Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on Twitter • Be a Facebook Fan • Tumble us!

04 Aug 2009 20:39

tags

Politics: Hillary Clinton’s trump card: Bill Clinton as problem-solver?

  • Now that Bill has successfully completed his North Korea mission, he is sure to play an increasingly prominent role in foreign affairs. The trick for Hillary will be to use him to solidify rather than undermine her position as Secretary of State.
  • Huffington Post columnist Jacob Heilbrunn • Discussing how Bill Clinton’s role as dealbroker in North Korea could pay huge dividends for his wife, who actually has an official role in the Obama administration. Obama lucked out, Heilbrunn notes, saying “he knew that he was getting a twofer.” • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Aug 2009 12:31

tags

U.S.: Hey, Barack Obama: Happy 48th birthday from the birther movement

  • The movement as it stands Currently, the birther movement is frustrating politicians on both sides of the aisle, although the White House has simply avoided it. Republicans are struggling to avoid it at town hall meetings, and Democrats are simply angry about it. But perhaps the iconic moment of the movement is this interview on MSNBC, where Orly Taitz shouts a lot and the MSNBC anchors shout back. In our opinion, it makes everyone involved look incredibly bad.
  • The movement as it stands Currently, the birther movement is frustrating politicians on both sides of the aisle, although the White House has simply avoided it. Republicans are struggling to avoid it at town hall meetings, and Democrats are simply angry about it. But perhaps the iconic moment of the movement is this interview on MSNBC, where Orly Taitz shouts a lot and the MSNBC anchors shout back. In our opinion, it makes everyone involved look incredibly bad.
  • O RLY: The Orly Taitz shoutfest
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Aug 2009 11:06

tags

Culture: “Canadian Bacon 2”: Michael Moore drops the documentaries?

  • I have been working on two screenplays over the last couple of years. One’s a comedy, one’s a mystery, and I really want to do this.
  • Michael Moore • Discussing his post-“Capitalism: A Love Story” plans recently. Does that sound like the kind of guy who will be directing documentaries for the rest of his life? We think not. (By the way, in case you’ve never seen it, we highly recommend his only fiction movie thus far, “Canadian Bacon.”) • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2009 21:46

tags

Politics: Max Headroom: Crazy people bombard town halls nationwide

  • The crazies We mentioned it earlier in the week, but you need to see it; Republicans freaking out over the health care policy. New York Congressman Tim Bishop probably got it worst; he needed an escort.

  • The crazies We mentioned it earlier in the week, but you need to see it; Republicans freaking out over the health care policy. New York Congressman Tim Bishop probably got it worst; he needed an escort.

  • The convert Don’t expect Arlen Specter, that longtime Republican who defected to the Democrats, to get a pass. Here’s a room full of people shouting over this poor question-asking woman:

  • The crazies We mentioned it earlier in the week, but you need to see it; Republicans freaking out over the health care policy. New York Congressman Tim Bishop probably got it worst; he needed an escort.

  • The convert Don’t expect Arlen Specter, that longtime Republican who defected to the Democrats, to get a pass. Here’s a room full of people shouting over this poor question-asking woman:

  • The soldier Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill heard loudly from this soldier, who uses a strict interpretation of the constitution to demand an apology from her on health care.

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Aug 2009 22:53

tags

U.S.: Is Sarah Palin getting divorced? Bloggers say yes, her camp sez no

  • blogs
  • handlers
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Aug 2009 20:55

tags

World: Corazon Aquino’s son: She respected the rights of everyone equally

  • She really put into practice defending not only the rights of her friends but even those who would oppose you, relinquishing her power as fast as possible with adoption of the 1987 constitution. And, then, I can go on and on.
  • Filipino Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III • On his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, who died Saturday after a long bout with colon cancer. Aquino’s role in a quiet revolution that overtook the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos was considered one of the most impressive political feats of the 20th century. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

01 Aug 2009 19:02

tags

Music: Saturday mixtape: Considering musical activism, post-Obama



Activism needs a direction. As music fans, we've noticed a severe decline in politically-inclined tunes in recent months. Barack Obama's election drew huge support from the indie rock community, but with him in office, it's in need of a reboot. We have some thoughts, in mixtape form.
  • 1. Looking outward: A few years ago, Ted Leo pulled off a neat trick with “The Ballad of the Sin Eater,” turning in solid commentary of America’s place in the world during the height of the Bush era. With the Iranian election still fresh, it’s a line of thought in need of reevaluation.
    3. Questioning the spiritual: Fucked Up’s “The Chemistry Of Common Life ” was an amazing, vitriolic statement on spirituality, with “Twice Born” playing centerpiece. From Sufjan Stevens to The Thermals, religion plays a huge role on both sides of this debate.
    3. From the outside in: M.I.A.’s done more to bring radical politics to the mainstream than any other modern musician – especially the Sri Lanka conflict. Songs like “Sunshowers” excel at exposing audiences to political opinions outside of guy-with-a-guitar rhetoric.
    4. Indifference: Not having an opinion is still an opinion. Cass McCombs analyzes the nature of indifference with “Don’t Vote,” which plays like a modern “Okie from Muskogee.”
    5. Going conservative: If you look around the internet for the phrase “republican indie rock,” you’ll be surprised at how little shows up. Cold War Kids may be the best example of a well-known indie band whose lyrical politics lean towards conservatism. As Obama’s poll numbers decline, could we see more of this? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

01 Aug 2009 11:21

tags

World: Corazon Aquino: A Filipino leader for the people, dead at 76

After her husband was assassinated, Aquino started a march to become president of the Philippines, successfully leading the country through turmoil. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Jul 2009 21:02

tags

U.S.: Wheelin’ + Dealin’: Concessions made to push through health care

  • If your business makes less than $500,000, you don’t have to provide insurance for workers. Before, the barrier was $250,000. source
  • If you’re poor and paying premiums, you can now get subsidies after paying 12% of your income for premiums. Before, it was just 11%. source
  • Medical providers (like doctors) will work with the Secretary of Health and Human Services on rates, instead of rates being tied to Medicare. source
  • The public health plan won’t be the only option states can offer – a co-op medical plan is in the works. Details are currently being hashed out. source
  • Medicaid isn’t completely on the federal government’s back anymore – in the updated deal, states will help pay for it, too. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Jul 2009 23:55

tags

Politics, U.S.: Just when we stopped caring, Joe the Plumber offers his opinion

  • Does the Republican Party represent anything I stand for right now? Absolutely not. Right now the Republican Party doesn’t even know what it stands for.
  • Joe Wurzelbacher a.k.a. “Joe the Plumber” • Regarding the party which used him as a talking point during last year’s presidential election. Wurzelbacher is well-known for not pulling punches in his political opinion – he got into this whole mess by criticizing Barack Obama’s economic policies to his face – and remains a fierce conservative-leaning independent. His biggest issue remains the economy: “Instead of spending more of our money, they should cut back like ordinary Americans are having to. Why do they think they can spend their way out of this mess?” Since we last spoke to the the outspoken plumber, he’s aligned himself with the tea partyin’ wing of conservatism. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
<< newer 
top tags
older >>