The unveiling of the designs for the "Presidential $1 Coin Program" has prompted some thoughts about the state of money in America, so I figured why not throw some random suggestions out there. First, I like the idea of a dollar coin, since it makes so much more sense (not to mention cents) for the government to produce coins rather than dollar bills (they last a bit longer, … [Read more...] about Musings on Money

If you're pondering whether a movie monikered after the charismatic primary contender for the 1968 Democratic nomination - but that features him for a total of maybe 20 minutes - can be any good, I have an answer - and it ain't pretty. … [Read more...] about FILM REVIEW: “Bobby”: Dropping Acid While Writing Might Have Improved

Politicians and spectators are on the edge of our seats to see how the Democrats manage their new and surprising influence. Will they wisely steer as close to the center as possible or will they veer left and risk alienating the moderates who voted merely to give them a chance, not a mandate. While it appears that the Democrats have wisely moved towards the center vacated … [Read more...] about Plan B for Moderates…If the Democrats Tank

Nuri al-Maliki had problems aplenty from the moment he became Iraq's first duly elected prime minister, but his relationship with firebrand anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was bound to result in a train wreck sooner or later. Observers of the bedlam in Baghdad have seen the trains chugging toward each other for months, and the only question has been when and over … [Read more...] about Iraq: The Train Wreck This Way Comes

You KNOW we're living in a ridiculously litigious society when people who are insulted with reprehensible racial insults by a bombing and flailing comedian get a lawyer and suggest they want money.Two men who say they were insulted by actor-comedian Michael Richards during his racist rant at a comedy club want a personal apology and maybe some money, their lawyer said … [Read more...] about Men Insulted By Michael “Kramer” Richards Reportedly Want Money (UPDATED)

Two of my hottest buttons are hypocritical politicians and the erosion of government-paid veterans' benefits. With the war in Iraq, the two have come together nicely to make a hot button the size of a volcano. In fairness, the erosion in vets benefits began during the Clinton administration but has accelerated since The Decider took the throne and sent hundreds of thousands … [Read more...] about Support the Troops, Screw the Veterans — Part I

Nick was never the same after Vietnam. He would lapse into deep depressions. He let his teeth go, chain smoked cigarettes and pot and drank way too much booze, fought with his wife and would leave home for days at a time after suffering nightmares about the people that he had killed and seen killed. I was one of the few people who knew about Nick's Vietnam experience. It was … [Read more...] about Support the Troops, Screw the Veterans — Part II

So click on THIS at your own risk then click on the link there if you want. You have been warned. … [Read more...] about Definitely Not P.C.

It's the joke police: … [Read more...] about John Kerry Should Watch Out For THIS Guy

Rampant, unchecked, and unpunished retaliation against whistleblowing intelligence officers. No excuse for this to be legal. … [Read more...] about Things Guaranteed To Piss Me Off

Poisoned-by-radiation former spy Alexander Litvinenko's dying declaration points the finger squarely at Russian President Vladimir Putin. The full text, released by his friends today:I would like to thank many people. My doctors, nurses and hospital staff who are doing all they can for me; the British police who are pursuing my case with vigor and professionalism and are … [Read more...] about Alexander Litvinenko’s Dying Statement Implicates Putin In His Death

AP via Haaretz:British authorities are trying to locate the Israel owners of a white cat that stowed away on a 17-day sea voyage from Afula to the north of England. Emerging with a shock of white fur, the cat stunned cargo workers in England as it jumped out of a goods container after a journey of more than 3,200 km from Israel to Britain, an animal charity said Friday. … [Read more...] about Another Traveling Cat Story

Gunman Arrested at Miami Herald BuildingMIAMI (AP) — A gun-wielding cartoonist dressed in camouflage surrendered to police at The Miami Herald's building Friday afternoon, more than two hours after arriving and demanding to see an editor of the newspaper's Spanish-language sister paper, police said. No injuries were reported. Police spokesman Delrish Moss said the man, … [Read more...] about Dangerous Cartoonists

Charles... stop obsessing over Borat. Read my lips: it's funny. You know, humor? Comedy? 'haha'? UPDATE Also read Pete Nicely's post over at Valley Jew. … [Read more...] about To Charles: Lighten Up

The AP reports (via Yahoo) that the British government says that a radioactive substance killed Alexander Litvinenko.The Health Protection Agency said the radioactive element polonium-210, which is extremely hard to detect, had been found in Litvinenko's urine. [...] The agency's chief executive, Pat Troop, said that the high level indicated Litvinenko "would either have to … [Read more...] about Radioactive Substance Killed Alexander Litvinenko

Looking back, I've been rather hard on Nancy Pelosi lately, criticizing her support for Jack Murtha and her opposition to Jane Harman, but I want to stress that I still welcome her speakership and support her leadership enthusiastically. Indeed, despite these two high-profile personnel missteps, I think she's already doing an exceptional job. As The Boston Globe reported the … [Read more...] about Pelosi at the helm

An interesting, encouraging and inspiring article over at Reuters: "He has a pulse!" the Palestinian medic shouted above the sound of sirens and explosions as he and three colleagues tended to the motionless figure on the floor. The exercise, in an Israeli hospital, was a dress rehearsal for more than a dozen medics and doctors from the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, … [Read more...] about Helping Each Other

So you know how McCain has been trying to prove his conservative bona fides lately, running to the right on such issues as same-sex marriage and abortion? And you know how McCain and Giuliani, both of whom have already initiated campaigns for the White House, seem to be the frontrunners for the '08 Republican presidential nomination? Well, Romney, whom I think will turn out to … [Read more...] about Yet another Republican pissing contest

It's interesting to see how within a month a major assumption of American politics has changed. It has been turned not on its heels, but on its center... Just four weeks ago it was still assumed that Karl Rove's "mobilization election" strategies were the way to go. In the 21st century, it was suggested, independent voters were oh, so 20th century and the REAL way to victory … [Read more...] about Those Pesky Centrists, Moderates And Independents

Centrist's Default Mix is a wonderful website which most of the readers of this blog will greatly appreciate: it links to posts from / at several center blogs (like Middle Earth Journal Booker Rising, Austin Centrist and The Moderate Voice) and is updated continuously. Just a tip... … [Read more...] about Tip