The Boston Globe: World War I veterans still have no national memorial. There has been no Hollywood blockbuster in recent years to bring their story to life. But they still have Frank Buckles. More than 90 years after he fudged his age to join the Army, Corporal Frank Woodruff Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, came to the Pentagon yesterday to … [Read more...] about The Last American Veteran of World War I and the Costs of War
Democrat takes Solid GOP House Seat
Foster takes seat from GOP Democrat to succeed Hastert in Republican stronghold In a stunning upset Saturday that could be a sign of trouble for Republicans this fall, a little-known Democratic physicist won the special election for a far west suburban congressional seat long held by former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert. This helps restore my faith in human nature. It … [Read more...] about Democrat takes Solid GOP House Seat
Bush Supports Undifferentiated Tortures, Even as “The People” Explicitly Do Not
By his veto, President Bush broadcasts loudly to the world that a bill forbidding water boarding torture of human beings, and other egregious harms to prisoners held without habeas corpus, shall, by his fiat, continue. Mr. Bush argues that 'we,' not he, cannot be having any humane treatment of prisoners. That 'we' must be able to use torture 'techniques.' That we "can't, … [Read more...] about Bush Supports Undifferentiated Tortures, Even as “The People” Explicitly Do Not
Clinton Obama Campaign: Negative Campaign Or Political Reality?
When Senator Hillary Clinton's "change you can Xerox" line bombed bigtime while debating 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination rival Senator Barack Obama we wrote about this which discussed an article listing five reasons why negative campaigning was losing its punch. Now, in light of Clinton's prolific use of this kind of campaigning and how it has helped pitchfork her … [Read more...] about Clinton Obama Campaign: Negative Campaign Or Political Reality?
To Fabricate War, Hugo Chavez Does Woody Allen
For fans of Woody Allen, it will come as no surprise that some see similarities between the Latin America despot in the movie Bananas and President Hugo Chavez - to say nothing of Fidel Castro - who the character in Bananas actually parodied. Now that President Chavez has come close to declaring war on Colombia, Maruja Tarre writes for Venezuela's El Universal, 'Upon seeing … [Read more...] about To Fabricate War, Hugo Chavez Does Woody Allen
Video dispatches from the Ohio primary last week
Here's a snowy evening's twofer with footage of what the day, the polling location and the ballot looked like: And details on how the most reliable demographic of voters - senior citizens - exercises its right to vote (a bonus at the end is the staffer revealing who she will vote for and why): … [Read more...] about Video dispatches from the Ohio primary last week
Obama’s Coattails – The Real Story Today
Senator Barack Obama's convincing victory in the Wyoming caucuses is noteworthy for several reasons. It's one of the first western caucus states that Senator Hillary Clinton vigorously sought. She, Bill and Chelsea toured much of the state, and actually got there before Obama did. The demographics favored Obama, but without any polling there, nobody could assume that Obama … [Read more...] about Obama’s Coattails – The Real Story Today
Snowed In
Logan, county seat of Hocking County, Ohio, the rural wonderland that sits about fifty-minutes southeast of Columbus, wasn't as hard-hit as the capital city has been by the snow storm of the past twenty-four hours. But we've been under a Level 3 alert, meaning that only emergency vehicles could be on the roads. In Columbus, over 20-inches of snow fell. Here, we got about … [Read more...] about Snowed In
Wyoming Caucuses: Obama Wins
The trend continues where Democratic Senator Barack Obama does great in caucuses and not always as great in primaries -- as he scores a solid win in Wyoming: Senator Barack Obama continued his string of victories in caucus states on Saturday, beating Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in Wyoming by a wide margin. The victory, while in a state with only 18 delegates, was … [Read more...] about Wyoming Caucuses: Obama Wins
Memo To: Senator Obama
We're snowed in here in southeastern Ohio. So, after I finished working on my sermon for tomorrow, we sat down to watch Amazing Grace. Have you seen it? It's the second time for me. It tells the story of British politician William Wilberforce and his decades-long fight for two main life goals: the end of the slave trade in Britain and the reform of society. Three days before … [Read more...] about Memo To: Senator Obama
Cat Blogging of the Week
Since a blizzard has dropped a foot of snow on SW Ohio and I'm not going anywhere, I'll treat you to a photo of my cat being cute. Here is Samuel on my bed: … [Read more...] about Cat Blogging of the Week
The New American Revolution
Beginning today, Sen. Barack Obama should start calling his presidential campaign "The New American Revolution." As in, "My campaign offers change to the American people, change so fundamental that it amounts to a New American Revolution." As David Brooks wrote in Friday's New York Times: "Barack Obama had a theory. It was that the voters are tired of the partisan paralysis … [Read more...] about The New American Revolution
Oh Hillary! Your a crafty one…
CRAFTINESS STARTS YOUNG You have some serious magic skills Senator Clinton. Girlfriend you are BAD as in GOOD! Even though Florida and Michigan broke the Democratic Party rules by moving their primaries up, you keep your name on the ballots anyways as your ace in the hole. You know if all else fails (on when you just want to slap that silly young black dude up), you can … [Read more...] about Oh Hillary! Your a crafty one…
Faux pas in Perspective
I think that the Samantha Powers faux pas is insignificant. And I think that gotcha journalism is a waste of time and a reckless distraction from more weighty information. Unless such an outburst is part of an intentional trend to influence I am not interested. I noticed that of all the news reports I watched and listened to yesterday the one that mentioned the Power … [Read more...] about Faux pas in Perspective
Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan: An Appreciation
I'm not a superstitious guy by nature, but how can I not help but believe that there was a Curse of the Grateful Dead Keyboardists? Four of the Dead's six keyboard players died of causes other than stage fright: Vince Welnick, a 2006 suicide; Keith Godchaux, a heroin addict who died in a 1980 car crash; Brent Mydland, who succumbed to a drug overdose in 1990, and Ronald … [Read more...] about Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan: An Appreciation
McCain Gets Help From Rove And Other Top Bush Political Staffers
In another sign of how he is solidifying his links to the GOP establishment, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain is getting help from veteran Republican operatives such as former White House political guru Karl Rove. Hillary Clinton and/or Barack Obama beware. The Politico reports: John McCain is getting much more than President Bush's … [Read more...] about McCain Gets Help From Rove And Other Top Bush Political Staffers
Yet Another Dark Day For America
In an act of abject cowardice, President Bush has vetoed a bipartisan bill prohibiting waterboarding and other Al Qaeda-esque interrogation techniques not in a public appearance surrouded by aides and supporters, but behind closed doors. The action was announced in his weekly radio address this morning, a favorite of sycophantic shut-ins. Beyond being yet another power grab, … [Read more...] about Yet Another Dark Day For America
‘Women Smarter Than Men In Every Way’: Part II
I am again reminded of one of my favourite singer Harry Belafonte's number "Women smarter..." after I read this court judgement pronounced in Italy. Their lordships observed women were justified in bending the truth in order to conceal extra-marital relationships. (For my "Women smarter-Part I... click here.) Italy's highest appeal court has ruled that married Italian women … [Read more...] about ‘Women Smarter Than Men In Every Way’: Part II
Collapsing Economy: It’s the Greed, Stupid
When the dot.com bubble burst with the coming of the new millennium, the reasons were pretty obvious – a combination of ridiculously high stock prices, rampant speculation, zillions of dollars in available venture capital and giving the finger to traditional business models that sent many a company and investor on a binge that a drunken sailor would envy. What's going on now … [Read more...] about Collapsing Economy: It’s the Greed, Stupid
Global Reaction to the U.S. Election
(From Het Parool, The Netherlands) It's impossible to do justice the world's coverage of the U.S. election, but here's a pretty extensive selection of coverage from the last three-or-so days from WATCHING AMERICA.com The Sofia Echo, Bulgaria Why I Am a Woman for Obama Elsevier, The Netherlands Is America Really Safe with Hothead McCain? Times Online, … [Read more...] about Global Reaction to the U.S. Election