Well, it’s been a long day. If you follow me on Twitter you know all about it. Made longer by listening to Rush Limbaugh ramble on for over an hour without a cogent through line, with my friends over at Media Matters capturing a special moment. There’s nothing worse than an egotistical speaker rambling on [...]
Archive | February, 2009
Why is Obama Talking about ‘Clean Coal’?
–updated– Psssst… Hey, Mr. President, there is no such thing as “clean coal.” It makes the Reality Coalition‘s new ad hilarious, but then it would be. It’s done by the famous Coen brothers. The message is not, but it’s hard to permeate the deniers’ world. Even Obama mentioned “clean coal” in his Tuesday speech. Silly [...]
GOP: The Party of Rush
It’s true and it has been for many years. Republicans won’t do anything not sanctioned by Rush Limbaugh. When they offend him they apologize on bended knee. But just look where it’s gotten them. They’ve lost the House. They’ve lost the Senate. President Obama was put into office with historic numbers. Democrats won Virginia, Indiana, [...]
Secretary Gates: ‘No one involved in the process has referred to the troops going in as ‘a surge.’
Just finished a media call with Defense Secretary Gates. He’s sure no Donald Rumsfeld. But then again President Obama welcomes information and as much transparency as possible, especially following his address from Camp Lejeune. I had to chuckle at the correspondent from Fox News Radio, who asked a particularly obtuse question straight out of Sean [...]
Commander in Chief Obama in Action
In a pitch perfect address at Camp LeJeune, in front of battle hardened Marines, President Obama not only announced the plan for withdrawal from Iraq, but took the opportunity to reach into the heart of the military culture to tell the men and women he leads that he is their commander in chief and will [...]
Obama Announces Iraq Troop Withdrawal
–updated– The announcement will be made at Camp LeJeune. A portion of President Obama’s remarks now in progress (12:22 p.m. eastern): [...] Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end. As we carry out this drawdown, my highest priority will be the safety [...]
Standing Against Holder on Resurrecting ‘Assault Weapons Ban’
I’m beginning to wonder about A.G. Eric Holder’s priorities, not to mention his knowledge base of weaponry. Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi have this one exactly right. Any attempt to resurrect the “assault weapons ban” should be opposed, because it’s absolutely ludicrous. … “Senator Reid would oppose an effort (to) reinstate the ban if the [...]
Clinton to Middle East as Fatah-Hamas Turn to Unity Gov.
What timing, especially since, according to Marc Lynch today, Fatah and Hamas have agreed in principle on a unity government. Hear that Bibi? [...] The details of the proposed “National Accordance” government [al-tawafuq al-watani] remain vague, and everyone expects hard bargaining to come. The proposed reconciliation is to include rebuilding the PLO, holding new Parliamentary [...]
CPAC: Republicans on Parade
Classic Tancredo review of Jindal’s speech, compliments of Think Progress. Michael Steele had a different view, saying he did a “friggin awesome job.” He then offered Gov. Jindal some “slum love.” You can’t make this stuff up. CPAC started yesterday and will go through Saturday. Live streaming for those interested. The site also has a [...]
AIPAC Crowd Loses One
This is a good thing. Laura Rozen broke the story originally and explains the kerfuffle. Senator Feinstein, among others, have been given the word. Charles (Chas) Freeman, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has been selected as chairman of the National Intelligence Council. Politico has the unclassified memo. His previous Saudi Arabia gig, though not [...]
More Trouble for Burris
From the Chicago Sun-Times: The son of embattled Sen. Roland Burris is a federal tax deadbeat who landed a $75,000-a-year state job under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich five months ago, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
‘Missing’ Women
Site spotlight today is UN Dispatch, which is published by my good friend Peter Daou. UNICEF offers ways that you can make a difference: “This year alone, more than 500,000 women will die during pregnancy or childbirth. That’s one woman missing every minute of every day. We call these women ‘missing’ because their deaths could [...]
Obama’s Gamble
–updated– Here comes the budget. It’s staggering. Everyone is opining. Few understand it, including on Capitol Hill. Most Americans are somewhere between clueless and furious with no one giving them anything they can bank on. My guides continue to be Paul Krugman, Maria Bartiromo and Jim Cramer. Meanwhile, where is Tim Geithner? The broad outline [...]
Republicans At War Within
Rush discovered, to his shock evidently, that he’s got a listener gender gap. The man who coined “feminazi” and “info-babe” didn’t have a clue. His rationalization was that if he came out and changed his pro life stance all would be fixed. To help he had a “women’s summit.” I listened to it. Think Progress [...]
Sitting in George Washington’s Pew
It’s Ash Wednesday. So it was quite a delight to find myself walking on to the grounds of an historic church. But I never expected to be escorted over to sit in what is called George Washington’s pew. Though eventually whenever I move to a new area I always begin by scouting out churches, those [...]
TM Must Reads
THE 21st century world offers ways to tweak your appearance, or alter it altogether, with women finally able to combat directly the comparison that’s always been around. Men look distinguished as they age, while women look old, unattractive, or to use Rush Limbaugh’s favorite comment, who wants to look at a woman with wrinkles? The 2012 plastic surgery statistics are out and the American Society of Plastic Surgery tells the story.
The real question about Hillary is this: When people take a new look at her in the coming years, will they see the past or the future — Mrs. Clinton or Madam President? – Maureen Dowd IT’S A classic front page from Huffington Post, coupled with a post by Jason Linkins, which details what’s been going on.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy “Here’s what nobody is telling you: Find a husband on campus before you graduate. Yes, I went there.
“Norma Rae is a survivor and for the first time in her life she’s got a chance to become something more… a winner.” – Promo for “Norma Rae” CRITICS like Anne-Marie Slaughter, but especially Maureen I-Love-My-Pearls Dowd, and others [most of whom didn't read the book or do their homework] who are blaming Sheryl Sandberg for being a billionaire Ivy League graduate, while accusing her of letting corporations and government off the hook, are missing a major point.
Great sex doesn’t always just happen. Sometimes, it takes a little planning, especially if — like many Americans — you’ve been in a bit of a sex rut. Do some prep work by turning your bedroom into a love nest: Make the bed (with new, or at least clean, sheets), tidy up, light a candle or two, and queue up a sexy playlist on your iPod.
“You Don’t Own Me” PSA -Official from You Don't Own Me on Vimeo. WHO DOESN’T know the song “You Don’t Own Me,” sung by Leslie Gore? The movie First Wives Club helped to reignite the relevancy of the song.
“Last night I interviewed Jill Stein the presidential candidate for the Green Party on this show. And I confess right now, I should have asked her to just get out of the race.” – Jennifer Granholm, “The War Room” [Current TV] THE ARGUMENT Jennifer Granholm makes above is a tactic that no longer fits the times.
“With that drum magazine, he could have gotten off 50, 60 rounds, even if it was semiautomatic, within one minute,” Chief Oates said. [New York Times] IN THE GAPING MAW of our leadership vacuum stands Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates, whose resolve, vulnerability and humility inside the vortex of a man made hell revealed what nobody in Congress or either political party has shown in decades. Leadership without regard to anything but his own duty to the people, which included the cops in the eye of volcanic carnage.
“Rick Doblin has done a lot for the field, but he is more of a populist,” Grob says. “We need careful and controlled scientific studies showing the efficacy of these drugs so funding can continue.” Broader awareness of these sorts of end-of-life psychedelic studies could be good for everyone, the researchers say.
*updated below* So much for keep calm and carry on, what Joe Scarborough proclaims to be his motto. It was the weirdest one-on-one back and forth with a high profile talking head imaginable. It makes high school look mature.
**UPDATED** Would we be any worse off with Stephen Colbert as president? I doubt it. Politifact has watched the video “(repeatedly!
Despite rising public concern about the federal budget deficit, Americans favor keeping Social Security and Medicare benefits as they are rather than taking steps to reduce the budget deficit (by 60% vs. 32%). – Public Wants Changes in Entitlements, Not Changes in Benefits This is starting early, so it’s time to revisit the facts.
“If we can prove that a biological attack originated in a country that attacked us, then all bets are off.” – Sect. Hillary Clinton Women can do it, too.
The interview with Obama by George Stephanopoulos wasn’t nearly as contentious as the interview with the Edwardses. No Republican talking points from Stephanopoulos yesterday, like when he accused Edwards of abandoning the troops with this beauty: “Do you think the Democrats should be saddled with the idea of completely cutting off funding for the troops?” Or this one: “You know, a lot of Democrats still in the Senate think that your position here is cynical political theater.
Recent Comments