Politics

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    Washington Post

  • Va. Senate passes anti-discrimination bill for state workers

    Rosalind S. Helderman
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    RICHMOND The Virginia Senate passed a bill Monday that would make it illegal to discriminate in the state workforce, including on the basis of sexual orientation, marking the first time such legislation has passed either chamber of the Virginia General Assembly.

  • In Congress, it's decision time on long-term unemployment benefits

    Perry Bacon Jr.
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    As the Senate this week considers a "jobs bill" to reduce unemployment, lawmakers will have to decide whether to continue an unprecedented change in how the country treats people who are out of work, which was quietly approved last year.

  • Republicans may opt out of Obama's health-care summit

    Michael D. Shear
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Leading House Republicans raised the prospect Monday night that they may decline to participate in President Obama's proposed health-care summit if the White House chooses not to scrap the existing reform bills and start over.

  • McDonnell directing more education money to N.Va.

    Anita Kumar and Fredrick Kunkle
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    RICHMOND -- In one of his first decisions on the state's two-year budget, Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell sided with Northern Virginia, the vote-rich region that helped him secure his landslide victory in November, by sending it more school dollars.

  • A year later, where did the hopes for Obama go?

    Ann Gerhart
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:35 am
    A year ago, Barack Obama's true believers were euphoric. The huge and jubilant gathering in Chicago's Grant Park on election night 2008 gave way to almost 2 million people on the Mall for the president's inauguration.
 
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    Daily Kos

  • Foot, mouth, Michael Steele

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:10 am
    Via Greg Sargent, Michael Steele suggests that media coverage of his tenure as RNC chief is motivated by racism (emphasis added): "I don't see stories about the internal operations of the DNC that I see about this operation.  Why? Is it because Michael Steele is the chairman, or is it because a black man is the chairman?" It is true that Newt Gingrich said that some Republicans aren't comfortable with Steele because he's African-American, but Steele is attacking the media with his rhetorical question. Moreover, Steele himself has spent much of the year attacking Democrats for playing…

  • TX-GOV: Tea Party candidate surges with Ron Paul's support

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:43 am
    According to a new poll from PPP, right-wing tea party candidate Debra Medina, making her first bid for public office, is nipping at the heels of incumbent Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Texas Republican gubernatorial primary. Medina, who wasn't even on the radar before the recent gubernatorial debates, is now within 4 points of Hutchison and 15 points of Perry. Perry clocks in at 39% support, Hutchison at 28%, and Medina at 24%. If no candidate wins 50% of the vote -- a prospect that seems increasingly likely -- there will be a run-off between the top two finishers.

  • Responding to Ransom Notes

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am
    Ezra thinks that the White House should give into Boehner's and Cantor's demands, "even the ones that don't make any sense," in return for an agreement on up-or-down votes in both the House and Senate--with no procedural tricks and delays--on the final bill. A clean vote, yes, but why even enter into negotiations with these guys? There's little advantage in giving in to the demands of hostage-takers. I like John Cole's advice, couched as a memo to the White House, much better. I know you all won’t do it, but this really is a gimme. Set up the room with a side for the Democrats,…

  • Washington Times: GOP lawmakers privately admit stimulus created jobs

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:42 am
    If there's one thing that unites the Republican Party it's that the stimulus bill was a job-killing piece of legislation that was the worst thing in the whole entire world for the economy, right? Or maybe that's just what unites them in public, because in private the Washington Times reports they've been working overtime to get their hands on job-creating stimulus cash. Sen. Christopher S. Bond regularly railed against President Obama's economic stimulus plan as irresponsible spending that would drive up the national debt. But behind the scenes, the Missouri Republican quietly sought more…

  • Shelby drops blanket hold, but still blocks Air Force nominees

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:50 am
    Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama has dropped his "blanket hold" on all Obama administration nominees: Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) has dropped all but a handful of the 70-plus holds he placed on President Obama's nominees last week. Shelby's office told TPMDC today that the goal of the blanket holds had succeeded three days after it was reported and roundly attacked by Democrats and the White House. Shelby's hold had effectively blocked the confirmation of every Obama administration appointee, a move he had hoped would give him leverage in his effort to win an Air Force aerial…
 
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    Talking Points Memo

  • Gettin' His Dialectic On ...

    Josh Marshall
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:05 am
    This happened last week. But it was just too classic to let slip into the ether. GOP Chairman Michael Steele was up at Harvard last Wednesday. And a questioner got on his case about he and his party referring to the health reform bill as "socialism" and asked him to defend the language. This was clearly a dangerous moment. Since it prompted Steele to take a shot at discussing Marxist theory. My favorite part was his arguing that the word was right because the Senate bill meant taking over the health care "means of production."

  • President or Bag Man?

    Josh Marshall
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am
    Presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty showed up to give a speech to GOP activists in Alabama on Friday. But he didn't just bring himself. He also carried with him a $100,000 check for the state Republican party from a mystery donor. No one's saying who it's from. And it's also not clear what the check needed a chaperone rather than just being sent in the mail.

  • What's the Deal with The Ryan Budget?

    Josh Marshall
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:15 am
    We've been reporting and writing a lot about Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) "shadow budget" over the last week. And I wanted to take a moment to explain some of the reasons why. As I've noted before, Ryan is the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee. So he's the House Republicans' chief budget writer. Later in the Spring, the Republicans will come up with their official alternative budget. And it will be written, like this one, by Ryan, in consultation with the other Republican members of the Committee. In other words, it's sort of a 'shadow budget' or first draft of the Republican budget.

  • Reading Is Fundamental

    David Kurtz
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:18 am
    Sarah Palin favorably cites Pat Buchanan column that says opposite of what she thinks it says. It dovetails almost seamlessly with Stephen Colbert's Sarah Palin "satire" last night. Watch. As long as we're on Palin, Jon Stewart had some fun with Palin's "mavericky notecard hand-scribbled buzzwords." Watch.

  • Are You a TPM Fan?

    Josh Marshall
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:44 am
    If you can't make it nonstop to TPM every day, there's no better way to keep up on our biggest stories and breaking news than becoming a fan of TPM on Facebook. Just look: all your friends are doing it! Just click the button below, one click, and you're in. And we really appreciate it. Talking Points Memo on Facebook
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    Washington Monthly: Political Animal

  • Steele rediscovers the 'race card'

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:10 am
    STEELE REDISCOVERS THE 'RACE CARD'.... Michael Steele's first year as chairman of the Republican National Committee has not gone well. There have been controversies surrounding his gaffes, his budget, his lucrative side deals, his mismanagement, and his tantrums. Talk of his ouster has been quite common, especially after Democrats went five-for-five in winning congressional special elections in 2009. But in the new issue of the Washingtonian, Steele suggests his problems are not of his own making, but rather, are the result of racism. Steele acknowledges that at times he has a tendency to…

  • The Cash-and-Trash story gets more humiliating

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:25 am
    THE CASH-AND-TRASH STORY GETS MORE HUMILIATING.... In one of the more entertaining moments of President Obama's recent chat with House Republicans, the president offered a spirited defense of the stimulus package that rescued the economy. Obama noted a certain inconsistency in the GOP rhetoric: "[A] lot of you have gone to ribbon cuttings for the same projects that you voted against. I say all this not to re-litigate the past, but it's simply to state, the component parts of the recovery act are consistent with what many of you say are important things to do." In some circles, it's come to be…

  • About those prosecution statistics...

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am
    ABOUT THOSE PROSECUTION STATISTICS.... As baseless Republican criticism of administration counter-terrorism policies has intensified, the president's team has come up with some pretty straightforward defenses. When the GOP gets hysterical over trying accused terrorists in the U.S. justice system, Obama administration officials remind folks that more than 300 terrorists have already gone through this exact same system -- with nary a complaint from Republicans. In response, instead of adapting their argument to reality, GOP attack dogs have decided that the "more than 300" number has to be a…

  • Tuesday's campaign round-up

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    TUESDAY'S CAMPAIGN ROUND-UP.... Today's installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn't generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers. * Any chance Illinois State Comptroller Dan Hynes, who narrowly lost to Gov. Pat Quinn in a Democratic gubernatorial primary last week, would replace Scott Lee Cohen as Quinn's running mate? Hynes apparently isn't interested. * Speaking of Illinois, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D), arguably the most popular statewide officeholder in the state, will serve as chairman of Alexi Giannoulias's (D) Senate campaign. *…

  • Too weak and too tough at the same time

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:25 am
    TOO WEAK AND TOO TOUGH AT THE SAME TIME.... I suppose it was only a matter of time before far-right voices started criticizing President Obama for having too much success killing terrorists. Here's former Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen, writing, "Dead Terrorists Tell No Tales." The CIA reportedly succeeded in killing the head of the Pakistani Taliban -- the most recent in a flurry of drone attacks the agency has launched in South Asia and the Middle East. Another strike in Pakistan reportedly took out one of the FBI's most wanted terrorists; another in Pakistan took out a master bomb-maker…
 
 
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    The New Republic - Top Stories Feed

  • Oscar Grouching

    Christopher Orr
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:50 pm
    The Oscar nominations rolled on out this week, but with a difference: In a rather explicit admission that it does not trust its own judgment, the Academy has upped the number of Best Picture nominees from the usual five to ten. Let’s begin there.

  • Freedom Agenda

    William Galston
    4 Feb 2010 | 2:35 pm
    Our political debates, our public discourse—on current economic and domestic issues—too often bear little or no relation to the actual problems the United States faces.  What is at stake in our economic decisions today is not some grand warfare of rival ideologies which will sweep the country with passion, but the practical management of a modern economy. What we need is not labels and clichés but more basic discussion of the sophisticated and technical questions involved in keeping a great economic machinery moving ahead.

  • Before Sunset

    Noam Scheiber
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:50 pm
    One way to judge the health of our political system is to divide the president’s agenda into three categories. First are the items that seem like they’d be hard to accomplish and actually are hard—health care reform and cap-and-trade come to mind. Then come the items that sound easy to the uninitiated but turn out to be pretty hard—like eliminating wasteful farm subsidies or obsolete weapons systems. Lots of presidents have taken on these programs only to find that they have powerful, well-organized defenders. Finally, there are some legislative goals that sound easy…

  • Carded

    William Deresiewicz
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:50 pm
    The Original of Laura By Vladimir Nabokov Edited by Dmitri Nabokov (Knopf, 304 pp., $35)   So this is what we’ve all been waiting for? The last, lost work of the great master, all but complete, so rumor had it, at the time of his death, sequestered for decades in a Swiss vault, “brilliant, original, and potentially totally radical,” according to his son and heir, “the most concentrated distillation of [my father’s] creativity”--and all that it amounts to, we now learn, is a handful of crumbs, a bit of lint, a few coins. Well, print it in a scholarly…

  • The Tea Party Glossary

    Lydia DePillis
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:50 pm
    Here's one thing about the Tea Party movement everyone can agree on: It's confusing. With decentralization as a core value, the Tea Party phenomenon can seem like a baffling collection of individuals and organizations, often divided against each other. But with its first national convention now underway in Nashville, and as Tea Party groups gear up for campaigns around the country, it's time we met the movement's main players. Herewith, a handy guide.   KEY DATES IN THE MOVEMENT
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    Articles on National Review Online

  • Defending 'Don't Ask' -- By: Mackubin Thomas Owens

    9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    In a February 3 Wall Street Journal op-ed, I argued that the current law forbidding homosexual military members to discuss their sexual orientation ought to remain in place. I based my contention on the importance of non-sexual bonding as the glue of unit cohesion, which is an important contributor to military effectiveness. As expected, I received a great deal of feedback, some positive, some negative. I thought it might be useful to respond to my critics’ most common objections. First, some argued that the studies indicating the importance of cohesion in war have been “discredited.”…

  • Federalizing Fat -- By: Julie Gunlock

    9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    Michelle Obama has recently taken up childhood obesity as one of her major policy priorities. Interviewed about this “epidemic,” the first lady discussed in some detail her own children’s supposed weight problems as an illustration of her personal experience with her new signature issue. Mrs. Obama revealed that her daughters’ pediatrician had “warned that he was concerned that something was getting off balance.” She then decided that she needed to take a greater role in her children’s nutrition: “Even though I wasn’t exactly sure at that time what I was supposed to do with…

  • Frank Rich and the State of Liberal Commentary -- By: Dennis Prager

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:00 pm
    If one had to read one columnist to appreciate the state of contemporary left-wing commentary, my nomination would be Frank Rich of the Sunday New York Times No well-known columnist better exemplifies the worst aspects of today’s Left. Virtually every piece is filled with anger, filled with ad hominem responses to arguments, filled with insults of opponents, and at the same time devoid of arguments. A Frank Rich column is essentially a weekly tantrum meant to make his readers nod in agreement and reinforce their contempt for those who differ with them. I offer this past Sunday’s column as…

  • Saying it all, &c. -- By: Jay Nordlinger

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:00 pm
    I’ve never much liked it when a writer quotes something, or links to something, and says, “This says it all” -- you know what I mean? Almost nothing “says it all,” about any topic.But I must tell you, I thought of “This says it all” when I spotted this headline: “Hamas backtracks on apology over harming civilians.” The article begins, The Hamas government in Gaza on Saturday backtracked on its apology earlier this week in which it expressed regret for harming Israeli civilians in rocket attacks. The apology had signaled a rare deviation from Hamas’ violent ideology, and…

  • The Fallacy of 'Fairness' -- By: Thomas Sowell

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:00 pm
    If there is ever a contest to pick which word has done the most damage to people’s thinking, and to actions to carry out that thinking, my nomination would be the word “fair.” It is a word thrown around by far more people than have ever bothered to even try to define it.This mushy vagueness may be a big handicap in logic, but it is a big advantage in politics. All sorts of people, with very different notions about what is or is not fair, can be mobilized behind this nice-sounding word, in utter disregard of the fact that they mean very different things when they use that word.Some years…
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    ProPublica: Government & Politics

  • Agencies Open to the Public – Some Not So Much

    ProPublica
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:49 am
    by Jennifer LaFleur, ProPublica - Last Saturday was the deadline for federal departments and agencies to launch their open-government Web pages under a directive issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Our Transparency Tracker clocked the progress of some of those pages and found that while many agencies posted their new pages, there are some stragglers. We found no open-government sites for the CIA, the Federal Election Commission or the Consumer Product Safety Commission. For those agencies that did make the deadline, the quality of pages ranged from the minimal -- …

  • Business Gears Up to Battle New Obama Workplace Safety Rule

    ProPublica
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:19 am
    by Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica - This story was co-published with Politico. As the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the White House are trying to minimize their differences, a brewing battle at OSHA over a workplace injury reporting rule illustrates how tough that could become given the administration's pro-labor leanings. While bureaucratic clashes over subtle rule changes like this one are usually waged outside the public's view, they can have big ramifications for business and workers. At issue is a regulation that would force employers to identify when a workplace-related injury or illness is…

  • Unemployment Insurance Borrowing Now Greater Than During 1980s Recession

    ProPublica
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:26 am
    by Olga Pierce, ProPublica - If you’ve been following our coverage of the nation’s unemployment insurance system, you may have concluded that things are pretty bad. (See our interactive feature showing whether your state’s fund is in the red.) But what about some historical perspective? It’s official, recession hounds: The 26 states with insolvent unemployment insurance trust funds have now borrowed more than was borrowed during 1981 and 1982, the last time there was a severe recession in the U.S., and oft-used benchmark for when things are Officially Really Bad.

  • Lobbyists Help Smooth the Way for a Tax Break for Foreign Rum Maker

    ProPublica
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:23 am
    by Marcus Stern, ProPublica - Feb. 3: This post has been corrected. A transfer of billions of dollars in federal aid from public projects in Puerto Rico to one of the world's largest liquor conglomerates over the next 30 years continues to move forward without any objection from Congress. As a result, money that's now being used to build schools and restore tropical forests in a U.S. territory is being turned into what is essentially a $3 billion tax break for London-based Diageo, whose $20 billion in sales last year were powered by Dom Pérignon, Captain Morgan and other popular…

  • Explaining Obama’s Proposed ‘Budget Freeze’

    ProPublica
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:44 am
    by Olga Pierce, ProPublica - Last week in his State of the Union address, President Obama announced a spending freeze. This week, he unveiled a budget that would increase federal spending by 5 percent over this fiscal year’s budget and increase the federal deficit to a record-breaking $1.56 trillion. What gives? The announced freeze is on most non-military discretionary spending in the federal budget, which will have a large impact on some federal agencies, but will not do much to slow down overall federal spending.Jump to next paragraph We at ProPublica have run the numbers, and found…
 
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    New Majority - David Frum

  • Centrist Politics Needs a Better Educated Citizenry

    Les Francis
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:26 am
    American public opinion in almost every way we can measure bunches up toward the moderate middle. Yet increasingly the tone of politics seems to invite and reward extremism. FrumForum examines whether it has to be so. We have asked a range of individuals who identify themselves as centrists (or are so identified by others) some questions about their politics. 1) Would it be possible or desirable to create a broad consensus on the basics of public policy, either domestic or international? Clearly, creating a “broad consensus on the basics of public policy….domestic or international” is…

  • Developing a Centrist Consensus is Critical

    Steve Bell
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:02 am
    American public opinion in almost every way we can measure bunches up toward the moderate middle. Yet increasingly the tone of politics seems to invite and reward extremism. FrumForum examines whether it has to be so. We have asked a range of individuals who identify themselves as centrists (or are so identified by others) some questions about their politics. 1) Would it be possible or desirable to create a broad consensus on the basics of public policy, either domestic or international? A broad consensus on “the basics of public policy” remains desirable and eventually will become…

  • Focus on Coalitions Not Consensus

    Mark Lilla
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:56 am
    American public opinion in almost every way we can measure bunches up toward the moderate middle. Yet increasingly the tone of politics seems to invite and reward extremism. Today, FrumForum asks whether it has to be so. I’ve never met a consensus I’ve liked.  Consensus is a political end in tribal societies; it is not and should not be an end in democratic societies.  Liberal democracy thrives on contention, not loyal jirgas. But what is contention for? First and foremost, for deliberation: when different ideas and proposals are promoted by different factions, those in…

  • Sarah Takes on Wall Street

    Alex Knepper
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:46 am
    The next time I say something negative about Sarah Palin and her Baghdad Bobs tell me to “go back to the Huffington Post,” please consider that they’re warming up to her over there. Indeed, at times in her speech at the Tea Party Convention, Palin sounded like the second coming of Huey Long. “While people on Main Street look for jobs, people on Wall Street — they’re collecting billions and billions in your bailout bonuses,” she said. “And everyday Americans are wondering: Where are the consequences? They helped to get us into this worst economic situation since the Great…

  • Remembering Murtha’s Iraq War Smears

    Sean Linnane
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:17 am
    Congressman John Murtha is dead at 77. In 1974, Marine Colonel John Murtha became the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress. Considered one of Congress’ most hawkish Democrats, in 2002 Murtha voted to authorize President George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq. By November 2005, however, it became politically expedient to join the growing number of Democrats criticizing the administration’s handling of the war. In calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops, Murtha said, “The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in…
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    Swampland

  • Despite Reports, TIME Still Not Advocating Internet Driver's Licenses

    Michael Scherer
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:03 am
    That modern marvel, the Internet, has been buzzing for days about the secret plan by the House of Luce, aka Time Magazine, to license everyone who logs into a browser to search the web. Really. You can read about our dastardly plan--"Time Magazine Pushes Draconian Internet Licensing Plan"--at websites like Prisonplanet.com, Infowars.com and PropagandaMatrix.com. The [...]

  • Bring It On

    Michael Scherer
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:34 am
    This photo was taken Sunday by NASA's Terra Satellite. With the federal government shuttered for the second day in a row, Washington D.C. is now expecting another 10 or 20 inches to fall on Tuesday and Wednesday.

  • Bipartisan or Bi-posturing? Obama Convenes A Rectangular Table

    Michael Scherer
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:13 am
    The meeting has begun, between Republicans Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, Democrats Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, and the senior White House staff, including President Obama. This is the first of what Obama has promised to be monthly gatherings between Republicans and Democrats, and basically nobody has much hope that they will amount to [...]

  • In The Spotlight, Paul Ryan Faces A Purity Test

    Michael Scherer
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:09 am
    It's been a good couple weeks for Rep. Paul Ryan, the rising Republican star from Wisconsin, as his name is increasingly becoming synonymous with actual Republican policy. Obama called Ryan's budget plan a "serious proposal," while Ezra Klein calls it a "radical document." (As Joe notes below, Ryan's rising star has been targeted by House [...]

  • Morning Must Reads

    Adam Sorensen
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:32 am
    Hey Swamplanders. As Karen mentioned, I'm going to be chipping in around here. One of the things I plan on doing is a daily "Morning Must Reads" post to share a few things that we're currently following. Here is its maiden voyage: --Consistent with the tenor of past health reform negotiations, Republican leadership and the White [...]
 
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    USA Today: On Politics

  • Poll: Tea Party candidates come in last

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:44 am

  • Cook moves Murtha's district to 'tossup' category

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:07 am
    The passing of Rep. John Murtha means a more competitive race in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district. That became official Monday night when the Cook Political Report moved the district from "likely Democratic" to "toss up." 

  • House postpones Tuesday votes

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:43 pm
    With more snow in the forecast, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says now that there will be no House votes on Tuesday.

  • Rep. John Murtha is dead

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:44 am
    Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha -- the first Vietnam combat veteran elected to Congress -- died this afternoon, following complications from recent gallbladder surgery

  • Poll: Special interest influence on the rise

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:45 am
    Independent voters, the key to President Barack Obama's election, now think that the influence of special interests in Washington has increased under Obama, according to a new poll by Democrat pollster Stan Greenberg.
 
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    Yahoo! News: Politics

  • Neb. Democrat joins GOP to oppose labor nominee (AP)

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:54 pm
    AP - Nebraska's Democratic senator says he will join Republicans in opposing a union lawyer's nomination to serve on the National Labor Relations Board.

  • Obama's health care summit: Just for show? (AP)

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:05 pm
    AP - Could this turn into something more than political theater? President Barack Obama's televised dialogue with Republican lawmakers on health care, promised for later this month, has the makings of an entertaining exchange. But the differences between the basic Democratic and GOP ideas are stark — and the two sides have increasingly hardened their positions in this election year.

  • Rep. John Murtha, Iraq war critic, dies at 77 (AP)

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:05 pm
    AP - Rep. John Murtha, the tall, gruff-mannered former Marine who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capitol Hill and later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq War, died Monday. He was 77. The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering from complications from gallbladder surgery. He died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., with his family at his bedside, the hospital said.

  • HHS secretary asks insurer to justify rate hike (AP)

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:13 pm
    AP - The Obama administration on Monday asked California's largest for-profit health insurer to justify plans to hike customers' premiums by as much as 39 percent, a move that could affect some 800,000 people.

  • Obama Asks Republicans to Health-Care Overhaul Talks (Bloomberg)

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:06 pm
    Bloomberg - Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama is pushing lawmakers to restart a stalled overhaul of the U.S. health-care system by inviting Republican and Democratic lawmakers from the House and Senate to a half-day meeting on Feb. 25.
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    First Read

  • First thougths: Gridlock

    Mark Murray
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:17 am
    Bipartisanship -- or the lack thereof -- is on full display today… Congressional Democratic and GOP leaders head to the White House to talk about the jobs bill… But Boehner and Cantor lay out conditions for their participation at the upcoming meeting on health care… And Senate poised to filibuster NLRB pick… It looks like engagement with Iran is over… Discussion and buzz over Obama’s inner circle… And pressure’s on the NRCC in the special to fill Jack Murtha’s seat.  From Chuck Todd, Mark...(read more)

  • Obama agenda: Reluctant to participate

    Mark Murray
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:15 am
    The Washington Post: “Leading House Republicans raised the prospect Monday night that they might refuse to participate in President Obama's proposed health care summit if the White House chooses not to scrap the existing reform bills and start over. In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) expressed frustration at reports that Obama intends to put the Democratic bills on the table for discussion at the Feb. 25 summit. ‘If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American…

  • Congress: Murtha passes away

    Mark Murray
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:14 am
    "Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania, a gruff ex-Marine who used his immense power in military spending to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to his hard-luck district and who became an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, died on Monday. He was 77," the New York Times writes. "He died at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, where he was being treated for complications of gallbladder surgery, his office said. Mr. Murtha’s death came two days after he became the longest-serving congressman...(read more)

  • GOP watch: PAC-men

    Mark Murray
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:13 am
    “Several possible 2012 Republican contenders are using their political action committees to dole out large amounts of cash to an array of GOP members and candidates this cycle,” CQ writes. “Leading the way in largesse are South Dakota Sen. John Thune ’s Heartland Values PAC, which made $118,000 in contributions in 2009, all to Republican senators or would-be senators running in 2010, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC, which gave $87,500 to federal and state candidates...(read more)

  • The midterms: All the right moves

    Mark Murray
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:09 am
    ARIZONA: The New York Times is the latest to look at John McCain’s shift to the right, given his August primary challenge. “Mr. McCain now sharply criticizes the bailout bill he voted for, pivoted from his earlier position that the Guantánamo Bay detention facility should be closed, offered only a muted response to the Supreme Court’s decision undoing campaign finance laws and backed down from statements that gays in the military would be O.K. by him if the military brass were on board.” FLORIDA: “The conservative Rubio trounced centrist Gov. Charlie Crist in a straw poll among…
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    Political Irony

  • Colbert explains the proper use of the word “retard”

    Iron Knee
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:33 am
    Please Share / Save Related posts:Stephen Colbert explains corporate personhood Stephen Colbert has gone where no pundit has dared go... The Proper Use of Torture First Sean Hannity called waterboarding to “dunking somebody’s head in... Does McCain know where the word “maverick” comes from? The New York Times has a hilarious article concerning the...

  • How things get done in DC

    Iron Knee
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am
    Washington DC has had a huge snow storm but for some reason hasn’t gotten around to plowing the streets. Prompting this humorous piece in Facebook: Obama announces that he wants to get the snow plowed, but that he wants bipartisan consensus and compromise instead of unilateral action, and that instead of him pushing a particular bill, he wants Congress to work out the details. The Republicans, seeing that Obama is for cleaning up the snow, decide that they must be against it, and they negotiate the plan down to clearing half the snow and doing it very slowly. Then they still refuse to…

  • Goodnight, and Good Luck

    Iron Knee
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:25 am
    © Ruben Bolling Please Share / Save Related posts:Goodnight Bush: A parody Authors Golan and Origen have created a parody of the... Good Luck Palin Death Race Mamma Mia from 23/6 Please Share / Save... The Great Photoshop War of 2008 © Ruben Bolling Please Share / Save...

  • Global Warming – Weather to Worry

    Iron Knee
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:08 pm
    I love political comics that are subtle enough that you might not be able to figure out which side of an issue they are on. In fact, without the very last line (“Next Week”) I’m not sure if I could have figured this one out. It is getting to the point where reality is so bizarre that it is hard to make fun of it. Please Share / Save Related posts:God Promises that Global Warming will not Destroy Earth Here is an amazing video of Congressman John Shimkus (R-Illinois)... Hundreds Gather to Protest Global Warming Although Fox News estimated the crowd at over 1... Latest Threat…

  • Late Night Political Humor

    Iron Knee
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:02 pm
    “President Obama is having a big Super Bowl party. This is very shrewd. He has invited a group of Republicans to come to the White House for his Super Bowl party. He’s going to seat the ‘you lie’ guy next to the ‘not true’ guy.” – David Letterman “President Obama is very shrewd about bringing the Republicans into the White House for the Super Bowl party, because he feels like if he can get them to pass the dip, maybe they’ll pass health care.” – David Letterman “President Bush told Obama, he said, ‘Listen, you get 10…
 
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    Politics Daily

  • Gender-Neutral Housing Debate: Not on My Campus

    Aaron Steiner
    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    Filed under: The Cram Recently, my colleague and fellow Crammer Willy Hameline raised a few interesting points about the interesting trend on campuses around the country to adopt gender-neutral housing, allowing members of opposite genders to room together. Willy wrote that some 30 colleges across the country offer gender-neutral housing, and concluded that there's continued progress in the evolution of dormitory life, leading him to state that "there was a day when it was unthinkable to have mixed dorms." I'm here to report that such a day has not yet passed for many schools, including my…

  • Hodes Can't Gain Ground on Ayotte in New Hampshire Senate Race

    Bruce Drake
    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    Filed under: Senate, Polls, Poll Watch, 2010 ElectionsNew Hampshire's Republican Attorney General Kelly Ayotte continues to be the strongest GOP candidate against Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes, leading him 41 percent to 33 percent with 25 percent undecided, according to a WMUR/University of New Hampshire Granite State poll conducted Jan. 27 - Feb. 3. The margin of error is 4.4 points.That's about the same margin Ayotte has enjoyed since October.Hodes leads the three other GOP hopefuls.He's ahead of lawyer Ovide Lamontagne 38 percent to 29 percent with 25 percent undecided.He leads businessman…

  • Kasich Maintains Lead Over Strickland in Ohio Governor Race

    Bruce Drake
    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    Filed under: Polls, Governors, Poll Watch, 2010 ElectionsThe contest for governor in Ohio remains about where it has been in the last two months with former Republican Rep. John Kasich leading Ted Strickland, the Democratic incumbent, by 47 percent to 41 percent with 5 percent preferring someone else and 8 percent undecided, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Feb. 5-6. The margin of error is 4.5 points.While the two men are seen favorably by about the same percentage of voters, Strickland's job approval rating has 53 percent disapproving of his performance and 46 percent…

  • Americans Held in Haiti Plead for U.S. Government Help

    David Sessions
    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    Filed under: HaitiA group of 10 Americans jailed in Haiti for attempting to take 33 children out of the country illegally are pleading with the U.S. government to assist them, the New York Times reports. The Americans were charged on Jan. 26 with kidnapping and criminal conspiracy, and now say the U.S. is not doing enough to help them. "I have faith in God," said Corinna Lankford, one of the detainees, who say they believed they had permission to rescue orphans after last month's earthquake. "But maybe the U.S. government could help a little more, too. No one is giving us any kind of…

  • Insurgent Debra Medina Shakes Up GOP Governor Race in Texas

    Bruce Drake
    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    Filed under: Republicans, Primaries, Polls, Poll Watch, 2010 Elections, Tea PartyFollowing a series of elections where conservative activists, Tea Partiers, disgruntled independents and energized Republicans have shaken things up, a political neophyte in Texas is riding that same kind of wave and may affect the outcome of the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Debra Medina, who was a former GOP county chairman and runs a medical billing business, has pulled within four points of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who, like Medina, is mounting a primary challenge to Gov. Rick Perry, according…
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    THE HUFFINGTON POST

  • Gibbs Mocks Palin, Reads Grocery List Off His Hand

    Sam Stein
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:36 am
    In a dig at former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs took time during Tuesday's briefing to read a mock grocery list that he had written in pen on his left hand. "Eggs, milk and bread," Gibbs read from the black ink stains on his palm, claiming he was going to "make pancakes" for his son Ethan. "I crossed out bread," he added, pointing to the line that, indeed, x-ed bread off the list. "I also wrote down hope and change just in case I forgot that word." The obvious dig at Palin drew giggles form the press corp. The former vice presidential candidate turned…

  • Rick Horowitz: Sarah Palin: She's Got the Whole World on Her Hands...

    Rick Horowitz
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am
    There's a perfectly simple explanation, of course: At some point somebody must have said to her, "Sarah, you can store all your important ideas on your palm." So she did. Ba-da-bing! Ba-da-boom!! Couldn't ask for a better start to National "Shooting Moose in a Barrel" Week, could you? Just when you find yourself thinking that Sarah Palin couldn't possibly do anything else to embarrass herself, there she is, caught red-handed -- well, black- or blue-handed, anyway -- smuggling the answers into the exam room. And what answers they are! "Energy." "Budget Cuts" -- except that "Budget" has been…

  • Michael Steele Suggests Racist Motives Behind RNC Criticism: 'Because A Black Man Is Chairman'

    Nick Wing
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:05 am
    RNC Chairman and designated GOP sparkplug Michael Steele finds himself the center of attention once again this week -- this time for an interview published in February's issue of Washingtonian magazine in which he charges his critics with racism. Near the end of the story, called "Up In The Air" by Paul West, Steele implies that he and the RNC face more scrutiny because he is black: Steele acknowledges that at times he has a tendency to take things too far. "And I get checked on that, just as when I was a young boy and I pushed the envelope too far and my Mama was there to check me." But…

  • Obama Warns GOP He Will Use Recess Appointments

    Sam Stein
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:55 am
    In a surprise appearance before the White House press corps on Tuesday, President Barack Obama announced he would consider using recess appointments to get his nominees to their posts if Senate Republicans deny them an up-or-down vote. Speaking to reporters shortly after he met with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders, Obama said that he informed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that he would "consider" such a course of action if the GOP obstructionism continued. "In our meeting I asked the congressional leadership to put a stop to these holds in which nominees for a…

  • Snow Forces U.S. House Of Representatives To Cancel Work Week

    Michael Falcone
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:37 am
    WASHINGTON — Mother Nature's wrath has forced the U.S. House to scrap its work week. No. 2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer said Tuesday the body will not meet the rest of the week and no votes are scheduled. His comments came as Washington remained paralyzed from one blizzard and hunkered down in anticipation of a possible 10-20 inches more of snow. Last weekend's storm closed area airports for a few days, preventing many lawmakers from returning to the nation's capital. With Congress on a previously scheduled break next week for the Presidents' Day holiday, lawmakers won't be back in…
 
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    msnbc.com: Politics

  • Obama's health care summit: Just for show?

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:25 pm
    In a story with more twists than a soap opera, Obama's invitation to congressional leaders of both parties to attend a Feb. 25 meeting can't be dismissed as a mere diversion.

  • First lady is tackling childhood obesity

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:58 pm
    After laying the groundwork for nearly a year, first lady Michelle Obama launches a campaign on Tuesday against childhood obesity that she hopes will change the way millions of Americans eat, exercise, look and feel.

  • Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., dies at 77

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:50 am
    A spokesman says Democratic Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a retired Marine Corps officer who became an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, has died. He was 77.

  • GOP cool to Obama call for health talks

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:38 am
    Republicans gave a chilly reception Monday to President Barack Obama's invitation to discuss health care in a bipartisan, televised setting later this month, part of the White House effort to revive the stalled legislation.

  • Spokeswoman: N.Y. governor is not resigning

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:52 am
    New York Democratic Governor David Paterson is not planning to resign, his spokeswoman said on Monday, calling blog reports "entirely fabricated."
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    FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right

  • Republicans -- Not Obama -- More Often on Wrong Side of Public Opinion

    9 Feb 2010 | 4:23 am
    One of the more commonplace assertions among pundits on the center-right -- made rather carelessly by Victor Davis Hanson and more thoughtfully by Jay Cost, is that agenda put forward by Obama and the Democrats is overwhelmingly unpopular and that Democrats are simply getting their comeuppance for having pushed such a liberal set of reforms forward. These claims, however, rely on selective evidence, invariably citing policies like health care and the GM bailouts which are indeed unpopular (strongly so, in some cases), while ignoring many other issues on which Obama has been on the right side…

  • Is It The Process, Stupid?

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:39 pm
    Because it was Super Bowl week--and I happened to be watching a rebroadcast of the New York Giants' amazing Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, in which his son Zack made the tackle on the final kickoff of the game--I checked in with Steve DeOssie, an acquaintance of mine who also won a Super Bowl ring for the New York Giants, back in 1991. Steve is very politically active and astute, and although we don’t see eye-to-eye on many issues, I respect him a lot and his opinions.DeOssie and his former Patriots teammate Fred Smerlas co-own a steakhouse in Providence, Rhode Island.

  • Sarah Palin Needs Help

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:19 am
    There's something which, if you've ever been in the business of trying to sell consulting services, you've probably grown accustomed to. It's what I call the "consulting paradox". Namely, it's the idea that the people who are most in need of help are often the least aware of it. Indeed, the range of potential clients who (i) aren't smart enough to solve all their own problems and (ii) are smart enough to know it ... is generally very narrow.Sarah Palin needs help. So does almost every politician -- but Palin needs it more than most. She is young. She is inexperienced. She's not especially…

  • Go For It! Saints Understand Value of Aggressive Play-Calling

    7 Feb 2010 | 5:24 pm
    UPDATE: Congratulations to the Saints and the city of New Orleans! Although it was mostly about the talent on the field, this game could do a lot of good for smarter NFL strategery. Expect a lot more onside kicks next season!---Let's take a quick look at the Saints' decision to go for the touchdown on fourth down and about a yard-and-a-half with 1:55 to go in the first half. Although Pierre Thomas got stuffed, it was probably the best play by a wide margin.How come? Because even if you miss, the Colts are pinned inside their own 2 yard line. This makes a lot of difference: having the ball on…

  • Super Bowl Thread: Take the Points

    7 Feb 2010 | 2:55 pm
    Depending on where you're betting, you can get the New Orleans Saints as anywhere from 4 to 6 points underdogs, although the average seems to have settled upon 4.5.This makes for a fairly significant cushion. Between 1999 and 2008, 28 percent of NFL games were decided by 4 points or fewer, and 31 percent were decided by 5 or fewer (see below). So with the Saints side of this bet, you're basically getting them every time that they win as well as about 30 percent of the time that they lose:Sure, caveats apply: 4.5 points isn't as many in a game between two high-scoring teams as it would be…
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    Media Matters for America - Latest Items

  • Fox & Friends ' one-sided coverage of Brennan's remarks widens Fox's credibility gap with its terrorism experts

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:57 am
    Since White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan's February 7 appearance on Meet the Press, in which he criticized Republicans for politicizing the Obama administration's response to the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight, Fox & Friends has repeatedly hosted only conservatives and opponents of the Obama administration to discuss Brennan's remarks and the administration's response to the plot. Moreover -- following a trend set by Fox News since the Christmas Day bombing attempt -- Fox & Friends has hosted these guests, most of whom have a history of…

  • No longer "overexposed"? Fox & Friends complains about lack of recent Obama pressers

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am
    On Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade and Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. criticized President Obama for not holding press conference since July, which Johnson claimed was a "tactic" to "avoid hard questions." But Fox News' newfound concern with Obama's purported press conference neglect stands in stark contrast to Fox's broadcast network's refusal to air both Obama's July and April 2009 conferences; and at the time of his most recent press conference, Fox News hosts claimed Obama was "overexposed."Kilmeade, Johnson criticize the White House for not holding a press conference…

  • Conservative media preemptively attack Obama's bipartisan health care summit

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:34 am
    Numerous conservative media outlets have criticized President Obama's plan to hold a bipartisan health care summit "to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward," by attacking the summit as a "dog and pony" show or a "PR stunt" before the event has even occurred. Additionally, some have urged Republicans not to participate.Right-wing media criticize Obama's invitation to GOP to discuss health care reform WSJ: Summit is staged "pseudo-event." A February 9 Wall Street Journal editorial asserted that the Obama administration's statement that health care…

  • Quick Fact: Carlson falsely claimed Republicans were "sidelined" in health care reform debate

    9 Feb 2010 | 4:31 am
    On the February 9 edition of Fox & Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson advanced the false claim that Republicans had been "sidelined through the whole" health care "discussion." In fact, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Senate Finance Committee bills contained nearly 200 Republican amendments. From the February 9 broadcast of Fox News' Fox & Friends: CARLSON: I understand that the Republicans want to start over and start from scratch because they were basically sidelined through the whole discussion initially, but it is going to be a huge mistake if…

  • Eric Boehlert: Palin headlines birther conference; press pretends not to notice

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:20 am
    If you don't think there's a media double standard that favors Republicans over Democrats, then let's play a game of what-if. What if, in 2006, at Yearly Kos, the first annual convention of liberal bloggers and their readers, organizers shelled out $100,000 for former Vice President Al Gore to address attendees? And what if the same organizers booked as an opening-night speaker a fringe, radical-left conspiracy theorist who'd spent the previous year pushing the thoroughly debunked claim that some Bush White administration insiders played a role in, and even planned, the 9-11 attacks. What if…
 
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    The WIP: Byline portal + WIP Contibutors

  • Meet the Radical Homemakers

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:44 am
    by Shannon Hayes, Yes!, USA - How families are achieving ecological, social, and economic transformation... starting under their own roofs.

  • Church of England to Push Ahead with Plan for Women Bishops

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:39 am
    by Ruth Gledhill, Times Online, UK - The Church of England is to go ahead with the plan to create women bishops without giving in to demands from traditionalists for a separate structure of bishops and archbishops untainted by the hands of a woman.

  • Marrakesh's Troubling Transformation into Luxury Hot Spot

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:32 am
    by Britta Sandberg, Spiegel, Germany - Less than a decade ago, tourists shunned Morocco because of its poor infrastructure and supposedly unsafe conditions. Now, though, a major initiative started by the country's king has turned Marrakesh into a playground for the world's rich and famous. But not all of the effects have been positive.

  • A Final Move to Exterminate the People of Darfur

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:28 am
    by Anne Bartlett, Sudan Tribune, France - Recent months have witnessed an attempt to shift attention away from Darfur, yet the situation in the West of Sudan is anything but quiet.

  • Gaza: Cases of Abandoned Children on the Rise

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:02 am
    by Mariam Hamed, Palestine Note, Palestine - Don't be surprised if one day you find a crying infant thrown in front of a children's hospital, left by a sidewalk, or a trash can in the streets of Gaza. It is an "infant of unknown parentage."
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    The Progressive

  • So Much for Openness

    Ruth Conniff
    3 Feb 2010 | 5:16 am
    By Ruth Conniff, February 2, 2010 Obama is making many of the biggest and most expensive governing decisions behind closed doors.read more

  • Nominations in for Best Progressive Film Awards of 2009

    Scot Vee
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:47 am
    February 2, 2010 A group of film critics, called the James Agee Cinema Circle, has just released its nominations. See who is up for best picture, best actor, best actress, best documentary.read more

  • Barack Obama and the Fading of Hope

    Matthew Rothschild
    1 Feb 2010 | 7:08 am
    By Matthew Rothschild, February 1, 2010 People filled his empty but gift-wrapped box labeled “Hope” with huge dreams of a better America. We wanted him to be a mix of Martin Luther King and FDR, but the odds always were against that.read more

  • Howard Zinn: Historian of the Human Spirit

    Scot Vee
    28 Jan 2010 | 9:38 am
    By Antonino D’Ambrosio, January 28, 2010 Howard Zinn will never stop informing us on our ultimate responsibility of being human.read more

  • Thank You, Howard Zinn

    Matthew Rothschild
    28 Jan 2010 | 7:33 am
    By Matthew Rothschild, January 28, 2010 Thank you, Howard Zinn, for always being there, for teaching us about class conflict in America, for championing equality, for renouncing nationalism and denouncing war, and for exalting the activist, the poet, the singer, the actor, the artist.read more
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    Jack & Jill Politics

  • Media Alert- First Lady Michelle Obama on Larry King Live

    rikyrah
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    hat tips- Angelar and MichelleObamaWatch —–REUTERS/Jim Young First Lady Michelle Obama to Appear on CNN’s Larry King Live CNN’s Larry King Live will have a primetime exclusive interview with Michelle Obama on Tuesday, February 9th, 9pm ET and 6pm PT according to cnn.com. Larry King will discuss everything from the family’s first year in the White House, her husband, and her new initiative on childhood obesity, which is set to be unveiled on February 9th.

  • Tuesday Open Thread

    rikyrah
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:05 am
    Ed Schultz at the Free Health Clinic in Connecticut. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Good Morning. As you go through your day, don’t forget JJP. Drop those links. Engage in debate. Give us trivia and gossip too. And always, have a peaceful day.

  • Netroots Nation Panel Submissions Due Today

    jilltubman
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:50 pm
    Hi folks — I’m on the Board of Netroots Nation and also on the Agenda Committee. I believe strongly in this organization. The first Netroots Nation, then Yearly Kos, was so dynamic and inspirational that it’s one of the reasons I started this blog in the first place and co-founded it with Jack Turner. This is the fifth anniversary and we’re going back to Las Vegas. Who’s we? Well, only thousands of bloggers, journalists, lawmakers, candidates (and their staff) plus activists and NGOs from around the country. It’s an amazing energy — you’ve got…

  • Black History Month Open Thread

    rikyrah
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm
    Dr. John Hope Franklin John Hope Franklin was the James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of History, and for seven years was Professor of Legal History in the Law School at Duke University. He was a native of Oklahoma and a graduate of Fisk University. He received the A.M. and Ph.D. degrees in history from Harvard University. He has taught at a number of institutions, including Fisk University, St. Augustine’s College, North Carolina Central University, and Howard University. In 1956 he went to Brooklyn College as Chairman of the Department of History; and in 1964, he joined the faculty of…

  • Media Alert-White House to host Civil Rights Music Night

    rikyrah
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    hat tip-Angelar Upcoming Guidance on “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” Event marks the continuation of White House Music Series by celebrating Black History Month The 2010 White House Music Series begins on Wednesday, February 10th, when the President and First Lady will host “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” – a concert celebrating Black History month. Participants include Natalie Cole, Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Smokey…
 
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    The Nation: Editor's Cut

  • Welcome to Palinland

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    7 Feb 2010 | 7:12 pm
    With a nod to Rick Perlstein, 'Welcome to Palinland'. Atop Palinland's Mount Rushmore are Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater. Palinland's Bill of Rights has been edited and redacted, reordered and revised with red ink: in Palinland, the Fifth and Sixth Amendments that ensure due process and the rights of the accused are merely suggestive measures to be administered based on the emotional whim of a carefully-harnessed fear and a fervently-stoked anger. And in Palinland, the Tenth Amendment's reservation of power for the individual states is paramount, a necessary protection for a people whose…

  • Around 'The Nation'

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    6 Feb 2010 | 3:25 pm
    Hopefully you've read Professor Lawrence Lessig's provocative new essay, "How to Get Our Democracy Back." Lessig's piece is essential reading for people across the political spectrum, and we're doing what we can to reach 'everyone' concerned about the future of our democracy. Lessig appeared on 'Democracy Now' and on 'Bill Moyers Journal', but also on the conservative Hugh Hewitt radio show, and his piece was reprinted at Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com. As Lessig argues, whether you are a progressive who wants healthcare reform or a conservative who wants smaller government, none of it…

  • Question Time in Our Democracy

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:42 am
    "We live in a world that increasingly demands more dialogue than monologue." Those are words from the founding manifesto issued earlier this week by a diverse group of bloggers, journalists, commentators, techies and politicos calling for more question-and-answer sessions, or "Question Time," between the President and the opposition party. I am one of those, along with Grover Norquist, who has signed on. Here's why: these are times when unfiltered, unfettered public debate--rigorous, substantive, candid and civil--is rare and hard to find. I believe that "Demand Question Time" could help us…

  • No Defense for This Budget

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:59 am
    Deficit hysteria has reached new levels yet where is the attention to an out of control defense budget that is now the largest since World War II? While the Obama Admistration's three-year freeze on discretionary spending is a bad idea, it's made even worse because unprecedented Pentagon spending is exempted from it. Who would know from all of the whining about budget deficits that military spending is the largest discretionary item in the federal government? Exempting all security-related expenditures from common sense cuts will have serious consequences for almost everything the government…

  • Around 'The Nation'

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    1 Feb 2010 | 6:24 am
    Hopefully everyone had a chance to read what Jeremy Scahill calls the saddest and most moving story he's ever written: his interview with Mohammed Kinani, father of the youngest victim of the Blackwater mass shooting in Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007. Here is a powerful slideshow from the interview, with images of Kinani's beloved son Ali. We'll have video of the interview up this week, and will continue to follow Kinani's struggle for justice. To date, Blackwater remains unaccountable for their actions in 2007. A few things from our orbit this week: A new video and a major forum on the…
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    Nukes & Spooks

  • Robert Gates and Mike Mullen on the passing of Rep. John Murtha

    Nancy Youssef
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:55 pm
    Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the first Vietnam veteran elected to the House of Representatives and an outspoken critic of the Iraq died Monday of complications of gallbladder surgery, a spokesman for the lawmaker told the Associated Press. He was 77. Murtha was an active duty Marine until 1955 and remained a reservist through the Vietnam War. Indeed, when he was elected to the House in 1974, he was a reservist officer. Although he voted to authorize the Bush administration to use force in Iraq, by 2004, he soon questioned the reasons for the war, saying by 2005 that he no longer believed U.S.

  • US, EU warn Iran

    Warren Strobel
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:51 am
    The United States and European Union issued a joint warning to Iran today, In advance of widespread anti-government protests (and counter-protests) expected in Tehran on February 11, the anniversary of the fall of the Shah's regime in 1979. The statement, issued from the White House, says that the US and EU "condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election." It goes on to say, "We are particularly concerned by the potential for further violence and repression during the coming days" around the February 11 anniversary. The statement,…

  • Obama attends CIA Memorial Service

    Jonathan Landay
    5 Feb 2010 | 8:07 am
    Security was tight this morning around the CIA's suburban Washington headquarters as President Barack Obama joined agency leaders and personnel for a memorial service for the five CIA officers and two contractors who were killed by a suicide bomber in Khost, Afghanistan, on Dec. 30.The bombing, which also killed a Jordanian intelligence officer, was the costliest attack against the agency since a 1983 strike on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, which took the lives of eight CIA officers.The bomber has been identified as Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, a Jordanian extremist who the…

  • The Pentagon's reaction to Mullen's testimony on DADT

    Nancy Youssef
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:30 am
    I first noticed something was different when I went down to a Pentagon Food Court Wednesday morning and saw newspapers everywhere. For a moment, I had hope for my struggling industry. And then I realized everyone was reading the same story.  Adm. Mullen, the highest-ranking U.S. military officer, told Congress the previous day that, in his personal view, the military should allow gays to openly serve in the military. Nearly 24 hours later, the Pentagon was buzzing. Here, people said they expected Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to tell congressmen exactly what he did. He told them it is a…

  • U.S. returning ambassador to Syria

    Warren Strobel
    3 Feb 2010 | 2:38 pm
    The Bush administration pulled the U.S. ambassador out of Syria in 2005 to protest the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, in which Syrian intelligence officers allegedly had a hand. The Obama administration, continuing its policy of engagement with US adversaries, is close to sending an ambassador back. (Syria was not a charter member of Bush's "Axis of Evil," but it some times got included under that moniker by association). Syria's foreign minister said Wednesday in Damascus that Washington has forwarded a name for consideration. (By…
 
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    Wonkette

  • The White Death Will Not Stop Love (Or Casual Sex)

    Arielle Fleisher
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:23 am
    Neither snow nor sleet, nor more snow and sleet, can stop what is coming this Sunday: Valentine’s Day. BLAH BLAH BLAH, you either love Valentine’s Day because you’re happy and in love, or its mere presence makes you want to slit your wrists. (Or you don’t care.) Well, whether you’re single, in a relationship or cheating on your partner, there are plenty of things to do in DC to celebrate this (happy? sad? pointless?) day. (more…) What to do with your special someone for Valentine’s Day (pending that you have one, that is. But even if you don’t,…

  • Tim Pawlenty, The GOP Mob’s Official Courier Slave

    Jim Newell
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:55 am
    Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the 2012 candidate everyone’s heard about and immediately forgotten, holds a very special position for the Republican party: he runs around the country giving speeches that no one cares about BUT ONLY TO DISGUISE his true purpose, which is cash. He distributes unmarked bills and checks to people. Powerful people. Real quiet, see? On Friday, Pawlenty gave a 25 minute speech to Republican activists in Montgomery, AL. Before Pawlenty spoke to the group, Alabama GOP Chair Mike Hubbard announced that Pawlenty showed up at the speech bearing gifts. Hubbard told…

  • 9 Feb 2010 | 10:16 am

    Jim Newell
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:16 am
    MICHAEL STEELE CONTINUES TO NEVER PLAY RACE CARD: Moo moo motherfuckers: “I don’t see stories about the internal operations of the DNC that I see about this operation. Why? Is it because Michael Steele is the chairman, or is it because a black man is chairman?” It’s because Tim Kaine is really boring. And yes, the black skin/RNC combo does make for more hilarity. [Plum Line]

  • Atlanta Subway Headed Straight For All These Asians Is Called The ‘Yellow Line’

    Juli Weiner
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:06 am
    Atlanta’s public transportation system “MARTA” is in so much trouble today for being racist against Asians. See, the MARTA people, the Martians, renamed the train line that goes where all the Asian people live the “yellow line.” And “yellow,” everyone knows, is the worst Coldplay song ever invented. Everyone just hates it, including Asians. So why are the Martians being so racist? Is it that they still like Coldplay, is that it? MARTA officials were warned by an employee before the name change last October that Atlanta’s burgeoning Asian community…

  • Whatever You Are Thinking Right Now, It Counts As Making Fun Of Trig

    Juli Weiner
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:05 am
    Did you know there was a Rick Perry-Sarah Palin rally? Can you tell there was a Rick Perry-Sarah Palin rally? Sometime yesterday or maybe just some other day this or last week, Rick Perry, Sarah Palin and racecar driver and/or executionist Ted Nugent held a rally for let’s say the Super Bowl. Houston Press ace photographer “Bryan Fotographer” was there, because that’s his beat, images. Anyway, some of the photos, like this one of a human-shaped bag of meth covered entirely in sequins are quite comical. Enjoy/weep! [Especially you, tipster "Monsieur Grumpe"] [Houston…
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    MOMocrats™

  • Why the Tea Party Convention "Delegates" Aren't

    Jaelithe
    6 Feb 2010 | 1:49 pm
    The National Tea Party Convention being held this week in Nashville, sponsored by the Tea Party Nation group run by Tennessee traffic law attorney Judson Phillips, has been calling its 600 convention attendees "delegates." If you've been following media coverage of this event, you may have seen news organizations (outside of Fox) printing the term in scare quotes as I just did, or referring to the Tea Party attendees as "so-called delegates." Why? As a former delegate to the 2008 Missouri Democratic Convention, I can tell you exactly why. Here is the Merriam Webster dictionary definition of…

  • Why President Obama Should Not Forget Melanie Shouse

    Jaelithe
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:39 pm
    Yesterday President Obama, speaking at a Democratic National Committee fundraising event, mentioned a woman named Melanie Shouse. This is what he said:I got a letter — I got a note today from one of my staff — they forwarded it to me — from a woman in St. Louis who had been part of our campaign, very active, who had passed away from breast cancer. She didn't have insurance. She couldn't afford it, so she had put off having the kind of exams that she needed. And she had fought a tough battle for four years.  All through the campaign she was fighting it, but finally she succumbed to it.

  • This Isn't About Ads Any More (Video Responses to Focus on the Family's CBS Super Bowl Ad)

    Cynematic
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:18 am
    As with many things that irritate, Focus on the Family's "pro-life" ad has gotten under the skin of a lot of people--people who prefer their sports politics-free, people who are pro-choice, and people who like their gay selves, siblings, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and parents just fine the way they are.Can't go without mentioning the Planned Parenthood ad:There's the spicier Raging Grannies ad (women after our own hearts who TOTALLY GET IT):And now there's an ad making fun of the Focus on the Family's particular brand of right-wing Christian homophobia:While these are all alternately…

  • The political ad your children should never, ever see

    Karoli
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:59 pm
    It could be that none of us should ever see it, because it's just so, so wrong. But fear not, Carly Fiorina is here to save us all from the..........DEMON SHEEP! You can run, but you can't hide from the DEMON SHEEP. Your children will hide, scream, but reassure them, mommas...because the one thing none of us are? FCINOs® 1.Do watch the whole thing, but shield the children's eyes from this: That's right. it's a rare Carlyfornia Demon Sheep! Part of me wants Carly to win this primary just so Barbara Boxer can show her how a real candidate runs for office. I can only imagine the fun we can have…

  • The FY2011 Budget: Impact on Women and Families

    Melissa
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:51 am
    With much fanfare and more than a little trepidation, President Obama released his FY2011 budget on Monday. In this post, I’ll be focusing on budget items that fall under the Department of Health and Human Services. I know that moms and others care about more than just health but before you start shouting “Where's education? Where’s money for veterans and their families? What about foreign assistance?” let me remind you that budget is BIG. Like many thousands of pages big. I know many people have been reading about a spending freeze. Obama wants to – with some exceptions – freeze…
 
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    NPR

  • Eric Holder And The Politics Of Terrorism Trials

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    Attorney General Eric Holder has come under fire, mostly from the Republican side of the aisle, for the decision to try Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a civilian court — and for the handling of "underwear bomber" Umar Abdulmutallab after his arrest. New Yorker journalist Jane Mayer looks at growing partisan differences about national security.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

  • Sen. Ben Nelson To Help Thwart Labor Nominee

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    The Nebraska Democrat says he will join with Republicans to oppose the nomination of Craig Becker to serve on the National Labor Relations Board. Nelson is the first Democrat to come out against the nomination. His decision likely means that Democrats cannot find the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster of the nominee.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

  • Rep. Murtha Remembered As Military Advocate

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    Democratic Congressman John Murtha died Monday at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., after complications from gallbladder surgery. He was 77. Murtha represented southwestern Pennsylvania for 36 years. Most of that time he was the top Democrat on defense appropriations — moving billions of dollars and sending as much as he could to his home district.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

  • N.Y. Gov. Paterson Dismisses Talk Of Resignation, Blasts Rumors & Innuendo

    8 Feb 2010 | 2:58 pm
    More rumors about New York Gov. David Paterson, who insists he is not planning to resign.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

  • Expectations Low For Obama's Health Care Summit

    8 Feb 2010 | 2:38 pm
    Critics call the president's plan to hold a summit between Democrats and Republicans on Feb. 25 a purely political gambit designed to give the appearance of momentum for the health bill. Even supporters of the summit see room for common ground with Republicans on only a few narrow issues.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us
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    RealPolitix

  • He Followed My Agenda: Obama’s State Of The Union Address

    Reiko Eoh
    28 Jan 2010 | 9:40 am
    Well I wasn’t too far off in my predictions of President Obama’s strategy and the outcome of the State Of The Union Address (SOTU). The tweets I did were around 7:00 p.m. last night: In for a short tweet. I think the Prez will do all right in his #SOTU.    (about 13 hours ago from web) Despite negative speculation, I think Obama’s #SOTU address will actually OBLIGATE party Dems to carry out responsibilities & pull together. (about 13 hours ago from web) Re: #SOTU: After losing MA, the timing of Obama’s #SOTU, is probably good for the Dem party – will settle…

  • Being President Obama: More Problems Plus A GOP Version Of Himself

    Reiko Eoh
    25 Jan 2010 | 8:55 am
    Last Tuesday, while democrats were bemoaning throughout the chambers of congress over the loss of Ted Kennedy’s senate seat to republican Scott Brown, President Obama must have realized a deeper problem. The problem was bigger than Health Care Reform being reexamined again. It was bigger than GOP Scott Brown becoming the new “41st vote.” The much bigger problem reared its ugly head precisely when Obama thought it couldn’t get worse. No doubt, what ran through President Obama’s mind while observing the antics of his fellow democrats was, “What the hell is wrong with these…

  • 2010: The Year We Make Contact (Hopefully With Reality)

    Reiko Eoh
    11 Jan 2010 | 8:20 am
    Hallelujah world, we made it to the future. Despite the plethora of doomsday movies over the years, the planet is still intact, and we are still shopping at malls. So who’s feeling foolish now? The reality of 2010 is far from any single futuristic, disaster film of the past – no, it’s more like ten of them rolled into one; it’s just the other shoe hasn’t dropped yet. But actually, we have adjusted rather well hopping along on one shoe – mainly because we refuse to give up on getting the other one back! That’s the spirit that will turn our frown, upside down. Such is life in the…

  • Leave Tiger Woods Alone!

    Reiko Eoh
    12 Dec 2009 | 5:38 am
    At first it was funny. The news of Tiger Woods crashing his car, with vague bits of information flying about that eventually came together to reveal that possibly his wife, Elin, in a fit of rage and upset about “transgressions”, lost it, and found herself beating him with a nine-iron before he crashed into, first, a fire hydrant, and then a tree. Okay, well, maybe it wasn’t so funny, but the image of Tiger Woods being beaten to a pulp and looking like Wile E. Coyote folded up like an accordion was hard to forget. The public had its twisted little fun and it should have ended there. But…

  • Recovery.gov where did the money go?

    Russ Johnson
    3 Nov 2009 | 8:24 pm
    So I’ve been seeing many tweets today from @PoliticalMath regarding the data from Recovery.gov. Among my favorites was: CA zip code 95814 added 75,000 jobs. Population: 16,600. That’s 5 jobs per person! http://bit.ly/14Uijc As I read into the issue more I found that much of the jobs “saved or created” went to government agencies as this BigGovernment.com blog post shows: But the most relevant information on Recovery.gov is that most of the jobs created or saved are in the public sector. For instance, according to Vice President Biden, out of the 640,329 jobs, 325,000…
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    FamousDC

  • One Quarter of DC Snow Plows Broken

    nolongerfamous
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:40 am
    In news that will surprise nobody: 25 percent of D.C. plows out of commission As many as 60 of the District’s snow plows are not working — bad news for thousands of residents still waiting for their streets to be cleared. To make matters worse: The city is nearly out of salt. Good luck, kids. h/t MK

  • Stay Calm [Snowmageddon] #snOMG

    fdc
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:14 am

  • San Francisco Just Wants To Help

    nolongerfamous
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    This was spotted on a sidewalk in San Francisco. Perhaps Liz Glover can help explain. h/t NR

  • Rahm Emanuel Offers Up An “Even-Tempered Apology”

    nolongerfamous
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:25 am
    This is fantastic. “You come after me on Facebook? What, are your fourteen? Here’s a status update: Grow the f–k up! Poke me again, and I will write s–t on your wall so obscene your computer will cry. Go back to the tundra, you f–king gimmick!” h/t Lazy Hazy’s SIL via HP

  • #snOMG Photos Piling Up

    nolongerfamous
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:50 am
    Leave it to CSPAN’s Howard Mortman to capture a #snOMG picture that happens to have a CSPAN ad prominently featured.
 
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    MSNBC: MEET THE PRESS

  • Feb. 7: Brennan, Paulson, Greenspan, roundtable

    7 Feb 2010 | 9:31 am
    Transcript of the February 7, 2010 broadcast of NBC's "Meet the Press," featuring John Brennan, Henry Paulson, Alan Greenspan, Ed Gillespie and Dee Dee Myers.

  • Jan. 31: Axelrod, Boehner, roundtable

    3 Feb 2010 | 12:10 pm
    Transcript of the January 31, 2010 broadcast of NBC's "Meet the Press," featuring David Axelrod, John Boehner, David Brooks, David Faber, Eugene Robinson and Mort Zuckerman.

  • Jan. 24: Jarrett, McConnell, roundtable

    24 Jan 2010 | 9:08 am
    Transcript of the January 24, 2010 broadcast of NBC's "Meet the Press," featuring Valerie Jarrett, Mitch McConnell, E.J. Dionne, Katty Kay, Peggy Noonan and Chuck Todd.

  • Jan. 17: Clinton, Bush, Shah, Keen, roundtable

    17 Jan 2010 | 9:37 am
    Transcript of the January 17, 2010 broadcast of NBC's "Meet the Press," featuring Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Rajiv Shah, Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, Karen Hughes, John Podesta, Mark Halperin and Bob Woodward.

  • Jan. 10: Kaine, Steele, Schwarzenegger, roundtable

    10 Jan 2010 | 9:38 am
    Transcript of the January 10, 2010 broadcast of NBC's "Meet the Press," featuring Tim Kaine, Michael Steele, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Todd and Andrea Mitchell.
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    MyDD

  • Might Ben Nelson Switch Parties for 2012?

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:58 am
    You've got to wonder about my Senator, Ben Nelson (D-NE). Although he gets a reprieve for 2010, his 2012 re-election bid will be Nebraska's next Senate race, and as his and his party's approval ratings dip and his race grows closer, he's started to tack even harder hard to the right than usual. He supported his party's top priority, health care reform, but only after he won major conservative and parochial concessions on abortion and Medicaid. He watered down the stimulus. He's not likely to support one of the next major initiatives, clean energy reform (although thankfully he is still…

  • A Government by Clique, A Cabinet Missing in Action

    9 Feb 2010 | 4:21 am
    When was the last time you heard from Ken Salazar? or Kathleen Sebelius? When was the last time you saw Stephen Chu, the other Nobel laureate in the Administration? How often do you see Gary Locke quoted in the press? How about Arne Duncan? If you are a Thomas Vilsack watcher, you might as well be watching the corn grow. Did Ray LaHood retire or did he take a job as Secretary of Transportation? Is there a difference? Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who prior to joining the Administration was a household name on a first-name basis has faded from the limelight. Janet Napolitano…

  • On the Polish Analogy

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:04 pm
    Last week after Senator Shelby, Republican of Alabama, shocked the sensibilities of the nation by placing a hold on some 70 executive nominations, Paul Krugman penned a short note comparing our dysfunctional Senate to Polish Sejm of yore. Here's Krugman's brief historical overview: In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Polish legislature, the Sejm, operated on the unanimity principle: any member could nullify legislation by shouting “I do not allow!” This made the nation largely ungovernable, and neighboring regimes began hacking off pieces of its territory. By 1795 Poland had…

  • Shelby releases some holds, but still blocking military nominees

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:33 pm
    Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama released holds on most of the Obama administration nominees he has been blocking, the Washington Post reports, citing a statement from Shelby's office: "The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that are critical to our national security - the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI's Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). With that accomplished, Sen. Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new…

  • MyDD5 update & back

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:21 pm
    beta testing live?  Yea, its still somewhat in progress of working out all of the features, at the same time that we get bugs squashed. But, its been 5 weeks from the date of the launch, and things have moved in the right direction. We are working on some of the comment features right now, so those may go through some hiccups in the process. I am waiting for the spell-check in the editor.... You'll be seeing more changes here, as I am hoping that we get the beta thingy 'finished' by the end of March-- and I think we will... let us know in the comments of any compliments (yea right) or…
 
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    The Economist: Daily news and views

  • With friends like Hank

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am
    Hank Paulson's book revives worries about GEIT IS supposed to be a cosy chat between friends, but the onstage conversation scheduled for February 18th between Hank Paulson and Jeffrey Immelt could turn into a fight to preserve the reputation of at least one of these corporate titans. Until a few days ago this event, to be held at a cultural centre in New York, looked like a classic example of the old pals’ act—Mr Paulson, a former treasury secretary and boss of Goldman Sachs, having insisted on being interviewed about his new book by his friend, Mr Immelt, the boss of General…

  • Arrest the opposition

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:49 am
    Sri Lanka’s president cracks down on opponents once moreNOT content with trouncing his main opponent, General Sarath Fonseka, in Sri Lanka’s presidential election last month, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has had him arrested. General Fonseka was nabbed—brutishly, by over 100 soldiers, according to his supporters—on Monday February 8th. Officials say he will be charged in a court martial with conspiring to topple the government.He was accused shortly after he lost an acrimonious election on January 26th of plotting to assassinate Mr Rajapaksa and seize power. That…

  • Armchair supporters

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:23 am
    Is the Super Bowl the most popular sports event in the world?THIS year's Super Bowl XLIV set a record for the largest ever American television audience, with 106.5m football fans tuning in to see the New Orleans Saints triumph over the Indianapolis Colts. Globally around 121m viewers are estimated to have watched the game, 15m more than the year before, according to Futures Sport + Entertainment, a media consultancy that tracks audience data in 55 countries. In 2009, according to their data, only the Champions League football final in Europe attracted a larger audience. Other events (and…

  • It's not stopping...

    9 Feb 2010 | 12:36 am
    More recalls deliver further blows to Toyota’s battered reputationANNOUNCING the latest recall of Toyota vehicles, Akio Toyoda, the company's chief executive, invoked the principle of genchi genbutsu, an integral part of the car company’s production system. It urges managers to experience problems for themselves rather than relying on reports and then attempting a fix one or two steps removed. On Tuesday February 9th Toyota said that it would recall over 400,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to address problems with their brakes. Later Mr Toyoda promised that he will…

  • Conflict conservation

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:27 am
    Biodiversity down the barrel of a gunTHERE was a time when conservation meant keeping people away from nature. America’s system of national parks, a model for similar set-ups around the world, was based on the idea of limiting human presence to passing visits, rather than permanent habitation. In recent years this way of doing things has come under suspicion. To fence off large areas of parkland is often impractical and can also be immoral—in that it leads to local people being booted out. These days, the consensus among conservationists is to try to manage nature with humans in…
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    Democracy Now!

  • Eamon Javers on the Secret World of Corporate Espionage and Moonlighting CIA Operatives

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:44 am
    The CIA is under fire following the news it’s allowing active-duty operatives to work for private companies on the side. The previously undisclosed “moonlighting” has granted wealthy private entities such as financial firms and hedge funds access to top-level intelligence officials. It’s said to be viewed internally as a means to prevent agency defections to the private sector. A CIA spokesperson said “moonlighting” operatives are required to submit detailed information on their outside employment. But few details have been revealed, including how long the…

  • David Price: "The CIA Is Welcoming Itself Back onto American University Campuses"

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:35 am
    In the latest edition of CounterPunch magazine, the anthropologist David Price reveals the US intelligence community has established academic outposts at twenty-two US universities over the past four years. Government agencies, including the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Homeland Security, have helped found “Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence,” or ICCAEs—pronounced “Icky.” The ICCAEs aim to create a “systematic long-term program at universities and colleges to recruit and hire eligible talent for…

  • Rep. John Murtha, Iraq War Critic, Dies at 77

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:31 am
    Democratic Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania has died at the age of seventy-seven from complications after gall bladder surgery. He was the powerful chair of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. In 2002 Murtha voted to support the invasion of Iraq, but three years later he shocked many in Washington when he introduced a bill calling for the immediate withdrawal of US troops. [includes rush transcript]

  • Rep. Dennis Kucinich v. Glenn Greenwald on the Supreme Court's Landmark Campaign Finance Ruling on Corporate Money

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:23 am
    A new poll has found nearly two-thirds of respondents oppose the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Citizens United to allow corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to elect and defeat candidates. Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Glenn Greenwald offer differing opinions on the controversial ruling. [includes rush transcript]

  • Obama Administration: US Forces Can Assassinate Americans Believed to Be Involved in Terrorist Activity

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:14 am
    The Obama administration has acknowledged it’s continuing a Bush-era policy authorizing the killing of US citizens abroad. The confirmation came from Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair in congressional testimony last week. Blair said, “Being a US citizen will not spare an American from getting assassinated by military or intelligence operatives overseas if the individual is working with terrorists and planning to attack fellow Americans.” We speak to Rep. Dennis Kucinich and blogger and attorney Glenn Greenwald. [includes rush transcript]
 
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    Outside The Beltway | OTB

  • Murtha Dead, District Next?

    James Joyner
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:48 am
    “John Murtha has died. And his district is about to.” That’s the clever, ominous, and likely correct subheadline to a piece by TNR senior editor Jason Zengerle.  The key ‘graphs: Now that Murtha has confounded the expectations of his constituents, his obituary writers will invariably describe him as “The King of Pork.” While the term is not meant as a compliment—and, in fact, Murtha’s political and legal troubles over the last few years stemmed from that well-deserved reputation—it’s worth remembering that, to the recipients of that pork, Murtha was a…

  • U.S. Senate The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body

    James Joyner
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:09 am
    My friend and former colleague Steven Taylor offers what he terms “An Extremely Modest Proposal in Regards to the Senate.”  Rather than filibusters and holds, How about if a Senator has a reason to object to a given nominee that said Senator would, oh I don’t know, maybe take the floor and try to, well, persuade the other Senators that the nominee is, well, not worthy of the job. If one’s argument and evidence is powerful enough, perhaps one could actually form a majority contra the nominee. If one’s preference is for democracy and efficiency over obstructionism and…

  • Bush: Miss Me Yet?

    James Joyner
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:05 am
    Minnesota Public Radio’s Bob Collins saw this billboard as he “whizzed past it on I-35 in Wyoming last week on the way back from Wrenshall.” President George W. Bush "Miss Me Yet?" billboard seen on I-35 in Wyoming by MPR's Bob Collins He’s rather bemused at the reception his blog post on this has gotten: FoxNews asked me to be on today to talk about the billboard. I declined, noting I don’t know anything other than that there’s this billboard. But it’s interesting how the story has spiraled from the blog, to the NPR blog, to a couple of…

  • DC Snow Record Likely

    James Joyner
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am
    The DC region will likely reach record levels of snow over the next 24-36 hours, Seasonal snowfall over the last two decades. 45" have fallen so far in 2009-2010, the most since 1995-1996. With the impending storm for [today] and Wednesday, we have a legitimate chance for an all-time (since records have been kept in the late 1800s) seasonal snow record. Our big weekend storm surged Reagan National Airport’s seasonal total to 45″ with the balance of February and March yet to go. This places our current winter in position number three for the snowiest winters on record, behind…

  • Super Bowl 44 Most Watched Show Ever, Topples M*A*S*H Finale

    James Joyner
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:25 pm
    Last night’s Super Bowl has apparently broken a record many thought would stand forever, ousting the last episode of M*A*S*H as the most-watched show in the history of American television. The New Orleans Saints’ victory over Indianapolis in the Super Bowl was watched by more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of “M-A-S-H” to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history, the Nielsen Co. said Monday. Compelling story lines involving the city of New Orleans and its ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the attempt at a second Super…
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    Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines

  • And Now for Another Big Toyota Recall

    editor@truthdig.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:58 am
    Sorry, Toyota. Certainly there’ll be a slew of jokes about the automaker’s old “Oh, what a feeling!” commercials—oh, wait, too late!—now that Toyota has caught yet another tough break (sorry again) in the form of a recall of about “436,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide,” according to the BBC.  —KA BBC: Toyota has announced the recall of about 436,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide, including its latest Prius model, to fix brake problems. The total includes more than 200,000 Prius cars sold in Japan and 8,500 cars in the UK. “We have…

  • Palin Calls Global Warming Research ‘Snake Oil Science’

    editor@truthdig.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:38 am
    During her speech at a logging conference in Redding, Calif., on Monday, Sarah Palin criticized California’s environmental regulations, pointed to her polar-bear-related lawsuit against the federal government, and compared certain global warming research to “snake oil science.” San Jose Mercury News: She criticized what she said were heavy-handed environmental laws. As Alaska governor, for example, she said she sued the federal government to overturn the listing of polar bears as a threatened species. As Alaska North Slope wells dry up, the state is examining offshore…

  • Scientists Uncover New Risk Associated With Thirdhand Smoke

    editor@truthdig.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:03 am
    If anyone needs another reason to stop smoking, here it is: Researchers are turning their attention to the effects of “thirdhand smoke,” the layer of icky residue that lingers on clothes and in living spaces after cigarettes and other tobacco delivery devices are snubbed out. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory now have found a potential health risk associated with thirdhand smoke and a common household pollutant.  —KA San Jose Mercury News: The scientists, however, are the first to find that nitrous acid, an indoor air pollutant created by gas appliances,…

  • Adoption in Haiti [A Cartoon From Germany]

    editor@truthdig.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:40 am
    By Rainer Hachfeld, Neues Deutschland, Germany Related Entries February 4, 2010 Make It Three: Prius Brakes Could Spark Another Toyota Recall January 21, 2010 China About to Bump Japan as the No. 2 Economy

  • Super Saints

    editor@truthdig.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:38 am
    By RJ Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch Related Entries February 4, 2010 Make It Three: Prius Brakes Could Spark Another Toyota Recall January 21, 2010 China About to Bump Japan as the No. 2 Economy
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    PunditMom

  • This Valentine’s Day, I’m Not Taking Relationship Advice from Jenny Sanford

    PunditMom
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:06 am
    February is usually a time many of us reflect on our relationships, what with the pressure of Valentine’s Day upon us! But I don’t usually write about relationships here, unless it’s about my increasingly unhappy one with do-nothing politicians!  The release of Jenny Sanford’s book Staying True, however, has me rethinking something, though. You remember Jenny Sanford?  The wife of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford who coined the now-euphemistic phrase “hiking the old Appalachian Trail?” I Initially applauded her decision in the wake of the bizarre…

  • I Won’t Be Watching the Super Bowl

    PunditMom
    7 Feb 2010 | 7:47 am
    I’ve already made it clear that I won’t be watching the Super Bowl and for the most part won’t watch any more CBS shows because of the Focus on the Family/Tim Tebow ad that is scheduled to run during the Super Bowl. You know — the one that CBS said it would air even though it’s refused in the past to air any sort of advocacy ads during the big game.  The one that CBS apparently helped to produce. While I’m sure it won’t see air time during the Super Bowl, two other high profile athletes are speaking out about being glad that the women in their lives…

  • Snowpocalypse Part Deux? Snowpocalypse the Squeakuel?

    PunditMom
    6 Feb 2010 | 10:23 am
    It started out, as it did in December, as such a pretty snow. It really wasn’t so bad Until it got dark And it just hasn’t stopped Snow cake, anyone? Of course, we’re all tweeting about it!  #snOMG

  • I’m Not the Only One Annoyed with CBS

    PunditMom
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:05 am
    The still-unseen, yet controversial Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad is on everyone’s mind, including mine.  One friend said to me, “I can’t believe you haven’t written anything about it yet!” I’ve been wanting to, but to be honest I was waiting until I had more facts.  I think I’ve got plenty now, and if you thought Focus on the Family and CBS weren’t out to sell us some propaganda, think again. Now, before my friends who don’t like my pro-choice views (and when I say pro-choice, I mean the right to choose whatever option is the best for a…

  • So Much Punditry, So Little Time

    PunditMom
    3 Feb 2010 | 5:40 am
    I’m glad there are some other people weighing in on some topics on my mind: –My fellow MOMocrats and I are having a little Super Bowl Party Tailgate Party for Choice. – The Women’s Media Center is also thinking about the controversial Super Bowl from Focus on the Family and is wondering, what does CBS stand for? – Isn’t it about time there’s a woman anchor for a major Sunday morning news show? – The recently released Three Faces of Work/Family Conflict report doesn’t paint a pretty picture.  When I asked an expert on the “motherhood…
 
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    Top Stories from CQ

  • Reid Hopes for Vote on Jobs Bill by This Weekend

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:59 am
    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday he intends to push for a vote by this weekend on job creation legislation, though another winter storm bearing down on Washington made the Senate schedule increasingly tenuous.

  • GOP Leaders Remain Cool to Debt Commission

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:48 am
    Despite a renewed appeal from President Obama, Republican leaders in Congress remained cool Tuesday to the idea of naming a bipartisan commission to recommend ways to control the nation’s ballooning debt.

  • Shelby Drops Holds on All But Three Defense Nominees

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:26 am
    Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., has stopped blocking most of President Obama’s pending nominations but still has holds on three Defense Department nominees over an Air Force project of interest to his state.

  • Spreading the GOP Wealth With an Eye on 2012

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:56 pm
    It’s never too early to line up support for a presidential run, so it’s not surprising that several possible 2012 Republican contenders are using their political action committees to dole out large amounts of cash to an array of GOP members and candidates this cycle.

  • A Grass-Roots Parley in Kansas

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:55 pm
    With a bad fundraising quarter behind Rep. Todd Tiahrt, his home-state colleague Jerry Moran could officially be considered the front-runner in the GOP primary for Senate in Kansas.
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    Think Progress

  • Nelson signals intent to join Republican filibuster of Obama labor board nominee.

    Pat G.
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:35 am
    Late yesterday, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) announced that he would not vote for cloture on the nomination of former AFL-CIO and SEIU attorney Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), effectively joining a Republican filibuster. Republicans have been using Becker’s nomination as a proxy battle over the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) — which would level the playing field for workers who want to form a union. And Nelson bought into that frame in his statement against Becker: Mr. Becker’s previous statements strongly indicate that he would take an aggressive…

  • Cantor backtracks on his bluff, says he’ll show up to health care meeting with Obama.

    Faiz Shakir
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:50 am
    House Republican leaders John Boehner (R-OH) and Eric Cantor (R-VA) sent a letter to the White House yesterday, stipulating some preconditions for Republican participation in a bipartisan health care meeting proposed by President Obama. Boehner and Cantor’s letter said that unless Obama was willing to scrap the current health reform proposals, Republicans “would rightly be reluctant to participate.” Their letter was met with some derision from conservatives, who called it “silly” and “politically dangerous.” The Plum Line’s Greg Sargent reported today…

  • Kristol Calls GOP’s Preconditions On Health Care Meeting ‘Silly’

    Ben Armbruster
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    On Sunday, President Obama announced his intention to host a televised bipartisan meeting on health care reform “to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward.” Yesterday, congressional GOP leaders responded with a list of preconditions for simply sitting down with the President and Democrats. In a letter to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Reps. John Boehner (R-OH) and Eric Cantor (R-VA) wrote that, “[i]f the starting point for this meeting” is the bills that passed the House and Senate, “Republicans would rightly…

  • Insurer Denies Life-Prolonging Treatment To Five-Year-Old Boy With Cancer

    Zaid Jilani
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:15 am
    One of the worst abuses of private insurance companies is the practice of using spurious reasons to deny claims for medical treatments, which are often necessary for saving patients’ lives. Kyler Van Nocker’s story shows that even 5-year-old kids are not exempt from this insurance company abuse. Van Nocker has neuroblastoma, which is a very rare form of childhood cancer that targets the nervous system and creates tumors throughout the body. Due to successful treatment in 2007, Van Nocker’s cancer went into remission, giving him 12 months of pain-free life. Unfortunately, in…

  • Inhofe’s Grandchildren Build Igloo To Mock Killer Snow Storm: ‘Al Gore’s New Home’

    Brad
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:15 am
    The record-breaking snowstorm that has shut down the mid-Atlantic region for days has become a favored target for mockery by Republicans who deny global warming, seemingly on the supposition that deadly blizzards invalidate the science of climate change. Before the storm hit, the Virginia GOP launched a web ad mocking “12 inches of global warming,” attacking Democrats who had voted in favor of climate and clean energy legislation. Now, after hundreds of thousands of people lost power, several people have been killed, and states of emergency declared in West Virginia, Pennsylvania,…
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    Slate Magazine

  • When did we start describing comatose patients as "vegetative"?

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:35 pm
    A study published last Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that British and Belgian scientists were able to communicate with a patient in a "persistent vegetative state" using high-tech brain scans. When did we start describing comatose patients as "vegetative"?[more ...] Persistent vegetative state - New England Journal of Medicine - Belgium - Brain - United States

  • The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, an intellectual history.

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:55 pm
    Model Brooklyn Decker is on the cover of the latest edition of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue. The magazine also features "Olympic Stars" in various stages of undress. In a 2005 column, Bryan Curtis argued that "Sports Illustrated helped create the sex-sports nexus, by bringing the supermodels directly to the fans." The entire column is reprinted below.[more ...] Brooklyn Decker - Sport - Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - Sport Illustrated - Andy Roddick

  • Washington Post transportation reporter Howard Kurtz muffs the media "bypass" story.

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:38 pm
    The Obama White House has built a "bypass" to reroute the president's message around the pesky White House press corps, Washington Post transportation beat reporter Howard Kurtz reported yesterday.[more ...] Howard Kurtz - Washington Post - White House - United States - White House press corps

  • Dana's Home Theater: Bright Star

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:10 pm
    A daily video from Slate V.[more ...] Home cinema - Home Theater - Business - Electronics - Consumer Goods and Services

  • Reports of the Iranian regime's imminent demise are greatly exaggerated.

    9 Feb 2010 | 12:29 pm
    TEHRAN, Iran—I've begun to wonder about all the so-called "Iran experts" in the West. As Feb. 11, the 31st anniversary of the Islamic republic's founding, approaches, many of the reports about the imminent demise of the Iranian regime read like wishful thinking. On the flip side, those who claim the theocracy will survive as is also seem off the mark. Here in Tehran, things are much murkier.[more ...] Iran - Tehran - Middle East - Government - Embassies and Consulates
 
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    Mojo Feed | Mother Jones

  • Black History Month: What's In It For Me?

    Titania Kumeh
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:11 am
    FYI: It's Black History Month, and to honor the occasion I got the scoop on proposed policies that could directly impact me—a 25-year old, African-American female with some debt and no health insurance. To find out what the government has in store, I enlisted the help of Marjorie A. Innocent and Alana Hackshaw who are directors at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which recently slammed Obama for not tailoring policies to fit the needs of African-Americans. First up is health care. Both the House and Senate health care reform bills would extend the age limit for young adults to…

  • The Economist's Bizarre Health Care Claim

    Nick Baumann
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:20 am
    In an editorial in Friday's issue bemoaning American politicians' inability to tackle the budget deficit, The Economist offers this bizarre, unsupported assertion: Health care offered a chance to [reduce government spending on social insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid] (broader coverage could come with tougher cost controls). But a weak administration and a greedy Congress conspired to produce a baggy monster of a bill which, from a fiscal point of view, might have made things worse. The health care bill could have been a lot better. But if The Economist's editorial writers are…

  • Arpaio Rebukes DOJ, Will Train 881 Deputies For Immigration Arrests

    Ben Buchwalter
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:01 am
    When Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio tweeted yesterday that he would announce a change on his department's enforcement of immigration laws, I knew we were in for a ride. Fresh off a federal court victory that vindicated Arpaio's decision to force a mentally ill inmate, Eric Vogel, to wear pink underwear under his striped jail uniform, Arpaio's office announced that the Sheriff, who became a hero of the right for cracking down on illegal immigration in Hispanic neighborhoods, will train all 881 Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies to make immigration arrests. This is a sharp rebuke to the…

  • Mortgage Shark Attack

    Nikki Gloudeman
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:20 am
    The economic meltdown has been rife with villains, from corporate execs who turned their TARP payouts into multimillion dollar paydays, to corrupt politicians who favored Corporate America for their own financial gain. Another group for the scoundrel list? Loan servicers, the mortgage middlemen who literally cheat Americans out of house and home because (you guessed it) it lines their pockets. While fact-checking a story about these sharks, I rifled through a thousand legal complaints against the nation's ten largest mortgage servicers, and spoke with homeowners who have been cheated out of…

  • The Drone Wars

    Tom Engelhardt
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:48 pm
    Almost every day, reports come back from the CIA’s "secret" battlefield in the Pakistani tribal borderlands. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles—that is, pilot-less drones—shoot missiles (18 of them in a single attack on a tiny village last week) or drop bombs and then the news comes in: a certain number of al-Qaeda or Taliban leaders or suspected Arab or Uzbek or Afghan "militants" have died. The numbers are often remarkably precise. Sometimes they are attributed to U.S. sources, sometimes to the Pakistanis; sometimes, it’s hard to tell…
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    Crooks and Liars

  • GOP Whines About Health-Care Summit, NY Times Says 'There, There!'

    Susie Madrak
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    This story reeks of "I'm on deadline, I don't feel like working that hard so I'll just expand this handy list of Republican bullet points and then call a few Democrats for 'balance.'" But then, maybe it's just me: WASHINGTON — When Republicans take President Obama up on his invitation to hash out their differences over health care this month, they will carry with them a fairly well-developed set of ideas intended to make health insurance more widely available and affordable, by emphasizing tax incentives and state innovations, with no new federal mandates and only a modest expansion of the…

  • Mark Halperin Lists Reasons Why Sarah Palin Will Never Be President

    Heather
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    DOWNLOADS: (186) PLAYS: (1577) I don't agree with Mark Halperin about very much, but I agree with him on this one. After a discussion on Sarah Palin going to speak to the Tea Bag Convention and whether or not this is an independent movement or disgruntled Republican voters, Mark Halperin lists the reasons Sarah Palin will never be President. Brzezinski: Mark Halerin is there a third party wave brewing? Is it real? Halperin: It’s real and there for someone who has a lot of money that they could spend tens of millions on a campaign and who had real ideas about how to unite left and right…

  • For Republicans, No Means No

    Jon Perr
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    If nothing else, Barack Obama is a glutton for punishment. Apparently confident in his ability to manhandle the Republican leadership in the wake of his televised beat-down of the House GOP caucus two weeks ago, Obama has invited McConnell, Boehner and company to the White House for a health care summit. But instead of applying a full-court press on recalcitrant members of his own party to finally pass a Democratic bill the country so badly needs, Obama will waste yet more time in his futile quest for bipartisanship. After a year of unprecedented obstructionism by the Republican Party, it…

  • Deficit Hawks love them some jingoism

    John Amato
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    Dean Baker writes a fabulous new post on the skanky tactics of the Deficit Hawks. Jingoism and the Budget Deficit: Using Any Tactic to Advance the Budget Cutting Agenda The deficit hawks apparently believe that their case is so weak that they must resort to crass jingoism to push their agenda. NBC apparently intends to run a piece on the evening news on Tuesday that talks about the portion of the government debt that is owned foreigners, highlighting the role of China. This is incredibly dishonest. The extent to which foreigners hold U.S. assets is determined by the trade deficit, not the…

  • Stupid Or Venal? Blue Dogs Want More Spending Cuts

    Susie Madrak
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Are the Blue Dogs shamelessly self-interested and venal, or are just plain stupid? Economists are predicting these high unemployment numbers through the end of 2011, and these clowns want to cut government spending even further. As long as they get to keep their jobs, they don't give a crap about putting even more Americans out of work. Lovely! Blue Dog Democrats want Congress to go further than President Barack Obama’s proposal to freeze spending in next year’s budget. The group of House centrists will soon introduce a bill capping discretionary spending at specific levels. The move…
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    Scholars and Rogues

  • Psst! Mamasita Presidente! Laura Chinchilla strikes a blow for Ticas everywhere

    Guest Scrogue
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:18 am
    by Shelley Jack Mamasita! Mamasita! Psst! Psst! Psst! Taunting, yet playful faces of men passed me by on uneven sidewalks, working diligently to make eye contact. I was lost, again, on a street in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica, walking quickly, head down. Only a few months in to my year-long stay as a business English teacher in the country, the unpredictability of the road and transportation systems continued to challenge even my most adventurous side. When I finally arrived at my destination, three hours into what should have been a 30-minute walk, I sat down and cried one of those long,…

  • Great expectations

    Chris Mackowski
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:54 am
    My students have expectations of me that I display like banners. This semester, on the first day of classes, I asked them, “What do you expect of me?” I had them all get out a sheet of paper and write those expectations down. We had already talked about their expectations for the class. As it happens, I’m teaching six classes at the moment—a double-overload—and each one is different. That means six different sets of expectations. Each class focuses on writing skills, and each class contains a strong media ethics component, but each class offers unique things, as well: radio,…

  • We each have a nuclear story of our own

    Russ Wellen
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:53 am
    THE DEPROLIFERATOR – “Nuclear war must be the most carefully avoided topic of general significance in the contemporary world. People are not curious about the details. … almost everyone seems to feel adequately informed by reading one book about nuclear war.” – Paul Brians, chronicler of nuclear imagery in literature and pop culture Some of us are oblivious to the threat of nuclear war; others shrink from it in fear. Many operate under the assumption that there’s no longer anything to worry about because we survived the Cold War intact. Besides, there’s…

  • Garden Q and A

    Lex
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:03 pm
    With two questions already asked, we might as well get to some answers. And both questions are good ones. But before we do, we’ll start with the unavoidable fact that gardening is always experimental. The variables from year-to-year and even yard-to-yard are great enough that there’s no such thing as a guarantee. That might turn some people off, but it’s the greatest attraction for me. What could be better than a field wherein a lifetime of learning only scratches the surface and there’s always more to know and try? Dawn has presented me with a doozy right off the bat.

  • Super Bowl ad review: Jesus H. Tebow

    Bonesparkle
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:29 am
    First, the official response: Click here to view the embedded video. The purpose of the ad, of course, was to change people’s opinions on the issue of abortion. I don’t know how effective it was overall, but in my case it was successful. Before the ad I was pro-choice. Now I’m pro-abortion. Thank you, and good night.
 
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    Power Line

  • The lassitude of John Brennan

    Scott
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:27 am
    In August Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan gave a speech outlining the administration's deep thoughts on combating terrorism. The speech -- "A New Approach for Safeguarding Americans" -- "conveniently outlined the administration's present and future policy mistakes," in the words of Daniel Pipes. If you seek a handy compilation of the shibboleths that now guide our approach to the phenomenon formerly known as Islamist terrorism, Brennan's speech is must reading. To take one example cited by Pipes, Brennan…

  • Miss Me Yet?

    John
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:14 pm
    The big story out of Minnesota these days is a billboard on Interstate Highway 35 in or near Wyoming, which is a little north of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Highway 35 is the main North-South artery in this area, going north to Duluth and south to Des Moines. It was the Highway 35 W bridge across the Mississippi which collapsed, you may recall, a couple of years ago. Here is the billboard: NPR confirms that the billboard is real and not "an internet trick." Beyond that, NPR seems baffled: At first glance, it would seem to be from some person or group who isn't thrilled by President…

  • Jack Murtha, RIP

    John
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:36 pm
    I won't speak ill of the departed, and therefore have nothing at all to say about Jack Murtha. Philip Klein, however, notes a potentially important point: if the Republican wins the special election to succeed Murtha in May, the Democrats' government medicine bill could have trouble passing the House. Let's hope so. Via Hot Air.

  • A Significant Admission

    John
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:55 pm
    Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has directed enrichment of a portion of that country's stockpile of uranium to 20 percent. Experts regard this as an important step forward for Iran's nuclear weapons program. The reaction of Defense Secretary Robert Gates seems significant: At a news conference with French Defense Minister Herve Morin, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised President Barack Obama's attempts to engage the Islamic Republic diplomatically and chided Tehran for not reciprocating. "No U.S. president has reached out more sincerely, and frankly taken more political risk, in an effort…

  • How Low Can They Go?

    John
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:41 pm
    The Illinois Democratic Party has taken quite a beating lately. Most recently, it's Scott Cohen, who won last week's Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor--by 26 points!--but who was forced to drop out of the race yesterday: Cohen's dream became a nightmare after his surprise win, when reports emerged that he was arrested and charged in 2005 for domestic battery. Cohen was accused of pushing his girlfriend's head against a wall and holding a knife against her throat. The charges were dropped after she failed to appear in court on the date of the hearing. Moreover, the girlfriend in…
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    Informed Comment: Global Affairs

  • THE BANALITY OF NOT BEING EVIL

    15 Jan 2010 | 7:54 am
    By Philip J Cunningham There’s something irremediably banal about Google’s corporate motto. It’s hip, it’s hype and it’s hypocritical. "Don't be evil" is a curiously negative construct; eschewing evil is not necessarily about doing good. In sum, a sophomoric yet shrewd manner of self-presentation that is not without its believers. It speaks to the informal, idealistic ethos of a student-run Silicon Valley garage start-up, even though Google is now a multibillion-dollar entity with nearly 20,000 employees and computer links and arrays vast enough to map, copy and store billions and…

  • IS AMERICA LOSING IT?

    11 Jan 2010 | 9:23 pm
    BY PHILIP J CUNNINGHAMIt's one thing when fear of terror causes people to lose their nerve, quite another when they start losing their minds.The Obama administration appears to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown.It's not clear if it's terrorists, real and imagined, who have got the Democratic establishment all jittery or if it's just the usual Republican Party suspects, know-nothings in all important respects except for their uncanny ability to unnerve their Democratic rivals.President Obama, like many a Democratic pol from the days of LBJ onward, seems spellbound by calls from the right…

  • BARACK OBAMA DOES THE WORLD

    11 Dec 2009 | 4:47 am
    by Philip J. CunninghamIt’s official. US President Barack Obama, long suspected of being the type of person who wanted to have his cake and eat it too, wine and dine with Wall Street while tossing rhetorical crumbs to the poor, dispossessed and hungry, all the while hobnobbing with the rich and famous and amassing draconic executive privilege, has, in his Nobel speech, just proved himself to be the world’s biggest phony. The two-faced master of the mellow sound-bite has just outdone himself in trying to convince a jaded world that war is peace, that imperialism is liberation, that down is…

  • BARACK OBAMA DOES TOKYO

    16 Nov 2009 | 6:02 am
    Obama’s Tokyo speech, delivered on November 14, 2009 at a glittering downtown concert hall gave a select audience the chance to savor the president’s trademark rhetoric, read aloud in now-familiar endearing tones, accompanied by slightly jarring Janus-like sideward glances, eyes darting back and forth between twin teleprompters.Designed to set an upbeat tone for the president’s Asia trip, it fell short of his much-hailed Cairo speech as paean to international amity, but served to convince East Asia, despite the late date of his visit, and two distracting wars on the other side of the…

  • THAKSIN SHINAWATRA AND CAMBODIA

    13 Nov 2009 | 7:58 pm
    In light of tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra's recent political posturing in Cambodia, which he used as a base to deliberately affront and humiliate the Thai government, all the while being accorded VIP treatment by Cambodian strongman Hun Sen, it is interesting to note that Thaksin's family company was already cutting deals and cultivating "friends" over the border back in the days when he was prime minister of Thailand.The juxtaposition of the two billboards slyly suggests that Shinawatra is, apparently on behalf of the Kingdom of Cambodia, welcoming visitors to Cambodia. Conflict of interest?This…
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    The Daily Dish: Andrew Sullivan

  • What Level Of Control Over Culture?

    Andrew Sullivan
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:22 am
    Julian Sanchez considers the evolution of the remix - with Julian's inimitable spin. It has some beauts in there - well worth your time, even at eight minutes:

  • The Latest From Leon

    Andrew Sullivan
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:55 am
    It's been fourteen years since I left TNR and Leon Wieseltier is still obsessed with his long-standing and at this point tedious personal vendetta against me. I will try and defend myself from these dark insinuations of anti-Semitism one by one in due course (allow me a little time to respond to a 4,300 word ad hominem). But just for the record, let me grapple with Leon's first claim that my citation of W H Auden's letter to Ursula Niebuhr represented some dark and ugly attempt to convey anti-Semitic tropes and code.Now it's impossible to refute mere insinuations about my true…

  • Palin's Village

    Andrew Sullivan
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:31 am
    Yesterday, Nate Silver compared Bush and Palin: Bush was at least smart enough to surround himself with a team of exceptionally competent strategists, advisers and consultants. He was smart enough to recognize that it takes a village to get oneself elected President, and ideally one a bit less isolated and insular than Wasilla. Palin hasn't figured that out yet; her ability to become the Republican nominee and have a fighting chance in the general election will depend on her ability to do so. She had some total pros in the last campaign - Schmidt, Wallace, et al - and she just…

  • "Generation Zero"

    Andrew Sullivan
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:55 am
    The maker of the movie emails to say that the Dish's link gave a false impression of the film. Since I haven't seen it myself, I'll try and see a screening when one comes up in DC and report back. But the Daily Beast's Jon Avlon liked it:There have been highlights to balance out the lowlights at the Tea Party Convention. For all the Obama Derangement Syndrome evidenced, the spark of the movement was a demand to return to fiscal responsibility. These roots were well represented by a special screening of a new documentary about the roots of the fiscal crisis and the reckoning…

  • The Palin Emails II

    Andrew Sullivan
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:27 am
    Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Here are three more emails from March 21 - 23, 2008, which I reproduce because of the Dish's long commitment to providing as much information about the strange stories Sarah Palin has told about her fifth pregnancy and because governor Palin has welcomed such scrutiny, declaring that her life is an open book. They come from this 3,000 email archive from the State of Alaska, requested by MSNBC. A little over a month after Trig was born, the state sent Governor Palin an email asking for his birth certificate. It's…
 
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    mcclatchydc.com: Washington

  • Report: 'No strategic value' to Afghan outpost where 8 died

    9 Feb 2010 | 4:57 am
    WASHINGTON — A U.S. military investigation into a battle last October in eastern Afghanistan that cost eight American soldiers their lives has concluded that the small outpost was worthless, the troops there didn't understand their mission, and intelligence and air support were tied up elsewhere in the province.

  • Latinos say their votes could tip 40 congressional races

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:22 pm
    WASHINGTON — Failing to overhaul the nation's immigration system, currently a backburner issue for Congress and President Barack Obama, could play a pivotal role in key mid-term election races in November, according to a new study on Latino voting patterns.

  • Services set for late wife of California congressman

    8 Feb 2010 | 2:15 pm
    WASHINGTON — Memorial services for the late Ethie Weaver Radanovich have been set for Northern Virginia on Wednesday and the Sierra Nevada foothills on Sunday.

  • Thanks to 'You lie!', South Carolina race turns national and expensive

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am
    WASHINGTON — You might be forgiven for wondering which district, or even which state, Republican Rep. Joe Wilson and Democratic challenger Rob Miller hail from as they wage an expensive, high-profile campaign that's gone national almost a year out from the November election.

  • Senate's Cantwell takes tough approach to big banks

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:36 am
    WASHINGTON — To hear Sen. Maria Cantwell talk, another economic bubble is building as Wall Street banks — backed by taxpayer bailouts — continue to play the high-risk derivatives markets rather than extend credit to struggling businesses on Main Street.
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    WSJ.COM

  • Obama Willing to Meet Republicans 'Halfway'

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:40 am
    President Obama, in a surprise press briefing, said policymakers should be able to reach a bipartisan consensus on high-profile issues, but only if Republicans are really willing to negotiate.

  • No Exit as Fannie, Freddie Flail

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:24 am
    Fannie and Freddie remain troubled wards of the state, with no blueprints for the future and no clear exit strategy for the government.

  • Prospects Dim for Labor Board Nominee

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:59 am
    The prospects for union lawyer Craig Becker's nomination to the National Labor Relations Board dimmed in the face of strong opposition from Republicans and Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska.

  • U.S. Enlists Ex-Foes for Afghan Army

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:49 am
    Most Afghan generals and colonels in the new Afghan National Army were U.S. enemies in the Soviet-built military of the 1980s.

  • First Lady to Fight Childhood Obesity

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    Michelle Obama launches a campaign to fight childhood obesity, a cause that is becoming her top policy priority.
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    Lew Rockwell: The LRC Blog

  • Mon3

    Lew Rockwell
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:52 am
    The three best-read: Ambrose Evans-Pritchard on global depression; your editor on census despotism; and Jack Douglas on middle-class rage against the government.

  • ‘Progressive Republicanism’

    Manuel Lora
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:29 am
    In the latest installment of and about the Tea Party movement, Meghan McCain has declared that she has ideological differences with that movement–she is a self-described “progressive Republican,” after all. I wonder what what means? As a friend said, “You want to have married, gay couples flying bombing missions to kill brown people?” Maybe that’s also the definition of “normal” Democrats, too.

  • Municipal Police State

    Lew Rockwell
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:33 pm
    Writes Deb Tiedemann: Has the mayor of King, North Carolina, been learning at the feet of Rahm “Never-let-a-crisis-go-to-waste” Emanuel? Here we have a typical seasonal event: a winter storm hits Stokes County, North Carolina, downing trees and power lines. Residents are unconcerned, as power is restored 5 hours later. Besides, most homes have wood-fueled or natural-gas-fueled fireplaces for backup heat in the event of lengthy power outages. But what an opportunity for the pathologically power-hungry politicians! Mayor Jack Warren issued the following “emergency restrictions…

  • Sarah Surprised

    Lew Rockwell
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:27 pm
    Palin is campaigning in Texas for Rick “Gardisil” Perry. Most of her talk is boring Republican boilerplate. But catch this YouTube, about 20 seconds in, where she mentions Texas seceding from the union, in order to deny it, and is thrown off her pace by the huge cheers. And this is from a Republican crowd. Chris Matthews tried to blame her for the popular reaction, but she gets no credit.

  • The Provision of Public Services

    Kathryn Muratore
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:08 pm
    As Eric and Bill have noted, we’re snowed-in in the mid-Atlantic. The snow started in DC late Friday morning and, with another foot or so due tomorrow afternoon, I don’t know when we’ll be able to get out of the house by car. Of course, we’re just sitting here waiting for the county to come by and plow our street. We’re on a short block with 8 houses — I can see freedom on the major road at the top of the hill — so we’re very low priority for the county. And, apparently, the large snow drifts mean only big earth-mover plows will work, and they…
 
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    ABC NEWS

  • WATCH: Obama Calls for Bipartisanship On Jobs Bill

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:47 am
    President calls on Congress to move forward "in a more bipartisan fashion." President of the United States - United States Congress - Barack Obama - Politics - United States

  • Michelle Obama Responds to Palin Pokes

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:41 am
    In a morning television exclusive with 'Good Morning America,' first lady Michelle Obama responds to Sarah Palin's digs at the Tea Party convention, defending her husband's first year in office as 'phenomenal.' Sarah Palin - Michelle Obama - Good Morning America - United States - Government

  • WATCH: Obama Signs Memorandum on Childhood Obesity

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:23 am
    President takes first step toward launching the first lady's obesity campaign. President of the United States - Barack Obama - Obesity - Health - United States

  • PHOTOS: Winter Weather Around the World

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:16 am
    Winter Weather Around the World - A historic snowfall dumps more than two feet of snow on Washington, D.C. and other surrounding regions. Thousands gather in Dupont Circle for a snowball fight. Washington DC - Dupont Circle Washington D.C. - Snowball fight - Snow - United States

  • White House Presses Anthem Blue Cross on Rate Hike

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:53 am
    The Obama administration is demanding answers from California's largest insurance company, Anthem Blue Cross, about why the company is suddenly raising premiums on some customers by up to 39 percent; more than 10 times the rate of inflation. Insurance - California - WellPoint - Presidency of Barack Obama - Business
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    National Review: The Campaign Spot

  • He Knows Who His Real Enemy Is, I Guess -- By: Jim Geraghty

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:48 am
    Looking again at that John Brennan op-ed in USA Today, I see he refers to Abdulmutallab as a "suspect" but asserts that administration critics, ipso facto, "serve the goals of al-Qaeda." In other words, in the eyes of one the administration's top men on counterterrorism, Abdulmutallab gets a presumption of innocence that you and I don't.

  • A Headline I Wished I Wrote: 'Americans Losing Hope, Looking for Change' -- By: Jim Geraghty

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:16 am
    That's the headline to the latest Investors Business Daily/TIPP poll. Voters are souring on the economy and the government’s remedies, according to February's IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index. It fell 4.1% to 46.8, matching December’s level and the weakest since July. “Persisting high unemployment and a wobbly stock market dampened January’s optimism,” said Raghavan Mayur, president of TIPP, IBD’s polling partner. Readings below 50 signal pessimism. Confidence in federal economic politics dived 7% to 38.3, the lowest since President Obama took office. That's consistent with other…

  • The Administration's War on Pie Begins -- By: Jim Geraghty

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:57 am
    Michelle Obama, back in April 2008: The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more. The news, today: First lady Michelle Obama launched a nationwide campaign Tuesday to fight childhood obesity, part of her effort to teach America's children about better nutrition and exercise.

  • Approval Rating of Rep. Shea-Porter (D., N.H.) Hits 35 Percent -- By: Jim Geraghty

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:45 am
    There's still the better part of a year to go, but prospects for some GOP House seat pickups in New Hampshire look pretty healthy: According to a new poll by the University of New Hampshire only 35% of likely voters approve of the job [Rep. Carol] Shea-Porter is doing in Congress. 40% disapprove. 24% are neutral or don’t know for sure how they feel. Even worse, all potential Republican candidates for Congress -- even the lesser-known candidates -- would defeat her if the election were held today. Former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta performs best against Shea-Porter, defeating her in a…

  • Ah, That Calm, Respectful Obama Administration 'Temperament' -- By: Jim Geraghty

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:41 am
    The editors of USA Today are pretty scathing in their assessment of how the Obama administration responded to the Christmas Day attack: Top administration officials revealed last week that bombing suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was again cooperating with authorities. Great. But the news pretty much negates earlier claims that no intelligence was lost when Abdulmutallab was prematurely read his rights. -- In Senate testimony, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair had a "Duh!" moment as he hit his forehead and acknowledged that authorities fumbled the initial questioning of…
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    The Atlantic: Marc Ambinder

  • President Obama, Eternal Optimist, Meets The Press

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:37 am
    The press has been murmuring about a lack of presidential press conferences, but today President Obama obliged, taking questions from reporters solo for the first time since July 22.Obama gave some long answers and generally kept up a good rapport with the press corps in attendance--joking when they moaned at his calling on NBC's Chuck Todd, "What's wrong with Todd?"--fielding questions on health care reform, Anthem Blue Cross's decision to raise premiums, small business hiring, and sanctions on Iran.And, on the biggest political challenge confronting his administration--the need to get…

  • Opposing Michelle Obama's Obesity Push

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:53 am
    Michelle Obama is rolling out a campaign to fight childhood obesity today, but she may be wading into complicated political territory, with states' rights advocates and civil libertarians opposed to federal intervention in school lunches and fearful of a "nanny state" in which the government tells kids what to eat. The Atlantic Wire's Heather Horn captures the debate over the first lady's initiative among bloggers on the left and right.

  • Dicks Seeks Votes For Defense Appropriations Chairmanship

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:38 am
    When Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) died Monday at the age of 77, he left open his chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee, the most influential position in the House for Defense appropriations. Seniority would indicate that Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) would take over Murtha's old position, and Dicks told a Seattle radio station that he's called fellow committee members to line up votes in his favor when the new subcommittee chairman is decided, Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson reports, noting that Dicks and Murtha joined the subcommittee on the same day in 1979.

  • Obama Wants More Bipartisan Meetings

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:43 am
    President Obama convened a meeting with House and Senate leaders of both parties today, he has invited lawmakers of both parties to a health care summit at the White House Feb. 25, and this morning he said he wants such meetings to be a regular thing."My hope is this is not going to be a rare situation--we're going to be doing these on a regular basis," Obama said this morning, speaking to reporters at the meeting with bipartisan congressional leaders."And I'm very thankful that everybody here has taken the time to come. I'm confident that if we move forward int he spirit of keeping in mind…

  • Obama Pushing For Deficit Commission

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:19 am
    Republican and Democratic senators alike have rejected the idea of a bipartisan deficit commission (even though some of them formerly supported it), but President Obama says he will push for consensus on the idea. "Another area where I hope we can find some agreement is on the issue of getting our deficits and debt under control. Both parties have stated their concerns about it...I have put forward the idea of a fiscal commission, and I'm going to be discussing [it] with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues," Obama said this morning, speaking to reporters at a meeting with…
 
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    Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

  • Palin's Soundbite Strategy

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:02 am
    While Sarah Palin does poorly in extended interviews, last weekend's speech showed she has mastered the art of the soundbite. More important, she has used it to maintain a very high political profile even though she holds no public office. Chris Cillizza: "From a raw political perspective, Palin's soundbite strategy is extremely effective -- handing her supporters a single line (or two) around which to rally in opposition to the President's agenda." Marc Ambinder: "Palin speaks in 140-word epigrams: fragments that are icky to the ears of more polished speakers but convey meta-data -- she…

  • Strickland Still Trails in Ohio

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    A new Rasmussen survey in Ohio shows little improvement for Gov. Ted Strickland (D), who trails challenger John Kasich (R), 47% to 41%. This reflects a two point increase since December, but Strickland still has a fair amount of ground to make up.

  • Steele Blames Criticism on Racism

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:46 am
    In an interview with Washingtonian, RNC Chairman Michael Steele talks about "a double standard that he believes has been applied by his critics" and suggests it's race-related. Said Steele: "I don't see stories about the internal operations of the DNC that I see about this operation. Why? Is it because Michael Steele is the chairman, or is it because a black man is chairman?"

  • The Tea Party in Context

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:36 am
    Matt Yglesias puts yesterday's poll which showed 33% of Iowans support the "tea party" movement into context, noting that "38% of Americans have a favorable view of Cuba and 36% are favorably disposed toward socialism, but I don't see anyone writing newspaper articles about how a populist wave of socialism is sweeping the country." "The number of Iowans who like the tea party movement is smaller than the number of Americans who want marijuana legalized or the number of Americans who believe the government has had secret contact with extra-terrestrials."

  • Hickenlooper Takes Lead in Colorado

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:15 am
    John Hickenlooper (D) leads Scott McInnis (R) by four points in the Colorado race for governor, 49% to 45%, according to a new Rasmussen poll. Last month's poll found McInnis leading by three points. Prospects for Democratic retention of the governorship have improved dramatically since incumbent Gov. Bill Ritter (D) announced unexpectedly that he would not run for re-election.
 
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    Mother Jones

  • Resources for Dealing With Mortgage Servicers

    Andy Kroll
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:45 am
    Having trouble with your mortgage servicer? Fear not, homeowner: There are a number of steps you can take when locking horns with the company that oversees the day-to-day management of your home loan. Step No. 1 is always to contact your servicer directly and try to negotiate a solution. Customer service contact information is usually included on invoices and correspondence from the company. You can also find contact information for major mortgage companies here.Continue Reading »No Comments | Post Comment     

  • Why Banks Love Foreclosure

    Andy Kroll
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:40 am
    NO ONE TOLD Deanna Walters she was about to lose her home. Not when her mortgage servicing company foreclosed on it, nor when it landed on the county auction block and sold to the highest bidder. She realized what was happening only when a man taped a note to the front door of her well-kept house in a leafy corner of Stockton, California, last January. "My son went out and took it down," recalls the 43-year-old single mother of two, "and that's when he told me it was a 'three-day or quit' notice." Walters' discovery that her home had been sold out from under her marked the…

  • Destabilizing Pakistan

    Pratap Chatterjee
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:22 am
    This story first appeared on the TomDispatch website. Sitting in air-conditioned comfort, cans of Coke and 7-Up within reach as they watched their screens, the ground controllers gave the order to strike under the cover of darkness. There had been no declaration of war.  No advance warning, nothing, in fact, that would have alerted the "enemy" to the sudden, unprecedented bombing raids. The secret computer-guided strikes were authorized by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, just weeks after a new American president entered the Oval Office.  They represented an…

  • Brodner's Cartoon du Jour: R is for Rush

    Steve Brodner
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:59 am
    Sarah Palin's celebrity-burn-rate continues at volcanic temps. We happy blog workers here are always glad to help. Forget the Super Bowl; dig Sarah’s flying wedge...against herself. So after pissing off Tea Partiers with a very un-populist $100,000 fee for her chirp at their convention in Nashville, she is caught referring to scribbles she made on her hand (remember her "Obama, the guy with the teleprompter"?). Next she carried her "Rahm Emanuel is toast for using the word retard" campaign to Fox News. When asked if it was okay that Rush Limbaugh used it, she said,…

  • In the Land of the Stoner Cops

    Nir Rosen
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:30 am
    See a photo essay about the teams of Afghans who risk their lives to disable explosives here. MAJOR JIM CONTRERAS was awaiting his marching orders. Literally. Stuck in Lashkar Gah, the capital of the Afghan province of Helmand, he was supposed to take his troops, along with a unit of an elite Afghan police force known as ANCOP, to secure the area around Nawa, so the people there could vote. It was part of the past year's biggest US offensive against the Taliban. But he couldn't leave, because his Afghan counterparts hadn't gotten their official order from the Ministry of Interior. The order…
 
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    Raw Story

  • White House press secretary writes grocery list on hand, mocks Palin

    Raw Story
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:28 am
    White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, in a nod to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, wrote a faux shopping list on his hand in dark pen Tuesday in response to reports over the weekend that Palin had written notes to herself during the Tea Party Convention this past weekend.Among the items written on his hand, he said, were "eggs, milk" and "bread."Gibbs also poked fun at the Tea Party itself, saying the tea party was a successful private enterprise and there seemed to be fewer unemployed speech makers due to it.Gibbs isn't the first to mock Palin by writing on his hand. Story continues…

  • Air Force pulls ad following legal threat from White Stripes

    Sahil Kapur
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:05 am
    Add the White Stripes to the long list of rock musicians that have extracted their music from politically-related campaigns they don't support.The Detroit alternative rock duo consisting of Jack and Meg White has lashed out at the United States Air Force for using their song "Fell In Love With A Girl" in a recruitment ad that aired during the Super Bowl.Posted on their main page whitestripes.com is a cutting letter explicating in no ambiguous terms the band's dissatisfaction with the Air Force's use of their works without permission. The duo said they "have not licensed" the song and "plan to…

  • NATO assault force to Afghan villagers: ‘Keep heads down’

    Reuters
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:54 am
    KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan villagers should stay inside and "keep their heads down" when thousands of U.S. Marines launch a massive assault on a densely-populated district in coming days, NATO's civilian representative to Afghanistan said Tuesday.U.S.-led NATO forces are planning one of the 8-year-old war's biggest offensives to seize Marjah, a patchwork of desert canals and opium fields that is now the last large Taliban-held bastion in Helmand, Afghanistan's most violent province.The assault, the first since U.S. President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan in December,…

  • GOP senator’s family builds igloo to mock global warming

    Sahil Kapur
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:04 am
    WASHINGTON -- The apple doesn't seem to fall far from the tree in Sen. Jim Inhofe's (R-OK) family. The rabid climate change denier's loved ones have joined together for the common purpose of poking fun at global warming and Al Gore.Members of Inhofe's family braved the historic snow storms crippling the nation's capital and other northeastern cities to build a sizable igloo near the Washington National Mall in honor of the outspoken climate activist and former vice president.Atop lies a sign at reads "AL GORE'S NEW HOME!" on one side and "HONK IF YOU [HEART] GLOBAL WARMING" on the…

  • GOP official racks up 1 million American Express points

    Daniel Tencer
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:44 am
    The Florida Republican Party is in disarray, with two of its top operatives embroiled in financial scandals that threaten to derail the party's efforts to win seats in this year's mid-term elections.Party Chairman Jim Greer is resigning after it was revealed that he had entered into a secret contract with a dummy corporation set up by the Florida GOP's executive director, Delmar Johnson. Under that agreement, Johnson would collect 10 percent of "all major donations" to the party, reports the St. Petersburg Times.Greer and Johnson's spending on GOP credit cards has also come into question.
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    TPM Election Central

  • Democrats: We're Excited To Debate GOP Shadow Budget...Why Aren't Republicans?

    Brian Beutler
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am
    Democrats aren't letting Republicans run away from the GOP shadow budget--a Social Security and Medicare slashing bill sponsored by their top budget guy, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). But they don't want the issue to disappear from view--in fact, they want it to be a defining issue of the 2010 election. And as such are trying to frame it just right--elevating Ryan and his proposal to magnify the differences between Democrats and Republicans. "Representative Ryan has made a proposal, significant parts of which I do not agree [with]," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) at his weekly press…

  • Poll: 'Tea Party' Support Shifting Back To Republicans

    Eric Kleefeld
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:01 am
    A new Rasmussen poll suggests that Republicans may be regaining the confidence of the Tea Party crowd, and that the appeal of a third-party political force could be wearing off. Rasmussen asked this question, which was previously done in December: "Suppose the Tea Party organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district or the Tea Party candidate from your district?" Two months ago, the result was Democrats 36%, Tea Party 23%, Republicans 18%. The…

  • What Happened To Obama's Post-SOTU Poll Surge?

    Evan McMorris-Santoro
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:57 am
    In the days immediately following President Obama's Jan. 27 State of the Union address, pollsters reported a surge in support for Obama's policies and the way he's handling his job as president. At the time, pollsters said we should check back in a week to get the real story on what Obama's speech and his subsequent appearance at a GOP Q&A session has meant to the national perception of the president's job performance. The answer, according to the polls? Mixed. Obama's approval numbers have slipped back to their pre-address levels in the Rasmussen daily tracking poll, but remain slightly up…

  • Is Ryan's Social Security Slashing Budget Like Contract With America?

    Christina Bellantoni
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:44 am
    Budget battle lines are being drawn on Capitol Hill and House Republicans are deciding if they are going to spend political capital by backing a plan that makes tough choices and effectively privatizes Social Security and ends Medicare, or keep with the vague blueprint they rallied around last year. TPMDC has been talking to conservative groups, former members of Congress and Republican consultants keeping a close eye on the 2010 midterm elections. Our sources tell us the GOP risks permanently being painted as the "party of no" and as lacking guts to present a real plan for fiscal solvency -…

  • Bachmann: 'If We Reject Israel, Then There Is A Curse That Comes Into Play'

    Eric Kleefeld
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:39 am
    Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has declared that America has a serious obligation to support Israel -- and if not, God will curse the United States, and it will be the end of this country. The Minnesota Independent reports that Bachmann told the Republican Jewish Coalition, at an event last week in Los Angeles: "I am convinced in my heart and in my mind that if the United States fails to stand with Israel, that is the end of the United States . . . [W]e have to show that we are inextricably entwined, that as a nation we have been blessed because of our relationship with Israel, and if we reject…
 
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    Guardian: UK Politics

  • The Ukrainian novelist who's foretold David Cameron for PM

    Andrei Kurkov, Luke Harding
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am
    Andrey Kurkov has a good track record when it comes to second-guessing political developmentsHis opinion poll lead is shrinking, but David Cameron can rest assured: he's going to be the next prime minister of Great Britain. So says the Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov, whose novel The President's Last Love, published in 2004, has proved ­startlingly prophetic. Its fictional President Bunin is mysteriously poisoned – the same fate that befell Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine's real president, six months later. (So uncanny was the parallel that two Ukrainian generals asked Kurkov over coffee and…

  • Don't leave Greece to face the speculators alone

    Larry Elliott
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:23 am
    There are shades of Britain's 1976 tryst with the IMF but the Greek debt crisis offers a chance to fight the speculative attacks faced by the euroFor those with long memories of financial crises, Jean-Claude Trichet's decision to fly home early from Australia to attend a European Union summit had a certain resonance.As the doyen of City economists, Stephen Lewis, noted today, news that the president of the European Central Bank had cut short a visit to the antipodes conjured up images of Denis Healey turning his car round at Heathrow airport to deal with the sterling crisis that eventually…

  • Watchdog to investigate peer's expenses

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:01 am
    Lord Clarke of Hampstead, who was told last week that he will not face criminal charges over expenses allegations, may face some form of parliamentary disciplineA House of Lords standards watchdog is to look into a complaint over the expenses of former Labour chairman Lord Clarke of Hampstead, it was announced today.The clerk of the parliaments, Michael Pownall, said he had referred Clarke's case to the House of Lords sub-committee on lords' interests.Clarke was told on Friday by the Crown Prosecution Service that he will not face criminal charges over allegations relating to his claims for…

  • Ainsworth: Taliban do not want peace

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:24 am
    Defence secretary says the Taliban will only negotiate if the military campaign by the international coalition and the Afghan army continues to make progressThe Taliban leadership has no desire to seek peace with the Afghan government of Hamid Karzai, the defence secretary, Bob Ainsworth, warned today.Giving evidence to the Commons defence committee, he said the Taliban would only be brought to the negotiating table if the military campaign by the international coalition and the Afghan army continued to make progress.Ainsworth defended the controversial "reintegration and reconciliation"…

  • Harman sets aside more time for Commons reform vote

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:07 am
    Leader of the Commons announces that the government will set aside a day for debates and votes on the controversial changesHarriet Harman today moved to allay MPs' fears they could be deprived of a vote on proposed Commons reforms designed to increase the influence of backbenchers.The leader of the Commons announced that the government was setting aside a day, provisionally 4 March, for debates and votes on the controversial changes.The move comes after the Tories accused Gordon Brown of delaying the reforms and the prime minister appeared to suggest last week there might not be time before…
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    ThinkProgress: Matthew Yglesias

  • You Can’t Do Anything Without Money

    myglesias
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:48 am
    NYT article hints at some thin reeds of agreement between Democrats and Republicans on health care: While Republicans generally oppose any new entitlement or tax increase, they do have some areas of potential agreement with Democrats. They agree, for example, on the need to emphasize wellness and preventive health programs; to provide more transparency for price and quality data on doctors and hospitals; and to speed the approval of lower-cost generic versions of high-cost biotechnology medicines. I think political reporters need to stop treating Republican opposition to tax increases as the…

  • Markets Respond Positively to Talk of Greek Bailout

    myglesias
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:36 am
    I try not to put too much stock in these one-day “why is the stock market doing this or that” stories, but I noticed that today stocks are rallying as people think there will be some kind of EU rescue/bailout for Greece rather than a catastrophe. And though I haven’t made a scientific study of the matter, my impression is that this has been the pattern throughout the great financial crisis. Among the pundits, there’s a great deal of talk about the need for balance and restraint and worry about this and that but in the markets every signal that there’s going to be…

  • The Fall of Poland

    myglesias
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:55 am
    Charles Lemos at MYDD has me reconsidering my position on the role of Poland’s odd political institutions in its disappearance as a state at the end of the 18th century. Lemos’ point is that while the fix may have been in for geographic and strategic reasons by the time of the Partitions of Poland, the Liberum Veto played a big role in Poland’s decline in the mid-17th Century, the series of events that set the stage for the later extinguishment of the state: It is true that Poland’s geography, not just its location but the fact that the country is a flat hard to defend…

  • Wieseltier vs Sullivan

    myglesias
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am
    My understanding is that Leon Wieseltier and Andrew Sullivan have some kind of personal beef dating back to when Sullivan was editor of the New Republic. Wieseltier basically runs the back-of-the-book autonomously, which is a setup that often leads to friction with the nominal editor of the magazine, and in the case of the Wieseltier/Sullivan situation it was especially bad for some reason. That’s the backdrop for this bizarre Wieseltier hit-piece on Sullivan. Like most of TNR’s very worst work, it suffers deeply from schizophrenia about the idea of flinging around baseless…

  • Marc Thiessen: Obama is Too Good at Killing Terrorists

    myglesias
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:04 am
    As I was observing last night, for a bunch of people who like to slam liberals as insufficiently cruel and bloodthirsty, violent dimwits like Marc Thiessen expend a remarkable amount of time and energy trying to downplay and sugar-coat what it is they’re trying to say. So Foreign Policy magazine, which has a bizarre obsession with shielding the Obama administration from any kind of credible scrutiny by instead filling its virtual pages with the musics of discredited former Bush administration flunkies, has this bizarre Thiessen piece about how Obama is too good at killing terrorists.
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    The Plum Line

  • Obama Rebukes Boehner In Testy Exchange, Charges GOP Wants To Kill All His Initiatives

    Greg Sargent
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:05 am
    At the private White House meeting today between Obama and Congressional leaders, the President and John Boehner got into a testy exchange, aides say, with Obama charging that the GOP is just out to kill all his initiatives.According to aides familiar with the discussion, Boehner made the case that long-term concern over Dem policies — health care, cap and trade — was leading to uncertainty in the private sector, damaging job creation efforts. Boehner said the only way to get the economy moving again is to put these issues behind us.That apparently irked the President, aides say,…

  • Michael Steele Suggests Criticism Of His Tenure Motivated By Racism

    Greg Sargent
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:36 am
    It’s been awhile since Michael Steele has landed himself in the news, but this might stir things up again: In a new interview, Steele bluntly suggests criticism of his tenure — and all the media coverage it’s garnered — may be motivated by racism.The story, called “Up in the Air,” is in the February issue of Washingtonian magazine, and it isn’t online yet, but here’s the key passage, buried way at the end of the piece, on page 96 of the mag:Steele acknowledges that at times he has a tendency to take things too far. “And I get checked on…

  • Republicans Unlikely To Pull Out Of Health Summit, GOPers Say

    Greg Sargent
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:15 am
    After talking to a bunch of senior Republican aides and advisers on background, I can report that the chatter in GOP circles is that it’s unlikely that Republicans will pull out of the health care summit, despite GOP leadership hints to the contrary.The basic view is that the President would have to say or do something dramatic and eye-popping that would give Republicans an unequivocal pretext for pulling out. GOPers doubt Obama will be clumsy enough to do this, given that the White House clearly wants the summit to happen for its own political purposes.“I don’t see anybody…

  • The Morning Plum

    Greg Sargent
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:25 am
    With the White House pushback on terrorism in full swing, counterterror chief John Brennan turns up the volume in the pages of USA Today, arguing that the GOP attacks help the terrorists. Here’s the letter that Republican leaders wrote to Obama yesterday claiming the only way to achieve bipartisan cooperation at the big summit is to junk the health bill and “start over.” Key line laying groundwork for possible non-participation:If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be…

  • Happy Hour Roundup

    Greg Sargent
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:41 pm
    R.I.P., John Murtha. Don’t miss David Rogers’ obituary. Our profile of Murtha is here. A look at the special election now looming to succeed him is right here. Marist poll: More voters disapprove (47%) than approve (44%) of Obama’s performance; independents disapprove by 2-1 margin, 57%-29%. NRCC effort to recruit House Republican candidates is rolling along at a good clip, another sign that it’s shaping up as a good year for the GOP. Justin Elliott makes a key point that risks getting lost: GOP leaders aren’t denying that they were told the Christmas Day bomb…
 
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    Watchblog: Democrats

  • A Tale From Tomorrow.

    7 Feb 2010 | 6:31 am
    The date is 2020. Republicans have succeeded in regaining the Senate and the House. The Public is behind their bid to reform Medicare and do tort reform. Unfortunately, a Democratic Minority, still stinging from the defeats of earlier in the last decade have decided, in a political strategy reminiscent of the Republican's own, to use their filibuster power to effectively stall the bill in Congress. There is no end in sight, even as the credit markets reel from American debt overruns and the sky-high cost of healthcare...Democrats plan to basically wait out the Republicans, demonstrating the…

  • Naked Republican Power

    5 Feb 2010 | 8:59 am
    Richard Shelby of Alabama has demonstrated how a single Republican senator, though a member of the minority party, can prevent the president of the U.S. from doing his job. Shelby used a hold to prevent the confirmation of not 1 but of 70 executive appointees merely to gain some pork for Alabama. An excellent example of the exercise of naked Republican power through obstructionism.The Huffington Post says: Sen. Richard Shelby's (R-Ala.) decision to place a "blanket hold" on all presidential nominations until a pair of billion-dollar earmarks for his home state are fast-tracked has reignited…

  • Republicans Fighting for Financial Bums

    4 Feb 2010 | 9:41 am
    There are 2 major parties in the U.S.: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Democrats, under the leadership of President Obama, are doing their utmost to solve the Depression the financial bums in Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and other financial powerhouses have plunged us into. At every turn, the Republicans are stymying the Democratic efforts. They are fighting FOR the financial bums and against the American people.Read this article published in the conservative Wall Street Journal: Last week, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio made a pitch to Democratic contributor…

  • A Display of Astounding Ignorance

    3 Feb 2010 | 3:28 pm
    Did you know that lifting the ban on gays and lesbians openly serving in the military could cause widespread natural disasters such as earthquakes? And did you know that allowing proud, patriotic Americans to be open about who they are will cause a breakdown of our military, and open the door to a draft? If you were not aware of these things than you must not be paying attention to the stunning battle of wits being waged over President Obama’s recent promise to repeal DADT. These are just some of the arguments being thrown around by those opposed to making America just a little less…

  • FBI Gets Further Information Out of Mirandized Xmas Bomber

    3 Feb 2010 | 3:11 am
    It was the one thing I wanted to tell these people who were insisting that we would never get anything more out of the Hot Pants Bomber because he had been informed of his right to remain silent: just because a suspect shuts up at first, doesn't mean his lips are sealed for good. How did they do it? They appealed to his family. And guess what? The fact we didn't beat the crap out of him to get more answers helped us there.“One of the principal reasons why his family came back is because they had complete trust in the US system of justice and believed that Umar Farouq would be treated fairly…
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    Watchblog: Third Party & Independents

  • Democrats - Almost Novices

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:39 am
    Having pulled the curtain back exposing Republicans for their anti-America stance, it is the Democratic Party's turn to have their position exposed for what it is. The Democrats in the Congress are displaying ineptitude and lack of experience in Congressional leadership, and it is costing this nation its future. The majority of voting Americans in 2008 no doubt hoped that with the election of Obama and a Democratic Congress, our nation's problems would be addressed and solved. The disappointment is everywhere in today's political news coverage. By late Summer of last year, two facts were…

  • Want to Write for This Column?

    7 Feb 2010 | 4:01 am
    Would you like to write articles for this Column? Good writing skills, a word processor to check spelling and grammar, and a blog of your own (or another web site where your writing can be reviewed), will get you considered for a role as a WatchBlog writer. Click here to apply if you are interested in volunteering political perspectives, philosophy, and news, from a 3rd Party or Independent vantage point.

  • Republicans Have Gone Anti-America

    4 Feb 2010 | 3:36 am
    The Republican Party, also known as the Grand Old Party, or GOP, has evolved from a very pro-America Party in 1994, to an anti-America Party through the last decade, taking giant strides in that direction since Americans threw them out of power in 2008. Greed, duplicity, anger, vengeance, and paranoia have taken over the group think psychology of Republicans in Congress, as well as a great many of the remaining supporters of the GOP. It is time the GOP be labeled for what its member's actions demonstrate. Even the GOP's website (link above) demonstrates its loss of priorities and focus on the…

  • Obama's Budget: Big Deficit: Big Picture

    1 Feb 2010 | 7:58 am
    Pres. Obama submitted his budget for the next fiscal year starting in September. It is a record breaking 3.8 Trillion dollars. Of that 3.8 Trillion dollars, 1.3 Trillion is to be borrowed, representing the deficit for this new budget proposal. These are staggering numbers. However, there is a bigger short and long term picture to be appreciated here before marching off into tax payer suicide pacts. Let's examine these big pictures absent the political spin, B.S., and talking points. Short Term Big Picture: Think this budget and deficits would have been different under Pres. McCain? If you say…

  • SOTU. We Don't Quit. I Don't Quit !

    27 Jan 2010 | 11:18 pm
    The President's State of the Union (SOTU) speech was realistic, mostly accurate, and proscriptive. It was not a "feel good" speech. It accurately summarized where the nation is domestically, divided and behind schedule in addressing many of its most pressing issues. His speech pragmatically stipulated that he alone cannot bring the solutions to pass (a campaign refrain); Congress and the people have to carry their share of the load, the confidence, and responsibility. There was nothing in his speech to force the far Left and Right together. There was nothing in his speech to force…
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    Thomas P. M. Barnett

  • The South Africa/Mining Indaba trip

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:59 am
    This one was logistically grueling, but incredibly well set-up by Jenn. The locals were fabulous, as it was one well-run conference, and I performed about as well as ever, given the discombobulating distance (e.g., more word flubs than usual but overall a very strong performance). Mining Indaba (South African indigenous phrase meaning "meeting") is a huge (several thousand attendees) event held each year at Cape Town. It is THE gathering of mining companies regarding Africa (about one-third of world's mining resources), so every huge global mining company was there. For me, it was a…

  • South Africa photos

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:58 am

  • Everybody wants to rule the world

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:07 am
    OP-ED: We need a new capitalism to take on China, By Anatole Kaletsky, (London) Times, February 4, 2010 As analysis goes, a bit backasswards. Politics derives from underlying economics, not vice versa. So it's not a matter of choosing your politics to facilitate your economics, but maturing your politics in response to your economic trajectory. Two undeniable data points kill this guy's argument: 1) Once an economy matures (shifts from extensive to intensive growth), democracies consistently outperform authoritarian regimes on annual GDP growth; and 2) there are no rich, large-scale economies…

  • Beatles infographics

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:22 am
    PROJECT: Charting the Beatles, By Michael Deal Interesting. The break point is roughly Epstein's death. Lotsa collaboration before, much less after.

  • Taking the "east" out of Eastern Europe

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:20 am
    EUROPE: "'Eastern Europe': Wrongly labeled; The economic downturn has made it harder to speak sensibly of a region called 'eastern Europe,'" The Economist, 9 January 2010. Nice opening line: It was never a very coherent idea and it is becoming a damaging one. The notion basically refers to those states caught behind the Iron Curtain but not trapped within the USSR itself (although, now, the three Baltic states seem to be casually included while a Ukraine is not). Within that crew, as the article argues, we saw planned economies, the softer "goulash" version (Hungary) and the self-managed sort…
 
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    TIME: The Page

  • Tuesday Briefing

    christinacrapanzano1
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am
    Bipartisanship tops Obama, Gibbs session with reporters.

  • (S)no(w) Votes

    Adam Sorensen
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:07 am
    Hoyer calls off House activity for the week.

  • "A Good Place to Start"

    Adam Sorensen
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:40 am
    Following meeting with bipartisan House, Senate leaders Tuesday, Obama says jobs bill is something both parties can agree on. "Keeping in mind what's best for the American people... we should be able to accomplish a lot." POOL REPORT: Read it here. REMARKS: Read them here.

  • Michelle's Cause

    Adam Sorensen
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:40 am
    Obama signs a memorandum on childhood obesity Tuesday morning at the White House. REMARKS: Read them here.

  • Steele Charges Double Standard

    Adam Sorensen
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:20 am
    RNC topper talks about race and the chairmanship in interview with Washingtonian Magazine.
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    Foreign Policy: Passport

  • Ramzan Kadyrov listens to his mother

    Joshua Keating
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:36 am
    The wrong side of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov is generally not the safest place to be, but apparently helps if his mom takes your side:  Kadyrov had filed libel suits against Lyudmila Alexeyeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Oleg Orlov, head of rights watchdog Memorial, and Novaya Gazeta — all having accused the Chechen leader of ordering kidnappings and killings in the North Caucasus republic. Numerous human rights activists and Public Chamber members had called on Kadyrov to drop the proceedings, and the Chechen president "stresses that the opinion of the people who have…

  • About that deadly "My Way" karaoke

    Annie Lowrey
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:46 am
    Over the weekend, the New York Times ran a great story on the "My Way" murders in the karaoke-obsessed Philippines. The Times story noted that over the past decade, at least half a dozen people have died just after (or while!) performing the Sinatra tune, ginning up a local legend and landing the story on the NYT's most-read box, a rarity for an international affairs piece. I looked back at some English-language Filipino news sources, where stories about the "My Way" murders and Filipino karaoke culture abound. A 2002 Philippine Daily Inquirer piece entitled "Rage…

  • Good luck, Jonathan

    Elizabeth Dickinson
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:14 am
    Nigeria has a new acting president today, after the country's parliament finally voted that the vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, should stand in for Umaru Yar'Adua. The latter has been missing in action -- rumored dead or worse -- for several months now, leaving the country's leadership in disarray. So who, exactly, is now leading Africa's most populous country?  Much of what I learned about Nigeria's new acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, I learned in a six hour traffic jam on the one-lane, pothole-laden road between Port Harcourt and Yenagoa, the capital of Jonathan's home, Bayelsa. I…

  • Dead or alive list updates

    Joshua Keating
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:12 am
    Some of the ambiguity has been resolved for two of the names on our list of world leaders who may or may not be dead. One of them is now almost certainly dead. One is no longer a leader.  Pakistani Taliban sources have now confirmed that their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, died of wounds from a drone strike last month. According to the sources, Mehsud died Sunday while militants were trying to move him to Karachi for treatment.  Nigeria's parliament also voted to empower Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to take over for absentee President Umaru Yar'Adua until he can return from Saudi Arabia,…

  • China is now Iran's top trading partner

    Blake Hounshell
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:36 am
    Still think China's going to sign on to a new round of tough sanctions against Iran? Think again. China has most likely already passed the European Union to become Iran's No. 1 trading partner, the Financial Times reports: Official figures say the EU remains Tehran’s largest commercial partner, with trade totalling $35bn in 2008, compared with $29bn with China. But this number disguises the fact that much of Iran’s trade with the United Arab Emirates consists of goods channelled to or from China. Majid-Reza Hariri, deputy head of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce, said that transhipments…
 
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    Salon: How the World Works

  • The credit card trust lesson

    Andrew Leonard
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am
    It is a symbol of how much I have come to distrust the financial institutions with which I do business that my first reaction when I opened a letter from Chase labeled "Important Information Regarding Changes to Your Account" was, OK, how is my credit card company trying to screw me this time? But I was wrong. The letter informed me of positive changes to the terms of my Cardmember Agreement mandated by the Credit Card Act of 2009. There are three main changes that will go into effect Feb. 22. Payments greater than the minimum payment will now be applied to higher rate interest balances…

  • Tea party genius: Sen. Larry Kudlow

    Andrew Leonard
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:01 pm
    Could we really be so lucky? CQ Politics is reporting that "the movement to draft CNBC host Larry Kudlow to run against Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is charging full-speed ahead." A nation of econobloggers and political reporters holds its breath (and poison pen) in feverish anticipation. It's not just that the prospect of an inveterate anti-tax, pro-supply-side ideologue with high name recognition running for the Senate in the media capital of the world would be the equivalent of a massive jobs stimulus plan targeted directly at the beleaguered news business. There's also the fun to be had…

  • The tax break that broke Wall Street

    Andrew Leonard
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:45 am
    At Capital Gains and Games, Pete Davis argues that the tax code helped precipitate the financial crisis. Specifically, the corporate income tax deduction available for interest that accrues on debt encouraged companies to borrow money for their acquisitions and trading bets, instead of investing directly in equity. It makes sense. If you can write off the interest payments on debt as a tax deduction, but have to pay taxes on the income generated by actual ownership of equity, you will be steered toward debt by the not-so-invisible hand of the tax code. Davis writes that "the corporate income…

  • Hank Paulson: A not very good improviser

    Andrew Leonard
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:38 am
    Disclaimer: I chose not to read "On the Brink," former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's memoir, because I suspected it would not be worth my time. After reading the early reviews, ranging from Max Abelson's annihilation of the book in the New York Observer to Daniel Gross's far more gentle treatment in the Washington Post, I feel confident I made the right call. Gross writes that "On the Brink" provides "plenty of excellent color and detail," but "a surprising inability to see the big picture." And much of what he does tell us, we already knew. For example: John McCain comes off worst of…

  • Beware the demonic polar bear of doom

    Andrew Leonard
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:01 pm
    Polar bears? Endangered? At risk from a warming planet? Have you ever considered that it is the planet that might be at risk from a fully loaded ursine avenger? Behold the polar bear of doom! Watch the demon sheep cower in fear. (Much thanks to a tweet from Marty Cortinas. Some backstory can be found here).
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    Culture Kitchen

  • Is the RNC Committing Fraud with a Fake Census? [UPDATED]

    mole333
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:05 am
    Seems like the Republican National Committee is disguising a fundraising letter as a Census form! I got this email from Congressman Loebsack of Iowa: I was very disappointed when I heard from concerned citizens in the 2nd District that Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, has sent a fundraising appeal into our district that looks like an official Census document. This fundraising letter even calls itself a 'Census survey' and asks people to pay for the cost of processing the census form. The Census is vital for our communities because an accurate count helps ensure…

  • What's in your safe sex bag?

    liza
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:23 am
    CruelSecretary tweeted the following question: if you cld bundle the perfect safer-sex bag, what wld you put in it? No judgments. Just doing some research...While I do that, answer this: if you cld bundle the perfect safer-sex bag, what wld you put in it? No judgments. Just doing some research... I responded that in my bag I would have MONEY; especially if it is a date where you're being driven around. You want to make sure you have extra money to leave from wherever you are from a bad date. Sex is not just about the act. In my book, sex is about a whole set of social practices between two…

  • RIP John Murtha, US Senator (D-PA)

    liza
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:12 pm
    Congressman Murtha Dies - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com Representative John P. Murtha, the longtime Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, has died at age 77. His aides released a statement saying that he died shortly after 1 p.m. today at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Mr. Murtha had been placed in intensive care last week after complications from gallbladder surgery, his staff said then. Given that with Teddy Kennedy's passing the Demcoratic Party lost their US Senate majority to a Republican, am naming the coming electoral fight for this seat the…

  • Costa Rica Elects First Woman President

    mole333
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:53 am
    Yet another country beats the United States to electing a woman President. Costa Rica has elected Laura Chinchilla as their next President. Thus Costa Rica joins India, Pakistan, Israel, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Liberia and Chile, to name just a few, in accepting a woman as a democratically elected leader. This is one way that the US remains a bit backwards. Laura Chinchilla is fairly right wing in my book. Pro-free market (which is fine up to a point), anti-abortion and anti-marriage equality, she wouldn't be my first choice for President. Her predecessor and mentor, Oscar…

  • Team Brangie!

    liza
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:59 am
    I wasn't going to write about how cute Brangelina looks in these photos after seeing them over at Oh No They Didn't. That is, until I saw on my twitter stream a messed up article about the Jolie-Pitts, ganked right out of gossip blogs, published on the Puerto Rican newspaper EL Nuevo Día. What the hell people?!?! No wonder journalism is dead. To which I say, TEAM BRANGIE! They soften this cynical bitch's hard cold heart and make me want to fall in love again. They're just adorable.
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    TechRepublican.com

  • The Second Cup: Apps, Apps, Apps

    Meghann Olshefski
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:34 am
    Economist: A Special Report on Social Networking Online social networks are changing the way people communicate, work and play, and mostly for the better - download full report - click here. Social Media and Baby Boomers A summary of Media Post's take on social media and baby boomers -- Include social media in plans to reach Boomers: it is clear that social networks are not a passing phase for Boomers. Like others, they are finding that online social networks enhance their existing relationships. Tea Party Trying to Organize Offline Tea Partiers held their first national convention this…

  • The Second Cup: Most Wanted Edition

    Meghann Olshefski
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:31 am
    Google Airs Super Bowl Ad, Making Rare TV Appearance Google Inc., the world’s most popular search engine, aired a minute-long commercial during the Super Bowl, marking a rare use of TV advertising for the company.  The ad demonstrated features of the company’s search engine, including its translation functions. The commercial, called “Parisian Love,” showed an Internet user relying on Google to court someone in France. And Google responds... Love and the Super Bowl If you watched the Super Bowl this evening you'll have seen a video from Google called "Parisian Love". In…

  • You Should Always Refollow

    wesleydonehue
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:33 am
    After an enriching conversation with my buddy @treypennington (who you should be following) I've decided that political candidates and elected officials should always refollow their twitter followers. What do you think?  - @wesleydonehue

  • The Second Cup: You Too Can Google

    Meghann Olshefski
    5 Feb 2010 | 6:32 am
    While we're here in DC preparing for yet another giant snowstorm, here are some virtual tidbits to keep you warm through the weekend wherever you may be. Bloomberg '09 Spent Over $2 Million on Digital Ads The Bloomberg 2009 campaign has become notorious for record spending. Yet, while it probably spent the most ever for a mayoral campaign on digital media - over $2 million - that number represents just a small fraction of the amount spent on television ads, direct mail, and other traditional media buys. The campaign - resulting in Mike Bloomberg's third New York City Mayoral win - had a…

  • MoneyBomb 101: Successful Fundraising Drives through your Campaign Website

    Martin Avila
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:09 am
    What is a Moneybomb? “Moneybomb” is a term for an online donation drive managed through a campaign website and attached to a predetermined financial goal; a time limit is placed on the event to add a sense of criticality, often 24 hours but potentially as much as a week. The first such event completed by Terra Eclipse was during Constitution Week of Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign. This set the stage for later single-day drives which were timed to meet quarterly financial targets and immensely successful in doing so. Setting a Plausible Goal The first thing I tell anyone about a…
 
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    millennial makeover

  • Millennials Need to Stand Up and be Counted

    1 Feb 2010 | 12:01 pm
    As the campaign to ensure a complete and accurate count of every American in this year's census gets off the ground, a new survey of American attitudes toward participating in the census shows that young Americans, members of the Millennial Generation, born 1982-2003, may prove least likely to stand up and be counted. The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that roughly one-third of 18-29 year olds hadn't heard of the census, and even after having the process described to them, 17 percent were still unaware of just what the census involved. This lack of knowledge translated…

  • Millennials Will Take Over American Music Next

    30 Jan 2010 | 11:41 am
    The first Grammy Awards of the new decade are just around the corner. On Jan. 31, the voting committee may crown a new queen of pop music, crossover country star Taylor Swift, and with it signal the musical coming-of-age of the Millennial Generation.Nominated for eight 2010 Grammy Awards, including record and album of the year, Ms. Swift has already beaten out Michael Jackson for the American Music Award's top trophy in 2009 and won three more at November's Country Music Association (CMA) Awards in Nashville. She's also the youngest person to be named CMA Entertainer of the Year.Unlike the…

  • A Millennial State of the Union

    29 Jan 2010 | 10:40 am
    President Obama's focus on the economy is exactly what Millennials (Americans born between 1982-2003) want to hear. Their generation is experiencing Depression levels of unemployment, higher than any other generation. They deeply believe that the path to a better job leads through a better education. That’s why any Millennial jobs program must begin with the steps outlined in the President’s speech—a revitalization of community colleges, increased Pell Grants and a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college. Those who have graduated from college with unprecedented debt will…

  • Use It or Lose It

    28 Jan 2010 | 10:01 am
    In spite of incorrect explanations like those of New York Times political columnist Matt Bai that the election of Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate resulted from the actions of a fickle electorate dominated by political independents, the loss by Democrats of a long-held Senate seat is really a clear example of the old adage, "If you don't use it, you lose it." That is the lesson that Democrats should draw from last week's special election. The admittedly shocking event in Massachusetts notwithstanding, during the past decade the Democratic Party has assembled a new, and…

  • Lost Generation

    21 Jan 2010 | 3:56 pm
    this is a brilliant statement by a Millennial who is actually NOT a member of a lost generation. But on point nevertheless. It finished second in the AARP contest. can't imagine what beat it.Morley
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    Patrick Ruffini

  • Scott Brown’s Online Fundraising Machine: Inside the Numbers

    28 Jan 2010 | 9:59 am
    A word cloud of the most commonly used words in donor messages to the Scott Brown campaign. Engage was proud to play a role in Scott Brown’s historic, come-from-behind victory through iContribute, our online fundraising platform. In the end, over $12 million was raised online with over 157,000 individual donations, more than leveling the playing field and dramatically altering the political calculus as the Democratic establishment went all out to counter a Republican spending advantage powered by small donors. In the end, Brown defeated Martha Coakley by 52 to 47 percent to become the…

  • Benko's Attack: Setting the Record Straight

    15 Jan 2010 | 2:52 pm
    This morning I awoke to a "public flogging of Patrick Ruffini" from Ralph Benko, an enthusiastic proponent of new media in the conservative movement in D.C. He was responding to my recent piece on the "Obama Disconnect" -- the lively debate surrounding Organizing for America and Obama's loss of grassroots mojo from the campaign. Ralph attempts to connect my skeptical view of Organizing for America (and indeed the Obama campaign) to disdain for the tea party movement. It's a pretty big leap, and one superseded by my numerous posts on the actual tea party movement (here, here, and here). …

  • The Obama Disconnect: A Belated Response to Micah Sifry

    10 Jan 2010 | 12:40 am
    Before the new year, Micah Sifry came out with a provocative, much-discussed piece on the failures of the Obama organizing model in government. At once, the piece is a surprising indictment of the Administration's modus operandi from one of its supporters, but the reasons the indictment came about are not surprising at all. Like 43 similar outfits before it, the Obama White House is essentially a top-down operation. Indeed, it's easy to dismiss Sifry's ideal of autonomous, almost leaderless political movements as essentially incompatible with the work of government. The contrast between the…

  • Two cities, two mayors, two approaches

    4 Jan 2010 | 3:29 pm
    “People are talking about you on social networks and you need to be in on the conversation.” This should be the axiomatic approach to social media for all public figures (celebrities, business owners, candidates, etc.).Networks like Twitter and Facebook are the venues where Americans are having conversation about everything from national security to professional sports.Unlike the old gathering places like the barber shop or the local watering hole, people are letting you listen in and want you to be a part of the discussion.It’s Gossip 2.0. The Internet is abuzz with the news that…

  • Evidence Scott Brown is Within Single Digits in Massachusetts

    1 Jan 2010 | 8:52 pm
    My initial post on Scott Brown drew a pretty good reaction, and this response from Michael Barone is a must-read. Barone argues if Republicans are able to seriously contest Massachusetts, and in a race where Democrats are the heavy sentimental favorites after the passing of Ted Kennedy, that could have a kind of terrorism effect on wobbly House Democrats that will force many more to retire, and inspire strong Republican candidates to jump into the race in blue districts. This could set the stage in a very nice way for November.  Absent a scientific poll of the race, two recent bits of…
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    National Journal Blogometer

  • 2/9: Summit Skepticism

    Ian Faerstein
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:22 am
    Most liberal bloggers are skeptical of Pres. Obama's proposal to host a televised, bipartisan health care summit. Charles Lemos worries that the summit "runs the risk of endlessly extending an already tortuous process," while Brendan Nyhan complains that Obama "is...

  • 2/8: Sarah In The Spotlight

    Ian Faerstein
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:27 pm
    On a relatively slow news weekend, the biggest topic in the blogosphere was ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin's speech at the National Tea Party Convention, which was carried live by C-SPAN and the three major cable news networks. Not surprisingly, the...

  • 2/5: From Cohen To Quinn

    Ian Faerstein
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:11 pm
    Now that the dust is starting to settle on Tuesday's IL primaries, bloggers are slowly realizing that IL Dems nominated an LG candidate -- pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen (D) -- who was once arrested for allegedly holding a knife to...

  • 2/4: Bayh Vs. Coats?

    Ian Faerstein
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:37 am
    Yesterday we noted that conservative bloggers such as Hugh Hewitt and Jennifer Rubin were excited about reports that ex-Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) is considering challenging Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN). However, not every righty blogger is enthusiastic about Coats' candidacy. RedState...

  • 2/3: Come On, Feel The Illinoise!

    Ian Faerstein
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:34 am
    Neither liberal bloggers nor conservative bloggers are thrilled about the results of yesterday's IL SEN primaries. The rightroots aren't fans of moderate Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL); Michelle Malkin sums up the views of many on the right when she describes...
 
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    Roll Call: Politics

  • Former Berry Aide Enters Race to Succeed Congressman

    Chad Causey, the former chief of staff of retiring Rep. Marion Berry (D), announced Tuesday that he will run to succeed his old boss in Arkansas' 1st district.

  • DeMint's Special Brand

    On Wednesday, Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) Senate Conservatives Fund will be a major contributor to a "money bomb" fundraiser for the Senate campaign of former Florida Speaker Marco Rubio (R) with a goal of raising $200,000 in 24 hours.

  • Who Gets Grass Roots in Kansas?

    With a bad fundraising quarter behind Rep. Todd Tiahrt, Rep. Jerry Moran could officially be considered the frontrunner in the GOP primary for Senate in Kansas.

  • Pennsylvania: Special to Replace Murtha Likely in May

    State election officials are looking at holding a special election to fill the vacancy created by the death of Rep. John Murtha (D) on May 18, the previously scheduled statewide primary date.

  • Nation: Latino Voting Bloc Key Factor in Midterms

    Latino voters are poised to make a difference in Congressional races from coast to coast, according to a new study released Monday by a national organization pushing for comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
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    Inside-Out the Beltway

  • Our Media's Motto: "They Distort, We Provide" (updated with Colbert Report)

    Chris in DC
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:20 pm
    The FBI interviews underpants bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in the same way as just about every other terrorism suspect in its custody, in line with its constitutional obligations, and what do the geniuses on Hardball have to say about it? "Both sides" of the manufactured partisan squabble over this issue "may have an argument" over whether the Obama administration is intolerably soft on terror. Well knock me over with a feather.Witness the below exchange, coming after the most offhanded observation that Abdulmutallab was given Miranda warnings just like nearly every other terrorism…

  • Tiny Trinkets For Tiny Minds (updated)

    Chris in DC
    3 Feb 2010 | 3:13 am
    What is the surest sign that one's ideology is utterly, hopelessly bankrupt? When, increasingly, manifestations of that ideology take the form of hobgoblin obsessions with the most inconsequential, paper-thin minutiae, folded into intricate, hollow origami of false meaning.Again and again, we see this trend exhibited by the contemporary American right-wing. I was reminded of it just last night when, on Google News, this little bauble caught my eye (warning, link is to FOXNews.com):Much attention has been given to President Obama's persistent use of "I" when giving speeches to sell his…

  • Republican Superfriends: Reign of Dick

    Chris in DC
    1 Feb 2010 | 9:28 pm
    When we last saw the Republican Superfriends, they thought all was lost, as the terrible Blue Plague had consumed most of our Great Nation, portending a dark era of socialist terrorist unAmericanisms! Little did they know, a hidden force lay dormant and waiting, like radon gas, cocooned in a deep bunker filled to the ceilings with computer processors and digital panels, to emerge in the Republican Superfriends direst hour of need!Previously, some time ago, on Superfriends:"Vice Decider Dick Cheney's body finally critically failed five months ago," said Boy Senator Lindsey Graham, lowering his…

  • Marketing the Apocalypse

    Chris in DC
    1 Feb 2010 | 5:24 pm
    Sweaty, scheming homunculus Frank Luntz has scrawled a new black spell for his GOP masters, dutifully providing them once again with paint-by-numbers instructions on how to reanimate their soulless political corpus with the distilled alchemy of marketing and language manipulation. People like Luntz, who is not nearly as much a genius as an unapologetic wallower in ordin'ry folk political cliche, profit so obscenely from their craft because the big money in our society is almost invariably in finding clever ways to convince the rabble that economic slavery is liberation, destruction is…

  • In a Perfect World (updated)

    Chris in DC
    29 Jan 2010 | 11:41 am
    Following-up on my previous post about Obama's forum with House Republicans, I want to emphasize that none of Obama's efforts at public persuasion matter if they are not combined with an aggressive effort behind the scenes to push forward on important reform and recovery legislation. In one sense, the new emphasis the White House reportedly intends to place on financial reform and job creation is smart, because it will force Republicans to publicly side with the corporations and against the middle and working classes. However, it's also vitally important that health care reform not be…
 
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    Open Left - Front Page

  • Senate reaches apparent deal on jobs bill

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:56 am
    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has apparently orchestrated a deal on a jobs bill with Senate Republicans.  The bill will be introduced later today: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will introduce a jobs bill on Tuesday that he said would have Republican support. Reid told reporters the bill would be introduced on Tuesday, and that it would include an extension of the tax breaks, known as tax extenders, that expired last year. "As of last night, there will be Republican support for this bill," Reid told reporters. The apparent deal not only includes extensions on tax breaks,…

  • As condition for participation in summit, Republicans demand summit be scrapped

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:53 am
    I have learned, in background discussions with Republican leaders, of additional demands they have made to President Obama on the proposed health care summit.  While these demands were later removed from the letter they eventually sent to President Obama, I have been able to reconstruct them here: The bipartisan health care summit must be scrapped in order to secure Republican participation in the summit. The elimination from public instruction in Serbia, both as regards the teaching body and the methods of instruction, all that serves or might serve to foment the propaganda against…

  • What Air America Tells Us About the Difference Between Conservative and Liberal Benefactors

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    Former Air America CEO Danny Goldberg has a must-read on the demise of the radio network and what he believes it tells us about the difference between conservative movement funders and their (supposed) progressive counterparts. Here's the key excerpt: Conservatives believe in doing whatever it takes to promote their ideas. Richard Viguerie, viewed as one of the architects of the modern conservative movement, wrote a book in 2004 called America's Right Turn: How Conservatives Used New and Alternative Media To Take Power, in which he explains how the right wing used talk radio among other…

  • No need for clever explanations on Obama's approval rating decline

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:53 pm
    There are a lot of clever-sounding explanations for the declining approval ratings of President Obama, and the declining electoral fortunes of the Democratic Party.   For example, Edward Luce and Steve Clemmons take aim at President Obama consulting a narrow group of Chicago-based advisors.  Another example comes from Zach Exley, who proposes that the center-left isn't articulating as coherent a worldview at Glen Beck and the tea partiers (and no, he isn't being snarky).  Tim Dickinson offers up a third explanation, arguing that Organizing for America should have become a more…

  • Representative Jack Murtha passes away

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:12 pm
    John Murtha has passed away: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12) passed away peacefully this afternoon at 1:18 p.m. at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA. At his bedside was his family. Murtha, 77, was Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in February of 1974, Murtha dedicated his life to serving his country both in the military and in the halls of Congress. A former Marine, he became the first Vietnam War combat Veteran elected to the U.S. Congress. This past Saturday, February 6, 2010,…
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    The Nation: Editor's Cut

  • Welcome to Palinland

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    7 Feb 2010 | 7:12 pm
    With a nod to Rick Perlstein, 'Welcome to Palinland'. Atop Palinland's Mount Rushmore are Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater. Palinland's Bill of Rights has been edited and redacted, reordered and revised with red ink: in Palinland, the Fifth and Sixth Amendments that ensure due process and the rights of the accused are merely suggestive measures to be administered based on the emotional whim of a carefully-harnessed fear and a fervently-stoked anger. And in Palinland, the Tenth Amendment's reservation of power for the individual states is paramount, a necessary protection for a people whose…

  • Around 'The Nation'

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    6 Feb 2010 | 3:25 pm
    Hopefully you've read Professor Lawrence Lessig's provocative new essay, "How to Get Our Democracy Back." Lessig's piece is essential reading for people across the political spectrum, and we're doing what we can to reach 'everyone' concerned about the future of our democracy. Lessig appeared on 'Democracy Now' and on 'Bill Moyers Journal', but also on the conservative Hugh Hewitt radio show, and his piece was reprinted at Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com. As Lessig argues, whether you are a progressive who wants healthcare reform or a conservative who wants smaller government, none of it…

  • Question Time in Our Democracy

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:42 am
    "We live in a world that increasingly demands more dialogue than monologue." Those are words from the founding manifesto issued earlier this week by a diverse group of bloggers, journalists, commentators, techies and politicos calling for more question-and-answer sessions, or "Question Time," between the President and the opposition party. I am one of those, along with Grover Norquist, who has signed on. Here's why: these are times when unfiltered, unfettered public debate--rigorous, substantive, candid and civil--is rare and hard to find. I believe that "Demand Question Time" could help us…

  • No Defense for This Budget

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:59 am
    Deficit hysteria has reached new levels yet where is the attention to an out of control defense budget that is now the largest since World War II? While the Obama Admistration's three-year freeze on discretionary spending is a bad idea, it's made even worse because unprecedented Pentagon spending is exempted from it. Who would know from all of the whining about budget deficits that military spending is the largest discretionary item in the federal government? Exempting all security-related expenditures from common sense cuts will have serious consequences for almost everything the government…

  • Around 'The Nation'

    Katrina vanden Heuvel
    1 Feb 2010 | 6:24 am
    Hopefully everyone had a chance to read what Jeremy Scahill calls the saddest and most moving story he's ever written: his interview with Mohammed Kinani, father of the youngest victim of the Blackwater mass shooting in Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007. Here is a powerful slideshow from the interview, with images of Kinani's beloved son Ali. We'll have video of the interview up this week, and will continue to follow Kinani's struggle for justice. To date, Blackwater remains unaccountable for their actions in 2007. A few things from our orbit this week: A new video and a major forum on the…
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    Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

  • Michael Tomasky: The healthcare summit

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:41 am
    The party of no doubles down on the healthcare summit Obama called for over the weekend. From TPM:"Assuming the President is sincere about moving forward on health care in a bipartisan way, does that mean he will agree to start over so that we can develop a bill that is truly worthy of the support and confidence of the American people?" write the leaders, Reps. John Boehner and Eric Cantor. "If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be reluctant to participate," they continue.In other words, it…

  • 'Condescending liberals' of the US unite | Dan Kennedy

    Dan Kennedy
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am
    A Washington Post article that sought to explain why liberals are so condescending was full of dubious assertionsThere is nothing self-hating liberals love more than to be told they're elitists who detest and fear the real America. So when Gerard Alexander pitched an essay to the Washington Post explaining why liberals are so condescending, the editors must have been overcome by paroxysms of joy."See how we grovel!" you can imagine them thinking. "Surely no one will accuse us of liberal bias if we are willing to publish a conservative screed as mendacious as this."Alexander's piece, published…

  • Like duck boats to water | Lynsey Hanley

    Lynsey Hanley
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    Amphibious transport would be a welcome addition to the rivers of Britain, not to mention a good way to curb car useThere are few things in life that get me more excited than new developments in public transport, not least because anything which suggests new life for car-free mobility means a swifter end to Top Gear. The arrival of the amphibious bus as a potential replacement for the river Clyde ferry from Renfrew to Yoker is more grist to the mill. It may have the appearance of a bendy bus that has been thrown into the water in a fit of pique, as you might with a disobedient supermarket…

  • Channel 4's Royal Mail witch hunt | Roy Mayall

    Roy Mayall
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    Monday's Dispatches programme was an exercise in one-sided journalism. Where was the coherent analysis?The opening lines of Monday evening's Dispatches programme on Channel 4 set the tone for the next 40 minutes. "Once Royal Mail was your friend," it said. "Not any more."We were then subjected to a barrage of negativity about the culture of the Royal Mail. Rude managers. Incompetent staff. People not knowing where they were going. Inadequate training. Lax security. Mishandled packages. Late mail. Bad industrial relations. Theft and laziness.Most posties would recognise elements of this. We…

  • Double standards on human rights | Rahila Gupta

    Rahila Gupta
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:39 am
    Where does Amnesty International stand on women's rights after suspending Gita Sahgal for criticising links with Moazzam Begg?The Sunday Times last week carried an article in which the head of Amnesty International's gender unit, Gita Sahgal, was quoted criticising the organisation for its close association with Moazzam Begg. At issue, she says, are his alleged sympathies with the Taliban in Afghanistan and, through the Guantánamo prisoners campaign Cageprisoners, his work on behalf of detained al-Qaida activists.In his defence, a copy of a letter sent to the Sunday Times posted on the…
 
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    Wired: Danger Room

  • With Darpa’s ‘Transparent Earth,’ Underground Doesn’t Mean Out of Sight

    Katie Drummond
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:50 am
    The Pentagon’s science fringe has been trying to lord over the natural elements for years now. They’ve talked about planet hacking and screwing with enemy climates, and they still want to harness the power of lightning. This year, military science has more of an “all-encompassing” goal for global mastery. As part of its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Pentagon extreme research agency Darpa is launching the “Transparent Earth” project. They’ll invest $4 million into the creation of real-time, 3-D maps that display “the physical, chemical and…

  • Haiti Relief’s Secret Weapon: Google Earth

    Nathan Hodge
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:31 am
    PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Days after the Jan. 12 earthquake, a group of Haitians set up a small tent camp in an open field not far from the U.S. Embassy. In theory, this small community was well-situated to receive aid: It was in spitting distance of a helicopter landing zone. And right nearby was the World Food Program’s consolidated warehouse, where relief agencies store all their goods shipped from the Dominican Republic. Join Reddit’s Haiti relief fundraising drive with Direct Relief International. Contribute to Haiti Rewired, a community for discussing tech, infrastructure and…

  • NATO to Afghans: We’re Invading Your Town. Don’t Leave!

    Noah Shachtman
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:55 am
    Please, please, pretty please don’t leave the warzone. That seems to be today’s message from NATO headquarters in Afghanistan to the residents of central Helmand province. For weeks, NATO forces have been telling anyone who’ll listen that they’re about to roll into the area in a “major offensive.”  And now that “Operation Moshtarak” is just about underway, many locals are taking the perfectly-understandable step of leaving town. NATO is asking them not to go. “Combined force commanders are encouraging civilians to remain in the safety of…

  • Why the Army Doesn’t Train on Xboxes

    Michael Peck
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:08 am
    Right now, every military command post and every training center is packed with PCs. In the future, many of those machines might be replaced with game consoles — if the armed forces can ever work out their disagreements with the console-makers. Why consoles? For starters, it’s a tool that young recruits are very familiar with. The military — especially the Army and Marines — has turned to videogames because live training is often complicated and expensive. Surveys show that young people now spend more time gaming on consoles than on PCs. It’s the older (well, at…

  • How To: Smuggle Secret Information with VOIP

    David Pierce
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:15 pm
    In the 5th Century BCE, the Greek tyrant Histiaeus devised a clever new way to send hidden messages. He shaved the head of one of his servants, tattooed the missive on his head, and waited for his hair to grow back before sending the messenger out. When the courier arrive, his head was shaved and the message was read, giving information about upcoming Persian attacks. Though Histiaeus may not have known as much, he was one of the early practitioners of steganography, the practice of hiding one message inside another, innocent-looking message. Later on, secret inks were used, and Morse code…
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    The Swamp

  • World: Obama better than Bush

    Mark Silva
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:15 am
    by Michael Muskal That billboard in Mnnesota picturing former President George W. Bush asks the world: "Miss me yet?'' Well, now we have the world's answer: Not so much. President Barack Obama has had a tough first year dealing with domestic issues, but according to the latest polls, he has chalked up a success in how the rest of the world sees the United States. The U.S.-Global Leadership Project, a partnership between the Meridian International Center and Gallup, found that a median of 51 percent of the world approves of the Obama administration's performance -- up from 34 percent approval…

  • Bush: 'Miss me yet?' -- author, author?

    Mark Silva
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:10 am
    by Mark Silva and updated at 2 pm EST The billboard sitting along I-35 near Wyoming, Minn., displaying a photo of former president George W. Bush and this question: "Miss Me Yet?" apparently is a sign in search of an author. At National Public Radio, they report that Minnesota Public Radio reports that it's the real McCoy: They have seen this sign. (See the photo here from MPR.) But "there's no readily apparent claim of ownership on the billboard,'' NPR's The Two Way reports, and the good folks in Minnesota are looking into that. Minnesota Public Radio's Bob Collins checked in with the mayor…

  • Health-care summit: Maybe, maybe not

    Mark Silva
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:05 am
    by Mark Silva The "party of no'' is sounding today like the party of maybe - or maybe not. With the White House planning a Feb. 25 summit of bipartisan congressional leaders to discuss health-care legislation, the House's Republican leaders have warned the administration that they may not be able to attend if the White House insists on pressing its same agenda. "If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be reluctant to participate," House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Cantor) and Republican…

  • Michelle Obama's cause: Child obesity

    Mark Silva
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    by Mark Silva and updated at 9:35 am EST The first lady has embarked on a cause, as anyone near a television set today will see: Michelle Obama will appear on Good Morning America and a run of other shows through PBS' Newshour tonight with a wake-up call for families overlooking childhood obesity. The first lady also has acknowledged the "guilty pleasure'' she finds in French fries, which is to say that she gets the whole temptation thing, too. "I love burgers and fries,'' she says. "The question is, how do we balance that all out.'' With an estimated one-third of all American children…

  • Rep. John Murtha, 1932-2010, 18 terms

    Mark Silva
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:15 pm
    by Mark Silva Rep. John Murtha, decorated Marine and powerful veteran of Capitol Hill, was the first Vietnam combat veteran elected to Congress, a force to be reckoned with in the House, and he was, when all is said and done, an imperfect and longtime servant. Murtha, a "tough-as-nails'' Democratic hawk and for two decades the ranking member of his party on the House subcommittee that controls defense spending, also had become an outspoken and influential critic of the war in Iraq. He died today at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., a spokesman for the congressman said. Murtha was…
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    Why Tuesday?

  • That Short Walk To The Voting Booth

    Jacob Soboroff
    18 Jan 2010 | 8:19 am
    Nearly half a century has passed since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Despite enthusiasm for the 2008 campaign, USA voter turnout in 2009 was anemic, worse than most nations. In the spirit of Dr. King, we’re working to spark a national discussion about voting. Our nation is again in need of national reforms which will result in an America where voting is not just a right but also a democratic imperative. As we remember Dr. King for his service and sacrifice, let us not forget the emphasis Dr. King placed on “that short walk to the voting booth.” On the occasion of Martin…

  • Happy Birthday, Dr. King

    Jacob Soboroff
    15 Jan 2010 | 9:19 am
    Our group was founded by personal acquaintances of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to honor the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, for which Dr. King fought for and won for all Americans. Today, January 15th, is Dr. King’s birthday. But “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,” a national holiday in the United States where government offices and many private businesses are closed, always falls on the third Monday in January, making a three-day weekend for the people of the United States. Other presidents’ birthdays, and Columbus Day, were also “moved” to make for…

  • What Is Why Tuesday?

    Jacob Soboroff
    7 Jan 2010 | 5:14 pm
    We’re a non-partisan, nonprofit group working to increase participation in elections. Despite the excitement of the 2008 campaign, predictions of record voter turnout were too optimistic. In 2009, turnout was anemic. This video sums up who we are and what we do. It was produced for Current TV by John Carluccio. Follow us on Twitter for the latest from our team.

  • NYC: Goodbye, Lever Voting

    Jacob Soboroff
    6 Jan 2010 | 8:03 am
    In May, we brought you the story of how New York State was atwitter - in reality and online - about how best to ditch a vestigial organ of elections past: the lever voting machine. Today New York City is finally doing it, and not without further debate, David W. Chen reports this morning for the New York Times. After years of delays and fierce lobbying, the city’s Board of Elections on Tuesday afternoon selected Election Systems and Software, an Omaha company, to provide new electronic voting machines in time for the September 2010 primary. Voters will now be required to fill out paper…

  • Baruch College Seminar

    Jacob Soboroff
    4 Jan 2010 | 6:32 pm
    Please join me and these other awesome speakers Tuesday in NYC from 4-6PM for this event at Baruch College! I’ll be talking about how nonprofits can use online video like we did at Why Tuesday? - and more. No promises about how to interview President Obama, though. You can RSVP online here. Click the image above for a bigger version.
 
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    Confederate Yankee

  • Ripping Birtherism in the Media

    Confederate Yankee
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:05 am
    The birthers remind me of the freaks who occasionally show up in court with long diatribes about how the Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Trilateral Commission, is acting unconstitutionally under their idiosyncratic view of the 16th Amendment, which...

  • NPR Drone Hopeful That Bush Billboard is Ironic

    Confederate Yankee
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:29 am
    I find his attempt at deflection amusing: At first glance, it would seem to be from some person or group who isn't thrilled by President Barack Obama's performance so far -- unless it's a more ironic message from those who...

  • Murtha Dead

    Confederate Yankee
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:51 am
    It's a shame. I was hoping he'd last long enough to at least get indicted, and apologize to those Marines he smeared. From the comments: "I wonder if Obama will speak of his time as a member of the Marine...

  • Selling Fear and Politics

    Confederate Yankee
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:24 am
    Because she could not recite the alphabet, Joshua Tabor shoved his daughter face-down into a bowl of water. When authorities came for her, she was found cowering in a closet, covered in scratches and bruises. Joshua Tabor is mentally ill...

  • The Night The TEA Party Ended

    Confederate Yankee
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:35 am
    I think he's on to something....
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    Betsy's Page

  • Cruising the Web

    Betsy Newmark
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    William McGurn notes that President Obama is implicitly endorsing Bush policies on dealing with terrorists while a WSJ editorial argues that Obama's terrorism policies are vindicating Dick Cheney's arguments about their mistakes. They're now having to walk back some of their most prominent early policy announcements rejecting the Bush-Cheney policies. Furthermore, Byron York thinks that the

  • More Ninth Circuit lunacy

    Betsy Newmark
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:27 am
    James M. Thunder (what a name!) writes about a 9th Circuit Court ruling that declares unconstitutional Washington state's constitution disenfranchising convicted felons. The Ninth Circuit found that there were such discrepancies in race among the incarcerated that the constitutional provision was a violation of the 14th Amendment.The Ninth Circuit found that the practices of the State of

  • This is how the American system was designed to operate

    Betsy Newmark
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:48 am
    Chris Cillizza reports that the White House seeks to campaign against the filibuster and hopes that that will be a winning election issue for them. They're seeking for an excuse why, with 60 votes in the Senate, they were still unable to pass the President's signature issues like health care reform and cap and trade. Somehow, this has become all the Republicans' fault, despite the fact that,

  • Irony alert

    Betsy Newmark
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:23 am
    The announcement by the Department of Commerce concerning how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be inaugurating a new program on global warming was postponed because of the record snowfall in the Washington, D.C. area.Turns out the release was planned prepared ahead of the snowstorm, which shut federal agencies today and forced its senders to hold a press conference by

  • Focus on the Family psychs out the Feminists

    Betsy Newmark
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:57 am
    What a brilliant psych-out by Focus on the Family with the Tim Tebow ad. It was about as harmless as an ad could be. But they so knew the feminists that they could depend on them to raise a hullabaloo. Without the fuss people wouldn't haven't known the back story on the ad and it would just have come across as an ad about family affection or something. But by raising a stink, they made sure
 
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    Riehl World View

  • Gibbs Takes Swipe At Palin With Hand Note

    Dan
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:37 am
    CBS has an image up, saying the video is coming, soon. Tell me again who the childish ones are, here? About all this administration seems good for right now are the jokes, frankly. Maybe Gibbs should have written, "Get a job!" Gibbs' move was a jab at Sarah Palin, who was shown to have written notes on her hand at a speech at the Tea Party convention Saturday after making an implicit criticism of the president for using a TelePrompTer. Gibbs quipped that he had made the notes in case he and the press corps are snowed in. He said the words written on his hands included "eggs," and that he had…

  • Conan O'Brien Employee Blogs The End, Plus Set Take Down

    Dan
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:24 am
    h/t Paul B in email. Interesting bit of history, now. Scroll for a few posts and the set take down pics.

  • Sheriff Arpaio Calls McCain The "L" Word

    Dan
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:47 am
    Arapaio's criticism of McCain is valid and likely to resonate with the base. If McCain had fought half as hard to win the presidency as he seems intent on doing to keep his the people's Senate seat in AZ - he might not experience quite as much trouble as he's liable to have winning re-election. "Senator McCain has served this country admirably but it's time to replace his moderate or even liberal positions on taxes, the border, social causes and big bank bailouts with a consistent conservative like J.D. … I just wish Senator McCain had run as hard against Barack Obama as he is against a…

  • Top NY Dems Allow Paterson To Hang Over Rumors

    Dan
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:12 am
    If I didn't have a habit of choosing my words so carefully, I might say it looks as if there's a lynching going on in blue New York. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Gov. David Paterson is getting little support from Albany's other top Democrats as he fights what he calls attacks on his character. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is refusing to comment Tuesday on reports in blogs and news accounts of womanizing and drug use by the governor. Cuomo's office also won't comment on whether he supports Paterson. Many Democrats have voiced wishes that Cuomo run for governor instead of Paterson, who took the post…

  • Sullivan Is Actually Not An Anti-Semite

    Dan
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:36 am
    For all it's depth and artfulness, ultimately, Leon Wieseltier's critique of Andrew Sullivan is myopic. Certainly, all the signs of anti-semitism are there with Sullivan. But that's because he hates, first and foremost, and simply disagrees. Via Google, the words hater and Andrew Sullivan go hand in hand and have throughout his various political transmutations. He's capable of hating almost anything, or anyone. Right now, Sullivan hates everything from a single uterus, to the Christian faith and Zionism, among other things. Two years from now, he may be hating something else because, to know…
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    Wizbang

  • An Early Look at 2012

    DJ Drummond
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:17 am
    Having found it difficult to continue blaming former President George W. Bush for everything wrong with their lives, and being unwilling to attempt the growth necessary for personal accountability, the...

  • Gibbs weighs in on health care summit

    Dan Karipides
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:12 am
    So yesterday I posted that representatives Boehner and Cantor responded in letter form to Obama's request for a public, televised health care summit. White House press secretary Gibbs has responded...

  • "Birthers" And The Smell Test

    Jay Tea
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:30 am
    Note to self: never underestimate the power of Andrew Breitbart. At last weekend's Tea Party Convention, the professional gadfly took on the "birther" movement (those people who deny President Obama's...

  • The problem with Islam...

    Rick
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:19 am
    ... at its core would seem to be Islam's problem with women:Do some of the answers to the puzzle of that woman-hatred lie in Koranic passages and sayings like these?...

  • 10 year olds are sexual beings...

    Rick
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:27 pm
    ... and the International Planned Parenthood Federation believes they should be taught the pleasures of sex.Now we perhaps know where Michael Jackson picked up his habits: A new report by...
 
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    Gateway Pundit

  • Bill O’Reilly Blasts Politico Co-Founder on Tea Party Bias: “It’s Bull. You’re Not Telling the Truth”

    Jim Hoft
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:54 am
    Bill O’Reilly slammed Jim VandeHei from Politico last night for defending the state-run media’s atrocious coverage of the National Tea Party Convention. The media published only 2 favorable reports on the event out of hundreds. O’Reilly accused VandeHei of lying about the media’s coverage of the event: (Via BreitbartTV) Bill O’Reilly said this in his Talking Points Memo before destroying VandeHei: As you may know, the Tea Party held a convention in Nashville over the weekend. Sarah Palin was the keynote speaker and spent some time defining the movement, beginning…

  • Airport Workers Copy & Distribute Naked Body Scanner Images Of Bollywood Star Shahrukh Khan

    Jim Hoft
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:47 am
    Heathrow Airport employees copied and distributed nake scanner pictures of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan this week. The pictures were supposed to be immediately destroyed after passengers proceed through the gate. Prison Planet reported: Claims on behalf of authorities that naked body scanner images are immediately destroyed after passengers pass through new x-ray backscatter devices have been proven fraudulent after it was revealed that naked images of Indian film star Shahrukh Khan were printed out and circulated by airport staff at Heathrow in London. UK Transport Secretary Lord Adonis…

  • Obama Top Advisor & Political Hack Says National Security Critics Are Serving Al-Qaeda

    Jim Hoft
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:16 am
    Obama Flashback: “I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign.” But that was back in 2008. The Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism advisor to the White House John Brennan wrote today that those who criticize Team Obama’s dangerous and naive national security decisions are only serving Al-Qaeda. USA Today reported, via HotAir: Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda. Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill. They…

  • The Andrew Breitbart Tea Party Speech: A Declaration of War on the Democrat-Media Complex (Video)

    Jim Hoft
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:54 am
    Andrew Breitbart raised the roof at the National Tea Party Convention this weekend in Nashville, Tennessee. The speech was revolutionary. Andrew stood in front of the media and in 33 minutes declared war on their corruption and contempt for the American people. Founding Bloggers posted the entire brilliant speech on YouTube in four parts, but if you would like to view some of the highlights, you can click on any of the eight links below: It’s You That Sucks! You Better Bet Your Ass! Just Add al-Qaida MSM McCarthyism Breitbart Challenges Soros There Are More Tapes The O’Keefe Arrest…

  • Michelle Obama Defends Hubby From Palin’s Attacks: “Change Isn’t Easy & Doesn’t Happen Overnight”

    Jim Hoft
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:19 am
    Sarah Palin let the Obama Administration have it Saturday night. But that won’t stop Team Obama from pushing their hopey-changey socialist crap. Michelle Obama defended her husband today from recent attacks insisting that, “Change isn’t easy and doesn’t happen overnight.” But it sure hurts. Good Morning America reported: “I think my husband has done a phenomenal job staying on course, looking his critics in the eye, coming up with clear solutions against staying the course,” Michelle Obama told Robin Roberts in an exclusive morning television…
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    Hullabaloo

  • 9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Presidential Rehabby digbyA billboard featuring a picture of former U.S. president George W. Bush and the tagline 'Miss me yet?' left residents of Minnesota wondering what it meant and who paid to have it erected.A billboard featuring a picture of former President George W. Bush and the tagline 'Miss me yet?' left residents of Minnesota wondering what it meant and who paid to have it erected.Speculation was rife on blogs on Monday and Tuesday as to whether the roadside sign was an indictment of President Obama's performance so far or a reminder of Bush's unpopularity.Nobody has claimed the…

  • 9 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am
    Hostage Demandsby digbyThis is fun:February 8, 2010The Honorable Rahm EmanuelChief of StaffThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500Dear Mr. Emanuel:We welcome President Obama's announcement of forthcoming bipartisan health care talks.  In fact, you may remember that last May, Republicans asked President Obama to hold bipartisan discussions on health care in an attempt to find common ground, but he declined and instead chose to work with only Democrats. Since then, the President has given dozens of speeches on health care reform, operating under the premise that the…

  • 8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 pm

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 pm
    Losing It by digbyThis is so awful on so many levels that it's painful to read.  It's clear that the father has PTSD, but it's also clear that waterboarding is too often seen as harmless. And it's largely because of idiocy like this.The PTSD of returning soldiers is always a problem in war.  But you have to wonder if the ongoing "debate" about torture isn't going to bring an extra dimension to the problem. And that's just for your average soldier --- I can only imagine what's happening to the people who performed the deed. (That's something I've been  wondering about for a long…

  • 8 Feb 2010 | 5:30 pm

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:30 pm
    Alien Abduction?by digby  Jamison Foser reports that the author of the WaPo article scolding all of us liberals for being condescending, was actually commissioned by the paper to write it. How lovely.But this really takes the cake:Alexander spent the bulk of today's Washington Post online Q&A acknowledging that some conservatives are plenty condescending to liberals, but claiming that it just isn't very common.  Or something.  Alexander, for example, contends that "conservative magazines, elected officials, etc" don't accuse coastal liberals of being out of touch with…

  • 8 Feb 2010 | 4:40 pm

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:40 pm
    Good Faith Bipartisanshipby digbyGreg Sargent writes: Eric Cantor’s office responds to Obama’s announcement of a bipartisan summit on health care with the most explicit and direct assertion I’ve seen yet that the only way Dems can win bipartisan cooperation is to fully embrace the GOP health care plan and nothing more:After going it alone on health care reform for nearly a year, President Obama has decided he wants to bring Republicans into the conversation. Here’s the problem: unless the President and Speaker Pelosi are willing to scrap their government take over and hit the reset…
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    Eschaton

  • My Local Transit Authority

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    It certainly wasn't crippled like DC Metro has been, though it wasn't without problems. At Saturday at 2pm everything but the subways (one of which is actually an El for much of its run) were shut down. They did run the subways all night, which was definitely to their credit. I believe by Sunday morning most everything was running on a mostly normal Sunday schedule, though plenty of buses were/are having route diversions due to snow issues. The regional rail system is having equipment failure issues, as snow getting into the motors causes them to shut down. Aside from the regional rail, El,…

  • Deep Thought

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:45 am
    All this time we've been worried about Iran's nuclear program, when we should have picked up on the fact that they had employed Mikkos Cassadine and have his weather control technology.

  • Lunch Thread

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am
    enjoy

  • Also, Al Gore Is Fat

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:59 am
    The stupid or evil/stupid or lying debate is always made a bit more complex when conservatives rush to embrace the stupidest arguments. It's so stupid that they can't possibly believe it, but it's also so stupid that it can't possibly convince anybody. Maybe this this kind of thing is just in the "pissing of liberals for sport" category.

  • Rahmbo

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:58 am
    As I said, I don't have quite the Rahm hate that some do, but nor did I ever understand exactly what it was he brought to the table.
 
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    Democratic Underground Latest Breaking News

  • This is fucking unblievable

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:47 pm
    Source: [b]Los Angeles Times[/b] Anthem Blue Cross to Raise Rates by 39 Percent "The health insurance company Anthem Blue Cross is coming under intense pressure for deciding to raise rates by as much as 39 percent for individual policyholders. Anthem is a California-based subsidiary of the healt...

  • Kucinich to Vote with Republicans on Health Care

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:44 pm
    Source: [b]Washington Independent[/b] The death of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) is a blow to Democratic efforts to pass the Senate version of health care reform in the House — they’re now down one vote from a swing district Democrat willing to make the tough choice. But what might turn out to be an ...

  • Obama Rebukes Boehner In Testy Exchange, Charges GOP Wants To Kill All His Initiatives

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:31 pm
    Source: [b]The Plum Line[/b] Obama Rebukes Boehner In Testy Exchange, Charges GOP Wants To Kill All His Initiatives At the private White House meeting today between Obama and Congressional leaders, the President and John Boehner got into a testy exchange, aides say, with Obama charging that the ...

  • Stocks rise on Greek bailout hopes

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:04 pm
    Source: [b]CNNMoney.com[/b] By Alexandra Twin and Hibah Yousuf, staff reportersFebruary 9, 2010: 1:04 PM ET NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks surged Tuesday afternoon on bets that the European Union will rescue Greece from its debt problems snip News that European leaders will meet to di...

  • First lady details obesity campaign

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:41 pm
    Source: [b]Politico[/b] Michelle Obama on Tuesday outlined a campaign to curb childhood obesity, her signature issue, by changing the way foods are labeled and served and urging families to make healthier choices. The “Let’s Move” initiative seeks to add more fruits, vegetables and whole grains...
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    Firedoglake

  • Dennis Prager Angry That Conservative Anti-Gay Hysteria Not Seen in a More Positive Light

    Blue Texan
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    Dennis Prager is fuming mad about Frank Rich’s latest column, in which he called conservatives homophobic bigots. How unfair of Rich! Prager asks indignantly, Where is this mainstream conservative “explicit anti-gay animus?” Funny he should ask, because the lead article today at Townhall, where Prager’s article and blog reside, is titled “Texas Gay&M” and begins: Some time ago, I recommended Texas A&M University as a good place to get an education. Now that it has added a course in the English Department called “Gay and Lesbian Literature” I need to reconsider.

  • The Political Lessons of Super Bowl 44

    Garlin Gilchrist II
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:36 am
    "Touchdown Jesus" behind St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans (photo: bongarang via Flickr) The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl 44. Congratulations to the players, the organization, and, most importantly, Saints fans. The story of the Saints is a classic rags-to-riches tale. The team had never been to the championship game. They had two playoff wins in 42 years. They were so bad that their fans wore paper bags over their head for years and unaffectionately called the team “The Aints.” New Orleans has also had a hell of a ride, going from “Las Vegas of the…

  • What Part of No…? GOP Reiterates Opposition to Bipartisan Health Care Reform

    Jon Walker
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:51 am
    (photo: nathangibbs) The House Republican leadership has sent a letter to the Obama Administration making it clear for the 100th time that they have zero intention of reaching a bipartisan agreement on Obama’s current health care reform proposal. Repeatedly, now, they have said they don’t like the current bill, and will only accept completely starting over in a much smaller manner. Here is a taste of the letter: Assuming the President is sincere about moving forward on health care in a bipartisan way, does that mean he will agree to start over so that we can develop a bill that is…

  • Rahm and the Health Care Blame Game: It’s On!

    Jane Hamsher
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:50 am
    Objects are closer than they appear (photo: Aubrey Arenas) One sure sign that the Senate health care bill is dead as a doornail is the inevitable appearance of the anonymously-sourced, finger-pointing articles. And in a novel twist, we have one blaming Rahm for the failure to pass health care reform that appears to be written by Rahm: The emerging consensus among critics in both chambers is that Emanuel’s lack of Senate experience slowed President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority. Lack of experience — rather than being a corporatist hack who negotiated the PhRMA deal right out…

  • Shelby Claims to Relent; Still Holds Military Nominations Hostage for Airbus

    emptywheel
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:55 am
    The Washington Post reports, mistakenly, that Richard Shelby has released his holds on Obama’s nominees. But as Shelby’s own statement makes clear, he is still holding up some of the military nominations to benefit Airbus. The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House’s attention on two issues that are critical to our national security – the Air Force’s aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI’s Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). With that accomplished, Sen. Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few…
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    TalkLeft

  • Tuesday Open Thread

    Jeralyn
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:27 am
    I'm busy at work today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

  • Sentencing Memos Filed in Bernie Kerik Case

    Jeralyn
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:36 am
    Former NY Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik is scheduled to be sentenced in a few weeks on his guilty plea to various tax offenses and false statement charges. Both sides filed lengthy sentencing statements yesterday. Both parties have agreed to a guideline sentence in the range of 27 to 33 months. The Government is clearly hoping for the max of 33 months. Bernie is asking for 27 months. Having read through the Government's 61 page sentencing memo and Bernie's (234 pages, including many letters), I have to wonder why the Government is making such a big fuss over 6 months. By pleading…

  • Monday Night TV And Open Thread

    Jeralyn
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:21 pm
    Jake the Bachelor goes on four hometown dates tonight. After that, it's "24" and "Life Unexpected." Olympics coverage is gearing up. Check out former Bachelorette winner Jesse Csincsak's new show, Beyond the Medal. What's on your agenda tonight? This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

  • Charlie Sheen Charged, Court Modifies Protective Order

    Jeralyn
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:01 pm
    Charlie Sheen and his wife Brooke Mueller appeared in court in Aspen today. Sheen was advised of his rights on a complaint (pdf) charging felony menacing and two misdemeanors, third degree assault and criminal mischief. All three counts contain a domestic violence component. The criminal mischief count pertains to Sheen's alleged breaking of two of Mueller's pairs of eyeglasses, valued together at between $500 and $1000.00. The Judge modified the mandatory protective order so the couple can be together. Sheen is taking anger management classes, and the next court date will be the…

  • Dr. Conrad Murray Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter

    Jeralyn
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:01 pm
    Dr. Conrad Murray has been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. The press release from the LA District Attorney's office reads: Dr. Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson ... in the commission of an unlawful act, not a felony; and in the commission of a lawful act which might have produced death, in an unlawful manner, and without due caution and circumspection." It's a media circus in L.A. Michael Jackson's parents, and siblings Jermaine and La Toya are at the courthouse for he brief court appearance,…
 
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    The New Republic - Jonathan Chait Feed

  • If Only Rahm Had Tried Jim DeMint

    Jonathan Chait
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:12 am
    I've been critical of Rahm Emanuel recently. But this line of attack seems a little unpersuasive: Democrats in Congress are holding White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel accountable for his part in the collapse of healthcare reform. ... The lawmaker said Emanuel misjudged the Senate by focusing on only a few Republicans, citing Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins as too narrow a pool. “In the Senate, you have to anchor in the middle and build out," said the lawmaker. “They just wanted to win," the source said of Emanuel and other White House strategists.

  • I'm A Packer Backer

    Jonathan Chait
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:37 am
    George Packer has taken some heat for mourning the way new media have crowded out time for books: Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic’s very good politics blogger, was asked by Michael Kinsley to describe his typical day of information consumption, otherwise known as reading. Ambinder’s day begins and ends with Twitter, and there’s plenty of Twitter in between. No mention of books, except as vacation material via the Kindle. I’m sure Ambinder still reads books when he’s not on vacation, but it didn’t occur to him to include them in his account, and I’d guess…

  • Well, This is Alarming

    Jonathan Chait
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:03 am
    Marc Ambinder: "If the primaries were this year, I suspect she'd be nominated," a senior adviser to one of Sarah Palin's potential rivals confides. One the one hand, Palin is less likely than any of the plausible Republican alternatives to beat President Obama in 2012. On the other hand, if conditions are bad enough -- say, persistently high unemployment -- even Palin could win. And that could be, to put it mildly, a historical disaster.

  • Republicans Begin To Flee Charlie Crist

    Jonathan Chait
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:22 am
    Former Dick Cheney aid Cesar Conda has a post at National Review announcing that he has switched his loyalties in the Florida Senate race from Charlie Crist, once seen as the prohibitive favorite, to Marco Rubio, conservative darling and now all-but-inevitable Republican nominee: Last May, I wrote about why I thought Florida governor Charlie Crist was an acceptable fiscal conservative (the Cato Institute had given him an "A" on its Fiscal Policy Report Card) and why I believed he gave Republicans the best chance to retain Florida's U.S. Senate seat.  Even though I was chided by…

  • The Obama Method And the Health Care Summit

    Jonathan Chait
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    I still find it strange how little understood President Obama's political method is. The first person I know who identified it is Mark Schmitt, over two years ago. At the time, many liberals viewed Obama's inclusive rhetoric as a sign that he intended to capitulate the liberal agenda for the sake of winning Republican agreement. Schmitt disagreed. Obama's language is highly conciliatory, he wrote, but the method isn't: One way to deal with that kind of bad-faith opposition is to draw the person in, treat them as if they were operating in good faith, and draw them into a conversation about how…
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    The Fix

  • Why the Murtha special election is no sure thing for Republicans

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    At first glance, the special election to replace the late Rep. John Murtha (D) in Pennsylvania is a golden opportunity for House Republicans looking to build momentum heading into what is widely expected to be a very good midterm election for the party. Murtha's 12th district, located in western Pennsylvania, was the only seat in the country that went for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004 and switched to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008 -- this in spite of the fact that Kerry won the state by three points while Obama carried it by 10. Add that demographic trend line to the fact that the…

  • Sarah Palin's soundbite strategy

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am
    Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin addresses the national tea party convention in Nashville. AP Photo/Ed Reinke Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has mastered the art of the political soundbite and has used it to devastating -- and some would say irresponsible -- effect since emerging on the political scene in the fall of 2008. Witness her speech at the national tea party convention over the weekend in Nashville, Tennessee. "America is ready for another revolution," Palin said. "When you're 0 for 3, you had better stop lecturing and start listening," she scolded the Obama Administration. "How's that…

  • Obama, congressional Republicans in a staring contest over health care

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:13 am
    1. House Republicans' threat to boycott President Obama's proposed health care meeting on Feb. 25 creates the political equivalent of a staring contest with each side waiting for the other to blink. "A refusal to show up to a discussion of health care would show that Republicans would rather play politics than solve problems," one senior Democratic party official told the Fix. "The question is whether the White House sincerely wants bipartisan reform," retorted a House Republican leadership aide. "We've asked for some gestures of good faith, because Republican leaders have zero interest in…

  • John Murtha dies, special election looms

    8 Feb 2010 | 1:34 pm
    Your Browser DoesNot Support IFrames. The death of longtime Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha (D) this afternoon will set off a special election in his very competitive western Pennsylvania 12th district. According to state law, the governor has ten days once the vacancy is officially declared to decide on the date for the special election, which can come no sooner than 60 days following that proclamation. That likely means the special election will be held on May 18, which is the date already set for federal primaries around the state. (Special elections costs the state huge sums of money and…

  • Can Democrats dissuade Dan Coats from running?

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am
    In the six days since former Indiana Sen. Dan Coats (R) made clear he was preparing to challenge Sen. Evan Bayh (D) in the fall, national Democrats have unleashed an all-out assault aimed at making Coats reconsider his candidacy. First came a detailed dossier from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee running through the clients Coats represents as a federal lobbyist -- including PhRMA and Goldman Sachs. Then the DSCC released a video from 2008 in which Coats tells a Republican audience he and his wife are planning to move to North Carolina -- not Indiana -- when he retires. (Coats…
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    Top of the Ticket

  • First Lady Michelle Obama takes heat for naming Sasha, Malia in campaign against childhood obesity

    Johanna Neuman
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:15 am
    The cause is unassailable. One in three American kids, about 25 million, are obese or overweight. Obesity-related diseases cost the healthcare system $150 billion a year. And the rate of obesity in kids tripled in the United States between 1980 and 1999, an epidemic blamed on lack of exercise, a poor diet that's heavy on fat and sugar and not enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Now, First Lady Michelle Obama is making the issue her own, spearheading a campaign to inform parents about choices and schools about their responsibilities, urging everyone to get up and move. Her goal: Eliminate…

  • Jenny Sanford: Governor always 'quirky' but politics 'very lonely,' especially for conservatives

    Johanna Neuman
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:54 am
    Jenny Sanford, the first lady of South Carolina, will always be remembered as the political wife who chose not to stand by her man. As Gov. Mark Sanford fell apart on live television in the throes of a love affair with a woman from Argentina and the state reeled from disclosures that he had visited his mistress while telling his staff he was hiking solo in the Appalachian Trail, she became the symbol of clear-mindedness. Now, the couple are divorcing and Jenny Sanford is on a book tour for her memoir. In "Staying True," Sanford discloses that her husband refused to take a vow of…

  • President Obama Day 386: What's happened to him?

    Andrew Malcolm
    9 Feb 2010 | 2:28 am
    A favorite story about Chicago politics involves Roman Pucinski, who served six long terms of political apprenticeship in the Washington minor leagues of the U.S. House of Representatives before the Windy City's vaunted Democratic political machine allowed him to step up and serve on the City Council. The late Pucinski then served for 18 years as a loyal operative assigned to the 41st Ward (of 50). It's always useful for Chicago pols to have White House connections if, say, they'd like to dispatch someone famous to fly off to Copenhagen to lobby the International Olympic…

  • Political impact of Democrat John Murtha's death is immediate

    Andrew Malcolm
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:18 pm
    Several bipartisan statements of condolences over the death today of Democratic Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania at 77 from complications of gallbladder surgery. (See them below.) The political fallout of his passing was immediate. Within hours Stu Rothenberg, probably the most astute political handicapper in Washington, moved Murtha's 12th District from safely Democratic (the tough-minded, aficionado of backroom politics, Murtha's only held the seat for 18 terms) into the "competitive category" for this November's midterm elections. Pennsylvania's Democratic…

  • White House press grumbles as Obama does YouTube

    Johanna Neuman
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:37 am
    When it comes to media accessibility, it's not like President Obama has been a shrinking violet. "We have probably done more interviews with more reporters at this point in our presidency than anybody else has," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said recently. But the man who came to office as a darling of the BlackBerry generation, with a cadre of Internet supporters who were fired up and ready to go, has not surprisingly turned to new media to help convey his message, including a recent YouTube session and outreach to bloggers. "The man has even done color…
 
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    44

  • House closes shop for remainder of the week

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:59 am
    By Paul Kane As Washington prepares for the next blizzard, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has shuttered the chamber for the remainder of the week. The closure will be followed by a planned weeklong break after the Feb. 15 President's Day holiday. Hoyer told reporters that, after closing the House for legislative activities Tuesday, leadership decided to cancel the remaining action for this week. With next week's planned recess, the House will not return to session until the week of Feb. 22. To make up for days lost to snow, the House plans to be in session both Monday and Friday of…

  • Obama begins bipartisan meeting with call for cooperation

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:08 am
    By Scott Wilson President Obama began a meeting with a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders Tuesday with a call for cooperation on jobs-creation legislation and deficit reduction, saying "the American people are frustrated with the lack of progress on some issues." Meeting with lawmakers at the White House, Obama said he hoped the talks would lead to agreement on how to proceed with legislation to encourage small businesses to begin hiring. He said he hoped those bills would begin moving "in the next several weeks." Obama also said he wanted to discuss his proposal for a bipartisan…

  • Brennan: Political 'fear-mongering' serves 'the goals of al-Qaeda'

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    By Scott Wilson President Obama's top counter-terrorism adviser asserted Tuesday that "too many in Washington are now misrepresenting the facts to score political points" regarding the administration's handling of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the alleged Christmas Day bomber. In a brief opinion piece published in USA Today, John O. Brennan described the arrest and interrogation of Abdulmutallab, defending the administration against Republican charges that it missed an opportunity to gain intelligence on al-Qaeda operations in Yemen by reading the Nigerian his Miranda rights. Brennan, echoing…

  • GOP wary of Obama's overtures

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    By Ben Pershing It takes two to tango, and when it comes to President Obama's recent overtures toward bipartisanship, Republicans aren't sure yet whether they want to dance. Obama will host a bipartisan, bicameral meeting of congressional leaders Tuesday at the White House, just as both Republicans and Democrats are still digesting the president's plan to bring them back in two weeks for a high-profile televised health-care summit. Neither side in the House quite knows what to make of Obama's idea. Roll Call says the proposal "was greeted with suspicion Monday by Congressional Republicans,…

  • Top House Republicans throw cold water on health-care summit

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:31 pm
    By Michael D. Shear Leading House Republicans raised the prospect Monday night that they might refuse to participate in President Obama's proposed health care summit if the White House chooses not to scrap the existing reform bills and start over. In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) expressed frustration at reports that Obama intends to put the Democratic bills on the table for discussion at the Feb. 25 summit. "If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American…
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    Blue Jersey - Front Page

  • Blue Jersey Radio LIVE Tonight at 8:00 p.m. w/Congressman Donald Payne

    9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm
    "Rep. Donald M. Payne, NJ-10" Each week, Blue Jersey Radio streams LIVE with New Jersey's latest political buzz, interviews with newsmakers, and your stimulating calls. This week: Our guest is Congressman Donald M. Payne, NJ-10, who's not only Newark's long-serving representative, but also the new Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He'll be talking about the CBC Foundation, what his role will be, and what role it plays in progressive politics. Plus, we'll catch up on his perspective of all that's going on in Washington. With a great guest like this, it's tough to decide where…

  • Cory Booker talks with Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:04 am
    NBC Nightly News took a look at Grio's 100 current history maker and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Brian Williams sat down for this interview with the Mayor:Here's more of Cory Booker on the Grio's 100 list, whose members they identify as history makers in the making. In the interview with Williams, Booker said he's not going to be one of those Dynastic Mayors that stays in place for 20 years because he doesn't believe it's good for the city. On the race topic, Booker said it's ridiculous to talk about a post racial America. He said we should celebrate that. In closing, Booker said he wants to be…

  • Angelo at DNC meeting: Some moderate Democratic elected officials are "freaking out"

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    Updated by Jason: For his part, Angelo believes the article misconstrues his comments where he spoke about concerns being raised in general attributing them to speaking about Adler. He said he would never ascribe that term to the Congressman. Politico had a story about the DNC Winter meeting held in Washington last Friday and the concerns party leaders have about the climate they are facing. Some of those concerns came from New Jersey:New Jersey Democratic State Committee Executive Director Rob Angelo lamented that some moderate Democratic elected officials in his state are "freaking out"…

  • News Roundup & Open Thread for Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2009

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:23 am
    Snowzilla v. Flakenstein (h/t philly.com) Get ready for more. A lot of more. Some parts of SJ are still struggling with the last storm's damage. Westwood Marine is laid to rest in snowy Arlington Cemetary Marine Sgt. Christopher Hrbek was killed last month by an explosive device in Afghanistan. Hrbek, whose stepfather and brothers are firefighters, also served three combat tours in Iraq within six years. He had been planning to become a drill sergeant at Parris Island, SC. Rest in peace. Garden State Equality closes the gay ATM to political parties Donations will now be only to those…

  • Steven Goldstein's telepalmter

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:57 am
    You may have seen Sarah Palin use her hand for some notes speaking at the Tea Party Convention. It seems she has started a trend and everyone is getting in on the idea of a telepalmter. On the heels of GSE announcing they would not longer donate to political parties and would focus on candidates who share their views, this is what Steve Goldstein has on his hand:
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    Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

  • Health Care Diagnosis Unclear

    Craig Crawford
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Craig and Keith Olbermann discuss the health care debate (MSNBC, 2/5/10) Health Bill Foes Take a Breather White House Plans Health Care Summit Evan Bayh Health Bill Support Hurts CQ-Roll Call Unveils 'D.C. Decoder' (Fishbowl DC)  Helen ThomasCelebrates 50 YearsAt the White House(Voice of America)    Book Signing this SaturdayAmerican History Museum   

  • Snowy Windows

    Craig Crawford
    6 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pm
    Scenes from my windows during today's big storm. (Washington, DC) I finally got outside after the snow stopped tonight. Scenes of my neighborhood (Click pics to enlarge)                  

  • DC Decoder: A President's 'Budget'

    Craig Crawford
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    For Congress.org we decode what presidential budgets really mean (Produced by CQ-Roll Call's Andrew Satter).  

  • GOP Senate Takeover? Still Unlikely, But Not Impossible

    Craig Crawford
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    It was once unimaginable that Democrats could lose control of the Senate. But the unthinkable is now conceivable. Republicans need ten turnovers. Add up the competitive races and they are roughly three short. Where could those final three longshot pickups be? Although still relatively safe Democratic seats, there are possibilities. New York: If Republicans find a strong challenger, Kirsten Gillibrand could face trouble. Two words: George Pataki. California:  If devilish red-eyed sheep can help Carly Fiorina beat her GOP primary foe Tom Campbell and go on to defeat Democratic…

  • Pickin with Buddies

    Craig Crawford
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:00 pm
    Here's how to help us help Haiti. (Video by Trail Mix Fish Camp Boss Colorado Bob)  
 
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    Truthout - All Articles

  • Can Drug Policy Prevent Reefer Madness?

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:46 am
    A cross-national comparison of alcohol and marijuana use among adolescents indicates that stricter laws may prevent high school kids from drinking, but not from smoking pot. Raise your hand if you've consumed an alcoholic beverage or smoked marijuana in the last month. Raise your hand if you abstained from using alcohol until you were of legal age. read more

  • 2010 Labor Notes Conference

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:46 am
    2010 Labor Notes Conference Friday, April 23, 1:00 PM Hyatt Regency Dearborn, 600 Town Center Drive, Dearborn, Michigan, USA 48126-2793 Rub shoulders, shake hands and share strategies with other committed workplace and labor activists from around the world at the April 23-25 Labor Notes conference in Detroit, Michigan. read more

  • Restaurant Workers Launch Multi-City Campaign to Transform Low-Wage Industry

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:49 am
    The restaurant industry is one of the largest and fastest growing private employers in the country. But just as swinging doors often separate patrons from the kitchen, the working lives of 13.5 million restaurant workers—a largely non-union workforce—remain out of sight. In four cities, cooks, dishwashers, servers, hosts, and busers are organizing workplace justice campaigns with the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC), bringing their aspirations to overhaul a low-wage, high-discrimination industry out onto the streets. read more

  • US Firms Want Part in Haiti Cleanup

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:28 am
    As Haiti begins digging out from under 60 million cubic meters of earthquake wreckage, U.S. firms have begun jockeying for a bonanza of cleanup work. It's unclear at this point who will be awarding the cleanup contracts, but there is big money to be made in the rubble of some 225,000 collapsed homes and at least 25,000 government and office buildings. At least two politically connected U.S. firms have enlisted powerful local allies in Haiti to help compete for the high-stakes business. read more

  • Alabama Senator Shelby Backs Down From Blocking Obama's Nominees

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:09 am
    An Alabama Senator with long-standing ties to the US military-industrial complex and an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama is backing down from a direct confrontation with the White House today after taking the unprecedented step of announcing last week that he would filibuster all the president's appointments to secure earmarks for his home state. read more
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    The Back Forty

  • Mark Your Calendar for Spring!

    DebbySKoz
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:04 pm
    by Daphne Bishop It may not be spring yet, but 1000 Radishes are about to sprout up, and with them potentially far-reaching ways to connect local growers with the people who crave their wares. You may recall, we told you about 1000 Radishes last summer. It’s a high-tech way to find what’s in season, connect with the people who grow it, and cook it up in delicious recipes.And it’s an offshoot of Will Work for Food, the project started by our energetic friend, Valerie Gates. She’s been offering barter and reduced rate services from her award-winning design firm to small New England…

  • Ohio Uses Stimulus to Create Jobs, Improve Communities

    DebbySKoz
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am
    Posted with permission from PolicyinPractice.org and the law firm of Carpenter, Lipps & Leland LLP Last week Ohio reported that between October 31 and December 31, 2009 over 20,000 jobs have been created or retained as a direct result of the stimulus funding.  This funding, provided at a critical time has made the difference to Ohio’s families.  Towns and villages across the state have seen the direct result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For many communities stimulus is not only creating and retaining jobs, but also solving problems that would otherwise…

  • A Thoughtful Man

    DebbySKoz
    25 Jan 2010 | 5:48 am
    President Obama reflects on the Massachusetts election results and his vision for creating a better America.

  • Massachusetts loser Coakley won rural and urban vote, Brown won on strength of conservative suburbs

    DebbySKoz
    21 Jan 2010 | 6:03 am
    By Al Cross Republican Scott Brown won the Massachusetts U.S. Senate special election Tuesday and dealt a serious blow to the Democratic health-care reform bill, but he didn’t win on the strength of the rural vote. Democrat Martha Coakley, the state’s attorney general, won the counties with both the most rural and urban populations, while Brown rode victories in the more suburban counties to victory, the Daily Yonder reports. In the five counties with more than 20 percent of their population living in rural areas, (Nantucket, Hampshire, Berkshire, Franklin and Dukes), Coakley won…

  • Paul Krugman: Making Us Think Everytime

    DebbySKoz
    11 Jan 2010 | 5:51 am
    By Debra Kozikowski Today’s meeting of the Paul Krugman Fan Club will please come to order. Read the latest and think. That’s all anyone can ask for — thoughtful consideration of the subject at hand. Do I have a motion to adjourn until the next column appears in the New York Times?
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    xpostfactoid

  • Afghanistan redux: Obama's HCR surge

    ASP
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:53 am
    More on the similarities noted below in the way Obama approached revamping his strategy in Afghanistan and on health care reform post-Massachusetts:  in both cases, he was faced with a rapidly deteriorating situation (at least partly of his own making on the HCR front), accompanied by loud warnings of failure. In both, he "dithered" while calls for rapid response escalated. In both, he was confronted with an apparent menu of unattractive or highly problematic options (cut bait or escalate). In both, he forged a new strategy that did not compromise on the stated goal but mapped out an…

  • As in Afghanistan, Obama picks "none of the above" from the HCR menu

    ASP
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:50 am
    There would seem to be large risks inherent in Obama's planned half-day health care summit with leaders of both parties on Feb. 26. It's the final farewell to HCR supporters' fervent wish that the House would swiftly pass the Senate bill with an agreed-on reconciliation blueprint -- a dream that was already dead. It risks letting more House Democrats twist and pull in multiple directions if their political outlook continues to deteriorate.  It should be recognized, though, that the plan is completely consistent with the strategy that Obama has outlined at least since the State of the…

  • On jumping off our Constitutional shadow

    ASP
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:56 am
    In an extended meditation over whether the United States retains the ability to cope with current problems and thrive anew, James Fallows recently concluded that the country's actual problems are manageable -- but wondered whether our political machinery maintains the ability to cope with them. The dysfunctions that struck Fallows as most intractable derive from a Constitution that has bequeathed us an increasingly unrepresentative Senate, compounded by Senate rules that evolved over time into a formula for gridlock.A recent lament by Jonathan Chait highlights the extent to which Senate…

  • The Plouffe of the pudding is in the (OFA) email.

    ASP
    6 Feb 2010 | 11:52 am
    A few days ago, waiting for Godobama to move on health care, I wondered, "In the wake of the MA election, why isn't OFA asking supporters to call their reps and senators and tell them to pass a comprehensive HCR bill? (By mass email, that is. Some readers reported getting phone calls.)Today, OFA sent out an email with the subject line: Pass health reform now.It doesn't (natch) ask members to tell their House reps to pass the Senate bill, or their senators to negotiate a reconciliation patch to mollify the House. It's focused on a letter-writing campaign. But the message is unequivocal: This…

  • A gallon of water at bedtime for bedwetters: Obama's HCR prescription

    ASP
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:09 am
    Once again, Obama will not meet the cravings of ardent supporters of comprhensive health care reform. He simply refuses to step in aggressively and steer floundering  House-Senate negotiations for a "reconciliation sidecar" that would make the Senate bill palatable to the House.  As Jonathan Cohn outlined with perfect clarity last night, the basic structure of such a deal is as plain as the forever-postponed deal between Israelis and Palestinians. But Obama refuses to catalyze it -- now.  That's notwitstanding the litany of prominent Democrats --  Weiner, Sherrod Brown,…
 
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    mcclatchydc.com: Washington

  • Report: 'No strategic value' to Afghan outpost where 8 died

    9 Feb 2010 | 4:57 am
    WASHINGTON — A U.S. military investigation into a battle last October in eastern Afghanistan that cost eight American soldiers their lives has concluded that the small outpost was worthless, the troops there didn't understand their mission, and intelligence and air support were tied up elsewhere in the province.

  • Latinos say their votes could tip 40 congressional races

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:22 pm
    WASHINGTON — Failing to overhaul the nation's immigration system, currently a backburner issue for Congress and President Barack Obama, could play a pivotal role in key mid-term election races in November, according to a new study on Latino voting patterns.

  • Services set for late wife of California congressman

    8 Feb 2010 | 2:15 pm
    WASHINGTON — Memorial services for the late Ethie Weaver Radanovich have been set for Northern Virginia on Wednesday and the Sierra Nevada foothills on Sunday.

  • Thanks to 'You lie!', South Carolina race turns national and expensive

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am
    WASHINGTON — You might be forgiven for wondering which district, or even which state, Republican Rep. Joe Wilson and Democratic challenger Rob Miller hail from as they wage an expensive, high-profile campaign that's gone national almost a year out from the November election.

  • Senate's Cantwell takes tough approach to big banks

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:36 am
    WASHINGTON — To hear Sen. Maria Cantwell talk, another economic bubble is building as Wall Street banks — backed by taxpayer bailouts — continue to play the high-risk derivatives markets rather than extend credit to struggling businesses on Main Street.
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    Marbury

  • palin is running

    Ian Leslie
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am
    According to Ambinder, who says she's a force to be reckoned with:But there is more to the case for Palin than just the confluence of her personality and a vacuum within the Republican Party: there is a method to her management of her public image. It strongly hints that she has pretty much decided to run for president in 2012, unless something knocks her out of the race; it is more organized and structured that it appears; and it is something that Republican insiders, in particular, will ignore at their peril.

  • optimism

    Ian Leslie
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:25 am

  • arts graduate seeks job

    Ian Leslie
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:21 am
    From Andrew Miller at McSweeney's: My teacher said that I had the best pencil shading skills she has ever seen, so I will definitely bring that to your boardroom table. I can make a sphere look totally 3D, and also do columns and cubes or any shapes that your company would need a perfect 3D sketch of for whatever reason. Do you know how a color wheel works? I'm pretty much an expert on those. I was noticing that your company has a central color scheme. I can suggest complimentary and secondary colors to go with these. (Even tertiary colors in a few cases.)

  • huck meets tone

    Ian Leslie
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:02 am
    Mike Huckabee was just a kid from Arkansas when he ran for president (well, he was its former governor). Now he gets to hobnob with Prime Ministers (well, ex-Prime Ministers). Not in the White House, unfortunately, but for Fox. Huck asks, with genuine puzzlement towards the end, how many inquiries on Iraq do you guys actually need to hold? Blair just about stops himself from saying, tell me about it. But he finds a more elegant of making his point.

  • imagined furores

    Ian Leslie
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:58 am
    The Daily Telegraph has an editorial on the conviction of police commander Ali Dizaei for corruption, celebrating the fact that this poisonous man has finally been extracted from his host. I agreed with nearly every word. But I snagged on this:Dizaei also became chairman of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, a body whose very existence only serves to ensure that race remains an issue in policing in London (imagine the furore if there was a White Police Association).A prime example of one of the most asinine rhetorical tricks used by conservatives of various stripes - the false…
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    The Next Right

  • Demand Question Time

    Jon Henke
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:03 am
     As a signatory to the Demand Question Time petition, I urge you all to sign up and spread the message.  It is being heard by the White House and Congress. Our politics would be healthier if politicians got to ask, and answer, questions with less mediation, less theatrics, less stagecraft and less sloganeering.  Sign the petition and ask them to do it. Demand Question Time Loading... Mindy Finn and David Corn discussing Demand Question Time on Hardball last night.  Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy UPDATE: Note which party is willing…

  • An Inside Look at Organizing for America Part II: ACORN for America?

    Anita MonCrief
    2 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm
    Part II of our inside look at Organizing for America was inspired by the investigative work done by Carol Greenberg Thank you Carol for getting involved and driving this story. Anita MonCrief From a tiny acorn, a mighty oak can grow. With ACORN's help, Barack Obama "grew" from an ACORN community organizer and instructor, to an ACORN lawyer and ACORN benefactor as a board member of donor organizations, to an ACORN-backed Illinois state senator, to ACORN's favorite United States Senator, to ACORN's candidate for President of the United States in 2008. This article shows how ACORN and…

  • GAME ON!!

    Marsha Blackburn
    1 Feb 2010 | 11:48 am
    On Friday, President Obama was invited to speak at our House Republican conference.  The invitation was extended by Republican leadership in an attempt to engage the President in an open dialogue about his policies.  I had the opportunity to ask him a question about health care reform.  I wanted to know three things: First,  had he reviewed Republican proposals for reform, second, what lessons had he taken from the failure of other public option plans like TennCare, and third, when and how did he anticipate sitting down with Republicans to go over our proposals? The…

  • An Inside Look at Obama’s Organizing for America Part I

    Anita MonCrief
    1 Feb 2010 | 11:36 am
    Blogger and activist Carol Greenberg approached me recently with an exclusive look at her work investigating Organizing for America. I was impressed with Carol's investigative reporting initiative and realized that America needed to see the "Obama Machine" in action. I began working with her on unraveling the truth behind OFA. I have invited Carol to guest blog at my sites this week for Part I. Carol's courage in standing up for America and the information provided has allowed me to write the stunning Part II that will follow shortly. Thank you, Anita MonCrief   -By Carol…

  • All Out of Ideas, Democrats Ressurect Their Favorite Villain

    BrandonGreife
    26 Jan 2010 | 2:29 pm
    Yes we can or yes we will? It is about time Obama stepped out of the hypothetical and into reality. After all, he was elected because he promised a fundamental change in Washington. It is little wonder then that after an underwhelming first year in office, conservatives and liberals alike are wondering when he will finally take ownership of this presidency. If recent news is any indication, Obama may be forced to do so soon, if for no other reason than blaming Bush, rather than coming up with working policies, is falling flat. The Bush attacks are coming from all over: A campaign…
 
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    Global: Michael Tomasky | guardian.co.uk

  • Michael Tomasky: The healthcare summit

    Michael Tomasky
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:41 am
    The party of no doubles down on the healthcare summit Obama called for over the weekend. From TPM:"Assuming the President is sincere about moving forward on health care in a bipartisan way, does that mean he will agree to start over so that we can develop a bill that is truly worthy of the support and confidence of the American people?" write the leaders, Reps. John Boehner and Eric Cantor. "If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be reluctant to participate," they continue.In other words, it…

  • Michael Tomasky: Backlash America

    Michael Tomasky
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:17 am
    Several people have remarked upon the, ah, surprisingly misogynistic nature of much of the Super Bowl advertising. This site lists five ads on the theme of the emasculated male. For my money, the above list totally missed the worst offender, for something called FloTV featuring Jim Nantz, the very sportscaster who was calling the game in question. In this ad, Nantz narrated the "play-by-play" of the life of a man who'd been completely domesticated by his girlfriend -- out shopping with her for girly items while a football game is on that he can't watch. Nantz recommends that the poor fellow…

  • Michael Tomasky: Murtha's death and healthcare

    Michael Tomasky
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:31 am
    Bon Tuesday. Sorry to have missed yesterday. Was traveling back home from Los Angeles. The reason for the trip was not a pleasant one, alas, but some interesting things happened nonetheless. I'm pretty sure that was Antonin Scalia in business class on the flight on the way out. Or put it this way: if it wasn't, it was a guy who could play Scalia at parties. Obviously that wasn't what I would call exciting. On a more positive note, we were sitting in an excellent, convivial, and amazingly not terribly expensive Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills on Saturday, and in walks Mel Brooks. We were…

  • Super Bowl and Who set list predictions | Michael Tomasky

    Michael Tomasky
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:19 am
    It's an annual tradition now, meaning that we did it last year. So let's have your predictions. And the Who part means that you don't have to be a fan of American football to play (they're performing at halftime). Game: New Orleans, 34-31. I don't think I really believe this. The Colts are pretty strong, and Manning just doesn't make late mistakes the way Favre is sometimes prone to, meaning that if it's close, Indy will likely win. But I want the Saint, and I don't want to go against my heart. It's entirely conceivable that they can do it. Who: My Generation, Pinball Wizard, Baba O'Riley. I…

  • Friday vocabulary quiz | Michael Tomasky

    Michael Tomasky
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:14 am
    I'm traveling today, flying to Los Angeles (just in time to escape the 18 inches of snow headed Washington's way). So posting is light. I accept that "recondite" does not, in strict terms, carry any connotation of "willful" obtuseness. But I swear that in my reading, it is often used to describe something that is not merely obscure, but is almost intentionally so. But I guess some of us will have to agree to disagree. No gray areas this week. All strictly by the book. So let's go! 1. The tonsorial arts have to do with:a. healing, especially of the mouth and nasal areas.b. barbering and hair…
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    Opinionator

  • Home Fires: Shaking All Over

    By BRIAN TURNER
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:06 am
    A U.S. veteran's visit to Cambodia's killing fields rattles both body and mind.

  • How the First Amendment Works

    By STANLEY FISH
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:30 pm
    A followup column on the First Amendment and the recent Supreme Court decision, with a discussion of readers' comments.

  • Brian Turner in Home Fires

    By THE EDITORS
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:59 am
    Read posts by a Home Fires contributor featured in today's Times.

  • Rock Groups

    By STEVEN STROGATZ
    7 Feb 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Treating numbers concretely - think rocks, for instance - can make calculations less baffling.

  • Home Fires: The Two Worlds of the Citizen-Soldier

    By ERIK MALMSTROM
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:00 pm
    From Harvard Yard to National Guard one weekend a month is a journey into a different world.
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    Hendrik Hertzberg

  • Whotime at the Super Bowl

    Hendrik Hertzberg
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:56 pm
    Not a bad game, eh what? Watching the halftime show, I suddenly remembered that the second piece I ever wrote for The New Yorker was about The Who. (As a young reporter for The Talk of the Town, I quickly discovered that my position entitled me to excellent tickets to rock concerts and personal audiences with rock stars.) The piece has the arch tone that was customary in Talk stories back then, but Townshend and his bandmates did have one or two interesting things to say, if I do say so myself: We asked the Who if anything in particular had struck them about America during their visit, and…

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt. What a Wimp.

    Hendrik Hertzberg
    3 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    If you’re still one of those liberals out there who thinks the Senate health-care bill isn’t worth the House’s trouble to pass, consider a point that Boston University’s Bruce J. Schulman made the other day over at Politico (not normally a bastion of historical perspective): The architects of the most important social legislation in U.S. history, the Social Security Act of 1935, felt the same ambivalence about their handiwork—and the same letdown about the final product. But Social Security became the bulwark of American social policy—the foundation of the…

  • Jamesian Blogrolling

    Hendrik Hertzberg
    2 Feb 2010 | 1:54 pm
    Here’s an example—just a little tiny one—of why James Woolcott is on my blogroll. And here’s an example, somewhat lengthier, of why James Fallows is, too. And two more.

  • Obama in Baltimore

    Hendrik Hertzberg
    1 Feb 2010 | 3:08 pm
    On Saturday at midday, the Hertzberg family sat down to watch the replay of the previous night’s two-hour MSNBC special on Obama’s appearance at the Republican retreat in Baltimore. MSNBC—which must have made a snap decision to put a special together at the last moment, preempting its regular evening schedule—was fast out of the box in proclaiming the session “historic.” I’m a little dubious about that claim, but there does seem to be widespread agreement that this was Obama’s most effective and compelling public performance as President to…

  • Cut the Mic

    Hendrik Hertzberg
    31 Jan 2010 | 7:16 am
    A pet peeve, prompted by watching the Grammy awards. Hasn’t modern audio technology advanced to the point where a singer’s voice can be captured without recourse to a microphone the size and shape of a First World War hand grenade? Is it really necessary for these singers to hold an object that covers up the only part of their face or body that is moving? The feature that is the natural center of interest because it is where the song is coming from? Couldn’t these singers use one of those little side-of-the-face things, like a call center employee? Couldn’t they have…
 
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    WSJ.com: Capital Journal

  • A Week of Big Tests on Iran, in Tehran and in the U.S.

    8 Feb 2010 | 1:57 pm
    My latest Capital Journal column looks at a big week on the Iran front: This is to be a week of testing on Iran: testing of the Iranian government, of the international will to oppose that government and of the delicate balancing act that is American policy. The force bringing all these tests to the surface is the calendar. Feb. 11—Thursday—is a giant day in Iranian life, the anniversary of the 1979 revolution that brought the Islamic government to power. The anniversary traditionally brings forth big marches of celebration. This year it almost certainly will call forth similarly big…

  • The White House and Business Leaders Try to Warm Up

    5 Feb 2010 | 4:14 am
    My latest Capital Journal looks at some signs of attempted bridge-building between the White House and the business community: Much breath has been expended discussing whether President Barack Obama and Republican leaders can patch things up, even a little. Less noticed: A similar move is under way to try a bit of reconciliation between the White House and the business community. The surest sign came in an exchange of letters in recent days between the president and Thomas Donohue, head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an organization that was nearly in a state of open hostilities with the…

  • The Bigger Meaning: High Court Lets Companies Lobby Employees, Suppliers

    3 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am
    Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, is a former White House correspondent with two decades of experience covering Washington government and politics. Click here for Mr. Brown’s full bio. The conventional wisdom is that the Supreme Court decision allowing corporations and labor unions to spend money advocating for or against political candidates just means we’ll be watching more television ads. Clearly, we will see more ads but that superficial analysis misses the ruling’s real significance. What’s more important is that the court…

  • Budget Deficit Now a Threat to American Influence Abroad

    2 Feb 2010 | 6:48 am
    My latest Capital Journal column suggests further reason to worry about the federal budget deficit: The federal budget deficit has long since graduated from nuisance to headache to pressing national concern. Now, however, it has become so large and persistent that it is time to start thinking of it as something else entirely: a national-security threat. The budget plan released Monday by the Obama administration illustrates why this escalation is warranted. The numbers are mind-numbing: a $1.6 trillion deficit this year, $1.3 trillion next year, $8.5 trillion for the next 10 years…

  • A Crisis of Confidence over a Bickering Washington

    28 Jan 2010 | 4:04 pm
    My latest Capital Journal column offers a somewhat bleak assessment of the prospects for “change” in Washington this year: In perhaps the most memorable line from his State of the Union address Wednesday, President Barack Obama told the assembled members of Congress that Washington suffers from a “deficit of trust” with voters. He understated the case. “Crisis of confidence” would be closer to the truth. It’s becoming increasingly clear that one result of the economic meltdown has been a parallel meltdown in the public’s confidence that their…
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    Reuters: Politics

  • Jobs package may cost about $80 billion

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:24 am
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A possible jobs-creation package being crafted by Democratic and Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate may end up costing about $80 billion, a key Republican said on Tuesday.

  • Obama hopes to see jobs package in coming weeks

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:53 am
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, reaching out to lawmakers in both U.S. political parties, said on Tuesday he hoped Congress would soon deliver a package of measures to boost U.S. employment and economic growth.

  • Frank backs Dodd on financial consumer watchdog

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:38 am
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior U.S. lawmaker on Tuesday expressed support for Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd's commitment to pursue a proposal to establish an independent financial consumer watchdog agency.

  • Republicans may join Obama deficit panel: Boehner

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:24 am
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Republican leader John Boehner said on Tuesday he was considering appointing Republicans to President Barack Obama's planned deficit commission and also that it was time to "start over" on healthcare reform.

  • John Murtha, defense appropriations chair, dies

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:07 am
    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Representative John Murtha, chairman of the House of Representatives defense appropriations subcommittee who exercised enormous influence on defense issues, died on Monday.
 
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    Wired: Politics

  • With Darpa's 'Transparent Earth,' Underground Doesn't Mean Out of Sight

    Katie Drummond
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:50 am
    Pentagon extreme research agency Darpa launches the "Transparent Earth" project this year. It wants to create real-time, 3-D maps that display "the physical, chemical and dynamic properties of the earth" underground.

  • Why the Army Doesn't Train on XBoxes

    Michael Peck
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:32 am
    Right now, every military command post and every training center is packed with PCs. In the future, many of those machines might be replaced with game consoles - if the armed forces can ever work out their disagreements with the console-makers.

  • Haiti Relief's Secret Weapon: Google Earth

    Nathan Hodge
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:31 am
    In chaotic Haiti, one of the best ways to find refugees in need is through satellite imagery and GPS coordinates.

  • Jurors Told to Stop Tweeting

    David Kravets
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:30 pm
    The federal judiciary is being told to instruct jurors not to tweet, Facebook or perform online research for cases they are involved in. The developments follow a rash of twittering, facebooking and internet researching by federal jurors — some of which have led to mistrials.

  • Rewiring Haiti: Patience Wears Thin in Port-au-Prince

    Nathan Hodge
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:40 am
    PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — With the disaster-relief phase ending, the streets of Port-au-Prince are now crowded with the white SUVs of international aid and development agencies shuttling purposefully around town. But while the focus may have shifted to rebuilding Haiti, rising unrest over aid and food distribution could sideline efforts to begin reconstruction in earnest.
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    Slashdot: Politics

  • Canadian Prime Minister Loses To Onion Ring

    samzenpus
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:37 am
    An anonymous reader writes "On February 2nd, a group was started entitled 'Can this Onion Ring get more fans than Stephen Harper?', and just a few days later, the group has almost triple as many fans as the Canadian Prime Minister. The group has over 86,000 fans at the time of this writing, and Stephen Harper has only 30,000."Read more of this story at Slashdot.

  • Following Tech's Money Trail In Washington

    timothy
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:28 pm
    snydeq writes "Having outlayed $111 million to gain political influence in 2009, the tech industry is clearly learning how to play the lobbying game, writes InfoWorld's Bill Snyder. And while longtime lobbying stalwart General Motors nearly outspent the tech industry on its own, the rise of lobbying among tech giants, especially those under antitrust scrutiny, is staggering. Google, which has been drawing interest from the feds over its online advertising business, has increased its efforts twelve-fold in the past four years. And while Google frames its sudden increased interest in Washington…

  • Corporation Says It Will Run for Congress

    samzenpus
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:57 am
    After the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission to allow unlimited corporate funding of federal campaigns, Murray Hill Inc. announced it was filing to run for US Congress and released a campaign video.Read more of this story at Slashdot.

  • South Australia Outlaws Anonymous Political Speech

    Soulskill
    2 Feb 2010 | 5:53 am
    Sabriel writes "If you're online in South Australia and want to comment about the upcoming state election, be prepared to hand over your real name and postcode first — because this month it becomes illegal to do so anonymously (even under a pseudonym). Media organizations must keep your details on file for six months and face 'fines of $5000 if they do not hand over this information to the Electoral Commissioner.' This abomination was passed with the support of both major parties (Labour and Liberal), and to quote its sponsor, Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, 'There is no impinging on…

  • Mum's the Word On Google Attack At Davos

    timothy
    31 Jan 2010 | 2:30 pm
    theodp writes "BusinessWeek reports that the cyber attack on Google was the elephant-in-the-room at the annual meeting of world leaders in Davos. 'China didn't want to discuss Google,' Josef Ackermann, CEO of Deutsche Bank AG and a co-chair of this year's World Economic Forum, said in an interview. China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang made that clear, he added. Even Google CEO Eric Schmidt didn't bring up China, and Bill Gates was mum on the topic in an interview. The reluctance of companies to talk about China illustrates the pressure on them to protect their business in the country, while the US…
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    Floort - Politics

  • Politics: Sarah Palin defends Rush Limbaugh's use fo the word 'Retard'

    7 Feb 2010 | 8:20 pm
    it just doesn't get any better than this. Complete, utter hypocrisy for the sake of political power and control. Just support any non-democrat blindly no matter what they say or do. Ya gotta love it -...

  • Politics: The Republican way of ruling by fear is working

    7 Feb 2010 | 6:13 am
    This story about over-paranoid school teachers shows how pathetic the concept of ruling everyone by keeping them scared is ruining our society. We cannot give in to these tactics. Be aware yes. Be cau...

  • Politics: Crash & Burn

    3 Feb 2010 | 6:09 am
    Now that the gloves are off we can ALL see what Obama really has in mind. As the wheels fly off the socialist bus we see the left totally ignore the will of the people and lash blindly like a dying an...

  • Politics: obama never stood a chance

    2 Feb 2010 | 8:01 pm
    he try to fight big corporations to save america from greed, but what he found is that america has become a big corporation were any action against it can lead to a 500point drop on the stock market, ...

  • Politics: republicans still support "dont ask dont tell"

    2 Feb 2010 | 7:44 pm
    they argue that most military members r conservatives, and that they dont like the idea of gays being open about their sexuality. according to republicans, military members can kill and get kill but t...
 
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    Reason Magazine Full Feed

  • Attn, DC Reasonoids: Conquer Snowpacalypse 2 Tonight With Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson at Reason's DC HQ

    Nick Gillespie
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:11 am
    Reason magazine invites you to join us for appetizers, drinks and the opportunity to meet with Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico and honorary chairman of the Our America Initiative. Tonight, Gov. Johnson will reveal an economic recovery plan that is long on free markets, spending cuts, and tax cuts and short on mandates, tax increases, and massive increases in government expenditures. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Johnson will begin his remarks at 6:30 p.m. and will be available to chat throughout the evening. In 2003, Johnson climbed Mt. Everest just a few months after busting his…

  • Whose Side Are You On, USA Today?

    Michael C. Moynihan
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:52 am
    In an opinion piece for USA Today (i.e., this was not a slip of the tongue), John Brennen, Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, writes that "Politically motivated criticism [of Obama] and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda." ABC News' Jake Tapper has more: Brennan writes that, "Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill." In the oped, titled "'We need no lectures': Administration disrupts terrorists’ plots, takes fight to them abroad," Brennan writes that politics "should never get…

  • Live! Nude! Economists!

    Katherine Mangu-Ward
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:48 am
    A new essay by James M. Buchanan, called "Why Economists Have No Clothes" [PDF] which asks "Why have economists had so little meaningful to say about the 2008 crises? Where and when did the ‘science’ get off the track? Can anything be done to restore respectability to Economics as a useful area of inquiry?" Very readable. For instance: Economists, and perhaps those are most closely associated in their inquiries with the monetary institutions in being, have almost totally failed in their basic understanding of the constitutional elements that must be present in any viable regime. In…

  • Demystifying Net Neutrality

    Peter Suderman
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am
    In a write-up following a debate with Chris Riley of the pro-Net neutrality group, Free Press, the Progress and Freedom Foundation's Barbara Esbin succinctly captures the essence of the Net neutrality debate: I argued, as I have in the past, that net neutrality remains a solution in search of a problem, and Riley argued, as Free Press has, that it is required to ensure a fair and open Internet. In my presentation, I focused on the lack of evidence of a market problem or consumer harms to be redressed by this regulatory remedy; the FCC's lack of "ancillary" jurisdiction to impose the proposed…

  • Citizens United and the Future of the Roberts Court

    Damon W. Root
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:22 am
    USA Today’s Joan Biskupic reports on what the Supreme Court’s widely-debated ruling in Citizens United v. F.E.C. might mean for the other politically-charged cases up for review this term: "Is this a turning point?" asks Pamela Harris, director of Georgetown Law's Supreme Court Institute. Harris notes that Chief Justice John Roberts' concurring opinion in the campaign-finance case defended reversing past rulings that have been, as Roberts wrote, "so hotly contested that (they) cannot reliably function as a basis for decision in future cases." "That is an incredibly muscular vision of when…
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    Political Punch

  • Today’s Q’s for O

    ABCNews.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am
    President Obama made a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room today.

  • The Chicago Way

    ABCNews.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:39 am
    An analysis piece by Ed Luce in the Financial Times and a commentary on the Luce piece by Steve Clemons in the Washington Note, are getting a lot of play inside the Beltway, especially among liberal supporters of President Obama.

  • Obama Calls for Bipartisanship On Jobs Bill

    ABCNews.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:27 am
    President Obama said Americans are “frustrated” with the amount of progress on key issues, and called for Congress to move forward “in a more bipartisan fashion,” despite disagreement on some issues.

  • 'It’s Done, Honey': Obama Signs Memorandum on Childhood Obesity

    ABCNews.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:31 am
    ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: In the Oval Office this morning, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum in conjunction with his wife’s launch of a nationwide campaign to tackle childhood obesity, what he called the “most urgent” health issue facing...

  • Ten Times the Rate of Inflation

    ABCNews.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:14 am
    As we covered yesterday, the Obama administration is demanding answers from California's largest insurance company, Anthem Blue Cross, as to why the company is suddenly raising premiums on some customers by up to 39 percent -- more than 10 times the rate of inflation.
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    Election Stocks

  • Obama’s “War on Business”

    Guy_in_a_Suit
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:14 pm
    Regardless of the validity of Kudlow’s political-market connections here (and they are questionable), this is a comment sentiment among many traders in the market today. It is likely that the stocks he mentions in the below video will most likely react in the way that he predicts.

  • Cramer’s Outrage of the Day

    Guy_in_a_Suit
    26 Jan 2010 | 2:42 pm
    As we expected, Cramer did make a few solid stock picks in relation to the Obama Administration. In case you’re curious, these were closer to the beginning of his show. But as for his “Outrage of the Day,” complaining about the president taking the wise advice of Paul Volcker regarding the roles of commercial and [...]

  • Tonight’s Mad Money Focuses on President

    Guy_in_a_Suit
    25 Jan 2010 | 3:04 pm
    Jim Cramer’s Mad Money, beginning at 5:00 pm Central Standard Time and airing multiple times on CNBC over the course of this evening, will be focusing on the relationship between the stock market and the Obama Administration. We have noted in the past that Cramer’s political analysis is often subject, so we expect to have [...]

  • What Will Dems Do Now?

    Guy_in_a_Suit
    20 Jan 2010 | 3:07 pm
    After Scott Brown’s win in the Massachusetts special election yesterday, Democrats are scrambling to save the future of healthcare reform. The situation is bleak, but they still have a couple options. Here is the best one so far: House Democrats would accept the Senate version of the bill, then make a list of things to change [...]

  • MA. Special Election & Healthcare

    Guy_in_a_Suit
    19 Jan 2010 | 1:38 pm
    Today is voting day in Massachusetts, where a special election is being held for the Senate seat once held by the late Ted Kennedy. The Republican candidate Scott Brown has all the momentum, despite an impassioned appeal Obama made to Democrats in the state this weekend. The most recent polls show Coakley falling from a [...]
 
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    Lehigh Valley Conservative

  • Ladies and Gentleman

    Randy Toman
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am
    The power brokers in both parties, along with the people have not done justice to the future generations of America Young People.  The split and deterioration of society will not come along political lines but along and between age brackets of our young and older Americans.  The damage too and destruction of the political system will come but the real un-repair of the social fabric will be with the people themselves.   Young and old will not be reconcilable—–a serious problem. Here is the last couple of paragraphs in Brian Foglia article;  http://mises.org/daily/4040  …

  • The Death Of America

    The Outsider
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:57 am
    The brainwashing of our children continues to increase. “Organizing for America, the successor organization to Obama for America, is building on the movement that elected President Obama by empowering students across the country to help us bring about our agenda” Obama and his Socialist friends want to do more brainwashing of our young in our schools. He and the Democrats are recruiting our college students to help Obama with his Communist agenda! This is where the “progressive” leftist Communist, Marxist indoctrination continues after they get through basic indoctrination in…

  • Who’s Turn To Buy?

    The Outsider
    27 Jan 2010 | 4:54 pm
     Didn’t Obama once buy a round for Cambridge Police Officer Sgt. James Crowley because he screwed up and “misspoke”!  In that case, he should buy all Americans a beer! Just make mine a Yuengling lager! Another article from my friend Clyde.  Well, it took near 250 years but Massachusetts woke up in time to again be a leader at the second tea party. A few of our elected officials are starting to open their eyes just a little, squinting at the results in disbelief. While our leader is still telling us we really don’t understand the problem, that he just needs to explain…

  • Tax Paid For Jobs, Buying Votes?

    The Outsider
    25 Jan 2010 | 7:05 am
    “For the first time in American history, a majority of union members are government workers rather than private-sector employees, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday.” This is reported by the NYT. Clever isn’t it? Using our tax dollars to create jobs? Bottom line is that Obama is using our tax dollars to make himself look good. He tells us about all the jobs he is creating when in fact he is taking jobs away from the private sector and lowering the value of the dollar by printing fiat money to pay for the jobs he claims he created! Who is Obama trying to fool?

  • The Federal Reserve System and Sin

    Randy Toman
    22 Jan 2010 | 7:35 am
    If one looks at the Federal Reserve System through the lenses of Biblical analysis and attempts to explain the sinfulness of what the FED is doing you get a pretty clear picture of deception and corruption.  The nation’s monetary policy through the FED and the fact the government is allowing it to go on is an abomination to God.  How can I say that with such assurance?  Proverbs 11: 1 tells us this.  All Biblical quotes will be from the King James Bible.  “A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.” God through his Bible ties the nation’s…
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    The Corner on National Review Online

  • Senate Budget Committee Hearing This Morning -- By: Veronique de Rugy

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:26 am
    I am listening to the Senate Budget Committee Hearing about our budget and economic outlook. Chairman Conrad sounds stressed out about how terrible the situation is. He said he read a report this morning about what was needed to get us to a place where our debt-to-GDP ratio was back to 60 percent in 2019 and that the actions needed to do this are daunting. He is right.  The Committee seems suspicious of the president's claim that his budget will address some of our fiscal problems. I think this is an understatement.Senator Sessions is doing a great job stressing the point that spending is…

  • Obama Could Make Recess Appointments -- By: Daniel Foster

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:21 am
    With it looking increasingly likely that NRLB appointee Craig Becker will be filibustered in the Senate, the president is threatening to make key appointments during the Presidents' Day Congressional recess: Obama said he asked GOP leaders during a meeting at the White House "to put a stop to these holds in which nominees for critical jobs are denied a vote for months." "If the Senate does not act, and I made this very clear, if the Senate does not act to confirm these nominees, I will consider making several recess appointments during the upcoming recess," Obama said. "Because we can't…

  • Rubio's DeMint Dollars -- By: Robert Costa

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:18 am
    Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) wants to celebrate “the hug” in style. Tomorrow, he will mark the one-year anniversary of Gov. Charlie Crist (R., Fla.) embracing President Obama and last year’s stimulus bill with a “money bomb” for Marco Rubio, Crist’s opponent in Florida’s GOP Senate primary. “For a Republican governor to make such a visible display of support for the stimulus early on was a pretty clear departure from where the GOP needs to be,” DeMint tells National Review Online. “Helping Marco win the most exciting race in the country isn’t just about electing a Florida…

  • Specter on Abdulmutallab: 'Information More Important than Conviction' -- By: Daniel Foster

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:07 am
    Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.) has broken from the White House and his newly-adopted party by criticizing the administration's decision to read Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab his Miranda rights after his arrest. "I do not believe he should have been read his rights," Specter said during an appearance on MSNBC. "I think the most important thing is to find out what information he has to prevent future terrorist acts." Specter's remarks serve as maybe the most pointed criticism by a Democrat toward the Obama administration's handling of the attempted bombing, on which Republicans…

  • Krauthammer's Take -- By: NRO Staff

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:02 am
    On Iran’s announcement that it is moving forward with uranium enrichment: Well, on the one hand, this is yet another slap at the administration, where we turn another cheek, another insult, and another challenge. However, this one, I think, is a real escalation -- when they openly announce enrichment up to 20 percent. The French know that this -- the excuse that it's for medical studies and the medical reactor -- is a fraud, because only the French and the Argentines have the advanced technology to turn the enriched uranium into the fuel rods that work in the Tehran reactor. Iran doesn't…
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    TAPPED

  • The Lessons of Air America.

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:36 am
    Danny Goldberg, a music-industry veteran and prominent progressive donor who spent what he describes as "one unhappy year midway through Air America's life as its CEO" has an interesting piece on Alternet about the radio network's demise. While it's true that there was terrible mismanagement over the course of Air America's existence, Golberg argues that the whole idea of an ideologically-driven radio network that could generate profits was probably misguided: The fatal flaw in Air America's genetic code was the pretense that liberal talk radio was a great business opportunity, that…

  • Does it Matter if the Prop. 8 Judge is Gay?

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:55 am
    The National Organization of Marriage thinks so. In response to a San Francisco Chronicle article "outing" District Court Judge Vaughn Walker, who is presiding over the Prop. 8 federal challenge in California, the organization released a statement cataloging instances of the judge's bias, which include: Subpoenaing the "Yes on 8" campaign for documents, but not the "No on 8" campaign. Allowing a non-California gay man forced into ex-gay therapy to testify. Allowing the public trial to be broadcast (the Supreme Court put a stop to this until it can consider the matter more thoroughly). These…

  • Where Will We Get the Next Rachel Maddow?

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:26 am
    Jessica Clark and Tracy Van Slyke offer three strategies for keeping progressive media makers flourishing: The progressive media sector has suffered a few sharp blows in recent weeks. On Jan. 21, Air America Media unceremoniously folded, citing a "perfect storm" in the media industry. Just a few days later, a survey from Public Policy Polling revealed Fox News to be the most trusted television news source -- echoing Fox's continued ratings domination over CNN and MSNBC. Even old "crash the gates" Markos challenged progressive media's power to influence Democrats or inspire newly disillusioned…

  • Modified Crops in India.

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:47 am
    The Indian government has put a hold, pending further study, on approving genetically modified eggplants. Government scientists approved the new crop last year, but this new move from Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh comes in response to public concerns, according to the BBC: The minister said "independent scientific studies" were needed to establish "the safety of the product from the point of view of its long-term impact on human health and environment". Mr Ramesh said it was "a difficult decision to make" since he had to "balance science and society". "The decision is responsible to…

  • Pleading Incompetence.

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:05 am
    Republicans have been arguing that failed underwear bomber Umar Abdulmutallab should have been put in military detention rather than being charged through the criminal justice system. Yesterday, Rep. Peter Hoekstra, the ranking Republican on the House intelligence committee, responded to John Brennan's revelation that Republicans had been informed failed Abdulmutallab was in FBI custody and hadn't objected until after the fact by saying that ... he didn't know what that meant. Hoekstra didn't dispute Brennan's account that he was one of four Republicans who was briefed by Brennan shortly…
 
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    Ezra Klein

  • Comment of the Day: The Netflix of dating

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:34 am
    Yesterday, I offhandedly remarked that a Netflix of dating would match you to partners based on how others had rated them as dates. In comments Kevin Willis expanded on the theory: Unfortunately, the "Netflix of Dating" would recommend dates who people like you had ultimately dumped, or who had ultimately dumped people like you. Also, I think a "Netflix of Dating" would involve intending to date someone, but after six months of their sitting on the couch, admitting that you're never going to date them and that you should dump them for someone else. I still think it's a good idea!

  • Want to edit Foreign Affairs?

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:24 am
    After all, who better than Time's 2006 Person of the Year to take over the august journal?

  • Lunch break

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:35 am
    Randall Munroe -- author of the very best thing on the Internet -- gave a talk to the folks at Google.

  • If the summit fails ...

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:02 am
    This isn't a very encouraging plan: Mr. Obama has repeatedly said Democrats' messy negotiations soured the public. The White House now hopes that a better, more public process will boost public support and give congressional Democrats enough confidence to pass the bill, using a parliamentary procedure that requires just 51 Senate votes. So far, congressional Democrats have been reluctant to take that course. If that fails, the White House hopes the summit will lay the groundwork for a modest bipartisan bill that would fall far short of Democrats' original goals, but would give the president…

  • Against books -- sort of

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:32 am
    George Packer's post on Twitter is rather less considered than his colleague Steve Coll's. Packer, a prominent figure who offered a controversial argument in a public forum, responds to the criticism of his argument by saying, "the response to my post tells me that techno-worship is a triumphalist and intolerant cult that doesn’t like to be asked questions." As the Twitterites would say: #fail. As it is, there's nothing bold or brave about "mourn[ing] the loss of books and the loss of time for books." You don't get hunted through the streets for saying there's "no way for readers to be…
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    RedState

  • Carol Shea-Porter (D, NH) in trouble.

    ()
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    There’s a lot of good news in this WMUR Granite State poll (as of this moment, we’re looking at retaining Gregg’s seat, and picking up both House seats), but Shea-Porter’s numbers are the most immediately interesting. 35/40 approval/disapproval (the worst she’s ever had); and she loses to all four hypothetical candidates: In a race between Shea Porter and her best known challenger, Frank Guinta, 43% of likely 1st CD voters say they would vote for Guinta, 33% would vote for Shea Porter, 2% prefer some other candidate, and 22% are undecided. In a matchup with Rich…

  • The Legislative Filibuster: Democracy’s Sobriety Checkpoint

    ()
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:05 am
    In recent weeks we have been deluged by hand-wringing columns from “progressive” pundits bemoaning the filibuster rules in the Senate - which allow a determined and unified minority to block legislation that has fewer than 60 votes - and essentially declaring the filibuster to be proof that American democracy doesn’t work and should change the way it does business. (See Brian Darling’s discussion of one recent example of the genre from Paul Krugman declaring the filibuster to be the “downfall” of American greatness, and here for Ezra Klein declaring that…

  • Farewell to the Architect of the ‘Slow Bleed’ Strategy

    ()
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am
    Here are my few brief, and probably socially unacceptable, words about a Congressman and Ex-Marine who passed away yesterday: John Murtha. In the interest of time, space, and not prolonging nausea, I won’t delve into this corrupt late Congressman’s role in ABSCAM, nor will I spend time lamenting, on behalf of the people of his district, the loss of the Pork King of Congress as their benefactor and representative. I won’t even go too far into the Haditha Incident, in which Murtha (a military veteran who had long since cast his lot with those who believe that murder, atrocity,…

  • It is Barack Obama Serving Al Qaeda’s Goals

    ()
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:41 am
    First the White House National Security Advisor, John Brennan, said Republicans were briefed on the FBI detainment of the Christmas Day panty-bomber, including that the terrorist had been mirandized. In fact, that was not true. Now John Brennan says critics of the White House are serving ‘the goals of Al Qaeda.’ When did Barack Obama become a White House critic? Chief among those helping Al Qaeda is Barack Obama. The mirandizing of the panty-bomber delayed vital intelligence collection. Shutting down GTMO and bringing those prisoners to the United States not only brings Al Qaeda…

  • Why It Is Important

    ()
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:06 am
    Tomorrow, Senator Jim DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund is launching a money bomb for Marco Rubio. You need to understand specifically why it is important that this be a success. DeMint is under massive and sustained attacks from establishment Republicans for daring to challenge the hand picked candidates of the Washington GOP crowd. These people think you and DeMint are a joke. These people think that you cannot beat them at what they view as their game. They blame Jim DeMint for pushing Arlen Specter to the Democrats. Even the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal attacked Jim…
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    News

  • Obama vows healthcare meeting won't become 'political theater'

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:11 am
    President Barack Obama rejected Tuesday the notion that an upcoming healthcare summit would be little more than "political theater."Obama said he's hoping to make some substantive progress at a Feb. 25, televised meeting with House and Senate leaders in both parties on healthcare."My hope is that this doesn't end up being political theater, as some of your have phrased it," Obama said during a surprise appearance at the White House daily press briefing. "I want a substantive discussion."The highly-anticipated meeting, which Obama announced during an interview on Sunday, has been the subject…

  • Steele suggests critics are racially motivated

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:56 am
    Critics of Michael Steele's tenure as RNC chairman are motivated by racism, Steele suggested in an interview published today.Speaking to the Washingtonian Magazine (no online version), Steele wondered why his DNC counterpart doesn't get the same criticism he does. "I don’t see stories about the internal operations of the DNC that I see about this operation," Steele said. "Why? Is it because Michael Steele is the chairman, or is it because a black man is chairman?”The RNC has experienced significant staff turnover since Steele became chairman, especially in the communcations shop. That has…

  • Pres. Obama to consider recess appointments for stalled nominations

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:47 am
    President Barack Obama on Tuesday signaled he could appoint nominees to key federal posts while Congress is on break next week. At a rare appearance during Tuesday's press briefing, Obama criticized the upper chamber for hanging up a number of those appointees so far -- a moot manuever, he added, seeing as the chamber often grants "overwhelming support" to those candidates when their final confirmation votes arrive. {mosads}Ultimately, the president's remark was an indirect reproach of Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who imposed a blanket hold on all of those nominations last week. While Obama…

  • Specter: Christmas bombing suspect shouldn't have been read his rights

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:26 am
    The suspect accused of trying to blow up a flight on Christmas Day should not have been read his Miranda rights, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) said Tuesday.Specter, a former prosecutor who's served in the past as a Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, broke with the Obama administration over it's decision to treat Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as a criminal defendant rather than as an enemy combatant."I do not believe he should have been read his rights," Specter said during an appearance on MSNBC. "I think the most important thing is to find out what information he has to prevent…

  • House suspends votes for rest of week

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:02 am
    Inclement weather will force House lawmakers to suspend votes for the remainder of this week, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced on Tuesday .Hoyer said that after consulting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) it became clear that Tuesday's snowstorm was preventing too many members from returning to Washington.{mosads}Hoyer said that the airlines - which have already cancelled hundreds of flights as the second major storm in less than a week makes its way across the midwest toward Washington DC - more or less made the decision for…
 
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    Wolcott's Blog

  • Community Bulletin Board

    James Wolcott
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Late notice, but our glamorous author-pal Dani Shapiro will be reading from her new memoir Devotion tonight (Monday) at Barnes & Noble, 82nd and Broadway, 7 pm. Despite this B&N's Upper West Side address, I...

  • Do Tell

    James Wolcott
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Not to pry, but when Tonya Plank tweets, "I am NEVER going to a bar alone again!," I feel that there's a story here--a cautionary tale--crying out to be shared. Unless the details are too...

  • There's Always Something Exciting Happening in My Neighborhood

    James Wolcott
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    "Coyotes Spotted at Columbia University". Thank God they didn't eat Nick Lemann!...

  • Peddling Derivatives

    James Wolcott
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Word of a new celebrity chorus of "We Are the World" (to assist Haiti) doesn't make Dennis Perrin swing and sway with the spirit of Kumbaya: I suppose it's yet another sign of this dull...

  • Rush Limbaugh's Satiricon

    James Wolcott
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Reversing course like a true phony, Sarah Palin grants special dispensation to Rush Limbaugh to let "retard" shoot from his lips, as long as it's aimed at liberals. Because, doncha know, he's a satirist in...
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    Obama HQ

  • "Too hard, too risky?"

    Christopher Hass
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:37 am
    From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:A few days ago, President Obama told a story about an OFA supporter in St. Louis who had volunteered during the campaign and organized her community for health reform, but recently succumbed to breast cancer. She didn't have quality insurance, so she put off crucial exams and didn't catch it early enough. And while she fought cancer, she also spent her final months fighting for a chance at health reform so others wouldn't go through the same thing. The President told this story to remind Congress, the nation, and us: We can't tell her family we're giving up on…

  • President Obama to the Democratic Party: "This is our best chance to deliver the change that the American people need"

    Erica Sagrans
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:20 pm
    On Saturday, as Washington was blanketed with snow, President Obama spoke to members of the Democratic Party at the 2010 Winter Meeting. In a fiery speech, the President reiterated his fierce commitment to fighting for health insurance reform: "The easiest thing to do right now would be to just say, oh, [passing health reform] is too hard, let's just re-group and lick our wounds, try to hang on. We've had a long and difficult debate on health care. And there are some, maybe even the majority in this town, who say perhaps it's time to walk away. But...if we walk away, we know what will…

  • President Obama Announces Bipartisan Health Reform Summit: "Put your ideas on the table"

    Erica Sagrans
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am
    Yesterday, President Obama invited Democratic and Republican leaders to a bipartisan, televised health reform summit to review the best ideas from both parties in order to move forward with passing reform. He challenged Republicans in particular to put their ideas on the table, in order to systematically examine the proposals and come up with a path forward. The New York Times reported: President Obama said Sunday that he would convene a half-day bipartisan health care session at the White House to be televised live this month, a high-profile gambit that will allow Americans to watch as…

  • Open Thread

    Christopher Hass
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:47 am

  • "Pass health reform now"

    Christopher Hass
    7 Feb 2010 | 2:12 pm
    From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:An alarming new study shows that health care costs increased last year at the fastest rate in more than a half century. Health care spending rose to an estimated $2.5 trillion in 2009, or $8,047 per person -- and is now projected to nearly double by 2019. If we don't act, this growing burden will mean more lost jobs, more families pushed into bankruptcy, and more crushing debt for our nation. The conclusion is clear: This isn't a problem we can kick down the road for another decade -- or even another year. We need to pass health reform now. We're incredibly…
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    SCOTUSblog

  • Event: The Impact of the Citizens United Decision on Federal Elections

    Matt Sundquist
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:08 am
    Last week, former FEC Commissioner Hans A. von Spakovsky (now affiliated with the Heritage Foundation) moderated a panel discussion at the Heritage Foundation that examined the practical impact and potential outcomes of the decision in Citizens United v. FEC.  The panel – whose other members were all veterans of the FEC and/or campaign law specialists – agreed that the decision was one of the most (if not the most) significant campaign finance decisions since Buckley v. Valeo.  The panelists also largely agreed on three other points: first, Congress and state legislatures will likely…

  • Notable Petitions

    Erin Miller
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:02 am
    On a regular basis, we intend to post recently filed petitions that Tom deems noteworthy. Each will later appear on one of our “Petitions to Watch” lists — and will together constitute the bulk of those lists — depending on the conference it is eventually distributed for. Two such interesting petitions have been filed recently: No. 09-920, Simmons v. Galvin, and No. 09-923, Arar v. Ashcroft.  In both cases, briefs in opposition have not yet been filed, and likely will not be until next month at the earliest. Title: Simmons v. Galvin Docket: 09-920 Issues: (1) Whether…

  • Tuesday round-up

    Jay Willis
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:39 am
    Joan Biskupic of USA Today discusses what Citizens United may portend for the rest of the current Term, in which the Court will hear several “momentous” cases.  Biskupic opines that the contentious Citizensdecision may have reinforced the Court’s “caustic ideological divide” as it moves forward in reviewing and deciding pending cases, and in particular other high-profile cases such as McDonald v. City of Chicago, Doe No. 1 v. Reed, and Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOB.  Meanwhile, at the Huffington Post, Frances Moore Lappe criticizes the decision as eliminating “the freedom…

  • NAMUDNO: Right Question, Wrong Case

    Erin Miller
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:53 am
    The following is an essay for our Race and the Supreme Court program by Abigail Thernstrom,  vice-chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.  Ms. Thernstrom is the author, most recently, of the book Voting Rights — and Wrongs: The Elusive Quest for Racially Fair Elections Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. 1 v. Holder (NAMUDNO) was one of the most anticipated cases of the 2008-2009 term. Civil rights advocates had been in a state of panic, fearing a majority would declare the most radical provision in the 1965 Voting…

  • Monday round-up

    Matt Sundquist
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am
    Above the Law reports that Justice Thomas, discussing clerk hiring at his Thursday talk at the University of Florida, contrasted his views with those of his colleagues, whom he says mainly hire clerks from Ivy League schools.  “I don’t believe they [Ivy League schools] have a monopoly on intelligence,” said Thomas. “I also don’t believe they have a monopoly on the best kids to clerk.”  Tony Mauro reports that Thomas also praised  Silvia Ibanez, an advocate from Florida who represented herself, and, according to Thomas, persuaded the Court to rule in her favor in a 1994 case. …
 
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    Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National

  • Sarah Palin: "One state even spent a million bucks to put up signs that advertise that they were spending on the federal stimulus projects."

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:48 pm
    The Truth-o-Meter says: Half-True | Palin claims a state paid $1 million to advertise that they were spending stimulus money In her keynote speech at the Tea Party convention on Feb. 6, 2010, Sarah Palin mocked some of the spending in the massive economic stimulus championed by President Barack Obama."One state even spent a million bucks to put up signs that advertise that they were spending on the federal stimulus projects," Palin said. "Or as someone put it, this was a million dollar effort using your money to tell you it's spending your money. And it didn't create a single job."Many…

  • Sarah Palin: "Barack Obama had 150 days in the U.S. Senate where he was able to vote quite often 'present.' "

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:42 pm
    The Truth-o-Meter says: False | Palin says Obama voted "present" in U.S. Senate "quite often" In an interview with FoxNews.com at the National Tea Party Convention on Feb. 6, 2010, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin reprised a Republican talking point from the 2008 presidential campaign by criticizing President Barack Obama for his lack of executive experience.Asked by FoxNews.com's Judd Berger whether she thought she's "more qualified to be president than President Obama," Palin referred to the debate over "experience" from the 2008 contest between Obama and her running mate, Arizona Sen. John…

  • Judd Gregg: "The law is very clear! 'The monies recouped from the TARP shall be paid into the general fund of the treasury for the reduction of the public debt.'"

    5 Feb 2010 | 3:31 pm
    The Truth-o-Meter says: True | Gregg claims that TARP money must be used to pay down the deficit President Barack Obama has proposed a boost for small businesses, but Sen. Judd Gregg isn't hot on the idea.In a hearing about the administration's latest budget, Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, criticized the White House for proposing to use funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, an initiative originally intended to keep the banking system from collapsing, to help community banks lend to small businesses. Gregg said it violates TARP rules."The whole concept of the TARP was that as we…

  • Barack Obama: Some Republicans who voted against the stimulus "have been all too happy to claim credit for Recovery Act projects and the jobs those projects have produced. They come to the ribbon cuttings."

    5 Feb 2010 | 2:17 pm
    The Truth-o-Meter says: True | Obama criticizes Republicans who opposed stimulus, then claim credit for projects it funded Twice recently, President Barack Obama has slammed congressional Republicans for voting against his economic stimulus bill in February 2009 but later touting provisions of the bill that benefited their own constituents. During his Jan. 29, 2010, question-and-answer session with House Republican lawmakers in Baltimore, Obama brought up the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as the stimulus is officially known: "There was an interesting headline in CNN today:…

  • Ron Paul: "The money supply has doubled in the last year."

    5 Feb 2010 | 12:26 pm
    The Truth-o-Meter says: Barely True | Ron Paul claims money supply has doubled Joining the chorus of critics of Washington's handling of the economy, Rep. Ron Paul used a Jan. 26, 2010, column on his Web site to criticize the Federal Reserve:"We have been on a disastrous course for a long time. The money supply has doubled in the last year, our debt is unsustainable, the value of the dollar is going to continue its drop, and those Americans who understand where we are headed feel helpless and held hostage by foolish policymakers in Washington," wrote Paul, a Texas Republican who ran for…
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    Balloon Juice

  • Open Thread

    Tim F.
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:23 am
    My SNOWPOCALYPSE pics are up on Flickr. Email me a link to yours and I might post a few in some new photo threads.

  • Comment Of The Day

    Tim F.
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:38 am
    Phyllis. Called my congressman’s* local office. The staffer I spoke to there(a former colleague) said they are getting ‘don’t pass the bill’ calls, because the people for it assume that because the Representative is for it, they don’t need to call. The staffer said people who are for it need to call. Even if you think that your Congressperson is a safe vote, call anyway. You will make make it that much easier for him or her to cast that key vote.

  • Another Day, Another Unsourced “Rahm Sucks” Piece

    John Cole
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:51 am
    This time in the Hill: Democrats in Congress are holding White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel accountable for his part in the collapse of healthcare reform. The emerging consensus among critics in both chambers is that Emanuel’s lack of Senate experience slowed President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority. The share of the blame comes as cracks are beginning to show in Emanuel’s once-impregnable political armor. Last week he had to apologize after a report surfaced that he called liberal groups “retarded” in a private meeting. No one, of course, is on the…

  • Why Wait?

    Tim F.
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am
    NycEve. A senior Congressional legislative aide called me this morning on background as follows. We must begin to organize a massive and unprecedented telephone call in campaign for passage of healthcare reform, to begin at 9AM EST on February 24th and extend through the entire day of the presidential healthcare meeting on February 25th. This senior Congressional aide (who asked at this time to remain anonymous), advised that nothing less than a citizen outpouring the likes of which members of Congress have never seen, will be sufficient to get healthcare legislation passed. I wish that I had…

  • Another Day, More Goldman Perfidy

    John Cole
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:41 am
    It just never stops: Goldman Sachs helped the Greek government to mask the true extent of its deficit with the help of a derivatives deal that legally circumvented the EU Maastricht deficit rules. At some point the so-called cross currency swaps will mature, and swell the country’s already bloated deficit. Greeks aren’t very welcome in the Rue Alphones Weicker in Luxembourg. It’s home to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office. The number crunchers there are deeply annoyed with Athens. Investigative reports state that important data “cannot be…
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    Oliver Willis

  • Health Care Reform Is Not A Theoretical Thing

    owillis@gmail.com (Oliver Willis)
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:41 am
    Insurance companies are condemning children to death because of what they see on a profit and loss statement. It’s ridiculous. We’re America, for Christ’s sake. We can do this.

  • Jessica Alba @ The Valentine’s Day Premiere

    owillis@gmail.com (Oliver Willis)
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:17 am
    This is another one of her movies that I won’t be seeing. But we could be seeing a return to glory here…

  • Christopher Nolan Working On Superman Reboot?

    owillis@gmail.com (Oliver Willis)
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:10 am
    I know that I’m in a minority of people who liked Superman Returns, but I understand the movie’s flaws to the non-diehards as well as the need for Warner Bros./DC to have a flagship character like Superman be on the big screen. So the idea that Christopher Nolan, the guy who’s done such a bang-up job on rebooting Batman will have some role in refreshing Superman sounds like good news. I hope Warner understands that making Superman “dark” is not the answer. Superman is the counterbalance to Batman, the yin to his yang. Some have said that makes Superman less…

  • Sorry, But It Was A Football Game

    owillis@gmail.com (Oliver Willis)
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:56 am
    Congrats to the Saints and their fans, but the stories that try to put an endcap on the horror of Katrina by essentially saying “See, now they won a Super Bowl” are just trivializing what went down. Even for those of us who are diehard, nutty NFL fans – they are a diversion, entertainment, a novely – not real life.

  • That’s Because She’s Dumb

    owillis@gmail.com (Oliver Willis)
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:53 am
    Sarah Palin cites a Pat Buchanan column (which should already be a flag on the play) and her takeaway is the opposite of what Buchanan wrote.
 
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    The Moderate Voice

  • Kathleen Sibelius and Anthem Blue Cross

    KATHY KATTENBURG
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:46 am
    Now here is something I cannot in a million years imagine a Republican administration doing. Anthem Blue Cross of California just announced that it’s jacking up its premiums by as much as 39% — despite a year of enormous profits — and Kathleen Sibelius hit the roof: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today sent a letter to Anthem Blue Cross and called on the company to publicly justify its decision to raise premiums for its California customers by as much as 39 percent. In her letter, Sebelius notes that the parent company of…

  • Before the Health-Care Summit

    ROBERT STEIN
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:17 am
    In a pre-Super Bowl interview, President Obama told Katie Couric about a televised bipartisan health-care meeting on February 25th to go through “all the best ideas…and move it forward.” If he hadn’t been absorbed in the game, watching Bill Moyers Journal would have given him a more productive idea than meeting with members of Congress who have been bargaining and bastardizing reform into a monstrosity that few Americans understand and the majority disapproves. Moyers interviewed Dr. Margaret Flowers, a Maryland pediatrician, who gave up her practice to advocate a…

  • The Wealth of Nations and the Failure of Globalization

    JAZZ SHAW, Assistant Editor
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:14 am
    While it remains depressingly futile to bang the drum of warning against the dangers posed to the American economy by the new “global economy” there is a piece up at HuffPo this week by Thom Harmann which everyone should read. Globalization Is Killing The Globe: Return to Local Economies The reason I find the subject depressing (which, not coincidentally, is also the reason I get beaten up by my hard core conservative cronies on this) is that there are aspects of it which are glaringly obvious, but have become so politically poisonous among doctrinaire conservatives and party…

  • Nearly Everybody Wants to Cut Federal Spending?

    POLIMOM
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:48 am
    From a very recent Rasmussen poll: Eighty-three percent (83%) of Americans say the size of the federal budget deficit is due more to the unwillingness of politicians to cut government spending than to the reluctance of taxpayers to pay more in taxes. Considering the public pillorying that occurs every time a politician dares to suggest cuts, I find that percentage to be absolutely astonishing. Are we really this schizophrenic?

  • Dreams from my mother

    DAVID ADESNIK
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:15 am
    We’re snowed in here in Washington DC. The government will shut down tomorrow for a second consecutive day. Tomorrow night, we’re expecting another storm. One of the nice things about being shut in is the chance to read, and I’ve finally started on Dreams From My Father. In a word, it’s superb. It would be a great book if Barack Obama were still just a lawyer in Chicago. Of course, it’s really not unusual for a Republican to praise the book. Three years ago, at the beginning of campaign season, the Weekly Standard gave the book a glowing review (while dismissing…
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    AMERICAblog News

  • Gibbs just flashed crib sheet on palm at WH briefing, included 'eggs, milk, bread, hope and change.'

    John Aravosis (DC)
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:12 am
    Seriously. He was referring to Sarah Palin's now-famous crib sheet she wrote on her hand.

  • Obama administration rips into Republicans for politicizing war on terror

    John Aravosis (DC)
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:51 am
    Now this is what we like to see. Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan penned an op ed today about how Republicans are politicizing the war on terror. It included the following tidbit:Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda. Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill. He's right. And it's about time the White House hit back hard. But in the past, the White House has often gotten cold feet right after it hit Republicans hard. Here's to hoping they're relentless, and to hoping they have…

  • 'Lift the ban' groups criticize latest Gillibrand move on DADT

    John Aravosis (DC)
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:22 am
    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has taken the lead on the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell in the Senate. But it's not entirely clear that she's helping matters.

  • With all Palin's talk about being an 'energy expert', Alaska isn't even among the top 10 energy producing states

    John Aravosis (DC)
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:20 am
    Alaska produces 2.9% of the total energy production of the US. Why does the media let her get away with her ongoing lie that Alaska produces 20% of the nation's energy, and thus that makes her an energy expert? It simply makes her, once again, an idiot and a liar.

  • The Hill: 'Cracks are beginning to show in Emanuel’s once-impregnable political armor'

    Joe Sudbay (DC)
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:41 am
    According to The Hill, Democrats on Capitol Hill are focusing their ire on Rahm:Democrats in Congress are holding White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel accountable for his part in the collapse of healthcare reform.The emerging consensus among critics in both chambers is that Emanuel’s lack of Senate experience slowed President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.The share of the blame comes as cracks are beginning to show in Emanuel’s once-impregnable political armor.Emanuel has presented himself as the all-powerful. He's led Obama's presidency into a tailspin (and Obama let him).
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    RealClearPolitics - Homepage

  • Democratic Fantasies vs. Reality

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:11 am
    Matt Welch, ReasonIn just about every speech at their 2008 convention, Democrats promised voters that a change in the White House would, in Barack Obama’s formulation, restore “our moral standing” in the world. Replace the unilateralist cowboy at the top with a humbler multilateralist, and the path would finally be cleared to fix vexing international issues such as curbing carbon emissions and dealing with the mullahs in Iran. Like many of the party faithful’s long-nurtured beliefs, this hope has disintegrated on contact with reality. “America…

  • Will the D.C. Establishment Wake Up?

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:10 am
    Bill Murchison, Dallas Mng NewsHeavy weekend snowfall closed down the capital of the United States. Not that many outside the Washington Beltway were sorry about it. Possibly -- by their reasoning -- the blizzard was God's gift to decent government, a holiday from the ceaseless commotion, braggadocio and show-offing that have become the capital's principle pastimes. Did Sarah Palin bring down the house in Nashville, Tenn., at the big tea party bash and the next day at a Rick Perry rally in Texas? By virtue of her considered views on Federal Reserve reform or transportation policy?

  • What's Happened to Obama?

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:09 am
    Andrew Malcolm, Los Angeles TimesA favorite story about Chicago politics involves Roman Pucinski, who served six long terms of political apprenticeship in the Washington minor leagues of the U.S. House of Representatives before the Windy City's vaunted Democratic political machine allowed him to step up and serve on the City Council. The late Pucinski then served for 18 years as a loyal operative assigned to the 41st Ward (of 50). It's always useful for Chicago pols to have White House connections if, say, they'd like to dispatch someone famous to fly off to Copenhagen to lobby…

  • The Clinton Voters Jump Ship

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am
    Jonathan Last, Weekly StandardLast week, a little more than 24 hours after the FBI warned senators not to disclose the sensitive information that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was cooperating with the FBI, the White House shared the information with the news media.Attorney General Eric Holder has been the Obama administration's point man in revising the nation's approach to terrorism. Holder said last summer that it was his decision to reinvestigate CIA operatives who had employed enhanced interrogation techniques during the Bush administration, although these individuals had been…

  • California Dysfunction: Blame the Politicians

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:02 am
 
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    Latest Politics Videos Sifted at VideoSift.com

  • Obama to hold job performance reviews with all americans

    peggedbea (http://politics.videosift.com/member/peggedbea)
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:36 am
    (10 votes - 3 comments - 262 views)

  • The Colbert Report - Sarah Palin Uses A Hand-O-Prompter

    demon_ix (http://politics.videosift.com/member/demon_ix)
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am
    (29 votes - 3 comments - 325 views)Mocking Palin for the Teleprompter/Hand failure, as well as the Retard Rahm-bad/Rush-good blunder.

  • TDS - AmeriGasm

    brain (http://politics.videosift.com/member/brain)
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:55 am
    (28 votes - 1 comment - 277 views)TDS finally covers Palin writing notes on her hand.

  • NIN -the WARNING (apathy kills)

    enoch (http://politics.videosift.com/member/enoch)
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:20 am
    (11 votes - 1 comment - 210 views)off NIN's 2007 release "year zero" set to political backdrops and hints of government corruption and 9/11. lyrics: Some say it was a warning Some say it was a sign I was standing right there When it came down from the sky The way it spoke to us We felt it from inside Said it was up to us Up to us to decide You've become a virus That's eating up its host We've been watching you with all of our eyes And what you seem to value most So much potential, or so we used to say Your greed, self-importance and your arrogance You piss it all away We heard a cry We've…

  • Maddow Gives a History Lesson to the Tea Party

    dag (http://dag.videosift.com)
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:58 am
    (27 votes - 9 comments - 328 views)The Tea Party movement would like to impose a mandatory literacy test for voting. Maddow gives us a brief rundown on what that meant back in the 50s. Shockingly recent- and a terrible association for Tancredo to make.
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    Politics Blogs on Blogged

  • Murtha's Death Caused By Surgical Mistake

    The Huffington Post Rep. John Murtha's (D-PA) death on Monday has been reported by various news outlets as resulting from "complications following gallbladder surgery." Via Taegan Goddard, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the "complications...

  • On Fox, Fox News's Chris Wallace Grills Fox News's Sarah Palin

    Swampland Chris Wallace has taken a lot of criticism in recent months from the White House and other Democrats for allegedly crossing that hazy Fox News line between news gathering and conservative punditry. But on Sunday, Wallace had his Fox News colleague Sarah Palin as a guest, and it was a real journalistic interview. Unlike Fox News's Bill O'Reilly or Glenn Beck, who spent their interviews with Palin praising her symbolic value, Wallace went after Palin--questioning the logic behind her pro-life views, calling her out on walking away from her job as Alaska Governor (Ronald Reagan never…

  • Buried Truths About Gays in the Military

    Reason - Hit & Run There are lots of reasons for excluding gays and lesbians from the military. But current supporters of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy insist that really, it all comes down to cohesion. Keep gays out, and soldiers will stick together through thick and thin. Let gays in, and every platoon will disintegrate like a sand castle in the surf...

  • Bill Clinton Returns to Haiti to Oversee Aid Relief

    Anderson Cooper 360 Blog Former U.S. President Bill Clinton - charged with overseeing the United Nations aid mission - made his second trip since the January 12 earthquake to Haiti, where he expressed confidence in the Haitian government's ability to help the country recover. After meeting with government leaders, visiting a clinic and overseeing the delivery of supplies, Clinton said he was confident about the government of President Rene Preval. "The government has the best chance in my lifetime to slip the chains of the past," he said...

  • Rich: GOP Goes Mute

    The Daily Beast Earlier this month when Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, a strange thing happened: the GOP was silent. Despite the expected criticism from John McCain, Republicans had little else to say on the topic, and in today’s New York Times columnist Frank Rich writes, "The right’s noise machine was on mute." The proposed repeal also received little attention from TV networks, with Fox News sharing a brief, fair report and CNN attempting to gain more viewers by featuring old homophobic clichés. But why?
 
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    Democratic Strategist

  • The Mythical Supermajority

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am
    Chris Bowers has an OpenLeft post about the futility of seeking a dependable filibuster-proof Senate supermajority. While Dems may be only one vote away from achieving a filibuster-proof supermajority on health care reform, Bowers crunches some numbers and concludes that...

  • Is Obama Defying Public Opinion?

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:53 am
    One of the things you hear often from conservatives these days is that President Obama is stubbornly pursuing his "liberal" or "socialist" agenda despite the large and growing opposition of the American people. Nate Silver of 538.com quite naturally wants...

  • Chess Game Behind Health Care Summit

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:38 am
    In his article, "GOP Wary of Pitfalls in Obama's Health Care Summit," AP's Charles Babbington provides insights into the strategic implications of President Obama's bipartisan health care summit on Feb. 25th. From the lede: Even as Republicans publicly welcome President...

  • The Landrieu Landslide

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:16 pm
    Much of the nation is looking happily at New Orleans today in celebration of the Saints' Super Bowl victory, in no small part as a vindication of that battered city's spirit in the long wake of Hurricane Katrina. But New...

  • Palin's Saturday Night Live

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    If you didn't watch Sarah Palin's speech at the National Tea Party Convention on Saturday night, you should definitely give it a gander. It was in some respects an unprecedented opportunity for her: a prepared text (obviously her best format),...
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    The Washington Note

  • Today Show Discussion of Obama Team Policy Mess

    Steve Clemons
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:06 am
    Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy I did a short interview with NBC Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd yesterday about the essay I did based on Edward Luce's Financial Times account of things going awry at the inner core of the Obama administration. Todd also mentions both my piece and Luce's in his "First Thoughts" column this morning. Todd and his team write: *** Obama's inner circle: We should have mentioned these two pieces earlier -- in the Financial Times and the Washington Note -- that make some key observations about Obama's inner circle,…

  • Article V, Relations with Russia, and America's Insolvency

    Ben Katcher
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:45 am
    (President Barack Obama, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and fellow NATO leaders step down from a photo platform April 4, 2009, following their group photo at the NATO meeting in Strasbourg, France. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Stephen Herzog, writing at World Politics Review, argues that NATO should reconsider its intention to develop contingency plans to defend Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania against Russian attacks. According to Herzog, the operations are unnecessary because NATO is fully prepared to respond to a Russian attack. Moreover, such an attack is highly…

  • John Murtha Dies

    Steve Clemons
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:59 pm
    Representative John Murtha (D-PA) took on the Swift-Boat crowd. He was an old-line, earmark oriented defense industry hawk who eventually opposed the Iraq War. He died today at 77. From an official release from his office: Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12) passed away peacefully this afternoon at 1:18 p.m. at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA. At his bedside was his family. Murtha, 77, was Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in February of 1974, Murtha dedicated his life to serving his country both in the…

  • Core Chicago Team Sinking Obama Presidency

    Steve Clemons
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:54 am
    (Obama's Core Team at press conference on Obama administration's 100th day; photo credit: Bill O'leary, Washington Post) Financial Times Washington Bureau Chief Edward Luce has written a granularly informed insider account about those who hold the keys to the inner most sanctum of Obama Land -- Rahm Emanuel, Robert Gibbs, Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod. It's a vital article -- a brave one -- that interviews "dozens of interviews with his closest allies and friends in Washington". Most are unnamed because the consequences of retribution from this powerful foursome can be severe in an…

  • The View From My Street: DC's Storm

    Steve Clemons
    6 Feb 2010 | 3:41 pm
    -- Steve Clemons
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    Calitics - Front Page

  • The Prop 8 Fight Isn't About YouTube

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:51 am
    Cross posted from the Prop 8 Trial Tracker. Over the weekend, the Matier and Ross column in the San Francisco Chronicle "outed" Judge Vaughn Walker.  As I pointed out then here at the Prop 8 Trial Tracker, Andy Pugno's response was muted. A mere suggestions of bias without a full accusation. We are not going to say anything about that," Pugno said. ... "In many ways, the sponsors of Prop. 8 have been put at significant disadvantage throughout the case. Regardless of the reason for it."(SF Chronicle) But, Andy Pugno had no reason to make the full-throated accusation. After all, his…

  • February 8 Open Thread

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 pm
    Links: *  Patty Berg is officially out of the Insurance Commissioner Race. She hadn't been really campaigning, and her campaign account shows less than $3,000. Her listed consultants are now informing reporters that she is officially out of the race. * CalBuzz suggests Steve Poizner go blue-collar populist against MoneyBags Whitman. *  CaliforniaWatch tells us that Meg Whitman dumped a bunch of money on radio during Raiders games. Bet that was productive. *  Folks in Tom McClintock's distract are saying his anti-earmark stance is hurting the district's bottom line. Hey, maybe…

  • As Some Hesitate, Laird Says He Can Win Maldonado's Seat

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:39 pm
    I need to say something: I <3 John Laird. There, I said it. Former Asm. John Laird is neither flashy nor overly charismatic. But when it comes to quietly doing the work of the people, nobody works harder, knows his stuff better, or really understands the budget better than John Laird. And honestly, we really need him in the Senate. So, as the Calitics editorial board has pointed out before, the Legislature should approve the nomination of Sen. Abel Maldonado to Lt. Governor. And while the race is going to be competitive, Laird has the horses to win the race: Laird, a Santa Cruz Democrat,…

  • Dog Meet Your Tail. He'll Be Wagging You Today

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:05 pm
    I'm no fan of the current con-con initiative that's being circulated, but if this is true, it is deeply troubling: Repair California, the Bay Area-based business group behind two initiatives that would convene a Constitutional Convention, has accused five firms of blacklisting their petitions, shouting down their volunteers, destroying valid signatures and intentionally submitting fake signatures. "We have had hundreds of reports from all over the state," said Repair California spokesman John Grubb. "I even received a death threat." *** *** *** But The Economist magazine quoted Fred Kimball,…

  • Big Insurance Company Wants To Rewrite Law They've Been Breaking

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    There may be no better illustration of how corrupt our politics have become than the efforts of the Mercury Insurance Group to change a landmark consumer protection law that they are apparently violating on a regular basis. In 1988, California voters passed Proposition 103, a sweeping reform of the state's auto insurance industry. 22 years later, as insurance companies have become one of the nation's most reviled villains thanks to the murderous practices of health insurers, Mercury has put Proposition 17 on the ballot, which would raise auto insurance rates for many Californians. Several…
 
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    Jeffrey Goldberg

  • More Heat Than Light Dept.

    Jeffrey Goldberg
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:44 pm
    Laura Rozen reports that Flynt Leverett and Michael Ledeen will be debating Iran at the Atlantic Council later this month. 

  • "Why Not Have Palestinians Cover Israel?"

    Jeffrey Goldberg
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:07 pm
    A Goldblog reader writes:"I read your post about Ethan Bronner, and I agree. I think Palestinian reporters do a good job of covering the West Bank, etc., as you do, but why stop there? Why not have Jewish reporters cover Gaza? Why not have Palestinians cover Israel?"A good question. Two answers: First, Jewish reporters do cover Gaza. And Palestinians do, in fact, cover Israel. Anyone who has been in the Knesset press room knows that Palestinians, working for Arab outlets, as well as European and American publications, are busy covering the main issues of the day. Answer number two: There…

  • Pandering to Zealots

    Jeffrey Goldberg
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:48 am
    Clark Hoyt, the public editor of The New York Times, wants Ethan Bronner, the paper's Jerusalem bureau chief, to be reassigned because his son has joined the Israeli army. Hoyt believes that Bronner is a stellar correspondent but that the "appearance of conflict" is such that he should be forced out of his job. He bases this on complaints from, among others, something called "The Angry Arab News Service."  Hoyt writes: "Web sites like the Angry Arab News Service have called him a propagandist for Israel." Did it strike Hoyt that perhaps a web site called "The Angry Arab News Service"…

  • The Funniest Book of the Year

    Jeffrey Goldberg
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:51 am
    Yes, the year is short, and yes, 2010 might bring us other funny books -- John Edwards, I'm reasonably sure, will soon be bringing out a very funny book -- but Matt Labash's new  "Fly Fishing with Darth Vader" is, I'll bet right now, the funniest thing I'll read all year. Labash is one of the most consistently entertaining magazine writers today. His portrayal of Marion Barry in decline is the best profile of my favorite mayor that I've ever read. Labash has an innate sympathy for scoundrels, and he brings them to life like no other journalist today. And no, this is not some sort of…

  • What Happens When a Wiener Calls You a Dick?

    Jeffrey Goldberg
    5 Feb 2010 | 8:34 am
    Rep. Anthony Wiener (D., Hymietown) agrees with Jon Stewart that Joe Lieberman is a dick. Senator Marvin Shmeckl (D., Schlongville) could not be reached for comment.
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    JoeTrippi.com

  • Google developing real-time spoken language translation service

    Joe Trippi
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:53 am
    Image credit: voices.com In a project that could revolutionize international communication, Google is working to create mobile phone software that will build on voice recognition and automatic translation technology to provide almost instantaneous voice translations. Google says the project should be ready in a couple of years. The UK Times reports: “We think speech-to-speech translation should be possible and work reasonably well in a few years’ time,” said Franz Och, Google’s head of translation services. “Clearly, for it to work smoothly, you need a combination of high-accuracy…

  • Predicting the future of news consumption, from the inside

    Joe Trippi
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:14 pm
    Ever wondered what news companies are doing to predict the future of media consumption? With the recent trends of decline in print media, this is one of the hot questions for the journalism industry. Today in a post on the New York Times’ Bits blog, the vice president for research and development operations at The New York Times Company, Michael Zimbalast, details his department’s analysis of “weak signals” and consumer trends to extrapolate the impact for the news industry: The New York Times Company’s research and development department tries to predict the kinds…

  • FBI requests ISP’s keep records of customers’ site visits for 2 years

    Joe Trippi
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:58 am
    This last week FBI Director Robert Mueller renewed its call for Internet service providers to record what websites their customers visit, keeping logs for two years. As Mashable reports: That would mean monitoring the IP addresses, domains and exact websites users visit, and then storing that information for months. If officials who support this measure get their way, federal, state and local law enforcement would be able to access the information via search warrant or subpoena. The FBI has made these requests previously, and argues that this would be a modernization of previous laws that…

  • Tracking open gov sites for U.S. Departments and Agencies on launch deadline

    admin
    6 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am
    Two months ago, the White House Office of Management and Budget released The Open Government Directive which laid out a number of requirements for executive departments and agencies. One of these requirements was to launch an open government website to serve as the gateway for agency activities related to the Directive by today, February 6th. ProPublica is tracking the progress of agency sites going up: You can find the latest assessment at ProPublica. In addition to creating an open government website, the OMB laid out a number of other requirements in its directive relating to the…

  • New York City announces application winners for open data competition

    admin
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:53 pm
    The open data movement continues to build as New York City announced the winners of its NYCBigApps competition today. The competition is self-described as “A software application challenge in keeping with New York City’s drive to become more transparent, accessible, and accountable.” $20,000 in cash prizes is being rewarded between the competition winners, along with the opportunity to have a dinner with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. The New York Times’ Bits blog reports: The competition, which the city’s Economic Development Corporation kicked off in June, gave…
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    James Fallows

  • Wrapup on those used yoga mats

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:13 am
    Background here and here. After showing the "used yoga mats for Haiti" sign for intrinsic comedy value and as a vignette of la vie San Franciscienne*, I quoted the person behind the campaign as to its benign intent. For the record, here is an opposite perspective, from reader Sharon Shewmake of UC Davis:"I thought it was a particularity stupid way to donate, especially after everyone pointed out that shoes-for-Haiti is wasteful and stupid...."I think that one of the reason people like to give things instead of money to charity is because they feel a connection, and the more specific the item…

  • I retract all criticism of Fox News

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:58 pm
    Thanks to the impressive science behind this story: The whole story is worth reading, but this is my favorite part:"Hops were the stars of the beer ingredients, showing as much as four times more silicon than was found in malt. The downside: Hops make up a much smaller portion of beer compared with grain. Some beers, such as IPAs are hoppier, while wheat beers tend to have fewer hops than other brews, the researchers say."Now I have science on my side when I look for those well-hopped ales! Thanks to TAJF for this lead, and thanks to Fox for being "fair and balanced" where it matters.

  • About that "yoga mats for Haiti" sign....

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:20 pm
    In response to a large volume of wounded, testy, quizzical, or simply hurt responses to this post yesterday, showing a sign I saw on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in San Francisco's Cow Hollow neighborhood, a few extra words:1) Am I making fun of yoga? No indeed. Although this is not a featured part of my public identity -- compared with the beer-lover part, the aviator part, the interested-in-China part, and so on -- I enjoy and value yoga and particularly respect good teachers. I am not very adept at it so appreciate their patience all the more.2) Am I making fun of this particular…

  • There will always be a San Francisco

    7 Feb 2010 | 10:08 pm
    This afternoon, Marina/Cow Hollow area:

  • Update on yesterday's plane crash news

    7 Feb 2010 | 11:58 am
    As mentioned yesterday. About the mid-air collision near Boulder, Colorado, it now appears that the two planes involved -- a Cirrus SR-20, and a Piper Pawnee that was towing a glider -- actually ran into each other. Early reports suggested that the Cirrus had hit the line connecting the Pawnee to the glider. In either case, the Cirrus apparently lost most of one wing. More on this later today.About the exemplary Buffalo News coverage of the Colgan regional airline crash in Buffalo, I had written: "I assume that the Buffalo News, like most newspapers, has all sorts of financial problems;…
 
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    Megan McArdle

  • Assigning Blame for the Budget Deficit

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:03 am
    Veronique de Rugy has a good post on the limits of blaming Bush for the deficits. Yes, Bush enacted a horrible prescription drug benefit and tax cuts that didn't improve matters.  But the net increase in interest on the Federal debt under Bush was dwarfed by the current and future projected deficits, and will naturally shrink further as inflation returns.  And the tax cuts expire this year.  The proponents of blaming every single bad thing that happens on one George W. Bush offer the wan defense that, after all, it would be hard to not extend the tax cuts.  But that…

  • Shoe, Meet the Other Foot

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:09 pm
    When a reader offered up this New York Times editorial, I confess I suspected he might have written it himself--it was so pitch perfectly hilarious.  But no, it's real:June 23, 2005 Social Security Follies Congressional Republicans have begun talking with top White House aides about an exit strategy -- not from Iraq, but from the winless quagmire of President Bush's campaign to privatize Social Security. Mr. Bush has responded to this new political reality by, first, insisting that the American people do not yet understand the virtues of privatization, and second, blaming the failure of…

  • Is Apple Paving the Way for Oligopoly?

    8 Feb 2010 | 2:48 pm
    Commenter Bosco Higgins offers an astute possibility as to why Apple might be signalling that they're willing to cut prices, even though this will just encourage consumers to wait:If I had to guess I would say it is a pricing signal to its competitors (Kindle, Nook, Sony) saying that if they try to compete on price, Apple is prepared to willing to drop iPad prices. It is the old prisoner's delimma on pricing - Apple is trying to establish a cartel price and scare the other participants from defecting.It's not a bad guess. Oligopolies can be maintained for quite some time with the right…

  • Apple Says it Will Lower Prices if iPad Doesn't Sell

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm
    Remember the kerfuffle over the original iPhone?  Apple charged luxe prices for the first few months, and then after it had wrung every possible dollar out of the early adopters, dropped the cost to capture more price-sensitive users.  Many of those who had bought early reacted with the righteous fury of a wronged spouse.This time around, they can't say they weren't warned:  Apple has apparently already said that if sales of the iPad aren't brisk enough, it will drop the price.  I expect it will have to, if the company is to have any hope of hitting the 1-5 million sales…

  • Obama's Hail Mary on Health Care

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:01 am
    Asking Republicans to be part of a televised forum on health care reform is a clever move:  put up or shut up.  Nonetheless, I'd guess it probably fails.  Republicans are saying what you'd expect them to:  we won't engage in sham negotiations.  If you want us to come to the table, shelve this monstrous and unpopular plan and let's start over.Democrats should recognize the tactic:  they invented it.  And used it successfully against Social Security reform in 2005.  Sure, they wanted to do Social Security reform, they said.  All Republicans had to do…
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    The American Scene

  • Announcements

    Conor Friedersdorf
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:37 pm
    — Though I’ve had a blog at True/Slant for awhile I’m going to be shifting more of my writing about conservatism and day-to-day politics there, and somewhat getting away from that sort of thing here at The American Scene. Presently I’ve got posts up on the pickup artist community — The Weekly Standard mentioned me in a piece on that subject — and Matthew Continetti’s ongoing efforts on behalf of Sarah Palin. If you follow me here, I hope you’ll add my site there to your bookmarks or RSS. — Thanks to everyone who has provided road trip tips…

  • Actual Death Panels in the Obama Administration

    Conor Friedersdorf
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:56 pm
    In my latest piece at The Daily Beast, I excoriate the Obama Administration for its contention that it possesses the power to kill American citizens if they are determined by unknown persons in the executive branch to be imminent threats to the United States or its interests. The whole piece can be found here, and it includes links to pieces by Dana Priest, Eli Lake, and Glenn Greenwald, three talented journalists to whom I’m indebted on this story. Frankly, I am flabbergasted that the practice is as uncontroversial as it seems to be. Over the weekend, I Tweeted back and forth on the…

  • Treat Those Two Impostors Just the Same

    Conor Friedersdorf
    7 Feb 2010 | 4:55 pm
    In passing, I’ve mentioned a non-fiction book project I am working on. It is a biography of a man who served as one of the youngest captains during World War II, won a silver star for combat heroics in the Pacific, later co-founded Sea World with fellow UCLA alumni, and eventually turned to ocean conservation, a fitting end for a lifelong fishermen who took a lot of fish from the sea. The biography is going to touch on his approach to fatherhood. With uncommon deliberation, he imparted lessons to his three kids that he deemed most critical to worldly success. Often he did so by…

  • Peacocking "My Way"...and Ours

    Dara Lind
    7 Feb 2010 | 2:02 pm
    This NYT story, warning that singing “My Way” in a Filipino karaoke bar will get you killed, has been making the rounds because it’s so delightfully weird. And it is! And you should read it — though the article does half-seriously dangle the possibility of a “karaoke curse” without following up, which is disappointing. It seems to me that this sort of urban legend quickly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If everyone knows that “My Way” is an “arrogant” choice that “covers up your failures,” as one of the…

  • Super Bowl Sunday Sports Post!

    Matt Feeney
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:06 am
    In his Friday column, Brooks cites “a fascinating essay” by Duke professor Michael Allen Gillespie on sports as “moral education,” and then performs a weird detour in which he thinks he’s rebutting or correcting Gillespie’s argument while actually confirming it. Gillespie spells out three dominant models of sport-as-moral-education in western history – Greek (individualized contests oriented toward instilling aristocratic virtues in participants), Roman (spectacles intended to legitimize the government, indifferent to participants), and British (rule- and team-oriented games…
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    Cafferty File

  • Cafferty: Palin's next move?

  • Is 18% approval rating for Congress too high?

    FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: It's not just the record snowstorm that's slowing Washington down - it seems nearly impossible for our lawmakers to get anything done in our nation's capital. The Capitol Building is seen across from a partially frozen pool in D.C. A huge blizzard dumped a blanket of snow over the nation's capitol. Some hoped that [...]

  • Televised health care debate too little, too late?

    FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: It was a campaign promise of President Obama's - and he's taken a lot of heat for not following through. Well, Mr. Obama now says he plans to hold a televised, bipartisan health care meeting on February 25. This move toward transparency comes after the president got strong reviews on the televised question-and-answer [...]

  • What would you advise Sarah Palin to do next?

    Sarah Palin spoke at a campaign rally for Texas Gov. Rick Perry yesterday in Cypress, Texas. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES) FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty: Sarah Palin is making it clear that she's not going anywhere - and she may just have her sights trained on the White House. The former Alaska governor says she would consider a run [...]

  • Cafferty on Americans' view of socialism

 
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    The BoBo Files

  • John “ABSCAM” Murtha – Dead

    John Murthafucker is dead at 77. Oh well - he's probably going to rot in hell.  Given the way he hated our military - I guess he can now party with Saddam and compare notes. Sorry  - no tears lost here for that corrupt bastard. I'm sure he's trying to cut some ...

  • Warning! Obama more determined than ever to pass Obamacare

    Apparently, the political elite progressives in D.C. think they are smarter than WE THE PEOPLE and we just  don't understand anything.  Apparently, they believe we are too stupid to understand they are doing what is best for WE THE PEOPLE and that we just don't get it.  Apparently, those idiots ...

  • Friday Funnies!

    Happy Friday - Happy Super Bowl Weekend!  Enjoy New Ride for The Women Folk Renault and Ford are working on a new small car for women.  They are combining the Renault Clio with the Ford Taurus and will be called the Clitaurus.  It comes in pink and the average mail thief will ...
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    Obsidian Wings

  • One Foot in the Grave My Friend, a Foolish Step to Take

    Eric Martin
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:18 am
    by Eric Martin Recent revelations regarding a "death list" of so-called high value al-Qaeda suspects  (including U.S. citizens in some instances) targeted for assassination on the say-so of the Executive branch has raised several thorny ethical, legal and Constitutional questions with respect to the attempt to counter transnational terrorist organizations.  While a blanket grant of authority to the Executive branch to use military means against any and all individuals (both U.S. citizens and non-citizens) that it labels "terrorists" regardless of their…

  • Open Thread, Super Bowl Edition (with a side of baby blogging)

    Eric Martin
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:49 am
    by Eric Martin Here's your Super Bowl open thread, with some pictures of the baby for good measure. Me: I'm pulling for the Saints, but fearing the Colts.  Either way, I really think it should be a good game.  And that's all a long suffering Raiders fan can hope for (seeing as there are no evil franchises to root against (ie, the Patriots, Cowboys, Redskins and Broncos). Eric was able to lean up all by himself today, and he was quite proud of himself.  That was actually the consensus in the room at the time.  Also, too:

  • Letting Bin Laden Rewrite the Constitution

    Eric Martin
    4 Feb 2010 | 1:58 pm
    by Eric Martin Very quotable Dahlia Lithwick on our collective terrorist derangement syndrome, and its corrosive effects on the rule of law: Moreover, each time Republicans go to their terrorism crazy-place, they go just a little bit farther than they did the last time, so that things that made us feel safe last year make us feel vulnerable today. Policies and practices that were perfectly acceptable just after 9/11, or when deployed by the Bush administration, are now decried as dangerous and reckless. The same prominent Republicans who once celebrated open civilian trials for Zacarias…

  • We Can Wipe You Out Anytime

    Eric Martin
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:22 am
    by Eric Martin Glenn Greenwald makes a very good point about recent revelations that the President is claiming the authority to assassinate U.S. citizens that the President labels "terrorists."  But even if you’re someone who does want the President to have the power to order American citizens killed without a trial by decreeing that they are Terrorists (and it’s worth remembering that if you advocate that power, it’s going to be vested in all Presidents, not just the ones who are as Nice, Good, Kind-Hearted and Trustworthy as Barack Obama), shouldn’t there at least be…

  • In Case of Looming Invasion, Break Glass

    Eric Martin
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:58 am
    by Eric Martin The new NIE Annual Threat Assessment on Iran is consistent with my theory that Iran does not intend to build an actual nuclear weapon any time soon, but rather wants to bring capacity to the point that they can do so on short notice should the need arise.  From the NIE Annual Threat Assessment (warning: pdf): We continue to assess Iran is keeping open the option to develop nuclear weapons in part by developing various nuclear capabilities that bring it closer to being able to produce such weapons, should it choose to do so. We do not know, however, if Iran will eventually…
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    Bill Moyers Journal

  • Can Democracy Withstand The Power of Big Money?

    Moyers Admin
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:41 pm
    (Photos by Robin Holland) This week on the JOURNAL, Bill Moyers spoke with libertarian journalist Nick Gillespie and progressive legal scholar Lawrence Lessig about the impact of last month’s controversial Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited funds from their general treasuries on political communications in periods shortly before elections and primaries. While many have argued that the Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission affirms free speech and the First Amendment, others have expressed grave concern that the ruling may…

  • A Single-Payer Solution?

    Moyers Admin
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:13 pm
    (Photo by Robin Holland) In this week’s JOURNAL, Bill Moyers sat down with physician and activist Dr. Margaret Flowers, who was recently arrested for an act of civil disobedience – trespassing – as she attempted to deliver to President Obama a letter urging him to resuscitate the stalled effort at health reform and consider a Medicare-for-all plan, known colloquially as “single-payer.” Flowers said: “I went into medicine because I really do care about taking care of my patients... I really thought that medicine was going to be about taking care of patients, and I learned otherwise…

  • Michael Winship: Lobbyists Retreat But Never Surrender

    Moyers Admin
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:55 am
    (Photo by Robin Holland) Below is an article by JOURNAL senior writer Michael Winship. We welcome your comments below. "Lobbyists Retreat But Never Surrender" By Michael Winship George Washington’s birthday is approaching and with it will come the attendant mythology: hatchet and cherry tree, wooden teeth, throwing a silver dollar across the Potomac River – or the Rappahannock. Of course, as the old joke goes, a dollar went a lot further then. Today, if you tried to hurl a silver dollar across the Potomac, chances are some member of Congress would snatch it in flight like one of those…

  • Corporations, Political Spending, & the Supreme Court

    Moyers Admin
    29 Jan 2010 | 12:09 pm
    (Photos by Robin Holland) This week on the JOURNAL, Bill Moyers spoke with legal experts Zephyr Teachout and Monica Youn about the Supreme Court’s controversial ruling last week on the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In a 5-4 decision, the Court cited the First Amendment to strike down laws that restricted corporations and unions from spending funds from their general treasuries on political communications in periods shortly before elections and primaries. The decision has aroused passionate reactions from observers across the political spectrum about corporate…

  • Assessing Obama's State of the Union Speech

    Moyers Admin
    29 Jan 2010 | 12:05 pm
    (Photo by Robin Holland) In this week’s JOURNAL, Bill Moyers had a wide-ranging conversation with AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka about the relevance and agenda of the labor movement, as well as how unions are evaluating President Obama’s performance in office thus far. Trumka had this to say about Obama’s State of the Union speech on Wednesday night: “I think the speech was interesting in a lot of ways. [Obama] knows that there’s a lot of anger and frustration out there, and he was willing to look at people and say ‘you’re an obstructionist.’ He looked right at the Republicans…
 
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    Bench Memos on National Review Online

  • Re: Re: Let the Flak Begin -- By: Ramesh Ponnuru

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:43 am
    Matt, I think you are sufficiently correct that I withdraw my criticism.

  • This Day in Liberal Judicial Activism-February 9 -- By: Ed Whelan

    9 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    2009Three decades later, President Carter’s sorry judicial legacy lives on.A three-judge district court consisting of three Carter appointees—Ninth Circuit judge Stephen Reinhardt and senior district judges Lawrence K. Karlton and Thelton E. Henderson—issues a “tentative ruling” that finds that overcrowding in California’s prisons is the “primary cause” of the state’s “inability to provide constitutionally adequate medical care and mental health care to its prisoners” and that would require California’s prisons to reduce their inmate populations by as many as 57,000…

  • Elena Kagan vs. Merrick Garland -- By: Ed Whelan

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:52 am
    Today’s Wall Street Journal reports that “Democrats gearing up for a possible Supreme Court vacancy are divided over whether President Barack Obama should appoint a prominent liberal voice while their party still commands a large Senate majority, or go with someone less likely to stoke Republican opposition.”Oddly, the article lumps together Solicitor General Elena Kagan and D.C. Circuit judge Merrick Garland as leading examples of “less-controversial candidates.” In my judgment, Kagan would be very likely to arouse significant Republican opposition, far more so than Garland.For…

  • Utah Events on the Transnationalist Threat -- By: Ed Whelan

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    This coming Thursday, Feb. 11 (if the weather will have permitted me to escape from the D.C. area), I will be in Utah to speak on the threat to fundamental American principles that legal transnationalism poses (the topic of, among other things, my series of posts on Harold Koh’s nomination to be State Department legal adviser).At noon I will speak at BYU law school (JCRB 205; lunch served), and at 3:00 I will speak at the University of Utah law school (room 105).Each event is sponsored by the law school’s Federalist Society chapter. And, yes, it’s no coincidence that I will be in Utah…

  • Judge Walker's Skewed Judgment -- By: Ed Whelan

    7 Feb 2010 | 7:35 am
    According to this column in today’s San Francisco Chronicle, “The biggest open secret in the landmark trial over same-sex marriage being heard in San Francisco is that the federal judge who will decide the case, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, is himself gay.” In terms of his judicial performance in the anti-Proposition 8 case, the bottom-line question that matters isn’t whether Walker is straight or gay.It’s whether he is capable of ruling impartially.I have no reason to doubt that there are homosexuals who could preside impartially over this case, just as I have no reason…
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    Newsvine - politics

  • White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium

    Associated Press
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am
    Even the White House's top spokesman is getting in on the act of mocking former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin for looking to talking points written on her palm during a speech to "tea party" activists.

  • Cribs recalled after 3 deaths

    Associated Press
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:12 am
    Government safety officials are recalling drop-side cribs sold at Buy Buy Baby, Kmart, Wal-Mart and other stores after the death of three infants.

  • Obama speaks hopefully of movement on jobs bill

    Associated Press
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:07 am
    President Barack Obama says he doesn't think it's necessary to get an ideal jobs package out of Congress, but that passing something quickly could build momentum toward greater achievements.

  • Obama: US developing new sanctions for Iran

    Associated Press
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:06 am
    President Barack Obama says the U.S. is developing a "significant regime of sanctions" in response to Iran's nuclear program.

  • Democrats unveil jobs package

    Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Writer
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:57 am
    Senate Democrats have unveiled their jobs initiative, blending a tax cut for businesses that hire new workers with help for the unemployed — along with a raft of provisions sought by lobby groups like doctors and the satellite broadcasting industry.
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    The American Scene - Politics

  • Actual Death Panels in the Obama Administration

    Conor Friedersdorf
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:56 pm
    In my latest piece at The Daily Beast, I excoriate the Obama Administration for its contention that it possesses the power to kill American citizens if they are determined by unknown persons in the executive branch to be imminent threats to the United States or its interests. The whole piece can be found here, and it includes links to pieces by Dana Priest, Eli Lake, and Glenn Greenwald, three talented journalists to whom I’m indebted on this story. Frankly, I am flabbergasted that the practice is as uncontroversial as it seems to be. Over the weekend, I Tweeted back and forth on the…

  • Somehow, I Ended Up in a Bloggingheads Called "Puppies Are Awesome"

    Peter Suderman
    3 Feb 2010 | 2:40 pm
    But don’t let that fool you: There are no puppies involved, just TPM’s Brian Beutler and myself talking health care reform. Since puppies actually are awesome, and I wouldn’t want to leave you disappointed, here’s a picture of Bartleby:

  • Reader E-mail

    Conor Friedersdorf
    2 Feb 2010 | 11:19 am
    A regular reader writes: Bad shit has happened, seems likely to still be happening, to prisoners under US protection, with little legal oversight (as if legal oversight of some of the bad shit that’s happened world even matter). It is a measure of how bad and how distressingly common said shit is, that the murder line Horton’s peddling is taken seriously by some serious people. And where you’re biting is, jeez, three dudes, this weird way they’re found (hands/feet bound, etc.), all the same — pushes credibility. OK. Now, the investigators put forward an…

  • Delayed Reaction to the State of the Union

    Jim Manzi
    29 Jan 2010 | 6:17 am
    It has taken me a while to assess my reaction to President Obama’s speech. On the whole, I think his supporters should be somewhat dismayed. It struck me as very effective in diagnosing problems, and in proposing policy solutions that – even though I disagree with many (but not all) of them – are well-reasoned and might plausibly succeed; but as far as I can see, he proposed no realistic solution to the political problem that he argued is at the heart of our inability to take useful action on these proposals. At the highest level, Obama was precise about the central problem of our…

  • Designing a defense budget

    Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry
    26 Jan 2010 | 11:36 pm
    Our own Graeme Wood shared this blog post by Spencer Ackerman on the defense budget. After pointing out that the biggest (and growing) item is combat aircraft, Mr Ackerman calls this “insane”: It’s only a slight exaggeration to say we don’t use combat aircraft in the wars we’re fighting. You have to come up with a baroque set of Michael Bey-esque geopolitical calculations by which we would use combat aircraft in any conceivable war. The U.S.’s area of combat-aircraft dominance is called Planet Earth. No Air Force is going to challenge ours. No actual U.S. adversary has an…
 
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    Pollster.com All Content

  • The Beltway Ponders America's Global Influence

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:44 am
    by Robert MoranWas the financial crisis of 2008 a global turning point? Did it mark the earliest stage in the decline of US power? Will historians view the financial crisis and the Great Recession as the beginning of a multi-polar world? StrategyOne explored this issue further by using its proprietary Beltway Barometer survey to track elite Washington opinions on the subject. The data we collected over two years and across three survey waves paints a picture of Washington's elite attempting to contextualize the financial crisis and global recession. With one in four elite Washington Democrats…

  • TX: 2010 Gov Primary (PPP 2/5-7)

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:10 am
    by Emily SwansonPublic Policy Polling (D) 2/4-7/10; 400 likely Democratic primary voters, 4.9% margin of error 423 likely Republican primary voters, 4.8% margin of error Mode: Automated phone (PPP release) Texas 2010 Governor: Republican Primary 39% Perry, 28% Hutchison, 24% Medina (Medina supporters only) Would your second choice for Governor be Kay Bailey Hutchison or Rick Perry? 43% Perry, 39% Hutchison 2010 Governor: Democratic Primary 49% White, 19% Shami, 5% Alvado, 2% Aguado, 1% Glenn

  • NH: 2010 Sen (UNH 1/27-2/3)

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:37 am
    by Emily SwansonUniversity of New Hampshire Granite State Poll 1/27-2/3/10; 500 adults, 4.4% margin of error 444 likely voters, 4.7% margin of error Mode: Live telephone interviews (UNH release) New Hampshire 2010 Senate (trends) Ayotte 41%, Hodes 33% (chart) Hodes 36%, Bender 27% Hodes 34%, Binnie 30% Hodes 38%, Lamontagne 29% Favorable / Unfavorable Jeanne Shaheen: 48 / 39 (chart) Judd Gregg: 54 / 23 (chart) Paul Hodes: 32 / 27 Kelly Ayotte: 38 / 12 Jim Bender: 6 / 2 Bill Binnie: 10 / 4 Ovide Lamontagne: 12 / 9

  • NH: 2010 Sen, Gov (Magellan 2/4)

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:06 am
    by Emily SwansonMagellan Strategies 2/4/10; 449 likely Republican primary voters, 4.6% margin of error Mode: Automated phone (Magellan release) New Hampsrhie 2010 Senate: Republican Primary 37% Ayotte, 23% Binnie, 12% Lamontagne 2010 Governor: Republican Primary 18% Kimball, 5% Testerman

  • US: Obama Approval (Gallup 2/1-3)

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:01 am
    by Emily SwansonGallup 2/1-3/10; 1,025 adults, 4% margin of error Mode: Live telephone interviews (Gallup release) National Obama Approval / Disapproval Foreign Affairs: 51 / 44 (chart) Health Care: 36 / 60 (chart) Economy: 36 / 61 (chart) Education: 54 / 36 Terrorism: 48 / 49 Afghanistan: 48 / 47 Iraq: 47 / 48 Iran: 42 / 50 Federal Budget Deficit: 32 / 64
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    techPresident

  • From the Bloomberg Campaign, Some Social Media Stats

    Nick Judd
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:54 pm
    read more

  • Clearing the Cache: War Games

    Nancy Scola
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:05 pm
    From the recently discovered YouTube channel of the game designers behind the U.S. Army's "America's Army" video game. Watch the above for details on how they get the furrowed brow of a virtual drill sergeant just right. Maybe it's the snow, but freshly-minted Senator Scott Brown is still without a website. The Orange Revolution, one of the earliest case studies in how digital technologies can shape political engagement, seems to more or less be over. Microsoft is setting up some government scientists with free cloud computing. And Google's DC talk on the topic of "Democracy…

  • About that C-SPAN Pledge...

    Nancy Scola
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:48 am
    Credit: C-SPAN The White House seems to be gearing up to kill three birds with one stone. During a pre-Super Bowl interview, President Obama announced that he's invited Republicans to a half-day summit on February 25th that will give them an opportunity to present their proposals for fixing health care. The GOP has complained that Obama hasn't yet heard out their contributions to the health care debate -- bird one. Bird two is that the GOP isn't in much of a position to turn down the session, but it may well be a repeat performance of Obama's "question time" with the House…

  • DSCC Repurposes the Whiteboard for Palin

    Nancy Scola
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:54 am
    Credit:DSCC The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the official campaign arm of Senate Democrats, is having some fun at Sarah Palin's expense by inviting people to create visual mockups of her comments at the recent National Tea Party Convention in Nashville. "Tell us what you think Sarah Palin is saying using our new whiteboard tool. Feel free to draw, add text, and decorate the scene however you'd like," reads the DSCC site, built on a tool called ScribLink. The DSCC is saying that they'll be selecting some of the "best" images to post on their website. Yep, you'd…

  • Hollywood Fusion: Gov 2.0 Camp LA

    Sarah Granger
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:32 am
    My trip to Gov 2.0 Camp LA commenced with a comedy of errors: lost luggage, a flooded hotel room and flooded streets due to the rains. After a night of little sleep, I arrived at the BlankSpaces co-working location to the company of like-minded people from diverse professional backgrounds but all joining the search for using technology and innovation to improve government. In camp style, we each used the 3 word model to describe why we were there. I thought the focus really centered around engaging new paradigms since people from government, major corporations, start-ups, film industry and…
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    Paul Krugman

  • Anatomy of a Euromess

    By PAUL KRUGMAN
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:52 am
    The troubles of the eurozone have turned out to be even worse than the skeptics imagined.

  • Euro perspective

    By PAUL KRUGMAN
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:41 pm
    It's easy to lose perspective on the size of the Greek problem.

  • Know Your Deficits

    By PAUL KRUGMAN
    7 Feb 2010 | 3:09 pm
    Until the crisis hit, Spain to all appearances was highly responsible on the fiscal front -- more so than Germany.

  • Alesina On Stimulus

    By PAUL KRUGMAN
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:55 am
    Why I'm not convinced.

  • People Should Travel In Trains As God Intended

    By PAUL KRUGMAN
    6 Feb 2010 | 8:33 am
    Amtrak does its part. NJ Transit ... we'll see.
 
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    Corrente

  • Dr. Margaret Flowers at CATO

    DCblogger
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:33 pm

  • PHIMG Coalition

    DCblogger
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:17 pm
    a coalition of NYC-based activists working for REAL health care reform. PHIMG was formed to shine a spotlight on the underlying cause of our health care crisis: private insurers.

  • Chomsky On The Teabaggers

    basement angel
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am
    Chomsky talks about how the teabaggers are people who need answers for what's gone wrong in their life and how the corporate entities funding their activities are giving them answers - crazy answers, but answers nonetheless. Rather than embed the video directly, I'm linking to page where I found it, courtesy of Avedon, Progressive Alaska. I'm doing that because I want you to see the poll in the upper right hand corner: Which Word More Accurately Defines Sarah Palin To You? Your choices are "saint" or "slut". And this from a site that describes itself as…

  • PNHP: Where do we go from here

    DCblogger
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:51 am
    Videos from "Where Do We Go From Here" presented by PNHP at Beth Israel Medical Center on January 19, 2010. Part One Donna Smith, Katie Robbins, Christopher, Blair and Dr. Len Rodberg speak at the panel Part 2 Donna Smith, Katie Robbins, Christopher, Blair and Dr. Len Rodberg speak at the panel Part 3 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

  • "Mistakeholders"

    lambert
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:09 am
    Haw.
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    Pacific Views

  • Err-America

    Mary
    6 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    ... by Walter Brasch Air America, the liberal radio network, went down in flames, Jan. 21, when it filed for bankruptcy. It wasn't because of air-to-air combat with conservative talk shows and bloggers. It wasn't because of the Recession, although reduced advertising revenue, a reality of all media, also affected Air America. It wasn't even demographics, even though older, marginalized conservatives tend to listen to radio more than do younger liberal professionals. And media history was only part of the problem. By the 1960s, liberals had become masters at developing and using not only…

  • Make Them Talk

    Mary
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:18 pm
    Paul Waldman writes that Senator Richard Shelby has put a hold on every single Obama appointee up for a vote in the Senate until the Democrats fork over some extra defense funds for his state - a disgusting display of blackmail that absolutely should not be tolerated. Along with the filibuster, there must be costs for such blatantly obstructive actions. As for the filibuster, the reason Senators don't have to talk on and on and on and on when they filibuster is because there was an agreement that a filibuster should not have to halt all Senate business. When the ability of the Senate to do…

  • Norquist Bags a City

    Mary
    3 Feb 2010 | 11:44 pm
    In 2006, Colorado Springs was named one of the 10 most liveable cities by Money Magazine. In 2010 as they turn the lights off in the city, those days of glory seem so far away. Perhaps the prayer shield will hold off the problems of closed parks, dimmed streets and bored teens. Or perhaps volunteers will show that you don't need government to provide shared services.

  • Broken Government

    Mary
    29 Jan 2010 | 1:44 am
    It's broken. Our government, that is. Paul Krugman thinks it comes from the dysfunctional political culture. James Fallows points to the broken political system and the consequences for having essentially a gangrenous government that is sucking the life blood out of our country. But he notes that the dream of less government which the conservatives proclaim devolves into a Mad Max world where nothing works (including the private sector) and that is to be avoided. Nevertheless we are at a terrible crossroads as it becomes evident that we no longer can solve our problems through our government.

  • A Public Letter to the Obama Administration

    Mary
    26 Jan 2010 | 1:13 am
    Dear Obama Administration, I hear you are planning to have a discretionary spending freeze to help rein in the federal deficit. I have suggestion. Perhaps you can threaten to shutdown things like the national parks. After all, it worked when Newt Gingrich was running the Congress. But then again perhaps you might want to consider who will get the blame this time? After all, you all (the Democrats) have all the power with your overwhelming, albeit not filibuster-proof majorities. There isn't a Gingrich holding a gun to your heads (just that damn Wall Street waiting to grab whatever they can).
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    Dependable Renegade

  • Holy crap.

    watertiger
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:31 am
    Jenny Sanford, poor, put-upon, independently wealthy ex-wife of The Appalachian Trail Hiker, was the guest on the Daily Show last night. She actually said (and meant it) that what she misses the most about living in the governor's mansion is . . . wait for it . . . the slave labor! You can watch the whole thing here. The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cJon Loses Super Bowl Betwww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorHealth Care Crisis

  • Random Song of the Day.

    watertiger
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:10 pm
    Last played on the iPod: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll"

  • Gone fishin'

    watertiger
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:02 pm
    with the Wasilla Snowbilly. Over at the Lake.

  • Village Kitteh.

    watertiger
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:33 pm

  • Aw, the puppies are getting bigger...

    watertiger
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:06 pm
    Keep it clean, you pervs. These puppies.
 
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    Majikthise

  • Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad is kind of goofy

    Lindsay Beyerstein
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:44 pm
    You disappoint me, Focus on the Family. Your pre-Super Bowl media manipulation was so slick. I was anticipating a stirring piece of pro-life propaganda. Maybe my expectations were too high. Granted, it's a story that unfolds over several thirty-second spots, and [T]his is only the second of two spots. (Correction: I assumed there must be more to this campaign, but apparently, that's it.) Spoiler alert: Pam Tebow is talking in front of a white screen about how much she loves her son, at which point he cartoonishly tackles her for no apparent reason. She exclaims "Timmy, I'm trying to tell our…

  • Of course the National Enquirer should be eligible for a Pulitzer Prize

    Lindsay Beyerstein
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:26 pm
    The editor of the National Enquirer is openly angling for a Pulitzer Prize for the tabloid's expose of John Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter, secret love child, and alleged use of campaign funds to underwrite his indiscretions. I tend to agree with John Cook of Gawker on this one, the National Enquirer should probably be in the running. Like it or not, this was one of the big scoops of the year. Well, the last two years, really. As an investigative reporter, I like to see institutions rewarded for investing in old fashioned investigations. An insider didn't just hand this story to the…

  • There are no homophobes in foxholes: Repeal DADT now

    Lindsay Beyerstein
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:07 pm
    Some (admittedly ridiculous) people say that we shouldn't repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell in wartime. Really, though, what better time to take the decisive step towards justice and equality? In peacetime, homophobes in the military would have plenty of time to obsess about all the terrible things that might happen if the gays were let in. But if you learn that the person who is entrusted with keeping you alive in a firefight is gay, are you really going to make a big deal about it?

  • Video: My GRITtv interview with Laura Flanders

    Lindsay Beyerstein
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:18 am
    Yesterday, I sat down with Laura Flanders of GRITtv to talk about the alleged phone-tamperers who were arrested last week for dressing up as phone repairmen and attempting unsuccessfully to access to the main telephone cabinet for Sen. Mary Landrieu's office. One of the four, Stan Dai, is a former assistant director for a intelligence recruiting program funded by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. My fellow guest, Dr. David Price is an anthropologist who monitors the intelligence community's attempts to insinuate itself into academia.Media Consortium outlets have been…

  • Links for 2009-10-28 [del.icio.us]

    The Public Option Redux: Carper's Folly | Mother Jones While proponents of health care reform celebrate Majority Leader Harry Reid's pledge to support a public option in the Senate bill, nobody--journalists or politicans, advocates of opponents--seems to know what it is he's supporting. It's quite possible that the latest reincarnation of the public option will simply lay out one more circuitous route back into the insurance industry, with a a public entity subcontracting the actual insurance back to a private insurer in something akin to an outsourcing scheme. Trumka Sets…
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    All Spin Zone

  • Err-America

    Walter Brasch
    24 Jan 2010 | 9:06 am
    Air America, the liberal radio network, went down in flames, Jan. 21, when it filed for bankruptcy. It wasn’t because of air-to-air combat with conservative talk shows and bloggers. It wasn’t because of the Recession, although reduced advertising revenue, a reality of all media, also affected Air America. It wasn’t even demographics, even though older, marginalized conservatives tend to listen to radio more than do younger liberal professionals. And media history was only part of the problem. By the 1960s, liberals had become masters at developing and using not only…

  • The Producers

    Walter Brasch
    16 Jan 2010 | 8:24 am
    The Producers These boys love noise— It’s money in their pockets— Cars colliding in mid air— Huge robots firing rockets From their fingertips, no less— “This is what the public wants“— A frenetic - freaked out mess— The screams of maniacs— Machines that burst Into ear splitting splinters — That shake the movie theaters— These are the box office winners— It’s a monumental riot— Only the cash is quiet . . . MARK SOIFER [Mark Soifer's poetry has appeared in national magazines, and has been collected into several chapbooks. He is a special events coordinator, and was…

  • Stories We Prefer Not to Write–But Will

    Walter Brasch
    12 Jan 2010 | 3:36 am
    by Walter and Rosemary Brasch It’s a new year, and we’ve been trying to find new topics for our columns. In reviewing the columns over the past few years, we wrote against racism and animal cruelty. But, there’s still racism and animal cruelty, so we’ll still have to speak out on these critical social issues. We wrote about tolerance and the acceptance of all races and religions. But, a large number of Americans apparently didn’t get the message, so we’ll have to try harder this year. We wrote about the continued destruction of the environment and of ways…

  • Pennsylvania Borough Gives Homeless the ‘Cold Shoulder’

    Walter Brasch
    5 Jan 2010 | 10:22 am
    By Walter Brasch Spectrum Features Syndicate SUGAR NOTCH, Pa.–A regional advocate for the rights of the homeless says actions by Sugar Notch officials to deny shelter to homeless men may be based upon fear and a lack of knowledge. About 40 homeless men were scheduled to receive temporary shelter at the Holy Family Roman Catholic church in Sugar Notch for a week beginning Jan. 11. About three dozen churches in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton region each shelter the homeless for one or two weeks a year. Professional staff usually work with, and stay with, the homeless. However, borough zoning…

  • As Lawrence Welk would say…

    Richard Blair
    2 Jan 2010 | 10:09 am
    It’s been awhile in coming, I know. For any regulars of All Spin Zone that still hang around these parts, you know that the site has been pretty much on the shelf for a couple of months. Steve has been occupied with raising his son, and I’ve been occupied trying to find inspriation (as well as work). My political muse has left the house. A new year turns a new page. And so, ASZ, after nearly 7 years in various incarnations, bids you farewell - at least for now. Those who care to keep in touch can do so at allspinzone-at-yahoo-dot-com. Steve and I both occasionally twitter, and…
 
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    Latina Lista

  • New study on Latino voters shows the key to reaching many Latinos lies in the language of engagement

    Marisa Treviño
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:28 pm
    LatinaLista.net -- If one thing is clear from a new report released today by America's Voice entitled The Power of the Latino Vote in America: They Tipped Elections in 2008; Where Will They Be in 2010? it's that no political party should underestimate the power of the Latino vote. According to the study, from 2000 to 2008, Latino voter registration grew 54% and turnout grew by 64%. There is documentation that it was with the help of Latino voters that Obama won the election. In battleground states such as Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, and Nevada, 2008's increased Latino turnout and the…

  • National Latino Congreso adopts resolutions to propel immigration issue and other concerns of Latinos forward

    Marisa Treviño
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:23 pm
    It's being reported that the Tea Party Movement has created a new political organization, Ensuring Liberty Corporation, whose mission will be to endorse, support and elect conservative candidates. The announcement came with an official platform that could help define what the multi-faceted tea party movement stands for and expects from the candidates it supports. The group's leaders plan to support candidates who stand for a set of "First Principles." Those principles are: fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, less government, states' rights and national security. Well, the Tea Party people…

  • Unsettled case of Hispanic farmers underscores lack of DC Latino leadership and concern from Obama

    Marisa Treviño
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:25 pm
    LatinaLista.netAfter ten years, tomorrow should have been the day of reckoning at the Supreme Court for a group of Hispanic farmers who filed a lawsuit against the USDA for systematically denying them needed loans and credits to sustain their farms, while granting those same loans to white farmers. Though the Supreme Court ruled last month that they would not hear their case, they did schedule tomorrow to be the day to decide if the farmers could still argue their case as a group or have to go one-by-one against the courts. Now, a source tells Latina Lista that the review has been pushed back…

  • Dodge City, Kansas Latino on trial for murder claims self-defense against hate crime called "Border Patrol"

    Marisa Treviño
    3 Feb 2010 | 3:22 pm
    Chances are you haven't heard about Samuel Bonilla. Hopefully, that will change on February 25. That's the day Bonilla gets his day in court in Dodge City, Kansas to prove his innocence in a town, known historically as the gateway to the Wild West, and currently as a town with a lousy track record for how they treat Latino defendants. For the past 20 years, Bonilla, a successful business owner of a martial arts studio and legal resident immigrant has called Dodge City, Kansas home. Dodge City, with a population of 26,101, according to 2006 US Census estimates, is home to a substantial Latino…

  • Message to Democrats: Don't obligate Latinos to feel grateful for just doing your job

    Marisa Treviño
    2 Feb 2010 | 4:16 pm
    A lot has been written this week on this site and others about how Latinos have become disillusioned with the Democratic Party. It's gotten to the point that the old strategies of engagement just aren't working. In yesterday's post, I laid out the guidelines, if you will, of how Democrats, and most importantly, this President can reconnect with Latino voters. Today, I got an e-mail reminder (felt more like a ruler on the knuckles) from the Democratic Policy Committee of just how much Democrats have done for the Latino constituency. Latino Presidential Debate Watch Party (Photo:…
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    Politics (Un)Seriously

  • Put Your Money Where... Where?

    12 Jan 2010 | 2:20 pm
    Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki uses uses “It’s a Wonderful Life” to inspire Americans to pull their money out of large banks. Stephen Colbert uses the same film classic to bolster his opposing argurment.     The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

  • Going a Little Dotty

    8 Jan 2010 | 12:16 pm
    In the aftermath of the attempted terror attack on Christmas Day aboard a U.S.-bound plane, everyone is talking about a failure to "connect the dots." Stephen Colbert shows how easy it is with the right placemat...   The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Failure to Connect the Dots www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

  • Thanking the Troops

    7 Jan 2010 | 3:11 pm
    Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has praise for the military and appreciation for Americans who support the troops, regardless of politics. Jon Stewart wants to know if it's time to get some stuff out of that storage unit in Yemen.   The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c Mike Mullen www.thedailyshow.com Daily ShowFull Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

  • Of Tea Parties, Purity and 'Red Zingers'

    5 Jan 2010 | 11:43 am
    Blogger-on-the-right Erick Erickson of RedState.com tells Stephen Colbert what's wrong with the Republican National Committee's "purity test," since "checking the box" is more about money than ideology.   The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Erick Erickson www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

  • Skipping Ahead... to 2012

    3 Jan 2010 | 8:19 am
    Yes, it was quite a decade and yes, there are some important mid-term elections coming up this year. But leave it to "Saturday Night Live" to mash up an ominous-looking movie trailer with an ominous political prediction...    
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    NYT > Columnists

  • The House of Tranquillity

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Barack Obama and Joe Biden once had a Felix and Oscar air about them. But in recent months, Obama has found a way to use Biden’s skills, while Biden has found ways to be of use.

  • The World’s Watchmaker

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    China has America about where it wants it. You can make your own calculation of President Obama’s leverage over Beijing and it’s heading south.

  • The Worst of the Pain

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Those in the lower-income groups are in a much, much deeper hole than the general commentary on the recession would lead people to believe.

  • America Is Not Yet Lost

    7 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    The way the Senate works is no longer consistent with a functioning government, and senators should change the rules to end obstructionism.

  • The Dream of Zero

    7 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Linking the antiproliferation agenda to the dream of universal nuclear abolition, as President Obama seems intent on doing, is a naïve approach to a very difficult problem.
 
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    Indecision Forever

  • The Prophecy of the Hockey Mom

    Dennis DiClaudio
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:43 am
    From Married to the Sea…

  • House GOP to Sink Bipartisan Support Unless President Does What They Want

    Dennis DiClaudio
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:17 am
    The other day, President Barack Obama called for a televised bipartisan summit on health care so that Democrats and Republicans can get all their concerns on reform out on the table in front of America, so that Congress can get past the road blocks that have stood in the way of making some much needed change. Seems like something that would be hard to refuse, right? Never — never! — underestimate a Republican's ability to refuse… Leading House Republicans [House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.)] raised the prospect Monday night…

  • Richard Shelby Takes a Deep Breath, Lets Go of His Holds on Obama Appointees

    Mary Phillips-Sandy
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:46 am
    Remember this bit of mindless important obstructionism? Having proved his obstructionist important point, Sen. Richard Shelby is finally backing down… Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama will stop blocking Senate confirmation of about 70 government appointees nominated by President Barack Obama, his office said. Shelby had placed "holds" on most of Obama's nominees, delaying the Senate from acting on them, in a dispute over federal spending involving his state. "The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that…

  • Towering Graven Image of Antediluvian Leader Inquires of His Former Subjects

    Dennis DiClaudio
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:20 am
    It somehow took more than a year for this to happen… There is a billboard along I-35 near Wyoming, Minn., with a huge photo of former president George W. Bush and this question: "Miss Me Yet?" Now, the push is on to find out who paid to have it put up… [T]here's no readily apparent claim of ownership on the billboard… At first glance, it would seem to be from some person or group who isn't thrilled by President Barack Obama's performance so far — unless it's a more ironic message from those who didn't think too much of Bush and want…

  • The Daily Show on the Tea Party Convention

    Matt Tobey
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:26 am
    This past weekend of course saw The Super Bowl as well as the big Tea Party convention in Tennessee. But as Jon Stewart pointed out on last night's Daily Show, it was also Ronald Reagan's birthday. The only way it could have been a more patriotastic weekend is if a bald eagle had waterboarded some foreigners with a 200-year-old jar of Betsy Ross's urine. Maybe next year. Stephen Colbert's take on the Tea Party convention can be found below. The Daily Show and Colbert Report air Monday through Thursday starting at 11pm / 10c.
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    Politics | The New York Observer

  • Nothing Will Stop the Asian Carp Hearing

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:44 am
    The House of Representatives just one-upped New York's public schools and canceled the rest of its week. Earlier, committee chairs had been steadily re-scheduling hearings--even on seemingly urgent issues like those nine million potentially faulty brake pedals. "Due to the inclement weather set to impact the DC Metropolitan area tonight and tomorrow, Ranking Member Issa and I have agreed to reschedule the hearing on the Toyota gas pedal recall," said Oversight and Government Reform Committee...

  • Standards and Ethics Committee to Review Seabrook

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:39 am
    City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said the Standards and Ethics Committee will review the accusations against Larry Seabrook, who just turned himself in. It'll be the committee's first meeting of the year, according to the Council web site. In a public statement, Quinn said: All of us in the City Council take the deeply troubling allegations against Council Member Larry Seabrook very seriously.  If Council Member Seabrook's alleged crimes are proven to be true, they...

  • Seabrook's Indictment

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:57 am
    Here's the actual indictment against Larry Seabrook.

  • Future Snow Closes Public Schools

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:37 am
    As an indication that this predicted snowstorm is no joke, Joel Klein has already announced that New York City public schools will be closed tomorrow. Now the city has worry about clearing the snow, which, as Washington has shown, isn't always that easy. From Klein: Due to anticipated inclement weather conditions, all New York City public schools will be closed tomorrow, February 10, 2010. All after-school activities and PSAL events...

  • Yoga Lobby Day

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:02 am
    A lot of people in Albany could probably use that right...
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    Lynn Sweet

  • Obama in rare briefing room appearence after meeting with Congressional leaders

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    WASHINGTON--In a surprise move, President Obama made a very rare briefing room appearence on Tuesday afternoon, taking the podium usually occupied by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to report bi-partisan meeting with the House and Senate leaders. He is also took several questions from the press, the first time he has taken questions from the White House press corps since a press conference in July. Obama has been stepping up his outreach to Republicans. Obama said he hoped " this will be first of a series of meetings I will have with the leaders of Congress."

  • Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" obesity campaign program elements

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:27 am

  • Michelle Obama's remarks at "Lets Move" launch. Prepared text.

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am

  • Michelle Obama letsmove.gov anti-obesity website is live

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:31 am
    First Lady Michelle Obama is leading "a national public awareness effort to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity," says the presidential memo President Obama signed Tuesday morning. Her kick off event is at noon eastern time, but the web site associated with the drive is already live: letsmove.gov

  • Michelle Obama kicks off "Let's Move" anti-childhood obesity drive

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:41 am
    THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release February 9, 2010 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY Oval Office 9:16 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. I am so proud of the work that the First Lady, along with the Cabinet Secretaries behind me, have done in trying to tackle one of the most urgent health issues that we face in this country, and that is the increase of childhood obesity. And because of the outstanding planning that they've done, they are going to be rolling out a terrific plan of action that involves the…
 
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    Gawker: election

  • #election

    Fiona Conn
    19 Jan 2010 | 6:26 pm
    [hosted.ap.org] AP have marked Brown as having won. #tips #breaking #election Fiona Conn

  • #election

    mineshm
    5 Jan 2010 | 2:39 am
    #uk #election #obama #primeminister #gordonbrown [www.isbrownprimeminister.com] #tips mineshm

  • #election

    sarrible
    30 Oct 2009 | 9:09 am
    Did anyone else actually read the New York City voter guide? It is hilarious. Between the candidate running for mayor on the Rent Is Too Damn High platform, the handful of college kids running so they can put something on their application to intern in Chuck Schumer's office, the libertarian who wants to abolish the office of comptroller if he's elected to it, and all the socialists, it's the most entertaining thing I've read all month. #tips #election #bloomberg sarrible

  • Get Ready for Obama Day

    Amdesi
    30 Oct 2009 | 1:07 am
    This November 3rd, sheeple everywhere will mark the one year anniversary of Barack Obama's election. Glenn Beck will probably cry copious tears. To commemorate the event, in addition to We the People, Edward Norton's HBO documentary that brought a tear to Obama's eye (aww, remember when everybody loved him?), campaign manager David Plouffe has a new memoir out called The Audacity to Win. Writing about a race that included days that felt like "having your legs amputated in the morning and your arms at night", Plouffe's might be the more interesting of the two projects, especially as the…

  • Fran Drescher Serious About Senate Run

    Ryan Tate
    9 Dec 2008 | 8:54 pm
    "Publicist Jordan Brown delivered the straight line that Fran Drescher is serious about becoming the next junior senator from New York." [AP, Previously]
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    DavidMixner.com

  • The Article That Has All Of Washington Buzzing!

    David Mixner
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:53 am
     Journalist Edward Luce has written an article "A Fearsome Foursome" that is the talk of political circles. He openly discusses what has been bantered about in private dinner parties inside the Beltway. Luce's article is one of those rare ones that comes along and suddenly crystallizes everyone's private concerns about Obama's inner circle. After an arguably weak and indecisive year, people have been seeking answers and solutions so that the Democrats are not hammered in the coming elections. Few stars have emerged in the Obama team among the Cabinet as if they…

  • Three Cheetahs And A Tiny Antelope!

    David Mixner
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:10 am
    From London's "Daily Mail" comes the marvelous story of the amazing encounter of three cheetahs with a baby antelope. Every once in a while the animal kingdom presents us with a story that makes our hearts melt. In October of last year, photographer Michael Denis-Huot came upon the cheetahs in Kenya's Masai-Mara. The cheetahs had company. A tiny antelope was there with them clearly intended for dinner. But evidently either the cheetahs were tired or full after the chase or maybe it was the lovely baby eyes of the antelope. Either way, the baby antelope is the luckiest animal…

  • Photography: Yossi Milo Gallery Highlights Pieter Hugo

    David Mixner
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    When you think of Africa and its people you have to think of Pieter Hugo. The South African photographer has traveled the continent chronicling the intricacies of its beautiful people. Using Cape Town as his base, his works are etched into the memory of many. His haunting photographs of the "Ghosts of Rwanda" and his concept of human circus with "The Hyena and other Men" leave us breathless with unforgettable images. Yossi Milo Gallery continues its excellence by inviting back Hugo for his second show starting later this month. The winner of the 2008 "Discovery…

  • The Naked Cop

    David Mixner
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:44 am
    Nothing makes Americans more insane than sex. They can deal with vivid images of war, starving children and horrifying disasters but God forbid we should expect them to relax about anything that hints of sexuality. In public life, if sex is involved, off with their heads! Despite the fact that everyday Americans practice a wide range of sexual fantasies - regardless of ideology or faith. Many of those who are quick to judge others and cry "Shame!" often have a closet full of dark sexual secrets or fantasies -complete with AA batteries. Just travel to Hollywood, Florida and ask cop…

  • Hell's Kitchen Journal: The Naked City

    David Mixner
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:37 am
    Growing up there was a spectacular movie directed by Jules Dassin called The Naked City released in 1948. That led to a television series from 1958 to 1963 based on the film. There was a line that I loved and every week the television series opened with, "There are a million tales to be told in the naked city." Now living in Hell's Kitchen just one block from Times Square I have a new understanding of that line. Sitting in my home or in the front window of "The Glass House Tavern," I can see those 'tales' unfold everyday. Have fallen in love with my…
 
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    Salon: Glenn Greenwald

  • Rich Lowry's brain

    Glenn Greenwald
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:10 am
    (updated below - Update II - Update III) Markos Moulitsas is writing a book, The American Taliban, which compares various aspects of the American Right to radical Islam (e.g., their obsessions with judging and controlling other people's sex lives, their religious fanaticism, their views of gender equality and the like).  National Review Editor Rich Lowry finds this very upsetting, and the following was said by him during a chat he had yesterday with Ana Marie Cox (who, just by the way, appears to be eagerly auditioning for a role as a Fox News Democrat, as she assured Lowry…

  • Wall Street owners angry with their purchase

    Glenn Greenwald
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:09 am
    Political science professors could require students to read this article from today's New York Times and little else would be needed to convey the essence of the American political system.  The article describes how Wall Street -- which poured massive amounts of money into the Obama campaign and the Democratic Party over the last several years, ensuring unparalleled access and influence -- is now threatening to support the Republicans if Obama keeps saying mean things about them.  Wall Street executives are angry that, after duly purchasing…

  • Palin and the tea-party "movement": nothing new

    Glenn Greenwald
    7 Feb 2010 | 3:08 am
    (updated below) Fox News, April 6, 2006: Hundreds of protesters gripped Mexican flags as they marched for immigration reform in the past few weeks, but they say a display of cultural unity is being mistaken as a lack of loyalty to the United States. The displays turned off many Americans. Conservative talk show hosts admonished the protesters, while everyday people wrote angry letters to the editors of their local newspapers. Some called for those carrying the Mexican flag to return to Mexico. Others questioned why immigrants demanding rights in the United States would wave symbols of Mexico.

  • The lynch-mob mentality

    Glenn Greenwald
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:06 am
    (updated below) If I had the power to have one statement of fact be universally recognized in our political discussions, it would be this one: The fact that the Government labels Person X a "Terrorist" is not proof that Person X is, in fact, a Terrorist. That proposition should be intrinsically understood by any American who completed sixth grade civics and was thus taught that a central prong of our political system is that government officials often abuse their power and/or err and therefore must prove accusations to be true (with tested evidence) before they're assumed to be…

  • On the claimed "war exception" to the Constitution

    Glenn Greenwald
    4 Feb 2010 | 2:05 am
    Last week, I wrote about a revelation buried in a Washington Post article by Dana Priest which described how the Obama administration has adopted the Bush policy of targeting selected American citizens for assassination if they are deemed (by the Executive Branch) to be Terrorists.  As The Washington Times' Eli Lake reports, Adm. Dennis Blair was asked about this program at a Congressional hearing yesterday and he acknowledged its existence: The U.S. intelligence community policy on killing American citizens who have joined al Qaeda requires first obtaining high-level…
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    Eunomia

  • Ukraine and Democratization

    Daniel Larison
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:50 am
    The apparent victory of Viktor Yanukovych in yesterday’s Ukrainian presidential election is yet another setback to the idea that the world is rapidly becoming a more democratic place. ~Walter Russell Mead Via Scoblete I don’t assume that the world is rapidly becoming a more democratic place, but the Ukrainian election is a very strange example to cite as a “setback” to this idea. According to national and international observers, the election was free and fair, and there were no significant irregularities to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the result. Free and fair…

  • Another Pathetic Denunciation

    Daniel Larison
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:21 am
    Yglesias has already said most of what needs to be said about the trashy attack on Andrew by Leon Wieseltier, but I would add a couple of things. Wieseltier takes one of Andrew’s quotes of the day (“Trying to explain the doctrine of the Trinity to readers of The New Republic is not easy”), which he thinks bristles “smugly with implications.” Wieseltier extrapolates from this unremarkable quote some animus against Jews. Of course, it is very easy to read into anything whatever you want to see, especially if you are convinced that stand-alone, out-of-context quotes…

  • An Iranian Civil War? We Should Hope Not

    Daniel Larison
    9 Feb 2010 | 2:17 am
    Now, on the eve of the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Republic, as Iran braces for what could be the largest and most violent demonstrations since the election that returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power, the country may be on the brink of civil war. ~Reza Aslan That’s an eye-catching statement, but what reason would anyone have for believing it? After a lot of background and stage-setting, Aslan writes that clashes between pro- and anti-regime crowds could “augur a civil war.” If there were such a conflict, so much the worse for the unarmed, ostensibly non-violent protest…

  • Palin’s Empty Litany Of Complaints

    Daniel Larison
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:34 am
    Matt Continetti continues to embarrass himself as a flack for Palin: Palin noted that the president spent hardly any time on foreign policy during his annual report to Congress–indeed, she spent more time on our Israeli and Japanese allies, our Iranian and jihadist adversaries, and our strategic competitors than he did. This is pretty weak praise. She “spent more time” on these things? All right, yes, she did mention Japan and Israel in passing, but what did she actually have to say about any of these things? According to one transcript, these were her remarks: Our president…

  • The Non-Isolation Of Iran Continues

    Daniel Larison
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:39 am
    Discussions on expanding the group’s membership is not surprising, although that doesn’t mean Iran and Pakistan will soon join, said Niu Jun, a professor at Peking University’s School of International Relations. Niu said he expected there would be lengthy discussions first, especially on Iran, which would be seen as a provocative move. “If Iran joined, it would drastically change the original function of the SCO, which was dealing with the terrorism threat with cooperation from China’s neighboring countries. The joining of Iran would mean that the meaning of SCO…
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    Splendid Marbles

  • Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest

    SplendidMarbles
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:57 am
    Play it, Frankie! This is the famous, super-excellent Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest- so kneel (please). Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.) You are allowed FIVE submissions. I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, February 14th 2010. I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon…

  • Roach TV Cartoon Caption Contest

    SplendidMarbles
    1 Feb 2010 | 8:27 am
    What the hell have you been smoking? This is the Most Famous and Highly Excellent Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest- so bow in awe (please). Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.) You are allowed FIVE submissions. I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, February 7th 2010. I’ll select five finalists,…

  • Text Therapy Cartoon Caption Contest

    SplendidMarbles
    25 Jan 2010 | 8:40 am
    I hope they've got a good plan. This is the World Famous Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest- so dig it! Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.) You are allowed FIVE submissions. I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, January 31st 2010. I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon…

  • Boot Canyon Cartoon Caption Contest

    SplendidMarbles
    18 Jan 2010 | 5:12 am
    "Seen enough?" This is the World Famous Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest- so dig it! Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.) You are allowed FIVE submissions. I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, January 24th 2010. I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday,…

  • Feline Armageddon Cartoon Caption Contest

    SplendidMarbles
    11 Jan 2010 | 5:55 am
    "I guess it's just us and the rats." This is the Splendid Marbles Cartoon Caption Contest Type a clever caption and place it in the comments section, along with a valid email address, and you could win a signed copy of the cartoon, with your caption and name attached (and you’ll be added to the Splendid Marbles gallery of caption contest winners.) (Check out all the winners of the caption contest.) You are allowed FIVE submissions. I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday, January 17th 2010. I’ll select five finalists, which will be voted on starting noon Monday,…
 
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    FiveBoxes

  • National Debt Road Trip

    FiveBoxes Staff
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:55 am
    Similar Posts: None Found

  • Weekend Reader 2-5-2009, News and Commentary

    FiveBoxes Staff
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:00 pm
    That explains a lot Last week, we told you how under the Obama administration, the federal deficit has risen $962,323,000,000 in his first year in office alone. How fast are we spending money? Well, the Congress hasn’t even voted to approve expanding the debt limit to $14,300,000,000,000, and we’re already on track to hit that debt [...]

  • Taking the battle to their front porch

    FiveBoxes Staff
    2 Feb 2010 | 4:05 pm
    Back in the day (as in “back when this country was founded”), the politicians had to be very, very careful not to make their constituents too angry. Back during the days of the Stamp Act, if a politician was perceived to have gotten a little too… shall we say “out of touch”… with his constituents, [...]

  • News you may have missed: FiveBoxes’ Twitter activity, week of 2010-01-30

    FiveBoxes Staff
    29 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pm
    Not All Money Is Created Equal: http://xrl.us/bgt5ja # Similar Posts: News you may have missed: FiveBoxes’ Twitter activity, week of 2009-08-07 News you may have missed: FiveBoxes’ Twitter activity, week of 2009-10-09 News you may have missed: FiveBoxes’ Twitter activity, week of 2009-08-21 News you may have missed: FiveBoxes’ Twitter activity, week of 2009-09-04 News you may have missed: FiveBoxes’ Twitter [...]

  • Weekend Reader 1-29-2009, News and Commentary

    FiveBoxes Staff
    29 Jan 2010 | 9:38 am
    By the numbers $12,245,872,000,000 – Outstanding federal debt $454,798,000,000 – Federal deficit, fiscal year 2008 $1,417,121,000,000 – Federal deficit, fiscal year 2009 $962,323,000,000 – Increase in federal deficit under 1 year of Barack Obama $2,100,744 – amount of taxpayer dollars Nancy Pelosi spent over 2 years treating the US Air Force like her personal airline $101,429 – Nancy Pelosi’s “in-flight services” [...]
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    Rolling Stone : National Affairs Daily

  • RIP Jack Murtha

    Tim Dickinson
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:10 pm
    Pennsylvania Rep. Jack Murtha has died today at the age of 77. He will long be remembered for speaking out against the Iraq war in 2005. Here is the interview I conducted with Murtha at the time. I always liked his answer to this question: What would you do if you were president? I’d fire a hell of a lot of people. I told Dick Cheney that Paul Wolfowitz should never have been deputy secretary of defense. I told him, “You got the worst guy in the world in that job. He’s not an administrator — he’s a goddamn professor.” Wolfowitz called me after he got…

  • Today’s Talking Point

    Tim Dickinson
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:57 am

  • The White House Starting Five

    Tim Dickinson
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:19 am
    Edward Luce of the Financial Times has an extraordinary inside account of the disfunction in the White House bred by the president’s reliance on a tiny coterie of advisors. As described by Luce, the locus of power in the White House resides in a starting five: POTUS, senior adviser David Axelrod, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, and spokes/visor Robert Gibbs. The president’s tiny team, writes Luce, dominate the decision-making process, and insist on a starring role in policy arenas where they have little expertise. On the president’s recent trip…

  • The Rahm Apology

    Tim Dickinson
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am

  • Chart of the Day

    Tim Dickinson
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:54 pm
    Job loss by month…
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    politicalrogue.com

  • Multitasking Behind the Wheel…Putting a Stop to Texting While Driving.

    bibi
    17 Jan 2010 | 9:01 pm
    While multitasking is a sign of the times, multitasking behind the wheel, “texting while driving” is taking efficiencyto newer limits. Before SMS was even in our vocabulary driving was already dangerous, what with all the inexperienced young drivers, “reflex challenged” elderly drivers, drunk drivers and just plain bad and distracted drivers, every time you get [...]

  • Healthcare Advisors to the President

    24 Aug 2009 | 3:20 pm
    Answering a question during a debate, the president stated to look at his advisors and that would give one an idea what his response would be on issues. President Obama stated that if you want to know his ideas on economics one looks to Warren Buffet and Paul Volcker. If you want to know his [...]

  • Your Opinion On Health Care Reform

    bibi
    15 Aug 2009 | 10:35 am
    Here is your chance to make your voice heard on the Health care reform debate. Fill out as many options as you like and fill in more if we missed something. Health Care is an important issue for our country as it affects all of us. Let’s all participate in the process with the understanding that [...]

  • Letting Fear Rule Your Health Care

    bibi
    15 Aug 2009 | 10:08 am
    Letting fear rule our Health Care really comes down to a matter of choice, do I let fear rule my decisions or do I open my heart and mind and help change takes it’s course. Health Care reform will not cause the end of the world, or the end of our country as we know it [...]

  • Catatonia No Longer a State in the U.S.

    bibi
    17 Jun 2009 | 9:12 am
    Most would say that Obama has taken on more that he can chew, and though that may be true, his momentum has already gone a long way towards taking our government out of the catatonic state it has been in for many years. In essence Obama and his administration has stirred up the soul of [...]
 
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    Blue Hampshire

  • Tactical Error? Poll Finds Majority of NH Republican Voters Support Marriage Equality/Civil Unions

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:34 am
    With all the hue and cry and warrant articles set to either take away or put a minority's civil rights to a "popular vote", it is interesting that a recent poll obtained by nhpoliticalreport.com (subscription required) shows    * A whopping 59 percent of Republican voters say they support either civil unions or full on gay marriage as opposed to the 40 percent who don't support any legal recognition. This is a bi-partisan civil rights issue. Trying to make it a wedge issue and even forcing the article onto town warrants will undoubtably backfire, as well it should. Also, according…

  • Things Are Changing

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:57 am
    The red shows the  increasing job loss suffered during George W Bush's last year in office, the blue the decreasing job loss during Barack Obama's first year. It would be great if it could improve at a faster rate, but it is improving, which it would not be under the administration we would have had if Obama had not won. h/t TPM

  • Cost Shifting: Cutting Peter and Making Paul Pay More

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:55 am
    Shira Schoenberg, at the Concord Monitor, is continuing to report on the effects of recent cuts to the state's Health and Human Services Budget. These are manifold, but one that is not generally understood, except by the wonks among us, is the cost shifting that occurs when the state and federal Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement rates fall below the level of what it costs hospitals, clinics, doctors, nursing homes, to  provide  care. Now we can quibble as to whether that cost is justifiable or not, but that is another conversation. Presently, services cost what they cost and when the…

  • NH-02: Bass Won't Let Logic Get in the Way of Campaign

    9 Feb 2010 | 4:15 am
    * Charlie Bass talks a lot about cutting the federal deficit. * Charlie Bass wants to get back into the US House. * The GOP US House plan to cut the deficit includes cutting Medicare and privatizing Social Security. * Charlie Bass' support for this? < crickets >

  • Open Thread: The Very Serious NHGOP

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:57 am
    New Hampshire senate candidates Kelly Ayotte and Ovide Lamontagne, egged on by party chair John H. Sununu, encourage the President of the United States (who is popular in New Hampshire) to resign.Oh, and LLPOF. These are the kind of people President Obama repeatedly brings to the table to work with him. This is an Open Thread.
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    Reno and Its Discontents

  • Register Now for Nevada Interactive Media Summit

    Myrna the Minx
    31 Jan 2010 | 6:16 pm
    Listening, Building, Engaging Nevada Interact will bring together business owners, non-profit advocates, publishers, newsmakers, bloggers, podcasters, filmmakers, media, PR and advertising professionals and anyone else interested in interactive media from every corner of Nevada together for hands-on learning, rich discussions, opportunities to meet with local companies working in interactive media and plentiful networking opportunities. When: Saturday, March 6th, 9:00am to 5:00pm Where: Joe Crowley Student Unon building, University of Nevada, Reno (campus map) Registration Now! Eventbrite…

  • Obama Administration Will Eliminate Yucca Mountain Funding

    Myrna the Minx
    31 Jan 2010 | 5:18 pm
    Nevada, this is what happens when your senator is the majority leader. For Immediate Release                                              Sunday, January 31, 2010 REID STATEMENT ON ELIMINATION OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN FUNDING Obama Administration to Announce it will Eliminate Funding, Withdraw License Application WASHINGTON, DC — Following ongoing conversations with President Obama, Nevada Senator Harry Reid is happy to announce that the Administration will eliminate all funding for the Yucca Mountain Project and will withdraw the Energy Department’s license…

  • 2010 Obama State of The Union Address Full Text

    Myrna the Minx
    27 Jan 2010 | 6:35 pm
    January 27, 2010 Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery The State of the Union Wednesday, January 27, 2009 Washington, DC Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union.  For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty.  They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility.  And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great…

  • Full Text of State of The Union GOP Response, Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell

    Myrna the Minx
    27 Jan 2010 | 6:13 pm
    Republican Address to the Nation For Public Release Governor Bob McDonnell Richmond January 27, 2010 Good evening. I’m Bob McDonnell. Eleven days ago I was honored to be sworn in as the 71st governor of Virginia. I’m standing in the historic House Chamber of Virginia’s Capitol, a building designed by Virginia’s second governor, Thomas Jefferson. It’s not easy to follow the President of the United States. And my twin 18-year old boys have added to the pressure, by giving me exactly ten minutes to finish before they leave to go watch SportsCenter. I’m joined…

  • 2010 Obama State of The Union Address Video and Excerpts

    Myrna the Minx
    27 Jan 2010 | 6:07 pm
 
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    TIME.com Top Politics Stories

  • Obama to Announce Bank Fees Thursday

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:45 am
    President Barack Obama plans to announce a new fee Thursday on the country's biggest financial firms to recover up to $120 billion in taxpayers' money used to prop up corporations during the economic crisis

  • Tea-Party Convention: Lessons on Palin and the Movement

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:45 am
    Rather than form a new party, the movement will remain leaderless and campaign for approved conservatives. And they all love Sarah Palin

  • GOP's Brown Wins Mass. Senate Race

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:45 am
    In an epic upset in liberal Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown rode a wave of voter anger to win the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy for nearly half a century

  • Senator to Cease Blocks on Obama Nominees

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:45 am
    Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama will stop blocking Senate confirmation of about 70 government appointees nominated by President Barack Obama, his office said

  • Corporate Campaign Spending Limits Ended

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:45 am
    The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations may spend freely to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on campaign participation
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    The Brody File

  • Joshua DuBois: Questioning President's Christian Faith Goes "Beyond the Boundaries of What's Acceptable"

    David Brody
    5 Feb 2010 | 8:20 am
    Joshua DuBois, the White House Office Faith Director and someone who is close to the President on matters of faith tells The Brody File that questioning President's Obama's Christian faith goes "beyond the boundaries of what's acceptable" I spoke with DuBois Thursday afternoon. The President said the following in his National Prayer Breakfast speech on Thursday: "Surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith, or, for that matter, my citizenship." Why did the President feel the need to include that line in the speech? I asked Joshua DuBois about that. Video and transcription…

  • Video and Transcription of Tim Tebow's Prayer

    David Brody
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:30 pm
    President Obama may have been the main attraction at today's National Prayer Breakfast but college football and Heisman Trophy star Tim Teblow wasn't far behind. Tebow has been in the news recently for this so called 'controversial ad" celebrating life and family that will air during the Super Bowl this Sunday. Tebow closed the prayer breakfast with a prayer. President Obama had left the room by the time Tebow delivered this. The video of the prayer is below along with the transcription. Dear Jesus, thank you for this day today. Thank you for bringing together so many people that have a…

  • Tea Party Convention

    David Brody
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:19 pm
    The Brody File reports tonight on the first Tea Party Convention down in Nashville. In the piece, you'll hear exclusive interviews with Ralph Reed and Dick Armey. Plus get my analysis.

  • White House Faith Office Director Defends Work of Faith Council

    David Brody
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:52 pm
    In an exclusive interview with The Brody File, the Director of The White House Faith Based Office, Joshua DuBois, takes issue with a report in The Washington Post that portrayed the Faith Council within the Office as more “show” than anything else. The Post article also mentioned that the abortion reduction talk was off the table. DuBois says that’s simply not true. Watch his comments below along with a transcription. The Washington Post article is here. Joshua DuBois: “I just thought that it didn’t reflect our actual work. The substance of what we’re doing day in and day out with…

  • President Obama to Discuss Civility at National Prayer Breakfast

    David Brody
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:10 pm
    This just in to The Brody File. It was sent to me from a White House official regarding President Obama's remarks Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast: On Thursday, the President will deliver remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.  In his remarks, he will discuss the need for civility in the public square, and how Americans can work together in a spirit of good will.  He will also stress the importance of an openness to compromise and differing perspectives, to disagree without being disagreeable and to step out of our comfort zones to bridge divides. If only..... An answered…
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    AmSpecBlog

  • If Health Care "Reform" Sinks,Then What for the Drugmakers?

    Doug Bandow
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:56 am
    Oops.  That presumably is the reaction of Big Phrma and other industry advocates of Democratic health care "reform."  By playing footsie with the politicoes who most hated them, the...

  • Al-Qaeda-Linked Radical in London Sees Terrorist Attacks "Even Bigger Than in 2001"

    Philip Klein
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:34 am
    CBN's Erick Stakelbeck has an eye-opening new report in which he interviews some of London's leading Islamic radicals. Several of them are wanted on terrorism charges in other nations, but...

  • Daily Must-Reads

    Brian O'Connell
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:25 am
    $3 million of stimulus money going towards constructing a high school football stadium in Mississippi (Hattiesburg American) Minnesota drivers are puzzled as to who paid for a billboard ...

  • New Hampshire Not So Blue

    W. James Antle, III
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:14 am
    Like Virginia, New Hampshire was a red state -- in fact, the Granite State had been Republican longer -- that dramatically turned blue in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles. Also like Virginia,...

  • Nelson Will Join GOP Filibuster of Union Lawyer Nominee

    Philip Klein
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:39 am
    Sen. Ben Nelson has announced he would support a Republican filibuster of the nomination of union lawyer Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board, putting his Senate confirmation in...
 
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    The Reality-Based Community

  • What Does Robert Pear Do For a Living?

    Jonathan Zasloff
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:21 pm
    Either he moonlights for the RNC, or as a New York Times reporter he can't tell the difference between reporting and regurgitating a press release.

  • The Outpatient Prison

    Mark Kleiman
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:44 pm
    The combination of effective sanctioning (swift, sure, minimum-dose) for probation and parole violations and close monitoring of offenders' drug use and location could provide a large fraction of the social control provided by prison at a tiny fraction of the cost in money and suffering.

  • John Murtha is Dead at 77

    Jonathan Zasloff
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:51 am
    Murtha's death is bad news for health care reform.

  • On not taking “Yes” for an answer

    Mark Kleiman
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:38 am
    Steve Benen has it right. The basic fact about the failure of bipartisanship in Washington today is that Republicans won’t take “Yes” for an answer.  It’s not just health care, where there are currently zero Repubilican votes for a bill incorporating half-a-dozen Republican demands. Cap-and-trade, for example, is distinctly market-friendly approach to environmental regulation. The [...]

  • Jeopardy

    Mark Kleiman
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:31 am
    I’ll take “political catchphrases” for $200. It’s a Latin word that translates into English as “Commander-in-Chief.” What is “Imperator”? And while we’re at it, here’s another question:  Why do Republicans hate the republican form of government? Share this post:
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    Bleeding Heartland - Front Page

  • NRCC unofficially endorses Gibbons in third district primary

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:07 am
    Yesterday the National Republican Congressional Committee gave another sign that Jim Gibbons is their man in the five-way primary for Iowa's third Congressional district. Gibbons is among a dozen or so Republicans who have been added to the NRCC's list of "on the radar" candidates. The Young Guns program is designed to assist Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives achieve goals and benchmarks throughout the election cycle focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign. By achieving 'On the Radar' status, Gibbons has already proven his ability to build a successful…

  • Shelby releases some holds, still blocking military nominees

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:15 am
    Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama released holds on most of the Obama administration nominees he has been blocking, the Washington Post reports, citing a statement from Shelby's office: "The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that are critical to our national security - the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI's Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). With that accomplished, Sen. Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new…

  • First criminal charges filed in film tax credit scandal

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:59 pm
    The Iowa Attorney General's Office filed the first criminal charges in connection with the film tax credit scandal today. Tom Wheeler, who stepped down in September as manager of the office, faces a charge of non-felonious misconduct in office. Wheeler, 41, is accused of failing to verify the eligibility of applicants for the state's film tax credit program. Also charged is Wendy Weiner Runge, who was executive producer of a 2008 film, "The Scientist." Runge is charged with first degree theft and is accused of taking property belonging to the state of Iowa by unlawfully reporting inflated…

  • Good news for Iowa water quality (for once)

    8 Feb 2010 | 1:39 pm
    State legislators have allowed clean water "anti-degradation" rules to stand, a step toward filling a significant hole in Iowa's water quality regulations. A last-ditch effort by Republicans failed to win enough votes on the Iowa legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) to set aside rules adopted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. I've joked that the ARRC's unofficial motto is "Where good rules go to die," because on several occasions the committee has rejected rules oriented toward environmental protection. Today Republican Senator Merlin Bartz tried to keep that…

  • Top Steve King staffer running for attorney general

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:34 am
    Iowa Republicans let Attorney General Tom Miller run for re-election unopposed four years ago, but Brenna Findley confirmed today that she is stepping up to the plate for the GOP this year: Raised on a farm near Dexter in southwest Dallas County, Findley, 33, attended Drake University in Des Moines and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History and minor in Russian with honors. After Drake, Findley attended the University of Chicago Law School. While at the University of Chicago, she served as Symposium Editor of The University of Chicago Law School Roundtable, a law…
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    The Field on the Narcosphere

  • Howard Zinn (1922-2010): In Lieu of Flowers, Organize

    Al Giordano
    28 Jan 2010 | 1:24 am
    By Al Giordano This segment of a Bill Moyers interview with Howard Zinn came after the production of last month's History Channel special, The People Speak: Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport, based on the works of Howard Zinn. Almost everyone who lived and organized in New England during the past many decades found yourself on a picket line or in a rambunctious assembly hall with Howard, who passed away yesterday at the age of 87 after a long life that anyone should consider successful. A Boston University professor during much of that time, Howard practiced the art of looking at - and…

  • Back to School

    Al Giordano
    25 Jan 2010 | 5:30 am
    By Al Giordano Today we begin constructing the campuses for the 2010 Narco News School of Authentic Journalism, its 32 scholars and 40+ professors, on Mexico's Yucatán peninsula. The students and professors arrive by February 3 for ten days of intensive training in investigative reporting, online journalism, documentary filmmaking and viral video production. The theme of this year's school is Journalism and Civil Resistance, to better train ourselves to report on social movements, civil resistances, community organizing and nonviolent campaigns, and to better understand the underlying…

  • Bandwagon Voters and the Dysfunction on the Left

    Al Giordano
    21 Jan 2010 | 7:57 am
    By Al Giordano Somewhere in America – actually, on every street – there is an Independent voter, or a family of them. Let's call them Mr. and Mrs. Independent. Contrary to the hype, they are less likely to be small-i independent in the sense of open-mindedness and careful vetting of issues and policy positions than they are prone to looking, election after election, for which bandwagon to jump onto. And that explains how, on Tuesday, so many of the same Massachusetts Independent voters that cast ballots 14 months ago for Democrat Barack Obama went and did so for Republican Scott Brown.

  • Haiti Report by TeleSur's Reed Lindsay, Now Translated to English

    Al Giordano
    18 Jan 2010 | 3:27 pm
    By Al Giordano and Joaquín Nezua Herrera (Many thanks to 2010 School of Authentic Journalism scholar Joaquín Nezua Herrera, who put up the subtitles so that English speakers can get this unique ground level view of post-earthquake Port au Prince...) Update: In contrast, CNN and the English language networks have largely been doing a dreadful job covering the crisis and recovery in Haiti. Ansel Herz offers an informed critique via his blog, Mediahacker: Tell CNN to Stop Hyping Fears of Violence in Haiti. Here's a screen shot of the kind of yellow journalism being practiced by CNN this week:…

  • Will a Cavalry Arrive to Save Massachusetts (and the US Senate)?

    Al Giordano
    17 Jan 2010 | 7:55 pm
    By Al Giordano It has been many years since I so intensely reported politics in Massachusetts, and these recent weeks leading up to Tuesday’s special election on Senator Ted Kennedy’s replacement have reminded me of the following bad memories: In 1978, a socially conservative pro-business challenger toppled Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis in the Democratic Primary. His name was Ed King and he became governor for four years, until Dukakis retook the corner office through a titanic rematch. Of course, King did a lot of damage during his four years as Governor. In 1990, a whacked-out…
 
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    PopUpCommontater

  • Obama cuts moon travel..

    commontater
    2 Feb 2010 | 2:22 pm
    ..hmm, why must this be?  umm.. considering space exploration is in its infancy and it would behoove us to be first in space exploration. He wants to turn this over to private firms. ( S ) hmm.. maybe he made this move so he could.. extend his own travels around the world with his family and entourage, maybe?  heh heh.  Anyone know the number of people who travel with him..costing millions to taxpayers?  During a recession?  When many a family may not be able to afford gas to take their kids to their doctor?  Afford medications?  Grocery store…

  • Healthcare talks behind closed doors, moving forward with ‘Jobs’ issue to distract

    commontater
    2 Feb 2010 | 1:00 pm
    Sandy Gehrke: Health care deals are bribery and vote-buying at its worst – The Capital TimesDemocrats quietly working to resuscitate healthcare overhaul – Los Angeles TimesQ & A Why are healthcare talks behind closed doors? – ReutersObama keeps health reform behind closed doors – Kansas City StarHealth care reform: out of sight but not out of mind – Baltimore SunBehind the scenes, Democrats carry on efforts to save health reform – Chattanooga Times Free PressDemocrats take health bill out of the spotlight’s glare – Herald Tribune.comBehind…

  • 15th Annual Health Action Conference Reveals Health Care being dealt with behind closed doors.

    commontater
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:21 am
    Yesterday, the 15th Annual Health Action Conference was covered by C-SPAN.  During the conference, Susan Dentzer, Editor-in-Chief of Health Affairs shared some inside info.  She said that the national conversation has been switched to “jobs” to take our eye off the Health Care issue which is now being carried out behind closed doors.  Hey, I just thought someone, somewhere would care, with a bigger megaphone than moi, and want to share this little piece of info. Again we witness deception at its best, eh?  This announcement has been brought to you by a…

  • Senate permits gov’t to borrow an additional $1.9 Trillion!

    commontater
    29 Jan 2010 | 7:41 am
    Waaay’ll, this announcement takes the guess out of which congressional body is more nuckin’ futz, eh?!?  “You load sixteen tons, whaddyah get,Another day older and deeper in debtSaint Peter don’t you call me cuz I can’t goI owe my soul to the company store!”* Soon! Coming to your Neighborhood, too!  Watch Americans shuffle off as indentured servants, then into slavery, to expand the Empire!  O, bring back debtors prisons, too, O, you slave Masters, if only for the 3 squares!  Rock on, gov’t! Rock on!______________________*Lyrics…

  • Q & A

    commontater
    27 Jan 2010 | 10:03 pm
    Q:  A question posed by Mastodon on AnswerBag : Why does communism work in theory,but doesn’t in real life? A:  I venture to guess that it’s because we’re (people) individuals with no minds alike, seeking what will bring comfort and security for self and family.  Oh, and one must factor in “stubbornness”. View This Pollopinion Tagged: AnswerBag.com, communism, communism's fatal flaw, democracy, Q&A
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    Salon: War Room

  • Pork is in the eye of the beholder

    Mike Madden
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:42 am
    Republicans haven't exactly been shy about bashing the stimulus bill that passed last year. "This is spending, not stimulus," Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said about it. "Rather than create jobs or stimulate the economy, this massive spending bill was a laundry list of programs that focused on states with big-city urban communities," wrote Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., in his local newspaper last October. As it turns out, they haven't exactly been shy about grabbing cash from the stimulus programs for their districts, either. An investigation in Tuesday's Washington Times turned up letters…

  • GOP dusts off Bush playbook

    Gabriel Winant
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:10 am
    There is something of a master narrative of the early Obama administration currently emerging into view, issue by issue. It goes like this: A given situation is in a disastrous state of disarray when the new president and his staff take the reins. A rough and unsteady policy consensus forms among area experts and crucial political actors about how to move forward. At this point, the administration starts pushing a course of action designed to hold the political center. Those to the president’s left are consistently disappointed, but only sometimes outraged. While many Republicans are…

  • Colbert takes on Palin's "hand-o-prompter"

    Mike Madden
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:36 am
    Think Stephen Colbert was impressed by Sarah Palin's speech to Tea Party Nation and her, ahem, handy way of remembering her talking points? Think again:   The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Sarah Palin Uses a Hand-O-Prompter www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy  

  • Washington snowed out

    Mike Madden
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:09 pm
    The nation's capital has been snowed out. A massive snowstorm ripped through Washington on Friday and Saturday, dumping nearly two feet all over the region, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power and crippling roads and mass transit. The Metro subway and bus system, the second-busiest in the country after New York, canceled service to its above-ground train stations, scrapped most bus routes and ran very delayed trains underground. And as a result, government and politics slowed down. The federal government closed early Friday, never opened on Monday and has already closed for…

  • Rumors or not, David Paterson is in trouble

    Mike Madden
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:22 pm
    The talk in New York political circles -- and, increasingly, in Washington -- is that there's some major New York Times story in the works about Gov. David Paterson. Just before the Super Bowl started Sunday, in fact, Twitter lit up with speculation that the story would appear in Monday's paper, and that Paterson would resign once it ran. By the time you're reading this, of course, it's clear that didn't happen. Paterson's office has denied any plans to resign, and it's still not even clear what the story -- if it ever appears -- is about. The thing is, though, that might not matter. Even if…
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    The Washington Independent

  • McConnell’s Plan to Create Jobs: Drill, Baby, Drill

    Mike Lillis
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:49 am
    Following this morning’s White House jobs meeting with congressional leaders from both parties, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) issued a statement laying out his four-part plan to tackle the nation’s unemployment crisis. Let’s just say there’s a bit of a theme: •           Increase clean nuclear energy in America •           Expand exploration of offshore areas for oil and gas development •           Develop Clean Coal technologies •           Expand American exports through free trade agreements…

  • No House Votes This Week

    Mike Lillis
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:34 am
    …So says Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), citing (what else?) the snowy spell that hit the nation’s capital over the weekend, and is expected to dump as much as two additional feet beginning Tuesday. To make up the lost time, Hoyer said, the House will be in session both Monday Feb. 22 and Friday Feb. 26 — after lawmakers return from next week’s President’s Day recess. An updated 2010 House calendar is here.

  • Lighter Gun Restrictions Coming to a National Park Near You

    Mike Lillis
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:27 am
    When Congress passed new consumer protections for credit card holders last May, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) successfully attached a not-at-all-related amendment allowing firearms in national parks, so long as gun carriers comply with laws of the state in which the park is located. That law is now scheduled to take effect on Feb. 22. In preview, the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees has released examples of some of the activities soon to be permitted under the new statute. In Wyoming’s Yellowstone Park, for example, backcountry hikers will be free to openly carry firearms. At…

  • DADT: Gay Army Lieutenant Recalled to Active Duty

    Spencer Ackerman
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:12 am
    Army Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate and Arabic translator who famously challenged ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ last year, has been recalled to active duty, according to The Advocate. That’s a strong sign that even ahead of a full repeal of the so-called gay ban, proceeding at a deliberate, year-long pace advocated by the Pentagon’s top leadership, relaxed enforcement of the policy is already in place.

  • Kucinich to Vote with Republicans on Health Care

    David Weigel
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:08 am
    The death of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) is a blow to Democratic efforts to pass the Senate version of health care reform in the House — they’re now down one vote from a swing district Democrat willing to make the tough choice. But what might turn out to be an insurmountable problem is the intransigence of two liberals in the House conference, Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio.). Both say they won’t vote for anything less than a single payer system. Kucinich, in this e-mail sent to his list, asks for help scoring an endorsement from Firedoglake —…
 
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    Booman Tribune

  • Remembering History

    Booman Tribune
    Do you know what Tsar Bomba was? It was the biggest nuclear bomb ever exploded. You don't hear much about it, do you? It was 50 megatons. The Soviets dropped it from a plane in the Arctic Circle in 1961. Ever hear of Castle Bravo? That was the biggest bomb the United States ever exploded. We don't hear to much about it, either. The bomb, which was set off in 1954 on the Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific, was 15 megatons due to a design flaw. It was supposed to be about 5 megatons. The increased power caused increased fallout: The fallout spread traces of radioactive material as far as…

  • We Need a Public Option to Stop This

    Booman Tribune
    If we don't create competition for our bloated American Health Insurance Corporations (and a public option like Medicare for all would provide that necessary element), we will continue to see these large corporations manipulate their markets to raise rates for health care policies to levels that few if anyone can afford. Example? Anthem Blue Cross, a subsidiary of WellPoint Incorporated, which raised rates on policies held by 800,000 people in California by from 30 to 39%, effective March 1st: In a letter faxed to Anthem Blue Cross, US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius…

  • Froggy Bottom Cafe

    Booman Tribune

  • Casual Observation

    Booman Tribune
    This is why every Democratic blogger in the known universe advises their readers not to donate to the DSCC, DCCC, or DNC, and only to donate directly to individual candidates. If I send money to the DSCC and they use that money to help Ben Nelson, then I've just effed myself in the a, have I not?

  • RIP John Murtha

    Booman Tribune
    John Murtha has passed away from complications arising from his gall bladder surgery last week. He was a controversial congressman, but he served his country both as a serviceman and representative. He will long be remembered for his turn against the war in Iraq. My thoughts are with his family.
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    The Gun Toting Liberal

  • Sarah Palin Caught On Video Reading Talking Points Written On Palm Of Her Hand During Interview

    The GTL™
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:35 pm
    The Big Question: Were Those Sarah’s Or Her Hubby The Former “First Dood’s” Taloking Points She Was Reading? Okay, we’ve all done it — jotted down reminders on the palms of our hands for future reference. Some have even used a pen and the palm of their hand to... This is only a comment summary. Visit http://guntotingliberal.com to view the lastest content complete with some of the most outrageous original photoshops in the political blogosphere!

  • The GTL™ Sunday Guest Column — “Bottoms Up!” By Christopher L. Doster

    Christopher L. Doster
    7 Feb 2010 | 12:56 pm
    GTL™ Sunday Guest Columnist: Author And “Moderately-Right-Of-Center” Political Pundit, Christopher L. Doster, Employs His Wit, Sarcasm And Conservative Sense Of Humor To Touch Upon Some Current Events, Foreign Policy Under The Obama Administration And His Self-Prescribed... This is only a comment summary. Visit http://guntotingliberal.com to view the lastest content complete with some of the most outrageous original photoshops in the political blogosphere!

  • Was Todd “First Dood” Palin The REAL Governor Of Alaska While Sarah Cooked And Cleaned For Him?

    The GTL™
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:29 pm
    Todd Palin Emails Show The “First Dood” Might Have Actually Run The State Of Alaska While Sarah “The Barracuda” Cheered Him On… With the Tea Party Convention in full-swing behind the powerful presence of the lovely Mrs. Sarah Palin as their keynote speaker (The NYT)... This is only a comment summary. Visit http://guntotingliberal.com to view the lastest content complete with some of the most outrageous original photoshops in the political blogosphere!

  • New Pork King Of The Senate: Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) Blocks Any Further Obama Nominee Confirmations Until Alabama Receives Billions In Earmarks

    The GTL™
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:42 pm
    [So-Called] “Conservative” Republican Senator Torqued Off At Fact That Bailout Package He Voted Against While Containing Billions Of Dollars Of His Own Pork Has Yet To Be Spent In His Home State… Senator Richard Shelby — what a guy. One can only assume the man is still in... This is only a comment summary. Visit http://guntotingliberal.com to view the lastest content complete with some of the most outrageous original photoshops in the political blogosphere!

  • GTL’s NFL Picks, Week 20 2009 — Superbowl XLIIV

    The GTL™
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:44 pm
    Previous Week (Week 19 AFC And NFC Championship Rounds (2-0) Year To Date: 174-91 All-Time (2006 Through 2008 Combined Record): 335-195-1. Alright now, this is IT — the World Championship of American football a.,k.,a., Superbowl XLIIV. We’ve got the mighty New Orleans Saints led by the... This is only a comment summary. Visit http://guntotingliberal.com to view the lastest content complete with some of the most outrageous original photoshops in the political blogosphere!
 
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    Dandelion Salad

  • Dennis Kucinich: Medicare for All, the Idea Whose Time Has Come

    dandelionsalad
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:08 am
    http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/ by Congressman Dennis Kucinich Washington, Feb 8, 2010 Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today sent a letter to President Obama commending him for calling for new ideas and a renewed discussion about health care reform. Kucinich requested that supporters of Medicare for All be represented at the upcoming February 25 health care summit. “I hope you will [...]

  • Dennis Kucinich and Glenn Greenwald: Assassinating Americans + Corporate Money + Moonlighting CIA Operatives

    dandelionsalad
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:42 am
    http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/ Democracy Now! Feb. 9, 2010 Obama Administration: US Forces Can Assassinate Americans Believed to Be Involved in Terrorist Activity The Obama administration has acknowledged it’s continuing a Bush-era policy authorizing the killing of US citizens abroad. The confirmation came from Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair in congressional testimony last week. Blair said, “Being a US citizen will [...]

  • Double Doom Deflected: McCainiac & Sarah Sycophant By Robert S. Becker

    dandelionsalad
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:50 pm
    By Robert S. Becker Featured Writer Dandelion Salad rbecker@cal.net February 9, 2010 I never trusted John McCain because he never struck me as stable or principled – plus his grasp of ideas and facts fluctuated like glare off water.  My judgment focused not on his positions per se, nor successful charade to seem less Republican [...]

  • Bob Avakian: Emmett Till and Jim Crow: Black people lived under a death sentence + In the 1960s, it was like the dam finally burst (2003)

    dandelionsalad
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:32 pm
    http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/ Sent to DS from Annie, thank you. RevolutionTalk February 08, 2010 Emmett Till and Jim Crow: “Black people lived under a death sentence” – clip from “Revolution: Why It’s Necessary, Why It’s Possible, What It’s All About, a film of a talk by Bob Avakian” given in 2003 in the United States. Bob Avakian is the Chairman of [...]

  • Banned Robert Erickson Tea Party Super Bowl Ad – Columbus Go Home!

    dandelionsalad
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:06 pm
    http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/ Thanks to Robert for sending this to DS. roberterickson1 February 07, 2010 more about “Banned Robert Erickson Tea Party Supe…“, posted with vodpod At the first convention of the right-wing Tea Party movement this weekend, Sarah Palin called for “revolution,” and a documentary about the movement’s rising has recently been released. The trailer for “Tea [...]
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    international

  • Sarah Palin becomes queen of America's anti-government protestors

    ConservativeHome
    7 Feb 2010 | 10:26 pm
    The Tea Party protests took part across the USA last year in protest at Barack Obama's expansion of the federal government. Invoking the Boston Tea Party the modern day protestors claim they are Taxed Enough Already. Mainstream media organisations have attempted to paint the Tea Party movement as a movement of nutters - drawing attention to some of the (many) fringe characters who have attached themselves to events. For Mark Halperin there are enormous similarities between Sarah Palin and the Tea Party movement: Both scare the heck out of a Republican Establishment that is afraid to be…

  • How a successful grassroots rebellion against the party leadership prompted the founding of Australia's equivalent of ConservativeHome

    ConservativeHome
    31 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pm
    Chris Browne and Tim Andrews are the co-founders of the new Australian blog Menzies House, which went live on Saturday.The success of grassroots political blogs like ConserativeHome has significantly changed the dynamics of political campaigns and policy development around the world. By providing a strong platform for political activists to engage in the political process, they have succeeded in not only shaping political debate, but also by driving an agenda of change in influencing policy makers.Amid a plethora of left wing websites (a number of which are taxpayer funded), Australia has not…

  • Disagreements on tax, Afghanistan and with her conservative base upset Merkel's second term

    ConservativeHome
    30 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pm
    A cover feature in Time magazine called her the most powerful leader in Europe but Angela Merkel has had a bumpy ride since ending her grand coalition with the leftist SDP and forming a coalition with the libertarian FDP.Five observations: Opinion polls show that the German public are unhappy with her start to her second term: "The German public television channel ARD last week published its monthly poll showing falling public support for Mrs. Merkel. The ARD poll found that support for Mrs. Merkel had dropped 11 percent from the previous month, with 59 percent saying that they were…

  • A warm welcome to MenziesHouse.com.au

    ConservativeHome
    30 Jan 2010 | 4:26 am
    Downunder, MenziesHouse.com.au has been launched. It aims to provide a one-stop site for Australian conservative, centre right and libertarian thinkers. Like ConservativeHome its focus is on the Liberal Party and with an article from Julie Bishop, Deputy to Tony Abbott, it appears to have the blessing of the party. But, again like ConHome, with articles like this - urging abolition of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - it is willing to go further than the party leadership.Australian PM Kevin Rudd must be a strong favourite to be re-elected later this year but Tony Abbott -…

  • Nine observations on the Republican comeback

    ConservativeHome
    24 Jan 2010 | 4:38 pm
    (1) Has the Republican's newest Senator come up with a unifying anti-Obama message for Republicans? Fred Barnes summarises Brown's anti-Obama message as "raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is is the wrong agenda for our country.” Barnes says it's "a mantra conservatives, tea party people, moderates, and independents can embrace." (2) Every Democrat up for re-election in November 2010 will feel vulnerable. George Will in his reflections on Scott Brown's victory notes an unfortunate statement from Barack Obama. On…
 
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    David Ortez.com

  • Meet Sean Roberts!

    david
    9 Feb 2010 | 1:33 am

  • TabbedOut

    david
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:48 am
    I went to Austin this weekend to celebrate a friend’s birthday. What I did not expect was to learn of a cool new iPhone App that will make going out a bit more fun. TabbedOut was created to address the problem of leaving an establishment without closing your tab or skipping the long waits just to close your tab. Developed by ATX Innovation, the App is available for free on iTunes and it let’s you open, review and close your tab from your iPhone. The catch … just a nominal $0.99 fee for every tab you open. That is not much of an issue when you think of how much you will spend to drink.

  • There Goes the Neighborhood!

    david
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:43 am
    Late last week, it was reported that the Houston Dynamo are entertaining moving their proposed new stadium just south of 610 West Loop right across the street from The Galleria. The new plans caused more uproar than the health care debate when folks led by Mayor Cindy Siegel of Bellaire City dissented. Folks that wanted the stadium in downtown Houston were equally as pissed at the idea. It interesting the wording that Siegel used to express her concerns of the stadium proposal. Siegel states, “A stadium would be the final blow to what has been a neighborhood trying to reclaim its quality of…

  • Damian LaCroix

    david
    1 Feb 2010 | 1:15 am
    Damian LaCroix is a Judicial Candidate for the Harris County Civil Court at Law Number 2 in Houston, Texas. Check out Charles Kuffner's Q&A as well. For more information please visit: http://www.damianlacroixforjudge.com

  • Why I Will Buy an iPad … Next Year!

    david
    30 Jan 2010 | 5:34 pm
    Ever since the release of the coveted Apple iPad … friends and family have inquired if I would hop onto the bandwagon and purchase the iPad once it was released to the general public to consume. The easy and simple answer is Yes but it is the when that complicates my response … and an astute listener would quickly reply … why? I will not attempt to convince YOU as to why you need to shell out $500 to buy this overpriced super-sized iPod Touch but merely I will explain why I will buy it for my personal use and that may shed insight into how it can benefit you. For the last year I have…
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    The Diary of a Geek in Oxfordshire

  • Man Arrested for 1985 Murder of PC

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:34 am
    A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of PC Keith Blakelock 25 years ago, it has been reported today.PC Blakelock was hacked to death in October 1985 during the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham.The news of the arrest comes as the Metropolitan Police struggles to regain any dignity following the conviction and jailing of former Commander Ali Dizaei on charges of misconduct and perverting the course of justice.Metropolitan Police sources confirmed that Waad al-Baghdadi, 24, of London, had been arrested in connection with the brutal murder. A spokesman said, "acting on…

  • Alternative Voting - In Song

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:58 am
    Apropos of THIS, let's have a little song about Alternative Voting:David Cameron: You know, Electorate, you are privileged to live in this age of quality democracy.The Electorate: Really? You think so? Seems to me that nearly all elections these days are completely rigged trash.David Cameron: Yes, quite right. But never before in history have we had such a wide selection of rigged electoral methods!When the PM lauds a policy he used to disavow,When he says 'we must reform the voting system and here's how',When he knows that everybody wants to vote him out RIGHT NOW,Then the plain…

  • Harperson Nominated for Rear of the Year

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:36 am
    The Harmarse: "lacks muscle tone and the tail needs work"Labour Minister for Misandry and leading feminazi Harridan Harperson has been nominated for a Rear of the Year award, according to sources today.The 59-year-old Deputy Leader has reportedly received a number of nominations for the award, since her performances standing in for Prime Minister Gollum Brown at PM's Questions in recent weeks.A spokesman for the National Equine Society confirmed that Mzz Harperson was now the front-runner for 'Horses' Rear of the Year', beating strong challenges from champion hurdler Celestial Halo and Grand…

  • Met Commissioner 'Disappointed' by Dizaei Conduct

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:19 am
    COmmander Ali: "I'm gonna fitchoo up good, braa, yeah? Innit"Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has spoken of his 'disappointment' with the actions of disgraced Commander Ali Dizaei, who was jailed for four years yesterday.Dizaei became the highest-ranking officer to be convicted of an offence in 33 years yesterday, when a jury took just ten minutes to convict him of misconduct and perverting the cause of justice. Dizaei assaulted, falsely arrested and attempted to falsify charges against Waad al-Baghdadi in a dispute over a £600 website design bill.Speaking from his…

  • Honda Announces Safety Recall

    5 Feb 2010 | 7:37 am
    A Honda JazzzzzzZZZZzzzzZZZZzzzzZZZ: Car manufacturing giant Honda has announced a major vehicle recall for its big-selling Jazz model, following safety fears. The manufacturer becomes the second Japanese car-maker to issue a recall notice within the last few days.An official Honda statement said, "while we do not believe the vehicle problem to be life-threatening, we have recognised there are potential safety risks both to drivers and to other road users, and in the interests of good customer relations have decided to initiate a full recall to all the 171,273 Honda Jazz owners in the UK."An…
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    The Skepticians

  • Obama Installs Democratic Activist in U.S. Attorney Post

    James Richardson
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am
    President Barack Obama Friday tapped Democratic National Committee member Tim Purdon as North Dakota’s next United States Attorney, landing the president in the same political minefield once occupied by Democratic Senator Max Baucus after he nominated his girlfriend for a similar federal post. A veteran Democratic bundler, Purdon found a unique affinity with trial lawyer John Edwards, on whose campaign he was a state chairman. According to his firm, Purdon specializes in criminal defense and personal injury lawsuits and possesses no prosecutorial experience, for which the White House is…

  • Daniels Led Bayh by 10 in NRSC Poll, Not Asked to Run

    James Richardson
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:09 am
    Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels today promised to remain neutral in his state’s upcoming Republican Senate primary, but admitted to being “startled” by Coats’ surprise candidacy. Former Senator Dan Coats is “just alarmed about the country, I can tell you that from talking to him,” Daniels said of Coats, who contacted the governor Monday about his potential challenge to Democratic Senator Evan Bayh. Many Republicans criticized Coats’ candidacy as a recruiting failure for the NRSC, seemingly buttressed by Daniels’ admission today that, despite…

  • Cohen Divorce Records Allege Abuse, Steroid Addiction

    James Richardson
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:45 pm
    Court documents relating to the 2005 divorce of embattled Illinois Democratic Lieutenant Governor nominee Scott Lee Cohen surfaced Wednesday, alleging the Chicago business man was prone to regular fits of rage–likely side-effects of his abuse of anabolic steroids–and forced himself sexually on his ex-wife. While still married, which the woman characterized as “pretty unbearable,” Cohen took “injectable anabolic steroids, including but not limited to Winstrol, Cretine, and Steen. And as a result, he has an erratic, explosive temper,” his ex-wife testified.

  • Knife-Wielding Cohen Should Step Aside, IL Governor Says

    James Richardson
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:07 pm
    Governor Patrick Quinn (D-IL) Wednesday expressed concern over his running-mate’s history of domestic violence, telling reporters that the Democrats’ nominee for lieutenant governor “should step aside,” barring a compelling explanation for his actions. Scott Lee Cohen, who allegedly threatened his prostitute girlfriend by brandishing a knife and throwing her against a wall, Tuesday won the Democratic Party’s nomination for lieutenant governor, edging out five other contenders in an upset victory. Quinn met with state Democratic Chair Mike Madigan to discuss the…

  • Democratic Illinois Lt. Gov. Nominee Arrested for Domestic Battery

    James Richardson
    4 Feb 2010 | 7:43 am
    What Chicago election is complete without elements of domestic violence, prostitution and tax evasion? A Chicago pawnbroker who financed his campaign with nearly $2 million of his own wealth, Scott Lee Cohen Tuesday won the Democratic Party’s nomination for Lieutenant Governor. But with new details of Cohen’s sordid past emerging today, Democratic primary voters will soon be wishing they had given his five rivals a second look. Cohen allegedly held a knife to his then-girlfriend’s neck in October 2005. Charges were later dropped after the woman, once convicted of…
 
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    The Best Defense

  • Kilcullen (II): How to tell the effect of your operations on the population

    Thomas E. Ricks
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:57 am
    Back to David Kilcullen's essay on what works in counterinsurgency, what doesn't, and how to tell the difference. But first, a couple of points in response to yesterday's rasher of comments. First, to my knowledge, the paper hasn't been published anywhere -- but I'll skate as close to the copyright laws as I can and give you a good overview. Second, Kilcullen isn't out to attack all metrics, just bad metrics. Which leads us to the point of today's post. Yesterday, he told you why he dismisses certain metrics as unhelpful. Today, he discusses how to tell what effect your operations are …

  • Time to talk: It takes a tough soldier to go public about the urge to kill himself

    Thomas E. Ricks
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:51 am
    Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel Rhodes is the subject of a good article about how two tours in Iraq stripped him of his marriage and peace of mind, and nearly his life by his own hand. At one point in Iraq he tied himself to his own bunk. He has gone public to help other soldiers. "It's not about me. ... Every one of us can tell our own story. Start telling it. Change the culture of silence." He emphasizes how important a few kind words can be at the right time. Keep that in mind, little grasshoppers.

  • Pirate Watch: Tumbling dice

    Thomas E. Ricks
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:50 am
    By Cmdr. Herb Carmen Best Defense piracy czar Are some ship masters rolling the dice as they pass through pirate infested waters to save operating costs? Are ship masters intentionally taking the path of least resistance and ignoring Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia? It's something we've been looking at when combing through data of successful pirate attacks. So, too, have the folks at Strategy Page. In a recent post, Strategy Page points out that about a quarter of the ships passing through these waters are gambling with the safety and…

  • Kilcullen (I): Here’s what not to measure in a COIN campaign

    Thomas E. Ricks
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:54 am
    When David Kilcullen is at his best, he is unexcelled at discussing how to wage a counterinsurgency campaign. And I think the Australian infantry officer turned political anthropologist/COIN guru is at his best when he gathers field observations, boils them down to distilled principles, and then describes those rules in a clear, practical manner.  So I want to take some time to go through a paper he wrote recently in Afghanistan. (I didn't get it from him, by the way.) While it ostensibly is about metrics in COIN campaigning, it amounts to a thorough discussion of what works in such warfare,…

  • Wife of deployed ‘Air Force Guy’: Here’s a day in my life on auto-pilot

    Thomas E. Ricks
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:53 am
    I was looking through Doonesbury's Sandbox the other day and saw this interesting post from an Air Force wife, married to "AFG," about her life while he is deployed. I'm often just putting one foot in front of the other. A big part of my day is trying to appear "normal". Whatever is going on inside my head or wherever my husband is deployed to, I have to take the kids to Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Gymnastics, Swimming, and Boxing lessons. And I've got to figure out how to group everything around the times AFG might possibly call (because I will not miss those). I've gotten…
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    Bill Starr's Blog

  • Is blogging a slog? Some young people think so - Yahoo! News

    Bill Starr
    6 Feb 2010 | 7:19 am
    Seems to be true for me.Social networking & the quick status update have "kind of sucked the life out of long-form blogging" says Amanda Lenhart, a Pew senior researcher.Is blogging a slog? Some young people think so - Yahoo! News

  • NO on ban of cell phone use while driving -- good article

    Bill Starr
    6 Feb 2010 | 5:46 am
    I just sent the following message to my state legislators. From: Bill Starr To: Senator Greg Walker; Representative Sean Eberhart Cc: Representative Eric Allan Koch; Representative Milo Smith Sent: Sat, 6 Feb 2010, 8:39 am EST Subject: NO on ban of cell phone use while driving -- good article Thank you for your service to the citizens of Indiana. As I wrote you on January 27, I still urge you to vote NO on any measure to criminalize the use of cell phones or other electronic devices while driving. I recently came across a good article on this subject by Caleb Allen, a student at Rose-Hulman…

  • I urge NO on any ban on cell phone use while driving

    Bill Starr
    27 Jan 2010 | 10:38 am
    I just sent the following message to my state legislators.To: Senator Greg Walker; Representative Sean EberhartCc: Representative Eric Allan Koch; Representative Milo SmithSent: Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 1:32 pm ESTSubject: I urge NO on any ban on cell phone use while drivingThank you for your service to the citizens of Indiana.I urge you to vote NO on any measure to criminalize the use of cell phones or other electronic devices while driving.I am all for holding each driver in Indiana accountable for controlling his vehicle in as safe a manner as possible, and punishing any who carelessly or…

  • Marilyn vos Savant Reforms Health Care

    Bill Starr
    20 Jan 2010 | 6:27 pm
    Excellent, common sense health care reform proposals from Marilyn vos Savant (1996).Repeal the 17th Amendment: Marilyn vos Savant Reforms Health Care

  • Man uses stun gun during downtown Columbus fight

    Bill Starr
    17 Jan 2010 | 4:38 am
    The local paper reports today that a local man was arrested for using a stun gun during a fight.He was charged with battery with a deadly weapon, a Class C felony.Funny how it's a "deadly weapon" in "civilian" hands, but law enforcement and the manufacturer promote the stun gun as being in the "less than lethal" category.Man uses stun gun during downtown Columbus fight
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    Politics4All

  • The Worst State Government in America Attacks Science

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    The kind of stupidity that demands denial of basic science regarding climate change is not limited to the senior Senator from Oklahoma and his friends. Like a fish rotting from the head down, climate science denial for political and corporate benefit has spread into state legislatures. But which is the worst? So many competitors! Rightwingnut ideologue Republicans in California have hatched a scheme to suspend AB32, the state’s landmark greenhouse gas law, until employment reaches 5.5% — effectively full employment for every legal resident of the state, which is to say, suspend…

  • Charlotte Plastic Surgery

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    Some of the procedures that we provide: breast reduction, breast reconstruction, plastic surgery, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast implants, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, plastic surgery charlotte nc, mommy makeover, charlotte plastic surgery, quick lift, eyelid surgery, breast reshaping, rhinoplasty, breast reshaping surgery and more. 

  • Latest Poll Shows Byrne leads in Republican Primary, but Many Undecided

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:22 am
    Some really interesting numbers out today from Public Strategy Associates and pollster Mike Baselice.  These numbers look very realistic, first because of the high number of undecided voters identified.  The reality is a large number of Republican primary voters haven’t sorted through this field yet and if a pollster pushes them to pick one candidate over another, name ID is going to drive the decision more than who they will ultimately choose to support (explaining some of the previously high numbers we’ve heard about for Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore).

  • PollockforJudge: From JudgesOnMerit: Governor: “The time has clearly come. . .”: Governor Rendell just finished delivering his 2010... http://bit.ly/aUcpeU

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:15 am
    PollockforJudge: From JudgesOnMerit: Governor: “The time has clearly come. . .”: Governor Rendell just finished delivering his 2010... http://bit.ly/aUcpeU

  • Hate Crimes Act Challenged. Religious Bigotry At Work

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    Where the Religious Right in this country is concerned there is no such thing as equal rights for gay citizens. Even something as innocuous as adding sexuality and gender to the Hate Crimes act is under challenge from these “divinely” inspired bigots. The Thomas More Law Center, which prides itself as the “Sword and Shield for People of Faith” is filing a law suit challenging the constitutionality of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act. "Originally posted at Squarestate.net" For those who are not familiar with the Thomas More Law Center, it one of the…
 
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    The Left Coaster

  • Summits are for Snow

    paradox
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:24 am
    The White House, for reasons that were probably kept murky on purpose, announced on Super Bowl Sunday a mighty great healthcare summit would take place in two weeks so the Republicans could “air their differences” or compare Viagra doses. Or something. How a “summit” was supposed to provide a platform for healthcare debate when houses of Congress were built precisely for that, indeed had functioned with horrible clankiness to produce such a mortifyingly ugly process all last year, well, no one was clear at all, the triumvirate of Drum, Yglesias and Benen O-bots completely silent on…

  • Open Thread

    Mary
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    Where does the Federal Government spend its money? Here's a great interactive graphic for the proposed 2011 budget and how it compares to the 2010 budget. Definitely click on the "Hide Mandatory Spending" to see what parts of the budget would not be affected by Obama's spending cut.

  • Don't Read This

    Turkana
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am
    Don't read this. The corporatist media don't want you to know about it. It's only the greatest threat humanity has ever faced, yet they all but ignore it. And when they do pay attention, it's to create a false narrative that what is now accepted science isn't accepted science. It's to create a controversy where there isn't one. Imagine if the greatest threat humanity has ever faced got even a fraction of the attention given to the small band of extremist idiots who wasted hundreds of dollars each, over the weekend, to delude themselves that they are brave heroes on engaged in a noble cause.

  • Remember That Hanging Curve?

    paradox
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:27 am
    Paul Krugman obviously hasn’t, but just three days after the pitch with an announced health care summit (?) and the Super Bowl even the most satiated political junkie would be forgiven a blank look to the question. You know, Richard Shelby (R-AL), another huge jerk the Senate is so good at inflicting on us all, blocking all Obama appointments until he can pork it for his homies in Alabama some more. Had we competent political actors representing us an instant reaction would not have occurred: watching a hanging curve go by, meaning—yet again, for the thousandth god damn time from the…

  • Open Thread

    Mary
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    Paul Krugman writes America is not yet lost, but notes that our spectacularly dysfunctional Senate seems bound and determined to out do the Poland Sejm of the 18th Century in making sure it will be soon.
 
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    ecomii politics blog

  • Copenhagen Accord Falls Short

    Justin O'Neill
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:15 pm
    In December 2009, a month after President Obama’s visit to China, the United States joined a host of delegates at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the Copenhagen Summit or Cop15. Years of planning went into these negotiations between 115 world leaders, though the outcome (by most assessments) was pretty disappointing. The main [...]

  • U.S. and China Step Toward a Clean Energy Future

    Justin O'Neill
    29 Jan 2010 | 2:10 pm
    With healthcare, the economy, Tiger Woods, and Conan O’Brien at the center of most media attention in the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, coverage of the latest international efforts to reverse the effects of climate change has been drowned out. While the result of the Copenhagen summit may have been disappointing, there is promising [...]

  • NYT Assesses Obama on Energy and Environment

    Ted Nelson
    5 Nov 2009 | 9:41 am
      On the one year anniversary of Obama’s election, the New York Times has run an article assessing Barack on some of the issues which have defined his presidency to date. One of the areas covered is Energy and Environment. The analysis is not very in-depth, divided into one paragraph about his campaign promises and one [...]

  • Maldives’ Government Hold First Underwater Meeting

    Ted Nelson
    19 Oct 2009 | 7:37 am
    It may only be a matter of years before the Maldives is fully submerged underwater; however, a recent government ceremony literally held underwater was not in preparation for future meetings. The event was staged to draw attention to the global fight against climate change before the Copenhagen meetings in December. The meeting was held Saturday October [...]

  • G-20 Vague On Environmental Sustainability

    Ted Nelson
    28 Sep 2009 | 8:03 am
    The Group of 20 (G-20) meeting in Pittsburgh has yielded promise on the environmental sustainability front… but not quantifiable, time-specific progress. Developing nations–including the member states of the African Union–and international leaders–including former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan–have been vocal about what they want from December’s international climate change meeting in Copenhagen: a well defined [...]
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    YouTube: Politics

  • Focus on Haiti - The politics of rice - Part 1

    AlJazeeraEnglish
    23 Jan 2010 | 4:17 am
    Focus on Haiti - The politics of rice - Part 1 In 2008, in the midst of the global food crisis, we travelled to Haiti to look at the politics of rice - how such a fertile country became dependent on food aid. In the wake of this current disaster, that dependence is - initially - going to deepen. But as relief efforts slowly turn to plans for reconstruction, it is important to look back at the policies that brought Haiti to the brink in the first place, and the people who had their own vision of self-sufficiency all along. Avi Lewis talks about the US role in the development of Haiti with PJ…

  • Rick Sanchez Investigates Corruption in Politics

    TheYoungTurks
    12 Sep 2009 | 7:35 pm
    Rick Sanchez Investigates Corruption in Politics Watch more at www.theyoungturks.com From: TheYoungTurks Views: 43318 1042 ratings Time: 07:05 More in News & Politics

  • Politics of Health Care Reform

    TheYoungTurks
    18 Aug 2009 | 6:53 pm
    Politics of Health Care Reform Watch more at www.theyoungturks.com. Michael Shure filling in for Cenk Uygur. From: TheYoungTurks Views: 39791 573 ratings Time: 04:06 More in News & Politics

  • danah boyd - PdF2009 - The Not-So-Hidden Politics of Class Online

    personaldemocracy
    17 Jul 2009 | 9:21 am
    danah boyd - PdF2009 - The Not-So-Hidden Politics of Class Online The Not-So-Hidden Politics of Class Online. danah boyd's keynote presentation from Personal Democracy Forum 2009. The text of her talk can be found on her blog here: www.danah.org From: personaldemocracy Views: 2059 19 ratings Time: 22:51 More in News & Politics

  • Politics: Obama Addresses CIA Employees - NYTimes.com/Video

    TheNewYorkTimes
    21 Apr 2009 | 9:13 am
    Politics: Obama Addresses CIA Employees - NYTimes.com/Video President Obama addressed CIA employees Monday. (Video: NBC) www.msnbc.msn.com Related article: tinyurl.com From: TheNewYorkTimes Views: 6411 28 ratings Time: 19:42 More in News & Politics
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    Tag: Activism

  • Will Tuttle on Animal Activism, episode #347

    TheRawFoodWorld
    12 Jan 2010 | 9:22 pm
    Will Tuttle on Animal Activism, episode #347 www.therawfoodworld.com, Today we happen to run into Will Tuttle who is the author of the 'World Peace Diet'. Will Tuttle discusses about how eating animal protein is not an ideal way to go. From: TheRawFoodWorld Views: 1566 42 ratings Time: 10:01 More in People & Blogs

  • Activism for Change - Sh. Yassir Fazaga

    khalifahklothing
    21 Dec 2009 | 7:37 am
    Activism for Change - Sh. Yassir Fazaga Sheikh Yassir Fazaga shares with us the examples of earlier prophets and our prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all) and how they dealt with "Spiritual Awakening" and "Social Reform" of the community. We have a moral obligation that when we see the ills around us, these are not for us to curse, these ills are for us to address and try to fix as much as we can. If what you believe in does not impact how you behave, then what you believe in is not important. We can say all the nice things we want to say about Islam, but unless we put…

  • Corporatism rules the US, target corporations with activism!

    tenebroust
    31 Oct 2009 | 8:12 pm
    Corporatism rules the US, target corporations with activism! The Stench of Truth 238 Pick some corporations that have victimized you and make them a target. Don't buy their products, don't use their services, and tell everyone you know to stop doing it too. Write letters, stage pickets, call regulators to lodge complaints. Do everything in your power to hit these people in every way. Go after Goldman Sachs, Chase, Morgan Stanley and other Wall Street barons. Demand that people be held accountable like any Joe would be. If Timothy Geithner was not picked for treasury secretary and was…

  • HeadCount - Nas and Damian Marley Talk About Musical Activism

    MyHeadCount
    12 Aug 2009 | 1:12 pm
    HeadCount - Nas and Damian Marley Talk About Musical Activism Nas and Damian Marley, performing together this summer for the first time in anticipation of the pair's forthcoming LP "Distant Relatives," speak with headcount at Camp Bisco 8 in Mariaville, NY about the significance of music. www.islanddefjam.com www.headcount.org From: MyHeadCount Views: 4510 11 ratings Time: 01:56 More in Nonprofits & Activism

  • Finding an Ecovillage / Sacred Activism

    peakmoment
    4 Jul 2009 | 3:24 pm
    Finding an Ecovillage / Sacred Activism Peak Moment 148: In this two-part program, Diana Leafe Christian, author of Finding Community: How to join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community, zeros in on how to find an ecovillage. Once you determine what you want, what are the criteria to explore whether a particular ecovillage is a good fit for you? www.ecovillagenews.org In part two, Bob Banner, publisher of Hopedance magazine, shares insights from Andrew Harvey's Sacred Activism workshop "What breaks your heart, what you really love, is the thing that will sustain you. That's what…
 
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    uncomfortably numb

  • Links for 2010-02-06 [del.icio.us]

    soul
    My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance - Top 10 Skanky Reality Shows - TIME Talking Points Memo - 25 Best Blogs 2009 - TIME Full List - 25 Best Blogs 2009 - TIME The winter of America's discontent - latimes.com FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited | Politics and Law - CNET News FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited - CNET News Internet providers should keep logs for two years, says head of FBI's digital evidence section. But what about the practical and privacy issues? Blue Mass. Group:: Why I'm Running

  • Links for 2010-02-03 [del.icio.us]

    soul
    Toke of the Town - Man Who Disrupted Flight Claims He Ate Cannabis Cookies

  • Links for 2010-01-31 [del.icio.us]

    soul
    Puzzle Games, Action Puzzles and Free Jigsaw Puzzle

  • The Petition to End Drug Prohibition

    soul
    30 Jan 2010 | 5:37 am
    The Petition to End Drug Prohibition The Petition to End Drug Prohibition www.enddrugprohibition.com Students for Sensible Drug Policy is committed to providing education on harms caused by the War on Drugs, working to involve youth in the political process, and promoting an open, honest, and rational discussion of alternative solutions to our nation's drug problems   http://www.enddrugprohibition.com/?sid=5&sub=1 [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Links for 2010-01-26 [del.icio.us]

    soul
    Blinkies - a set on Flickr Note Paper blogger template
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    Zennie62.com

  • Craig Ferguson joins Twitter as @CraigyFerg

    Zennie Abraham
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:48 am
    Late night talk show host Craig Ferguson of The Craig Ferguson Show has discovered Twitter. His name is called @CraigyFerg and his first set of tweets are a doozy. Craig Ferguson let go with a bunch of sentences that mirror his monologues in their go-for-broke style. Here's a sample: I follow no one. Except Dave I suppose. Or the local news. Or the smell of ham about 6 hours ago from mobile web Twitter has better lighting than my show. about 6 hours ago from mobile web Oh this is too awesome. Fuckity fuckity heck. (don't want to go too far) about 6 hours ago from mobile web Can I say fuck on…

  • Rick Perry gets Sarah Palin's help against GOPs Kay Bailey Hutchison

    Zennie Abraham
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:31 am
    Sarah Palin's on the GOP campaign trail. Palin's giving Texas Governor Rick Perry help by showing up at his event held in Cypress, Texas (a Houston suburb) on Super Bowl Sunday. According to the Austin American Statesman, Palin is supporting a man - Perry - against the legendary Kay Bailey Hutchison in the March GOP Primary. That should be a wake-up call to women in politics: Sarah Palin does not support a woman, even if she's in the GOP and unless she's a Couch Potato Conservative. But even then, there's no evidence that Sarah Palin will go the extra mile for a woman conservative candidate.

  • The Bachelor Drama

    Some Red Cat
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:45 pm
    The Bachelor season is coming to a close! With the swift and sudden departure of Ali (the front runner, in my opinion), We are left with Vienna, Tenley, and Gia. But given the scenes from next week and this bloggers reality TV intuition, this wasn't the last time we'll be seeing Ali... Keep your eyes and remote set to The Bachelor next Monday night.

  • Saints Tracy Porter pick-six has missed illegal block-in-back of Manning

    Zennie Abraham
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:09 pm
    Profootballtalk.com reports that missed amid the celebration after and the speed of New Orleans Saints Defensive Back Tracy Porter's interception of Indy Colts' QB Peyton Manning's pass, and the 74 yard touchdown return was an illegal block-in-the-back committed by Saints Defensive End Will Smith on Manning. In this video below, we can see Smith (91) running toward Manning who had a chance to catch Porter. Smith clearly hit Manning in the back, but it wasn't called. Mike David Smith is correct. Someone needs to explain this missed call. As Smith observes: If Smith had been flagged, it would…

  • Sarah Palin gives hand job to Tea Party Movement

    Zennie Abraham
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:30 pm
    Former Alaska Governor and Fox News Analyst Sarah Palin appeared before the National Tea Party Movement Convention in Nashville, February 6th, and gave a speech she was paid over $100,000 for. To effectively deliver the oratory, Former Governor Palin used what were once called "crib notes" scribbled in the palm of her left hand. Thus, Sarah Palin used her hand as part of the job she was hired to do for the Tea Party Movement. The finding, noted in several blogs, took the Internet by storm on Monday. Sarah Palin wrote the words "Energy", "Tax" and "Lift American Spirits" in that order in…
 
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    Politics in the Zeros

  • On Tea Partiers

    Bob Morris
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:04 am
    Sue freaked when she read the previous post because she thought I agreed with the majority of the Tea Party’s positions. No, I do not agree with everything he said. Not hardly. But on some things, sure. Right now the Tea Partiers are mostly inchoate with a right-wing slant. Sooner or later they will probably find a leader and a voice. If the left doesn’t get involved in this process now, then the result could be scary right wing, zenophobic, racist (and heavily armed.) But it doesn’t have to be that way. That’s my point. Their anger is based on real grievances, and…

  • The Tea Party 600: Canaries in the political coal mine?

    Bob Morris
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:15 am
    HuffPo Yes, some of the Tea Party movement is ugly. Yes, some of the Tea Party movement is race-based. Yes, some of the Tea Party movement is being bankrolled by conservative political groups — and all of it promoted by Fox News. But focusing only on those elements obscures the fact that some of what’s fueling the movement is based on a completely legitimate anger directed at Washington and the political establishment of both parties. Think of the Tea Party movement as a boil alerting us to the infection lurking under the skin of the body politic. Precisely. And they aren’t…

  • The Fed’s “exit plan” is just another secret gift to Wall Street

    Bob Morris
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:15 pm
    And now it’s going to get even better to be a bank. Why? Because the first part of the Fed’s exit plan will reportedly be to increase the amount of interest the Fed pays on “excess reserves.”

  • Solar-powered plug-in charging stations

    Bob Morris
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:37 pm
    Carbon Day Automotive plans to roll them out nationwide. Users can access all info, like billing and locations, off mobile devices.

  • Floating upside-down underwater skyscraper

    Bob Morris
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:15 pm
    It would be a fine abode, especially if oceans rise, threatening shore towns. Look out your window at whales. But how would it handle hurricanes and tsunamis? Hmmm.
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    Democratic Strategist

  • The Mythical Supermajority

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am
    Chris Bowers has an OpenLeft post about the futility of seeking a dependable filibuster-proof Senate supermajority. While Dems may be only one vote away from achieving a filibuster-proof supermajority on health care reform, Bowers crunches some numbers and concludes that...

  • Is Obama Defying Public Opinion?

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:53 am
    One of the things you hear often from conservatives these days is that President Obama is stubbornly pursuing his "liberal" or "socialist" agenda despite the large and growing opposition of the American people. Nate Silver of 538.com quite naturally wants...

  • Chess Game Behind Health Care Summit

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:38 am
    In his article, "GOP Wary of Pitfalls in Obama's Health Care Summit," AP's Charles Babbington provides insights into the strategic implications of President Obama's bipartisan health care summit on Feb. 25th. From the lede: Even as Republicans publicly welcome President...

  • The Landrieu Landslide

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:16 pm
    Much of the nation is looking happily at New Orleans today in celebration of the Saints' Super Bowl victory, in no small part as a vindication of that battered city's spirit in the long wake of Hurricane Katrina. But New...

  • Palin's Saturday Night Live

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    If you didn't watch Sarah Palin's speech at the National Tea Party Convention on Saturday night, you should definitely give it a gander. It was in some respects an unprecedented opportunity for her: a prepared text (obviously her best format),...
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    Ben Smith's Blog

  • Obama's briefing

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:56 am
    Obama answers media grumbles about his not doing press conferences by showing up in the press room. The message of the day seems to be a general openness to bipartisanship, but he's still talking health care. The news that Anthem Blue Cross was raising premiums in California "is just a preview of coming attractions," he says. A bit more from Alex Burns: Asked by Fox's Major Garrett about starting over on health care, Obama says there are "some core goals that have to be met," like costs and deficits. "We cannot deal with our deficits and debt long term unless we get a…

  • Gay lieutenant back on duty

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:46 am
    Here's some rather dramatic symbolism in the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" fight: Lt. Dan Choi, who has become a poster boy for the repeal movement while fighting his discharge tells a gay blog that he's been called back up, and sends pictures to prove it. Writes Jeff Sheng: Apparently, Lt. Choi's commander has always been in full support of him, and even after Lt. Choi came out on The Rachel Maddow Show, his commander did not press for his discharge. The military did eventually serve Lt. Choi a discharge notification - essentially firing him from his job, but he was allowed to fight this…

  • Steele hints at racial disparity

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:41 am
    Jonathan Martin wrote a while ago about how one of the things that appealed to the GOP about selecting Michael Steele makes it near-impossible for them, of all people, to fire him: His race. And Steele seems willing to use it to fire a warning shot at critics, in an interview with the Washingtonian. I don’t see stories about the internal operations of the DNC that I see about this operation. Why? Is it because Michael Steele is the chairman, or is it because a black man is chairman?

  • Huck strong in Ala.

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:43 am
    We got a look at a new poll, out today, of just over 1,000 Alabama Republicans.  That's a good-sized sample for a state survey, and the results are a bit contra all the recent Palin buzz. Huck remains formidable among social conservatives, particularly in his native South, and should not be counted out of a '12 race. In a reminder of his strength with social conservatives, Mike Huckabee leads his nearest GOP competitor by 10 percent, according to a new poll of Alabama Republicans. Thirty-three percent of Alabama Republicans polled support the former Arkansas governor to win the 2012…

  • McAuliffe's bid: 'No political implication'

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am
    This time, to buy a Virginia paper factory. The Times-Dispatch reports: McAuliffe said the proposal is not tied to a possible repeat bid for governor in 2013; that he is only doing as a private investor what he emphasized during his run for the Democratic nomination last June: focusing on creating so-called green jobs. "I would be doing this, governor or no governor," McAuliffe said yesterday -- the eve of a visit to the plant this afternoon by Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, and his top economic advisers. "There's no political implication."
 
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    TradePub: Government

  • Government Video

    1 Feb 2010 | 12:20 am
    Government Video serves A/V professionals in the public services including:Federal GovernmentState/County/City GovernmentPublic InstitutionsPrime ContractorsIntegrators/Dealers/VARsSystems Designers & InstallersManufacturers/Manufacturers RepsIndependent TeleproductionPost ProductionDuplication/Multimedia/Animation & Graphics HousesConsulting Firms/ServicesOthers Allied In The FieldRequest Free!

  • Planning a DoD UID Bar Code Marking System

    27 Jan 2010 | 3:50 pm
    The Item Unique Identification (IUID) Program aims to improve asset management by marking items delivered to the DoD with unique item identifiers. It's up to contractors working with the DoD to determine the best way to mark their products. This white paper helps by:Summarizing the IUID program requirementsExplaining the leading options for compliance markingPresenting the advantages and limitations of using certain types of labeling productsProviding an overview of what to look for in an IUID label printing systemRequest Free!

  • InformationWeek Government Newsletter

    15 Jan 2010 | 3:50 pm
    Delivered to your inbox every Thursday, you will learn about the latest technologies, the latest legislative developments, career issues, case studies and more.Request Free!

  • Technology Solutions Designed with One Goal in Mind

    12 Jan 2010 | 9:20 am
    Every issue is loaded with the latest industry trends and Dell Solutions and products geared to your needs. Sign up today for Dell email updates!Request Free!

  • Construction Distribution

    8 Jan 2010 | 11:50 am
    Features include perspectives from the distributor, customer and supplier. In addition it focuses on the many aspects involved in running a construction distribution business.Request Free!
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    Right Side of the Rainbow

  • First Massachusetts, now Illinois?

    Paul
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am
    According to the New York Times, Democrats now worry that the Senate seat formerly held by Barack Obama “might be picked off by Republicans in November.”

  • Is a terror attack on the U.S. imminent?

    Paul
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:10 pm
    New York Times: “America’s top intelligence official told lawmakers on Tuesday that Al Qaeda and its affiliates had made it a high priority to attempt a large-scale attack on American soil within the next six months.”

  • The health care debate is over, and Democrats know it

    Paul
    1 Feb 2010 | 8:40 pm
    They’ll still yammer about passing a bill, but not to worry. The Democrats are merely keeping up appearances for the benefit of their base. It’s over.

  • Justice Alito speaks truth to power

    Paul
    28 Jan 2010 | 6:30 am
    What Obama said was, of course, not true; corporations, whether domestic or foreign, are still prohibited from making contributions to political campaigns. And foreign corporations are still prohibited from airing political commercials. The president might benefit from reading the court’s opinion.

  • ObamaCare is dead

    Paul
    19 Jan 2010 | 10:30 pm
    Ding dong. Even Barney Frank says so. And a Democratic senator — a senator only because his opponent stepped in the “macaca” — raises the white flag. ADDED: Sen. Evan Bayh, D-IN: Okay, nobody panic! It’s just catastrophe! Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-CT: I wonder, how fast can I backpedal?
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    Bob McCary Writes

  • Should We Party Like It’s 1999?

    BobMcCarty
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:19 am
    Should we party like it’s 1999?  Probably not now. On March 29, 1999, MSNBC aired the promo below which contained a question many didn’t want to consider:  “The Dow hits 10,000.  Will it continue to soar or will it sour?” As the Dow hovers precariously close to the 10,000 range, the more-likely question about the stock market [...]

  • Pam Geller Buries Libs on ‘Joy Behar Show’

    BobMcCarty
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:37 am
    To date, I’ve never mentioned Joy Behar or Ron Reagan Jr. on this blog and hope never to mention either again.  When they have their brainless heads handed to them by Atlas Shrugs founder and editor Pam Geller, however, I had to showcase the moment here.  Watch below as they discuss Sarah Palin, Ronald Reagan [...]

  • The Separated Beach: Tel Aviv

    BobMcCarty
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:19 am
    A worldly relative shares photos with me on a regular basis.  Today, I thought I would share one of them, a photo of the point of entry to “The Separated Beach” in Tel Aviv, Israel.  Note the sign which designates separate bathing times for men and women.  Click here or on the image above for [...]

  • Liberal Veterans Group Stretches Truth in TV Spot

    BobMcCarty
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:52 pm
    Recently, VoteVets.org began running a television commercial designed to tear down Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) as he seeks the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-Mo.).  Unfortunately for the folks from the liberal group purporting to represent veterans, my Kansas City friend Bungalow Bill did some research and found several holes [...]

  • Congressman John Murtha Dead at 77

    BobMcCarty
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:20 pm
    Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) has died at the age of 77 after succumbing to an infection following gall bladder surgery a few weeks ago. Aside from the fact that he served his country as a Marine in Vietnam, I can’t say that I liked him much.  Still, his passing is newsworthy. Congressman Murtha first found its way [...]
 
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    FiveFeetOfFury

  • How you (and a fellow Tweeter) can win $1000 each from Sponsored Tweets

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:35 am
    My latest post at ProTwit looks at Sponsored Tweets latest contest.

  • The War of the Poses: Priscilla Wright

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:02 am
    She was Playboy's Miss March 1966. That's when Playboy's women really did look the "the girl next door" -- whose clothes had accidentally fallen off. I say we make Priscilla Wright the new Bettie Page. (The rest of the pictorial is obviously not safe for work.)

  • 'The Who's Pete Townsend: not the Left's fool'

    9 Feb 2010 | 2:50 am
    See. Told ya.

  • Glenn Beck mention sends 900+ page history book from 2004 to #1

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:55 am
    Heh. (Includes video of the surprisingly engaging author at a recent Tea Party.) Related. PS: this just in -- the (other) Freakonomics guy writes: A few weeks back, I was a guest on Glenn Beck’s radio show. Something interesting happened before we went on the air. This was the only time I’d ever done an interview and even had someone ask about the book I happened to have with me at the time, much less want to read it, and then read some others. I was pretty impressed. Beck has an awful lot of fans, but he has a lot of detractors too — and my sense is that those detractors…

  • Line of the day

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:16 am
    Jay Currie: Of course the Times could not be bothered doing the digging itself…instead it reports stories from the Telegraph and the London times… Perhaps the New York Times has become a blog. Related: Finally— I’ve been asked a bunch of times whether I’m worried Gothamist won’t have anything left to curate once the Times goes out of business. But I’m not— first of all, new billionaires seem to roll up every year with their vanity media products, dumping tons of new content at our doorstep. Rupert’s new retread of the New York Sun has got…
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    I Hate the Media

  • Minnesota mystery: Who paid for the George Bush “Miss me yet?” billboard?

    Editor
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:47 am
    There’s a billboard just outside the contradictorily-named town of Wyoming, Minnesota. It features a photo of a laughing George W. Bush and a headline that says, “Miss me yet?” But who paid to have the billboard posted? That’s the question being asked in the Land of 10,000 Lakes today. Source: NPR Related posts:Stars and CEOs suddenly discover that Obama is cold and inhospitable, miss George Bush Minnesota elected a senator they really don’t like very much Miss California loses Miss USA title because she doesn’t believe in gay marriage

  • The Super Bowl commercial Google didn’t run, but should have

    Editor
    9 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am
    We’re manly men here at IHateTheMedia.com and that Google Parisian love story Super Bowl commercial didn’t put any tears in our eyes. None at all. It was just a couple specs of dust, that’s all. On the other hand, here’s the manly man version of the commercial Google didn’t run, but should have. Congratulations to the guys at Slate V who created it. Related posts:Tebow commercial runs during Super Bowl: So what was all the controversy about? We’re not sure which Super Bowl commercial was best, but it’s clear which one was worst Pro-abortion group says Tebow Super Bowl…

  • We’re not sure which Super Bowl commercial was best, but it’s clear which one was worst

    Editor
    9 Feb 2010 | 1:30 am
    The Census Bureau wasted $2.5 million tax dollars to run one thirty second commercial during the Super Bowl. We can only assume they wanted to run as many spots as Bud, but held back out of respect for the new austerity program the President talked about during his State of the Union Address. As if pounding $2.5 million down a rat hole wasn’t bad enough, the commercial was easily the most remarkably dull, mind-numbingly unintelligible commercial of the day. Your tax dollars at work. Related posts:The Super Bowl commercial Google didn’t run, but should have Pro-abortion group says…

  • If we’re not mistaken, Ms. Pelosi, the word you’re looking for is “negroes”

    Editor
    9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    For our money, there’s nothing – absolutely nothing – more entertaining than watching Nancy Pelosi speak extemporaneously. The woman is fearless. No teleprompter. Not net. And usually no sense whatsoever. Here she discusses the events that followed the death of FDR and how black Americans…or whatever they were called in those days…lined the tracks to view the train carrying his body. Just imagine the howls of righteous indignation that would have emanated from the loony left had a Republican made this comment. Nicely done, Madame Speaker, nicely done. Related posts:Pelosi tortures…

  • Fox News rescues Tom Daschle from snow storm. What were they thinking?

    Editor
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:30 am
    We’re not sure why former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle was out driving in the blizzard that hit Washington, DC this weekend, but driving he was. Until he g