Will he or won't he? Will independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman -- admired by some for his courage and reviled by others who see him as a turncoat -- turn down what seems to be an offer he can't refuse and refuse to caucus with the Democrats and go with the Republicans rather than face consequences for his campaign 2008 behavior? Will he or won't he? Will President … [Read more...] about Will Obama Opt To Play Hardball In Dealing With Sen. Joe Lieberman?
Change Can’t Happen If It Only Comes From Above
This week's election of Barack Obama as President puts the larger issue of change under the microscope. But is change something that a President imposes, or must it come from below as well? NPR's Dick Meyer, in a column titled "You Wanted Change? It's Time To Help," argues that change that turns out to be more than just a buzzword or a marketing concept needs to come from … [Read more...] about Change Can’t Happen If It Only Comes From Above
Cartoon: Election 2008 – The Day After
Elections are such ripe fodder for cartoons. I'm going to miss it. Click the cartoon for a full size image. For more, visit Small World Cartoons. … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Election 2008 – The Day After
The 70th Anniversary of Kristallnacht
Mata H. of BlogHer has a sensitive and poignant entry about the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. I urge you to go read it there, but I'm grafting just a couple of things to share and adding a bit more. First, please listen to and watch this short clip: One of the truths I've always known about has been the failure of the United States to intervene in the events as … [Read more...] about The 70th Anniversary of Kristallnacht
Stop Scapegoating Black People for Proposition 8
Yesterday People For the American Way's president, Kathryn Kolbert, put out a statement on Blaming Black Voters for Prop 8 Loss is Wrong and Destructive: The past 72 hours have brought an extraordinary range of emotions - great joy at the election of Barack Obama and defeat of John McCain, and sadness and anger at the passage of anti-gay initiatives in Florida, Arizona, … [Read more...] about Stop Scapegoating Black People for Proposition 8
Harvard Law Professor Fights Back Against RIAA
The Harvard Crimson: A Harvard Law School professor filed a counterclaim last Friday against the Recording Industry Association of America that challenges the constitutionality of the RIAA’s efforts against those caught downloading music from file-sharing services. Charles R. Nesson ’60, the founder of Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, is defending Joel … [Read more...] about Harvard Law Professor Fights Back Against RIAA
‘Astonishing Americans:’ The Land of Possibilities – L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
Is there anyone left out there wondering of the the rest of this planet sees America in a new light after President-elect Obama's victory? This article by the great Christian Merville of Lebanon's L'Orient Le Jour is particularly eloquent - and ends much more cold-eyed than this paragraph in the beginning might lead one to believe. And demonstrating the incredible change in … [Read more...] about ‘Astonishing Americans:’ The Land of Possibilities – L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon
Hillary Clinton, Senate Majority Leader?
Obama passed on her as vice president but can still put Hillary Clinton on the team by backing her for Senate Majority Leader. In that role, Harry Reid has been ineffectual in rallying Democrats to curtail Bush's excesses or even effectively articulate an opposition view. Now, with a Senate reshuffling that includes the stepping-down of Robert Byrd and the throwing-out of … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton, Senate Majority Leader?
Chantix: Smoking Cure Sounds Worse Than the Problem
When I saw this ad this morning I was struck that it seemed there was more warning than ad. (Timing it I get roughly 50 seconds of promo to 40 seconds of spooky warning.) Then the clincher: The big brag for all this risk is that 44% of people quit smoking "at the end of" 12 weeks vs. 18% for the placebo. That risk/reward ratio doesn't sound good to me! I had never heard … [Read more...] about Chantix: Smoking Cure Sounds Worse Than the Problem
NH State Senate Makes History, Too
The New Hampshire State Senate became the first legislative body in the country to have a majority female membership on Tuesday. Thirteen of the 24 seats are now held by women. History being made all around. … [Read more...] about NH State Senate Makes History, Too
The “First Pup” Question is No Joke
Many observers have been having a grand old time making light of President Elect Barack Obama's promise to bring a puppy into the White House for his children. I would like to suggest that there is a bit more to this story than throwaway fluff pieces and one-liners for Leno and Letterman. Obama addressed this briefly during is first press conference. Between addressing his … [Read more...] about The “First Pup” Question is No Joke
Obama Shows Us Where We’re Headed, Where We’ve Been (Guest Voice)
So what did Barack Obama's election to the presidency mean? Did it mean a Democrat won, elected because people wanted change and specific policies? Or was there also another, stronger undercurrent that helped him win that included the way he ran...and the electorate rejecting a certain tone to Campaign 2008? Michael Winship, senior writer for PBS's Bill Moyers Journal looks at … [Read more...] about Obama Shows Us Where We’re Headed, Where We’ve Been (Guest Voice)
Should Obama Do A “Green New Deal” Or Not?
A debate rages... … [Read more...] about Should Obama Do A “Green New Deal” Or Not?
Obama On Economy
Will Palin Replace Cheney As Viral Neoconservatism’s New Host?
The people between John and Cindy McCain are actually smaller than they appear In principle, there was never anything particularly wrong with the political movement known as neoconservatism, which after all was a reaction to failed policies of the 1960s and 1970s. But neoconservatism had become so discredited by the time that Dick Cheney and others finished wringing the … [Read more...] about Will Palin Replace Cheney As Viral Neoconservatism’s New Host?
Memo to the Wasilla Wildcat
I've spent a fair bit of time lately criticizing P-E Obama's cabinet choices which has led some of my Right-leaning readers to warm up to me slightly. Just to ensure that I keep the anger levels tuned up properly on both sides of the aisle, allow me to offer up another in my ongoing series of despicable attacks on Sarah Palin and her family. You are cordially invited to check … [Read more...] about Memo to the Wasilla Wildcat
Speculation on Obama Cabinet Begins
With the announcement of President Elect Obama's economic "dream team," speculation officially begins concerning what his cabinet will look like. "Which of those heavy hitters will be Treasury Secretary" is merely the first and most obvious question. The Associated Press (yes yes I know many people are still boycotting them) has come up with an interesting collection of … [Read more...] about Speculation on Obama Cabinet Begins
Is Sarah Palin Being Unfairly Scapegoated?
At a time when Republicans are pondering Senator John McCain's decisive loss in the Presidential race against Democratic Senator Barack Obama and looking to assess what went wrong, a noisy battle is raging between McCain's Veep pick Gov. Sarah Palin, the McCain camp and, some suggest, a more furtive campaign by supporters of former Gov. Mitt Romney to define Palin. In an … [Read more...] about Is Sarah Palin Being Unfairly Scapegoated?
Back to the Future for the GOP?
Once upon a time, Republicans believed in limited government, civil liberties, restrained spending, and foreign policy realism. But, in courting the Religious Right, the party changed course dramatically. That change has been especially pronounced during the administration of George W. Bush. With the loss of the White House and the larger Democratic majorities in both … [Read more...] about Back to the Future for the GOP?
Brain Scan Research: Bullies Like Seeing Others’ Pain
If you talk to school kids what's one constant? Many of them can tell you they've been bullied. If you talk to an adult -- no matter how old -- he or she will also tell you no matter that they can remember when they were bullied, and they probably tell you when, where, how old they were when it took place and even who did it. Are bullies just mean people who grow out of it? … [Read more...] about Brain Scan Research: Bullies Like Seeing Others’ Pain