• Mini-Posts - Politics, Schmolitics

    The “Rally Base” Button Is Broken

    Democrat Wins House Seat in Mississippi – New York Times They sent Cheney. They sent Barbour. They sent Huckabee. They had Bush and McCain record robocalls.  And still the Republicans lost the Mississippi special election, the third “bellweather” election they’ve lost this year.  It appears the vaunted Republican “rally base!!1!” button must be broken.

  • Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics - Religion

    Hagee in the hot seat

    Pastor who endorsed McCain apologizes for remarks about Catholics – Los Angeles Times Commenters on liberal-Christian, Episcopalian blogs I read have been complaining for weeks about John Hagee’s apparent invisibility on the media radar, while Rev. Wright was in the crosshairs of the right wing, hoping to pick off Obama from a tangent. Well, what goes around comes around; McCain’s pet pastor, whose support he needs in order to gain grudging favor from the religious right, finally gains albatross status.

  • Blogs Wot I Read - Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Zimbabwe: Lloyd’s MIU – 20017525399 Over The Horizon

    The An Yue Jiang may have been turned around and headed back to China, as reported by the Beeb and the NYT, but maybe they’re just headed out to sea to do a little “over-the-horizon” transfer work. Sokwanele/This is Zimbabwe says “Don’t celebrate just yet:” Lloyd’s MIU – 20017525399 But the following is invaluable information for activists in many countries: Given the public interest in following the movements of the ship An Yue Jiang, which is reported to be carrying arms to Zimbabwe, Lloyd’s MIU (www.lloydsmiu.com) is tracking this vessel via satellites and agents covering all African ports. The vessel…

  • Blogs Wot I Read - Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Please Don’t Send Lawyers, Guns and Money

    Rift Over Zimbabwe Unity Plan – New York Times But on Wednesday, The Herald, the state-run newspaper often used as a mouthpiece for Mr. Mugabe and the ruling party, described the country’s political dynamics as “so distorted that holding a free and fair election runoff in the immediate term is literally impossible.” Swiftly disavowing that position, Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga told the BBC on Wednesday that the editorial had not been sanctioned by the government, and that the ruling party, ZANU-PF, was still gearing up for a runoff. Hey, here’s a handy definition of electioneering, ZANU-PF style:  Gearing up…

  • Hot Off The Presses - Mini-Posts - Politics, Schmolitics

    Rezko and…Rove???

    GOP heavyweights reportedly tried to oust Fitzgerald — chicagotribune.com In a bombshell disclosure before testimony began this morning in the Antoin “Tony” Rezko trial, a federal prosecutor said a former Rezko confidant was prepared to say that another friend of Rezko was attempting to pull strings with White House political director Karl Rove to fire U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald and kill his investigation into Rezko.

  • Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Petition: Democracy for Zimbabwe

    Here’s a petition worth “signing,” if only to help them make a point. Avaaz.org – The World in Action Robert Mugabe’s government has withheld the results of the national elections–and threatens to use violence and fraud to hold on to power. Mugabe has resisted international pressure–but South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, who has Mugabe’s ear, might listen. A global outcry is needed to ensure that Mbeki knows his status as a global and regional leader is on the line: the world is turning to him to help bring justice for the people of Zimbabwe. This petition will be delivered through diplomatic…

  • Clan: McTiVo - Politics, Schmolitics

    YouTube – Pirates and Emperors – Schoolhouse Rock

    This may be a little different from the Schoolhouse Rock history vignettes you remember. Substantially accurate, although the folks at YouTube warn that Alexander the Great was “Greek, not Roman.” [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/UQBWGo7pef8" width="400" height="326" wmode="transparent" /] Actually, Alexander the Great was from Macedon, but close enough. YouTube – Pirates and Emperors – Schoolhouse Rock

  • Blogs Wot I Read - Hot Off The Presses - Politics, Schmolitics

    Drop a Dime: Countdown To Reality

    Daily Kos: State of the Nation The United States got itself in to a strange situation with Musharraf, in which the structure of its aid to the Pakistan government essentially incented the government not to find Bin Laden because if they found him they had reason to fear that the US would end this flow of more than $10 billion that it was providing directly to the army. The democratic government came to power arguing to Washington that constitutional democracy was a better counterterrorism strategy than reliance on an authoritarian military leader. So, I think they understand, if they can…