The GTL that another Republican is about to bite the dust: Governor of Nevada Jim Gibbons. Libby Spencer has an interesting post up (with some good links) about (the situation in) Pakistan. It could messy. Ali Eteraz debates Umar Lee about feminism. QandO has an heart warming post up about a 10 year old boy, Justin Peterson, who "had endured three years of … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
How Quickly They (And We) Forget
After being repeatedly embarrassed over the shabby treatment of returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans in the military and Veterans Administration health-care systems, the White House is surely hoping that you and I have short memories. This is because the president, who has run up $3 trillion in new debt on his watch, is threatening to veto a spending bill that … [Read more...] about How Quickly They (And We) Forget
No Religious Test
One of the books I am reading is FREETHINKERS: A History of American Secularism by Susan Jacoby. A passage that particularly struck me in the light of current events follows:But the secularism of the Constitution did produce substantial controversy during the ratification debates conducted by state conventions. The framers were denounced by religious traditionalists both for … [Read more...] about No Religious Test
Required Reading Material
Required reading material for the course American Society II, subject Jazz (how it was received): Many people have wondered whence come the waves upon waves of musical slush that invade decent homes and set the young people of this generation imitating the drivel of morons. Popular music is a Jewish monopoly. Jazz is a Jewish creation. The mush, slush, the sly suggestion, the … [Read more...] about Required Reading Material
Bill Keller: ‘Vote for Romney is vote for Satan’
Nice, religious bigotry in action: While some evangelical Christians are defending the presidential candidacy of Mormon Mitt Romney from an attack by Al Sharpton, another prominent pastor is going further in his condemnation – saying a vote for the former Massachusetts governor is a vote for Satan. That's the word from Bill Keller, host of the Florida-based Live Prayer TV … [Read more...] about Bill Keller: ‘Vote for Romney is vote for Satan’
General Petraeus Writes Letter Condemning Torture
General Petraeus wrote a letter in which he speaks out against torture. From the letter: Our values and the laws governing warfare teach us to respect human dignity, maintain our integrity, and do what is right. Adherence to our values distinguishes us from our enemy. This fight depends on securing the population, which must understand that we—not our enemies—occupy the … [Read more...] about General Petraeus Writes Letter Condemning Torture
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Invisible Primaries
The Invisible Primaries - Crystal Ball's "Magnificent Seven in '07" Sure, you've heard of the Iowa Caucuses, the New Hampshire Primary, and so on. But 2008's first presidential pre-nomination contests are already underway, and have been for a long (and we'd argue, too long) time. They're the "invisible" primaries, and for better or worse, we in the pundit class get to throw … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Invisible Primaries
Majority Voices in Post-Modern Standpoint Theory
The less philosophically inclined may want to skip this one. … [Read more...] about Majority Voices in Post-Modern Standpoint Theory
Rape Isn’t Funny
Two more shock jocks who deserve to be fired immediately, this time for laughing along with a guest who stated he wanted to rape Condi Rice and Laura Bush. It's an XM station, so if you want to air your discontent, they're the folks to target. … [Read more...] about Rape Isn’t Funny
Classical Gas
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Classical Gas
Bill Richardson Presidential “Job Interview” 2008 Campaign Ad
Does this ad help him -- or hurt him? (Yours truly believes the two ads via You Tube below are masterful because he gets across his message and also comes across as human. Plus, it's put within the context of a "TV viewer friendly" bit -- not a stiff interview with Tim Russert). … [Read more...] about Bill Richardson Presidential “Job Interview” 2008 Campaign Ad
Ignoring The Elephant
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Ignoring The Elephant
Bush and Democrats in Accord on Trade Deals
Bush and Democrats in Accord on Trade Deals Democrats to attach environmental and worker protections in several pending trade accords, clearing the way for early passage of some pacts and improving prospects for others... Charles B. Rangel, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, has led negotiations to complete the trade deals that guarantee workers the right to … [Read more...] about Bush and Democrats in Accord on Trade Deals
General Discontent With the War
It is a telling commentary on the catastrophe that the Iraq war has become and the damage it has done to the military that several retired generals have gone public to harshly rebuke former Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and President Bush. Now three of the generals are challenging a dozen members of Congress in a new TV commercial by VoteVets.org, saying the politicians can't … [Read more...] about General Discontent With the War
Blair Triumphant
He is unpopular at home, popular with the American right, and set to leave office with his apparent legacy, the Iraq War, still an unmitigated disaster. And yet. I admire him. He transformed the Labour Party from old-left obsolescence to center-left dominance, a New Labour for a dynamic new Britain. He invested in health care and education. He sought to reduce poverty … [Read more...] about Blair Triumphant
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
When I was in college, the tired joke behind the title of this post was a question: "Is it sunlight or an oncoming train?" And that's precisely what we don't know about Iraq. What we do know is this: With a majority of the democratically elected Iraqi government voting for us to leave, and with 11 moderate Republicans stepping up to look Bush squarely in the eye and … [Read more...] about The Light at the End of the Tunnel
The Ridiculousness of Gasoline Prices
You don't have to be paranoid to believe that the White House orchestrated the extraordinary drop in U.S. gasoline prices just as mid-term elections crucial to the Republican Party were approaching last fall. But while the Bush administration probably would like to take credit for that, it can't. The president of the United States may be a very powerful dude and this one … [Read more...] about The Ridiculousness of Gasoline Prices
Tony Blair: Success or Failure
The Times' David Aaronovitch and Matthew Parris go head to head on the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of the Blair years. David starts off: it falls to me to make the first moves in this on-page wrestling bout to contest whether the Blair premiership has been a glorious success or ignominious failure. So let me emerge from the unfashionable left-of-centre corner … [Read more...] about Tony Blair: Success or Failure
The Linguistic Case Against Barack Obama
Patrick O'Hannigan wrote an interesting article about Barack Obama... back in March of this year; I am afraid that I missed it, thanks to reader Yonason I read it just now and found it so interesting that I thought you all might enjoy reading it as well; if for nothing else, then to function as a counterweight to all the positive media Obama receives. The title of the … [Read more...] about The Linguistic Case Against Barack Obama
Iraq War Dénouement: Curiouser & Curiouser
Now, I give you fair warning, either you or your head must be off, and that in about half no time! Take your choice! -- From “Alice in Wonderland†The House has approved a second Iraq war-funding bill that President Bush has vowed to veto. Let’s put this latest development into perspective: The president violated a fundamental law of economics in lowering taxes … [Read more...] about Iraq War Dénouement: Curiouser & Curiouser