Always in the middle it seems. From this morning’s Times:
Now that unemployment has topped 10 percent, some liberal-leaning economists see confirmation of their warnings that the $787 billion stimulus package[...]
A very young Van Morrison leads his then band mates in what I believe was their first state side hit. No doubt about this being a live performance. Sorry about the long intro.
An obviously communistic, fascist, socialist (and, by way of a bonus-godless) organization has invaded our fair state to try to impose its will on our citizenry. I speak of the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, an organization whose very name tells you all you need to [...]
Ned Lamont is coming to our area in a few weeks. He’ll be at the home of Camille and Nick Burlingham (Camille happens to be his sister) 9 High Ridge Drive, Pawcatuck, on Monday, Dec 7, from 6-8. I hope we can get a good turnout for Ned. Right at [...]
Those Beltway types sure miss them some George Bush.
First it was David Broder:
The more President Obama examines our options in Afghanistan, the less he likes the choices he sees. But, as the old saying goes, to govern is to choose — and he has stretched the internal debate to [...]
I am sitting on my patio, in the dark, pecking away at my computer. The temperature is perfectly pleasant. It is November 15th. The only problem is the insects that are being attracted to my computer screen.
Here’s my question: What business do these insects have being alive and active on [...]
Via Firedoglake, the right has apparently found an academic prepared to give intellectual respectability to its opposition to the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency, a George Mason University professor named Todd Zywicki:
Zywicki and his fellow Randians think that the FCPA wouldn’t have made the slightest difference in the conditions [...]
Via Jesus General. Stay with it. It sounds like the teabagger crowd never realizes it’s been played.
As he contemplates trudging off into the Big Muddy, Afghanistan style, Obama might profit from perusing this article in today’s Times:
If a business school professor is running short on cash, there is a sure-fire solution: run a dollar auction game in class.
To start, the professor offers to sell [...]
On November 15, 1969 half a million people descended on Washington D.C. to protest the Vietnam War, not a single one of them directly or indirectly subsidized by a TV network or an astroturfing group of lobbyists.
I made the trip to DC with some college friends. There were [...]
Fairly sure I haven’t done James Brown yet.
I’m starting with this clip as much in tribute to Ed Sullivan as James Brown. Everyone loved making fun of Ed Sullivan, but the truth was that he was great at spotting talent. Even more important, he was an equal opportunity employer before [...]
The Catholic Church would have us believe that it simply cannot support any health care bill that might result in a single person getting an abortion, no matter how removed the cause might be from the effect. It’s a matter of principle, don’t you see. Just as millions of Africans [...]
Via Think Progress:
Business groups are worried by the potential effects of provisions banning the import of all goods made with convict labor, forced labor, or forced or indentured child labor that were included in a customs bill sponsored by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles [...]
Antonin Scalia has a problem. His intellectual dishonesty is showing:
If there is a topic Justice Antonin Scalia does not relish discussing, it is how he would have voted in Brown v. Board of Education had he been on the [...]
I get very few comments, and my basic philosophy has been to approve any comment I get, provided it’s not spam. I believe in free speech and I also think that I should be able to take my lumps if the comments are critical.
Today, for the first time, I got [...]
Some time ago Jim Amann stopped by our Town Committee. He received a lukewarm to frosty reception. In the course of his presentation he opined that Jodi Rell would not run again, and that the Republicans will nominate Lieutenant Governor Mike (who?) Fedele. Well, Jodi has dropped out and Fedele [...]
Via Pharyngula. A debate on the BBC, the motion being: The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world.
You can watch it here. It’s long, consisting of 5 you tube videos which, at least when viewed in full screen, will play one after the other.
The fascinating [...]
Could this happen anywhere else, even in the context of a Democratic primary:
US Representative Michael E. Capuano yesterday blasted Attorney General Martha Coakley’s decision to get involved in an Alabama death penalty case, saying the man they are vying to succeed in the Senate, Edward M. Kennedy, “would have [...]
This got my lawyer’s hackles raised.
In Today’s New London Day I noticed an article titled as follows:
Bankruptcy court: Lighthouse Inn filing invalid
The clear implication–nay, not implication, but the explicit statement- is that the Bankruptcy Court has ruled that the Lighthouse Inn’s bankruptcy filing was invalid. It’s made [...]
Primarily, I wanted to do a girl group this week. I actually found a good live version of the Shirelles (one of the best of breed-girl group wise) singing Will You Still Love Me, Tomorrow? I have no idea why the sides of the video are squoshed together (and yes, [...]
Last night at Drinking Liberally (back to great attendance, as various attendees licked their election day wounds), so no posts, and tonight off to see Atul Shah (one of the wound lickers) and his band at Burke’s Tavern, so not much free time.
Other than putting up some music (post pending) [...]
If there was a common theme locally yesterday, it was the victory of the crazies over-not necessarily the rational, but at least the less crazy. In New London the Democratic clowns that have run the town for some 20 odd years were replaced by a mixture of Republican and “green” [...]
C’mon people, attendance was dismal at last months Drinking Liberally. Let’s not let that happen again.
Thursday we’ll have the chance to celebrate or commiserate, depending on the outcome of today’s elections. Several of our members are running for office, and we’ll be there for all, winners and losers.
Here’s hoping for [...]
Al Gore is being criticized for investing in green technology by the very people who tell the rest of us that conservation will lead us to economic ruin.
In 2006 and 2007, Goldman Sachs Group peddled more than $40 billion in securities backed by at least 200,000 risky home mortgages, but never told the buyers it was secretly betting that a sharp drop in U.S. housing prices would send the value of those securities [...]
Fading fast, but not quite gone.
These are from our backyard, a Japanese Maple, with bright red leaves, and a Redbud with a variety of more muted colors.
This morning, Gregory Mankiw, one of the economists who got us into this mess and a shill for conservative economic theories, pens a New York Times op-ed piece in which he laments the tax disincetives to work supposedly embedded in the Obama Health Plan. (We are supposed to ignore [...]
One of my rules for Friday Night Music (and all rules are for breaking) is non-repetition. I’ve tried not to repeat the same artists twice, even the sacred Beatles. Another rule is that the video has to actually be a video-no still pictures with the music in the background. Today [...]
An Open letter:
Dear Senator Dodd:
I really wish you all the best. That’s why I wrote that resolution for which you thanked me so warmly at the event in Groton this past July.
But you make it so hard. The knock is that you’ve lost touch; that you’ve been in Washington too [...]
So Joe Lieberman is threatening to filibuster the public option. Some might wonder why he is taking this position, since as recently as 2006 he campaigned on a promise to give us a public option, when he promised:
MediChoice to allow anybody in our country to buy into a [...]
Just as a matter of public policy, I think the “opt out” idea is pretty stupid.
But from a political perspective, it has some interesting possibilities.
If the public option is a strong one, with reasonable premiums and good coverage, it will be extremely difficult for Republicans to opt out, particularly [...]
The only thing keeping the inept Democratic Party afloat is the even more inept, and far more politically tone deaf Republican Party. Case in point, is the special election in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, made possible by Obama’s strategic elevation of its former Republican Congressman to a federal post. [...]
As I mentioned Friday evening, Groton Democrat Liz Duarte, was Ned Lamont’s guest at the Obama appearance in Stamford. I asked Liz to write something about the event, and I am pleased to present, live and unedited, Liz’s account of the night. I was pleased she could do this, as [...]
When we (and that includes me, for sure) whine about Obama’s shortcomings, it’s useful to remember all of the important things that have changed somewhat below the surface, at least below the surface of everyday conversation or bloviating. A case in point is the fact that the corporate “nutritionist” front [...]
Our own Liz Duarte sent this picture from Stamford, where she was the guest of Ned Lamont at tonight’s fundraiser for Chris Dodd. Seems she also shook the hand of a recent Nobel Prize winner.
First, for the quality, Stevie Wonder singing Superstitious, Live on Sesame Street. I’ve been putting up these videos for several years,trying not to repeat artists, and I’m fairly sure I haven’t gotten around to Stevie Wonder, which just goes to show how deep the bench is when it comes to [...]
From the Hill, via Washington Monthly:
Say hello to “Medicare Part E” — as in, “Medicare for Everyone.”
House Democrats are looking at re-branding the public health insurance option as Medicare, an established government healthcare program that is better known than the public option.
The strategy could benefit Democrats [...]
I was only a bit surprised to see that the Obama Defense Department opposed Al Franken’s amendment to forbid government contractors from forcing the victims of sexual assault into arbitration, which is the equivalent of guaranteeing them no redress. The Obama Administration has been better than Bush on civil [...]
The Republicans and the Media, with Harry Reid giving a large assist, have just about talked everyone into believing that you need 60 votes to pass anything in the Senate. In fact, it only takes 51. You can look it up. That’s why the Constitution lets the Vice President break [...]
I’ve mentioned before that I’m in a mailgroup (in which I lurk only), the subject of which is the Dodd re-election campaign. Lately there’s been a bit of debate about whether it was wise for the Connecticut Democrats to go after Linda McMahon for her rank hypocrisy (hey, she’s [...]
This was a busy day for me, too busy for thinking, so no serious writing. We here in Groton had a little fundraiser. An excellent turnout with lots of money raised and virtually no money spent. Maybe the theme was the big draw. Who can argue with wine and chocolate?
Some [...]
I have posted less frequently than usual this week. For this the world owes a debt of gratitude to The Office. I’ve spent a good chunk of my free time watching Season 3.
I noticed that a fellow named Creed Bratton was billed as a guest star at the end [...]
I’m a big fan of Talking Points Memo, so I was quite surprised to read about this in an email thread.
You may have heard that the Connecticut Democrats have gone after Linda McMahon, who constantly refers to her Wrestling company as a promoter of PG entertainment. And it is PG, [...]
