RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch … [Read more...] about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Viacom, YouTube, & You: agreement to mask user data
You may have missed it, but over the 4th of July YouTube received a court order to hand over user viewing data from its database -- including usernames and IP addresses -- to Viacom in the ongoing $1 billion lawsuit against the video sharing service. YouTube refused. Randy Picker at the University of Chicago Law Faculty Blog, and David Robinson at Freedom to Tinker … [Read more...] about Viacom, YouTube, & You: agreement to mask user data
Mayer’s ‘The Dark Side,’ Or How The War On Terror Became A War On American Ideals
CHENEY ONLY PRETENDED TO BE SLEEPING; MAYER WAS WIDE AWAKE While it had been widely assumed that the decision to torture enemy combatants and other detainees in the War on Terror began at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and the Bush administration long hid behind that "trickle up" explanation, it is now apparent that the origins of this dark chapter in American history -- and the … [Read more...] about Mayer’s ‘The Dark Side,’ Or How The War On Terror Became A War On American Ideals
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: CAN MCCAIN OVERCOME THE TRIPLE WHAMMY?
I missed several Sabato’s Crystal Ball emails due to accidental unsubscribing. Here is one of many make-up posts. 05/29/2008 Alan I. Abramowitz's CAN MCCAIN OVERCOME THE TRIPLE WHAMMY? Electoral Barometer Shows Democratic Advantage With the long and contentious Democratic nomination race finally winding down, the attention of the media and the public is beginning … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: CAN MCCAIN OVERCOME THE TRIPLE WHAMMY?
The Great Depression Part II (Guest Voice)
Is what we're seeing The Great Depression Part II? In this Guest Voice, author Martha Randolph Carr contends we're at a tipping point. The Great Depression, Part Two by Martha Randolph Carr In life there is a tipping point for everything where what had seemed impossible has inched its way forward against the odds and is now about to pick up a lot of speed. … [Read more...] about The Great Depression Part II (Guest Voice)
David Caruso: Acting Genius Or Acting Hack?
When David Caruso did his first season on NYPD Blue he was praised by critics for his exceptional acting and intense performances. And when I went through DVDs of the first season and the few episodes he made during the second season, his performances were works of dramatic art. They hold up quite well. Caruso then left for a movie career which fizzled and his name became … [Read more...] about David Caruso: Acting Genius Or Acting Hack?
Obama New Yorker Cover
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Obama New Yorker Cover
New Yorker’s Alternate Cover
Cartoon by Simanca Osmani, Cagle Cartoons, Brazil … [Read more...] about New Yorker’s Alternate Cover
Afghanistan Casualties: Pakistan Under Twin Attack
Pakistan has come under a blistering attack from Afghanistan and India. Afghanistan alleges that Pakistan's intelligence service (ISI) and army are behind the bloody Taliban-led insurgency, calling the security forces the "world's biggest producers of terrorism and extremism." While India has blamed Pakistan's ISI for the suicide attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, and said: … [Read more...] about Afghanistan Casualties: Pakistan Under Twin Attack
Ventura Won’t Run, Franken Gets Challenger, Coleman Smiles
A couple developments in the US Senate race in Minnesota have helped to give incumbent Senator Norm Coleman (R) quite a bit to smile about. Coming in to the filing deadline today he faced the prospect of a potentially strong challenger in comedian Al Franken and the loss of support to the 3rd party candidacy of former Governor Jesse Ventura. But as it turns out things went … [Read more...] about Ventura Won’t Run, Franken Gets Challenger, Coleman Smiles
The Real History This Fall
As a Chicago Cubs fan I am almost required by law to be superstitious about things but we have reached the All Star Break and I find that not only are the Cubs the number one team in baseball but they are also now favored to win the World Series this fall. People have talked about how this fall could be historic with the election of Senator Obama as President and certainly … [Read more...] about The Real History This Fall
Day-Late-and-Dollar-Short Government
Trot out the clichés about closing the barn door for news today that the Federal Reserve is cracking down on shady lending practices to home buyers and President Bush is fighting high gas prices by lifting a ban on offshore drilling for oil. As Americans drown in bad economic news, these daring rescue moves are the equivalent of throwing them concrete life preservers. … [Read more...] about Day-Late-and-Dollar-Short Government
The ‘Flip-Flopping’ Label Has Jumped the Shark
Terror Watch List Fails… Again
This time, the terror watch list has picked up Clinton-era assistant attorney general, Jim Robinson. He is on this list despite having a recently renewed set of security clearances. It's ok for him to have access to nuclear secrets, but not to get on an airplane without some serious extra hassle. He's been quoted several places: I suppose if I were convinced that … [Read more...] about Terror Watch List Fails… Again
McCain and Obama: Both wrong on Iraq
Both Jazz Shaw and Damozel have written already about Barack Obama's Op-Ed on Iraq in the NY Times today. I'm really glad they've covered the story so well, because it leaves me free to bring up a couple of things that are starting to bug me. First off, I'm getting frustrated with Barack Obama on the surge. While he doesn't directly say so, my direct impression is that … [Read more...] about McCain and Obama: Both wrong on Iraq
Obama: It’s Time to Begin to End the War (Updated)
The New York Times has published an op-ed by Barack Obama. It’s good news, isn’t it, he pointedly notes, that our troops’ sacrifices have got the Iraqis to a point when their government might actually be about ready to take off the training wheels and ride off without us holding the handlebars? (NYT) And whether they are ready are not — see this BBC article … [Read more...] about Obama: It’s Time to Begin to End the War (Updated)
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: OBAMA’S NEXT CHALLENGE
I missed several Sabato’s Crystal Ball emails due to accidental unsubscribing. Here is one of many make-up posts. 05/15/2008 Rhodes Cook's OBAMA'S NEXT CHALLENGE: Turning Primary Losses Into Electoral Votes As Barack Obama prepares to move from the primary to the general election phase of the 2008 presidential election, he faces a new challenge which combines both … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: OBAMA’S NEXT CHALLENGE
Civil Rights Roundup: 07/14/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news In today's no-kidding file: NAACP head: Obama win won't solve racial injustice. The Washington Post has an article about out gay youth. The nation's oldest Black sorority is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Historians to judges: Stop pretending to be historians. You suck at it. Seattle is settling its third … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 07/14/08
Iraqi Politicans Learn the Fine Art of Spin
First, Iraq's al-Maliki gets into hot water with the Bush administration and Sen. McCain for suggesting a time-line for withdrawal. Next, presumptive Dem nominee Barack Obama latches on to al-Maliki's suggestion and features it prominently in an op-ed in today's NYT -- presumably, an attempt by the nominee to exit his own vat of hot water for recently suggesting anything … [Read more...] about Iraqi Politicans Learn the Fine Art of Spin
Well, It Could Be Hillary, Couldn’t It?
I have asserted on numerous occasions that Hillary will not be Obama's running mate. And yet... It's not like any of the other apparent contenders are obvious choices (or would be perfect picks). One can make compelling, if not convincing, cases for the likes of Biden, Dodd, and Nunn, for example, but one can also make compelling cases against pretty much all of them. Even, … [Read more...] about Well, It Could Be Hillary, Couldn’t It?