In The Conservative Revival David Brooks explores the lessons the GOP could learn from their conservative colleagues in the UK. "The British conservative renovation begins with this insight: The central political debate of the 20th century was over the role of government. The right stood for individual freedom while the left stood for extending the role of the state. But … [Read more...] about The future of the GOP as small government Democrats
Guest Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
This is another Guest Book Review by fiction writer Jessica Schneider who also writes for Cosmoetica, is Book Editor for Monsters and Critics and is the only contributor to her own blog. Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon by Jessica Schneider It is always frustrating to begin a book that has some potential but ultimately … [Read more...] about Guest Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Good News for Hobbit Fans
If you are one of the myriad fans of the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, you will be heartened to learn that events are moving forward toward the creation of a two movie series based on the original book, "The Hobbit." This week we learned that Sir Ian McKellen has signed on to reprise his role as Gandalf and that Peter Jackson will definitely be involved. As was expected, … [Read more...] about Good News for Hobbit Fans
Doctors and demons and unsung heroes
It turns out that one of the doctors in yesterday's piece on families coping with gender identity issues, Kenneth J. Zucker, Ph.D., is on the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Work Group for the American Psychological Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Pam says that's not good news: Needless to say, gender-variant LGBT and straight … [Read more...] about Doctors and demons and unsung heroes
Bill Clinton Strikes Again: He Heatedly Argues With A Voter (UPDATED)
They must have run out of duct tape at Home Depot -- or Hillary Clinton's advisers must believe that an angry Bill Clinton arguing with a female voter who interrupted him in West Virginia is going to win over people who don't already support Hillary Clinton. For a veteran politician, he can't turn a lemon (being interrupted) into lemonade (handling it with skill to win over … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Strikes Again: He Heatedly Argues With A Voter (UPDATED)
Two Sides to John McCain’s Land Swap Deals
The Washington Post has further information on an unfolding story regarding several "land swap" deals endorsed by presidential hopeful Senator John McCain, at least one of which seems to be producing a financial windfall for one of the Arizona Senator's largest fundraisers. PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- Sen. John McCain championed legislation that will let an Arizona rancher trade … [Read more...] about Two Sides to John McCain’s Land Swap Deals
Burma Cyclone Relief
Some aid workers can and do get into the country - here's how to help: Myanmar Cyclone Relief New York, NY, May 8, 2008—Thanks to its historical, 94 years of operation as a non-political entity and relief organization, JDC staff has been granted entry visas to carry out humanitarian aid efforts for victims of cyclone Nargis which hit Myanmar last week. A senior JDC … [Read more...] about Burma Cyclone Relief
Gay Rights v. Religious Rights in “Safe Space” ruling at Georgia Tech
Inside Higher Ed, reporting from the front lines of the culture war: A federal judge has ruled that the Georgia Institute of Technology had materials in its office to support gay students that amounted to unconstitutional support for some religious groups over others. [...] The ruling came in a case involving a range of issues over speech codes and support for religious … [Read more...] about Gay Rights v. Religious Rights in “Safe Space” ruling at Georgia Tech
Another Swing and a Miss on al-Masri
U.S. military officials are now saying that yesterday's reports of the capture of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, were somewhat premature. U.S. military officials were surprised about the report of Abu Ayyub al-Masri's capture -- first reported by Iraqi media and picked up by The Associated Press. And intelligence officials said they were skeptical, even … [Read more...] about Another Swing and a Miss on al-Masri
The Fall of Hillary Clinton: Why It Wasn’t Enough To Merely Master A Man’s Game
On the 492nd day of Hillary Clinton's quest to become the first woman president, one inevitability was rudely replaced by another. That was the number of days that elapsed from January 20, 2007 when Clinton (photo) announced that "I'm in. And I'm in it to win," something that few observers could seriously doubt, and Tuesday past when voters in North Carolina and Indiana … [Read more...] about The Fall of Hillary Clinton: Why It Wasn’t Enough To Merely Master A Man’s Game
Than Shwe: This Child Is Burma’s Only Future: Do Not Let An Entire Generation of Burmese Children Be Wiped Out by Your Inaction
According to my contact in Yangon, what pitiful supplies are on the ground, have no distribution whatsoever to any of the thousands of villages and tributaries in Burma hit into utter devastation by the tsunami/ cyclone. The Burmese, most poorer than poor before the tsunami, are going on their 6th sunrise without clean water, food, or shelter or medicines. Meanwhile, it is … [Read more...] about Than Shwe: This Child Is Burma’s Only Future: Do Not Let An Entire Generation of Burmese Children Be Wiped Out by Your Inaction
More Tragedy Pending in Burma? Burmese Gov’t Accepting Supplies, but Spurning Other Desperately Needed Aid
Look at these faces. While the rest of the world wrings its hands and waits helplessly on the sidelines, Burma's government says it will accept aid, but that it doesn't want the help of foreigners in getting it to the people. (BBC News) The UN is pretty sure the government's own unaided efforts won't be enough. The UN says that up to 1.5 million people may … [Read more...] about More Tragedy Pending in Burma? Burmese Gov’t Accepting Supplies, but Spurning Other Desperately Needed Aid
Encore
Eric Allie, Caglecartoons.com … [Read more...] about Encore
Regardless of Who Wins, the American Exception is Eternal
As the Bush era draws to a close, Europeans are anxious to know what about American policy will change when he's gone - particularly if a Democratic victory occurs as planned. According to this lead article from French business magazine Challenges, while a Democrat in the White House will mean a leftward tilt - it won't be anything like the European left - and it certainly … [Read more...] about Regardless of Who Wins, the American Exception is Eternal
Slicing and Dicing the Electorate
Whatever happened to the Melting Pot? Now we learn that "Barack Obama is faring better than might be expected among Jewish voters, beating John McCain in Gallup Poll Daily general-election matchups and trailing Hillary Clinton only slightly in Jewish Democrats' preferences for the Democratic nomination." This crucial piece of information tells us what? That Jews don't blame … [Read more...] about Slicing and Dicing the Electorate
Does RNC Have 2,200 Pages Oppo Research On Clinton And Obama?
How dirty does the upcoming 2008 campaign promise to be? The focus has been on what the GOP might try to do to Democratic Senator Barack Obama if he gets the Democratic presidential nomination. But MSNBC's David Shuster contends that the Republicans also have a treasure chest of goodies ready to use against Senator Hillary Clinton if she heads the ticket: Two Republican … [Read more...] about Does RNC Have 2,200 Pages Oppo Research On Clinton And Obama?
Earth to Democrats: Black votes count!
I began this piece the other day and should have posted it then. I'm late to the party. I was responding to a commenter who wrote: It's really sad how much the talk circles around race. It's a constant reminder how far we haven't come. Even though I knew that to be true, this campaign is just a daily reminder. The comment was in response to me quoting Thomas Schaller. … [Read more...] about Earth to Democrats: Black votes count!
Destroying the Village Party to save it?
You know, I believe I have a certain familiarity with Hillary Clinton's personality insofar as she is 15 years older than I, to the day... we Scorpios are often maniacally loyal (think about why she stays with Bill) and maniacally driven (I've completed 18 marathons, despite a complete lack of physical talent, and I continue to write my blog, week in, week out, six and a half … [Read more...] about Destroying the Village Party to save it?
Burma: The Government’s Idea of Bringing Aid to the Groaning Masses of Maimed and Dead
Various news reports say there are over 200,000 dead in the cyclone and tsunami that hit Burma... now five days ago. Other reports say over 500,000 will be dead if the thousands of bodies floating in water and lying in mud are not burnt or buried, and the injured given help, and the vulnerable given clean water. This is after the government originally said there might … [Read more...] about Burma: The Government’s Idea of Bringing Aid to the Groaning Masses of Maimed and Dead
When News Websites Screw Up Bigtime
...it looks like this. … [Read more...] about When News Websites Screw Up Bigtime