Don Imus is back on radio. Tonight on CBS Nightly News with Katie Couric, the Imus clip was terrific. He said he would not do anything to make the women of the Rutgers team question the sincerity of his earlier apology. Then... in case people who love him feared he'd lost his brand of humor... he said that Dick Cheney is still a war criminal and Hillary Clinton is still the … [Read more...] about Don Imus Back on Radio: Media Got it Wrong
Andy Borowitz Breaking News: Huckabee Chooses Jesus as Running Mate
I read Andy's most excellent satire on a regular basis. Long ago when venerable "The Onion" began, one could distinguish fairly well the satire on its front pages from the so-called 'real news' in mainstream media. Then, something happened: Mainstream media front pages began out-Onioning The Onion, with real time stories that were so outrageous and often egregious news … [Read more...] about Andy Borowitz Breaking News: Huckabee Chooses Jesus as Running Mate
Are Huckabee’s Views On Evolution Irrelevant?
Does it matter, or doesn't it? Fast-rising GOP Presidential hopeful Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee doesn't believe in evolution, just intelligent design. You now have Huckabee picking up steam in the GOP and Senator Barack Obama seemingly ready to upset some of the conventional wisdom that New York Senator Hillary Clinton is "inevitable". TMV favorite Andrew Sullivan … [Read more...] about Are Huckabee’s Views On Evolution Irrelevant?
Iran: Blowing Smoke on Nukes?
A new U.S. intelligence assessment concludes that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains on hold, contradicting previous assessments that the Tehran regime was working on building a bomb. The stuning development will have two immediate effects: * Change the dynamic of the ongoing international negotiations aimed at getting Iran to … [Read more...] about Iran: Blowing Smoke on Nukes?
Despite Praise for Elections, Reform Stagnating in Jordan
Last Tuesday, November 20, Jordan held parliamentary elections to broad international acclaim. The vote was the second since Jordan's monarch, King Abdullah II, took power in 1999, and independent Jordanian observers certified the election as free and fair. Indeed, the elections went smoothly, a record number of female candidates competed and won seats, and voter turnout was an … [Read more...] about Despite Praise for Elections, Reform Stagnating in Jordan
Front Load, Disenfranchise, Invent Silly Campaign Story Lines & Lots More
Obama campaigns in Nevada. Nevada? Now that the Iraq war is over, you're gonna be hearing a lot more from me about the presidential campaign. But you'll have to look elsewhere if you're into the horse race, you TiVo the debates so you can play them over and over, or care about who Hillary will choose to be a running mate nine fricking months before the conventions. My … [Read more...] about Front Load, Disenfranchise, Invent Silly Campaign Story Lines & Lots More
Has Pro Football Become “Greedball”?
Even if you don't care about the scuffle between the NFL Network and major cable companies, the chances are pretty good that you've heard at least something about it. Because I work for a major cable company, I'm not going to offer a direct opinion on this subject, although you can probably divine my thoughts on the matter based on the two linked sources below. The first … [Read more...] about Has Pro Football Become “Greedball”?
Book Review: In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall
This is another Guest Book Review by fiction writer Jessica Schneider who also writes for the highly visited site Cosmoetica, is Book Editor for Monsters and Critics and is the only contributor to her own blog. Book Review: In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall Review by Jessica Schneider Jane Goodall is of course known for her observational work with chimpanzees. In … [Read more...] about Book Review: In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall
Mitt Romney: The Mormon Factor, Good or Bad?
read more on this subject re Governor Romney and religiousity, at Pam's House Blend "Romney Hits Religion Panic Button" here, and the shiny new Poligazette and Michael van der Galien re Romny to Give Religion Speech here... and our own Joe Gandelman's recent piece on Gov Romney, especially Joe's observation from speaking to a fellow entertainer who happens to be Mormon and his … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney: The Mormon Factor, Good or Bad?
Politics of the Soul: Snow Job, A Most Beautiful Politic
Just this picture for your rest and restoration before the week ahead... If I hadn’t spent too many months in a wheelchair as a kid, I would have loved to do this: ski pure powder, like Mercurius, winged boots, ankles practically able to rotate 360 degrees , flying through the everything clean and pure at high speed, lungs filled with snow crystals, goggles caked with snow, … [Read more...] about Politics of the Soul: Snow Job, A Most Beautiful Politic
Mitt Romney Will Address Mormon Religion “Issue”
It's an issue that has lurked in the background. An issue some insisted isn't an issue. But it is enough of an issue that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is getting ready to talk about his religion -- having to go down a path that John F. Kennedy felt he had to go down when he ran for President 47 years ago. Now, just one month from the first contest of the … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Will Address Mormon Religion “Issue”
The Final Word on Beauchamp
Franklin Foer's painstaking reconstruction of the entire saga, including TNR's incredibly thorough investigation of the entire proceedings, is a model in how a magazine should respond to controversy. Way too many people -- people who claimed to only want "truth" -- were furious that the magazine would actually take the responsible course of action and thoroughly check and … [Read more...] about The Final Word on Beauchamp
Friends With Benefits
The Washington Post reports that the Bush administration, since 9/11, has been sending terrorism suspects to Jordan to be questioned and tortured by its intelligence service (known as the General Intelligence Department, or "GID"). As the article notes, the GID had gained a reputation for "persuading tight-lipped suspects to talk, even if it meant using abusive tactics that … [Read more...] about Friends With Benefits
On Iraq, Our President-for-Life
"Americans," a New York Times editorial says, "need to ask themselves the questions Mr. Bush is refusing to answer: Is this country signing on to keep the peace in Iraq indefinitely? If so, how many American and Iraqi deaths a month are an acceptable price? If not, what’s the plan for getting out?" The President gave a partial answer this week by joining Prime Minister Nouri … [Read more...] about On Iraq, Our President-for-Life
Evel Knievel’s Wings
Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Evel Knievel’s Wings
Some Posts Delayed Today
Due to some personal scheduling glitches, some of my own posts and our Around The Sphere is delayed for today. But it'll all be on the site tomorrow. … [Read more...] about Some Posts Delayed Today
Will Huckabee And Obama Shake Up Presidential Race In Iowa?
Are we now poised to see in Iowa a classic example of how all of the political prognostication, all of the smug, all-knowing comments of The Elite Talking Heads on television shows and the self-assured comments of blogs (including this one) will be shown to be...."inoperative"...and be hurriedly shoved under the rug as NEW all-knowing and self-assured comments come out? One … [Read more...] about Will Huckabee And Obama Shake Up Presidential Race In Iowa?
Change Lives for the Better
Get involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs in your community. Having recently served on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Clermont County for four years, I can vouch that the clubs do change young people's lives for the better. And that's good for our communities...ultimately for our country. From the 'Better Living' archives, here are posts I've written on the Boys … [Read more...] about Change Lives for the Better
Hillary Clinton’s Hostage Ordeal: Lemon To Lemonade?
Did New York Senator and aspiring 2008 Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton turn the ugly hostage crisis at her campaign headquarters to her advantage -- a classic case of getting a lemon and making lemonade? The Friday incident at Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign office in Rochester, N.H. campaign office ended happily. And some pundits think that had placed … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s Hostage Ordeal: Lemon To Lemonade?
America’s Mayor Goes on the Defensive
Judy and Rudy That sound you hear is Rudy "I Gots Moral Character" Giuliani piddling on his wingtips. The estimable Dick Polman, writing at American Debate, notes that Giuliani has used no fewer than six different defenses, five alone in recent days, in response to all the crap and corruption tied to him, including the latest revelation that he assigned an off-the-books … [Read more...] about America’s Mayor Goes on the Defensive