Repeatedly, we proclaim that we are tired of the tactics of attack; we say we want civil discourse. Yet those who play to the extreme get rewarded with listeners and ditto-heads. So, who is responsible, those who throw the grenades, or those who cheer the explosions? Read "Can civility make a comeback?" and consider. --- Cross-posted to Random Fate. … [Read more...] about The Fault Lies Not With Them, but Within Ourselves
Obama to Post Weekly Address on YouTube
FDR had his fireside chats, Obama will have YouTube. His administration plans to bring government into the 21st century in a big way. From the Washington Post: Today, President-elect Obama will record the weekly Democratic address not just on radio but also on video -- a first. The address, typically four minutes long, will be turned into a YouTube video and posted on … [Read more...] about Obama to Post Weekly Address on YouTube
Quote Of The Day: On Reports Obama Considering Hillary Clinton For Secretary Of State
Amid many reports that President Elect Barack Obama is considering his former Democratic nomination rival Sen. Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, MSNBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann offer one possible Machiavellian theory of why at First Read: The best reason for Obama to be looking for a place in his cabinet for Clinton is simple: to … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: On Reports Obama Considering Hillary Clinton For Secretary Of State
Obama And McCain To Meet To Find Ways To Work Together
It this yet another sign that Arizona Sen. John McCain will now revert to his previous role as a Senate deal-maker ally for the White House -- this time a White House occupied by the Democrat who defeated him in the Presidential race -- and that the 2000 version of McCain will return to the forefront? Time's Mark Halperin has this release from the Obama camp: "On … [Read more...] about Obama And McCain To Meet To Find Ways To Work Together
A Katrina of Cash?
Almost half the $700 billion bailout money has been shoveled out the door, but nobody is keeping track of it. "It's a mess," says Eric M. Thorson, the Treasury Department's inspector general, who has overseen the dispensing of $290 billion so far until a special inspector general takes over. "I don't think anyone understands right now how we're going to do proper oversight … [Read more...] about A Katrina of Cash?
Honeymoon Suite
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post … [Read more...] about Honeymoon Suite
The Iran-Saudi Arabia Cold War
One of the untold stories about the effects of U.S. involvement in the Middle East has been the escalating power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia for control of the region. At the height of the insurgency in Iraq, for instance, Saudi Arabia—a supposed U.S. ally—was funneling money and volunteers to the Sunni insurgency to undermine the Maliki government, which … [Read more...] about The Iran-Saudi Arabia Cold War
How the NFL Network is Destroying America
Ever since the National Football League made the self centered, cash grabbing decision to launch the NFL Network, fans of various teams around the country have had to resign themselves to the idea that, for at least one week out of the season, they would be robbed of a chance to support their team. This week it was supporters of the New York Jets and the New England Patriots … [Read more...] about How the NFL Network is Destroying America
8 Years On, The Depressing Task Of Comparing Bush’s Words To His Deeds
GEORGE WALKER BUSH: THEN AND NOW I had long planned to post an abridged text of George Bush's 2000 Republican National Convention acceptance speech closer to Inauguration Day and compare his words with his deeds, but the post-mortems already are flying fast and furious. This includes a lot of revisionist clap-trap from conservative bloggers whose heads remain firmly up their … [Read more...] about 8 Years On, The Depressing Task Of Comparing Bush’s Words To His Deeds
Election Update #2
As we move further along from Election Day, we still have three outstanding Senate races. In Alaska, convicted felon Ted Stevens (R) has fallen behind his Democratic opponent Mark Begich. At this point, the margin is about 900 votes with about 25,000 or so left to be counted. Begich seems to have a slight edge but there is considerable net debate over where the remaining … [Read more...] about Election Update #2
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Negative Campaigning–What’s New?
Larry J. Sabato: NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING--WHAT'S NEW? This article is republished courtesy of the Los Angeles Times. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson endured a presidential campaign in which supporters of his opponent, President John Adams, labored mightily to convince the public that the then-vice president was an atheistic coward hell-bent on ripping Bibles from the homes of … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Negative Campaigning–What’s New?
With Obama, American ‘Communications System’ Improves U.S. Image: Jornal de Angola
One of the more rewarding things about showing Americans what the rest of the world thinks about our nation, is to introduce people to newspapers that they would never ordinarily be able to read. For example, how many Americans have ever read a newspaper from the civil-war stricken Portuguese-speaking country of Angola? This article by Altino Matos of the Jornal de Angola … [Read more...] about With Obama, American ‘Communications System’ Improves U.S. Image: Jornal de Angola
Asia News Roundup: Australia, China, Maldives…
With the excitement, dust, heat and frenzy generated by the US presidential elections seemingly behind us, the recent developments in Asia and other parts of the world deserve attention. The Economist, as usual, leads other world publications in bringing to us news stories in an insightful and succinct manner. First, how Australia and China facing the global financial … [Read more...] about Asia News Roundup: Australia, China, Maldives…
Could Obama Name Hillary Clinton As His Secretary Of State?
Georgia Congressman Broun Stands by Hitler Obama Comparison
Yesterday it looked like he was backing away from his intemperate comments. Today I learn he says that's not so. The AJC: Georgia Congressman Paul Broun Wednesday stood by warnings that President-elect Barack Obama might set up a Gestapo-like civilian security force. One day after the Athens Republican told a radio talk show that he regretted calling Obama a “Marxist,” a … [Read more...] about Georgia Congressman Broun Stands by Hitler Obama Comparison
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: From Republican ‘LOCK’ to Republican ‘LOCKOUT’?
Rhodes Cook - FROM REPUBLICAN 'LOCK' TO REPUBLICAN 'LOCKOUT'?: Every day since Nov. 4, the scope of Democrat Barack Obama's victory has grown more impressive. His electoral vote total of 364 is the highest for any presidential winner since Bill Clinton's reelection in 1996. His 53 percent share of the total popular vote is the largest since George H.W. Bush won a … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: From Republican ‘LOCK’ to Republican ‘LOCKOUT’?
‘We are All Americans’: Folha, Brazil
'We are All Americans.' Most of us recall that phrase used by the French the day after September 11, 2001. After all of the events of the past eight years and the deterioration of America's image, few would have predicted hearing it again. But we are. Since the election of President-elect Obama, I have personally seen the phrase in at least three articles we have posted from … [Read more...] about ‘We are All Americans’: Folha, Brazil
The ‘Color Revolution’ Has Finally Spread to the U.S.!: The Global Geographic Times, China
Here's a new take on Obama's election as president from none other than China's state-controlled media. According to this op-ed from China's strictly-controlled Global Geographic Weekly, Obama's victory is a 'color revolution' - similar to those promoted by the Bush Administration in Ukraine and Georgia. The unsigned article says in part: "The U.S. presidential election, … [Read more...] about The ‘Color Revolution’ Has Finally Spread to the U.S.!: The Global Geographic Times, China
Right Wing Clowns
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Right Wing Clowns
Begich Expands Lead in Alaska Senate Count
Democrat Mark Begich overtook Republican/felon Ted Stevens late yesterday, at one point holding a lead of just three votes, and he has expanded his lead as the counting continues. As the Anchorage Daily News is reporting (and CNN and Alaska Elections have the same numbers), Begich is now up by 814 -- "132,196 to 131,382 -- with the state still to count roughly 40,000 more … [Read more...] about Begich Expands Lead in Alaska Senate Count