Rebuilding the Republican Party

The Republican National Committee named a new head yesterday.  The new leader is Michael Steele and he has inherited a job almost as difficult and important as President Obama.  To begin, it is hard to understand any path forward for the Republicans with spokesmen such as Rush Limbaugh or the memories of Rove, Cheney, and Bush [...]

Steady As She Goes

There is a lot of hype about what will President Obama do next about the recession.  What will he do to get Americans working again.  The stimulus package is too big for some and too small for others.  My guess is it does not matter. If you step back and think about the state of [...]

The Republican Titanic?

House Republicans, standing four square behind their leader (Representative John Boehner) solidly voted against the House version of the stimulus package.  They voted on principle they all said but it did look a little partisan.   Republican were for more tax cuts and more funding for infrastructure projects that were ready now.  Boehner pointed out [...]

Anyone For Blue Chips?

In the olden days, everyone recognized the allure of “blue chip stocks and bonds”.  These were securities where your money was safe (or so most thought).  Blue chips paid a steady but not excessive dividend or for bonds, a coupon payment, and you could expect that the stock price would increase steadily, about the rate [...]

What Does Specter Want?

Senator Arlen Specter continues to delay the vote (and presumed approval) of Eric Holder as US Attorney General.  Specter, who was pretty much cast aside during the Bush Administration and who must run for reelection in 2010, is making much about old information.  I wonder why?   Could it be: Specter is getting a bit [...]

The Un-loyal Opposition

Today begins a new week and we will once more see how the Democrats and the Republicans work together in Congress.  That the country faces huge problems certainly can not be denied.  That these problems arose on the Republican watch is also undeniable.  You would never, however, know that from the tone and substance of [...]

What Happened to Caroline?

This past week we were treated to the conclusion of the “Caroline Kennedy for US Senator” campaign and witnessed its hero-less death.  So many questions remain unanswered that one wonders whether there are more revelations to soon pour out? Why did Caroline ever agree to the possible appointment in the first place?  Why was her [...]

Mexico City Policy

When Jimmy Carter ran around the world crying out about “human rights” and that the subject country was something akin to being a “sinner” if it did not meet Carter’s standard, I scratched my head and wondered what he thought gave him this right to criticize others, and why he did not think that American [...]

Apologist II

Do you still recall the rhetoric running up to the invasion of Iraq?   All the Washington based Bush team members fanned out and made appearances on television interview shows and gave more interviews to the radio and print media?  Remember the 100 ways one can say “mushroom cloud”?  Act II (on a different subject) [...]

Right From Wrong

Hours ago, President Barack Obama followed through on another campaign promise.  He announced he would close Guantanamo detention facility within a year.  He also announced that the Army Field Manual on interrogation would be the standard through out the entire US government.  In one stroke he turned a smudged page in America’s history and put [...]