September 2011
4 posts
Details on Obama jobs / deficit plan…
Remember, the “supercommittee” deadline to present its plan to save $1.5 trillion over 10 years is Nov. 23. Obama’s approach has two parts: a $447 billion jobs plan (stimulus) and a 3.6 trillion deficit reduction plan over 10 years.
Note: this number does not include the $900B in spending cuts passed in August in debt ceiling...
The Audacity of Retreat: Obama’s shameful jobs...
The Obama administration has only itself to blame for its — let’s call it what it is — pathetic climbdown after picking a fight with Republicans in Congress over next week’s jobs speech.
“Can we please refrain from saying Obama ‘caved?’ He did no such thing,” David Gergen said, calling the matter “both silly and trivial.” Oh boy, David Gergen you are SO wrong. The White House...
August 2011
2 posts
The "Super Committee" and Taxes
It’s Groundhog day with the second installment of the recently concluded debate over spending and taxes set to begin again when Congress returns from its Summer break Sep. 7.
Spending is on the table. It is unclear whether taxes are on the table or hovering slightly near the table.
The BIG difference between the debt ceiling debate which just ended in such ugly fashion and the upcoming...
May 2011
1 post
April 2011
2 posts
2012: The Medicare Election
Both parties have problems with their arguments
By Matthew Alexander
The 2012 election is still 18 months away but some of its themes have already started to take root; Indeed it seems increasingly likely that the 2012 election will be fought over entitlement reform, and specifically - Medicare.
The Republican plan put forward by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would make drastic changes to the...
Budget Battle Thought
WHY I”M SO ANGRY WITH CONGRESS RIGHT NOW
Democrats are liars for always using the $73 billion number when it’s really $33B; assholes and cowards for not passing a budget when they were in the majority; and hacks for shamelessly exploiting the Tea Party as a talking point.
Republicans are dicks for attaching abortion riders to budget bills and are shills for corporate America when it...
February 2011
4 posts
What to watch for in politics Tuesday Feb 22, 2011
STATES VS THE UNIONS
The budget standoff in Wisconsin enters its eighth day of protests today as the Wisconsin Senate gets back to regular business with or without 14 missing Senate Democrats who left the state in protest of Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s “budget repair” bill. Public sector unions in Wisconsin have agreed to contribute more to their health care and pension benefits, but oppose...
Some initial thoughts on Wisconsin...
Not knowing much about unions and having never been to Wisconsin in my life, here are the facts as I see them having done some basic, preliminary research this weekend.
The basics: Over 70,000 union supporters rallied in Madison, Wisconsin’s state capitol, Saturday in opposition to newly-elected Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s “budget repair” bill, which attempts to balance the state’s $3.6B...
June 2009
20 posts
Brooks nails it in today's NY Times...
“The fate of nations is determined by glances and chance encounters: by the looks policemen give one another as a protesting crowd approaches down a boulevard; by the presence of a spontaneous leader who sets off a chant or a song and with it an emotional contagion; by a captain who either decides to kill his countrymen or not; by a shy woman who emerges from a throng to throw herself on the...
Hillary & Biden disagree with the President on...
Selective leaking from the White House??
From the NY Times this morning…
“Mr. Obama is coming under increased pressure from Republicans and other conservatives who say he should take a more visible stance in support of the protesters.
Even while supporting the president’s approach, senior members of the administration, including Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Secretary of...
What Twitter and YouTube are saying about Iran...
YouTube
“Unless a video clearly violates our Community Guidelines, we will not take it down. In general, we do not allow graphic or gratuitous violence on YouTube. However, we make exceptions for videos that have educational, documentary, or scientific value. The limitations being placed on mainstream media reporting from within Iran make it even more important that citizens in Iran...
The Economist: The Real media heroes of iran... →
On Iran
I’ve followed it more than any other story since the 2008 election. In fact, since the 2008 election, new media had been my principal area of focus. Iran is the perfect story for new media.
A sampling of concern for @persiankiwi
shortyman77 @persiankiwi thank you for highlighting the problems you face. My thoughts are with you and your sources. Keep safe.
ATProductionz has any one heard from #persiankiwi MIA 5hrs now?!!!
makesalt @persiankiwi r u ok? Been silent for too long. we are getting worried here in twittervese and are pulling for you guys.
maryannelewis maybe @persiankiwi is getting some sleep.
Stevyncolgan...
They’re both wrong. Let’s start with Letterman…
a) BOTH of Letterman’s jokes crossed the line.
b) Yes, Sarah Palin is a public official & should be subject to public criticism / jokes, BUT she is also the sitting Governor of Alaska and deserves more respect in this instance
b) Show me one picture in which Sarah Palin is dressed in a “slutty” manner. That...
My Take on Time Magazine's Cover story: "How...
Decent, but not a great article. It starts off by talking about the usual complaint of people tweeting what they had for breakfast, and concludes: “what your friends had for breakfast is actually more interesting than it sounds.” WRONG. FAIL That is a) NOT an interesting use of Twitter and b) the wrong way to promote its strengths to skeptics. The way to appeal to new users on the...
May 2009
10 posts
Three Wolves One Moon T-Shirt
I’ve been consumed by the “Three Wolves One Moon” phenomenon in the Amazon clothing store. In short: A crappy T-shirt made by a NH based company depicting three wolves howling at a moon has suddenly become “cool” due to a string of fantastical & humorous reviews about the magical effects that the T-shirt has on its wearer. The T-shirt has now (at time of writing) been reviewed 846 times, has a...
A Thought on Google Wave...
Although I’m excited about this product, is anyone else besides me concerned about the fact that people will be able to see your thoughts unfold as you type??? Personally, I often revise and re-edit my sentences before hitting send. I almost always take stock of each and every sentence to evaluate whether it’s necessary, whether it could be funnier, whether it’s spelled correctly...
Where were the 'real' journalists while 38 yr old... →
John Kerry statement on The Future of Journalism
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In advance of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet’s hearing, “The Future of Journalism,” Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) released the following opening remarks.
Today’s 2:30 pm hearing will be held in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building and simultaneously webcast on the Commerce Committee website at...
"The Cloud" renders hard drives & PC's obsolete
“Today, it’s hard to imagine computer owners in the United States and other developed countries abandoning their PCs for thin clients. Many of us, after all, have dozens or even hundreds of gigabytes of data on our personal hard drives, including hefty music and video files. But once utility services mature, the idea of getting rid of your PC will become much more attractive. At that...
April 2009
4 posts
Thoughts on Courage & the NJ Turnpike Crash...
I was unfortunate enough to witness something truly horrific this weekend.
My 4 friends and I were in a minivan, driving down the NJ turnpike when suddenly we saw a huge accident unfold right in front of us. I personally did not witness the point of impact, but a tractor trailer seemed to swerve across the turnpike, running over another car, engulfing it completely in flames. We later learned...
WatchAndrew keen articulates some of the concerns I have with social media. This 5 minute rant prompted me to start reading his book “The Cult of the Amateur”
March 2009
3 posts
