Obama Mia!
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Obama Mia!
Summer Reading: Paris 1919
I am an avid reader and since summer is the traditional time for people to catch up on their reading I thought I would start posting a weekly (or semi-weekly) book review to offer suggestions. With the Middle East and Iraq at the top of the news I thought I'd start with a book that looks back at a previous time when the world faced a dramatically changing world Paris … [Read more...] about Summer Reading: Paris 1919
WSJ/NBC Poll: Obama Leads By 6 Points But Obama And McCain Both Have Negatives
A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows that some 100 days before election day Democratic presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama has a six point lead -- but both Obama and Republican presumptive Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain have their work cut out for them. Both have negatives: Obama because he's a new political product on the national political … [Read more...] about WSJ/NBC Poll: Obama Leads By 6 Points But Obama And McCain Both Have Negatives
McCain VP
Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune … [Read more...] about McCain VP
From Le Figaro of France: Barack Obama – Something to Please and Displease, Everyone
While Europe continues in its paroxysm of excitement over the impending visit of Senator Barack Obama, some on the Old Continent have begun to ask what will happen after his European triumph. Philippe Gelie of Le Figaro writes in part: "While Barack Obama has embarked on a tour of the Middle East and Europe, the international community is eager to learn the new direction … [Read more...] about From Le Figaro of France: Barack Obama – Something to Please and Displease, Everyone
Don’t Jerkey Around the Refugees, Please
Today we bring you yet another story reminding me that we need to ask T-Steel for a "WTF" category for stories. Congressman Duncan Hunter of California apparently decided that some personal action was required to help out with the dire refugee situation in Chad, where hundreds of thousands of Darfur citizens are seeking safety. His team quickly leapt into action. Hunter's … [Read more...] about Don’t Jerkey Around the Refugees, Please
John McCain’s Neverending War
One of the lines that McCain loves to repeat is that he has been among the harshest critics of the way in which the Bush Administration managed the Iraq War prior to the surge. Oddly enough, that sentiment didn't come through during the countless speeches and interviews he gave, in which he praised George Bush, Dick Cheney, and even Donald Rumsfield for this administration's … [Read more...] about John McCain’s Neverending War
Barack Obama Verbrechen Of The Week
RIGHT-WING BLOGS USE HITLER ANALOGIES, BUT ONLY FAUX OUTRAGE HERE. AND DIDJA KNOW THAT THE GUY RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD HAS FLIP-FLOPPED ON GENOCIDE?. … [Read more...] about Barack Obama Verbrechen Of The Week
Tasers and power in a corrupt small town
Since Tasers arrived on the law enforcement scene, there have been many problematic and troubling stories involving their use. Myself, I'm of the opinion that the Taser is just like any other tool: dangerous in the wrong hands. It's bad enough when someone misuses power, but it's downright appalling when a (now former) police officer could rampantly and repeatedly abuse … [Read more...] about Tasers and power in a corrupt small town
Obama in Europe: a shaky love affair
Senator Barack Obama will get a much warmer welcome in Europe than in Israel after his fact finding trips to Iraq and Afghanistan but the honeymoon could be short-lived were he to become President. The people in Germany, France and other countries are enthusiastic about Obama because having anyone other than George Bush in the White House would be a relief. Many would like … [Read more...] about Obama in Europe: a shaky love affair
Close Encounter For Wannabe Boy Racer
Times are tough for syndicated snark Robert Novak. It's been quite a while since he outed a CIA operative, his McCain veep scoop this week turned out to be false and his old war-hero pal keeps acting tres unpresidential. On top of all that, he dinged a pedestrian with his black Corvette this morning on the way to the spin factory and then, according to witnesses, tried … [Read more...] about Close Encounter For Wannabe Boy Racer
Support PETA, Oppose the FDA’s Abuse of Animals
I don't always agree with its priorities, nor with its methods and tactics, but, in general, as a proponent of animal rights, I applaud PETA for the work it does to bring attention to, and to fight, the rampant and horrific abuse of animals in our "civilized" society. This full-page ad -- see above -- appeared in yesterday's Washington Post. It features Andrew Von … [Read more...] about Support PETA, Oppose the FDA’s Abuse of Animals
Veepstakes: Rankings and Predictions
With the exception of posts on Hillary Clinton and Bobby Jindal, I haven't really waded into the Veepstakes game. I don't see much point to it unless you have access to insider campaign information, or are a conduit for leaks, but that's not to say that I haven't been paying close attention to it. The choice of running mate, after all, may not make or break a presidential bid … [Read more...] about Veepstakes: Rankings and Predictions
Live Blog Special Event
I'm live-blogging a forum on the McCain and Obama campaign's tax policies here (it's in progress right now). Both campaigns have representatives present, and analysis is being done by the Tax Policy Center. UPDATE: Okay, live-blog done. Hope you enjoyed (and were more enlightened than poor me!). … [Read more...] about Live Blog Special Event
Drivers in the South hardest hit by gas prices
So says a new report: Drivers in the South have been hit hardest by soaring U.S. gasoline costs and state governments there should take more steps to help cut fuel consumption, said a report released on Tuesday. Average motorists in Mississippi spent nearly 8 percent of their incomes on gasoline in 2007 and drivers in South Carolina and Georgia spent more than 7 percent, … [Read more...] about Drivers in the South hardest hit by gas prices
Civil Rights Roundup: 07/23/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news The HIV/AIDS infection rate for American Latinos is skyrocketing. In some urban cities, the proportion of gay Latinos who are HIV positive rivals that of sub-Saharan Africa. Being handicapped in one's ability to have sexual relations constitutes a major life impairment under the ADA. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruling … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 07/23/08
News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: July 23rd
A regular feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press. 1.) General James Jones, a high-level American envoy to Israel-Palestine, is preparing to release a report that is extremely critical of Israel's activities in the West Bank. According to Haaretz, Jones was appointed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after the Annapolis Conference in … [Read more...] about News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front: July 23rd
Beat the Press
This just in from the Department of Credit Where Credit Is Due, it's nice to see the presidential candidates maintain a sense of humor during hard times, and John McCain seems to be keeping hold of his. The image to the left is a fake press pass that the McCain team was handing out to reporters who were "left behind to report in America" and referring to them as the junior … [Read more...] about Beat the Press
About-Face
Another indication that Washington is reconsidering the wisdom of its don't-talk-to-your-enemies policy: For the second time this week, a senior American official will meet with representatives of a Middle Eastern country that the US has sought to isolate diplomatically. David Welch, US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, is set to speak with Riad Daoudi, … [Read more...] about About-Face