fulfilling prophecy. It didn't have to be that way, even after September 11. But Bush's with-us-or-against us … [Read more...] about Obama Plans Major Address in Islamic Capital
Mike Duncan Not Ready to Leave RNC Post?
A story from the GOP side of the aisle is breaking this morning over at The Skepticians. James Richardson is reporting that all of the debate over who the next RNC Chairman will be may prove premature. Mike Duncan, the current chairman, might not be ready to vacate the position. The recent Republican victories in GA and MS gave pause to Mike Duncan, current Republican … [Read more...] about Mike Duncan Not Ready to Leave RNC Post?
Christmas Spending: What Will You Do?
There seem to be some conflicting reports over what is going to happen this year with Christmas/Holiday spending. The standard line is that spending is going to be down (perhaps way down) due to consumer fears over a sagging economy. But other reports hint at online spending being equal to last year. Personally I have wondered about the degree to which some people seem to … [Read more...] about Christmas Spending: What Will You Do?
Mumbai Terror: Attackers Identified
Mumbai police today released the names of 10 alleged attackers who killed 171 persons in a three-day siege of parts of this financial hub of India. Meanwhile Pakistan has made it clear that it would not hand over the alleged planners of attack to India. "Police said all 10 attackers were from Pakistan, most of them from Punjab province, and were between the age of 20 and … [Read more...] about Mumbai Terror: Attackers Identified
Calling In Gay To Work Today?
Today is supposed to be a day of protest by members of the GLBT community where they call in sick to work in order to demonstrate the importance of the community to society as a whole. This follows a similar series of protests carried out by immigrant rights supporters in 2004 and 2006. As someone who has made no secret of his strong support for Gay rights and my strong … [Read more...] about Calling In Gay To Work Today?
Obama and the End of ‘Gringo Domination’: Semana of Colombia
Does the arrival of Barack Obama herald a new era, or did he simply come along just as a new era characterized by the end of 'gringo domination' began? The answer, according to Alfredo Rangel of Colombia's Semana newspaper, is emphatically the latter. Citing Richard Haas' recent article in Foreign Affairs, Rangel writes in part: "To put things in perspective, the … [Read more...] about Obama and the End of ‘Gringo Domination’: Semana of Colombia
A Conservative for Gay Marriage
There are conservatives out there that actually are for gay marriage and are also willing to call a spade a spade: The supporters of traditional family values are afraid of giving same sex couples equal protection under the law because they wonder if the next law we’ll want will allow traditional family values people like Warren Jeffs to do what they do legally. Last time I … [Read more...] about A Conservative for Gay Marriage
Iraq War—A Dutch Connection?
Apparently, it wasn't only the U.S. government that kept information/intelligence on Iraq from lawmakers and from the people before the attack on that country. A Dutch commentator describes in the NRC Handelsblad how The Netherlands was sucked into the Iraq war, even thought the Dutch intelligence agencies had better information than the U.S. on Iraq's WMDs: The … [Read more...] about Iraq War—A Dutch Connection?
Blago’s Third-World-Style Corruption
Lots of other folks have chimed in on Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's arrest today. What strikes me about this is how little this resembles a typical Chicago scandal and how much it looks like the sort of thing you see in Latin America, Africa or elsewhere in the Third World. Most Chicago (and Illinois) scandals are based on machines. Going back to the 19th century … [Read more...] about Blago’s Third-World-Style Corruption
A Special Election In Illinois?
Word is starting to circulate that there may be a special election in Illinois instead of an appointment to fill the vacant Senate seat of President Elect Obama. The story goes like this...... under the US Constitution the state legislature has the power to decide how to fill a vacant Senate seat until the next election. Many states (like Illinois) allow the governor to name … [Read more...] about A Special Election In Illinois?
Will Blagojevich Shift Focus Back To Republican-Democratic Campaign Mode?
,/center> President Elect Barack Obama is unscathed by the unfolding scandal involving Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Senate Seat For Sale arrest because the record shows he was never close to the governor and kept a distance. President Elect Barack Obama could well be involved because he comes from the same state and worked within that political system and who knows … [Read more...] about Will Blagojevich Shift Focus Back To Republican-Democratic Campaign Mode?
Blagojevich
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Blagojevich
Can Gov. Blagojevich’s Alphabet Soup Lead to Obama?
If the serious allegations against Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich are proven to be true in a court of law, he -- and any other accomplices -- should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. In the meantime, the right-wing media erupted into an orgy of anticipatory celebration and glee, and into unveiled attempts to implicate President-elect Obama, by trying to tie … [Read more...] about Can Gov. Blagojevich’s Alphabet Soup Lead to Obama?
UPDATED: The Blagojevich Saga
UPDATE #4 The American Prospect's Adam Serwer helps decode the Senate-seat candidates referenced by numbers only in the criminal complaint against Gov. Blago. ------------------ UPDATE #3 A rumor is afoot that Obama CoS Rahm Emanuel may have helped spark the beginning of the end of Blago: (Note: Scroll down our home page for Blago-Saga reactions from other … [Read more...] about UPDATED: The Blagojevich Saga
Climate Change Solution: Shoot Cheney into Space – Nachrichten of Switzerland
With Patrick Fitzgerald, the man that indicted Dick Cheney's chief of staff 'Scooter Libby', busy with other matters in Illinois, a Swiss newspaper yesterday carried this article that alleges additional misdeeds by our vice president. Has Vice President Dick Cheney blocked the launch of a satellite that promises to lay to rest the debate about whether human beings are … [Read more...] about Climate Change Solution: Shoot Cheney into Space – Nachrichten of Switzerland
Obama’s Foreign Policy Will Need United Nations Support
Because of President-elect Barack Obama’s genuinely internationalist ambitions, the United Nations will be an indispensable backdrop for the first time in recent decades for the success of US foreign policy. The key foreign policy issues of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the financial and economic meltdown, climate change and energy use have global components coordinated mainly … [Read more...] about Obama’s Foreign Policy Will Need United Nations Support
Dirty Politicians
Every newsperson, every website, every blogger in the United States at this very moment has an opinion on the latest inductee into the Corrupt Politicians Hall of Shame. If it weren't for such a tough name to digest, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich would be a household name for the ages. If any of the criminal charges brought against him are true, he will make yesteryear's … [Read more...] about Dirty Politicians
Blagojevich Auctions Senate Seat
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Blagojevich Auctions Senate Seat
Selling Obama’s Senate Seat
The prosecutor who took out Scooter Libby is flummoxed today by the antics of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in trying to auction off Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. "The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States … [Read more...] about Selling Obama’s Senate Seat
Blagojevich: Cashing In On the Big Time
Holly already broke this story here, but in terms of media coverage regarding the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, this headline from the Chicago Tribune really has to take the cake. Blagojevich's Senate Selection Process Investigated Really? You're investigating his selection process? Given the details leaking out already, isn't that somewhat akin to checking … [Read more...] about Blagojevich: Cashing In On the Big Time