Down Goes Perry! (Joan Walsh) from Salon
"Pity the billionaire Republican donors, trying to choose among Christie, Walker and now-indicted Rick Perry for '16."
As I have argued elsewhere, the whole notion that the GOP had a "deep bench" looking forward to 2016 was always a media conceit and a delusional representation from the right-wing alternative universe. The pressing question now is: will the GOP be able to field an even remotely plausible candidate in two years? -- Nuggetsman
Friday, August 22, 2014
Obama Has the Power to Make Substantive Change in Several Areas
How to Wreck the GOP in 3 Easy Steps! (Thomas Frank) from Salon
"Congress is a mess, but that doesn't mean Obama is powerless. Now's the time for change — and here's how to make it."
"Congress is a mess, but that doesn't mean Obama is powerless. Now's the time for change — and here's how to make it."
For Perry, Bribery vs. Constitutional Exercise of Authority?
Why Rick Perry Will Be Convicted (James Moore) from the Huffington Post
"Perry is accused of using his veto authority to coerce a publicly elected official into leaving office. And when the veto threat, and later the actual exercise of the veto didn't work, he may have tried a bit of bribery, which is why he is facing criminal charges. Not because he exercised his constitutional veto authority."
"Perry is accused of using his veto authority to coerce a publicly elected official into leaving office. And when the veto threat, and later the actual exercise of the veto didn't work, he may have tried a bit of bribery, which is why he is facing criminal charges. Not because he exercised his constitutional veto authority."
US CITIES NUGGET!!
20 U.S. Cities You Must Visit In Your 20s from the Huffington Post
"... these twenty cities make perfect locations for an urban vacation or worthy spots along a road trip. And if you're a few years past your 20s, that's quite alright -- you'll love these cities too."
Damn the 20s bit -- these are ALL great places to visit no matter your age!! -- Nuggetsman
"... these twenty cities make perfect locations for an urban vacation or worthy spots along a road trip. And if you're a few years past your 20s, that's quite alright -- you'll love these cities too."
Damn the 20s bit -- these are ALL great places to visit no matter your age!! -- Nuggetsman
CIVIL RIGHTS PHOTO NUGGET!!
Gordon Parks' 1950s Photo Essay On Civil Rights-Era America Is As Relevant As Ever from the Huffington Post
"These are the types of everyday, seemingly innocuous activities that wound up before the lens of iconic civil rights photographer Gordon Parks. Parks, a self-taught artist, believed in the photographic medium as a weapon of change, capable of awakening people's hearts and undoing prejudice."
"These are the types of everyday, seemingly innocuous activities that wound up before the lens of iconic civil rights photographer Gordon Parks. Parks, a self-taught artist, believed in the photographic medium as a weapon of change, capable of awakening people's hearts and undoing prejudice."
Monday, August 18, 2014
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: What's Driving the Ferguson Police Now
Ferguson Police Released Robbery Video Despite DOJ Concerns from the Huffington Post
"The Ferguson Police Department on Friday released a video that allegedly shows Michael Brown robbing a convenience store. Critics lashed out at police, saying that the footage's release was an attempt to disparage Brown's character. CNN revealed on Saturday that the Department of Justice found out about the video earlier this week and asked police not to make it public. According to CNN, the DOJ was worried that the footage would spark more violence in Ferguson."
Sad to say, this news does not surprise me -- and it showcases perfectly a central fact: the DOJ and the MO governor are focused on reducing tension and ending the rioting -- and the Ferguson police are concerned about ... something else. This is where I'd love to hear people's speculation as to what that something else is. Here is my theory: the Ferguson police are now in a defensive fetal position where everything they do is about validating their actions over the last week and portraying the black community of Ferguson as an out-of-control, unruly mob for whom shootings, HUMVs, tanks, and all their other military toys and tactics are the only defense. In this light, it makes perfect sense that they would ignore the DOJ's concern and do something they KNEW would throw gasoline on the fire rather than calm things down. Releasing the video has the added benefit of muddying the legal waters in a Treyvon-Martin-kind-of-way as all the white authorities there brace themselves for the hurricane of law suits that is doubtlessly headed their way. Prediction: for any trials that come out of the Michael Brown case, look for Ferguson's white police and leadership to demand a change of venue -- to some nearby all-white community where they could get a sympathetic all-white jury. I suspect that, for the Ferguson authorities, it has been their all-white constituents who are the only ones they've had any concern about all along. -- Nuggetsman
"The Ferguson Police Department on Friday released a video that allegedly shows Michael Brown robbing a convenience store. Critics lashed out at police, saying that the footage's release was an attempt to disparage Brown's character. CNN revealed on Saturday that the Department of Justice found out about the video earlier this week and asked police not to make it public. According to CNN, the DOJ was worried that the footage would spark more violence in Ferguson."
Sad to say, this news does not surprise me -- and it showcases perfectly a central fact: the DOJ and the MO governor are focused on reducing tension and ending the rioting -- and the Ferguson police are concerned about ... something else. This is where I'd love to hear people's speculation as to what that something else is. Here is my theory: the Ferguson police are now in a defensive fetal position where everything they do is about validating their actions over the last week and portraying the black community of Ferguson as an out-of-control, unruly mob for whom shootings, HUMVs, tanks, and all their other military toys and tactics are the only defense. In this light, it makes perfect sense that they would ignore the DOJ's concern and do something they KNEW would throw gasoline on the fire rather than calm things down. Releasing the video has the added benefit of muddying the legal waters in a Treyvon-Martin-kind-of-way as all the white authorities there brace themselves for the hurricane of law suits that is doubtlessly headed their way. Prediction: for any trials that come out of the Michael Brown case, look for Ferguson's white police and leadership to demand a change of venue -- to some nearby all-white community where they could get a sympathetic all-white jury. I suspect that, for the Ferguson authorities, it has been their all-white constituents who are the only ones they've had any concern about all along. -- Nuggetsman
The Palestinians' "Nonviolent" Solution
Searching for a Palestinian Dr. King (Dean Obidiah) from the Daily Beast
"There are some nonviolent Palestinians, but they get crowded out by Hamas—and the Israelis, who aren’t exactly nonviolent either."
"There are some nonviolent Palestinians, but they get crowded out by Hamas—and the Israelis, who aren’t exactly nonviolent either."
What It Means to be a "Moderate" in Today's Middle East
The Fantasy of Middle Eastern Moderates (Fareed Zakaria) from the Washington Post
"Over the past decade, the United States helped organize Iraq’s “moderates” — the Shiite-dominated government — giving them tens of billions of dollars in aid and supplying and training their army. But, it turned out, the moderates weren’t that moderate."
"Over the past decade, the United States helped organize Iraq’s “moderates” — the Shiite-dominated government — giving them tens of billions of dollars in aid and supplying and training their army. But, it turned out, the moderates weren’t that moderate."
America as "Master of the Universe"? -- Never Was ... and Never Will Be
Obama is right, Clinton wrong, on foreign policy (Armando) from Daily Kos
“The media likes to talk about foreign policy "achievements" the way they talk about legislatures "doing something." They believe the mere act of having "done something" is an accomplishment in itself and that governments have to "do something" to have effective foreign policies. This is the essential problem of foreign policy "experts." ... They see NOT "doing something" as failure in and of itself. This is the type of thinking that leads to "doing stupid shit," as the president was reported as saying."
Given the difficulty the US has in striking the right balance here at home [in places like Ferguson, MO], how can we play the role of "Masters of the Universe" in places as complex as Iraq and Syria? Neo-cons and their liberal internationalist allies will never comprehend this.
“The media likes to talk about foreign policy "achievements" the way they talk about legislatures "doing something." They believe the mere act of having "done something" is an accomplishment in itself and that governments have to "do something" to have effective foreign policies. This is the essential problem of foreign policy "experts." ... They see NOT "doing something" as failure in and of itself. This is the type of thinking that leads to "doing stupid shit," as the president was reported as saying."
Given the difficulty the US has in striking the right balance here at home [in places like Ferguson, MO], how can we play the role of "Masters of the Universe" in places as complex as Iraq and Syria? Neo-cons and their liberal internationalist allies will never comprehend this.
The Obama Doctrine: Doing Nothing Better Than Doing Something?
Two Ways of Looking at the Hillary Clinton Interview (James Fallows) from the Atlantic
A similar take:
"It sinks for her, that she thought this would make her sound tough or wise; it sinks for the Democratic Party, that this is the future foreign policy choice it’s getting; and it sinks for the country, if this is the way we’re going to be talked to about our options in dealings with the world. The easiest and least useful stance when it comes to foreign policy is: Situation X is terrible, we have to do something. Or its cousin: Situation X is terrible, you should have done something."
A similar take:
"It sinks for her, that she thought this would make her sound tough or wise; it sinks for the Democratic Party, that this is the future foreign policy choice it’s getting; and it sinks for the country, if this is the way we’re going to be talked to about our options in dealings with the world. The easiest and least useful stance when it comes to foreign policy is: Situation X is terrible, we have to do something. Or its cousin: Situation X is terrible, you should have done something."
Europe's Economy -- Bad and Getting Worse
Europe is in an Epic Depression — and it's Getting Worse (John Aziz) from The Week
"The euro zone (below in blue) has been in a depression since the financial crisis. That's because in terms of gross domestic product, the euro zone has not risen back to its pre-financial-crisis levels. The U.S. (below in red), on the other hand, has gotten out of its slump and continues to grow at a decent clip:..."
"The euro zone (below in blue) has been in a depression since the financial crisis. That's because in terms of gross domestic product, the euro zone has not risen back to its pre-financial-crisis levels. The U.S. (below in red), on the other hand, has gotten out of its slump and continues to grow at a decent clip:..."
US Needs to Learn from Europe's Economic Mistakes
The Forever Slump (Paul Krugman) from the New York Times
"Recovery is far from complete, and the wrong policies could still turn economic weakness into a more or less permanent depression. In fact, that’s what seems to be happening in Europe as we speak. And the rest of us should learn from Europe’s experience."
"Recovery is far from complete, and the wrong policies could still turn economic weakness into a more or less permanent depression. In fact, that’s what seems to be happening in Europe as we speak. And the rest of us should learn from Europe’s experience."
A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste at Yale
A Review of William Deresiewicz’s “Excellent Sheep” from the Washington Post
“The system manufactures students who are smart and talented and driven, yes, but also anxious, timid, and lost, with little intellectual curiosity and a stunted sense of purpose: trapped in a bubble of privilege, heading meekly in the same direction, great at what they’re doing but with no idea why they’re doing it.”
“The system manufactures students who are smart and talented and driven, yes, but also anxious, timid, and lost, with little intellectual curiosity and a stunted sense of purpose: trapped in a bubble of privilege, heading meekly in the same direction, great at what they’re doing but with no idea why they’re doing it.”
The Misguided Spending Spree Going on in Higher Ed
The Hi-Tech Mess of Higher Education (David Bromwich) from the New York Review of Books
"The model seems to be the elite club—in this instance, a club whose leading function is to house in comfort thousands of young people while they complete some serious educational tasks and form connections that may help them in later life."
"The model seems to be the elite club—in this instance, a club whose leading function is to house in comfort thousands of young people while they complete some serious educational tasks and form connections that may help them in later life."
The Health Care "Free Market"'s Predictable Effect in Poor Countries
Transplant Brokers in Israel Lure Desperate Kidney Patients to Costa Rica from the New York Times
"Facing the prospect of impossibly long waiting lists for organs, some Israelis are turning to an underground trade that pairs them with people willing to sell an organ."
Now, there you go! The elegant simplicity of free market solutions!
"Facing the prospect of impossibly long waiting lists for organs, some Israelis are turning to an underground trade that pairs them with people willing to sell an organ."
Now, there you go! The elegant simplicity of free market solutions!
Federal and State Authorities Become More Involved in Ferguson
Federal, state officials take sweeping steps in response to Ferguson, Mo., unrest from the Washington Post
"Federal and state officials unveiled a sweeping response Thursday to violent clashes between police and protesters over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager, with Missouri taking over security operations from local police and authorities agreeing to accept Justice Department help in handling protests."
"Federal and state officials unveiled a sweeping response Thursday to violent clashes between police and protesters over the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager, with Missouri taking over security operations from local police and authorities agreeing to accept Justice Department help in handling protests."
Reactions to Ferguson crisis Don't Track Usual Ideological Paths
Libertarians make their voices heard on police in Ferguson, Mo. (Dan Balz) from the Washington Post
"The killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., has produced a rare and surprisingly unified response across the ideological spectrum, with Republicans and Democrats joining to decry the tactics of the city’s police force in the face of escalating protests."
"The killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., has produced a rare and surprisingly unified response across the ideological spectrum, with Republicans and Democrats joining to decry the tactics of the city’s police force in the face of escalating protests."
Ferguson Police and their Views of the People of Ferguson
Why are Ferguson cops so completely out of control? (Amanda Marcotte) from Pandagon
"...From the way they’re carrying on, in fact, you start to get the strong impression that they don’t quite believe that the people of Ferguson are free people who are allowed to be outside in their community if they damn well please—indeed, according to the best eyewitness to the Mike Brown shooting, the idea that there’s something unsavory about people, black people anyway, merely existing outside in their own communities is the mentality that allegedly caused the altercation that led to Brown’s death in the first place."
"...From the way they’re carrying on, in fact, you start to get the strong impression that they don’t quite believe that the people of Ferguson are free people who are allowed to be outside in their community if they damn well please—indeed, according to the best eyewitness to the Mike Brown shooting, the idea that there’s something unsavory about people, black people anyway, merely existing outside in their own communities is the mentality that allegedly caused the altercation that led to Brown’s death in the first place."
The DOJ Getting More Involved in Investigation of the Brown Case
Eric Holder Authorizes Second Autopsy Of Michael Brown from the Huffington Post
US AG Holder: "Due to the extraordinary circumstances involved in this case and at the request of the Brown family, Attorney General Holder has instructed Justice Department officials to arrange for an additional autopsy to be performed by a federal medical examiner," Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon said in a Sunday statement.""
Given what serial mishandlers the Ferguson authorities have been around the Brown case, don't be surprised if they try to block Holder's effort here.
US AG Holder: "Due to the extraordinary circumstances involved in this case and at the request of the Brown family, Attorney General Holder has instructed Justice Department officials to arrange for an additional autopsy to be performed by a federal medical examiner," Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon said in a Sunday statement.""
Given what serial mishandlers the Ferguson authorities have been around the Brown case, don't be surprised if they try to block Holder's effort here.
A Militarized Police and the Limits on "Crowd Control:"
Playing Soldier in the Suburbs (Ross Douthat) from the New York Times
"Militarized tactics that are potentially useful in specialized circumstances — like firefights with suicidal terrorist groups — can be counterproductive when employed for crowd-control purposes by rank-and-file cops. (The only recent calm on Ferguson’s streets came after state cops started walking through the crowds in blue uniforms, behaving like police instead of storm troopers.)"
"Militarized tactics that are potentially useful in specialized circumstances — like firefights with suicidal terrorist groups — can be counterproductive when employed for crowd-control purposes by rank-and-file cops. (The only recent calm on Ferguson’s streets came after state cops started walking through the crowds in blue uniforms, behaving like police instead of storm troopers.)"
White supremacy’s latest round in Missouri
Retracing the real history of Ferguson (Falguni Seth) from Salon
"The Ferguson nightmare is just another reminder of a world exemplified by slavery, Jim Crow and "stop and frisk"."
"The Ferguson nightmare is just another reminder of a world exemplified by slavery, Jim Crow and "stop and frisk"."
How Ferguson Police Ran their Town
The Day Ferguson Cops Were Caught in a Bloody Lie (Michael Daley) from the Daily Beast
"The officers got the wrong man, but charged him anyway—with getting his blood on their uniforms. How the Ferguson PD ran the town where Michael Brown was gunned down."
It is remarkable how ridiculously implausible the police's story sounds -- now that the Ferguson authorities have absolutely, positively ZERO credibility any longer.
"The officers got the wrong man, but charged him anyway—with getting his blood on their uniforms. How the Ferguson PD ran the town where Michael Brown was gunned down."
It is remarkable how ridiculously implausible the police's story sounds -- now that the Ferguson authorities have absolutely, positively ZERO credibility any longer.
Obama's Upcoming Immigration Change: The GOP's Pre-Response Response
Why the Republican freak-out over Obama's immigration order is both dumb and inhumane (Joel Dodge) from The Week
"Critics have labeled his impending executive action "domestic Caesarism." But the conservative backlash is out of touch with reality."
"Critics have labeled his impending executive action "domestic Caesarism." But the conservative backlash is out of touch with reality."
Will It Be Clinton-Castro in 2016?
Hillary Clinton said to be grooming Obama official Julian Castro for vice president from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"Clinton is said to be keeping the new Housing and Urban Development Secretary 'very close'. Castro had dinner with the Clintons earlier this month and appeared at an event with Hillary in July. Castro is the former mayor of San Antonio, Texas and is a rising star in the Democratic Party."
"Clinton is said to be keeping the new Housing and Urban Development Secretary 'very close'. Castro had dinner with the Clintons earlier this month and appeared at an event with Hillary in July. Castro is the former mayor of San Antonio, Texas and is a rising star in the Democratic Party."
More Trouble for Gov. Perry
Texas Gov. Rick Perry Indicted For Abuse Of Power from the Associated Press
"A grand jury indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday for allegedly abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption — making the possible 2016 presidential hopeful his state's first indicted governor in nearly a century."
"A grand jury indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday for allegedly abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption — making the possible 2016 presidential hopeful his state's first indicted governor in nearly a century."
More Trouble for Christie
Chris Christie Faces Mounting Suits Over Public Records from the Huffington Post
"New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took into office promising "a new era of accountability and transparency." Yet after he won a second term last year and as he explores a run for president, his administration stands accused of routinely stonewalling even the most basic requests for public records. Attorneys involved in lawsuits filed in search of public records say they have seen a spike in the number of such cases in the past six months."
"New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took into office promising "a new era of accountability and transparency." Yet after he won a second term last year and as he explores a run for president, his administration stands accused of routinely stonewalling even the most basic requests for public records. Attorneys involved in lawsuits filed in search of public records say they have seen a spike in the number of such cases in the past six months."
CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD NUGGET!!
When Lauren Bacall Stood Up To Congress's Communist Scare from National Journal
"Lauren Bacall died Tuesday at 89, the end of life as a prominent film star from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Onscreen, she was known for her husky voice and "The Look." Offscreen, however, Bacall spent decades in political advocacy—and it all began with a congressional confrontation."
"Lauren Bacall died Tuesday at 89, the end of life as a prominent film star from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Onscreen, she was known for her husky voice and "The Look." Offscreen, however, Bacall spent decades in political advocacy—and it all began with a congressional confrontation."
MOVIE-TV DOG NUGGET!!
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Lassie prepares to make a comeback... with the help of Ryan Seacrest from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"She is one of America’s most beloved characters and Lassie is about to spend some more time in the spotlight. The adorable pooch is slowly but surely making a comeback with a slew of public appearances. But the New York Times reports that fans of the franchise shouldn’t get too excited, because there are no plans for a new movie or TV show starring the loveable hound."
"She is one of America’s most beloved characters and Lassie is about to spend some more time in the spotlight. The adorable pooch is slowly but surely making a comeback with a slew of public appearances. But the New York Times reports that fans of the franchise shouldn’t get too excited, because there are no plans for a new movie or TV show starring the loveable hound."
Sunday, August 17, 2014
The Politics of Texas a Poor Foundation for Perry's 2016 Aspirations
What the Hell Just Happened in Texas, and Why Was Rick Perry Just Indicted? from the Daily Beast
"The scandal that erupted Friday night involved millions of dollars, statehouse power plays—oh yeah, and alcohol, police, and masks."
I am beginning to wonder if the geographical calculus of presidential campaigns hasn't shifted in the last ten years or so. For almost 100 years (following the Civil War) it was neigh impossible for a true southerner to get elected President. LBJ broke that mold and since then four of the six elected presidents have been southerners (Carter, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II). I look out on the electoral landscape now, and (in more ways than one) I think real southern candidates (and I don't count Hillary as one of these) are now borderline unelectable to the big chair. It was for a time in the Democratic Party that they felt like they had to chart a centrist path and felt attracted to southern Dems (Lloyd Benson, Anne Richards) -- but I think the landscape has transformed enough now that southern Dems are too conservative for the larger Democratic Party while the base of the GOP has become too southern and too conservative wingnut to play outside the south. Rick Perry is exhibit No. 1 for this theory. In GOP circles, this clown was viewed as a "serious contender", as a real "heavyweight" and a genuine threat to Obama in 2012 and someone who seemed to be reclaiming some of his reputation so far in the GOP's pre-primary sweepstakes. It has long been my contention that this talk was all largely an illusion. This guy should never have been taken seriously. Only within the southern, conservative alternative reality did he seem credible. What passes for normal politics in the south and what behaviors go by with little or no commentary from the thoroughly desensitized press there will come into glaring relief on the national stage, a stage strewn with banana peels that, as Perry found out in '12, will send the Perrys, the Gingrichs, the Rubios, the Jindals, and the Huckabees careening into the orchestra pit in very short order. Looking ahead, I take it for granted that anyone the GOP nominates in 2016 will have a lock on about 40% of the electorate -- but who out there in GOP-land has the right combination to get substantially more or to get on the other side of 50%? I don't see anyone at this point who could even come close. -- Nuggetsman
"The scandal that erupted Friday night involved millions of dollars, statehouse power plays—oh yeah, and alcohol, police, and masks."
I am beginning to wonder if the geographical calculus of presidential campaigns hasn't shifted in the last ten years or so. For almost 100 years (following the Civil War) it was neigh impossible for a true southerner to get elected President. LBJ broke that mold and since then four of the six elected presidents have been southerners (Carter, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II). I look out on the electoral landscape now, and (in more ways than one) I think real southern candidates (and I don't count Hillary as one of these) are now borderline unelectable to the big chair. It was for a time in the Democratic Party that they felt like they had to chart a centrist path and felt attracted to southern Dems (Lloyd Benson, Anne Richards) -- but I think the landscape has transformed enough now that southern Dems are too conservative for the larger Democratic Party while the base of the GOP has become too southern and too conservative wingnut to play outside the south. Rick Perry is exhibit No. 1 for this theory. In GOP circles, this clown was viewed as a "serious contender", as a real "heavyweight" and a genuine threat to Obama in 2012 and someone who seemed to be reclaiming some of his reputation so far in the GOP's pre-primary sweepstakes. It has long been my contention that this talk was all largely an illusion. This guy should never have been taken seriously. Only within the southern, conservative alternative reality did he seem credible. What passes for normal politics in the south and what behaviors go by with little or no commentary from the thoroughly desensitized press there will come into glaring relief on the national stage, a stage strewn with banana peels that, as Perry found out in '12, will send the Perrys, the Gingrichs, the Rubios, the Jindals, and the Huckabees careening into the orchestra pit in very short order. Looking ahead, I take it for granted that anyone the GOP nominates in 2016 will have a lock on about 40% of the electorate -- but who out there in GOP-land has the right combination to get substantially more or to get on the other side of 50%? I don't see anyone at this point who could even come close. -- Nuggetsman
Thursday, August 14, 2014
News Nuggets 1477
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| The McCloud Waterfalls in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in California. From National Geographic. |
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: The Media's Foreign Policy Filters
Obama's Foreign Policy Record: TBD (Robert Kaplan) from Real Clear World
A lengthy excerpt is in order here:
"In much of this criticism there is a phenomenon operating in the background that goes unmentioned: The opinion pages of the large circulation dailies in New York and Washington are either liberal internationalist or neoconservative, meaning they all have a bias for action, for doing dramatic things to make the world a better place. Realism, which has a sturdier pedigree -- going all the way back to Thucydides' "The History of the Peloponnesian War" -- encapsulates how most people in government and business actually think, but it has relatively few followers in the major media. And realism counsels caution, because a bias for action can often lead to disaster. Because Obama has had until this recent Iraq crisis the opposite -- a bias for inaction -- the major media simply hate him. So let's see how he is doing. ..."
A lengthy excerpt is in order here:
"In much of this criticism there is a phenomenon operating in the background that goes unmentioned: The opinion pages of the large circulation dailies in New York and Washington are either liberal internationalist or neoconservative, meaning they all have a bias for action, for doing dramatic things to make the world a better place. Realism, which has a sturdier pedigree -- going all the way back to Thucydides' "The History of the Peloponnesian War" -- encapsulates how most people in government and business actually think, but it has relatively few followers in the major media. And realism counsels caution, because a bias for action can often lead to disaster. Because Obama has had until this recent Iraq crisis the opposite -- a bias for inaction -- the major media simply hate him. So let's see how he is doing. ..."
TODAY'S OTHER BIG NUGGET: Mostly Black Community Governed Mostly by Whites? A Good Idea?
Ferguson Is Mostly Black. Why Is Its Government So White? (Jordan Weissmann) from Slate
"Ferguson, Missouri, is a majority-black city governed mostly by whites. The mayor is white. The police chief is white. The police force is 94 percent white. Only one of its six city council members is black. These facts, as much as anything, have shaped the protests over the police shooting of Michael Brown. Ferguson, with a 67 percent black population, is a place where the largest community has little political voice."
You have to wonder what the white leaders in this community have been thinking all these years. You'd expect this ... in 1965. But in 2014, you'd have to have rocks for brains to think this would pass without some tragedy happening as we have seen.
"Ferguson, Missouri, is a majority-black city governed mostly by whites. The mayor is white. The police chief is white. The police force is 94 percent white. Only one of its six city council members is black. These facts, as much as anything, have shaped the protests over the police shooting of Michael Brown. Ferguson, with a 67 percent black population, is a place where the largest community has little political voice."
You have to wonder what the white leaders in this community have been thinking all these years. You'd expect this ... in 1965. But in 2014, you'd have to have rocks for brains to think this would pass without some tragedy happening as we have seen.
Assault on WaPo Reporter Provides Window into Ferguson Crackdown
In Ferguson, Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery gives account of his arrest from the Washington Post
"Then they walked away. Moments later, the police reemerged, telling us that we had to leave. I pulled my phone out and began recording video. ... We asked to speak to a commanding officer. We asked to see an arrest report. No report, the officer told us, and no, they wouldn’t provide any names."
"Then they walked away. Moments later, the police reemerged, telling us that we had to leave. I pulled my phone out and began recording video. ... We asked to speak to a commanding officer. We asked to see an arrest report. No report, the officer told us, and no, they wouldn’t provide any names."
Accountability and Transparency -- Lost in the Clouds of Tear Gas
Anonymity in Police Shooting Fuels Anger from the New York Times
"Since an unarmed man was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., the selective release of information, and the anonymity granted the officer, has stoked frustrations."
"Since an unarmed man was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., the selective release of information, and the anonymity granted the officer, has stoked frustrations."
The Cold Realism of America’s Defense Secretary
Chuck Hagel’s world from the Economist [of London]
"Now, high above Asia in his airborne command post, Mr Hagel notes a puzzle: since its founding America has been unusually wary of foreign entanglements, yet at the same time uniquely confident that it can fix the largest problems. That is a good balance. A turbulent world needs America to keep sight of it."
"Now, high above Asia in his airborne command post, Mr Hagel notes a puzzle: since its founding America has been unusually wary of foreign entanglements, yet at the same time uniquely confident that it can fix the largest problems. That is a good balance. A turbulent world needs America to keep sight of it."
New Economic Data Under Scrutiny
By Any Measure, The Job Market Is Getting Better (Ben Casselman) from FiveThirtyEight
"U.S. employers listed 4.7 million available jobs at the end of June, 700,000 more than a year earlier and the most since 2001, according to new data released Tuesday. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers has been falling steadily and is now below 10 million."
The thing that always kills me about these jobs report is statements like the following: "There are now two unemployed workers for every job opening, down from about seven at the height of the unemployment crisis." Now, consider the ACADEMIC job market for the Arts and Humanities: for as long as I can remember, most job postings receive between 100 and 300 applications. People are welcome to comment on this state of affairs because I know we have a disproportionate number of academics who follow this site.
"U.S. employers listed 4.7 million available jobs at the end of June, 700,000 more than a year earlier and the most since 2001, according to new data released Tuesday. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers has been falling steadily and is now below 10 million."
The thing that always kills me about these jobs report is statements like the following: "There are now two unemployed workers for every job opening, down from about seven at the height of the unemployment crisis." Now, consider the ACADEMIC job market for the Arts and Humanities: for as long as I can remember, most job postings receive between 100 and 300 applications. People are welcome to comment on this state of affairs because I know we have a disproportionate number of academics who follow this site.
Companies Won't Hire Those Most in Need of a Job
Many Jobs, Few Hires from the Daily Dish
"Matt Phillips throws cold water on the news. He proclaims that “American companies want workers—they just aren’t actually hiring them yet” ..."
"Matt Phillips throws cold water on the news. He proclaims that “American companies want workers—they just aren’t actually hiring them yet” ..."
The Humanities' Import in the 21st Century
Don’t Dismiss the Humanities (Nicholas Kristof) from the New York Times
"So let me push back at the idea that the humanities are obscure, arcane and irrelevant. These three philosophers influence the way I think about politics, immigration, inequality; they even affect what I eat."
"So let me push back at the idea that the humanities are obscure, arcane and irrelevant. These three philosophers influence the way I think about politics, immigration, inequality; they even affect what I eat."
The History Culture Wars in Academic Testing
Republican National Committee Condemns New AP History Framework from Education Week
"The Republican National Committee is calling for a fight against the College Board's new framework for Advanced Placement U.S. History, claiming that it "deliberately distorts and/or edits out important historical events." The new framework "reflects a radically revisionist view of American history that emphasizes negative aspects of our nation's history while omitting or minimizing positive aspects,..."
Conservative-leaning president of the National Association of Scholars (NAS) has his lengthy critique of the new framework HERE.
I've actually been thinking about this quite a bit in the last several years. There is ONE area where I share the NAS president's concern (even as I find the larger intellectual landscape he lives in to be absurdly reactive). Some may find this to be odd, given my background as a social historian, but here it is: I now think social historians made a mistake back in the 1970s and later when they caste their claim to intellectual and pedagogical turf as one IN OPPOSITION TO traditional political, intellectual and military history and biography. Without in any way negating the importance of social history (and the extraordinary historical worlds they have opened up and put into classrooms everywhere), I think social historians forgot the essential element "traditional" historical methods and topics had or could have in developing an informed foundation of what used to be called "civics" or "informed citizenship."
Based on my own experience as a student (lo those many years ago) and as a teacher, I have the fear that we (those of us who care about us having a historically informed population) have largely lost two generations of students who are astonishingly clueless on how our government has functioned, what are its guiding lights or principles, and what that government has done and not done in the last 230+ years. I have seen it in both my contemporaries (non-historian types in our generation) and now my students at CMU and elsewhere. Make no mistake, I think my students at CMU were GREAT students! And that fact makes it doubly vexing. I have been deeply disturbed by what fodder they (and their parents) have become for the sweeping, baseless assertions made by every right-wing windbag (Glenn Beck University!) and FOX News twisted "news brief". Bill O'Reilly and legions of others make historical claims that are so wildly off-base -- and yet average people and now even **reporters** are so poorly grounded in "traditional history" that such claims go out largely unchallenged.
It is RARE that I meet anyone of our generation (born in the mid-1960s) or younger who has ANY grasp at all of US history (traditional or otherwise). Ask any non-academic person of a certain age or younger to name ONE cause of World War One -- you will almost assuredly be greeted by silence. As a committed social historian, I have reluctantly concluded that we need to put some version of political and military history BACK IN. It would not be INSTEAD OF what social history has provided, but in addition to. Moreover, we don't need the "great white man" version of the story or one where memorizing names, dates, and a set narrative are the focus -- but more on the constitution, the bill of rights, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War II, etc., etc. would be a good thing. I also suspect there is a real LONGING out in the country for more focus on these issues. -- Nuggetsman
"The Republican National Committee is calling for a fight against the College Board's new framework for Advanced Placement U.S. History, claiming that it "deliberately distorts and/or edits out important historical events." The new framework "reflects a radically revisionist view of American history that emphasizes negative aspects of our nation's history while omitting or minimizing positive aspects,..."
Conservative-leaning president of the National Association of Scholars (NAS) has his lengthy critique of the new framework HERE.
I've actually been thinking about this quite a bit in the last several years. There is ONE area where I share the NAS president's concern (even as I find the larger intellectual landscape he lives in to be absurdly reactive). Some may find this to be odd, given my background as a social historian, but here it is: I now think social historians made a mistake back in the 1970s and later when they caste their claim to intellectual and pedagogical turf as one IN OPPOSITION TO traditional political, intellectual and military history and biography. Without in any way negating the importance of social history (and the extraordinary historical worlds they have opened up and put into classrooms everywhere), I think social historians forgot the essential element "traditional" historical methods and topics had or could have in developing an informed foundation of what used to be called "civics" or "informed citizenship."
Based on my own experience as a student (lo those many years ago) and as a teacher, I have the fear that we (those of us who care about us having a historically informed population) have largely lost two generations of students who are astonishingly clueless on how our government has functioned, what are its guiding lights or principles, and what that government has done and not done in the last 230+ years. I have seen it in both my contemporaries (non-historian types in our generation) and now my students at CMU and elsewhere. Make no mistake, I think my students at CMU were GREAT students! And that fact makes it doubly vexing. I have been deeply disturbed by what fodder they (and their parents) have become for the sweeping, baseless assertions made by every right-wing windbag (Glenn Beck University!) and FOX News twisted "news brief". Bill O'Reilly and legions of others make historical claims that are so wildly off-base -- and yet average people and now even **reporters** are so poorly grounded in "traditional history" that such claims go out largely unchallenged.
It is RARE that I meet anyone of our generation (born in the mid-1960s) or younger who has ANY grasp at all of US history (traditional or otherwise). Ask any non-academic person of a certain age or younger to name ONE cause of World War One -- you will almost assuredly be greeted by silence. As a committed social historian, I have reluctantly concluded that we need to put some version of political and military history BACK IN. It would not be INSTEAD OF what social history has provided, but in addition to. Moreover, we don't need the "great white man" version of the story or one where memorizing names, dates, and a set narrative are the focus -- but more on the constitution, the bill of rights, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War II, etc., etc. would be a good thing. I also suspect there is a real LONGING out in the country for more focus on these issues. -- Nuggetsman
Clinton Belittles Obama at Her Peril
Hillary Clinton, Barbed and Bellicose (Frank Bruni) from the New York Times
"The question isn’t whether she’s running: Of course she is, and the only newsworthy announcement down the road would be that she’s getting out of the race. The question is whether she can belittle Barack Obama as much as she must in order to win, but not so much that it plays as an act of sheer betrayal."
"The question isn’t whether she’s running: Of course she is, and the only newsworthy announcement down the road would be that she’s getting out of the race. The question is whether she can belittle Barack Obama as much as she must in order to win, but not so much that it plays as an act of sheer betrayal."
One of the many reasons Rand Paul will NOT be the GOP's presidential nominee in 2016
Rand Paul skips out on evangelical voter event, and they're peeved from Daily Kos
"The first rule of dodging ultra-religious, ultra-conservative voters is that you can't let them find out you're dodging them ..."
"The first rule of dodging ultra-religious, ultra-conservative voters is that you can't let them find out you're dodging them ..."
The Right-Wing PACs' Playbook
Lose Races, Rake In the Cash from the Daily Beast
"As Tea Party-affiliated Super PACs keep losing elections, their grassroots fundraising keeps going up, up, up. What’s the mentality there?"
"As Tea Party-affiliated Super PACs keep losing elections, their grassroots fundraising keeps going up, up, up. What’s the mentality there?"
MEDICAL TECH NUGGET!!
Would YOU grow your child in an artificial womb OUTSIDE of a human body? Ectogenesis could be widely used in 30 years from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"Ectogenesis technology has been in development since 2001 and American-Hungarian futurist Zoltan Istvan believes it will be widely available by 2044."
"Ectogenesis technology has been in development since 2001 and American-Hungarian futurist Zoltan Istvan believes it will be widely available by 2044."
Monday, August 11, 2014
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: Censorship in the US: The 21st Century Version
The War Photo No One Would Publish from the Atlantic
"When Kenneth Jarecke photographed an Iraqi man burned alive, he thought it would change the way Americans saw the Gulf War. But the media wouldn’t run the picture."
"When Kenneth Jarecke photographed an Iraqi man burned alive, he thought it would change the way Americans saw the Gulf War. But the media wouldn’t run the picture."
China's Influence Goes Beyond the Exercise of Military Power
China’s 50,000 Secret Weapons in the South China Sea from the National Interest
"... , thanks to a recent report in Reuters, we now know a little more about China’s stepped up efforts to alter conditions in the water. It may just end up that Beijing’s greatest weapon may not be its military—it might just be its fishing boats."
"... , thanks to a recent report in Reuters, we now know a little more about China’s stepped up efforts to alter conditions in the water. It may just end up that Beijing’s greatest weapon may not be its military—it might just be its fishing boats."
New Layers Beneath the Crisis in the Ukraine
Before the fear of war, fear of fracking in Ukraine (Anna Nemtsova) from Al Jazeera America
"People in the embattled Donbass know the shale beneath their feet could be the real reason for conflict in their towns."
"People in the embattled Donbass know the shale beneath their feet could be the real reason for conflict in their towns."
New Levels of Anti-Semitism in Europe
Hate Crimes Against Jews On The Rise In Europe from NPR
"Some Europeans say anti-Semitism has increased in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. NPR's Lourdes Garcia Navarro talks with correspondents Eleanor Beardsley and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson."
"Some Europeans say anti-Semitism has increased in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. NPR's Lourdes Garcia Navarro talks with correspondents Eleanor Beardsley and Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson."
Water Wars in the West
In dry California, water goes to those who drill the deepest (Haya El Nasser) from Al Jazeera America
"In one of the most regulated states in the nation, no laws apply to groundwater pumping, which means some people go dry."
"In one of the most regulated states in the nation, no laws apply to groundwater pumping, which means some people go dry."
American Attitudes on Child Border Crossers
What do Americans say should happen to child border crossers? from CBS News
"When asked what should happen to the Central American children who have recently crossed the border into the U.S. illegally, 50 percent of Americans say they should be returned to their home country as soon as possible..."
"When asked what should happen to the Central American children who have recently crossed the border into the U.S. illegally, 50 percent of Americans say they should be returned to their home country as soon as possible..."
Despite Primary Loses, the Tea Folks Are Winning the "War"
Battles and Wars in the GOP (Ed Kilgore) from Washington Monthly
"... the main function of the Tea Party Movement has been to intensify and defend a rightward movement in the Republican Party that’s been underway for decades but has gained hellish momentum since the 2008 elections, regularly overwhelming the efforts of GOP elites to instill some “pragmatic” caution. In that sense, the Tea Folk are winning “the war” even if they lose a number of primary “battles.”"
"... the main function of the Tea Party Movement has been to intensify and defend a rightward movement in the Republican Party that’s been underway for decades but has gained hellish momentum since the 2008 elections, regularly overwhelming the efforts of GOP elites to instill some “pragmatic” caution. In that sense, the Tea Folk are winning “the war” even if they lose a number of primary “battles.”"
Tennessee Strikes Back!
String of Same-sex Marriage Rulings Broken from the SCOTUS Blog
"For the first time in nearly fourteen months, a state’s ban on same-sex marriage has withstood a constitutional challenge in court. A state judge in Tennessee ruled last week that “neither the Federal Government nor another state should be allowed to dictate to Tennessee what has traditionally been a state’s responsibility.”"
Can anyone forget that Tennessee is the home of Dayton ... of the Scopes Monkey Trial fame? The sentiment expressed here ["neither the Federal Government nor another state should be allowed to dictate to Tennessee..."] suggests not much has changed since the 1920s.
"For the first time in nearly fourteen months, a state’s ban on same-sex marriage has withstood a constitutional challenge in court. A state judge in Tennessee ruled last week that “neither the Federal Government nor another state should be allowed to dictate to Tennessee what has traditionally been a state’s responsibility.”"
Can anyone forget that Tennessee is the home of Dayton ... of the Scopes Monkey Trial fame? The sentiment expressed here ["neither the Federal Government nor another state should be allowed to dictate to Tennessee..."] suggests not much has changed since the 1920s.
Obama's Short- ... and Long-term Prospects
Obama Outlines His Post-Presidency (Eleanor Clift) from the Daily Beast
"With prospects for major legislation nonexistent, Obama is looking to plant seeds that he hopes his successors can cultivate."
"With prospects for major legislation nonexistent, Obama is looking to plant seeds that he hopes his successors can cultivate."
The Crisis Facing Working Class Men
Is a Hard Life Inherited? (Nicholas Kristof) from the New York Times
"... many are oblivious of their own advantages, and of other people’s disadvantages. The result is a meanspiritedness in the political world or, at best, a lack of empathy toward those struggling — partly explaining the hostility to state expansion of Medicaid, to long-term unemployment benefits, or to raising the minimum wage to keep up with inflation. This has been on my mind because I’ve been visiting my hometown of Yamhill, Ore., a farming community that’s a window into the national crisis facing working-class men."
"... many are oblivious of their own advantages, and of other people’s disadvantages. The result is a meanspiritedness in the political world or, at best, a lack of empathy toward those struggling — partly explaining the hostility to state expansion of Medicaid, to long-term unemployment benefits, or to raising the minimum wage to keep up with inflation. This has been on my mind because I’ve been visiting my hometown of Yamhill, Ore., a farming community that’s a window into the national crisis facing working-class men."
HRC's Road to the Nomination
Three Reasons Why Hillary Really Is Inevitable for Democrats in 2016 (Joshua Green) from Bloomberg Businessweek
"... her incipient 2016 presidential campaign seems to be repeating many of the mistakes of her failed 2008 one. But stumbling now, two years before the Democratic National Convention, doesn’t mean she won’t win the nomination anyway. Let me lay out once and for all why:"
"... her incipient 2016 presidential campaign seems to be repeating many of the mistakes of her failed 2008 one. But stumbling now, two years before the Democratic National Convention, doesn’t mean she won’t win the nomination anyway. Let me lay out once and for all why:"
The Source of All the "Impeach Obama" Talk?
Fringe Tea Party Groups Organizing 'National Impeach Obama Week' from Talking Points Memo
"The groups are organizing protests during the week of August 23 to call for Obama's impeachment, according to a blog post by activist Robert Ogden on the conservative blogging site, Western Journalism."
What are the talking heads going to say now? That it is actually the Democrats and the liberals who are covertly organizing these events?
"The groups are organizing protests during the week of August 23 to call for Obama's impeachment, according to a blog post by activist Robert Ogden on the conservative blogging site, Western Journalism."
What are the talking heads going to say now? That it is actually the Democrats and the liberals who are covertly organizing these events?
Right-wing Conferences as Group Therapy Sessions
What I Saw at Iowa’s So-Co Circus (Ben Jacobs) from the Daily Beast
"... it wasn’t really a political rally, despite the presence of nearly a half dozen presidential hopefuls. And it wasn’t a revival meeting, despite the fact it had more preachers than a seminary faculty. Instead, it often played out like a group therapy session for frustrated conservatives to share their dismay over the direction of the country."
"... it wasn’t really a political rally, despite the presence of nearly a half dozen presidential hopefuls. And it wasn’t a revival meeting, despite the fact it had more preachers than a seminary faculty. Instead, it often played out like a group therapy session for frustrated conservatives to share their dismay over the direction of the country."
The Proper Way of Dealing with Muslims - The Right Wing Version
Local Kansas GOP official: ‘Offending Muslims is the duty of any civilized person. Especially with a .45.’ from the Kansas City Star
"Gavin Ellzey, the vice chairman of the Kansas Republican 3rd Congressional District Committee, advised on Twitter in early July that “offending Muslims is the duty of any civilized person.” Ellzey added, “Especially with a .45.” In an interview with The Star, the Overland Park resident acknowledged writing the tweet in response to television news reports about Christians being “crucified” overseas."
"Gavin Ellzey, the vice chairman of the Kansas Republican 3rd Congressional District Committee, advised on Twitter in early July that “offending Muslims is the duty of any civilized person.” Ellzey added, “Especially with a .45.” In an interview with The Star, the Overland Park resident acknowledged writing the tweet in response to television news reports about Christians being “crucified” overseas."
Thursday, August 7, 2014
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: Teeth That Bite in the Latest Sanctions
Europe Puts Putin in a Corner from the editors of Bloomberg
"These new steps -- which the U.S. subsequently complemented -- impose significant pain on Russia's $2 trillion economy and on some European firms."
"These new steps -- which the U.S. subsequently complemented -- impose significant pain on Russia's $2 trillion economy and on some European firms."
Germany and the Ambiguities of Being a "Great Power"
Germany faced up to its past but now has to act like a great power (Charles Moore) from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"A hundred years on from the Great War, the Hun has turned into Mother Hen under Angela Merkel - but it needs to confront Russia over the Ukraine."
"A hundred years on from the Great War, the Hun has turned into Mother Hen under Angela Merkel - but it needs to confront Russia over the Ukraine."
Dissipating Concerns About Iran's Nuclear Program
Sorry, Skeptics: The Iran Nuclear Deal Is Working (Greg Thielmann) from the National Interest
"Looking back, it is clear that many congressional skeptics of the diplomatic process were wrong about the interim agreement in several ways. ... Last fall, the trend lines were ominous regarding Iran’s
ever-expanding options for breaking out of its nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations. But as soon as the November 24 “Joint Plan of Action” (JPOA) was initiated in January, the most acute proliferation concerns began to dissipate."
"Looking back, it is clear that many congressional skeptics of the diplomatic process were wrong about the interim agreement in several ways. ... Last fall, the trend lines were ominous regarding Iran’s
ever-expanding options for breaking out of its nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations. But as soon as the November 24 “Joint Plan of Action” (JPOA) was initiated in January, the most acute proliferation concerns began to dissipate."
Obama Thinking REALLY BIG on Immigration?
With immigration reform, President Obama takes cue from Lincoln (Charles Lane) from the Washington Post
"Not since Abraham Lincoln pondered his Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 has a president considered ordering a more sweeping adjustment to membership in the American community than the mass relief for illegal immigrants that President Obama is said to be contemplating."
"Not since Abraham Lincoln pondered his Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 has a president considered ordering a more sweeping adjustment to membership in the American community than the mass relief for illegal immigrants that President Obama is said to be contemplating."
Climate Change and "Environmental Grief"
Doc: Climate Instability Shakes Mental Health from Allegheny Front
"For psychiatric doctor Steven Moffic, the health risks from climate instability and other abrupt environmental shifts include post-traumatic stress disorder, drug abuse, autism, and something called "solastalgia." "It's sort of a corollary of nostalgia," Moffic says."But it's this kind of environmental grief where where you live gets changed, against your will, obviously. You can't leave, and you feel this sadness for what you've lost right in front of you..."
"For psychiatric doctor Steven Moffic, the health risks from climate instability and other abrupt environmental shifts include post-traumatic stress disorder, drug abuse, autism, and something called "solastalgia." "It's sort of a corollary of nostalgia," Moffic says."But it's this kind of environmental grief where where you live gets changed, against your will, obviously. You can't leave, and you feel this sadness for what you've lost right in front of you..."
Of course the climate is making people crazy. Scientists are going to have to invent new adjectives to describe the weather, "severe" and "extraordinary" have become routine. The days of being concerned about the climate are already well behind us. Consider the Southwest U.S. drought story right now. I saw both lake Powell and Meade earlier this year. They are both two thirds empty. Las Vegas is just completing an $800 million tunnel up through the bottom of Mead to drain the remaining water. Talk about collective insanity! It's like something out of a 1950's science fiction movie! And yet, intelligent and educated people generally discuss global heating as a problem of the future. Maybe what were seeing is the insanity of denial.
Posted by-hopeandespair
You Want Big Decreases in the Number of Uninsured? We Know Where to Look!
In States Where It's Wanted, Obamacare Is Working Well from the Huffington Post
"States that expanded Medicaid and created their own health insurance exchanges, or worked closely with the federal government to cover more people, have shown the largest drops in their uninsured rates this year, according to a new poll released by Gallup and Healthways on Tuesday."
"States that expanded Medicaid and created their own health insurance exchanges, or worked closely with the federal government to cover more people, have shown the largest drops in their uninsured rates this year, according to a new poll released by Gallup and Healthways on Tuesday."
Newer (and Better?) Fast Food
Virtuous Fast Food from the New York Times
"Can a new wave of fast food restaurants nurture healthier alternatives and sustainable practices, or is it all just buzzwords and aggressive marketing?"
"Can a new wave of fast food restaurants nurture healthier alternatives and sustainable practices, or is it all just buzzwords and aggressive marketing?"
Differing Reports on CIA Torture
Senate Republicans to issue minority report on CIA 'torture' techniques from the Guardian [of the UK]
"Republicans on the Senate intelligence committee will soon release a minority report asserting that the CIA’s use of harsh interrogation techniques helped bring down Osama bin Laden and other terrorists, the panel’s top Republican said on Sunday. ... The Democrats’ majority report is expected to allege that the CIA’s use of techniques, such as waterboarding, did not help yield valuable intelligence and was not necessary."
"Republicans on the Senate intelligence committee will soon release a minority report asserting that the CIA’s use of harsh interrogation techniques helped bring down Osama bin Laden and other terrorists, the panel’s top Republican said on Sunday. ... The Democrats’ majority report is expected to allege that the CIA’s use of techniques, such as waterboarding, did not help yield valuable intelligence and was not necessary."
A Parent's Big Gift: Letting Go
Relax, Your Kids will be Fine from the Economist [of London]
"Middle-class parents should give their children more freedom."
"Middle-class parents should give their children more freedom."
"ABD," a Career Crippling Status
ABD Company in Today's Graduate Schools from Slate
"What’s worse than getting a Ph.D. in today’s job market? Not finishing one."
"What’s worse than getting a Ph.D. in today’s job market? Not finishing one."
The "War on Whites" Creates a Graveyard for the GOP
War Against Whites? I Think Not (Charles M. Blow) from the New York Times
"Despite a Republican’s claim that Democrats are waging a divisive campaign, the G.O.P. has long been digging its own grave on issues of racial inclusion."
"Despite a Republican’s claim that Democrats are waging a divisive campaign, the G.O.P. has long been digging its own grave on issues of racial inclusion."
Throwing the Book at ... Somebody
Throw the Book at Him (Maureen Dowd) from the New York Times
"So now, symbolically washing his hands, W.’s putting out this cute little disingenuous book about his father that won’t mention that he bollixed up the globe, his presidency, and marred Jeb’s chances, all because he wasn’t listening to his father or “working the problem.” W.’s fear of being unmanned led to America actually being unmanned."
It has been ages since I have posted anything by Dowd, one of the most superficial pundits out there and one who reminds me of what separates skepticism from cynicism: skeptics say "show me" while cynics say "you don't need to show me -- I already know!" Dowd's latest blast against George W. Bush accentuates this distinction. Now, I should say up front that I think W's administration was a disaster -- I thought so at the time and criticized him at the time with more invective than I have any other president in my life. However, HAVING SAID THAT, I find Dowd's unusually personal (and superficial, pop psychologizing) analysis here to be both unwarranted and even malicious at times (on W's history with his father) as well as off-base and simply wrong (on the link she draws to Obama). Dowd lets loose a lot of pent up invective against both 43 and 44 here -- and most of it comes off as empty nastiness. -- Nuggetsman
"So now, symbolically washing his hands, W.’s putting out this cute little disingenuous book about his father that won’t mention that he bollixed up the globe, his presidency, and marred Jeb’s chances, all because he wasn’t listening to his father or “working the problem.” W.’s fear of being unmanned led to America actually being unmanned."
It has been ages since I have posted anything by Dowd, one of the most superficial pundits out there and one who reminds me of what separates skepticism from cynicism: skeptics say "show me" while cynics say "you don't need to show me -- I already know!" Dowd's latest blast against George W. Bush accentuates this distinction. Now, I should say up front that I think W's administration was a disaster -- I thought so at the time and criticized him at the time with more invective than I have any other president in my life. However, HAVING SAID THAT, I find Dowd's unusually personal (and superficial, pop psychologizing) analysis here to be both unwarranted and even malicious at times (on W's history with his father) as well as off-base and simply wrong (on the link she draws to Obama). Dowd lets loose a lot of pent up invective against both 43 and 44 here -- and most of it comes off as empty nastiness. -- Nuggetsman
Monday, August 4, 2014
News Nuggets 1474
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| DAYLEE PICTURE: Morocco's Erg Chebbi desert, part of the Sahara. From National Geographic. |
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: China's Bursting Real Estate Bubble?
China's Real Estate Bubble from CBS's 60 Minutes
Here at the News Nuggets, we've been tracking this story for some time -- but this segment of 60 Minutes shows how dramatically out of control and barely contained the looming real estate disaster is. What's going on there, powerfully captured in this 60 Minutes story, simply put, is unsustainable!
Here at the News Nuggets, we've been tracking this story for some time -- but this segment of 60 Minutes shows how dramatically out of control and barely contained the looming real estate disaster is. What's going on there, powerfully captured in this 60 Minutes story, simply put, is unsustainable!
Could the War in Ukraine Bring Down the Kremlin?
The End of Vladimir Putin from Politico Magazine
"Russia’s European diplomacy now lies in the wreckage of the MH17. The package that was carried through this week looks set to hit the kleptocratic network that underwrites Putin hard. Russia’s economy is already teetering on the edge of recession."
"Russia’s European diplomacy now lies in the wreckage of the MH17. The package that was carried through this week looks set to hit the kleptocratic network that underwrites Putin hard. Russia’s economy is already teetering on the edge of recession."
European Democracies and their Disenchantments
Europe's Democratic Deficit Is Getting Worse (Matt Ford) from the Atlantic
"Voter participation in European Parliament elections is low—and getting lower."
"Voter participation in European Parliament elections is low—and getting lower."
Anti-Western Invective Grows Louder in China
The War of Words in China (Andrew Jacobs) from the New York Times
"... the mounting anti-Western invective is largely a tactic aimed at shifting attention from the potential repercussions of a slowing economy, the glaring gap between rich and poor and the jaw-dropping accounts of official corruption that have become daily fare here. “There is a profound sense of vulnerability within the party, even a sense of crisis,” said Professor Chen..."
"... the mounting anti-Western invective is largely a tactic aimed at shifting attention from the potential repercussions of a slowing economy, the glaring gap between rich and poor and the jaw-dropping accounts of official corruption that have become daily fare here. “There is a profound sense of vulnerability within the party, even a sense of crisis,” said Professor Chen..."
The Extraordinary Course of Same-Sex Marriage in the Courts
Justice Kennedy Opened the Door to Same-Sex Marriage, Will He Walk Through It Next? (Jeffrey Stone) from the Daily Beast
"Twenty-nine consecutive judicial decisions in the past year have held bans on gay marriage are unconstitutional. This is nothing short of extraordinary."
"Twenty-nine consecutive judicial decisions in the past year have held bans on gay marriage are unconstitutional. This is nothing short of extraordinary."
Millennials are Over Israel
A new generation, outraged over Gaza, rejects Washington’s reflexive support from Salon
"Angered by the immoral and inhumane assault on Gaza, Gen Y is shaking up the conventional view of Mideast politics."
"Angered by the immoral and inhumane assault on Gaza, Gen Y is shaking up the conventional view of Mideast politics."
The Relentless Logic (and Illogic) of Impeachment
Five Myths about Impeachment (Jonathan Turley) from the Washington Post
"Obama is as likely to be impeached as he is to be installed as the next pontiff. And I say that as someone who has testified in Congress that this president has violated federal laws, unconstitutionally appointed various executive-branch officers and improperly transferred money."
The problem with Turley's comments and others who think impeachment won't happen is that the GOP is so beholden to their worst element, their House caucus will feel compelled to impeach -- and between the fringe leaders (like Cruz) and media extremists (like Limbaugh et al.) Republican lawmakers will feel compelled to ignore "sensible" leaders like Boehner and do ... it ... anyway.
"Obama is as likely to be impeached as he is to be installed as the next pontiff. And I say that as someone who has testified in Congress that this president has violated federal laws, unconstitutionally appointed various executive-branch officers and improperly transferred money."
The problem with Turley's comments and others who think impeachment won't happen is that the GOP is so beholden to their worst element, their House caucus will feel compelled to impeach -- and between the fringe leaders (like Cruz) and media extremists (like Limbaugh et al.) Republican lawmakers will feel compelled to ignore "sensible" leaders like Boehner and do ... it ... anyway.
Obama, Impeachment and the "Law"
The Right's Obsession With Obama's "Lawlessness" Has Nothing to Do With the Law (Brian Beutler) from Salon
"The problem is that outside of conservative media, where basically anything Obama does without explicit, immediate congressional authorization is presumed to be illegal, reporters have consulted experts on all sides of the issue and discovered that Obama probably has a great deal, though not unlimited, authority to defer deportation of low-priority offenders."
"The problem is that outside of conservative media, where basically anything Obama does without explicit, immediate congressional authorization is presumed to be illegal, reporters have consulted experts on all sides of the issue and discovered that Obama probably has a great deal, though not unlimited, authority to defer deportation of low-priority offenders."
New GOP House Leadership Does a "Face Plant" on Immigration Bill
An Upending of Reason in the House (Dana Milbank) from the Washington Post
"Just the day before, House Republicans had voted to sue Obama for using his executive authority. They called him lawless, a usurper, a monarch, a tyrant — all for postponing deadlines in the implementation of Obamacare. Now they were begging him to take executive action to compensate for their own inability to act... The new House GOP leadership team took over Thursday, but a mere two hours after Rep. Eric Cantor gave his valedictory as majority leader on the House floor, his successor did a face-plant."
"Just the day before, House Republicans had voted to sue Obama for using his executive authority. They called him lawless, a usurper, a monarch, a tyrant — all for postponing deadlines in the implementation of Obamacare. Now they were begging him to take executive action to compensate for their own inability to act... The new House GOP leadership team took over Thursday, but a mere two hours after Rep. Eric Cantor gave his valedictory as majority leader on the House floor, his successor did a face-plant."
The GOP's Destructive "Deportation Caucus"
Wall Street Journal Editorial Scolds Republican 'Deportation Caucus' from the Huffington Post
"The Wall Street Journal editorial page excoriated Republicans on Saturday for positioning themselves as the party of maximum deportations. ... The Journal's sharply worded op-ed scolded the GOP "Deportation Caucus" for putting on a "screaming match on the floor in full view of the national media" and lamented the party's message to minorities ahead of the midterm elections."
"The Wall Street Journal editorial page excoriated Republicans on Saturday for positioning themselves as the party of maximum deportations. ... The Journal's sharply worded op-ed scolded the GOP "Deportation Caucus" for putting on a "screaming match on the floor in full view of the national media" and lamented the party's message to minorities ahead of the midterm elections."
Gridlock's Other Component
The House GOP's Enduring Civil War (Doyle McManus) from the Los Angeles Times
"The disaster was a public humiliation for both Boehner and his newly elevated majority leader, Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) — on McCarthy's first week in his new job. But it was only the most recent of many such battles in the House Republicans' unresolved civil war."
"The disaster was a public humiliation for both Boehner and his newly elevated majority leader, Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) — on McCarthy's first week in his new job. But it was only the most recent of many such battles in the House Republicans' unresolved civil war."
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Republicans' Short-Sightedness on Immigration
How House Republicans Sabotage Their Presidential Candidates (Bland and Roarty) from the National Journal
"Friday's immigration vote and others like it are repelling the voters a GOP nominee will need to take the White House."
"Friday's immigration vote and others like it are repelling the voters a GOP nominee will need to take the White House."
Friday, August 1, 2014
BIG WEEKEND BOOK NUGGET: Finally ... A Serious Historical Look at Reagan!
Rick Perlstein: “Ronald Reagan absolved America almost in a priestly role not to have to contend with sin. The consequences are all around us today” (David Dayen) from Salon
"“If the people believe there’s an imaginary river out there, you don’t tell them there’s no river there. You build an imaginary bridge over the imaginary river.” Nobody internalized this advice more than Reagan, who ignored American shortcomings like Vietnam or Watergate in favor of tightly wrapped fables, mesmerizing his audience with tales about a simpler time where America can never fail. It turned out, despite the enormous complications of the political moment, such stories were just what a large segment of the public wanted to hear."
"“If the people believe there’s an imaginary river out there, you don’t tell them there’s no river there. You build an imaginary bridge over the imaginary river.” Nobody internalized this advice more than Reagan, who ignored American shortcomings like Vietnam or Watergate in favor of tightly wrapped fables, mesmerizing his audience with tales about a simpler time where America can never fail. It turned out, despite the enormous complications of the political moment, such stories were just what a large segment of the public wanted to hear."
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: Influence v. Power on the Big Stage
The Illusion of Chinese Power from the National Interest
"A mini-industry of “China rise” prognosticators has emerged over the past decade, all painting a picture of a twenty-first-century world in which China is a dominant actor. This belief is understandable and widespread—but wrong. ... Generations of social scientists have determined that a more significant indicator of power is influence—the ability to shape events and the actions of others."
"A mini-industry of “China rise” prognosticators has emerged over the past decade, all painting a picture of a twenty-first-century world in which China is a dominant actor. This belief is understandable and widespread—but wrong. ... Generations of social scientists have determined that a more significant indicator of power is influence—the ability to shape events and the actions of others."
Putin's Lies at Home Feed His Abuses Abroad
A Web of Lies from the Economist [of London]
"Vladimir Putin’s epic deceits have grave consequences for his people and the outside world. ... Having roused his people with falsehoods, the tsar cannot suddenly wriggle free by telling them that, on consideration, Ukraine’s government is not too bad. Nor can he retreat from the idea that the West is a rival bent on Russia’s destruction, ready to resort to lies, bribery and violence just as readily as he does. In that way, his lies at home feed his abuses abroad."
"Vladimir Putin’s epic deceits have grave consequences for his people and the outside world. ... Having roused his people with falsehoods, the tsar cannot suddenly wriggle free by telling them that, on consideration, Ukraine’s government is not too bad. Nor can he retreat from the idea that the West is a rival bent on Russia’s destruction, ready to resort to lies, bribery and violence just as readily as he does. In that way, his lies at home feed his abuses abroad."
Wise Guys v. Tough Guys in the White House
No More Mr. Tough Guy (Adam Gopnik) from the New Yorker
"We don’t need tough guys. We need wise guys. We’ve tried tough guys, and it always ends in tears. Tough guys you know right away because they’re never scared of a fight. Wise guys you only know in retrospect, when you remember that they quietly walked away from the fight that now has the tough guy in a hospital."
"We don’t need tough guys. We need wise guys. We’ve tried tough guys, and it always ends in tears. Tough guys you know right away because they’re never scared of a fight. Wise guys you only know in retrospect, when you remember that they quietly walked away from the fight that now has the tough guy in a hospital."
Impeachment and Obama's Jiu-jitsu
Begging for Impeachment (Joe Klein) from Time Magazine
"To improve its standing with voters, the White House tries to drum up some trouble for itself. ... There is cleverness to the onslaught, of course, a classic use of a political tactic known as jiu-jitsu: take your opponent’s feral vehemence and roll with it."
"To improve its standing with voters, the White House tries to drum up some trouble for itself. ... There is cleverness to the onslaught, of course, a classic use of a political tactic known as jiu-jitsu: take your opponent’s feral vehemence and roll with it."
The Impeachment Games
Pelosi to Boehner: I Quashed Impeachment, and So Can You (Eleanor Clift) from the Daily Beast
"How to shut down your party’s frenzy to impeach? As she watched the House GOP melt down, the Democratic Minority Leader had some advice for the Speaker from her own days with the gavel."
"How to shut down your party’s frenzy to impeach? As she watched the House GOP melt down, the Democratic Minority Leader had some advice for the Speaker from her own days with the gavel."
CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD NUGGET!!
From East Liberty to Hollywood, Gene Kelly Brought His Pittsburgh Roots to Dance from Essential Pittsburgh
"The life of Gene Kelly, legendary dancer, director, choreographer and Pittsburgh native, will be celebrated Wednesday evening in a show presented at the Byham Theater called Gene Kelly: The Legacy,..."
"The life of Gene Kelly, legendary dancer, director, choreographer and Pittsburgh native, will be celebrated Wednesday evening in a show presented at the Byham Theater called Gene Kelly: The Legacy,..."
FANTASY LIT NUGGET!!
J.R.R. Tolkien Reveals TRUE Meaning Of 'The Lord Of The Rings' In Unearthed Audio Recording from the Huffington Post
"Over 20 years ago, a lost recording of J.R.R. Tolkien was discovered in a basement in Rotterdam, but the man who found it kept this important reel-to-reel tape hidden away. Until recently, only he had heard the recording. But now, I am one of those lucky Middle-earth lovers who has listened to this magical magnetic tape, and I happily declare that it is awesome."
"Over 20 years ago, a lost recording of J.R.R. Tolkien was discovered in a basement in Rotterdam, but the man who found it kept this important reel-to-reel tape hidden away. Until recently, only he had heard the recording. But now, I am one of those lucky Middle-earth lovers who has listened to this magical magnetic tape, and I happily declare that it is awesome."
WORLD WAR I NUGGET!!
Just How Likely Is Another World War? (Graham Allison) from the Atlantic
"Assessing the similarities and differences between 1914 and 2014."
"Assessing the similarities and differences between 1914 and 2014."
This is a
weakly conceived article that communicates little and concludes less. My
argument is technical. When the first German V2 rocket hit Cheswick, England in
1944, historical comparisons of major wars became largely irrelevant. Up to
that time, every weapon had some defense, even if marginally effective. There
is no workable defense against missile strikes (the Iron Dome scores only 20%
against rockets far less sophisticated than the V2). China has nuclear tipped missiles.
China can and will continue to expropriate resources within the nine dash line simple
because they can. Look for Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to arm their missiles
with nukes over the coming years; and who can blame them. But the article also
falls apart geographically. There is certainly as much possibility of a major
war in oil regions such as Saudi Arabia, West Africa or Russia, none of which
the author mentions. Any war affecting such massive oil reserves will be global
by default. I appreciate that people are desperate to avert future wars by not
repeating the mistakes of the past, but the world has changed more in the past
century than it has in the past five millennia.
Posted by
- hopeandespair
SCIENCE NUGGET!!
An Advance in Tractor-Beam Technology from the New Yorker
"While most of the documented experiments with tractor-beam technology so far have involved light waves, the team from Dundee used sound waves to manipulate a half-inch triangular prism made of metal and rubber, successfully pulling the target toward the source of the acoustic beam."
"While most of the documented experiments with tractor-beam technology so far have involved light waves, the team from Dundee used sound waves to manipulate a half-inch triangular prism made of metal and rubber, successfully pulling the target toward the source of the acoustic beam."
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