Attention continues to focus on President Elect Barack Obama's possible selections for his staff and Cabinet, and some of the questions I'm hearing center on the dearth of Republicans popping up on the list. Today I'd like to address a couple of potential issues with this debate. It's a tricky high wire act for Obama, with barriers being thrown up on both sides of the … [Read more...] about The Pitfalls of Obama GOP Appointments
The Myth of “One-Party Rule”
As the presidential campaign was nearing its end, as the Republicans were getting more and more desperate amid prospects of doom, the McCain-Palin fear- and smear-mongering focused not just on Obama's "socialism" but on how horrible so-called "one-party rule" would be for the country. McCain himself put it this way: "We're getting a glimpse of what one-party rule would look … [Read more...] about The Myth of “One-Party Rule”
Show Me the Votes: The Ongoing Presidential Election Tally in Missouri
I've been focusing much of my attention lately on the still-unresolved Senate races in Minnesota and Alaska, but, lest we forget, there is still one undecided state in the presidential election: Missouri. Here's the latest: [T]he vote count in Missouri is tightening. Republican John McCain's statewide lead has shrunk to fewer than 5,000 votes, as various counties have … [Read more...] about Show Me the Votes: The Ongoing Presidential Election Tally in Missouri
Gates and Change: Will Obama Keep the Current SecDef?
The WSJ is reporting that "Obama is leaning toward asking Defense Secretary Robert Gates to remain in his position for at least a year, according to two Obama advisers. A senior Pentagon official said Mr. Gates would likely accept the offer if it is made." I'm sorry, but that's not change I can believe in. (To those of you who think I'm now turning on Obama because he's … [Read more...] about Gates and Change: Will Obama Keep the Current SecDef?
Political Parties: Anticipating Their Demise
I’ve lived through and studied enough politics to know that -- even as individual voters like me abandon the Republican Party -- the chances of the GOP eventually turning itself around are still quite good. Think about it: Who could have imagined darker days for the Republicans than those between Nixon’s exit and Carter’s triumph? And yet, a few short years later, a … [Read more...] about Political Parties: Anticipating Their Demise
GMail “Video & More”
Google has introduced free voice and video chat in GMail: Video chatting from Gmail is as easy as sending an instant message. With our team spread out across Google offices in Sweden and the U.S., it's been really handy in helping us work together. Just click on the new "Video & more" menu in a Gmail chat window and select "Start video chat" or "Start voice chat." You can … [Read more...] about GMail “Video & More”
Senator Chris Matthews?
There have been a number of people who move from public office into the media. One example is Joe Scarborough, a former Congressman who now hosts a political-analysis show on MSNBC. Mike Huckabee also has his own show on Fox. But do people ever move in the opposite direction, going from the media into government service? The word on the street is that Chris Matthews of Hardball … [Read more...] about Senator Chris Matthews?
Silk Underpinnings For The First Dude
I was reading my favorite New York Times column this morning (Maureen Dowd's Op-Ed with a strange title, "Boxers, Briefs or Silks?"), and my negative opinion about Sarah from Alaska continued to be reinforced. But, towards the end, I read that Sarah Palin was "still receiving shipments of custom-designed underpinnings up to her ‘Saturday Night Live’ performance in October." … [Read more...] about Silk Underpinnings For The First Dude
Generation O
The NY Times said essentially what I said about how this election defined a generation, only they, of course, said it earlier and better: These young voters and those slightly older, who together may forever be known as Generation O, were the ground troops of the campaign. They opened hundreds of Obama offices in remote areas, registered voters and persuaded older relatives … [Read more...] about Generation O
The Resurrection of John Edwards
Emerging from the Democratic Party witness protection program, the former perpetual candidate was slouching toward redemption last night for a discussion of last week's elections at Indiana University and next week will debate Karl Rove, his Republican counterpart in shamelessness, at an American Bankers Association meeting in San Francisco (paying them with taxpayer bailout … [Read more...] about The Resurrection of John Edwards
Barack the Lawn Ranger
This is coming from Dave Barry, so I'm not entirely sure it's legitimate, but then again, Ben Smith over at Politico seemed to take it seriously, so I blame my gullibility on him. Apparently, Obama was once a member of the "Lawn Rangers" a group that "wowed the Midwest corn-festival circuit with their synchronized mowing maneuvers, broom tossing and plunger wagging." I'll … [Read more...] about Barack the Lawn Ranger
In These Days of Corporate Bailouts…
... especially when CEO bonuses are still being paid in the millions, this definition is more apropos than ever. "Criminal: A person with predatory instincts who has not sufficient capital to form a corporation." -Howard Scott … [Read more...] about In These Days of Corporate Bailouts…
Flip HD and Bustup Don’t Bailout Those Giant Companies
NYTimes Bits Blog: The fastest growing company in Silicon Valley over the past few years was not Facebook, VMWare, or all-mighty Google. According to Deloitte, the professional services firm, it was a company whose name you probably won’t recognize but whose product you will: Pure Digital Technologies, maker of the popular Flip video camera. In a study released last month, … [Read more...] about Flip HD and Bustup Don’t Bailout Those Giant Companies
Musings On The President-Elect: We’re Not In Kansas Anymore, Are We Barry?
I said from the moment it became obvious that Barack Obama would prevail that winning would be the easy part, and I have felt distinctly uncomfortable observing his first interactions as president-elect with George Bush and the Washington establishment. Part of that unease falls into the category of This Is Too Good To Be True, and it will be a while before I don't wake up … [Read more...] about Musings On The President-Elect: We’re Not In Kansas Anymore, Are We Barry?
Georgia Congressman Backs Away From Obama Hitler Comparison
The update is almost better than the original story. The AJC headlines, Rep. Broun regrets linking Obama, Hitler. Well, duh! Georgia Congressman Paul Broun Tuesday backed away from comparing the policies of President-elect Obama to those of Hitler or a Marxist dictator. ... “I regret putting it that way,” Broun told WGAC radio in Augusta. “I apologize to anyone who has … [Read more...] about Georgia Congressman Backs Away From Obama Hitler Comparison
Big Three Carmakers
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Big Three Carmakers
Veterans Day 2008: When The Eagles, Crow, Deer, Bears Went To War
This is a clip of the opening of the pow wow at The Smithsonian ... you will see some of my friends who are Veterans being the honored carriers of the United States flag. The veterans are most often in the front rows of the grand entry. Then will come the veteran's honor dance, one of many this night... honor truly, because they carry proudly the American flag under which … [Read more...] about Veterans Day 2008: When The Eagles, Crow, Deer, Bears Went To War
NYTimes Online Exec Leaving to Become NPR CEO
The senior vice president and general manager of NYTimes.com, Vivian Schiller, has accepted the position of president and CEO of National Public Radio. ReadWrite Web is excited: We love what Schiller has done at the New York Times, from getting rid of the subscription pay wall last year to launching a series of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) this year for 3rd … [Read more...] about NYTimes Online Exec Leaving to Become NPR CEO
Things We Should Change, But Won’t – Part I: Social Security
Change has been promised, as it always is by almost every new president. So President-elect Obama, who I voted for lest you think I am being harsh, has begun yet another quest for the holy grail of change in Washington. I am going to suggest several things over the coming posts that should be changed, but won’t be. Perhaps I am wrong. Social Security: A common misconception … [Read more...] about Things We Should Change, But Won’t – Part I: Social Security
Obama and Us [Arabs]: Let’s Not Be Taken in Again – Awan of Kuwait
As far as the Arab world is concerned, Obama's election has brought cautious optimism. But there is another narrative that has been emerging that Moderate Voice readers may have noticed if you have been following our recent posts from the Arab world. Over the weekend, from Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria, we posted Obama: Dreams and Reality for Arabs, which said in … [Read more...] about Obama and Us [Arabs]: Let’s Not Be Taken in Again – Awan of Kuwait