In this morning's "Bill Kristol's Cone of Silence," I quoted Kristol from the online version of his New York Times column "Showdown at Saddleback." In it, Kristol wrote, as I quoted: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reported on “Meet the Press” that “the Obama people must feel that he didn’t do quite as well as they might have wanted to in that context. … What they’re putting out … [Read more...] about Kristol Revises his “Saddleback Showdown”
What About Biden?
Speculation that Senator Joe Biden of Delaware will be Senator Barack Obama's choice for vice presidential running mate is heating up. For several reasons, Biden is a sensible choice. He fills several of the bottom-line needs Obama has from his number two. Maybe. First, Biden is a mature, experienced office holder. He can play Lyndon Johnson to Obama's JFK. Second, … [Read more...] about What About Biden?
Pakistan’s Failed Dictator: “West’s Imaginary Friend”
The Australian describes Pervez Musharraf as "West's most disappointing ally in the war on terror. Let's be clear about this: Musharraf was a catastrophic failure for Pakistan. "He claimed to have turned the country around and to have turned it against the Taliban terrorists it had created and succoured in Afghanistan. In fact, he did nothing of the kind. Or rather, at the … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s Failed Dictator: “West’s Imaginary Friend”
Secretary of State Sweepstakes
As the talk escalates about VPs for both tickets, political junkies start the next round of speculation--about the best newSecretary of State to help the US repair its relations with the rest of the world. In the Christian Science Monitor, its former editor John Hughes, who served as an Assistant Secretary under Reagan, gets the ball rolling with a rundown of possible … [Read more...] about Secretary of State Sweepstakes
The Quota Dodge
So one of the predominant misconceptions out there today about affirmative action is that it's a quota system. This is false, as I have gently reminded CNN, but it still seems to hold a lot of sway over the electorate when debating plans to abolish equal opportunity programs like affirmative action. But now, civil rights groups fighting to defend affirmative action are … [Read more...] about The Quota Dodge
Left Out of Being Left Out
I'm not sure if I'm sad, happy, bored or angry. (What a country!) Our old friends at the Catholic League have hammered a new list of demands to the cathedral door and called on the Democrats to revoke the credentials of some bloggers attending the convention in Denver this year. Over 120 blogs have been credentialed as members of the media for the Democratic National … [Read more...] about Left Out of Being Left Out
A God-Botherer’s Thoughts on the Saddleback “Holier than Thou” Forum
First, a question: Why did the representative of a church---and one specific sort of Christian church at that---moderate a debate between political candidates for the highest office in the land? What on earth is the underlying message of holding such a forum, if not to establish that the American people hold in common a particular set of religious/ethical beliefs which ought … [Read more...] about A God-Botherer’s Thoughts on the Saddleback “Holier than Thou” Forum
Is it America’s Fate to Remain a European Power?
Wess Mitchell, director of research at The Center for European Policy Analysis, writes that the EU's largest states are more interested in avoiding a rupture with Moscow than in protecting the vital interests of the Unions eastern members. Therefore, the United States should announce its intention to transfer the entire Europe-based American military establishment to new … [Read more...] about Is it America’s Fate to Remain a European Power?
Punishing Russia, the Cold War and the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan
By whatever name, the Cold War has already begun because the NATO allies meet in Brussels tomorrow to find ways of punishing Russia for its invasion of Georgia. The premise of this search is hostility, not friendship. At the same time, the invasion and Russia’s victory have revealed the true cost to America and Europe of the wars in Serbia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Whatever … [Read more...] about Punishing Russia, the Cold War and the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan
New York Times: Is Jon Stewart The Most Trusted Man in America?
The answer may well be "yes." (NYT) When Americans were asked in a 2007 poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press to name the journalist they most admired, Mr. Stewart, the fake news anchor, came in at No. 4, tied with the real news anchors Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw of NBC, Dan Rather of CBS and Anderson Cooper of CNN. And a study this year from the … [Read more...] about New York Times: Is Jon Stewart The Most Trusted Man in America?
Russia Treats South Ossetia as Non-Georgian Territory; NATO Membership for Georgia; the Ukraine Worries (Not Without Cause); W Takes a Vacation
Here's The New York Times: Even as Russia pledged to begin withdrawing its forces from neighboring Georgia on Monday, American officials said the Russian military had been moving launchers for short-range ballistic missiles into South Ossetia, a step that appeared intended to tighten its hold on the breakaway territory. The Russian military deployed several SS-21 missile … [Read more...] about Russia Treats South Ossetia as Non-Georgian Territory; NATO Membership for Georgia; the Ukraine Worries (Not Without Cause); W Takes a Vacation
Kristol’s Cone of Silence
Surprise, Surprise! In his much awaited Monday column in the New York Times, "Showdown at Saddleback," Bill Kristol declares John McCain the winner at Saddleback's Cone of Silence event. In addition to his unbiased verdict on the Saddleback Church "debate," made scrupulously fair because Obama went first and McCain second after having been "safely placed in a cone of … [Read more...] about Kristol’s Cone of Silence
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/18/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news I'm not sure I agree with this reading of Frederick Douglass' career, but the comparison to Obama is interesting nonetheless. Virginia's new project to use DNA evidence to help exonerate falsely-convicted prisoners continues. The business community is throwing everything it has against the Ledbetter Fair Pay act. The … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/18/08
Nouriel Roubini: economist and pessimist
The New York University economics professor predicting a continuing crisis in the U.S. economy: For months Roubini has been arguing that the true cost of the housing crisis will not be a mere $300 billion — the amount allowed for by the housing legislation sponsored by Representative Barney Frank and Senator Christopher Dodd — but something between a trillion and a trillion … [Read more...] about Nouriel Roubini: economist and pessimist
Crosses, Cones & Codgers, Oh My!
Is it possible that the addled John McCain really believes the "cross in the dirt" incident occurred when he was a POW? I'll give him that much, but isn't it curious that he has brought it up at a time when a guy to whom such an incident did happened has been much in the news? And won't it just be ducky when we get past the conventions and can move on from crosses in the … [Read more...] about Crosses, Cones & Codgers, Oh My!
Bush Endangers Species
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Bush Endangers Species
Futuristic Glass
One of 10 Futuristic User Interfaces discussed at Smashing Magazine. … [Read more...] about Futuristic Glass
Wapo Hit Piece on Bob Barr
If you're Libertarian candidate Bob Barr, you have to start wondering which is worse: having the press virtually ignore your campaign or having them pay attention to it. While some may follow the Hollywood maxim of, "any press is good press as long as they spell your name right," the Barr team may not take any comfort from that after reading the results of Libby Copeland's two … [Read more...] about Wapo Hit Piece on Bob Barr
The Guantánamo Trials: Castles Built Of Sand & Other Bush Torture Regime News
When the Bush administration put out the word that only guilty verdicts were allowable at the Guantánamo Bay war crimes tribunal, Brigadier General Thomas Hartmann saluted crisply and answered the call. Hartmann (small photo), an Air Force reservist and corporate lawyer, has been a relentless and aggressive advocate for the military commission system despite his supposedly … [Read more...] about The Guantánamo Trials: Castles Built Of Sand & Other Bush Torture Regime News
Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf Resigns
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation in a live telecast to his countrymen today. He warned that the country was going down the hill. He said would send his formal resignation today itself, thus saving himself from the humiliation of the impeachment proceedings against him. This follows hectic backroom parleys/bargaining between powerful diplomats … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf Resigns