With the Olympic torch bound for San Francisco, what is the significance of the protesting that beset the torch's route in Europe? Olivier Picard writes for France's Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, "It's an absolute disaster. A symbolic defeat, politically, 'sportively,' diplomatically and historically. During this black Monday of the Olympic adventure, everyone lost! The … [Read more...] about The Route of the Olympic Torch: A ‘Way of the Cross’
Warren G. Harding
No world-beater, of course, but most under-rated President? … [Read more...] about Warren G. Harding
Iraq Progress Report Dog & Pony Show: Day 1
The first day of congressional Iraq progress report testimony by General David Petraeus is easy to sum up: We have no long-term strategy. We have no end-game plan. We just need more Friedman Units, pretty please. While none of this is surprising (and I hold Petraeus in the highest regard), it is deeply depressing that this is the best he can offer. It is the best … [Read more...] about Iraq Progress Report Dog & Pony Show: Day 1
Will Obama Really Bring Change?
The conventional wisdom has been that Obama would be able to beat John McCain in November and that many independents and moderates would break for Obama. Many Republicans and centrists has been stirred by Obama's healing rhetoric which is a breath of fresh air to many of us that are tired of eight years of partisan actions. Many Democrats like Obama more than Senator Hillary … [Read more...] about Will Obama Really Bring Change?
Petraeus Surge
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about Petraeus Surge
Racial admissions criteria: Suing in Texas
Yesterday, a graduating Senior from a high school in Richmond, TX filed suit against the University of Texas - Austin. Her complaint alleges that she, as a white person, was denied admission to UT due to race-based admission policies. Texas' state university system -- like many around the country -- has been trying to improve minority representation on its campuses for a very … [Read more...] about Racial admissions criteria: Suing in Texas
Pennsylvania Poll: Clinton Losing Ground Among Women While Margin Tightens
Polls are all over the place in the high-stakes Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential primary, but the growing trend shows Hillary Clinton steadily losing ground to Barack Obama -- a trend confirmed in a new Quinnipiac University poll. And this poll has a bit of particularly bad news for Clinton: she is losing ground among women voters, the most reliable part of her … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Poll: Clinton Losing Ground Among Women While Margin Tightens
Guest Voice: Why Hillary Clinton Is The Best Choice For America
This Guest Voice column is by Patrick Edaburn , an attorney who is a registered Republican but concerned over the influence of the hard right on his party and the influence of the hard left on the Democratic party. He was assistant editor of the excellent centrist group weblog, Central Sanity, which has been disbanded. In this column, he explains why he now believes Hillary … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Why Hillary Clinton Is The Best Choice For America
Rice for Veep?
Back in February, 2005, while guest blogging on MSNBC, Ann Althouse speculated about Condoleezza Rice as a candidate for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination. Those old enough to remember all the way back to 2005, may recall that there was something of a Rice boomlet at the time. As the early months of that year wore on, the newly-installed Secretary of State felt compelled to … [Read more...] about Rice for Veep?
Iraq: Are the Democrats More Reasonable?
While I can't answer the question from the title of this post with conclusive data, I can offer two, recent, contrasting anecdotes that seem increasingly representative of the partisan divide on this matter. The first I found on page 2 of this article from the April 2 edition of Politoco. Though I'm still reading the "Responsible Plan," so far, it measures up to the … [Read more...] about Iraq: Are the Democrats More Reasonable?
Condi Rice and the GOP’s “Black Problem”
There was a good bit of chatter over the weekend concerning rumors that Secretary of State Condi Rice might be actively seeking the VP slot on John McCain's presidential ticket. This is certainly not a new idea. If you traveled the blogs in the Right side of the sphere last year you probably saw numerous "Draft Condi!" buttons exhorting her fans to push the Secretary into a run … [Read more...] about Condi Rice and the GOP’s “Black Problem”
Wanted & Found: An Iraq War Bogeyman
It's semi-annual Iraq progress report time for David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker. But, alas, there has been no progress beyond a return to 2005 death-toll levels, which merely has given Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki an opportunity to try to exterminate his chief political rivals, so the general and the ambassador desperately need a carrot or a bogeyman to appease the few restive … [Read more...] about Wanted & Found: An Iraq War Bogeyman
Market Watching With Fear And Loathing
Last week was filled with awful reports about the state of the U.S. economy. But the stock market went up three percent. Why? The stock market is supposed to be a barometer of the overall economy. It's supposed to go up when economic times are good and fall when they aren't. This barometer has never been perfect in this regard, of course. Market-specific quirks such as the … [Read more...] about Market Watching With Fear And Loathing
Al-Qaeda on the 9/11 Conspiracy
"Talking to you is like talking to a goat." … [Read more...] about Al-Qaeda on the 9/11 Conspiracy
Is The Press Doing A Number On Hillary Clinton?
There's a new fuss about a story she has told in her campaign stump speech that is said to be false -- but is she really NOT to blame and is the press unfairly blaming her? … [Read more...] about Is The Press Doing A Number On Hillary Clinton?
Guest Voice: Hillary’s Last Chance — Interview With Newsweek’s Howard Fineman
In this Guest Voice post, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Bill Steigerwald interviews Howard Fineman, the veteran Newsweek senior political correspondent/columnist and NBC analyst. Hillary's Last Chance -- Interview With Howard Fineman by Bill Steigerwald With fresh polls showing Hillary Clinton’s huge lead over Barack Obama shrinking in the Pennsylvania … [Read more...] about Guest Voice: Hillary’s Last Chance — Interview With Newsweek’s Howard Fineman
BS Detective: Senator Clinton’s Hospital Story: There Might Be More To It
Having worked at 'the knife and gun club'.... that is, the ER of city hospital where gunshot wounds and lacerations are more prevalent than broken bones... I sense there is more to the young woman turned away from the hospital story... for these reasons: Anyone who has been to the ER of a large hospital , who afterward, goes back to retrieve even a simple paper record, … [Read more...] about BS Detective: Senator Clinton’s Hospital Story: There Might Be More To It
Let My Pistols Go
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Let My Pistols Go
Mike Ramirez Wins a Pulitzer Prize
The great editorial cartoonist for Investor's Business Daily has won a 2008 Pulitzer Prize. Other winners include Bob Dylan and The Washington Post, which scored six prizes. Click here for a complete list. … [Read more...] about Mike Ramirez Wins a Pulitzer Prize
ONE WORLD ONE DREAM. FREE TIBET
Several professional climbers have scaled the SanFran Golden Gate Bridge to put up huge flags high on the tall girders on the bridge. The flags read: ONE WORLD ONE DREAM and FREE TIBET Fox News says they have the cell phone numbers of one of two city workers who are at the highest point on the bridge, about half again as high as the climbers, who are pretty high … [Read more...] about ONE WORLD ONE DREAM. FREE TIBET