A lifelong resident of the St. Louis area, I collaborated with Justin Gardner on research and interviews for the following article. Justin lives and works in the Kansas City area and occasionally contributes here. He is also the founder and publisher of Donklephant. ----------------------------------- ST. LOUIS -- Other than his years at law school in Washington, D.C., … [Read more...] about Special Report: Voter Defiance in the Missouri Bellwether
Richard Wright (1943-2008)
Below are my personal reflections on Richard Wright of Pink Floyd, who died yesterday. I originally posted this last night at The Reaction, where I also put up photos and videos. If you're interested, go take a look. And share your thoughts here or there. ********** Richard Wright, a founding member of Pink Floyd and the band's long-time keyboardist, died yesterday at the … [Read more...] about Richard Wright (1943-2008)
John McCain’s P.R. Mistake
Someone in McCain camp might take Senator John McCain aside for a little chat -- or perhaps meditation. In a week when the mainstream news media is starting to pile on McCain for a growing credibility gap and when Wall Street's national financial catastrophe has overshadowing the Sarah Palin issue(s) McCain is showing signs of being a candidate who in danger of shooting … [Read more...] about John McCain’s P.R. Mistake
Troy Anthony Davis: Georgia set to kill any chance to correct a death penalty injustice
Convicted of the 1989 killing of a Savannah police officer, Troy Anthony Davis is scheduled to be put to death in Jackson, Georgia at 7 p.m. on September 23. There is real reason to believe that he is being penalized for maintaining his innocence. He was denied clemency just six days before his Supreme Court hearing. He now faces near-certain death. Mary Jean Goode, a … [Read more...] about Troy Anthony Davis: Georgia set to kill any chance to correct a death penalty injustice
McCain & Palin Apologists Jump The Shark
The state of political discourse in the U.S. was not exactly robust as the Age of Bush dawned, but the downward spiral of the last eight years has been something to behold. And I don't believe that we have reached bottom yet. That would be when and if John McCain and Sarah Palin are elected not on the basis of a substantive discussion of the problems that are wracking … [Read more...] about McCain & Palin Apologists Jump The Shark
World Economy: Dangerous Phase Ahead
Although US President George Bush and Henry Paulson, the US Treasury Secretary have stated that "Washington was committed to minimising the impact of the painful economic shifts of the present crisis", the shock resulting from the abrupt demise of the Lehman Brothers investment bank sent the world share market into a nasty downward spin. A recent report says that "Asian … [Read more...] about World Economy: Dangerous Phase Ahead
McCain Palin Wall Street Report
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about McCain Palin Wall Street Report
‘When Will Iraqis Realize that the Enemy is Iran and Not Israel?’: Kitabat of Iraq
Once again, the inimitable Khadir Taahar has thrown a textual grenade into the Iraqi body politic by suggesting to his readers that - horror of horror - Israel would be a far better friend to Iraq than Iran ever will be. Again, I remind people that Taahar, who writes for Iraq's Sunni-leaning Kitabat newspaper, is responsible for previous articles we have translated, such as, … [Read more...] about ‘When Will Iraqis Realize that the Enemy is Iran and Not Israel?’: Kitabat of Iraq
And Now AIG is On the Brink
The Federal Reserve is working to encourage JP Morgan and/or Goldman Sachs to float $75 billion to troubled insurer American International Group (AIG). Earlier this evening, bond rating firms downgraded AIG, forcing the company to come up with the money to stay solvent. AIG won the right to borrow $20 billion from its subsidiaries earlier today, but that did little to solve … [Read more...] about And Now AIG is On the Brink
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: OBAMA’S NEW LOOK AT THE MAP
Sabato's Crystal Ball's Rhodes Cook on OBAMA'S NEW LOOK AT THE MAP This is the time of the presidential campaign for "game-changing" moments, whether it is a huge outdoor acceptance speech in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains or the vice presidential selection of a largely unknown young female governor from Alaska. It is a potentially pivotal time in an historic … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: OBAMA’S NEW LOOK AT THE MAP
Indecision 2008 convention coverage: analysis & comment
In just about a half an hour, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report return from a week long hiatus after their hilarious Indecision 2008 convention coverage. While they were on break, I took the opportunity to speak about that coverage with Dr. Robert J. Thompson, Professor of Television and Popular Culture and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television … [Read more...] about Indecision 2008 convention coverage: analysis & comment
Dow Drops 500 Points Today
As I mentioned in a post last night, the Wall Street financial crisis is THE major political issue facing the country right now. There are lots of complex responses to offer, involving a mix of regulation, de-regulation, streamlined regulation, bailouts, etc. I personally agree with Barack Obama's charge that excessive de-regulation of the financial services sector over the … [Read more...] about Dow Drops 500 Points Today
Pink Floyd’s Richard Wright dead at 65
At his home after a battle with cancer. More here and here. _______________ Photo Creative Commons copyright: ©2006, patrizio1981. … [Read more...] about Pink Floyd’s Richard Wright dead at 65
Another Crimp In Iraq’s “Democracy”
I don't know if it's still the case, but when I was an "expat" working in Saudi Arabia, one could not travel to Israel, show evidence of such a visit in your passport, and still hope to be able to return to Saudi Arabia. But, then again, we have not spilled the precious blood of our young men and women in the sands of Arabia, nor squandered our resources to bring democracy … [Read more...] about Another Crimp In Iraq’s “Democracy”
Money Under the Mattress?
Childhood nightmares of the 1930s Depression are back today with the fall of Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch as the unthinkable becomes the possibly avoidable in a national economic meltdown. "Will the U.S. financial system collapse today," asks economist Paul Krugman, "or maybe over the next few days? I don’t think so--but I’m nowhere near certain." As a small-account … [Read more...] about Money Under the Mattress?
Catapulting the Propaganda on Taxes
If there ever was a doubt that a lie repeated often enough can supplant the truth in people's perceptions of reality, take a look at the two graphs below. The first is from the Tax Policy Center and compares the after-income effects of the McCain and Obama tax proposals. Now, take a look at what Americans believe each candidate's tax proposal will do: Although … [Read more...] about Catapulting the Propaganda on Taxes
What A Wicked Web That Wall Street Weaves
Isn't it extraordinary that even though the huge Wall Street firms that keep failing one after another got to write their own rules, they were so greedy that they didn't even realize it when they began eating their own tails? Merrill Lynch, which agreed to sell itself yesterday to Bank of America to keep from tanking, and Lehman Brothers, which is tanking and will seek … [Read more...] about What A Wicked Web That Wall Street Weaves
As if Obama Doesn’t Have Enough Problems
It's not often that I quote the New York Post, but they are quoting some specific sources in the Iraqi government on this one. OBAMA TRIED TO STALL GIS' IRAQ WITHDRAWAL WHILE campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military … [Read more...] about As if Obama Doesn’t Have Enough Problems
Lehman Bros and Bush
Paul Zanetti, Australia … [Read more...] about Lehman Bros and Bush
50 Questions For The Campaign’s Last 50 Days
Look at THIS LIST and you'll know what to look for. This illlustrates how this election truly is now up for grabs... … [Read more...] about 50 Questions For The Campaign’s Last 50 Days