Category Archives: politics

The moment when our leaders gave up on saving the world

Not my words, but those of Die Spiegel, the leading German publication, which released a recording of what was said inside the room among top leaders from around the world in Cophenhagen, in December 2009, in negotiations to save the climate. Their reporters wrote: The West, [then French President Nicholas] Sarkozy said, had pledged to reduceContinue reading “The moment when our leaders gave up on saving the world”

Romney: “Believe in America,” Donald Trump, and debt

In California this Memorial Day in my neighborhood, the house signs for the GOP presidential candidate are pleasantly blue, and they read: "Romney: Believe in America."  Also on this day, we learn that the candidate has no intention of cutting the deficit upon taking office, and will be happy to add to the national debtContinue reading “Romney: “Believe in America,” Donald Trump, and debt”

Mitt Romney: Worse than George W. Bush?

One of this country's lesser-known great writers, Edmund White, writes for The New Yorker about the Cranbrook School, where Romney and a gang of followers ritually humiliated a gay classmate in l965.  White attended the school, just as Mitt Romney did, but a few years earlier, and as a gay person. He speculates about Romney's motivationsContinue reading “Mitt Romney: Worse than George W. Bush?”

To see the Prez, it helps to be a whale

In Las Vegas, to be a "whale" — a high roller — you have to be ready to live large, even if it costs $500,000 an hour. It's a little like what you have to do if you want to get into the White House and see the President. Big bucks, as this graphic shows.Continue reading “To see the Prez, it helps to be a whale”

“I will not walk away from the promise of green energy”: Obama

This year, despite the failure of the solar firm Solyndra, to which a half-billion dollars of Federal aid was guaranteed, President Obama reaffirmed his support of green energy. He said so in January, when the right was stirring on pot of this issue, reminding one and all of a lost $535 million. The Prez confronted theContinue reading ““I will not walk away from the promise of green energy”: Obama”

Not everyone on the right likes Marco Rubio: Rod Dreher

Rod Dreher, a true conservative who holds some crunchy values (such as a faith in local foods, architecture respectful of traditional values, and nature) has sharp words for Marco Rubio, the young Florida senator who at a glance seems to be the veep choice most likely to help Mitt Romney: This guy, Rubio, is supposed toContinue reading “Not everyone on the right likes Marco Rubio: Rod Dreher”

NSA “to watch everybody all the time” on line

The great James Bamford writes another deeply sourced expose of the NSA, this time for Wired magazine, about an unbelieveably massive, costly, and unconstitutional National Security Agency spy center under construction in Utah (and a twin at Oak Ridge, Tennessee).  You won't see better journalism this year, and really should read the whole thing. Here'sContinue reading “NSA “to watch everybody all the time” on line”

Journos cheer: Santorum lives to fight another day

E.J. Dionne wraps it up perfectly, and admits that "For those who like to watch election nights, the Alabama and Mississippi results are a tonic. They’ll keep things going in the Republican race for some time." Yes. But even better is Rebecca Traister's tweet: Yeah, so, Mitt, here's the thing: your party DOES NOT LIKEContinue reading “Journos cheer: Santorum lives to fight another day”

Limbaugh a threat to GOP, warns conservative — in 2009

Almost exactly three years ago, David Frum — for decades a proud Reaganaut who, among his other efforts for the conservative cause, wrote speeches for George W. Bush — broke from right-wing orthodoxy and denounced Rush Limbaugh as a danger to the party.  Every day, Rush Limbaugh reassures millions of core Republican voters that noContinue reading “Limbaugh a threat to GOP, warns conservative — in 2009”