There is a ticking time bomb in the John McCain campaign and the sooner that Barack Obama can turn his full attention to exploiting it the bigger and consequential the explosion should be for this phony maverick. The presumptive Republican nominee supposedly swore off lobbyists after the Keating Five scandal nearly destroyed his political career, but they continue to have … [Read more...] about Phil Gramm: McCain’s Terrorist In Pinstripes
The Clintons’ Finances: What’s The Big Deal?
As someone who has been critical of the refusal of Hillary and Bill Clinton to release their tax returns, their decision to finally do so begs the question of why they waited so long, creating yet another controversy for Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign that seems to have been unnecessary. Or was it? The big news out of the release is that the Clintons are very … [Read more...] about The Clintons’ Finances: What’s The Big Deal?
Why Yousaf Raza Gilani As Pakistan PM?
Why did the ruling Pakistan People's Party boss and Benazir Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, choose Yousaf Raza Gilani as Prime Minister, a man who's unlikely to act as his proxy? The answer is attempted by a wellknown Pakistani columnist Ms Mariana Baabar, who has written an interesting piece in the recent issue of The Outlook, a respected Indian magazine. "Loyalty too … [Read more...] about Why Yousaf Raza Gilani As Pakistan PM?
And Now Some Vaudeville: Jimmy Durante And Eddie Jackson
We ran this about a year ago but have had a reader request to run it again. Did you ever hear about the old vaudeville shows, where high-energy performers had to entrance an audience with their talents, energy and charisma? Here's a perfect example of that kind of act. In 1955 the great comedian Jimmy Durante (one of the most beloved performers of the early to mid 20th … [Read more...] about And Now Some Vaudeville: Jimmy Durante And Eddie Jackson
Who Wins and Who Loses from NATO’s Bucharest Summit?
Now that what was billed as one of the most important NATO Summits in decades is over, what nations made out the best? Yeltsin's former Foreign and Prime Minister, Evgeny Primakov, writes for Kommersant, "Those who ran headlong to NATO despite the likely implications have unequivocally lost. ... Russia’s voice is being heard … and that can be considered a great achievement. On … [Read more...] about Who Wins and Who Loses from NATO’s Bucharest Summit?
Clintons’ Tax Returns Show They Are Givers
Political Wire: Clintons Made $109 Million Since Leaving White House Here's the Friday night news dump: The Clintons had gross income of $109 million for 2000 to 2007, according to newly released tax documents. President Clinton made $51.8 million speeches over eight years and $29.6 million in book income, while Sen. Clinton made $10.5 million in book income. The … [Read more...] about Clintons’ Tax Returns Show They Are Givers
Devotion to the cause of MLK Jr.
It is gratifying to hear so many politicians celebrate the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. to expand freedom to all people. For many years the most obvious disenfranchised community was African American. But there were also Women, Children, Immigrants and the Handicapped who stood (and stand) in line to be free from discrimination. And in much the same way that a large … [Read more...] about Devotion to the cause of MLK Jr.
More Bad Economy News: Employers Cut Most Workers Since 2003
Here's yet another bit of bad economic news about an economy President George Bush insists is still really robust, just slowed down and -- bite your tongue -- certainly NOT in a recession: Employers in the U.S. cut the most workers in five years last month, signaling that the economic contraction is deepening and that the Federal Reserve will continue to lower interest … [Read more...] about More Bad Economy News: Employers Cut Most Workers Since 2003
It’s So Nice To See How A Politician Respects Our Troops (UPDATED)
It's so touching to read this and see on this video how appreciative a Republican Congressman was for a member of the military who did his duty in protecting the politician's security and LIFE. (I'll just bet he has a "SUPPORT THE TROOPS" bumper sticker on his car...) Be grateful to see your tax dollars at work. (Not in the case of the politico. In the case of the young, … [Read more...] about It’s So Nice To See How A Politician Respects Our Troops (UPDATED)
Secularism Gone Crazy
In Turkey, the battle continues between secularists and Islamists. This week, the country's highest court agreed to consider banning the Islamist-leaning "Justice and Development Party" (AKP) and bar 71 of its leading members – including the current prime minister and president – from participation in political life. This wouldn't be the first time that the avowedly secular … [Read more...] about Secularism Gone Crazy
Political Sex Scandals
There used to be a time when people who felt the need, had to get porn. But these days, all they have to do is to just turn on the news. Here's a new song to mark this new era: There's a lot more truth to this than you'd think. Some 30 or 40 years ago if there was a sex scandal you could expect the news media to hint at some of the details but keep a certain amount of them … [Read more...] about Political Sex Scandals
Hilarious: Libyan Strongman Muammar Qadhafi Lectures Arab Leaders
We just posted at WORLDMEETS.US something that anyone interested in global affairs simply must watch. Nearly every year at the annual Arab Summit, Libyan despot Muammar Qadhafi gives a speech to the collected rulers of the Arab world who in stony-faced silence, sit and listen to him. Invariably - it is absolutely priceless. From the good people of the Middle East Media … [Read more...] about Hilarious: Libyan Strongman Muammar Qadhafi Lectures Arab Leaders
America’s Financial Crisis: It’s Time to ‘De-Deregulate’
Now that a turning back of the financial deregulation that began under Reagan and continued under Bush I, Clinton and Bush II looks imminent, what U.S. President is most to blame for the current crisis? Patrik Etschmayer writes for Switzerland's Nachrichten, "Only when regulations were relaxed under Ronald Reagan did the first rather costly banking disaster ensue: The Savings … [Read more...] about America’s Financial Crisis: It’s Time to ‘De-Deregulate’
When Presidential Candidates Play Games
Do presidential candidates have a right to keep certain personal information private? Probably, but that does not include their medical records and tax returns. This makes the peregrinations of John McCain and Hillary Clinton so vexing, inevitably raising questions about what they may be trying to hide. Although McCain made 1,500 pages of medical and psychiatric records … [Read more...] about When Presidential Candidates Play Games
Election 08 – Are we Racists? Sexists? Partisans?
A new CNN poll tells us that 76% of Americans are ready for a black president. In the breakdown we see that 78% of whites and 69% of blacks answered this question in the affirmative. Additionally, 63% of Americans feel that the country is ready for a female president. On the surface you may be cheered by these numbers, but I suppose I'm just more of a pessimist by nature. When … [Read more...] about Election 08 – Are we Racists? Sexists? Partisans?
Candidate Critique: Why Constituents May Become More Ill-tempered
Likely you’ve noticed too the vitriol spill that began small, then burgeoned, and now continues its escalations on many fronts. It’s not just based on “How dare you call my candidate names??!! &^*#, There, take that. And that, you creep." There’s far more to it than that I think. Regarding the psyche, we know that if a human being cannot gain positive stimulus, he or she … [Read more...] about Candidate Critique: Why Constituents May Become More Ill-tempered
Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words”
Vice President Dick Cheney raised many eyebrows -- and sparked lots of news stories -- when he uttered the word "So?" when asked about opinion polls on the Iraq war. In this Guest Voice post, Watching America translator Dorian de Wind looks at power of little words. “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words” By Dorian de Wind Dick Cheney responded with one word in a … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Dick Cheney’s “So?” Or The Power of “Little Words”
Hillary is Rocky
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post … [Read more...] about Hillary is Rocky
Is There a ‘Socialist’ Revival in America?
Is the United States now embarked on a path toward a more 'Socialist' future? Given the crisis in the credit markets and the decline in the value of the dollar, that is the inevitable conclusion of Alexandre Adler, one of France's foremost historians and strategic thinkers - often characterized as a French 'neocon.' In what will be an uncomfortable read for many Americans, … [Read more...] about Is There a ‘Socialist’ Revival in America?
Jeremiah Wright, New Media, and Our Public Discourse
Continuing, on my personal blog, to analyze some of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's public communiques from the standpoint of one Christian pastor, I found myself, as I wrote the third installment last evening, considering the super-heated discussions we have as the result of new media: For now at least, the mainstream media and the blogging world have, for the most part, left the … [Read more...] about Jeremiah Wright, New Media, and Our Public Discourse