April 2009 Archives

Over the weekend, as the Somalian pirate crisis unfolded, the right wing did what's now become the common...criticize President Obama, whether the facts supported the criticism or not.  The blogs began the drumbeat:  Obama doesn't know what he's doing, he can't multi-task, he has no experience, blah blah.  Of course, those assertions were completely false.After the announcement Sunday that the hostage, Capt. Richard Phillips, had been rescued unharmed and that 3 of the 4 pirates...

The Republican hypocrisy train rolls on. Today’s two shining examples are Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and House Minority Leader, Mr. Spray-On Tan himself, John Boehner of Ohio. The subject is whether or not government spending creates jobs. Here’s what Sen. Chambliss had to say in February about the economic stimulus package: “The majority in Congress has been in runaway mode when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars. This legislation is yet another sign that...

You may know that, besides talking politics, I love Rock & Roll.  What you may not know is that I'm also a huge Boston Red Sox fan and enjoy watching baseball in all its forms from Little League to Major League.  Those who love baseball understand its mysteries - the game behind the game which is an odd concoction of strategy, psychology, and history.  Baseball is a real, living organism made up of a multitude...

Gun control advocates' case were strongly bolstered last week as multiple murders in New York, Washington State, and Pittsburgh exploded on the national media.  The gun violence and murders of police officers and innocent civilians reignited the debate about gun ownership rights, the Second Amendment and curbing crime.I've always been in favor of gun rights myself.  I own a small collection of guns ranging from English shotguns to revolvers to semi-automatic handguns.  I have a...

As President Obama's ratings have hovered above 60%, garnering wide support for his initiatives, the GOP has become a comic caricature of its former self.  Official and unofficial spokesman for the minority party have begun resorting to childish and ridiculous claims of evil intent of the President, his staff, his family, his programs, and his own character.  They are manufacturing a strange, non-fact based case that Obama is somehow conspiring with Democrats and radical left...

A new, $20 million propaganda campaign has been started by Conservatives for Patients' Rights that is dedicating to killing healthcare reform by pushing the notion of privately funded, lightly regulated, for-profit healthcare, which is already proven not to work, as the only viable form of healthcare delivery. Who are Conservatives for Patients' Rights you ask?  Well.  It's a swiftboat group started by former Columbia/HCA CEO Richard Scott.  Who?  Richard Scott.  You might remember him because...

There are both encouraging and discouraging signs today in the battle over who’s in charge, Wall Street or Washington. First the good news. Finally, somebody in D.C. gets it. “Elizabeth Warren, chief watchdog of America's $700 billion bank bailout plan, will this week call for the removal of top executives from Citigroup, AIG and other institutions that have received government funds in a damning report that will question the administration's approach to saving the financial...

Last night, Metallica, along with Run DMC, Wanda Jackson, Jeff Beck, Bobby Womack, and Little Anthony & the Imperials were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Metallica, formed in the 1980's, helped bring the thrash metal genre into the mass markets and was also instrumental (no pun intended) in the rise of iTunes by suing Napster for copyright infringement.  They performed some of their biggest hits during the ceremony.Their style has evolved...

While campaigning for Bob McDonnell, who is running for governor in Virginia, Mike Huckabee callously made a joke about suppressing Democratic voters in this year's election.  Here's the hilarious video:Now, that was a real knee slapper.  There's nothing funnier to Republicans than a good ol' voter suppression joke.   Where does that kind of callousness come from?  Well,  I'll give you a hint:That was arch conservative and co-founder of the right wing Heritage Foundation speaking in...

Yesterday, the US Justice Department, under new Attorney General and Obama appointee, Eric Holder, filed a motion in the federal court to void the convictions and drop the charges against former Senator Ted Stevens.  Stevens had been convicted on multiple corruption charges just days before the 2008 election, which he lost.The issue here was prosecutorial misconduct, this time concealing information from the defense that could have supported the accused's case.  In this particular case, the...