In the White House, she will be both a working wife and a stay-at-home mom, trying to give her daughters as normal a childhood as they can have living with the eyes of the world always on them. Even their new pet won't have a dog's life. In a 1963 interview, JFK told me with bemusement, "We got more letters about the puppies born here than the Nuclear Test Ban … [Read more...] about Michelle Obama’s Transition
Ehud Olmert on Israel’s Future
I received this today from Karen Smadja, Information, Press & Cultural Affairs, Permanent Mission of Israel, 1-3, avenue de la Paix, 1202 Geneva Address by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the special Knesset session marking 13 years since the murder of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin Jerusalem, 10 November 2008 Madam Speaker of the Knesset, Dalia Itzik, Honorable … [Read more...] about Ehud Olmert on Israel’s Future
Bionic Contact Lenses
Danielle Citron at Concurring Opinions: According to Government Technology, engineers at the University of Washington have developed contact lenses with integrated circuitry. Although the lenses have only been tested on animals, researchers are working on having electronic lenses overlay a display over a person's visual field without impairing sight. Researchers hope that … [Read more...] about Bionic Contact Lenses
Remembrance
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen … [Read more...] about Remembrance
Georgia Congressman Paul Broun Calls Obama Marxist
He said it at the Rotary Club then repeated it yesterday to AP: A Republican congressman from Georgia is calling President-elect Obama a Marxist and warning that he might be planning to form a Gestapo-like security force so he can rule as a dictator. A constituent raves! Griftdrift finds the ridiculousness far from sublime. Jake Tapper adds context: In July, Broun explained, … [Read more...] about Georgia Congressman Paul Broun Calls Obama Marxist
RNC Launches New Website: “Republicans For A Reason”
At a time when a fierce debate has begun within the Republican party about what Republicanism is and what it should be as the party heads into the 21st century seriously downsized after last week's elections, the RNC has launched a new website called "Republicans For A Reason." You can go to the website here. And here's the RNC email on the website: WASHINGTON – The … [Read more...] about RNC Launches New Website: “Republicans For A Reason”
Advice For Republicans And Advice For John McCain
When someone wins a Presidential election there's no shortage of advice: everyone says they have the perfect advice on what chart to course, who will be just perfect for the cabinet and how tough they should be on the opposition. But it's even worse when a party loses big -- as the Republicans did last week. Advice is coupled with finger pointing, recriminations and a lot of … [Read more...] about Advice For Republicans And Advice For John McCain
‘My Life with Obama Senior’: The Standard, Kenya
Now that Barack Obama Junior is safely America's president-to-be, his stepmother has decided to speak to the press about her courtship and relationship with Barack Obama Senior. According to this interview with Grace Keziah Obama from Kenya's Standard newspaper, the father of our President elect was quite a lady killer and, 'He liked fun and loved good things. Which is why I … [Read more...] about ‘My Life with Obama Senior’: The Standard, Kenya
In The Skies Over Kuwait Nine Years Ago—A Personal Veterans Day Tribute
During one of our political conventions earlier this year in my hometown of Austin, Texas, I met a terrific lady who told me an amazing story. It is a story of dedication, courage, and heroism. It is the story of a veteran, retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Juanyta Ortiz, whom I am proud to honor on this Veterans Day, her day. I had hoped to have Juanyta’s compelling … [Read more...] about In The Skies Over Kuwait Nine Years Ago—A Personal Veterans Day Tribute
Rush’s New Lease on Life
Last week, the talk show radio circuit was ablaze with the beginning of the anti-Obama message before President-elect Barack Obama is even sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Several months ago, I predicted that Obama’s win would be the best possible scenario for Rush, Sean Hannity and the other fire breathers on the right: "If Obama is elected Limbaugh has … [Read more...] about Rush’s New Lease on Life
Tomb of the Unknowns (Guest Voice)
Some special thoughts from humorist Tom Purcell -- not humorous here -- on this special day: Tomb of the Unknowns By Tom Purcell Hurricane Isabel struck Washington, D.C., hard that night. It was Sept. 18, 2003. I lived in Alexandria, Va., at the time. I rode out the storm reading a book and enjoying a glass of wine. At the Arlington National Cemetery, just a few … [Read more...] about Tomb of the Unknowns (Guest Voice)
Flag of Our Veterans
Jeff Parker, Florida Today … [Read more...] about Flag of Our Veterans
Adios Phoenix. Job Well Done.
A rather sad story of success comes out of NASA this week. After months of literally groundbreaking success in one of the most harsh, bleak locations on the red planet, the Mars Phoenix Lander has fallen silent. WASHINGTON -- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has ceased communications after operating for more than five months. As anticipated, seasonal decline in sunshine at the … [Read more...] about Adios Phoenix. Job Well Done.
VETERANS DAY 2008
I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves. The enemy was in us. The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days. As I'm sure Elias will be, fighting with Barnes for what Rhah called "possession of my soul." There are times since, I've felt like a child, born of those two fathers. But be that as it may, those of us … [Read more...] about
Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
On Frontline tonight: In the wake of yet another hard-fought and bitter presidential campaign, FRONTLINE presents a spirited and revealing biography of Lee Atwater, the charming, Machiavellian godfather of modern take-no-prisoners Republican political campaigns. Through eye-opening interviews with Atwater’s closest friends and adversaries, the film explores the life of the … [Read more...] about Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
Remember The Day
I could try to write something eloquent about how we all need to honor the many who have served our country but I would prefer to let the rest of you simply take the time to remember. We all may complain about the trials of election time but it is worth remembering all of those who have sacrificed to give us these freedoms. Remember, they stood between us and bullets, we … [Read more...] about Remember The Day
The Irrelevant South
A raging debate in Democratic circles over the last few years has centered on the party's Southern - or non-Southern - strategy to victory. With the 2000 electoral map looking eerily like the 1860 map, many Democrats concluded that victory could come by simply ignoring the South. Yes, there were many African American voters to be earned in the South, but nowhere near enough to … [Read more...] about The Irrelevant South
Some Observations On Blogs
Now that we are slowly moving past Election 2008, I thought I might offer a few thoughts on my experiences with some of the bigger blogs. While I am sure some of you would disagree I think that my self proclaimed status as a slightly center right moderate is reasonable. As a result I tend to find myself in disagreement with both right and left blogs. Of course as someone who … [Read more...] about Some Observations On Blogs
A Frustrated Centrism That Can Lurch Left or Right
Last week Bill Moyers asked Kevin Phillips -- his latest book is Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism -- where he stood on the "punditocracy" debate over whether we are a center-left or center-right country: Well, I think the demographics of the change that we started out discussing, which is the great rise in non-whites … [Read more...] about A Frustrated Centrism That Can Lurch Left or Right
Breaking News: Obama is Not Divine
Oh dear. It seems that some of the global media have shifted from being overawed to stating the blindingly obvious - which is not to say, of course, that sometimes the blindingly obvious doesn't include some very good points. Papers around the world are picking up on a new "kind" of politics in the election of Obama - something to do with charisma, heightened belief in the … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Obama is Not Divine