Month: September 2011
-
Turkey Seeks To Create A New Power Axis In The Middle East
On the eve of the United Nations General Assembly session that is likely to stoke plenty of tension in the Middle East, Turkey seems to want to take the region in a very different direction: ANKARA, Turkey — A newly assertive Turkey offered on Sunday a vision of a starkly realigned Middle East, where the…
-
Obama’s Wimpy Debt Reduction Plan
As more details roll in on President Obama’s millionaire tax hike, it’s looking like it was drawn up by J. Wellington Wimpy: “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”
-
Does The 2012 Election Really Matter? Probably Not As Much As You Think
The cable networks and the political parties will tell you otherwise, but the 2012 isn’t quite as important as they’re saying.
-
“Soaking the Rich” in Perspective
Some perspective on “soaking the rich.”
-
Most Tax Breaks Go To Middle Class Households, Not “The Rich” Or Corporations
We won’t solve our fiscal problems by soaking “the rich.”
-
“We’ll Fight Against America For A Thousand Years If We Have To”: The Folly Of Afghanistan
The U.S. War in Afghanistan sounds disturbingly similar to the Soviet one.
-
Michele Bachman’s Connection To The Company That Makes Gardasil’s Only Competitor
Is there another explanation for Michele Bachmann’s decision to keep bringing Rick Perry’s HPV vaccine order up?
-
Former Illinois Senator, And Republican Moderate, Charles Percy Dies At 91
Charles Percy, who was one of the stalwarts of the moderate “Rockefeller” wing of the Republican Party, which pretty much died off after the 1980 election, has died at the age of 91: Charles H. Percy, the wonder boy from Illinois, president of Bell & Howell at 29, a United States senator at 47, and…
-
How Many Continents Are There?
The answer might not be what you think it is: H/T: Ezra Klein
-
Palestinians To Go Forward With U.N. Statehood Resolution
Foolishly, the Palestinians are going forward with their effort to get Palestinian statehood recognized by the United Nations.
-
You Can Be Compassionate Without Supporting Big Government
Contrary to what Eugene Robinson and Paul Krugman argue today, compassion does not require one to support government social welfare programs.
-
Quote Of The Day: Get Off My Lawn, Kid Edition
“It’s our forebears,” said Malia Alexander, 24, interviewed on a recent night at the Black Lodge, an all-ages club next to Interstate 5. “It’s kind of my dad’s music.” – From a New York Times article on Seattle 20 years after the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind
-
Rick Perry’s Views Supported By Republicans, Not So Much By Independents
Rick Perry is the Republican frontrunner largely because he holds views that are widely supported within the party. Those same views could pose a real problem for him in the General Election, though: In a hypothetical general election matchup, Perry trails President Barack Obama among the poll’s entire sample, 49 percent to 40 percent, about…
-
CIA Launches Investigation Of Work With NYPD
Last month, we learned that the Central Intelligence Agency has spent the last ten years aiding the New York City Police Department in anti-terror efforts, with no small degree of controversy. Now, The New York Times reports that the CIA has launched an internal investigation of its involvement with the NYPD: WASHINGTON — The Central…
-
Bioethicists Offer $11,000 Reward If Michele Bachmann Can Prove Her Claims About Gardisil
The reaction in the medical community to Michele Bachmann’s claim that she met a woman whose daughter now suffers from mental retardation due to receiving the HPV vaccine has been overwhelmingly negative. Two scientists, though, are telling Bachmann to put up or shut up: A University of Minnesota bioethicist is offering $1,000 for medical proof…
-
Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Resigns Over Global Warming
Ivar Giaever, the 1973 winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, has resigned from the American Physical Society over its declaration that “global warming is occurring” and that “the evidence is incontrovertible.”
-
What Explains The Rise In Public Distrust In Government Institutions?
Far from being an existential crisis, the recent rise in public distrust in government is easily explained.
-
President Obama’s Jobs Bill Would Make It Illegal To Refuse To Hire The Unemployed
One provision of the President’s jobs bill would give an ill-advised right to the unemployed.
-
Three Arguments Contra the Electoral College
A book could be written on this subject, but let me suggest the following as a good place to start
-
James Carville To Obama: Time To Get Tough And Fire Some People
James Carville has some advice for Barack Obama. It boils down to “be like Bill Clinton.”
-
Congress Could Make Facebooking at Work a Felony
“Congress Could Make Facebooking at Work a Felony,” Rebecca Freeman argues at Atlantic Wire. “Imagine that President Obama could order the arrest of anyone who broke a promise on the Internet.” That’s what The Wall Street Journal‘s Orin Kerrthinks the latest cyber-security legislation will lead to: An assault on checking Facebook at work. Today the Senate Judiciary Committee will…
-
FBI Using Anti-Muslim Literature To Train Counterterroism Agents
The FBI has been using some odd materials to train its counterterrorism agents.
-
Did The White House Pressure A General To Change His Testimony To Help A Campaign Donor?
More pay for play at the White House?
-
NATO Support Endures
NATO is still seen as essential by 62 percent of both EU and U.S. respondents, demonstrating that the transatlantic military bond is still, despite a rough decade, firmly entrenched in American and European views of the world.
-
Sgt. Dakota Meyer To Be Awarded Medal Of Honor Today
Later today, President Obama will award the Congressional Medal Of Honor to Sgt. Dakota Meyer, who doesn’t really consider himself a hero: Dakota Meyer doesn’t mind if people call him a hero. He doesn’t really believe it, but he’ll accept the compliment graciously. “It doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t change who I…
-
Looking to the Design of the Electoral College
Of the institutions designed by the Framers, the electoral college is the one that deserves the least amount of defense if one’s defense is predicated on assumptions of the genius of said framers.
-
Pat Robertson: Divorcing A Spouse With Alzheimer’s Disease Is Fine With Me
I may not be the world’s best expert, but this doesn’t sound very Christian to me: Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson told his “700 Club” viewers that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s is justifiable because the disease is “a kind of death.” During the portion of the show where the one-time Republican presidential candidate takes questions…
-
How The Supreme Court Could Punt Ruling On ObamaCare To 2015, Or Later
Last week’s opinions from the Fourth Circuit provide an avenue for the Supreme Court to avoid an early ruling on the individual mandate.
-
Newly Discovered “Super-Earth” Could Support Life
More success in the ongoing hunt for Earth-like planets in other star systems: Astronomers on Monday announced the discovery of 50 new planets circling stars beyond the sun, including one “super-Earth” that is the right distance from its star to possibly have water. “If we are really, really lucky, this planet could be a habitat”…
-
Harry Reid: No Rush On President Obama’s Jobs Bill
The President of the United States is touring the country promoting his jobs bill with shouts of “Pass This Bill” and telling crowds “If you love me, help me pass this bill.” In the Senate, however, even his fellow Democrats aren’t in a rush to get anything passed: Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said…
-
Here’s an Idea (Electoral College Edition)
Why even have an electoral college?
-
Pennsylvania’s Electoral College Reform Plan Is A Good Idea
Allocating Electoral Votes by Congressional District is an idea whose time has come.
-
Pennsylvania Ponders Bold Democrat-Screwing Electoral Plan
Republicans have a plan to wrest half of the Keystone State’s electors from Obama.
-
Attackwatch: It’s Just Politics, Folks
The Obama campaign’s new “Attackwatch” site is the latest Outrage Of The Day
-
Most Educated American Cities
College towns and lily white enclaves top the list of best educated cities.
-
Emails Reveal White House Pressure To Approve Solyndra Loan
Despite previous denials, the White House did in fact intervene in the approval process for a loan to Solyndra.
-
Lawyer Turns To Topless Dancing To Pay The Bills
Times are tough all over: When Carla graduated 10 years ago, she thought her law degree would be a permanent ticket to a high-paying job. But instead of selling her mind, Carla is selling her body. After student loans, debt, a layoff and unemployment battered her bank account, she now finds herself in an almost…
-
Poll: Americans Say Asia More Important To U.S. Interests Than Europe
A new poll shows that Americans are starting to look East.
-
Balancing Civility and Honesty in Online Debate
Is there a trade-off in being polite?
-
Palin Joins Bachmann In Bashing Perry Over HPV Vaccine
In an appearance Monday night on Fox News Channel, Sarah Palin joined in the attacks on Rick Perry over his decision to mandate Garadisil inoculations for all seventh grade girls in Texas: Sarah Palin might have sounded like an ally of Representative Michele Bachmann on Monday night when she assailed an executive order in Texas…
-
Amazon Exploring Idea Of Book Rental Service
Granted I don’t have the business acumen of Jeff Bezos, but this strikes me as an odd idea: Amazon is considering a Netflix-like service that would let people pay an annual fee to get book “rentals,” according to a published report. The Wall Street Journal on Monday said the company has reached out to publishers…
-
Republicans Win Weiner’s Seat, Hold Heller’s
Businessman Bob Turner (R) defeated state Assemblyman David Weprin (D) in the special election for the House seat held by former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner (D). State Sen. Mark Amodei (R) beat state Treasurer Kate Marshall (D) in a special election for the House seat left open by Sen. Dean Heller (R), who was…