This interview with Paul Krugman is fascinating – why is it, after all, that right-wing ideologues seem to lack empathy or compassion for people less fortunate than they are? Mostly, it’s about race, and a lot of of it is about “get your hands offa my stack, Jack.” Conservatives keep their ilk in line by attacking anyone that criticizes them out of all proportion to the criticism – and as Krugman notes, in conservative circles, you can say anything about a liberal or a Democrat, no matter how untrue it is, and never be called on it. But say something…
-
-
That earlier note about Fitzmas? This is a story that will keep on giving, as it wasn’t just screwy prosecutions in Alabama, it was Mississippi, Wisconsin, and probably lots and lots of other places… anywhere that state justice officials took calls from the White House, probably. Not that it couldn’t happen in a Democratic-controlled state – I live in Illinois, and the recent trial of a former (Republican) governor generated a lot of controversy. But in tit-for-tat, the Republicans in the IL General Assembly are forever trying to get some dirt to stick on the current Democratic governor, Blagojevich. The…
-
Oh pleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseletitbetrueletitbetrue, we can has Fitzmas cheer? Rove Linked to Alabama Case – TIME A Republican lawyer claims she was told that Karl Rove — while serving as President Bush’s top political adviser — had intervened in the Justice Department’s prosecution of Alabama�s most prominent Democrat. Longtime Alabama G.O.P. activist Dana Jill Simpson first made the allegation in June, but has now provided new details in a lengthy sworn statement to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee is expected to hold public hearings on the Alabama case next week as part of its investigation of possible political interference by the…
-
Evangelical Movement – Voters – Religion – Politics – Christians and Christianity – Republicans – New York Times The “old lions” of the Religious Right aren’t roaring as loudly as before, and the Republican Party is turning an increasingly deaf ear on their “RALLY BASE!” hot-button issues. Hurrah.
-
First of all, what a good thing the New York Times no longer hides the good stuff behind a paywall, so now you can read Paul Krugman in the clear without depending on someone blogging his entire column. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, because information should always be free. Second of all, it seems Paul is a Talking Heads fan. Same Old Party – New York Times People claim to be shocked at the Bush administration’s efforts to disenfranchise minority groups, under the pretense of combating voting fraud. But Reagan opposed the Voting Rights Act, and as late…
-
UPDATE:On re-rereading this I realized that I came off like a churlish jerky girl with regards to the people of Burma and the heroic monks who are marching (and dying) for them and for a more democratic form of government. That wasn’t my intent. I’ve been moved by the photos people have posted on Flickr, in support of peace and justice in Burma, that have been showing up on my Google Flickr thingy. So I thought I’d better make things better. I happened to scan the recent White House press briefing, following up on something completely different noted by OneUtah:…
-
The Swamp: Cleaning up after Bush: It was ‘childrens do learn’ Yes, he said it. The original transcript “cleaned up” after Bush’s grammatical error – a stenographer silently corrected the gaffe. Then the howls of protest forced the White House to say that the “correction” was done in error, and the errant “s” would go back in the official transcript. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are trying to hold up health care for uninsured childrens, while Bush will be battling for billion$ to fund both wars. Apparently, even though childrens do get sick, they must first be protect from the terrorist.…
-
I really didn’t care for Emanuel’s tactics during the 2006 race – the progressive blogs were complaining about this very stuff back then, and it irked the hell out of me. I was watching Tammy Duckworth‘s primary race at the time, and fuming about how she was getting lackluster support from the DCCC, probably because of her position against the war (and how striking she was in military uniform and prosthetic legs in campaign photos while campaigning on the issue). She’s doing good work for veterans now, but she could have been so much more effective in Congress. I hope…
-
Can’t this guy see the writing on the wall? Mitch McConnell says he’s done. That isn’t good enough? Sen. Craig may reconsider resignation, spokesman says – CNN.com Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, returned from the Senate’s summer recess and made his first public comments on Craig’s sudden downfall.He suggested that Republican leaders judged Craig more harshly than they did Republican Sen. David Vitter, of Louisiana, who was recently linked to a heterosexual prostitution service. “Everyone can see what they did with Vitter and what they did with Craig and draw their own conclusion,” Reid told…
-
In addition to the Halloween and Thanksgiving Day and Christmas decorations that are going up even now in retail establishments across this great land, watch The Serious Mainstream Press for the marketing run-up for war with Iraqn: Informed Comment Global Affairs: Post Labor Day Product Rollout: War with Iran (Cross-posted at DailyKos)! They [the source’s institution] have “instructions” (yes, that was the word used) from the Office of the Vice-President to roll out a campaign for war with Iran in the week after Labor Day; it will be coordinated with the American Enterprise Institute, the Wall Street Journal, the Weekly…