A great play on Obama's ubiquitous campaign poster from the Guardian of London which has a special set of articles on the First Lady today. See the link below.
On Nukes, Obama 'Feigns Retreat in Order to Attack' (Editorial) from the Global Geographic Times [of the People's Republic of China in English]
An incisive (and largely on-the-money in my view) perspective of Obama's nuclear arms initiative announced in Prague. With all the hyperventilating one hears from the right wingers over this issue, I think Obama's proposal is squarely aimed at those states developing nuclear arms and does not represent a substantive shift in the US's overall military capabilities.
"What country in the world could possibly rival the United States in conventional weaponry - except through the use of nuclear weapons? … this so-called nuclear-free world being proposed by America is purely for the elimination of nuclear weapons in other countries, so that the U.S. can be the only game in town and continue its global hegemony. ... Sooner or later, this American trick will be seen for what it is."
Obama's Pick: What He Has to Gain from Politico
"With David Souter’s surprising decision to retire, President Obama now faces the risk of antagonizing multiple power centers within the Democratic party – but he also has the chance to put his imprint on the court, further hone his image in the minds of the public and bind wayward Democrats closer to him. So, just what can Obama accomplish with his choice of Souter’s replacement?"
How Character Corrodes (Maureen Dowd) from the New York Times
"How quaint. The Republicans are concerned about checks and balances. The specter of Specter helping the president have his way with Congress has actually made conservatives remember why they respected the Constitution in the first place."
As a Professor, Obama Held Pragmatic Views on Court from the New York Times
"Now Mr. Obama is preparing to select his first Supreme Court nominee to replace retiring Justice David Souter. In interviews, former colleagues and students say they have a fairly strong sense of the kind of justice he will favor."
Where Specter's Big Switch Leaves the Senate (Karen Tumulty) from Time Magazine
"Senate associate historian Donald Ritchie says you have to go all the way back to the dawn of F.D.R.'s second term in 1937 to find a President aligned with a filibuster-proof Senate majority that has comparable cohesion and potential to pass significant legislation. "Doing the filibuster at every whim to block us is not [an option], and that makes legislating a lot easier," says New York Democrat Charles Schumer."
Post-Souter Politics? Prepare for High Drama (Michael Tomasky) from the Guardian [of London]
"David Souter's retirement may not alter the ideological balance of the high court, but it could push the GOP even closer to the edge."
The Party's Over: Specter's Departure is One More Sign of the Party's Slide into Immoderation and Irrelevance (Editorial) from the Philadelphia Inquirer
"Naturally, the conservative true-believers are thrilled that Specter is gone ("good riddance"); they've somehow convinced themselves that the loss of yet another Republican Senate seat constitutes a great victory. It's delusional. The more the party shrinks, the happier they seem. I marvel at their ability to resolutely march through the smoking wreckage, all the while insisting that it smells like perfume."
Voices Reflect Rising Sense of Racial Optimism from the New York Times
"In dozens of interviews in seven states over the last several days, black men and women like Mr. Sallis said they were feeling more optimistic about race relations than even a year ago. ... Many whites said they were feeling better, too, expressing an invigorated sense of openness toward people of other races."
Specter's Departure Not the Problem from the Washington Post
"The real problem, however, is the party's frame of mind. Conservatives still believe that they are a "silent majority." So they don't see the need to win over those who disagree with them: They're convinced that all they need to do is to shout the same message -- low taxes, low taxes, low taxes -- at ever-higher volume."
Assailin' Palin: Complaints Deluge Gov from Politico
The latest installment of the "Palin Payback Project" courtesy (I suspect) of her Republican colleagues. Makes me wonder -- REALLY, what did she do that got SO MANY in her own party ticked off at her?
"Since entering the national spotlight, Palin has been inundated by ethics complaints, most of them filed against her after she agreed to become Sen. John McCain’s running mate. "
Why the Faithful Approve of Torture from the Washington Post
"The message of the movie, and a message of a lot of conservative Christian theology, is that severe pain and suffering are not foreign to Christian faith, but central."
Michelle Obama's Diverse Approach to Diversity from Newsweek
"There are few photo-ops that show the first lady with anything but a diverse group. "Mrs. Obama's agenda has always been to include everyone and make sure the White House is open to all people," says Katie McCormick Lelyveld, Michelle's press secretary. "We make a point at each event to make sure you see all types of faces of people with different types of stories. It's exactly the same thing she did on the campaign trail.''"
Yes Michelle Obama Can from the Guardian [of London]
"First Lady, Mom-in-chief, role model, fashion icon, dinner lady, serial hugger. Twelve top female writers celebrate the many faces of Michelle Obama."
BLOG NUGGET!
Growing Pains for Talking Points Memo from Politico
I sensed that something like this was going on at TPM -- an outstanding, ground-breaking blog!
"The Bush years were very, very good to Joshua Micah Marshall. ... Now comes the hard part."
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