In the wreckage of this week's news, it's encouraging to watch the Obama Administration taking shape with an emphasis on extreme competence (no heck-of-a-job Brownie in the lot). Today's New York Times describes it as "tilting toward the center, inviting a clash of ideas," but the left-right analysis seems less to the point than the question of getting things done as … [Read more...] about The Coming of a Can-Do Government
Now on Google: Life Magazine Photo Archive
I missed this earlier in the week. Search Engine Land: TimeWarner and Google have announced that starting today Google will make available millions of images from the Life Magazine photo archive. The vast majority (97 percent) of these images have never been seen by the public (they were sitting around in physical envelopes). These are hard-copy photographs that have been or … [Read more...] about Now on Google: Life Magazine Photo Archive
Obama To Bush: Get Off The Pot
President-elect Barack Obama called for swift and bold action Saturday to deflect the falling economy. His weekly Democratic radio and video address signaled President Bush to fill the power vacuum in Washington. "If we don't act swiftly and boldly, most experts now believe that we could lose millions of jobs next year," Obama said. "We now risk falling into a deflationary … [Read more...] about Obama To Bush: Get Off The Pot
A Turkey By Any Other Description Is Still the Governor of Alaska (Guest Voice)
It's the image that has now been shot (or sliced) around the world: former GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin liberating a Thanksgiving turkey, then giving an interview while turkeys are killed in the background as she speaks. In this Guest Voice post, journalism professor and author Walter Brasch argues that not all turkeys have feathers. Guest Voice posts do not … [Read more...] about A Turkey By Any Other Description Is Still the Governor of Alaska (Guest Voice)
Americans Are So Weird
I recently visited a friend from Australia and she said the funniest thing about our culture is how serious everyone takes things, while simultaneously being proudly ignorant and isolated. Turkeygate is such a great example of this. I found the video hilarious for two reasons. First it is just very ironic that she had a pomp-and- circumstance media event pardoning a turkey and … [Read more...] about Americans Are So Weird
In the Year 2012, the Republicans…
If you're already thinking ahead to 2012 -- and, honestly, who isn't? -- check out Chris Cillizza's post at The Fix on "ten Republicans to watch." The big names, of course, are Palin, Romney, and Huckabee, but only Romney makes the list, and rightly so. As I have said before, I think Palin's star will fade markedly over the next few years. Huckabee will continue to be a … [Read more...] about In the Year 2012, the Republicans…
An Obama-Palin Administration—No Satire!
A couple of days ago, I wrote a satirical piece on "What an Obama-Palin Administration Would Have Done For Our Economy." Some thought it was somewhat amusing, some didn't. But no one, including yours truly, thought of or brought up the subject that such an administration was not beyond the realm of possibilities. It turns out that, before the November 4 elections, … [Read more...] about An Obama-Palin Administration—No Satire!
It Was 45 Years Ago Today In Dallas, Texas
Even if you hadn't been alive when JFK was President, take a moment out today for a moment of silence and maybe a short prayer. … [Read more...] about It Was 45 Years Ago Today In Dallas, Texas
Lieberman, Obama, Bush, and Congressional Oversight
Though I had no stake in the party uproar surrounding the Senator from Connecticut, I flinched at the purported reason why Lieberman’s peers considered punishing him in the first place; namely, they said they took issue with him speaking out and working against Barack Obama during the presidential campaign. In Reclaiming Conservatism -- a book I have potentially … [Read more...] about Lieberman, Obama, Bush, and Congressional Oversight
Joe The Plumber Gets A Book Deal
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