The AP sure has swatted a hornet's nest. I'm as indignant as the rest of the blogosphere at the notion that we'd have to pay to license 5-word quotations (and they reserve the right to terminate the license), but the fact is they're not going to enforce that agreement -- they said as much over and over again -- possibly taking chief critic Jeff Jarvis' one last bit of advice … [Read more...] about AP kerfuffle continues
Where Is Reasonable Talk Radio ?
Recently I was driving home from work and started flipping around the radio dial for something to listen to. I caught a few minutes of commentary from one of the major conservative talk show hosts. His subject was the Obama campaign and the connection to the radical enviromental movement with regard to gas prices and drilling for oil. He decried the fact that they oppose … [Read more...] about Where Is Reasonable Talk Radio ?
McCain Wants Offshore Drilling Ban To End
Suggesting that tough times call for tough measures, presumptive GOP Presidential nominee John McCain is calling for ending the federal offshore drilling ban -- putting him at odds with environmentalist groups he was wooing and his own 2000 presidential campaign position on the issue. The call is likely to mean environmentalists who have been counting the days since the Bush … [Read more...] about McCain Wants Offshore Drilling Ban To End
The AP to Demand Protection Money for ‘Fair Use’ of Its Content?
So it is rumored. I have a hard time believing that they'd really try it on. But according to Tim Conneally, it seems that this may be what they're thinking.Where the group had previously invoked the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and sent cease-and-desist orders to at least one blogger, seeking the removal of excerpted content (in some cases as few as 17 … [Read more...] about The AP to Demand Protection Money for ‘Fair Use’ of Its Content?
Supremes Rule
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Supremes Rule
Bush v. McCain: A Nutshell Comparison
For those keeping score --- and for Hillary Dems thinking of voting for McCain or enabling a McCain victory by not voting at all --- The New York Times has a handy tally of points on which McCain and Bush agree and disagree. Before it's all over, we're all going to need one. Dana Milbank says it best: 'Put Your Right Wing In, Take Your Left Wing Out ---If John McCain keeps … [Read more...] about Bush v. McCain: A Nutshell Comparison
Obama and Ike: How to End a War
Whether or not he is responding to John McCain's goading, Barack Obama's statement that he is "interested in" going to Iraq before November recalls Dwight Eisenhower's campaign promise in 1952 to go to Korea and do something about ending the war there. American voters then were weary of protracted fighting far from home as they are now. By his promise, Ike was underscoring … [Read more...] about Obama and Ike: How to End a War
Time To Give The “C” Word A Trashing
People who didn't reach the stage of political awareness before 1980 probably think the "L" word, liberal, is a pejorative term. For more than a quarter century, since Ronald Reagan's first term, virtually every progressive idea that came into the political arena was pilloried, and often outright trashed, when the dreaded L label was pinned on it. This was no accidental … [Read more...] about Time To Give The “C” Word A Trashing
How KBR/Halliburton Collected $1 Billion in ‘Noncredible’ Costs
Those wacky government contractors. Will we ever tire of of their sportive tricks? I'll never understand why more Republicans in Congress --- who worry obsessively about taxes and who used to get teary-eyed about the troops whenever a Dem used the phrase 'withdrawal deadline' or 'exit strategy' --- aren't apoplectic over the amounts of tax dollars being flushed down … [Read more...] about How KBR/Halliburton Collected $1 Billion in ‘Noncredible’ Costs
Poll: Independent Voters Split Between Obama And McCain
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows independent voters are now split with Democratic Senator Barack Obama narrowly leading Republican Senator John McCain among that pivotal group in the Presidential race -- a sign that more than ever independent or "swing" voters are up for grabs. The poll reconfirms what we've noted many times in posts on this site: independent … [Read more...] about Poll: Independent Voters Split Between Obama And McCain
Virginity: de rigueur or over rated?
This morning at 11:00 AM eastern time, I'll be taking part in a panel discussion on internet radio which is being hosted by Fausta Wertz of Fausta's Blog. The subject will be (brace yourself...) hymen reconstruction surgery. We'll be taking a second look at a previous New York Times article and accompanying analysis from National Review Online regarding the growing phenomenon … [Read more...] about Virginity: de rigueur or over rated?
A Hillary Clinton Official Online Photo Album
But, wait...someone is missing... … [Read more...] about A Hillary Clinton Official Online Photo Album
The Guantánamo Ruling Was A Setback, But The Bush Revolution Still Is Alive & Kicking
You will not be able to stay home, brother. You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out. You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip, Skip out for beer during commercials, Because the revolution will not be televised. – GIL SCOTT-HERON Perhaps the biggest disconnect between the core conservative tenet that the less government and the less obtrusive … [Read more...] about The Guantánamo Ruling Was A Setback, But The Bush Revolution Still Is Alive & Kicking
Today’s Must Read
Dick Polman on Tim Russert. Anything else we say is an anti-climax. … [Read more...] about Today’s Must Read
The Future of Russo-American Relations (Guest Voice)
This Guest Voice column is by Russian-Armenian banking IT specialist and Watching America translator Azat Souren Oganesian. The Future of Russo-American Relations by Azat Souren Oganesian The future of Russo-American relations may be one of partnership and possible friendship or that of distrust and competition; which scenario manifests will naturally depend on … [Read more...] about The Future of Russo-American Relations (Guest Voice)
Life Expectancy
Brian Fairrington, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Life Expectancy
Obama ‘Reinforces Sense of White Superiority’
Does Beijing prefer John McCain to Barack Obama? It's unusual for Chinese rulers to show their hand in such a manner, but judging by this op-ed article written by Ding Gang, the senior desk editor of China's strictly-controlled People's Daily, one must conclude that Beijing is not at all enamored by Obama or his candidacy. Charging that the secret of Obama's success is his … [Read more...] about Obama ‘Reinforces Sense of White Superiority’
Gay Marriage Starts In California
As of 5pm today it became legal for county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. One of the first couples to be married in San Francisco have been together for the last fifty years. I think this fact is worth mentioning because of some of the objections that people have made over the concept of same sex weddings. They talk about the lack of commitment, … [Read more...] about Gay Marriage Starts In California
Obama Gets “The” Endorsement: The Lousy Timing of Al Gore
Perhaps one day someone will write a chapter about Al Gore in a new book titled "Profiles In Uncourage." Democratic presumptive Presidential nominee Barack Obama finally got what he and former rival Senator Hillary Clinton had pined for all these months -- THE endorsement from former Vice President Al Gore. But it came so late in the game that the person who'll be most … [Read more...] about Obama Gets “The” Endorsement: The Lousy Timing of Al Gore
Obama on/in Iraq: Another rookie mistake?
CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic is reporting that Sen. Barack Obama participated in a phone call with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari today and indicated that he planned a trip to Iraq prior to the November elections. Barack Obama told Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on the telephone this morning that he would end the U.S. occupation in Iraq and promised to visit the … [Read more...] about Obama on/in Iraq: Another rookie mistake?