Center of Attention
A round up of recent commentary by assorted voices who either attempt to strike a balanced note on heated debates and controversial issues, or improve our ability to find our own sense of balance by exposing us to new information and different points-of-view. -------------------------- To kick things off today ... two posts that represent two notes in the same chord, … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
How You Can Help Southern California’s Fire Victims
Can you help California's Fire Victims - -people of all ages, religions, ethnic groups and political persuasions? And animals, too? There are lots of organizations who could use your money now and the info online involves both these organizations and some websites that help you short-circuit your look for organizations. Here are some places to visit if you want to … [Read more...] about How You Can Help Southern California’s Fire Victims
Is Condi Rice The Worst Or What?
Great at Debussy, but how about diplomacy? Has there been a worse secretary of state in the last five decades than Condoleezza Rice? Using William Rogers' appointment as secretary of state by Richard Nixon in 1969 as a baseline, there have been a total of 12 secretaries of state. They include Henry Kissinger (1973-77), Cyrus Vance (1977-80), Edmund Muskie (1980-81), … [Read more...] about Is Condi Rice The Worst Or What?
No Honeymoon In Vegas For O.J.
Although his unpredictable behavior and drug binging were an open secret, few of O.J. Simpson’s friends stepped up to testify against him at his infamous double-murder trial. But very few people are rushing to his side following his arrest for armed robbery in a Las Vegas hotel room and two co-defendants will testify against him. Clark County District Attorney David Roger … [Read more...] about No Honeymoon In Vegas For O.J.
Battered Fire Bear
Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com … [Read more...] about Battered Fire Bear
Politix: Backwards Into the Future
That Rick Moran over at the ineptly named Rightwing Nuthouse (change the frickin' name, for cryin' out loud) has applied his ample intellectual horsepower to why so many conservatives are mired in an echo chamber that he calls a "Reaganesque fantasyland" in which the endless mantra is small government, low taxes, less regulation and strong national defense. Rick writes … [Read more...] about Politix: Backwards Into the Future
Since it is my birthday, I’ll be self-indulgent…
...and post the following: The people I am most afraid of are those who are the most afraid. -Robert Frost … [Read more...] about Since it is my birthday, I’ll be self-indulgent…
Distraught San Diego Fire Refugees Show Patience At Qualcomm Stadium
For most of them, they aren’t far away from home. Yet, they’re a world away. Some of the adults look stunned. And some of the kids look overwhelmed. You can see literally thousands of them here in San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium, the 71,500 seat football stadium that normally hosts happier events, such as San Diego Chargers football games and rock concerts. But … [Read more...] about Distraught San Diego Fire Refugees Show Patience At Qualcomm Stadium
Elections: Men Too Emotional to be President? Women too? Curious Clues in the Constitution.
Aren't both genders potentially too emotional to be President? What if a male President is daily poisoned by testosteronic aggression/power madness to control everything, and his decision-making is skewed, and worse, destructive?** On the other hand, what if a female President is daily poisoned by estrogenic over-nesting/ preservation of everything no matter what, and … [Read more...] about Elections: Men Too Emotional to be President? Women too? Curious Clues in the Constitution.
Prize for Al Gore Greatly Discredits Nobel Committee
In awarding Al Gore with the Nobel Prize, has the Norwegian Parliament betrayed its pro-NATO, pro-war bias? According to this op-ed article from Mexico's La Jornada, it's time for the developed world to begin awarding "alternate peace prizes to compete creatively for world public opinion, rather than depend exclusively on the politically contaminated Nobel 'Peace' … [Read more...] about Prize for Al Gore Greatly Discredits Nobel Committee
Fire Update (Until Joe Gets Back)
UPDATED AGAIN: ‘We can’t stop it’ - Officials all but concede defeat to wildfires as estimated 1 million evacuate SAN DIEGO - Faced with unrelenting winds whipping wildfires into a frenzy across Southern California, firefighters conceded defeat on many fronts Tuesday to an unstoppable force that has chased an estimated 1 million people away. Unless the shrieking … [Read more...] about Fire Update (Until Joe Gets Back)
Obama’s Albatross*: Donnie McClurkin (UPDATED)
UPDATE: Tomorrow's The Hill: Obama pressured on gay 'cure' preacher and The Swamp: 'No crusade' to cure gays, says Obama's gospel star. UPDATE: Hear Pam Spaulding of PHB and Mike Signorile on Sirius Out Q discussing the issue. _________ Does Barack Obama want to portray himself as either P.C. or consistent? He appears to have got himself into a situation where he's … [Read more...] about Obama’s Albatross*: Donnie McClurkin (UPDATED)
A Few Good Words on Journalism
TODAY'S WORD ON JOURNALISM—Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 Canary in the Mine: “(W)hile the newspaper is expendable, the tradition it represents and the information it supplies are not. The evolution from Gutenberg to Gates may be irreversible, but as new media replace old ones there’s no official passing of the torch of responsibility, no automatic transfer of the sacred … [Read more...] about A Few Good Words on Journalism
A war with Iran that is already underway
According to The Sunday Times a couple of days ago, the war with Iran has already begun: BRITISH special forces have crossed into Iran several times in recent months as part of a secret border war against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Al-Quds special forces, defence sources have disclosed. There have been at least half a dozen intense firefights between the SAS and … [Read more...] about A war with Iran that is already underway
John Bolton vs. George Bush
The man with the white walrus mustache is back in Washington after a European tour of touting war with Iran. He has a new book to promote and a new cause--rallying Republican Congressmen to oppose the nuclear agreement with North Korea by that left-wing softie, George W. Bush. Last week he met with 42 GOP members at the invitation of Iowa Rep. Steve King, whose main … [Read more...] about John Bolton vs. George Bush
One Good Thing
During Bill Clinton's Presidency, Rush Limbaugh was a guest on David Letterman's late-night show. Letterman asked Limbaugh if he could say just one nice thing, one good thing, about the President. Limbaugh couldn't, or more accurately, wouldn't -- and that was pretty much the end of any interest I had in Limbaugh. Last month, Letterman presented Clinton with a similar … [Read more...] about One Good Thing
Mike Huckabee and the fake-ass-kicking blowhard vote
We were all waiting for this, weren't we? For president, Chuck Norris has endorsed... [DRUM ROLL] Mike Huckabee! If you must, read his endorsement piece at WingNutDaily (isn't that what it's called?). I won't bother to quote extensively from it here, nor to analyze his, um... argument. But here are some thoughts as I try to come to terms with this momentous … [Read more...] about Mike Huckabee and the fake-ass-kicking blowhard vote
Thanks to YOU, A Bit of Self-Promotion!
You Readers must really like us as a news and opinion source because we are ranked #46 on Memeorandum's Leaderboard! We are surprised, honored and grateful! Thank-you Memeorandum and Dear Readers! Gabe Rivera at Memeorandum and Techmeme: The ascent of blogs and other independent publishers has expanded and revitalized political dialogue in the United Status. While the … [Read more...] about Thanks to YOU, A Bit of Self-Promotion!
On the scourge of mercenary arms (in Iraq)
They may not get it in Washington, but they seem to be getting it in Baghdad, more or less, at least with respect to the nature of many of those currently tasked with waging the Iraq War and Occupation: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki asked the U.S. State Department to "pull Blackwater out of Iraq," after an Iraqi probe concluded that the private contractors committed … [Read more...] about On the scourge of mercenary arms (in Iraq)