A grim view from abroad on America's economic predicament from John Gray in The Guardian today: Our gaze might be on the markets melting down, but the upheaval we are experiencing is more than a financial crisis, however large. Here is a historic geopolitical shift, in which the balance of power in the world is being altered irrevocably. The era of American global leadership, … [Read more...] about Is American Global Leadership Over?
Republicans Reacting To Obama And The Debate
One of the more tedious political tasks for pundits who MUST follow the big political stories is having to listen to professional Democratic and Republican spinmasters who permeate television right after a debate. But sometimes the robot-like recitations predictably supporting their candidates, blasting the others, and seeming confident and chipper can go awry. Here are two … [Read more...] about Republicans Reacting To Obama And The Debate
SNL, Tina Fey, Sarah Palin And Vice Presidential Debate Expectations
Could Tina Fey's cutting Saturday Night Live parody of Republican Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin prove to be a political plus? If viewed in the context of the upcoming Vice Presidential debate's expectations game, the answer is yes. Fey's parody like most satirical comedy is grounded in the use of shared assumptions, which are then shattered or traits that are … [Read more...] about SNL, Tina Fey, Sarah Palin And Vice Presidential Debate Expectations
Bill Kristol on FNS today: Free Sarah Palin!
Liberals love to point out that pundit Bill Kristol is nearly always wrong. They'd have to hand it to him on the Palin part of this one though. From the Sunday, June 29, 2008 edition of Fox News Sunday: BILL KRISTOL: Republicans are much more open to strong women, and that's why McCain's going to put Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, on the ticket as vice president... She's … [Read more...] about Bill Kristol on FNS today: Free Sarah Palin!
The Money Pit and Cat in the Well
After pulling an all-nighter, the low-approval gang in Washington is ready to give us their new, improved version of the $700 billion gamble nobody understands but practically all are sure is needed to keep the sky from falling. The 1980s Tom Hanks movie, "The Money Pit," comes to mind as Congress and the Administration enthuse over the financial structure we're buying with … [Read more...] about The Money Pit and Cat in the Well
Amid Sagging Polls, McCain Campaign Readies New Two-Part Obama Attack
In the light of a debate in which some feel Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain came out ahead but didn't demolish opponent Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, and sagging numbers in the polls, McCain's campaign is now reportedly-readying a two-pronged attack against Obama after a week in which national economic news dominated the stage: "The first lesson of this … [Read more...] about Amid Sagging Polls, McCain Campaign Readies New Two-Part Obama Attack
Voices of Fiscal Sanity in the Wilderness
When it comes to matters of fiscal conservatism, it often becomes a lonely business to stand on the beach by yourself, shouting at the ocean with these foul tasting, sandy pebbles in your mouth. Readers have made their preferences clear when it comes to matters of economic prudence. "Nay nay!" you say. "We'll have none of your Bob Barr and his crazy ideas about cutting spending … [Read more...] about Voices of Fiscal Sanity in the Wilderness
USA Today-Gallup Poll: Obama Did Better In First Debate Than McCain
A slew of polls have come out after Friday's first debate between presidential candidates Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain indicating most people felt Obama "won" the debate. The latest has been one of the most anticipated: the USA Today/Gallup poll -- which also has found more viewers felt Obama did better than McCain: A new USA TODAY/Gallup … [Read more...] about USA Today-Gallup Poll: Obama Did Better In First Debate Than McCain
‘You’re Not The Same Woman Now, Maggie’
The first of Paul Newman's extraordinary 10 Academy Award nominations was for his superb portrayal of Brick Pollitt, the alcoholic former football star and under-performing husband, in the screen version of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I hadn't realized until Newman's passing at age 83 on Friday that, of his many roles, this had become my favorite over the … [Read more...] about ‘You’re Not The Same Woman Now, Maggie’
Seizing America by Withholding the Mother’s Milk of Politics (Guest Voice)
What do the bailout, mega-money in politics sought and used by both parties and GOP Presidential candidate Senator John McCain's dramatic actions this week have in common? In this Guest Voice post, Rosemary and Walter Brasch explain. Journalism professor and author Walter Brasch is an award-winning syndicated newspaper columnist and radio commentator, and president of the … [Read more...] about Seizing America by Withholding the Mother’s Milk of Politics (Guest Voice)
Wall St Bailout Pitch
Cartoon by Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Wall St Bailout Pitch
And Now for Something Completely Different: Big Ten Football Coaches Recruiting
This promo currently appearing on the Big Ten Network purports to show the conference's head football coaches on home visits to high school recruiting prospects. I love Penn State coach Joe Paterno's bit of intense thespianism at the end. Also love Jim Tressel's, "You do know about our Buckeye leaves..." [Crossposted at my personal blog.] … [Read more...] about And Now for Something Completely Different: Big Ten Football Coaches Recruiting
‘Must China Prepare for End of U.S. Financial Hegemony?’: China Daily, People’s Republic of China
Our planetary coverage of the U.S. financial crisis continues with this somewhat jarring article from China. What could be more unnerving than having your largest creditor begin pondering your financial demise? That might be the question Americans ask themselves while perusing this op-ed article from China's state-controlled China Daily. Ding Yifan, a Chinese government … [Read more...] about ‘Must China Prepare for End of U.S. Financial Hegemony?’: China Daily, People’s Republic of China
The Liberal Palin Pity Party, Lies & Self-Esteem
Andrew Sullivan finds it odd that Palin lies. As I'll explain below, I don't. What may be a little odd is the liberal Palin pity party going on. Ta-Nehisi Coates (also via Andrew): There are lot of us lefties who are guffawing right now and are happy to see Palin seemingly stumbling drunkenly [a cloaked reference to last night?] from occasional interview to occasional … [Read more...] about The Liberal Palin Pity Party, Lies & Self-Esteem
‘Spaniards React to Obama’s Defense of President Zapatero’: El Mundo of Spain
As we covered last week at WORLDMEETS.US in an article headlined, 'Spain's Conservatives Back McCain's 'Snub' of President Zapatero', the Republican candidate's recent comments about Spain's Socialist leader have sparked a tremendous controversy in that country. It all began with an interview John McCain gave last week to a Spanish-language radio station in Miami, in which … [Read more...] about ‘Spaniards React to Obama’s Defense of President Zapatero’: El Mundo of Spain
Palin’s Preacher Problem
Michelle Goldberg in The Guardian (with video): In 2005, the Kenyan preacher Thomas Muthee stood on the stage of Alaska's Wasilla Assembly of God and called on Christians to take over the world's economic system. "The Bible says that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. It's high time that we have top Christian businessmen, businesswomen, bankers, you know, … [Read more...] about Palin’s Preacher Problem
McCain on Veterans—Fact Check
In addition to foreign policy, last night’s debate focused on the very recent and very real economic crisis in our country. Several TMV contributors have already done an excellent job of analyzing how the two presidential candidates fared on those issues. Another topic, and one that has been ever-present and gnawing at the American conscience for the past five-and-a-half … [Read more...] about McCain on Veterans—Fact Check
Paul Newman
He was as American as you can get. The actor who died today was an icon, but the man was even more--someone who loved his country, not in an abstract or flag-waving way, but as a patriot who opposed bad wars and gave millions to people in pain. In 1968, our paths crossed as we both stepped out of our working lives to try to stop the war in Vietnam. When I invited him to … [Read more...] about Paul Newman
[video] “The Job” (where greed and need swap places)
H/t to Plunderbund and a tweet from Jeff Coryell. … [Read more...] about [video] “The Job” (where greed and need swap places)
McCain, Obama and America’s ‘Exception’: Liberation, France
American 'Exceptionalism' is the idea that the United States is the greatest country in the world, and that given this, it should be allowed to do things that others cannot. It might not come as a surprise that this grates on many people abroad. According to Francois Sergent of Liberation: "John McCain embodies this exceptionalism, which so appeals to Republicans, but if … [Read more...] about McCain, Obama and America’s ‘Exception’: Liberation, France