He's raised just $300,000 dollars. He has a staff of only six people working out of a non-political public relations firm office. He's not even on the ballot in 20 of the 50 states. So why does Bob Barr have so many people looking nervous and edgy? Sometimes the answer lies in the margins. As this New York Times article points out, people are already casting a wary eye at Mr. … [Read more...] about Georgia Barr the Door
Clinton Obama’s Unity Event: The Beginning Of Hard Nosed Unity?
Was it unity? Or "unity smchunity?" Did Senator Hillary Clinton truly look sincere as she urged supporters to back the person who has wrapped up the Democratic nomination, Senator Barack Obama? And that kiss-and-make-up photo: Did it look real or fake? Did Clinton look relaxed? Or when she embraced Obama, did she look as if she was someone (as an LA talk show host said) who … [Read more...] about Clinton Obama’s Unity Event: The Beginning Of Hard Nosed Unity?
The “Gun Nut” Gap
Our national schizophrenia on firearms defies rational explanation. In the wake of yesterday's Supreme Court decision, both presidential candidates and, according to public opinion polls, most voters believe in "the right to bear arms." Yet only one out of three Americans owns a gun and, after mass murders like Virginia Tech, there is an upsurge of grief and outrage at the … [Read more...] about The “Gun Nut” Gap
Sexing up political candidates akin to Sex and The City
Grand Central Political published this column by Jennifer Nedeau of New Media Strategies and Human Folly, "Could A Little "Sex" Help Female Political Candidates?" Here's a tease: Since Barack Obama took the Democratic Presidential Nomination, I have come to wonder: if Hillary had harnessed some of the powerful imagery of SATC, could she have done better among women like me … [Read more...] about Sexing up political candidates akin to Sex and The City
Clinton Obama Unity In Unity: Are Wounds Too Profound To Heal?
It was an event that had "media hype" written all over it before the words "media hype" could be written: Democratic presumptive Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama met former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton in Unity, N.H. for a show of...party unity. On the surface, reports indicate it was a great event and could provide the beginning of party unity. But some reports … [Read more...] about Clinton Obama Unity In Unity: Are Wounds Too Profound To Heal?
Look at Me!
Congress Introduces Bill Improving Access to the Earned Income Tax Credit. It's an issue I previously blogged about here, but this article you can find over at The Debate Link the website of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. Expanding my online empire, one website at a time. … [Read more...] about Look at Me!
When ‘Almost Sorry’ Doesn’t Count
In “A Hot Political Trend: Saying Sorry.“ (June 23), U.S. News’ Kenneth Walsh discusses what he perceives to be a trend that “has gone generally unnoticed in the presidential campaign.“ The trend is that of “saying sorry.“ According to Walsh: Politicians of all stripes are acknowledging mistakes more than ever. They seem to have finally realized that it's not a … [Read more...] about When ‘Almost Sorry’ Doesn’t Count
On Gas Prices – Do It All
From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about On Gas Prices – Do It All
Is Barack Obama a Pro-Arab Pacifist or a ‘Zionist Poodle’?
Just as it has in the United States, Barack Obama's strategic ambiguity in regard to the Middle East and foreign policy in general has definitively shown up on Europe's radar screen. For Germany's Die Welt, Lord George Weidenfeld writes of Obama's recent speech to AIPAC - the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee: "The candidate of American Democrats, Barack Obama, is … [Read more...] about Is Barack Obama a Pro-Arab Pacifist or a ‘Zionist Poodle’?
Obama Moves To Center, McCain To The Right?
Are we seeing so many political positioning moves on the part of Democratic Senator Barack Obama and Republican Senator John McCain that the two of them could open up a special road show of "Riverdance?" NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro note the fancy footwork: But what we find fascinating is that as Obama has moved to the center on some thorny … [Read more...] about Obama Moves To Center, McCain To The Right?
Tall Paul, Not So Tall Ben
It's interesting to compare the economic crisis behavior of two Federal Reserve chairmen—Paul Volker and the present holder of that post, Ben Bernanke. In 1982, while Volker (who is 6'6" tall by the way) persided over a sluggish economy and raging inflation, running early that year at an 8.9 percent rate, many economists were wary of atacking inflation too strongly. They … [Read more...] about Tall Paul, Not So Tall Ben
“Support the Troops”: Finally Not Just Rhetoric
Pressured by countless telephone calls, tens of thousands petition signatures and letters to Capitol Hill, thousands of letters to the editor, and hundreds of columns and opinion pieces (hopefully one or two of mine included therein) a sufficient number of Republican Senators have joined their Democratic colleagues to overwhelmingly--I.e. “veto proof”--pass Senator Webb’s … [Read more...] about “Support the Troops”: Finally Not Just Rhetoric
Gay trend watch: wed on vacation, honeymoon at home!
Next year is my ten year "anniversary" with my spousal equivalent -- though we've always had to wonder, anniversary of what??? In our case we chose the date that made the difference. (There's also the question of which finger to wear the ring on -- by wearing it on the traditional wedding finger am I trying to pass as a married straight man in this rural Georgia town?)We're … [Read more...] about Gay trend watch: wed on vacation, honeymoon at home!
Steve Axtell: The Walt Disney Of Puppet Makers Unveils “Hands Free Remote Controlled” Puppets
Away from the public spotlight, a Ventura-based puppet maker who was enchanted by Muppets creator Jim Henson's creations as a kid has now become the Walt Disney of puppet makers. In reality, he has been on that track now for several years -- but today he literally ushers in a revolution in puppetry, ventriloquism and character robots. You'll be seeing many more "hands … [Read more...] about Steve Axtell: The Walt Disney Of Puppet Makers Unveils “Hands Free Remote Controlled” Puppets
Gun Ban Gunned Down
Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner … [Read more...] about Gun Ban Gunned Down
With Low Turnout, Zimbaweans May Be Voting to End Mugabe’s Reign
What if a thug government held an election and almost nobody voted? That appears to be what's happening today in Zimbabwe. Violent intimidation by strongman president Robert Mugabe toward the supporters of Morgan Tsvangirai caused the insurgent candidate to withdraw from today's runoff election several days ago. Besides wanting to protect his supporters from increasing … [Read more...] about With Low Turnout, Zimbaweans May Be Voting to End Mugabe’s Reign
CERN LHC Lawsuit to be Dismissed?
According to this report from the New York Times, the Federal Government is moving to dismiss the lawsuit attempting to stop the activation of the CERN Large Haldron Collider in France. A large portion of the motion to dismiss seems to be coming from legal maneuvering as opposed to an argument on the merits of the case. Calling its claims “overly speculative and not … [Read more...] about CERN LHC Lawsuit to be Dismissed?
Book Review: ‘Twilight At Monticello’ & Jefferson’s Paradoxical Views On Slavery
. To visit the homes of many famous people is usually not to really know them. A conspicuous exception is Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, the third president's self-designed masterpiece of Palladian architecture where he lived for 56 historic years -- from 1770 before he wrote the Declaration of Independence until his death on July 4, 1826. Monticello, Italian for "little … [Read more...] about Book Review: ‘Twilight At Monticello’ & Jefferson’s Paradoxical Views On Slavery
They’re Nekid I Tells Ya !
One of the more bemusing stories of the day involves a man from Texas named Robert Hurt. Hurt is a rancher (and father of 14) from Kerrville Texas. Over the years he has made several trips to Washington DC and he is not happy with what he has seen. While visiting our nations capital he was appalled to find that many of the buildings have artwork that portrays women who are … [Read more...] about They’re Nekid I Tells Ya !
“Books Not Bombs,” What a Liberal Idea
The Iraqi refugee crisis--and it is a crisis--continues to draw my interest, and, the refugees, my compassion. Perhaps it is because of my personal involvement in another refugee crisis in the seventies; perhaps it is because, in my opinion, the tragedy is a direct, albeit unintended result of our disastrous decision to invade Iraq and our equally disastrous mismanagement … [Read more...] about “Books Not Bombs,” What a Liberal Idea