Freedom Writing
MY RECENT COMMENTS
- “Funny, I didn't think I
projected any of my own ideas
before
the speech began.
N…”
January 28, 2010 02:56PM - “A thought-provoking
piece, John.
OK,
that's not banter ...”
January 09, 2010 11:21PM - “Torman, I know how you
feel.
I went to
college in mountains of
northwest
Arkansas,…”
January 09, 2010 04:10PM - “Your post reminds me of
a sermon my pastor gave on the
Sunday
before
Thanksgiving…”
December 25, 2009 07:47PM - “Many interesting
comments from many folks on
this, Torman. I
feel compelled
to ad…”
October 28, 2009 01:45AM
David Goodloe's Links
- My blogs
- Birth of a Notion
- Freedom Writing
- Tomato Cans
FEBRUARY 8, 2010 8:53AM
When's It Gonna Rain?
My pastor's sermon yesterday reminded me of a movie.
Things that make me think often have that kind of influence on me. I don't know why that is. But that seems to be the way my mind works.
And the movie that came to my mind as I listened to my/…
FEBRUARY 7, 2010 10:29PM
What If ... ?
Here's a hypothetical for you to ponder.
What if 60,000 Ohio voters who voted for George W. Bush in 2004 had decided, instead, to vote for John Kerry?
I know the history books tell us that Bush won that
election, and it may be hard to imagine him losing, but it wasn't
so…
What if 60,000 Ohio voters who voted for George W. Bush in 2004 had decided, instead, to vote for John Kerry?
I know the history books tell us that Bush won that
election, and it may be hard to imagine him losing, but it wasn't
so…
FEBRUARY 6, 2010 5:55PM
Reagan's Birthday
On this day 99 years ago, Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Ill.
One may say what one will about Ronald Reagan. And I can
say this. I never voted for him. And I rarely agreed with him on
anything.But when I think of Reagan, I remember Jan. 28, 1986,/…
FEBRUARY 5, 2010 3:05PM
The Deceit of Numbers
Can anyone explain to me what the jobless numbers that were released today are really saying?
I've been following the jobs numbers intently ever since I was terminated, but rarely has it been easy for me to comprehend what they were trying to tell me. Truth is, I was never/…
FEBRUARY 5, 2010 10:26AM
Identifying Rape Victims
Yesterday, I noticed that Nicholas Kristof's
New York Times blog addressed an issue that confronted
me as a young reporter.
Kristof asks, "Is it ever OK to name rape victims?"
That is something that journalism students and practicing journalists have wrestled with for many, many years. I…
Kristof asks, "Is it ever OK to name rape victims?"
That is something that journalism students and practicing journalists have wrestled with for many, many years. I…
FEBRUARY 4, 2010 12:22PM
The Blame Thing
Back around the time of the Watergate scandal, a comedian named
David Frye — who was pretty good at impressions of
many famous people — was fairly successful with albums
that focused on the presidency of Richard Nixon.
I particularly remember a recording called "Richard Nixon: A Fanta… Read full post »
I particularly remember a recording called "Richard Nixon: A Fanta… Read full post »
FEBRUARY 3, 2010 10:19PM
Ooooops! Kinda Miscalculated, Huh?
Bloomberg.com
is reporting that the government's revised annual job losses for
April 2008 to March 2009 will show that 824,000 more jobs were lost
during that time than were originally counted.
Bloomberg.com sensationalizes it by saying, "When the government releases Friday's employment… Read full post »
Bloomberg.com sensationalizes it by saying, "When the government releases Friday's employment… Read full post »
FEBRUARY 3, 2010 4:15PM
The Results From Illinois
Following yesterday's Illinois
primaries, we now know the major–party nominees who will
be competing for the U.S. Senate seat that was held, briefly, by
Barack Obama.
Republicans overwhelmingly chose Rep. Mark Kirk of the
10th District, which is a Democratic–leaning district th…
Republicans overwhelmingly chose Rep. Mark Kirk of the
10th District, which is a Democratic–leaning district th…
FEBRUARY 2, 2010 4:31PM
The Start of the Election Season
I'll bet you thought the election in Massachusetts was the first
election of the 2010 election cycle.
Well, it was — and it wasn't.
Clearly, it is beyond dispute that the election in Massachusetts was the first time voters went to the polls in this calendar year.
But that was a special e…
Well, it was — and it wasn't.
Clearly, it is beyond dispute that the election in Massachusetts was the first time voters went to the polls in this calendar year.
But that was a special e…
JANUARY 29, 2010 5:17PM
Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
We are now about two days removed from the State of the Union
speech.
As many have observed, the administration's emphasis has shifted from health–care reform to job creation. As one of the long–term unemployed, that is a priority change that I welcome. I feel it is long overdue.
I hav…
As many have observed, the administration's emphasis has shifted from health–care reform to job creation. As one of the long–term unemployed, that is a priority change that I welcome. I feel it is long overdue.
I hav…
JANUARY 28, 2010 3:22PM
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
That's hardly a new phrase.
I'm not sure where it originated. I remember reading in school that Renaissance writer Michel de Montaigne wrote, "Saying is one thing and doing is another." That isn't exactly the same thing, although it's kinda sorta in the same ballpark.
But…
I'm not sure where it originated. I remember reading in school that Renaissance writer Michel de Montaigne wrote, "Saying is one thing and doing is another." That isn't exactly the same thing, although it's kinda sorta in the same ballpark.
But…
JANUARY 28, 2010 7:03AM
The McNugget President
When I was fresh out of college and working as a reporter for a
daily newspaper in central Arkansas, I found myself in the press
entourage that covered then–former Gov. Bill Clinton and his
opponent in the gubernatorial runoff for the Democratic
nomination.
Typically, the reporters who were assi…
Typically, the reporters who were assi…
JANUARY 27, 2010 1:23PM
State of the Union
Barack Obama, in
deference to Lost fans who had their hearts set on watching
the season premiere on its scheduled date next week, is
delivering his State of the Union speech tonight.
CNN.com's Ed Hornick reports that political analysts don't expect the speech to reassure the millions of Amer…
CNN.com's Ed Hornick reports that political analysts don't expect the speech to reassure the millions of Amer…
JANUARY 23, 2010 9:16PM
Obama's Opportunism
When Bill Clinton was president, he was often criticized — and, perhaps, deservedly so — for political opportunism.
Among those who criticized him were people who later became (and many still remain) enthusiastic supporters of Barack Obama. I find that to be hypocritical because Oba…
JANUARY 22, 2010 4:16PM
Living in the Past
"Once I used to join in
Every boy and girl was my friend.
Now there's revolution, but they don't know
What they're fighting.
Let us close our eyes;
Outside their lives go on much faster.
Oh, we won't give in,
We'll keep living in the past."
Jethro Tull
From time to time, we&…
JANUARY 22, 2010 12:20AM
The Shifting Political Tides
A timeless reminder of the wages of arrogance.
I don't know how much of a role the results of the special election in Massachusetts played in this, but The Rothenberg Political Report moved the Senate seat of incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas to its "Lean Takeover… Read full post »
JANUARY 22, 2010 12:13AM
Mea Culpa
In August 2008, John Edwards acknowledged that the rumors that had
been circulating for almost a year that he had had an affair were
true.
He continued to deny that he was the father of a child who was born to his lover. But today, he admitted it.
I guess that was his…
He continued to deny that he was the father of a child who was born to his lover. But today, he admitted it.
I guess that was his…
JANUARY 21, 2010 11:44AM
And the Password Is ...
I went online nearly 14 years ago.
Things were a lot simpler then, to say the least. In
those days, you had to use the dial–up method each time you
went online. High–speed connections were still off in the
future. Passwords were being used, but not for everything. The
internet may h…
Things were a lot simpler then, to say the least. In
those days, you had to use the dial–up method each time you
went online. High–speed connections were still off in the
future. Passwords were being used, but not for everything. The
internet may h…
JANUARY 20, 2010 6:28PM
The Fallout From Massachusetts
I don't know what Barack Obama may have imagined in the last 12
months whenever he anticipated his first anniversary in office.
But I'd be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that,
even in his lowest moments, he didn't think the Democrats would
gain — and then, within a few…
But I'd be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that,
even in his lowest moments, he didn't think the Democrats would
gain — and then, within a few…
JANUARY 19, 2010 10:54PM
The Era of Kennedy Is Over
I guess it officially happened last August, when Edward Kennedy
lost his battle with brain cancer.
But, if there was any lingering doubt, Scott Brown's apparent victory over Martha Coakley in today's special election in Massachusetts to pick Kennedy's successor puts an exclamation point…
But, if there was any lingering doubt, Scott Brown's apparent victory over Martha Coakley in today's special election in Massachusetts to pick Kennedy's successor puts an exclamation point…
JANUARY 19, 2010 7:00PM
The Patriotism of Robert E. Lee
He has been called the greatest general ever produced in America, even though he was on the losing side in the greatest military conflict of his life.
Today is the 203rd birthday of Robert E. Lee. And, while history does remember him as the commander of the losing side in the Civil…
JANUARY 18, 2010 9:32PM
Keeping It Brief
Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary of a really important event.
On Jan. 19, 1935. a company called Coopers Inc. sold the world's first briefs in downtown Chicago. They were given the name "Jockey" because, previously, the only thing that gave men the same kind of support was the jockstrap…
On Jan. 19, 1935. a company called Coopers Inc. sold the world's first briefs in downtown Chicago. They were given the name "Jockey" because, previously, the only thing that gave men the same kind of support was the jockstrap…
JANUARY 18, 2010 6:31PM
Arkansas Democrat Retires
Members of Congress have been announcing plans to retire recently.
After awhile, that kind of announcement just becomes so much white
noise.
But there was an announcement yesterday that caught my
eye. Vic Snyder, who has represented the Second District in
Arkansas for more than 10 years,
announ… Read full post »
But there was an announcement yesterday that caught my
eye. Vic Snyder, who has represented the Second District in
Arkansas for more than 10 years,
announ… Read full post »
JANUARY 18, 2010 6:08PM
It's Complicated
There's a movie called "It's Complicated" that is currently
getting a lot of Oscar ink.
It's a comedy, but the title sounds like it would be good for a subject that isn't a comedy — like, say, for example, the U.S. economy.
I've been reading Paul Krugman&…
It's a comedy, but the title sounds like it would be good for a subject that isn't a comedy — like, say, for example, the U.S. economy.
I've been reading Paul Krugman&…
JANUARY 18, 2010 8:07AM
You're No Jack Kennedy
I could hardly blame either Massachusetts' Democrats or Massachusetts' Republicans for saying that about the other party's candidate in the race for what was once the Senate seat of John F. Kennedy.
I can't help wondering about which one Lloyd Bentsen would say it. He might have said it abou/…
CarolinaBlue50
john blumenthal
Torman
Bill Beck
Kris T Parker
yekdeli
Salon.com