Does a dictatorship that has outlawed freedom of the press have the standing to criticize the 'journalistic ethics' of American reporters? That is the question one must grapple with when reading through Beijing's latest blistering attack against CNN host Jack Cafferty 'and his ilk' for referring to the Chinese regime as 'goons and thugs' and calling Chinese goods 'junk.' … [Read more...] about Were CNN’s ‘Vile Insults of China’ A ‘Mistake By U.S. Authorities?’
Concert Review: Skaggs & Hornsby
Bluegrass traditionalists are still in shock over a 2007 album collaboration between bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and free-wheeling pianist Bruce Hornsby. Pianos typically are not welcome additions to the acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, fiddles and upright basses of bluegrass bands, and I was inclined to agree until the Dear Friend & Conscience and I heard Hornsby and … [Read more...] about Concert Review: Skaggs & Hornsby
Dowd to Obama: ‘Brush It Off’
While I can't say I'm a huge fan of Maureen Dowd's, I agreed with a lot of what she had to say in her column in today's NYT, in particular, this: [Obama] can create an uplifting new kind of politics if he becomes president, but first he’s going to have to get past the shallow and vicious old politics he says he disdains (even if his campaign knows how to dip into the Clinton … [Read more...] about Dowd to Obama: ‘Brush It Off’
So What Will Happen In The Pennsylvania Primary?
Here's one interesting, stand-back analytical take on it. … [Read more...] about So What Will Happen In The Pennsylvania Primary?
Gallup Daily Tracking Poll: Obama Retakes Slight Lead Over Clinton
After days showing Senator Hillary Clinton on the ascent against her chief rival for the Democratic Presidential nomination Senator Barack Obama, the latest Gallup Daily Tracking poll now puts Obama slightly ahead: The peeling away of national Democratic support for Barack Obama seen this past week may have run its course. After trailing Hillary Clinton by one percentage … [Read more...] about Gallup Daily Tracking Poll: Obama Retakes Slight Lead Over Clinton
John McCain’s Shinebox
In the classic gangster movie "Goodfellas" the character Tommy (Joe Pesci) is in Henry Hill's bar when "made" Gangster Billy Batts begins telling a story of how Tommy used to make money shining shoes. This angers Tommy quite a bit, and Batts winds up telling him to "go home and get your f***ing shinebox." Tommy flies into a rage and rushes out, only to come back later and beat … [Read more...] about John McCain’s Shinebox
Quote Of The Day: On The Clintons And Negative Campaigning
Is the Pennsylvania primary vote only about that primary? Or is more -- even more than who gets the Democratic nomination -- at stake? Andrew Sullivan writes in his latest newspaper column: Even after all the hype, this week's vote in Pennsylvania will be a watershed primary election. This isn't because it could determine whether Hillary Clinton's campaign continues on … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: On The Clintons And Negative Campaigning
The Media’s Role in the Obama Phenomenon: a Sign of Deeper Trends
Critics in the media --- quite a few of whom unabashedly favor Obama --- have been out in force this week, pointing fingers and getting red-faced over ABC's treatment of their favorite in the most debate. Yes, that shoe always pinches when it's on the other foot, I've noticed. At The Politico, John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei wrote: The shower of indignation on Charlie … [Read more...] about The Media’s Role in the Obama Phenomenon: a Sign of Deeper Trends
Bloomberg Donates to Schwarzenegger Redistricting Plan
Mayor Bloomberg and Gov Schwarzenegger agree that the policy difference that makes the biggest difference is to make elections more competitive and drive candidates away from ideological extremes. Imagine how each of our most controversial public issues would be handled by a deliberative legislature that was less concerned about hyper partisan voters and donors. I can't … [Read more...] about Bloomberg Donates to Schwarzenegger Redistricting Plan
Pennsylvania Undecided Voters Likely To Break For Clinton Who Leads 3 To 5% In New Polls
You can now see a trend in some of the latest weekend Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary polls and the analysis: Senator Hillary Clinton has regained the momentum in her battle against Senator Barack Obama, leads 3 to 5 percent -- but analysts believe the undecided voters will likely break her way, which means her victory is likely to be far larger. And then there … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Undecided Voters Likely To Break For Clinton Who Leads 3 To 5% In New Polls
Of The Remaining Two, I’ll Go With Hillary
In a great field of potential Democratic nominees, a field that originally included Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and John Edwards, the Democratic Party's politically-correct activists (We have to have a woman President! We have to have a black President!), melding perfectly with a press obsessed with novelty and gotcha-ism, managed to leave us with the two least … [Read more...] about Of The Remaining Two, I’ll Go With Hillary
Carter Hamas
Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune … [Read more...] about Carter Hamas
Old Enough to Drink?
This is a topic we've covered on our radio show a couple of times, but there is a video available over at Town Hall with an open forum for comments where the debate over the drinking age continues. I'll share a few of my own observations, but first some of the early comments from readers for you to consider. First, jfb1138 is squarely against it. The problem is that young … [Read more...] about Old Enough to Drink?
Arms Shipments Underscore Danger of Chinese Government
The presidential election was held in Zimbabwe more than three weeks ago. While it's widely rumored that strongman Robert Mugabe was ousted by voters, we don't know for sure. That's because his government has refused to reveal the results. Mugabe apparently intends to cling to power, continuing to exercise his reign of terror (and error), thuggishly intimidating opposition, … [Read more...] about Arms Shipments Underscore Danger of Chinese Government
“W”: Oliver Stone’s New Film On President George W. Bush
History will provide many interpretations of George W. Bush, his life & times. Here comes the cinematic version. Oliver Stone, a three-time Academy Award winning film director and screenwriter, is making a film on President George W. Bush (simply called W) and would be shot in Louisiana. Bush experts have already begun to dissect the screenplay. W would come as a farewell … [Read more...] about “W”: Oliver Stone’s New Film On President George W. Bush
The Politics of Starvation
The growing world food crisis looks like a montage in a disaster movie--crowd scenes of hungry rioters in Haiti, Egypt and Africa's Ivory Coast; close-ups of emaciated mothers holding out starving children to anyone who will feed them; well-fed gray men in paneled rooms clucking impotently. Before the World Bank meeting last weekend, president Robert Zoellick talked about … [Read more...] about The Politics of Starvation
TV politics: Audience first, issues second
The New York Times buried a lede big-time in its story about the Clinton-Obama Pennsylvania debate. That debate was widely criticized for the way the hosting network and its moderators, Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, devoted the first half of the 90-minute debate to questions of little substance, such as the importance of wearing American flag lapel pins. … [Read more...] about TV politics: Audience first, issues second
President Correa: Prove Your Charges of CIA Infiltration!
Has the CIA infiltrated the Ecuadorian intelligence services - and is Ecuadorian intelligence feeding information to the Colombian government? These charges have been leveled by Ecuador's President Correa against his own intelligence services - and there are some in Ecuador who are demanding he provide evidence. Carlos Freile writes for Ecuador's La Hora, "We Ecuadorians … [Read more...] about President Correa: Prove Your Charges of CIA Infiltration!
New McCain Fund Gets Around Donation Limits
Perhaps these maneuvers are what Senator Obama had in mind when he said he wanted to negotiate with the Republican Nominee on a fair campaign finance agreement. I also imagine that the FEC might have something to say about these tactics if they had a quorum. The new structure allows up to $70,000 in individual contributions by channeling the money into different … [Read more...] about New McCain Fund Gets Around Donation Limits
Gallup Tracking: Clinton Rising And Obama Dropping
Within days of the crucial Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential primary, the Gallup Daily Tracking poll and and one other shows Senator Hillary Clinton is showing signs of "Big Mo" (momentum) -- and that rival Senator Barack Obama's campaign may be sagging. Trending is what you really need to look for...and some of the new polls aren't good news for Obama. … [Read more...] about Gallup Tracking: Clinton Rising And Obama Dropping