In a hybrid of defense closing argument and political obituary, David Brooks in today's New York Times comes forward as a character witness for "a serious man prone to serious things." Citing his candor, humility, "crusade" against corruption and, most of all, his "impressive" years as the Iraq war deteriorated, Brooks attempts to separate that John McCain from today's … [Read more...] about The Case for McCain
The Good and Bad of John McCain
David Brooks has a worthwhile op-ed on John McCain today. I've always liked Brooks because he's one of the few conservatives that is willing to be critical of his own movement. In today's article he presents a critical view of the Arizona Senator that is a lot more nuanced than many in the media and more than a few bloggers have about McCain. He shares primarily what is … [Read more...] about The Good and Bad of John McCain
Stunt Over: McCain Will Debate Without Deal on Bailout
John McCain will debate Barack Obama in Oxford, Mississippi tonight after all. No, there was no deal passed or final agreement to do so. McCain's condition for debating was not, in fact, met. But John McCain sure did get a whole lot of attention. And, hey, he's already won tonight's debate. His website says so: In the real world, McCain's stunt failed. It … [Read more...] about Stunt Over: McCain Will Debate Without Deal on Bailout
Songs in Our Heads
Sometimes, there really is a song for every occasion. Take Sarah Palin, for instance: While TMV co-blogger Jill Miller Zimon evidently hears nuns this morning, Polimom's brain has been looping Janis Ian since last night. It all seems pretty appropriate to me, actually, considering the initial reactions to her ranged from Mitch Ryder & the Detroit, to Helen Reddy, to The … [Read more...] about Songs in Our Heads
He is a “Maverick” Allright
There is a man who on several occasions has admitted that he "doesn't really understand economics." There is a man (he happens to be a U.S. Senator) who for the past five months has not attended a single meeting of his legislative body, nor has participated in a single debate, nor has cast a single vote on our nation’s critical issues---including the recent economy stimulus … [Read more...] about He is a “Maverick” Allright
A VC on the Bailout
Earlier I quoted Fred Wilson. Wilson is A VC I respect and admire. He's taken to calling the proposed bailout "The Splurge" (a locution I may adopt myself). Today he humbly weighs in on To Splurge Or Not To Splurge. Short version: If this money is not coming back, then it's an expenditure and we should not do it. If the probability adjusted return on this investment … [Read more...] about A VC on the Bailout
Palin and the Press: The First Encounter
It's amazingly insane, not to mention insanely amazing, how appallingly low the expectations are for Sarah Palin. But that's what happens when she's kept away from the press and restricted to partisan rallies, when she's only allowed to speak for herself, or rather to recite the lines that have been programmed into her, during controlled interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie … [Read more...] about Palin and the Press: The First Encounter
“How do you solve a problem like Ms. Palin?”; Conservative Calls for Palin to Drop Out
I get that it's nice to see someone who we think is like us running for president or vice president. But the fact is that even conservative voices, including conservative female voices, are chiming in that Sarah Palin is not ready and is a dangerous choice. Please - do not take what these writers and thinkers say personally - they are clearly not happy about what they are … [Read more...] about “How do you solve a problem like Ms. Palin?”; Conservative Calls for Palin to Drop Out
Playing with Fire, Bail-Outs, and Other Life Lessons
Parenting is a tough job. One has to find a balance between letting kids learn life's lessons through painful experience (natural consequences), and keeping them safe. The parental path through the child-raising wilderness is not always well-marked. Fire is hot. Should we let little Janey touch a flame so she learns that it's dangerous? Guns can kill people. Do we teach … [Read more...] about Playing with Fire, Bail-Outs, and Other Life Lessons
20 Questions For Ron Reagan
We've run many Cagle Cartoon commentaries by Michael Reagan, the conservative talk show host son of former President Ronald Reagan. But there's another Reagan son who has a talk show as well: Ron Reagan is a liberal talk show host with a show on Air America. The Hill recently ran a Q&A with him on today's political scene. CLICK HERE to read it and, like his Dad and brother, … [Read more...] about 20 Questions For Ron Reagan
The Debate About Tonight’s Obama McCain Debate (Or Nondebate?)
Tonight presidential hopefuls Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain will debate in Mississippi. Or will they? The Los Angeles Times' Top-of-the-Ticket blog has set the scene by looking at past debate highlights and asking some bloggers for their take on it: In preparation for the maybe debate, The Ticket did two things. One, we got a video showing … [Read more...] about The Debate About Tonight’s Obama McCain Debate (Or Nondebate?)
Twitter Launches Election Site
At midnight last night, Twitter launched a new sub-site called Election2008. VentureBeat: [The new site] will feature an interface that regular Twitter users will instantly recognize. There will be one major difference however. Gone is the famously outdated question “What are you doing?” (Twitter was initially just about people saying what they were doing), it has been … [Read more...] about Twitter Launches Election Site
Maverick Misfires
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune … [Read more...] about Maverick Misfires
Parker and Palin: This Week in Bus & Driver
As conservative columnists go, you won't find one much more reliable than Kathleen Parker. During a successful career in punditry, Ms. Parker has never met a Democrat who didn't have her immediately reaching for a stiff switch and glancing toward the woodshed. This background makes it all the more interesting that the recent interview between Sarah Palin and Katie Couric seems … [Read more...] about Parker and Palin: This Week in Bus & Driver
China Moves Forward In Space
While our attention is focused on the economic bailout and the November elections, China is moving forward with an active space program that could thrust them into leadership in that field. The Shenzhou 7 spacecraft carries three men into space, one of whom will become the first Chinese space-walker on either Friday or Saturday. This is a major step as so far only the US and … [Read more...] about China Moves Forward In Space
The Politics of Crisis
I'm a historian of 19th century America and I specialize in the Civil War era. The political crisis that led to war did not begin with the election of Abraham Lincoln in November 1860, but had its roots decades earlier. Nevertheless, a series of horrible miscalculations by political leaders in all parties, particularly after the Compromise of 1850, led the nation on a path … [Read more...] about The Politics of Crisis
Obama & McCain: Now Global Electoral College
The US presidential elections have this time evoked great public interest worldwide. The Economist has invited the public to vote online for their favourite candidate. The voting has already begun. It is interesting to see the voting trend from Bangladesh to Australia...More here... … [Read more...] about Obama & McCain: Now Global Electoral College
Sending Grace to Wall Street
At the risk of saying something blasphemous... During this whole financial crisis, which seems to be getting worse by the day, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I've always been fascinated by the two sons; the younger one, who demands his inheritance and goes off and spends it wildly and the older son who stays and is the "good son." There is always a lot of sympathy for … [Read more...] about Sending Grace to Wall Street
On CNN’s Appalling Coverage of Obama, McCain, and the Bailout Negotiations
The coverage of McCain's desperate stunt earlier tonight on Anderson Cooper was just atrocious. Although the word "stunt" was used, the overall tone was positive. McCain is risking everything, it seems, to suspend his campaign, a huge "gamble" that is well worth taking. There was no mention of what he actually contributed to the proceedings, if anything, and much of the segment … [Read more...] about On CNN’s Appalling Coverage of Obama, McCain, and the Bailout Negotiations
When US & Pakistan Went To War…
In the midst of the fear psychosis and frenzy created by the US/global economic meltdown, a grave and dramatic encounter between the US and the Pakistani troops went almost unnoticed. The Economist reports that although both the US and Pakistan deny it; "but it appears that on September 15th they fought a short war. "America started it. Local reports suggest that, under … [Read more...] about When US & Pakistan Went To War…