A Republican in Massachusetts is sort of like a unmarried Mormon, they exist but there aren't very many of them. President: Since 1960, only one Republican has carried the state and that was Ronald Reagan. Otherwise, the state has voted solidly Democratic and the trend is toward being even more liberal. Safe Democratic Senate: John Kerry may not have made it to the … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Massachusetts
Hard to be the Basset Hound
If you're an old (14 years) hound who naps 18 hours a day and not prone to moving around a lot, cruel people will occasionally dress you up and take pictures of you. Oh... the indignity. … [Read more...] about Hard to be the Basset Hound
Quote Of The Day: On Maliki’s Being “Misquoted” About Supporting Obama Iraq Pullout Timetable
The Quote of the Day from The Politico's Ben Smith: It's almost a convention of politics that when a politician says he was misquoted, but doesn't detail the misquote or offer an alternative, he's really saying he wishes he hadn't said what he did, or that he needs to issue a pro-forma denial to please someone. The Iraqi Prime Minister's vague denial seems to fall in … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: On Maliki’s Being “Misquoted” About Supporting Obama Iraq Pullout Timetable
Obama’s Afghanistan Visit Already Reaping Political Dividends
Although his overseas trip in many ways resembles a political minefield, you can already see how Democratic presumptive Presidential nominee Barack Obama's overseas trip can earn him political dividends in a news cycle containing stories about him sounding the alarm on the increasingly difficult situation in Afghanistan. Look at this AP story: Democratic presidential … [Read more...] about Obama’s Afghanistan Visit Already Reaping Political Dividends
From the Financial Times Deutschland: Michelle Obama: A ‘Revolutionary’ That’ll Be Good for America
As revolutionary as the change that a President Barack Obama would bring, Thomas Klau of Germany's Financial Times Deutschland thinks that his wife Michelle as first lady would herald an even greater revolution - but not the type that involves a Kalashnikov slung over her shoulder. Klau writes that throughout American history, "As in a monarchy, the wife of America's head of … [Read more...] about From the Financial Times Deutschland: Michelle Obama: A ‘Revolutionary’ That’ll Be Good for America
Your reminder concerning death from above
The conference on Global Catastrophic Risks is meeting in the U.K. this week, and Reason Magazine provides a rundown of the major threats we face from outside the planet, and more to the point, what industrialized nations like ours are doing about it. In 1998, Congress charged NASA with surveying the skies to detect 90 percent of near earth asteroids (NEAs) greater than 1 … [Read more...] about Your reminder concerning death from above
Our Sorry Economy — Interview with Allan Meltzer (Guest Voice)
In this Guest Voice post, columnist Bill Steigerwald interviews Carnegie Mellon University economics professor and veteran economics consultant Allan Meltzer on the economy. Our Sorry Economy -- Interview with Allan Meltzer by Bill Steigerwald Carnegie Mellon University economics professor Allan Meltzer has served as a consultant on economic policy for Congress, the … [Read more...] about Our Sorry Economy — Interview with Allan Meltzer (Guest Voice)
Media/Blogs & Iraq: In A Make-Believe World?
This question was raised by a reader in India who takes an avid interest in the American blogs/media. She marvels at the manner the media/blog pundits cling on to the statements issued by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Who is this chap? Do the pundits need to be reminded that Mr Maliki is the creation of the present Bush administration? The reader then reminds that Mr … [Read more...] about Media/Blogs & Iraq: In A Make-Believe World?
Maliki’s Comments: Exceeding the Spin Limit
Following the remarkable comments regarding America's future in Iraq by Prime Minister Maliki, I found myself (along with many others) wondering how long it would be before somebody reminded Maliki that he had wandered a bit too far off leash (which didn't take long) and how the McCain team would try to spin this body blow to their campaign. (Again, we weren't kept waiting.) No … [Read more...] about Maliki’s Comments: Exceeding the Spin Limit
Americans For ‘Incredible India’
If the arrival of The Beatles in the 1960s helped boost the backpacker traffic to India, it is now the turn of Americans to help in increasing, what is described as, 'executive tourism' to India. "India is now nearly as popular a destination for Americans as Spain," reports The Canadian Press. "Travel to India from the United States increased 10 per cent between 2006 and … [Read more...] about Americans For ‘Incredible India’
Jesse Helms’ myths. The party was right before it was wrong.
Facing South says the collective reaction to Jesse Helms' death speaks volumes about the state of race relations and social progress in our country. They set the record straight in three myths about Jesse Helms (and what they say about us): To say Sen. Helms held deep prejudices against many -- especially African-Americans and gays and lesbians -- isn't a matter of opinion; … [Read more...] about Jesse Helms’ myths. The party was right before it was wrong.
Quote Of The Day: On Obama, Al-Maliki And McCain
The Quote of the Day from Marc Ambinder: This could be one of those unexpected events that forever changes the way the world perceives an issue. Iraq's Prime Minister agrees with Obama, and there's no wiggle room or fudge factor. This puts John McCain in an extremely precarious spot: what's left to argue? to argue against Maliki would be to predicate that Iraqi sovereignty … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: On Obama, Al-Maliki And McCain
From Argentina’s Clarin newspaper: Resurrected U.S. Fourth Fleet Creates Suspicion Across South America
Why has the United States decided to resurrect the U.S. Navy's Fourth Fleet, which has been in mothballs since the 1950s? And why has it chosen to do so now? People in South America have been debating these questions for months now. Here WORLDMEETS.US presents an analysis that has been quoted widely by Latin American newspapers and politicians like Hugo Chavez and Fidel … [Read more...] about From Argentina’s Clarin newspaper: Resurrected U.S. Fourth Fleet Creates Suspicion Across South America
Vanity, Thy Name is Krauthammer
It's all part of the Republican Smear Machine's ongoing efforts to brand/label Obama. Hillary helped out during the primaries, desperately trying to make the case that he isn't ready to be president, but the Republicans are on to the next stage of the game. The Rev. Wright story had some staying power, though Obama diffused it both with his brilliant speech on race and by … [Read more...] about Vanity, Thy Name is Krauthammer
The Iraq War Department Of “Oops”
If a picture is worth a thousand words, so is an email... … [Read more...] about The Iraq War Department Of “Oops”
Bush’s Aspirational Words on Timetables, and Torture.
Whether the Bush administration, after years of vicious attacks on anyone who would dare to mention timetables for the U.S. disengagement in Iraq, is caving in to Maliki’s demands and is now itself discussing timetables, is debatable. But what is not debatable is the pains the administration is taking to avoid giving the impression that it is in fact discussing … [Read more...] about Bush’s Aspirational Words on Timetables, and Torture.
Identity Matters: The Nature of Nations
Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir once famously stated that there is "no such thing as a Palestinian people." Was she right? In what way can one judge the legitimacy of a claim to nationhood? … [Read more...] about Identity Matters: The Nature of Nations
A San Francisco Honor For President George Bush?
Voters in San Francisco are pondering it. Some voters there (and perhaps beyond) think it is fitting. … [Read more...] about A San Francisco Honor For President George Bush?
Iraqi PM Maliki Endorses Obama’s Withdrawal Plan
Lost amidst the hoopla of Obama's overseas trip is a statement issued by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to the German magazine Der Spiegel . "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes." To understand how significant this is, consider for a … [Read more...] about Iraqi PM Maliki Endorses Obama’s Withdrawal Plan
24 Hours Of John McCain Political Missteps
This hasn't been the best 24 hours for presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain. But the good news is that after 24 hours of news of stories that are unlikely to help him gain new voters, Democrat Barack Obama will now be under the media's vetting microscope in Iraq -- and McCain is unlikely to make the same number of blunders. And if he does, they won't … [Read more...] about 24 Hours Of John McCain Political Missteps