altara

2012-01-29T03:02:00.000-08:00

WAIT, WAIT, DON'T TELL ME

The host of this popular public radio program reminded the cast of President Obama's lame joke during the State of the Union address and asked each to think of what dumb joke the next president might try. One suggested that the next president might appear at the event wearing a T-shirt saying " I spent 500 million to get elected and all I got was this stupid Congress"

2012-01-26T09:02:00.000-08:00

WOLF BLITZER TO MODERATE GOP DEBATE

He also runs CNN's Situation Room. Does he have photos or other incriminating evidence on Ted Turner and others?

2012-01-25T02:57:00.000-08:00

Flush with $5 million in new cash from the family of gambling czar Sheldon Adelson, the pro-Newt Gingrich SuperPac, Winning Our Future, has announced it's ad buy.

And if Gingrich wins the presidency the White House grounds will sport the brand new "Capitol Casino".

2012-01-19T09:03:00.000-08:00

Republican Primaries

The main reason that Romney is leading the race for the nomination is not that the conservatives are splitting their vote among other candidates. It is that the other candidates are so woeful..

2012-01-10T12:11:00.000-08:00

Romney. Although not as honestly moderate as 40s candidate Thoma E. Dewey, there is some resemblance to the " the little man on the wedding cake" .

2012-01-08T03:30:00.000-08:00

Heard on news today. The woman running for Taiwan's presidency hopes to improve the low status of women there. Wives do the houswork; men do little more than take out the trash. Barbaric.

2012-01-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

Creating some jobs

Some of our unemployed, or soon to be unemployed, are young people just getting out of school. Finding a job,-almost any job, is extremely difficult. Why not use Americorps, and related organizations, to help alleviate this problem?

The advantages are clear. Since these are existing organizations with existing structures and missions, there are time savings and, more importantly, no new entities need be created. Of course, annual stipends may well need to be increased, longer service may be needed, and funding will be needed.

Such an effort will provide significant employment and will provide hope and a good start on the future of our youth.

2011-12-29T03:24:00.000-08:00

Compromised?

Yesterday, a young reporter stopped in front of our house and asked if he could interview me about a controversial issue. I said OK and he hauled out his video equipment. Then, I noticed the logo on his van. Fox News! The evil network that spreads misinformation. Were my political values being comromised?

I decided not. This was just a local affiliate, the issue was the planned deer culling project, and the reporter assured me that I would not now be required to vote Republican.

2011-12-28T07:34:00.000-08:00

Seeking to Connect, Romney Reveals Quirks

And he also reveals his major weakness: "I'm too perfect".

2011-12-28T03:39:00.000-08:00

Ben Nelson Retiring Ahead Of 2012 Election »

A good news, bad news story. The bad news is that the Democrats will probably lose this Senate seat, and maybe control of the Senate. The good news is that they are rid of this Senator from Nebraska who opposed or undermined many the Democratic initiatives. So what good is control when you have a mole in your midst?

2011-12-26T03:53:00.000-08:00

Suicide Bomber Kills 7 At Baghdad Checkpoint

Al-Qaeda suspected. Another reminder that Al-Qaeda was not in Iraq before the US invasion., but has been there ever since. Mission accomplished.

2011-12-15T11:48:00.000-08:00

"Christine O'Donnell To Endorse Romney"

My condolences.

2011-12-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

Holder Signals Tough Review of New State Laws on Voting

Very good news. Strong legal action has been mostly missing despite the obvious and blatant attempts to limit voting by minorities, young people and others. I'm sure that an effective investigation will uncover evidence and witnesses confirming the Republican conspiracy to suppress voting by certain groups of citizens.

2011-12-13T03:07:00.000-08:00

Romney's $10,000 Bet

A mistake but I don't think that it will prove fatal or even long lasting.

Mitt Romney is the GOP's best bet. Yes, he is not terribly warm and fuzzy, and appears a bit awkward at times. But I doubt that he would walk the beach in wing tips.

2011-12-06T05:10:00.000-08:00

CAIN SUSPENDS CANDIDACY

With Cain gone, for entertainment let's bring back the candidate for The Rent Is Too Damn High Party

2011-12-02T03:47:00.000-08:00

ONE MORE REPUBLICAN DEBATE

We've had 10 Republican nomination debates, mostly interesting and entertaining. Now, one more is scheduled: the one between Herman Cain and his wife. Sadly, it will not be televised

2011-11-28T12:05:00.000-08:00

"Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) will not seek reelection in 2012,"

Barney will be missed - by friend and foe.

2011-11-25T06:48:00.000-08:00

Mexico Finds Second Reference To 2012 Among Mayan Ruins

Why worry about jobs, the European debt crises or the BCS system when it all ends next year?

2011-11-21T03:35:00.001-08:00

Went in ocean for last swim yesterday. (That's last swim for the season, I trust) Air about 72, water about 65

2011-11-17T06:53:00.001-08:00

"Lauren Pierce, the president of the College Republicans at UT Austin, said on Twitter Wednesday that the idea of assassinating President Barack Obama was "tempting." At approximately 2:30 p.m., Pierce posted, "Y'all as tempting as it may be, don't shoot Obama. We need him to go down in history as the WORST president we've EVER had! #2012."

The WORST president in history? This lady obviously knows no history. Maybe she should consult that renown historian, Newt Gingrich.

2011-11-11T03:41:00.001-08:00

Princess Nancy

In last Wednesday's Republican debate, Herman Cain referred to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi as "Princess Nancy". He was widely criticized for this and later said it was a mistake. Some said it was sexist.

Maybe I'm dense, butI just don't get it. Yes, it was flip and a bit disrespectful, but wasn't the reference to Speaker Pelosi's power rather than to personal traits? Would it have been better if the reference had been to Queen Nancy or Czarina Nancy?

2011-11-10T03:50:00.000-08:00

Walmart Wants to Offer Health Care

The nation’s largest retailer and employer now wants to become its largest primary-care provider as well

Well, if anyone can reduce health care costs, Walmart can. I'm eager to see how they do it, since importing doctors and nurses from China would be difficult.

2011-11-10T03:07:00.000-08:00

REPUBLICAN DEBATE

Pundits said that several of these candidates were just one gaffe away from dropping out.

Santorum, Bachmann, Gingrich, and Huntsman did OK.
Cain did well, despite the recent revelations that will probably end his candidacy.
Ron Paul is, well, Ron Paul.
Romney did quite well.

Perry is toast.

2011-11-09T05:31:00.000-08:00

Election

Mississippi Voters Reject Anti-Abortion Measure

Ohio Turns Back a Law Limiting Unions’ Rights

So Ohio's Republican Governor learns that stripping unions of bargaining rights is a crazy idea.

And Mississippi voters knockdown a foolish personhood law. But this anti abortion will probably be pushed by the crazies in other states.

2011-11-07T03:46:00.000-08:00

PERSONHOOD - CORPORATIONS

As stated by Mitt Romney and the Supreme Court, corporations are people, with free speech rights. Do corporations become persons when incorporation papers are signed, or when filed, or at some other time?

2011-11-05T03:51:00.000-07:00

ROMNEY ON ABORTION RIGHTS

"Romney wrote: "I am pro-life and believe that abortion should be limited to only instances of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. I support the reversal of Roe v. Wade,....."

Is that your final answer?

2011-11-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

Mississippi to Vote on 'Personhood' of Fertilized Eggs

Aside from the confusion created (census, birth control, tax dependent), this idea is just plain wrong. We older folks know that life really begins when the kids leave and the dog dies.

2011-11-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

" Perry speech video goes viral"

Probably the end of Mr. Perry's campaign

2011-11-01T05:12:00.000-07:00

Greece Sets Referendum on Latest Europe Aid Deal

A vote on austerity by the people? Sure, they'll vote for lower pay, job loss, and higher taxes.

2011-10-31T03:09:00.000-07:00

2 women accused Herman Cain of inappropriate behavior

Of course, he's still qualified for the Supreme Court.

2011-10-24T04:34:00.000-07:00

More than 80% of registered voters turn out for historic Tunisia elections

Officials in Tunisia made it easy for voters to register and vote. Here, in the cradle of democracy, Republicans are engaged in a political conspiracy to make voting difficult for entire groups of citizens.

2011-10-23T03:41:00.001-07:00

" U.S. Scales Back Diplomacy in Iraq Amid Fiscal and Security Concerns"

This, after we built there the largest and most expensive embassy in the world.

2011-10-22T03:17:00.000-07:00

U.S. Troops to Leave Iraq by Year’s End, Obama Says

What took him so long? The Mission was Accomplished in May 2003.

2011-10-18T03:49:00.000-07:00

Presidential Candidates

I'm not complaining, but it seems that in the last few presidential campaigns oddball candidates have gone mainstream. Instead of launching a 3rd party (Thurmond, Perot) they join the chase for nomination by one of the two major parties. Will we at some point have the equivalent of Herman Cain or Ron Paul against, say, Dennis Kucinich?

2011-10-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

Congress and Abortion - and Miscarriages

They talk about jobs, jobs, jobs, but what does the House bring up for debate and actio? Abortion, and yet another bill to ban federal funding.

Miscarriages are spontaneous abortions. Yes, there is almost always no intentional action by the woman or a doctor. But the result is the same. Since up to 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, why don't all these pro-life people spend more time and effort concentrating on the incidence of miscarriage?

2011-10-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

OCCUPY WALL STREET PROTESTS

The protests spread. Crowds swell. And the stock market goes up. Keep it going, protestors!

2011-10-10T03:07:00.000-07:00

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY!

We were fold that Columbus discovered America. Sounds good but a bit of a stretch since Columbus first landed in the Bahamas and never set foot in the U.S., our "America". Better to say he discovered the Americas. Or the "New World", since the America name came later.

And not really a discovery, which took place centuries earlier by the indigenous peoples It was really a first European "awareness" of these lands.

But, enjoy the day off.

2011-10-08T05:37:00.000-07:00

SUB-ROSA NEWS

Some of the News
That may be True

Andy Rooney Stepping Down

After decades of comment on " 60 Minutes", Andy Rooney signed off on his final segment last Sunday. His spokesman ,Mary Withers, denied that there had been pressure on him to resign. It was Mr. Rooney's decision, she noted, made because he is eager to spend more time with his ancestors.

2011-10-07T04:39:00.000-07:00

LAWRENCE O'DONNELL - HERMAN CAIN

I'm a fan of Lawrence O'Donnell, but I think that last night he was way off on some of the questions he asked Herman Cain, contender for the GOP presidential nomination.

He started with questions regarding Cain's lack of participation in the civil rights movement in the 60s. He was critical of Cain for not leaving college to protest or march. Well, if all African-American left high school or college to descend on Athens, Georgia, that poor town would sink into the ground.

Then Mr. O'Donnell questioned Cain about "avoiding" service in the Viet Nam war. Mr. Cain responded that he had an essential job with the Navy Dept. and a favorable draft number. O'Donnell then pressed on, suggesting that Cain should have volunteered. Volunteer to go to the war in Viet Nam? Really?

2011-10-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

DOMA Defense: Taxpayers On The Hook For $1.5 Million To Defend Law Barring Same-Sex Marriage »

So, make cuts in education, health care, environment protection, etc. while wasting money appealing a decision that this discriminatory law is unconstitutional.

2011-10-04T05:32:00.000-07:00

Obama On Gay Marriage Stance: 'I'm Still Working On It'

What's with all this "working on it"? If Obama kept on just "working on it" with term papers, he never would hav graduated from college.

2011-10-04T03:50:00.000-07:00

BLOCK THE VOTE
New GOP-Led Voter Registration Laws Disenfranchise Millions, Especially Ethnic Minorities

Is there no way to mount a legal challenge to this concerted attempt to impede voting by certain groups? Not an easy task but worth a try to preserve the democratic process.

2011-09-30T04:56:00.000-07:00

Blue skies turn to black
The Sox reach the end of day
The sun has gone down

2011-09-24T03:24:00.000-07:00

SUB-ROSA NEWS

Some of the News
That may be True

GERALDO FINDS FALLEN SATELLITE

Geraldo Rivera locates the major sections of the U.S. satellite in a cave near his farm. The intrepid reporter announced that he plans to display it in the museum he will be opening in his home town.

2011-09-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

Republican Debate Audience Boos Gay Soldier

This, after a prior GOP audience cheered news of a record number of executions. Where do they get theses people?

2011-09-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

Burning Satellite Caught on Camera

No post tomorrow. I'll be busy looking at sky and getting ready to flee.

2011-09-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

Department Of Justice: New Texas Voting Maps Violate Federal Anti-Discrimination Requirements

How about going after voter ID laws and other measures designed to reduce voting by minorities and young people.

2011-09-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

MOVING THE GOAL POSTS
GOP Accused Of Trying To Disenfranchise Opponents With Electoral 'Reforms'

With such a national pattern, with obvious intent, where are the heavy-hitting lawsuits?

2011-09-13T03:17:00.000-07:00

Rick Perry Suffers Lasting Damage On Vaccination Mandate During His Second GOP 2012 Debate .....

"Most significantly, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) went hard after Perry for his 2007 attempt to mandate vaccinations of sixth-grade girls against the human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease and a lead cause of cervical cancer. "

But there were no complaints against the Texas law requiring women to undergo, prior to an abortion, an unwanted, unnecessary medical procedure, a sonogram.

2011-09-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

In Shift, Iran’s President Calls for End to Syrian Crackdown

The pot and the kettle

2011-09-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Republican Debate. Romney won, almost by default. Perry did OK but, as Gail Collins pointed out, do they really want to nominate someone who makes Mitt Romney look clever.

2011-09-06T05:47:00.000-07:00

FYI Over the weekend, I signed up on Americans Elect, an organization that intends to put a candidate, selected by its members, on 2012 presidential ballot in all 50 states. Among its leaders is Mark McKinnon, respected Republican adviser.
Don't know if will be successful, but looks like fun.

2011-09-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Obama Halts EPA Regulation On Smog Standards

The Compromiser-in-Chief is at it again. Whom can I vote for? Or just not vote and default to Republicans?

2011-08-22T03:53:00.000-07:00

"Will ritzy vacation trip up Obama?'

Where's he supposed to go - Newark? Camden? Somalia?

2011-08-18T03:41:00.000-07:00

"The Justice Department is investigating whether Standard & Poor’s rated mortgage securities improperly leading up to the financial crisis"

Duh

2011-08-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

"Rick Perry’s Campaign Slogan: ‘What Harm Could a Governor of Texas Do?’

Lone Star Candidate Kicks Off 2012 Bid" (from Borowitz, a while back)

A Romney win would be bad for the country. His is a Republican. But a Perry win would be positively scary. Would he really make the government inconsequential in our lives, or would we be required to pray daily and wear cowboy boots?

2011-08-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

Rick Perry Squares Off vs. Bachmann In Iowa

Congresswoman Bachmann won the Iowa Straw Poll, but the big news of the weekend was the entrance of Texas Governor into the campaign race. Backmann can't win but Perry or Romney could possibly beat President Obama.

A Romney win would be bad for the country. He is a Republican. But a Perry win would be positively scary. Would he really make the government inconsequential in our lives, or would we be required to pray daily and wear cowboy boots?

2011-08-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Reportedly Gave China Access To Downed Bin Laden-Raid Helicopter

We give money to a country that would do this?

2011-08-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

Leadership and the Oval Office

Many of us wish that President Obama had been a stronger leader during his first 2 years. Be assured, however. that it is much better to have him or a less effective president leading us in the right direction than a strong, effective leader taking the country down the wrong path.

2011-08-09T04:50:00.000-07:00

Breaking fake news (Borowitz)

" Predator Drone Seen Hovering over Standard & Poor's Headquarters Company
Could Be in for Downgrade of its Own, Experts Say"

I can laugh because I have already chosen a good site for my apple selling stand.

2011-08-06T04:23:00.000-07:00

Krugman downgrades S&P

In short, S&P is just making stuff up — and after the mortgage debacle, they really don’t have that right. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/05/sp-and-the-usa/

2011-08-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Mubarak Trial Begins in Egypt

"Egypt’s ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, was wheeled into a courtroom cage in a hospital bed on Wednesday" He is charged with the murder of hundreds of protestors.

President Assad, pay attention!

2011-08-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

Stalemate in Senate Leaves 4,000 Out of Work at F.A.A. Plus tens of thousands construction jobs lost.

Just part of the Republican's focus on jobs, jobs, jobs. Also, U.S. losing over a billion in uncollected taxes. And all of Congress so concerned that they have gone on vacation until after Labor Day.

2011-07-29T04:17:00.000-07:00

N.C. Senate overrides Perdue's veto of abortion bill

The requirements include a 24-hour waiting period, mandated counseling (probably biased) and a forced medical procedure, an ultrasound.

Sad - North Carolina beginning to sound like Kansas.

It defies common sense for Republicans to force on women an unwanted, unnecessary medical procedure while opposing a requirement that people have health insurance.

2011-07-29T03:16:00.000-07:00

SUB-ROSA NEWS

Some of the News
That may be True

CONGRESS PLANS TO DISSOLVE

postponements .... .bitter partisanship ..... calls from John and Eric .....fights over Pell Grants... .....rancor over post office names ...... considering parliamentary system

2011-07-18T03:42:00.000-07:00

Sad. Sad. USA team lost to Japan in World Cup final. Outplayed Japan but in front of goal became gang that couldn't shoot straight.

2011-07-15T05:13:00.000-07:00

"SAN FRANCISCO -- The federal government asked the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday to reconsider its order last week demanding an immediate halt to the enforcement of the ban on openly gay troops in the military."

After Obama;s Justice Dept. made the wise decision not to appeal the court decision invalidating DOMA, it is difficult understand why the administration chose to try to protect the foolish and harmful Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

2011-07-15T03:38:00.000-07:00

Question of the Month

Will the Debt-Ceiling Fairy save us from Eric Cantor and the other Republicans?

2011-07-12T03:04:00.000-07:00

Yao Ming Expected to Retire

The 7 foot 6 center from China has been plagued by injuries the last couple of years. A good guy, he will be missed. As noted on NPR, he had a fine sense of humor:
Asked what was his favorite American song, he replied "The Star Spangled Banner. I listen to it 82 times each year."

2011-07-11T02:39:00.000-07:00

World Cup - Exciting, stunning come-from-behind victory over Brazil by U.S. Women's team. Shades of Miracle at Lake Placid.

2011-07-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

Congressional elections - Not an original idea but for years I have been saying that the terms of U.S. congressional representatives should be 4 years instead of 2. The need to constantly campaign, raise money, and act politically is a serious obstacle to good government.

Interesting to hear on Morning Joe today Dr. Jeffrey Sachs state the same view and note that no other major country has this short term election problem.

2011-06-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

"Deficit talks in danger as Cantor bails

He says Obama must resolve tax issues."

The Republicans say that they will not agree to any sort of tax increase. How do you "resolve" an issue when there is no other side to it? I guess that "resolve" now means "cave-in".

2011-06-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Packs

The photographs of rotting teeth and gums, diseased lungs, and smoke seeping from the throat of a man with a tracheotomy are part of a nine-picture package just released by the Food and Drug Administration.

These horrifying images remind me of giant images of dead fetuses that anti=abortion groups display on large trucks that they bring to political events.

Overbearing, overkill, despicable.

2011-06-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

"North Carolina bill passes. The Woman's Right to Know Act requires women to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion within which time they must view an ultrasound or listen to the heartbeat of the fetus and be given printed information about the risks that may be associated with the procedure."

Please, Governor Perdue, veto this intrusive Act.

2011-06-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

Republican state representatives in North Carolina voted to override Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue's veto of the state budget Wednesday morning, ensuring that a provision to strip all federal and state money from Planned Parenthood will take effect on July 1. North Carolina is now the third state, after Indiana and Kansas, to defund the family planning provider because it also provides abortions.

As a North Carolina resident, "For shame!"

2011-06-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

"The Senate voted 59-40 against advancing a proposal that immediately would repeal a 45-cent-per-gallon excise tax credit for ethanol blenders. The 40 supporters needed 20 more votes to end debate and move the measure along.

The proposal by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., also would have eliminated a 54-cent-per-gallon tariff on imported ethanol."

Again, politics prevails over common sense. We've been spending needless money supporting an environmentally and economically inferior product, corn-based ethanol, while imposing a prohibitive tariff on a superior product, cane-based ethanol from Brazil.

UPDATE June 16 -

Senate votes to end corn ethanol subsidy

Not law yet, but good news. The vote also called for an end to the tariff on imported efhanol.

2011-06-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

Rick Perry for President

On TV crawl: Texas Governor Perry to engage in "thought process" on question of running for President.

A good new idea for him. Or maybe he should just have Texas seceed and run for President of Texas.

2011-06-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

SUB-ROSA NEWS

Some of the News
That may be True

GINGRICH ABANDONS CAMPAIGN; TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF BORA BORA

Newt Gingrich announced today that hewould no longer seek the Republican nomination. fo president. He said that and his wife, Callista, had come to the conclusion that they no longer wished to continue the hectic pace of campaigning.

The former Speaker noted that the short campaigns, warm climate, and tropical seas made the island of Bora Bora well suited to his and Callista's life style.

2011-06-01T13:41:00.001-07:00

Obama Abandons Wilderness Plan

Don't know the details behind this decision, but it looks too much like another abandonment of the causes embraced by President Obama.

Just where is he on environmental and climate change issues? We know that it is difficult or impossible to get legislation to reduce carbon emissions and other needed changes. But where is the bully pulpit on these issues? He should be calling out Republicans (and some Democrats) and mustering public opinion for prompt and meaningful action.

2011-06-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

House Votes Against Raising Debt Ceiling

This is what the debt ceiling vote should be - straight up, just on this issue. But many Democrats joined the Republicans in voting no on raising the ceiling without spending cuts. Don't these Democrats know that the debt ceiling should not be held hostage for the cuts that Republicans want to make?

The ceiling was raised often and automatically over the past decade. To vote against this raise shows that these Democrats are afraid and timid, being unwilling to work to convince their constituents of the proper approach to the debt ceiling issue.

2011-05-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Medicare

I guess that you may have somehow heard that a Democrat won a special election in a heavily Republican congressional district in NY, largely by opposing the Republican proposal for "fixing" Medicare.

Regardless of the politics or ideology, or ads showing grandma being thrown off a cliff, the Republican plan does not make economic sense. You can't save money by takiing millions of people off of the government program with admin costs of about 2% to private companies with admin costs + profits taking over 20% of the money. There are better ways to fix the system.

2011-05-21T04:52:00.000-07:00

Sad. Made all that money on LinkedIn and now the world is ending today.

2011-05-15T04:54:00.000-07:00

Mike Huckabee Not Running For President in 2012

No wonder, since the world will end next Saturday, May 21st.

2011-05-11T04:49:00.000-07:00

ABORTION AND HEALTH CARE LAW

A federal appeals court will be deciding a case attacking the new health care reform law. A major issue is whether the government can require citizens to purchase health care insurance.

Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is expected to sign a law soon requiring a woman seeking an abortion to have a sonogram.

Insurance purchases may well be justified as they are needed to make the health care system work. But can it possibly be lawful to make a woman undergo a medical procedure that is unwanted and unneeded?

2011-05-09T03:50:00.001-07:00

Rick Santorum Wins South Carolina Straw Poll

OMG

2011-05-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Warren Could Be Blocked By Senate GOP Unless Consumer Agency Is Weakened

Outrageous. Elizabeth Warren is clearly the best person for this job. She deserves it; the country deserves it.

2011-05-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Obama Decides Against Releasing Bin Laden Photos

Good decision. Some photos should be placed in the Smithsonian, where any serious person can see them. This should keep them out of circulation.

2011-05-02T06:25:00.000-07:00

We got the bastard! Hooray! Congratulations to President Obama, the intelligence community, the operation planners, and to those who executed the mission so bravely and efficiently.

It was heartening to how so many of our citizens were celebrating excitedly and patriotically last night - at ground zere, at universities, at the White House and other locations.

Morning pundits noted that so many of these celebrants were young people. Of course - like me, the old people were asleep in bed.

2011-04-16T04:52:00.001-07:00

IMPEACHABLE?

Last Wednesday, President Obama delivered an excellent address on the deficit, budget cuts, and American values. As part of his solutions, he proposed tax increases. But he didn't say "tax increases". Instead, he referred to:

"reducing spending in the tax code"

I consider this linguistic atrocity to be an impeachable offense.

2011-04-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Raising the Debt Limit -Non-negotiable

President Obama should declare that the Democrats will not negotiate on this issue. The question is whether the increase is necessary - for the country and world markets. The question is not what concessions or spending cuts the Republicans can wring from the President.

Why? Once he begins to bargain, there is really no limit to what Obama would be obliged to concede to save the country from default. He cares. Make the Republicans vote up or down on the issue.

A difficult position to take, but the President should be absolutely firm. The place for negotiation is the 2012 budget, not connection to action the nation must take.

2011-04-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

The Deficit Speech

President Obama is scheduled to address deficit issues today, presumably outlining its causes and the dangers. And his plans for attacking the problem.

But let's hope that he does not continue to praise the recent compromise. He should acknowledge that now is not the time for major reduction in government spending. The economy needs the government to spend (wisely) to preserve jobs and increase economic activity and employment.

However, long term, much needs to be done. Taxes must be raised, particularly on those who have benefited unequally in recent years. Defense spending must be drastically reduced, Social Security must be preserved for the long run, and, above all, our costly health care system must be fixed. Medicare -for-all is the ultimate solution to rid ourselves of the private insurance middlemen, but we still somehow need to find a way to reduce the core costs of health care in the U.S.

2011-04-12T03:38:00.000-07:00

In Praise of a Budget Loss

Maybe President Obama and the Democrats did the best they could in fending off more drastic budget cuts and cultural intrusions by the Republicans. After all, it's tough to fight a party that will threaten to hurt the country in order to get its way. But the end result was bad, and allows even more cuts than the Republicans originally proposed.

But it sounded exceedingly strange when President Obama actually praised the budget deal in his speech. He sounded positively proud of the size of the cuts. Maybe, it was a relief to reach a settlement, but he should have emphasized extreme regret for the loss of needed programs and reduction in spending just when our struggling economy needs more.

2011-04-09T04:23:00.000-07:00

Federal shutdown barely avoided

Now on to the big game - the 2012 budget and Paul Ryan's spurious deficit cutting proposals.
The budget fight will include the need to fend off the assault on woman's health, including the right to choose the legal medical procedure, abortion. And the need to preserve and extend efforts to deal with carbon pollution and climate change. Ryan's proposal includes the false claim that tax cuts for the wealthy reduces the deficit and creates jobs and the plans to move Medicare from the existing efficient governmental operation to the more expensive, profit-seeking health insurance companies.

Let's hope that some Republicans will put country ahead of politics.

2011-04-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

Republicans willing to shut down gov't to force defunding of Planned Parenthood. Disgraceful.

2011-04-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

REPUBLICANS AND HEALTH CARE

For Medicare "reform", the GOP proposes " a 'premium support system' for Medicare. In the future, older people would choose plans in the marketplace..."

Not only does this shift more burden to the individual but also it transfers more of the operation to the wasteful private health insurance companies whose administrative costs (and profits) far exceed the expense of the Medicare s ystem.

This makes no sense.

2011-04-05T03:24:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, U Conn! But one of the ugliest games ever.

2011-03-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

Trump Suggests Obama's Birth Certificate Could Say He's 'Muslim'

Donald Trump's candidacy, don't you love it? But do we really want 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to be renamed Trump Castle?

2011-03-30T04:52:00.000-07:00

"Noose Is Tightening Around Qaddafi"

Doesn't look that way to me. Seems that the opposition is trying to wage war with an army of Ford Escorts.

2011-03-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

" Texas Bill Seeks To Combat Discrimination Against Creationists

Unlike many other states, Texas does not ban workplace discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. But don't be alarmed; the Lone Star State is working on that whole civil liberties thing. Last week, Republican State Rep. Bill Zedler introduced HB 2454, a bill that would establish new workplace protections for proponents of intelligent design. Here's the key part:

An institution of higher education may not discriminate against or penalize in any manner, especially with regard to employment or academic support, a faculty member or student based on the faculty member's or student's conduct of research relating to the theory of intelligent design or other alternate theories of the origination and development of organisms." (from Huff Post)
Only a bill of course, but this is the Texas of misinformation in its textbooks; and so it may pass.( I loved the accompanying cartoon showing how well humans got along with dinosaurs.)

2011-03-15T03:50:00.000-07:00

N.R.A. Declines to Meet With Obama on Policy (NY Times)

"But the National Rifle Association, for decades the most formidable force against proposals to limit gun sales or ownership, is refusing to join the discussion — possibly dooming it from the start, given the lobby’s clout with both parties in Congress. Administration officials had indicated they expected that the group would be represented at a meeting, perhaps on Friday.

“Why should I or the N.R.A. go sit down with a group of people that have spent a lifetime trying to destroy the Second Amendment in the United States?” said Wayne LaPierre, the longtime chief executive of the National Rifle Association."

Outrageous. One reason that our legislators fail to make rational decisions. And so our government fails us in so many ways.