No, President Bush wasn't attacking Barack Obama in his hugely inappropriate smack down before the Israeli Knesset yesterday in which he criticized a certain politician who would appease America's enemies by speaking to "terrorists and radicals," White House officials said on the record today while telling reporters off the record that Obama is of course who was being … [Read more...] about Two Hundred Forty Nine Days And Counting
Obama Responds To Bush’s “Appalling” Charge Of Him Wanting Terrorists “Appeasement” (UPDATED)
Democratic Senator Barack Obama has responded to President George Bush and presumptive Republican nominee Senator John McCain -- calling Bush's suggestion that he favored "appeasement" of terrorists "appalling" and blasting McCain's agreement with Bush on the issue. He called the attacks "dishonest and divisive" and accused McCain of "hypocrisy" for going after him despite … [Read more...] about Obama Responds To Bush’s “Appalling” Charge Of Him Wanting Terrorists “Appeasement” (UPDATED)
Nepotism at West Virginia U
The West Virginia primary has kicked up talk of racism but it's worth noting that nepotism is fought there too. The Chronicle (subscription): A gathering of more than one-third of all full-time faculty members at West Virginia University voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to call on their institution's president, Michael S. Garrison, to resign over his involvement in the … [Read more...] about Nepotism at West Virginia U
Walking the Line, Sign of Hope
In the first category, Jonathan Martin catches McCain and Obama walking the line, threading the needle, choosing their words carefully with respect to yesterday's California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. I look forward to the day when this matter is resolved and is no longer an issue that's of relevance to any campaign. (And yes, I'm pro civil marriage.) In the … [Read more...] about Walking the Line, Sign of Hope
George Bush’s “Appeasement” Gift to Barack Obama (UPDATED)
It isn't even Christmas yet, and President George Bush has already given Democratic Presidential front-runner Senator Barack Obama a wonderful Christmas gift. Gift wrapped even. And, according to reports, Obama will send a strongly worded "thank you" (but not using those exact words) later today. As we noted in yesterday's posts, when President Bush used a setting in … [Read more...] about George Bush’s “Appeasement” Gift to Barack Obama (UPDATED)
We’re not as racist as we’re afraid we are
And there's real reason to be afraid... NPR last night spoke with Kevin Merida about his piece in the Washington Post on racist incidents on the campaign trail. This is some of what was said: Mr. JEAN MORRIS(ph): Don't want Obama in there. I don't like his background. They're putting the man in because of his race, and I don't - I'm not ready for that. Ms. JOETTA … [Read more...] about We’re not as racist as we’re afraid we are
Is Gay Marriage Back As A Republican Campaign “Wedge” Issue?
When California's Supreme Court decision nixed a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage the question immediately raised by some talk show radio hosts was: will this be back now as a big campaign 2008 wedge issue? The likely answer: back...yes.......but not quite..because voters have a few teenie-weenie other things on their minds this year. The Associated Press has come to … [Read more...] about Is Gay Marriage Back As A Republican Campaign “Wedge” Issue?
Global Warning
Deng Coy Miel, Singapore … [Read more...] about Global Warning
Did the GOP just surrender on Iraq?
Via: Memeorandum In what can only be described as a stunning turn of events, the House yesterday took up a proposal to provide another round of funding for the war in Iraq to the tune of more than one hundred billion dollars. This wasn't unusual. The shocking part was that more than 100 House Republicans voted "present" and the bill failed. Of course, as Matt Stoller points … [Read more...] about Did the GOP just surrender on Iraq?
Sleep, Perchance to Dream…
Quoting Jessica Marshall from ZooGoer blog at the Smithsonian Anyone who has ever stayed up too late and regretted it the next day knows just how much humans need sleep. Animals need it, too. Every animal studied so far—from whales to octopuses to fruit flies—sleeps, although animal sleep takes various forms, and even among mammals the human eight hours is not the norm. … [Read more...] about Sleep, Perchance to Dream…
Elections 2008: Bridge
The Republicans seem at present, to be burning bridges between themselves regarding Senator McCain's candidacy, while the Democrats seem to be beginning at least to talk about building bridges. But to build a bridge isnt enough. Leaders can destroy their own groups by not having enough genuine earthy experience on the ground, by not being able to bring bold but effective … [Read more...] about Elections 2008: Bridge
John McCain: For Talking to Hamas Before He Was Against It
In what could prove to be a damaging moment for the McCain campaign, Former Clinton Administration State Department spokesman James Rubin has written an op-ed highlighting an interview he conducted with McCain a few years ago for Sky News in the UK. In the interview, conducted shortly after Hamas' victory in Palestinian elections, the following exchange occurred: [Rubin] … [Read more...] about John McCain: For Talking to Hamas Before He Was Against It
Important Blogroll Note To Readers
Many newspapers and networks now have EXCELLENT political blogs. We've been listing them by the blog names -- but we're now changing the way they're listed. You'll still find them under OTHER VOICES and we have only listed really good ones. But in the interest of increasing readership for these wonderful political weblogs run by mainstream news media, we're now relisting … [Read more...] about Important Blogroll Note To Readers
Denver, Site of DNC: The Scramble To Pay For It
What with the city of Denver trying to make space for Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Speech for the thousands of protesters who say they'll be showing up at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August... including "Recreate '68" and "Code Pink" and "Free Mumia"...amongst others too, there appears to be a slow-down in raising the promised private money to pay … [Read more...] about Denver, Site of DNC: The Scramble To Pay For It
CNN Caves In; Apologizes to China for Jack Cafferty’s Remarks
Did CNN host Jack Cafferty overstep his bounds as a TV commentator when he called Chinese-made products "junk" and referred to China's un-elected rulers as "goons and things?' As this report from China's tightly-controlled Xinhua news service makes clear, Beijing's rulers decreed that he had, and have ultimately brought CNN - that supposed bastion of the modern Western media - … [Read more...] about CNN Caves In; Apologizes to China for Jack Cafferty’s Remarks
News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front
A biweekly feature of news and opinion pieces from the Israeli and Palestinian press. 1.) Israel is planning on building a new housing complex and a synagogue in East Jerusalem. As was reported yesterday, "the area slated for the new project is located 200 meters from the Old City walls, in an area considered one of the most sensitive in the present negotiations with the … [Read more...] about News From the Israeli and Palestinian Front
On miscegenation and gay marriage
I find Richard Thompson Ford's, The Race Card: How Bluffing About Bias Makes Race Relations Worse, compelling and convincing in just about every way but one: he argues gay marriage is not like miscegenation. Ampersand reminds us that Mildred Loving didn't agree. On the 40th Anniversary of Loving v Virginia Mrs. Loving released a statement: My generation was bitterly … [Read more...] about On miscegenation and gay marriage
Hardball Host Chris Matthews Obliterates Conservative Talk Show Host On Bush’s Obama “Appeasement” Charge (UPDATED)
MSNBC Hardball Host Chris Matthews dealt with President George Bush's charge that Senator Barack Obama would appease terrorists on his show and obliterated Los Angeles conservative radio talk show host Kevin James who was on the show to give the Barack-is-an-appeaser side of it. James' problem: he had no idea what actual appeasement is. Note how he tries to get around the … [Read more...] about Hardball Host Chris Matthews Obliterates Conservative Talk Show Host On Bush’s Obama “Appeasement” Charge (UPDATED)
The Impact and Transformational Appeal of Barack Obama
Trying to explain Barack Obama and the impact his appearance is having on people around the world is a gargantuan task. This article from France's Liberation takes a good stab at it by examining his influence on young people - especially on those in the French suburbs which are so often areas of violent confrontation between police and that nation's alienated minority … [Read more...] about The Impact and Transformational Appeal of Barack Obama
Elitism: Good for Basketball; Good for Politics?
Watching America today features an article from Italy’s La Stampa, entitled “Competence Isn’t Elitism”. How very correct. The final paragraph of the article, translated by Boyd T. DeLanzo, is worth quoting in its entirety. Universal suffrage is only one half of democracy; the other half is education. Only if citizens are put into a condition to know and understand … [Read more...] about Elitism: Good for Basketball; Good for Politics?