Senator Scott Brown (R - MA) recently sent an email to constituents who are signed up for his announcements stating why he was in favor of a conscience exemption for health insurance provided by religious organizations to the organizations' employees. He said it is a matter of personal freedom to fol… Read full post »

I only found out today that a few days ago, Rick Santorum spoke to students at Dublin School in Dublin, NH.  He was, by accounts, politely poked by the students and faculty about his stated views.  While it was not stated one way or the other, it's doubtful he got a… Read full post »

In his video, Michael Goodwin talks about the freedom to fail, claiming there is a ‘mania’ for reducing the freedom to fail.  Unfortunately, his position seems to be at odds with how the world works.  

Freedom to fail doesn’t mean you must suffer horrendous conseque… Read full post »

When the Republicans come to the House of Representatives this January, they have pledged to do many things.  They will repeal health care reform.  They will balance the budget.  Most importantly, they want to cut taxes on the rich, raise taxes on everybody who isn’t, and cut sup… Read full post »

The US has a problem.  

Yes, we have an massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  The handling of this disaster, though, has been pretty poor overall.  BP, which has a long record of negligence and accidents that point to the all-important bottom line, is not doing everything it… Read full post »

Lots of the chattering classes have talked about the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon, calling it "Obama's Katrina".  President Obama called for the press to give him a fair shake and see how well he has stacked against the standard of Katrina.

So, shall we?

Hurricane Katrina's landfall  … Read full post »

Republican leaders talked about their hypocrisy toward the rank and file of the party and the party line in a tape leaked to the AP.

 According to journalists, a number of top GOP politicians, fundraisers and strategists are heard discussing their free time filled with illegal drugs, alcoho… Read full post »

Yesterday I was walking down the streets of Riverdale, a part of the Bronx, a borough of a borough if you will, just enjoying the cold crisp air and the feel of a neighborhood that isn't completely silent on the twenty fifth of December.  I passed by several people walking on… Read full post »

Massachusetts has an interesting battle shaping up for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat.  You should see the Democratic primary - its one of the meaner fights I've seen for Senate, though admittedly it lacks the every-six-year Chappaquiddick smears Mr. Kennedy always got.

There are Republicans… Read full post »

We celebrated Thanksgiving a little early in my house, the Saturday before, as my wife's parents were up from New York and my parents were near enough to drive over.  More importantly, my sister gave her criteria for eating a Kosher meal in my house.  Much cleaning was done and new… Read full post »

I have been busy elsewhere for a while.  It's not easy to write when you might be interrupted at a moment's notice by a horde of small, cute, loud redheads.  Even a single redhead of this description can be described as a horde, and I can say this from experience.

 … Read full post »

Congratulations to one of the newest Nobel Prize winners!  It was not related to his usual editorials or blog posts, but it demonstrates the quality of his thinking.

Oh, and you should see what he said today about economic leadership.  When will the Bush Administration learn about genuine l… Read full post »

I have been monitoring coverage of last week's VP debate here in the US. Yes, I have the debate on the TiVo but I have not cracked it open yet.

CNNs coverage of Undecided voters had them showing preference for Joe Biden. Lots of Democrats and a good number of Independants have… Read full post »

One of the more popular appetizers at higher-end restaurants - or at least one of my favorites - is a bulb of roasted garlic with slices of toasted bread.  The sweetness of properly roasted garlic, spread almost like butter, atop the slight crunch and tender chewiness of lightly toasted mou… Read full post »

10) Reminds you of those father/daughter teams on Celebrity Deathmatch.

 9) If you're pro-choice, they still offer you the choice to move to Canada.

8) You believe lower taxes for the rich means more money in your middle-class pockets.

7) You want to teach John McCain to learn how to use… Read full post »

A friend of mine on Livejournal asked who people thought should be in an Obama-Biden Cabinet.  It's a good thought, prognosticating who will get the nod, but sometimes I dare to dream. 

I dream of competence.

I dream of intelligence.

I dream of commitment to the United States.

I dream… Read full post »

I have a friend with a spending problem. 

Now, my friend doesn't think he has a spending problem.  As a matter of fact, he routinely tells me how I need to get my spending under control.  After all, I spend money on shelter, heat, food and clothes.  "Can't you cut back… Read full post »