Can it be? Can someone connected with President George Bush possibly be at the center of an untidy controversy or a messy scandal? Add this one to your list of Bush associates involved in controversies and/or scandals (you may be on page two or three already on this list):World Bank president and George W Bush ally Paul Wolfowitz is fighting to save his career after becoming … [Read more...] about World Bank’s Wolfowitz Embroiled In Scandal
Iran Nuclear Program
Paul Zanetti, Australia … [Read more...] about Iran Nuclear Program
Doomed!
Bush's Iraq strategy or Biden's presidential bid? Both, but let's stick with the former for now. Joe Biden may have a screw loose here and there, but at least he has foreign policy experience -- far more than Hillary, Obama, and Edwards -- and at least he seems to be thinking seriously about how best to get the hell out of Iraq. And he isn't all about focus-grouped … [Read more...] about Doomed!
Quote of the Day
Howard Kurtz: With so much to accuse the media of these days, I'm not sure why anyone has to make stuff up. … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day
Crap and Corruption: White House Division
Reverberations from the U.S. attorney scandal – the one that Republicans said was much ado about nothing – continue to grow. The latest and greatest is that countless e-mails to and from many key White House staffers have been deleted due to a brazen violation of internal White House policy that was allowed to continue for more than six years. The leading culprit is . … [Read more...] about Crap and Corruption: White House Division
Pakistan: ‘The Flag of Jihad is Fluttering’
In Pakistan, more alarmingly even than usual, the flag of jihad is fluttering and extremists are marching on the state, says The Economist. "Amid a worrying surge in Islamic militancy, a fight between rival radicals may not be the good news Pakistan says it is." "Of several concurrent—partly co-ordinated—dramas involving Islamist militants, the bloodiest is in South … [Read more...] about Pakistan: ‘The Flag of Jihad is Fluttering’
“Can India-Pakistan Relations Be Reinvented?”
This question was discussed in detail when the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Ms Benazir Bhutto, visited India last month to attend "India Today Conclave". In view of the recent hurly burly of Pakistan politics this was a much publicised event in this part of the world. To visit the India Today site please click here... And then under the heading "Can India-Pakistan … [Read more...] about “Can India-Pakistan Relations Be Reinvented?”
The Event: Chapter 14
Mick LaSalle published the 14th chapter of The Event. I know that quite some of you are as addicted to this story as I am, so to you all I say: go check it out, it is another great chapter. In this chapter we also find out more about Lyle B. East's past and... Whitaker Sr. thoughts about his son. Also: Monroe Sr. and Whitaker Sr. decide to join forces. Their goal: to … [Read more...] about The Event: Chapter 14
Coverage of MSNBC Imus Firing: Driving on the Media’s Mobius Strip (UPDATED)
Driving on the Media's Mobius Strip: Imus, McGuirk: (Pete and Repeat Went Out in A Boat: Pete Fell Out, Who Was Left?) I PUT THE CULTURE ON THE COUCH If there's highbrow writing and there's lowbrow writing, then many of the big news media outlets in the USA must favor “unibrow writing...â€? no differentiation, no arches, no framing of the story, no lines leading from … [Read more...] about Coverage of MSNBC Imus Firing: Driving on the Media’s Mobius Strip (UPDATED)
The Cheshire McCain
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about The Cheshire McCain
India’s Major ‘War’: Saving Kids from HIV, AIDS
Children born to parents infected with HIV/AIDS virus place impressions of their palm as part of observing Candle Day at Freedom Foundation, a community care centre, at Kolathur. — Photo: S. Thanthoni (courtesyThe Hindu) With its attention riveted to "War-on-Terror", the world is yet to wake up to the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) crisis that threatens to cripple a … [Read more...] about India’s Major ‘War’: Saving Kids from HIV, AIDS
Terrorists Bomb Iraqi Parliament
UPDATE - MSNBC Breaking News: U.S. spokesman says eight people killed in Iraq parliament attack This is well inside Baghdad's heavily-fortified and supposedly highly-secure Green Zone. BBC: Explosion at Iraq parliament cafe A blast hits a cafeteria in the Iraqi parliament, killing at least two MPs and injuring at least 15 other people. Pajamas Media asks if Sunnis … [Read more...] about Terrorists Bomb Iraqi Parliament
God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut
The pang of sadness that I felt when I read this morning that Kurt Vonnegut had left this mortal coil was a bit deeper than the mere fact that like a lot of folks of my generation I went head over heels over everything this counterculture idol wrote. As it is, I work in a rare book and manuscript library that includes the papers of Seymour Lawrence, Vonnegut's longtime … [Read more...] about God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut
A New U.S. Motto: Crap and Corruption
Michael’s recent musings on how the United Kingdom has lost its mojo and whether it can get it back has set me to thinking about the United States and how abjectly corrupt it has become. There is barely a nook or cranny in the Land of the Free that hasn’t been tainted by inappropriate if not downright illegal conduct, be it influence peddling, graft, siphoning off monies … [Read more...] about A New U.S. Motto: Crap and Corruption
American vs. European Liberalism
A couple of days ago, an American commenter asked me why I kept on referring to "liberals" as "progressives". I explained that what is called "liberalism" in America these days is, in many ways, the opposite of what is called "liberalism" in Europe. In short, the term "liberalism" kept its meaning here, while it changed in America. Because I am a proud European liberal, I do … [Read more...] about American vs. European Liberalism
Tony Blair Blames Murders On Black Culture
Uh, oh. Is Great Britain's Tony Blair heading into Imus territory?:Tony Blair yesterday claimed the spate of knife and gun murders in London was not being caused by poverty, but a distinctive black culture. His remarks angered community leaders, who accused him of ignorance and failing to provide support for black-led efforts to tackle the problem. One accused him of … [Read more...] about Tony Blair Blames Murders On Black Culture
Take A Peek…..
...at Post An Apology. Here's a website with the finger on the pulse of 21st Century American culture. Its masthead describes the site perfectly: EVERYONE WANTS TO APOLOGIZE. The whole world is looking to apologize for something. Some do it well, and some need to get a grip. Post An Apology looks at our politics and culture to see who really IS sorry, who SHOULD BE … [Read more...] about Take A Peek…..
Shrunken Imus
RJ Matson, The New York Observer … [Read more...] about Shrunken Imus
Passed Over
The Texas legislature recently held a hearing on adding Bible classes to its public schools--an issue obviously important to Jews. Unfortunately, they scheduled it during Passover, so Jews couldn't attend. Was the act malicious or even intentional? I seriously doubt it. But it still matters from a religious liberty perspective, and here's why. UPDATE: Zora in the comments … [Read more...] about Passed Over
MSNBC TV says it will no longer simulcast ‘Imus in the Morning’
I'm really kind of sick of hearing about this jerk. MSNBC drops simulcast of Don Imus show Network apologizes to Rutgers women's basketball team for racial remarks … [Read more...] about MSNBC TV says it will no longer simulcast ‘Imus in the Morning’