HUNTER AND EDWARDS ALOFT John Edwards' half-assed effort to come clean about his affair with Rielle Hunter left a slew of questions unanswered. Chief among them are: * If he wasn't the father of Hunter's child and broke off the affair two years ago, why was he lurking in a stairwell of her current digs, the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, in the middle of the … [Read more...] about No Kidding, John. Take The Damned Test
Stock Market Summer Silliness
Stock markets have rallied this summer on falling crude oil prices. But is this a sane and sensible response to what these falling prices actually portend? The answer to this question is this: Only if you happen to be a Wall Street trader and playing with OPM—Other People's Money, my money and yours in mutual and pension funds. Crude prices are falling for two reasons: a … [Read more...] about Stock Market Summer Silliness
Pakistan President Musharraf’s ‘D-Day’
Monday would be a crucial day for President Pervez Musharraf when impeachment proceedings against him begin in the Pakistan Parliament. However, there are reports that all-powerful Pakistan army would like to avoid the public humiliation of Musharraf and ask him to resign within a week. The Telegraph reports: "The claim was supported by a former military aide to the … [Read more...] about Pakistan President Musharraf’s ‘D-Day’
Book Review On ‘Mirage: Napoleon’s Scientists And The Unveiling of Egypt’
Iraq certainly wasn't the first war where the invaders sought moral cover to justify their actions, but you have to go far to top Napoleon's claim that he was going into Egypt as a mission civilsatrice in order to bring French-style culture and democracy to all those unwashed Arabs. But as Nina Burleigh writes in Mirage: Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt, … [Read more...] about Book Review On ‘Mirage: Napoleon’s Scientists And The Unveiling of Egypt’
Admiral Fallon Discusses US Foreign Policy on BBC’s Newsnight
Highly recommended.Fallon is the CENTCOM Chief who resigned last year. Fallon opposed the “surge” in Iraq and...consistently battled the Bush administration to avoid a confrontation with Iran, calling officials’ warmongering rhetoric “not helpful.” (Think Progress) Whatever he may have thought before, he says that the situation in Iraq generally is greatly improved. He also … [Read more...] about Admiral Fallon Discusses US Foreign Policy on BBC’s Newsnight
‘Narco-Killers Saved By Extradition to the United States’: From Colombia’s El Tiempo
[Caption: Uncle Sam's Sign Says: 'Sentences of paramilitaries' Murdered Victim says: 'I would also like a shorter sentence'] Indignant Colombians are asking themselves why they bother extraditing narco-trafficking members of right-wing paramilitary groups, when they receive lighter prison sentences in the United States than they do in Colombia. Daniel Samper … [Read more...] about ‘Narco-Killers Saved By Extradition to the United States’: From Colombia’s El Tiempo
Gallup Daily Tracking: Obama Ahead By 5 Percent
The latest Gallup Daily Tracking poll continues to show that neither Democratic Sen. Barack Obama or Republican Sen. John McCain has shaken up the race enough to take a significant lead -- a finding notable in other polls as well. Obama has a 5 percent lead, but the race appears basically deadlocked. Gallup reports: The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update finds … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily Tracking: Obama Ahead By 5 Percent
Louis Vuitton goes after Dave Navarro for fake guitar strap
While vacationing, Navarro wrote: It appears that after eight years of touring and playing shows with my faux LV guitar straps (which were a gift), Louis Vuitton have decided that they have a problem with it and have made it clear that they will sue me if I continue to use them. I was shocked by the tone in their letter. So heavy and serious!!!! Lighten up guys! My favorite … [Read more...] about Louis Vuitton goes after Dave Navarro for fake guitar strap
John Edwards Trash
Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about John Edwards Trash
WSJ Market Watch Lists Reasons Why McCain Would Make a Mediocre President
The Wall Street Journal's Market Watch points out that the McCain meme "Is he ready to lead?" begs the question whether McCain is. Rex Nuttimg lists several reasons McCain would be a mediocre president. The quoted material which follows is all extracted from the Nutting piece, which provides quite the brutal reframing of McCain's career. As Ron Beasley says at Newshoggers, … [Read more...] about WSJ Market Watch Lists Reasons Why McCain Would Make a Mediocre President
Georgia Declares War & Conflict Expands: A News Round-up (and Some Background)
The Georgian Parliament "has approved a presidential decree declaring that the country is in a state of war for 15 days." (BBC News) The crisis started when "Georgian forces launched a surprise attack on Thursday night to regain control of South Ossetia, which has had de facto independence since the end of a civil war in 1992" (BBC News) South Ossetia voted for independence … [Read more...] about Georgia Declares War & Conflict Expands: A News Round-up (and Some Background)
Wake me for the debates
Saturday brought us yet another rousing, back and forth war of radio ads, this time featuring the voices of both Barack Obama and John McCain themselves. Both, of course, were yet more disappointing examples of the tones of the campaigns trending downward. McCain took to the wireless with yet another tired, no-sale tirade about how Obama is a celebrity. "Taking in my … [Read more...] about Wake me for the debates
Bernie Mac, Comedian Dies at Age 50
Bernie Mac has died way too early. He had Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disorder that can scar the lungs. The coroner's office noted his death was 'natural,' which seems like such a wrong word for death in one so young. He'd been hospitalized for pneumonia on August 1, 2008. Mr. Mac grew up on the South Side of Chicago. From having lived there in the 60's, I can tell you South … [Read more...] about Bernie Mac, Comedian Dies at Age 50
Gays in the Military: Views From Those Who Are or Have Been “On the Ground”
I have posted a couple of columns on the subject of gays serving in the military and, in particular, about the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that has been in effect for 15 years and is now being reviewed by Congress--a policy that is also being vigorously discussed in the media and in the blogs. I have made my personal views on this issue quite clear. In one of my posts, I … [Read more...] about Gays in the Military: Views From Those Who Are or Have Been “On the Ground”
What are Your Daily Reads?
I always find it interesting, the sources on which people rely for information about the world around them. Here's my current list of Monday through Friday regulars. Five Thirty Eight * The Moderate Voice (surprise!) Real Clear Politics ** (including The Scorecard blog, a joint project with Politico) Politico (including Ben Smith's and Jonathan Martin's … [Read more...] about What are Your Daily Reads?
Analysis: Obama, McCain and The Russian Conundrum
As we enter the second day of hostilities between Russia and Georgia, I see that the two major party candidates have already weighed in on the subject. (Has anyone even bothered asking the President, I wonder?) In a previous column, I posed the question, "do we even have a dog in this fight?" Some readers were quick in displaying the intellectual honesty to eschew any dithering … [Read more...] about Analysis: Obama, McCain and The Russian Conundrum
10 Thoughts On The John Edwards Affair
(1.) The mainstream media let us down yet again by failing to take seriously first rumors and then credible accounts of the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair until there was so much smoke that it's a wonder that all of those notably uncurious political reporters weren't barfing into their arugula salads. (2.) The New York Times deserves special scorn after running an … [Read more...] about 10 Thoughts On The John Edwards Affair
The Clintons’ Convention
To the untrained eye, they seem to be overspreading the Democratic Convention like those kudzu vines that grow a foot every day to eventually blot out everything in sight, but the Clintons insist they are doing it all for Barack Obama. Hillary will speak one night and Bill will hold forth the next, after, if all goes according to their plan, Clinton supporters get … [Read more...] about The Clintons’ Convention
The New Republican Elephant
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about The New Republican Elephant
Pakistan’s Musharraf: “I Will Fight To The End”
Well, fight whom? The terrorists or the Pakistani people's mandate? President Pervez Musharraf, who became a military dictator in a coup in 1999, has become a pathetic figure begging his former generals to come to his rescue to remain in the presidential chair. Obviously, Musharraf has realized that the US might not be able to bail him out this time if the democratically … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s Musharraf: “I Will Fight To The End”