Everything, it is said, is fair in love and war. Let's admit it, we all are in love with "oil". In the present long-drawn "war" we have allowed anything and everything to happen. In fact our "love" has turned into a naked "lust" for oil. And when "lust" takes hold of leaders and the public, they lose their sense of proportion and become virtually myopic (or blind) to the … [Read more...] about ‘Empire Of Oil’: Can Obama Or Mc Cain “Change” Anything?
From France’s ‘Nice Matin’: ‘Nice Welcomes Jolie-Pitt Twins’
For those of you who might wish to read the Pitt-Jolie-certified announcement of the birth of their boy-girl twins, this is the write-thru from the newspaper that the couple selected for the task - Nice's Nice Matin. For the Nice Matin, Jean-François Roubaud writes in part: "The most celebrated babies in the world were born just before 8pm last night at the Santa Maria … [Read more...] about From France’s ‘Nice Matin’: ‘Nice Welcomes Jolie-Pitt Twins’
America’s Tricks: As Usual, Poland is Falling for Them
What is it like to have your proverbial arm twisted by Washington when it really wants something from your country? This by By Pawel Wronski of Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza gives one a pretty good sense. Wronski writes: "In the negotiations over hosting the U.S. anti-missile base, the Americans are using all the same tricks they used when they were selling their F-16 aircraft … [Read more...] about America’s Tricks: As Usual, Poland is Falling for Them
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER’S (OR MOTHER’S) DEMOCRATIC PARTY
I missed several Sabato’s Crystal Ball emails due to accidental unsubscribing. Here is one of many make-up posts. 05/15/2008 Alan I. Abramowitz on THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER'S (OR MOTHER'S) DEMOCRATIC PARTY: The White Working Class, Democrats and the 2008 Election Forget about soccer moms and NASCAR dads. The key voting bloc in 2008 is the white working class. … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER’S (OR MOTHER’S) DEMOCRATIC PARTY
One Nation Whining Under God
Surely two of the great things about being George Will are the facts that he's not running for office and that he has about the same level of job security as a Supreme Court Justice or the Pope. This allows him the luxury of saying some really unpopular things, particularly when they are true. During the roundtable section of George Stephanopoulos' show, Phil Gramm's remarks on … [Read more...] about One Nation Whining Under God
Nicolas Sarkozy, Terrorist-Loving Traitor
Syrian President Bashar Assad is in Paris to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. And, as the BBC is reporting, the two are getting along rather well. Sarkozy is set to host a meeting between Assad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, a meeting that could lead to renewed diplomatic ties between Syria and Lebanon. Meanwhile, Sarkozy has announced that he will visit … [Read more...] about Nicolas Sarkozy, Terrorist-Loving Traitor
Why I (Sometimes) Hate the U.N.
Because both Russia and China can use their veto power as permanent members of the Security Council to block anything and everything they want, even overriding decisive majorities. And they've both vetoed U.S.- and U.K.-backed sanctions on Mugabe's illegitimate regime in Zimbabwe. And why did they do that? Because China, for one, does business with Mugabe, and because … [Read more...] about Why I (Sometimes) Hate the U.N.
Major Attack on US Soldiers in Afghanistan
BBC: US Suffers Heavy Afghan Losses Nine US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in clashes with Taleban militants. US commander Daniel Dwyer told the BBC the soldiers had been killed in clashes in the north-east of the country. The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says it is one of the biggest single losses in a day for the coalition since the start of military … [Read more...] about Major Attack on US Soldiers in Afghanistan
After the G-8: It’s Every ‘Man’ for Himself
[Cartoon Caption: 'Nicolas Sarkozy says to store attendant in Japan, 'It's too small!! - let's try a size G-13!!'] So what message have developing countries received now that the 2008 G-8 Summit of the largest economies has ended? Rolf Kuntz writing for Brazil's Estadao newspaper sums up the proceedings this way: "Out of everything that was said during the summit, … [Read more...] about After the G-8: It’s Every ‘Man’ for Himself
Debating Kennedy’s Life-and-Death Decision
His dramatic return this week to cast the deciding vote for a crucial Medicare bill brought tears and cheers in the US Senate, even as some medical ethicists question Ted Kennedy's decision to undergo life-prolonging (and expensive) surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. On the New York Times Freakonomics blog, an internist involved in public health issues suggests Sen. … [Read more...] about Debating Kennedy’s Life-and-Death Decision
Georgia: a very, very Christian state
Georgia's 10th Congressional District is among the most conservative in the state. Just a year after being elected to fill the unexpired term of the late Rep. Charlie Norwood, freshman Paul Broun faces a challenge Tuesday from State Rep. Barry Fleming. The winner will take the House seat in November. Have they no shame? U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Athens) is questioning the … [Read more...] about Georgia: a very, very Christian state
McCain Says His GOP Role Model Is Teddy Roosevelt
Republican presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's interview with the New York Times is sparking much online discussion -- and derision -- for his comments about not being a computer user or big computer fan. But it skirts the interview's key point: in this interview McCain answered the question about what kind of Republican he wants to be -- and it is NOT in the … [Read more...] about McCain Says His GOP Role Model Is Teddy Roosevelt
Carly Fiorina on MTP
I'm sitting here watching Ms. Fiorina on Meet the Press, responding to a question about Phil Gramm's "inartful" statements on the recession this week. This has to be one of the all time great moments in American political television. (Transcribing as it goes, so this may not be word for word accurate.) "I don't think Americans are paying attention to what's being said by … [Read more...] about Carly Fiorina on MTP
What’s Hot in Florida?
According to a rather amusing analysis from the Sun Sentinel the hot seller in Florida right now is the Democratic Party, who are "outselling" the Republicans in terms of new voter registrations by more than a two to one margin. An escalating number of voters registering as Democrats is providing evidence that the 2008 election could produce a wave of support for Barack … [Read more...] about What’s Hot in Florida?
Make Big Donation To Bush Library And Get Administration Access
Hey, you! Make a six-figure or so donation to the Bush Library and you can get access to key administration figures! Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice could meet with you but George Bush barely sees anybody.... That's what the Sunday Times says Stephen Payne, a Bush pioneer and a political appointee to the Homeland Security Advisory Council more or less told an undercover … [Read more...] about Make Big Donation To Bush Library And Get Administration Access
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: SENATE SENSIBILITIES – The Update
I missed several Sabato’s Crystal Ball emails due to accidental unsubscribing. Here is one of many make-up posts. 06/19/2008 Larry J. Sabato on SENATE SENSIBILITIES - The Update: The '08 battles for the U.S. Senate Lots of exciting changes have occurred in the nation's Senate races since we last reviewed them in December 2007. Yet overall, the outlook hasn't … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: SENATE SENSIBILITIES – The Update
Book Review: ‘Amerigo,’ The Story Of Undeserved Acclaim For A True Scoundrel
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT VESPUCCI LOOKED LIKE Has there ever been a more unlikely story of how a major piece of real estate got its name, and undeservedly so, than that of America and Amerigo Vespucci? Absolutely not. America is so named because in 1507 Martin Waldseemüller, a German cartographer who made a cut-out map for do-it-yourself globemakers, fell for a forgery called … [Read more...] about Book Review: ‘Amerigo,’ The Story Of Undeserved Acclaim For A True Scoundrel
Election 2008: Scoreboard
We have now gone through 20 of the 50 states and the tally stands as follows President: Senator Obama leads Senator McCain 123-108, which is up 16 from the 2004 contest. Senate: The Democrats are up 1 seat which would give them 51 seats (with Senator Sanders of Vermont) to 48 seats for the GOP and then Senator Lieberman who could go either way. House: So far the … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Scoreboard
Election 2008: Maryland
Maryland has long been a solid state for the Democrats though it does from time to time support the GOP. But not very often. President: If Obama has any trouble winning Maryland then he is on his way to a massive defeat. I don't expect this to happen. Safe Democrat House: Democrats will retain the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th. Republicans should hold their seats in … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Maryland
Election 2008: Maine
When FDR ran for re-election in 1936 the only two states to oppose him were Maine and Vermont. Both states have changed considerably since then, moving far to the left from 1936. President: Senator McCain has been popular in New England while Senator Obama has not. But since the 1960's, Maine has a long history of supporting Democrats for President. McCain could make … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Maine