First, see Dorian de Wind's piece ; it has a bearing on this. Did you know that George W. Bush is still president? It's true. And he's still got plenty of ways to worsen things before his term is over, leaving us a country discredited in the eyes of our own allies, a more toxic and unstable environment, a military stretched to the breaking point, and an enormous … [Read more...] about More on How Bush Found the Way to Continue Inaction on Emissions (with bonus Jon Stewart Video)
Bodies of two kidnapped American soldiers found
Some very sad news from the war today. The remains of two U.S. soldiers kidnapped more than a year ago in Iraq were found and are back in the United States, according to the father of one of the soldiers. The military has not yet issued a public confirmation, but Ramon "Andy" Jimenez said in a broadcast interview that officers visited his Lawrence, Massachusetts, home to … [Read more...] about Bodies of two kidnapped American soldiers found
Jackson’s Obama Comments: Kissing The Ring (Guest Voice)
This is another Guest Voice by Tony Campbell, who writes www.examiner.com. He takes a look at Jesse Jackson's comments about Democratic presumptive nominee Barack Obama and what it was really about: Kissing The Ring by Tony Campbell In my June 20th [Examiner] column, entitled “Turning the Page”, I wrote the following insight into the power struggle between Barack Obama and … [Read more...] about Jackson’s Obama Comments: Kissing The Ring (Guest Voice)
Predictably conventional: Dan Ariely refuted
You may recall that I am an unabashed Dan Ariely fan (see, for example, here, here, here, and here). It's only fair that I give equal time to his critics. A major piece by Alan Wolfe in TNR takes a quite skeptical look at the new economics and the pursuit of happiness: Dan Ariely's Predictably Irrational [link] is the latest book by a behavioral economist to hit the … [Read more...] about Predictably conventional: Dan Ariely refuted
Rush to Jesse YOU THE MAN
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Rush to Jesse YOU THE MAN
Judgment of the Bush Administration…No Need to Wait for History
A couple of days ago, in “Cheney's office tried to alter greenhouse gas testimony, former official says,” the LA Times reported that, Vice President Dick Cheney's office worked to alter sworn congressional testimony provided by a federal official in order to play down the threat of global warming and head off regulation of greenhouse gas emissions…according to a former … [Read more...] about Judgment of the Bush Administration…No Need to Wait for History
Civil Rights Roundup: 07/11/08
Your morning dose of civil rights and related news An Ohio jury has ruled that a Black community in the Appalachian region was denied water service for decades on account of race. The pitch is out for a designer for the new African American History museum, scheduled to open in 2015. The Washington Post calls for the repeal of DADT. The Post also issues a call for … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 07/11/08
Natural Born
Nearly everyone, including the least qualified among us, likes to play constitutional scholar every once in a while. It's a fun hobby and generally harmless. With that in mind, there are some interesting facts and observations brought up in this New York Times article where Prof. Gabriel J. Chin of the University of Arizona revisits the question of John McCain's constitutional … [Read more...] about Natural Born
The Selective Reticence of Karl Rove
He is refusing to testify before Congress about Bush crimes but he just won't shut up in the Wall Street Journal about how Barack Obama is using his political genius for the '08 election. Citing a letter from the Bush Justice Department, Karl Rove's lawyer claims he is "constitutionally immune from compelled congressional testimony" but is willing to grant an "informal … [Read more...] about The Selective Reticence of Karl Rove
Senator McCain, It’s Time to Dump Phil Gramm Before He Sinks You
Phil Gramm of Texas is not known as a man of developed intellect nor steady statesmanship. He's known for pork-barreling, for speaking in crude ways, for blurting out unseemly epithets at American citizens, and for jeering at the unfortunate. His words this week are not the first time this privileged, pampered and wealthy man has frothed with scorn at the poor, the jobless, … [Read more...] about Senator McCain, It’s Time to Dump Phil Gramm Before He Sinks You
The Power of Positive Thinking (Not)
Ross Douthat has a worthy analysis of Phil Gramm's unwise words today about our nation being a "nation of whiners" when it come to the current economic outlook. Douthat notes that Republicans tend to be economic optimists, while Democrats tend to be economic pessimists. Too much of either and you have problems. That was the problem with Gramm's comments today. In some … [Read more...] about The Power of Positive Thinking (Not)
Iraq’s Finance Minister Accused of Massive Money Laundering
Once again, the American taxpayer appears to be footing the bill for rampant corruption and mismanagement within the Iraqi government. This article from Iraq's Kitabat newspaper relates charges that Iraq's finance minister, with the connivance of Iran, had billions in counterfeit Iraqi currency trucked into Iraq and exchanged for American dollars. Khadir Taahar writes … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Finance Minister Accused of Massive Money Laundering
Welcome to Democracy
I have, on occasion, heard complaints about the state of democracy in America. Some may, in fact, be thinking about moving to a better democracy... and we hold up a few examples of our efforts to spread democracy (with a small "d" please) around the globe. Let's see if you can fill the bill for the following. In order to be a full citizen, you can: 1. Have lived in the … [Read more...] about Welcome to Democracy
Make New Friends, and Keep the Old
With a local population of just 200,000, and located unobtrusively off the coast of Saudi Arabia, you would think that Qatar would have trouble getting attention in the Middle East. But the opposite has been true. Since the small Gulf state launched the Al-Jazeera channel, back in 1996, they've often found themselves with a prime-time spot on the news -- and not just because … [Read more...] about Make New Friends, and Keep the Old
Shut Up Whining About the Imaginary Recession, You Whiners! (Part 2)
It seems that even John McCain understands economic reality better than Phil Gramm, who told The Washington Times:“You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession. ... We have sort of become a nation of whiners." “You just hear this constant whining, complaining, about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline. ... We've never been more dominant; … [Read more...] about Shut Up Whining About the Imaginary Recession, You Whiners! (Part 2)
At the G-8, a ‘Monumental’ American Gaffe
No matter how you slice it, this has to go down as one of the most outlandish blunders of any White House press office. According to this write-through from France's Le Figaro, A press kit distributed to journalists traveling with President Bush to the G-8 Summit in Japan, contained a biography of one of the President's closest allies, Italian Prime Minister Silvio … [Read more...] about At the G-8, a ‘Monumental’ American Gaffe
“This is not the American dream; this is the Auto Industry Nightmare”
You will not read a more visceral and affecting account of what the demise of the Big Three means to individuals, families, neighborhoods and regions than this one from Michigan (cross-posted from Michigan Liberal): Yesterday my family joined the ever-growing group of Michigan families who now face an uncertain economic future due to lay-offs in the auto … [Read more...] about “This is not the American dream; this is the Auto Industry Nightmare”
Paternal Politics
Now that Jesse Jackson has reassured us about Barack Obama's genitals, it's time to consider what prompted the Reverend's rage--the candidate's criticism of African-American fathers for failing their children--as part of a larger subtext of this election. On all sides, it involves issues about American manhood in the 21st century and the troubling rites of passage from one … [Read more...] about Paternal Politics
Are YOU Hard Hit By The Worsening Economy?
Well, if you think the economy is bad and you say you're being hurt, then you're just part of the problem -- you're part of a "nation of whiners." … [Read more...] about Are YOU Hard Hit By The Worsening Economy?
FATA: Exploding the Myths
Joshua Foust and I have co-written an op-ed that is published in today's edition of the Christian Science Monitor. The subject is Western myths about the Pakistani tribal region. Here's a taste: Given the growing reach of FATA-affiliated militants, it is becoming clear that developments in the [Pakistani] tribal areas are central to NATO's success in Afghanistan, as well as … [Read more...] about FATA: Exploding the Myths