China seems to be coming under heavy pressure with the world leaders threatening to keep away from the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics this summer. The latest on the list is Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the United Nations. The Independent newspaper describes this "as capping an extraordinary week of public relations disasters for the Chinese government as it … [Read more...] about Beijing Olympics: Ban-Ki-Moon To Stay Away
The Danger of a Good Story
[UPDATE, CLARIFICATION: If the comments of GS below, are any indication, my meaning in this piece may be less than clear. So, a little disclaimer, as it appears in my response below: "We have a health insurance crisis in our country. It must be dealt with. it is a scandal that in a land of plenty, with the best health care professionals and technology in the world, anyone … [Read more...] about The Danger of a Good Story
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE DEMOCRATIC END GAME
Rhodes Cook asks "Who has the right credentials?" One of the basic themes of the long-running Democratic nominating campaign between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton speaks to the need for a new era in American politics. But increasingly it seems as though their race could be decided by a method quite old--a decision by the convention credentials committee that is voted up … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: THE DEMOCRATIC END GAME
Getting It Wrong On Hamas
Obama has finally drawn a line in the sand about negotiating with foreign leaders. Too bad he's drawn it in the wrong place. "Sen. Obama does not agree with President Carter's decision to go forward with [a meeting with exiled Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal] because he does not support negotiations with Hamas until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, and … [Read more...] about Getting It Wrong On Hamas
Gallup Poll: Bush Sets New Approval Rating Low At 28 %
As if Republicans -- particularly presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Senator John McCain -- didn't have enough to worry about, a new Gallup Poll shows President George Bush's approval rating now down to the lowest of his administration...and lower than most Presidents since World War II. Most polls are see saws. But in recent months, Bush's polls have been largely … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Bush Sets New Approval Rating Low At 28 %
How to Choose an Emergency Room? Maybe.
CNN has been running a series called "Empowered Patient". The latest installment is entitled How to find the best ER for your child. I feel that this article is seriously out of touch with the way most Americans interact with the health care system in general, let alone the Emergency Department of a hospital. Most of us choose a hospital based on one of two criteria: it … [Read more...] about How to Choose an Emergency Room? Maybe.
Bill Clinton Won’t Let Hillary Clinton’s Damaging Bosnia Issue Die
Isn't it time to bluntly say it: isn't the time WAY PAST when Senator Hillary Clinton needs to get a big roll of duct tape and use it on her counterproductive husband former President Bill Clinton? When the history of the Hillary Clinton campaign is written -- win or lose -- a special chapter will be devoted to how Bill Clinton, a one time savvy politician, evolved into a … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Won’t Let Hillary Clinton’s Damaging Bosnia Issue Die
Guest Book Review: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
NOTE: This is the first anniversary of author Kurt Vonnegut's death. It's therefore fitting that we run this review of one of his most famous books. 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: Breakfast of Champions … [Read more...] about Guest Book Review: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
Obama, Carter, Hamas, and Israel
Kevin Sullivan defends Sen. Obama's criticism of former President Carter -- by slicing up Steve Clemons' rebuke of Obama on the same subject. … [Read more...] about Obama, Carter, Hamas, and Israel
‘Megalomania’: It’s Time to Scale Down Olympic Torch Relay
Has the spectacle of the Olympic Torch relay, first introduced by Nazi Germany in 1936, hijacked the Olympic tradition? After the mass protesting in Paris, London and now San Francisco, and due to the 'dubious' Nazi origins of the Olympic torch relay, this editorial from the NRC Handelsblad of The Netherlands opines, "Four years ago, the torch, which had to go from Olympia to … [Read more...] about ‘Megalomania’: It’s Time to Scale Down Olympic Torch Relay
Lobbying Superdelegates
LobbyDelegates.com offers a way to reach out to Democratic super delegates who may not know that there is a hot race for which their vote is critical. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. … [Read more...] about Lobbying Superdelegates
A Free Trade Apostate Speaks
You could consider this as part of The Confessions of an Unapologetic Isolationist. A free trade apostate, if you will. As such, it saddens me to see the editorial board of the Washington Post climbing in bed with the Unfair Trade for America crowd. In their column, "Drop Dead Colombia" the editors take Nancy Pelosi to task for not immediately throwing open our trade doors to … [Read more...] about A Free Trade Apostate Speaks
Anomalies R Us: Obama against gambling expansion
Although presidential opinion on gambling is unlikely to make or break the industry since it's primarily a state and local issue, I often hold anomalous positions. So, discovering that Barack Obama, as a liberal candidate for the Democratic nominee does too makes me feel better. I don't know how I came across this today and I can't find the original Los Angeles Times … [Read more...] about Anomalies R Us: Obama against gambling expansion
Cedella Booker (1926-2008)
Cedella Booker, mother of international reggae icon Bob Marley, has died in her sleep in Miami. I had the privilege of hanging out with this marvelous and vibrant woman several times when I was a guest in her Wilmington, Delaware, home and she a visitor at the farm where I lived. As matriarch of that city's small Jamaican community, she always had an open door and offered a … [Read more...] about Cedella Booker (1926-2008)
Bill Clinton’s Cash Cow Crunch
A $420,000 phone bill? 3.2 million for office rent? As the Politico points out, those are just a few of the bills that William Jefferson Clinton has run up since leaving the White House. "Well," I can hear you saying, "the Clintons have made more than $100 million in the last seven years. I'm sure he can afford it." Yes, he probably could have. But the fact is, you - the … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton’s Cash Cow Crunch
Beijing Olympics & The Moral Low Ground
While it is unlikely that Newton noticed it the day he famously observed that apple falling to the ground, like gravity there is another immutable law of nature that goes something like this: What goes around comes around. And so it is with George Bush, who finds himself in the awkward if familiar position of having no moral gravitas, in this instance when it comes to … [Read more...] about Beijing Olympics & The Moral Low Ground
The Last of A Kind: Speaking of Basra and Baghdad
Long ago, in the 1800s and 1900s, they came for the boys, and forced them into the army. A war needed 'material.' Human material. It's called conscription today. Back then, it was just a round up of village boys. What are called recruiters now, back then were just soldiers on horseback, riding with sabres and rifles, often in the night, arriving almost as a dream in the … [Read more...] about The Last of A Kind: Speaking of Basra and Baghdad
About That “Naked Woman” Reflected In Dick Cheney’s Sunglasses
And now....the Internet mystery of the day. Is that REALLY a naked woman reflected in Vice President Dick Cheney's sunglasses? No hunting, shooting, fly fishing -- or Viagra -- jokes puh-leaze. Perhaps it's more of a reflection on the Internet and how many Americans (new media, old media and consumers of the media) want to vet anything. Here's the photo that has launched … [Read more...] about About That “Naked Woman” Reflected In Dick Cheney’s Sunglasses
Exit Strategy
Larry Wright, The Detroit News … [Read more...] about Exit Strategy
Should Powell Endorse Obama?
Colin Powell's been saying some awfully nice things about Barack Obama, and making much of his stance as an undecided voter. Some are wondering if an endorsement could be in the works. Much as I like Obama and want to see good things happen to him, that would be a very bad move for Powell's reputation. … [Read more...] about Should Powell Endorse Obama?