It HAD to happen:Scientists have created the world's first human-sheep chimera - which has the body of a sheep and half-human organs. The sheep have 15 per cent human cells and 85 per cent animal cells - and their evolution brings the prospect of animal organs being transplanted into humans one step closer.No inappropriate jokes, please.Professor Esmail Zanjani, of the … [Read more...] about A Sheep That’s 15 Percent Human
Of Parties and Politics
I’ve written what I believed were thoughtful, extended posts on what I believed were material, important subjects -- only to watch those posts generate a virtually weightless smattering of comments. And then, on Friday, in 39 words here and 137 at Central Sanity, I announced my decision to devote some near-term energy to helping those who want to moderate today’s GOP -- … [Read more...] about Of Parties and Politics
Romney’s Flip-Flopping Evolution
Ed Morrissey has a great post up about the shift in Mitt Romney’s “positions on abortion and other issues�, described by the former Governor of Massachusetts himself as an “evolution�, by quite some others as flip-flopping or opportunism.
Please click here to read more. … [Read more...] about Romney’s Flip-Flopping Evolution
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. At Munaeem's Blog, there's a wonderful post on the complexity of Islam. Money excerpt ... ... can one talk of a single homogeneous Islamic experience? After all, the experience of Damascus under the Umayyads was very different from the experience of Abbasid Baghdad, while … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Republican Governing
The Fired Attorneys, Patriot Act And Appointment Powers
So exactly WHY were Republicans working as U.S. attorneys fired? There's a ton of speculation so far but nothing that has been universally accepted or completely confirmed -- just lots of tantalizing tidbits that, if pieced together, suggest there was more there than meets the eye or emerges from official spinmasters' lips. For those both pondering this controversy and truly … [Read more...] about The Fired Attorneys, Patriot Act And Appointment Powers
Love Your Pets, But Try To Keep It Simple
Kiko and Kimba are okay, but Zephyr (top) is fighting for his life Kiko and Kimba threw up a couple of weeks ago after splitting a tiny can of wet cat food purchased at Trader Joe's. Wet cat food is a rare bribe . . . er, treat that the Dear Friend & Conscience gives them for being such sweet and semi-obedient fur balls. Mild concern over their upset tummies turned to a … [Read more...] about Love Your Pets, But Try To Keep It Simple
Alberto Gonzales And The Sports Team Tribalism Of American Politics
The continued controversies breaking around Attorney General Alberto Gonzales underscore one fact: partisanship that has morphed into a kind of sports team loyalty and tribalism is what has helped keep him in office. The New York Times notes that Gonzales' support continues to rapidly erode:"The conflicts between the documentary record and Mr. Gonzales’s version of events … [Read more...] about Alberto Gonzales And The Sports Team Tribalism Of American Politics
Cancer Survivor White House Tony Snow’s Special Perspective (UPDATED)
Newsweeks' The Gaggle notes that it was a particularly tough -- and revealing -- week for White House Press Secretary Tony Snow. Beset by various controversies, Snow was steadfast in his defense of the Bush administration....but there was a different in tone. And at one point he was moved to tears -- and not by reporters tough questions:White House Press Secretary Tony Snow … [Read more...] about Cancer Survivor White House Tony Snow’s Special Perspective (UPDATED)
Sports And Religion
From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about Sports And Religion
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Constitution?
The Bush administration believes the continued operation of Gitmo hurts us in the war on terror. But they won't move it to the US, because then detainees might have rights. Ergo, denial of rights > winning war on terror? … [Read more...] about Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Constitution?
US Attorneys: William F. Buckley Weighs In
William F. Buckley wrote a good article for Townhall.com about the USA controversy. His conclusion: "Of one thing Mr. Bush is manifestly guilty. It is the criminal (in the metaphorical sense) mismanagement of the whole business of the U.S. attorneys. The fault is not personal; it was probably the attorney general and other advisers of the president who took so many clumsy … [Read more...] about US Attorneys: William F. Buckley Weighs In
Hear Two Moderate Voices Speak
You can listen to two moderate voices - Joe Gandelman and Jack Grant - at Shaun OMac's show at Blog Talk Radio (click on the segment posted on March 24). They're joined by Watching America's Will. … [Read more...] about Hear Two Moderate Voices Speak
Wrong Questions, Right Time, Part 2.
Yesterday, I wrote about my hopes of a third way to extricate ourselves from Iraq. Rather than a “surgeâ€? or withdrawal by a certain date, we, instead, would focus on negotiations between the Shias and the Sunnis. Today, I see this in Time:Democrats on Capitol Hill hang on his every word, and Jim Webb doesn’t disappoint. His son was extended in Iraq for the surge, … [Read more...] about Wrong Questions, Right Time, Part 2.
Moderates Migrate to Dems
Fewer pledge allegiance to the GOP A poll says 35% of those surveyed identify with Republicans. Public attitudes seem to be drifting toward Democrats' values. It always fascinates me that no matter how badly some leaders, even dictators, perform there is usually a large minority that will still honor and support them. Perhaps this is because some minority will always … [Read more...] about Moderates Migrate to Dems
A Delicious Festival Of The 1970s
Legendary insult comedian Don Rickles (who once sang out of key while sitting behind me when I attended a Jewish synagogue service in Los Angeles) and some celebrities who were at the top of their fame in the 1970s sing (mostly on key) "I'm A Nice Guy": … [Read more...] about A Delicious Festival Of The 1970s
Medicare Still Pays Doctors Who Owe Back Taxes
Medicare Still Pays Doctors Who Owe Back Taxes It seems to me that this is precisely the kind of issue sincere fiscal conservatives would jump on as low hanging fruit for improving government efficiency. Imagine how captivating it would be for the GOP to publish a list of 100 missed opportunities for making the government more efficient, and running on a platform of … [Read more...] about Medicare Still Pays Doctors Who Owe Back Taxes
Sub Prime Lenders
A Strong Presidency
Former Nixon counsel John W. Dean wrote a great article for FindLaw’s Writ. He explains that the clash between U.S. Congress and the White House over the firing of eight USA’s, is about much more than just that. The real conflict isn’t that “Congress wants information, and Bush does not want to provide it if it means breaching the sanctity of the realm in which he … [Read more...] about A Strong Presidency
The Saturday Cartoons
Go to Bob Geiger's place for some good Saturday cartoons. The first one - lady justice fired is quite funny, the last one by Nick Anderson made me laugh out loud as well, as did the first one by Mike Luckovich. One point though - I would like to see some cartoons about Democrats as well... … [Read more...] about The Saturday Cartoons