In 2006 one of the Democratic golden boys was Tim Mahoney, who took over the normally-Republican House seat of disgraced Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL). Foley had been forced to resign from Congress over a sex scandal involving House pages. At the time, Mahoney ran ads talking about his own personal morals and his commitment to 'family values'. Well it turns out that … [Read more...] about People Who Live In Glass Houses
Bob Schieffer’s America
Many observers have commented that Bob Schieffer did the best job of any of the moderators for the Presidential Debates. I would tend to agree and it is for this reason that I would strongly encourage people to take a look at his newest book. I had the pleasure of reading it recently and found it to be thoroughly entertaining. The book is basically a compilation of his end … [Read more...] about Bob Schieffer’s America
‘A Burst Pipe in the House of McCain:’ Nachrichten of Switzerland
So what does the non-English speaking world think of 'Joe the Plumber' - made famous by Senator John McCain when he mentioned him at least a dozen times - during his third debate with Barack Obama? According to Patrick Etschmayer of Switzerland's Nachrichten newspaper - McCain's exchanges with Obama over 'Joe' - served to demonstrate once again that John McCain lacks the … [Read more...] about ‘A Burst Pipe in the House of McCain:’ Nachrichten of Switzerland
Moving Into Ambiguity
A few weeks ago, I was chatting with someone about the upcoming presidential race and I must have said something that made her asked if I was wavering in my support for McCain. I said no, but in reality, I was. At this point, I am not sure who I will vote for. There are certain things that make me pause with both candidates. No matter what I do, voting for McCain or … [Read more...] about Moving Into Ambiguity
The 12-Step Bush Recovery Program
The cover asks: Do you think that after eight years of George W. Bush this country is in good shape? Do you feel the U.S. Constitution has too many Amendments? Do you often dream of George Bush in a flight suit? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it's time to seek help. And Gene Stone's new book, The 12 Step Bush Recovery Program, is a vital guide … [Read more...] about The 12-Step Bush Recovery Program
It’s the Temperament, Stupid!
One thing living in a red state has taught me is how to speak about politics with those who do not share very basic assumptions with you. Having lived in overwhelmingly liberal places like Evanston, IL and Washington, DC in the past, it took some time to learn how to discuss politics with conservatives. Granted most folks I speak to here in East Tennessee are Democrats like … [Read more...] about It’s the Temperament, Stupid!
McCain on the Economy Today – Interview With Nancy Pfotenhauer
The government's approach to the current economic concerns seems to change on a daily, if not hourly basis, with proposals coming in from all quarters. In order to get a better handle on this, Cindy and I sat down this week with economist and senior McCain campaign domestic policy adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer. Our goal was to sort out some of the possible confusion over the … [Read more...] about McCain on the Economy Today – Interview With Nancy Pfotenhauer
Horns and Tails, Plumbers and Kids
Joe Wurzelbacher is a pretty ordinary guy -- or at least, he was until Wednesday night, when John McCain decided to feed him to the wolves. Today, of course, he's the devil incarnate (or a martyr, depending on one's point of view). I wonder... did he have to borrow the horns and tail from Graeme Frost and his family? Or is there some government warehouse that both parties … [Read more...] about Horns and Tails, Plumbers and Kids
Is America A Great Country Or What? (Samuel J. Wurzelbacher / Worzelbacher Edition)
Obama and McCain at the Alfred E. Smith dinner
Pretty good performances by both, and it's refreshing to see them roast each other lightheartedly the day after a heated debate. My favorite line was from Obama: "Most people don't know this, but Barack is Swahili for 'that one.'" Watch them both if you have a few minutes. Obama: McCain: … [Read more...] about Obama and McCain at the Alfred E. Smith dinner
McCain: So Little Time, So Many Excuses
With the clock running out on the 2008 presidential race and John McCain sinking like a stone, the excuses for why his campaign has come a cropper are flying fast and furious. I've been collecting them over at Kiko's House in a daily feature titled "McCain-Palin Trainwreck Excuse du Jour." Here are synopses and links to the first seven entries: Sarah Palin can't be … [Read more...] about McCain: So Little Time, So Many Excuses
Grand Ayatollah Sistani Offers Blessing to U.S.-Iraq Security Deal: From Iraq’s Al-Sabaah
A few days ago, a meeting of great significance to the United States took place in the Iraqi Holy City of Najaf. With Iraq on the cusp of signing a historic, long-term security deal with Washington, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sought the approval of that nation's most powerful man: the reclusive Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. According to this article from Iraq's … [Read more...] about Grand Ayatollah Sistani Offers Blessing to U.S.-Iraq Security Deal: From Iraq’s Al-Sabaah
The Accidental Debate
Fed-up and disappointed with the presidential and vice-presidential debates, and with all the muck, insults and accusations being hurled during the campaign rallies, I happened to be channel-surfing tonight, when I came across a "debate" that I had not seen advertised. It was the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, being held at the Waldorf Astoria in New … [Read more...] about The Accidental Debate
The GOP’s Race Problem
In 1944 the Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal acutely subverted a classic paradigm in American political culture: the so-called "Negro problem." As Myrdal pointed out in his work, An American Dilemma, there really is no "Negro problem" in America. There is a white problem. White people in America systemically prevented people of African descent from fulfilling what most Americans … [Read more...] about The GOP’s Race Problem
Afghanistan: A Chilling Front Line Analysis
Christina Lamb, of The Times of London, has provided one of the best assessments of the ground realities in Afghanistan. She should know as she has been reporting from Afghanistan for 20 years. I strongly recommend that her present analysis should be carefully read. One has to be patient as this is a longish report where she argues why the US and the NATO forces cannot beat … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: A Chilling Front Line Analysis
Three Questions
Which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives? Who is the current Secretary of State? Who is Great Britain's prime minister? Only 18% of people answered all three of those questions correctly when they were posed in a survey by Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. That so few people would get answer all three correctly sadly isn't that surprising. … [Read more...] about Three Questions
Toe The Line
The Republican Party keeps inching right up to that line of calling Barack Obama a terrorist. … [Read more...] about Toe The Line
Reflections on the Third Obama-McCain Debate
I actually don't have a great deal to add today to what I wrote last night about the debate in my long and occasionally rambling live-blogging post. Obama won. Pretty easily. That's about it. And that's pretty much the consensus today. One of the best summaries comes, as usual, from TNR's Noam Scheiber: "[T]he debate in a nutshell: McCain fulminating angrily, if sometimes … [Read more...] about Reflections on the Third Obama-McCain Debate
iGoogle gets gadgets
CNet News Webware: Google's personalized homepage, iGoogle, is getting an update today. Widgets on the page can support a new "canvas view," which expands the widget to the full iGoogle window. The sixteen new or updated widgets that Google is promoting today support this feature. There are over 40,000 iGoogle widgets available, iGoogle group product manager Jessica Ewing told … [Read more...] about iGoogle gets gadgets
Report: U.S. to Help ‘Oust’ Black Sea Fleet from Crimea: Moskovskii Komsomolets of Russia
Is the United States engaged in plans to 'oust' Russia's Black Sea Fleet from its centuries-old home port in Ukraine? According to this news item from Russia's Moskovskii Komsomolets, the United States is offering U.S. naval vessels to Ukraine in order to assist them with a plan that includes whipping up a crisis that would allow the Ukrainian leader to impose a state of … [Read more...] about Report: U.S. to Help ‘Oust’ Black Sea Fleet from Crimea: Moskovskii Komsomolets of Russia