Hard to muster much sympathy, eh? For the first time in the Paris Hilton saga, I now a have glimmer of understanding about the demons lurking deep within this wackadoodle of a celebrity poodle whom we seem to so loath and adore. I maybe even have some sympathy for her. Maybe. This is because of the news that the Heiress Paris apparently suffers from "extreme" Attention … [Read more...] about Paris Hilton: A.D.D. & Sympathy?
Capitalism and Moral Depravity
Does capitalism cause moral depravity? What role does the media play? What about popular culture? I wrote a post about this subject at my blog. The conclusion: It is not capitalism that causes moral depravity; it is the idea that moral values are of no importance and only relative. The media actively encourage this kind of thinking. Read the entire post here. … [Read more...] about Capitalism and Moral Depravity
Voting One’s Conscience (Not)
The notion of voting one's conscience has become a hoary concept for the members of The Greatest Deliberative Body in the World, so a no-confidence vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales would have been a signal opportunity to resurrect the concept -- at least for Republican senators who claim to have more going on between their ears than slush fund calculators. It was a … [Read more...] about Voting One’s Conscience (Not)
Dan Rather Blasts Katie Couric / Evening News
It seems that Dan Rather attacked Katie Couric / the "Evening News." After saying that he 'likes' Couric, Rather went on to say: You know, she tried to change networks, which is always difficult and change the programs at the same time. They've done all of the usual things. They changed the set. They changed the executive producers. They changed the graphics person, lately, … [Read more...] about Dan Rather Blasts Katie Couric / Evening News
Sopranos Final Episode
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Sopranos Final Episode
Gonzales’ No-Confidence Vote Blocked By Republicans
Once again, Republican Party loyalty has held for President George W. Bush: a no-confidence vote on beset Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has fizzled after Senate Republicans blocked it. This is despite indications (see below) that many Republicans are reportedly either holding their noses or seething since they'd like to see Gonzales go. But this became another of those … [Read more...] about Gonzales’ No-Confidence Vote Blocked By Republicans
Finkelstein’s Tenure Denial
The controversial Norman Finkelstein has been denied tenure by DePaul University. … [Read more...] about Finkelstein’s Tenure Denial
Genarlow Wilson To Be Freed?
A judge in Georgia has granted Genarlow Wilson's habeas plea, holding that his sentence was a violation of cruel and unusual punishment. For those of you who don't know, Wilson was sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex as a 17-year old with a 15-year old girl. He had no criminal record, good grades, and, lets face it, teenagers two years apart in age … [Read more...] about Genarlow Wilson To Be Freed?
NATIVE AMERICANS SEEK CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION BILL
TO DEPORT MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS There is one element that winds through most everyone of Native American blood, including Mayas, Nahua and Inka, Mestizos, and our Native people within the boundaries of the USA... The people carry a kind of humor that is often gentle on the surface, but ironic, carrying serious dual and triplicate meanings right beneath the … [Read more...] about NATIVE AMERICANS SEEK CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION BILL
Hypocrisy On The March
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Hypocrisy On The March
The Month of Stinging Rebukes
The Bush administration is now Zero-for-June in stinging rebukes over its extralegal efforts to circumvent the American legal system in order to try so-called enemy combatants. The bottom line is that despite its chest thumping, the administration has yet to complete a single trial involving this detritus from the Global War on Terror. The latest rebuke, the third of the … [Read more...] about The Month of Stinging Rebukes
Say Hello to a New Blog
Kevin Sullivan, who is an assistant editor at the Real Clear Blog now has a moderate / centrist blog of his own. I strongly urge all of you to check his blog out. For a sample of his work, I'd say go read this post about John Edwards. … [Read more...] about Say Hello to a New Blog
Huckabee: ‘Most’ Prisoners In The U.S. ‘Would Love’ To Be In Guantanamo
Mike Huckabee is one of my favorite Republican candidates: sure, I do not agree with him on everything, he's too socially conservative for my taste, but he sounds like a reasonable man, who knows what he is talking about. Now, however, he said something quite stupid: I know it’s become a symbol of what’s wrong. I visited Guantanamo just about a year ago. My sense was, … [Read more...] about Huckabee: ‘Most’ Prisoners In The U.S. ‘Would Love’ To Be In Guantanamo
A New Columnist
For quite a while, I have been thinking about how to improve this blog. Quite some bloggers decide to ask people to become co-bloggers when they want to revive their blogs: fresh blood, new discussions, new insights… in short, several people joining forces. That, of course, is a great way of raising one’s blog to a higher level. Although this was certainly an option, I … [Read more...] about A New Columnist
Equal Rights for Robots… NOW!
I had no idea, but it seems that carrying a sign that says "Equal Rights for Robots" can get you arrested: On April 18th, I was arrested. This normally wouldn’t be big news, but the situation arround which I was arrested brings up serious questions. I was arrested at Kutztown University, where I am a student, because I decided to try to liven the mood after the Life and … [Read more...] about Equal Rights for Robots… NOW!
Diplomatic Negotiations 101
As I have said many times in this space and others, Iraq’s civil strife will be resolved by diplomatic measures not warfare. Here are some tips from Dennis Ross, one of the best negotiators in the business:When one looks at U.S. foreign policy and our standing in the world today, it is hard to escape the conclusion that the Bush administration has not exactly excelled in the … [Read more...] about Diplomatic Negotiations 101
If It’s Too Good To Be True It Isn’t
Sheik Abdel Sittar Baziya is a key Anbar leader (HERE'S ANOTHER TAKE ON THE SUBJECT OF THE POST BELOW -- GOOD NEWS DISGUISED AS BAD) There's an old saying that if it’s too good to be true then it probably isn't. So it comes as no surprise that it the so-called Anbar Awakening is a racket where money talks the loudest and when the money runs out so will its … [Read more...] about If It’s Too Good To Be True It Isn’t
Here’s something that might surprise you…
...The Bush administration is not enforcing its own sanctions against Iran. … [Read more...] about Here’s something that might surprise you…
Majority of Republicans Don’t Believe in Evolution
According to a gallup poll, the majority of Republicans does not believe the theory of evolution to be true. Quite remarkable, one could say, is that "even among non-Republicans there appears to be a significant minority who doubt that evolution adequately explains where humans came from." Funny enough, "about a quarter of Americans say they believe both in evolution's … [Read more...] about Majority of Republicans Don’t Believe in Evolution
Death Penalty Works as Deterrent
The AP has a fascinating article up about the death penalty. As those who read this blog for several months (and read my contributions to TMV) know, I am an opponent of the death penalty, mainly for two reasons: - I find the death penalty to be immoral. I would say that we - in the West - are above an eye for an eye - I do not want to give the power to the government to kill … [Read more...] about Death Penalty Works as Deterrent