The world's second most populous nation is up-in-arms over remarks recently made by President Bush, as he attempted to explain rising food and energy prices to an audience in Maryland. The president said the following: "There are 350 million people in India who are classified as middle class. That's bigger than America. Their middle class is larger than our entire … [Read more...] about In Defense of Bush’s Gaffe on Rising Food Prices
Gallup: Obama’s White Voter Support About The Same As John Kerry’s (REVISED)
A Gallup analysis of exit-poll data finds Democratic Senator Barack Obama's support among white voters if he runs against GOP Senator John McCain is about the same as Senator John Kerry's was in the 2004 Presidential election: Barack Obama's current level of support among white voters in a head-to-head matchup against John McCain is no worse than John Kerry's margin of … [Read more...] about Gallup: Obama’s White Voter Support About The Same As John Kerry’s (REVISED)
On “The Real McCain”
I need to start this post off by saying that it will not even appear to be biased. I favor John McCain and will probably vote for him come fall. I say this, because I want to respond to Jill Miller Zimon's post where she interviews Cliff Schecter on his book on John McCain. There has been a familiar theme about how McCain has become a tool of the far right and is not the … [Read more...] about On “The Real McCain”
Clinton to Obama: A Translation
RCP's Tom Bevan shares a Clinton letter sent today to Obama re: Florida and Michigan. My completely biased, semi-tongue-in-cheek translation of that letter follows, below the fold. I'm sure this translation will offend many people, so if you're a Clinton supporter and agree with her efforts vis-a-vis these states, please either (a) skip this post, or (b) let me have it in … [Read more...] about Clinton to Obama: A Translation
Sabato’s Crystal Ball Peers at Veep Nominee Choices
Another twofer from the University of Virginia's Center for Politics: OBAMA'S VICE-PRESIDENT? - May 8, 2008 - Guest columnist Gerald Pomper suggests Webb MCCAIN'S VICE-PRESIDENT? - May 8, 2008 - Guest columnist Kathryn Lopez suggests Romney … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball Peers at Veep Nominee Choices
Yom Huledet Sameach! Happy Birthday to the State of Israel!
The State of Israel is celebrating its 60th Birthday today. Israeli President Shimon Peres in the Jerusalem Post on 60 years of public life. Other Jerusalem Post Israel@60 articles Ynet's coverage British PM Gordon Brown: Israel`s creation one of the 20th century`s `greatest achievements` Iran's Ahmadinejad compares Israel to a dead rat ISRAEL21c: Israel … [Read more...] about Yom Huledet Sameach! Happy Birthday to the State of Israel!
Platform of the Democratic Party of Texas
Eighty percent of success is showing up. - Woody Allen Living in the State capitol I was able to mosey on by a meeting of Legislators and party activists charged with revising the 2006 Texas Democratic Party Platform. Among those present were a former State Speaker of the House and other former Committee Chairmen. Since my special interest is reform of campaigns and … [Read more...] about Platform of the Democratic Party of Texas
On the packaging of candidates
First, if you're wondering what I as a Hillary supporter think about Hillary's decision to continue running after yesterday, the answer is I don't know what I think of it as a strategy. Naturally I would like to believe that she could still somehow prevail. I am not sanguine. People are speculating that she is now running for the VP slot. We'll … [Read more...] about On the packaging of candidates
Serendipity
Showing up on the Google "Quotes of the Day" widget this morning, these back-to-back entries struck me as potentially relevant to the ongoing Democratic primary season. Garrison Keillor, perhaps channeling Sen. Clinton on her chances to win the nomination: "I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it." Philip K. Dick, perhaps channeling the Obama … [Read more...] about Serendipity
[interview] The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don’t Trust Him-and Why Independents Shouldn’t
Earlier this week, I interviewed the author and political pundit, Cliff Schecter about his latest book, The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him - and Why Independents Shouldn't. You can read more about the book at its website and I also recommend this article in U.S. News and World Report. In his book, Schecter makes the case for why, although he supported McCain … [Read more...] about [interview] The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don’t Trust Him-and Why Independents Shouldn’t
The women of FLDS
I don't know nearly enough about them. But I was fascinated to learn they had put up a website. On The Media has more: BOB GARFIELD: The FLDS community has been described as something like a tribe in Papua, New Guinea, that is untouched by the modern world. Are they really living in the middle of the 18th century? BROOKE ADAMS: I think that's a false perception of this … [Read more...] about The women of FLDS
NPR: 2 families, 2 approaches to gender identity
NPR has a terrific and nuanced story on a difficult and challenging topic. One issue to dispose of right away, the story is headlined Two Families Grapple with Sons' Gender Preferences, which may suggest to some that those boys make a choice about their gender identity. As their story makes clear, little choice is involved. To people of my sexual identity (I self-identify as … [Read more...] about NPR: 2 families, 2 approaches to gender identity
Do the Democrats Deserve to Win in November?
Today I was reading a wonderful piece of snark from Oliver Willis, who provides the following dire warning to the Democratic Party should they be foolish enough to award the nomination to Senator Obama. More people are voting for Sen. Obama and that’s a huge problem in the fall. If we extrapolate this trend, it’s possible that he could, in the general election, have more … [Read more...] about Do the Democrats Deserve to Win in November?
Hillary’s Bittergate (UPDATED)
Clinton cited an Associated Press article "that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me." "There's a pattern emerging here," she said We all like to slice and dice the electorate, and sometimes the politicians themselves get in … [Read more...] about Hillary’s Bittergate (UPDATED)
Niger Delta Rebels Bomb Shell; Say ‘Considering’ Obama Cease-Fire Appeal
Is it possible that in the midst of the most grueling political ordeal of his life, Barack Obama took time out last week to negotiate with Nigerian Militants? Just a day after an attack on an a huge Shell Oil pumping station on the Niger Delta, the Nigerian government reports receiving an e-mail that reads in part: "The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta … [Read more...] about Niger Delta Rebels Bomb Shell; Say ‘Considering’ Obama Cease-Fire Appeal
School Administrators Concerned Over Students Drinking Energy Drinks
Many school administrators reportedly feel they now have a monster problem with students drinking highly-caffeinated energy drinks -- and that's no (red) bull. Previous generations got their caffeine fix via coffee, tea or cola -- but energy drinks are now big business with 20 somethings, teens and even students in middle schools. The Oregonian reports: The rising … [Read more...] about School Administrators Concerned Over Students Drinking Energy Drinks
Rest For A Moment
nota bene: this pix was sent to me by a sister blogger. I believe it was taken by Ann Althouse in New York … [Read more...] about Rest For A Moment
Cartoonists, Obama, Hillary And The Indiana North Carolina Primaries
Cartoonists are having a field day with the results from last night's Indiana and North Carolina Democratic primaries. A large number of them are lampooning Hillary Clinton and the Democratic party's divisions. Here are three of the most timely ones (we'll run others throughout the day tomorrow): Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune Mike Lester, The Rome … [Read more...] about Cartoonists, Obama, Hillary And The Indiana North Carolina Primaries
‘A hand that is unlikely to improve’
At Slate, John Dickerson channels Hillary Clinton on Iraq to offer some perspective on ... Hillary Clinton and the Democratic primary. The kicker: ... Clinton's words to Petraeus could be read as advice to her after Tuesday's primaries: 'I give you tremendous credit for presenting as positive a view of a rather grim reality. I believe that you … were dealt a very hard hand. … [Read more...] about ‘A hand that is unlikely to improve’
U.S. ‘Xenophobes’ Celebrate Drop in Remittances
According to this infuriated op-ed from Colombia's El Tiempo newspaper, "xenophobic" Americans are celebrating the fact that the amount of money migrants send home to their families in Latin America is beginning to drop. Sergio Muñoz Bata writes for El Tiempo: "As if the protagonists weren't human beings who has separated themselves from their families to try and build a … [Read more...] about U.S. ‘Xenophobes’ Celebrate Drop in Remittances