It was fifty eight years ago today that the Korean War began. And while many South Koreans love and appreciate the United States for coming to their aid under the U.N. flag, increasing numbers of young South Koreans are not only oblivious to history, they regard the United States as the greatest threat to their nation. This editorial from South Korea's Dong-A Ilbo laments … [Read more...] about The Young Forget How MacArthur ‘Saved’ Korea …
The Lexington Project
I've been hesitant to build up a lot of hope, but I'm starting to think that the future of America's energy policies may wind up being the turnkey issue that drives a lot of us off the fence who have been either undecided or hovering around third party candidates out of frustration with our major party choices. CBS News is reporting on a new proposal from Sen. John McCain which … [Read more...] about The Lexington Project
I For One, Welcome our New Liberal Overlords
Sorry, but I had to use a version of that Simpsons quote (and I basically copied it from a writer). Piggybacking on yesterday's post, I found this article by Reihan Salam about the doomed McCain Presidency. It's not as much his problem, but it is the problem of the GOP not being able to notice that the times they are a-changing. As I said yesterday, the nation is moving … [Read more...] about I For One, Welcome our New Liberal Overlords
EITC For All Who Deserve It
The Earned Income Tax Credit is one of America's most successful programs battling poverty. Originally passed in the Ford administration, the EITC supplements the wages of poor, working families, giving them a boost as they work their way up the economic ladder. Its innovative "plateau" formula means that it acts to promote, not discourage, work: the credit rises alongside … [Read more...] about EITC For All Who Deserve It
Reminder: CERN LHA Debate on the Radio
Today, at 1 pm eastern, 10 am pacific, you can tune in to Mid Stream Radio where we will be interviewing Dr. Robert Wagner about the Large Hadron Collider. If you miss the show, you can follow that link later in the day and listen to a replay of the interview. See you on the radio! … [Read more...] about Reminder: CERN LHA Debate on the Radio
Random Reads
Hope abounds when left and right agree. Ralph Peters explains why he's "for McCain, but not the GOP." I don't agree with everything Peters writes here, but I thought this particular comment was pure gold: "I'm disgusted with both political parties. The Republicans have abandoned their principles while the Democrats have abandoned their senses." Jay Newton-Small builds … [Read more...] about Random Reads
Quote Of The Day: Dowd On Rove, Obama, And Terrorist Attacks
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has a MUST READ COLUMN today -- pegged to GOP political maven Karl Rove's assertion that Democratic presumptive nominee Sen. Barack Obama is like an arrogant country club member who hangs around the clubhouse smoking a cigarette with a beautiful woman on his arm making snide comments. Read this in FULL because she notes at the beginning … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Dowd On Rove, Obama, And Terrorist Attacks
A Brewing Conflict
This Sunday’s LA Times carried an interesting column, “McCain may have conflict brewing.” As the title hints to, the article deals with the possible conflicts of interest that the business dealings of some of the McCain family members--such as Cindy and Andrew McCain--may create for John McCain, should he be elected President. While most of us know what those business … [Read more...] about A Brewing Conflict
Blue, Blue Oregon
Over at Newshoggers, my old colleague Ron Beasley shows up with one of the more arcane bits of political news in a season already ripe with weirdness. It appears that Republican Senator Gordon Smith is running television ads for he reelection bid showing how much he is in line with... Barack Obama? In the ad, Smith, running hard away from Bush, associates himself at length … [Read more...] about Blue, Blue Oregon
Corn On The Cobama
RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Corn On The Cobama
Sunstein’s Nudge, “Choice Architecture”, and Obama
The Times of London looked at Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein last weekend in a piece titled politicians are devouring the work of academics who explain why the carrot beats the stick. The research shows that while people claim social norms are the weakest of influences on them, the evidence indicates they are among the strongest. It's good to see the pols picking … [Read more...] about Sunstein’s Nudge, “Choice Architecture”, and Obama
Vertebrate Democratic Senators Gear Up to Oppose Telecom Amnesty
As a follow-up to some deeply cynical speculation about the 94 Dems who 180'd on FISA, I'd like to add that some Democrats in Congress can apparently still find their spines. That's cheering, right? Senator Harry Reid is supportive of efforts to strip the retro-active immunity from the new FISA bill. This won't keep it from shredding the fourth amendment, but … [Read more...] about Vertebrate Democratic Senators Gear Up to Oppose Telecom Amnesty
But Why Did 94 House Democrats Change Their Votes on FISA?
In March, the House passed an amendment that rejected retroactive immunity for telecoms that assisted the NSA in illegal wiretapping. Most of us have wondered what happened to change the minds of 94 Democrats. What happened between June 20 and March 14 to change 94 Democratic hearts and minds? The answer might well be simple: money. Could it be that … [Read more...] about But Why Did 94 House Democrats Change Their Votes on FISA?
Barack Obama: From Messiah to Pariah?
There is something comical but ultimately rather sad about the widespread dropping of jaws over Barack Obama's support of the expansion of government surveillance powers and other recent actions that reveal him to be someone whom he has been all along -- a hard assed and thoroughly pragmatic politician who does not walk on water but has been astute at harnessing this image to … [Read more...] about Barack Obama: From Messiah to Pariah?
Egypt, Israel And Academia (Guest Voice)
The following Guest Voice post is by Charlie Gandelman, a student who studied in Egypt and is an Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Major at Brandeis. Editor's Note: I never met Charlie but he found me and TMV on the Internet. When I saw his writing, I invited him to do a Guest Voice post. This is his first and is cross posted on his blog. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily … [Read more...] about Egypt, Israel And Academia (Guest Voice)
Take A Peek
....at Countdown To Crawford, a new blog by the Los Angeles Times that is detailing the last days of the Bush administration. Yes, it's from the L.A. Times, the same newspaper that has the highly lively and addicting Top of the Ticket weblog. The Times is one of several newspapers that is launching itself quite comfortably in terms of content and style into the … [Read more...] about Take A Peek
China Pushes for Olympics Summit Between Bush and Kim Jong-il
It emerged in the East Asian press on Sunday that China is seeking to arrange a meeting between George W. Bush and North Korean despot Kim Jong-il, which would take place during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. According to this news account from the South Korean newspaper the Daily North Korea, several Japanese publications published the details over the … [Read more...] about China Pushes for Olympics Summit Between Bush and Kim Jong-il
A Little Morning Music
Admittedly it is a bit early for the 4th of July but I thought I'd post this as a little morning pick us up. Enjoy everyone … [Read more...] about A Little Morning Music
The Close of the Conservative Era (for now)
John McCain can't get a break. In 2000, he ran up against the Bush machine that slimed him and ran his campaign off the rails. Eight years later, he is now makes it to the top spot as the GOP nominee and has to run against someone that seems to be more popular than Jesus. While I support John McCain, there is a sense that this is a losing battle. He is a good man stuck … [Read more...] about The Close of the Conservative Era (for now)
Polls: Obama 12 Points Or 3 Points Ahead Of McCain?
Two new polls again show how polls can come up with truly contradictory findings. A new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg shows Democratic presumptive presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama 12 points ahead of GOP presumptive presidential nominee Sen. John McCain. And a Gallup Daily Tracking poll finds Obama 3 points ahead. The partisans of each candidate will point to the one that … [Read more...] about Polls: Obama 12 Points Or 3 Points Ahead Of McCain?