Wednesday, January 12. 2011
David Brooks:
We have a news media that is psychologically ill informed but politically inflamed, so it naturally leans toward political explanations. We have a news media with a strong distaste for Sarah Palin and the Tea Party movement, and this seemed like a golden opportunity to tarnish them. We have a segmented news media, so there is nobody in most newsrooms to stand apart from the prevailing assumptions. We have a news media market in which the rewards go to anybody who can stroke the audience?s pleasure buttons.
I have no love for Sarah Palin, and I like to think I?m committed to civil discourse. But the political opportunism occasioned by this tragedy has ranged from the completely irrelevant to the shamelessly irresponsible.
The Daily Caller's Jeff Poor:
Sometimes criticism comes in the unlikeliest of places.
On Friday's "Inside Washington," Newsweek columnist Evan Thomas, once an editor at the magazine with a long track record of having liberal positions (even once having likened President Barack Obama to a deity), noted the modest improvement in the unemployment number reported on Friday. However, nearly a year after Obamacare was passed and signed into law, he admitted Republicans were right for voicing their opposition of it.
"It ain't because of Congress," Thomas said. "The unemployment will go down a little bit but the game in Washington will still be this unreal game. Health care though ? I got to say, is one place where I think where Republicans are right."
...
"The health care bill is a disaster," Thomas continued. "We?re sort of slowly learning -- it's not working. It's interesting -- they're implementing it and it's not working out at all as people anticipated. There's all sorts of wildly wrong projections. As it's being practiced -- it's failed." Watch the video.
230 years ago on this date in 1781, a British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burned Richmond, VA.
Also on this date, 45 years ago in 1966, the television series Batman premiered on ABC TV.
40 years ago on this date in 1971, President Nixon ordered development of the NASA space shuttle; also on this day, All In the Family debuted on CBS-TV.
35 years ago on this date in 1976, mystery writer Agatha Christie died in Wallingford, England at age 85.
20 years ago on this date in 1991, the US Congress passed a resolution authorizing President Bush to use military power to force Iraq out of Kuwait.
10 years ago on this date in 2001, Hewlett-Packard Corp. co-founder William Hewlett died in Palo Alto, CA at age 87.
January 12 ...
In 1588 the first Governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony, John Winthrop, was born in Suffolk, England. In 1628 Charles Perrault, the French author of Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and Puss in Boots, was born in Paris, France. In 1729 Edmund Burke was born in Dublin, Ireland. In 1737 John Hancock was born in Braintree (now in Quincy), MA. In 1773 America's first public museum was organized in Charleston, SC. In 1781 a British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burned Richmond, VA. In 1856 painter John Singer Sargent was born in Florence, Italy. In 1876 author Jack London was born in San Francisco. In 1906 comedian Henny Youngman was born Liverpool, England. In 1907 Sergei Korolyov, the head Soviet rocket engineer and designer during the Space Race in the 1960s, was born in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. In 1915 the US House rejected a proposal to give women the right to vote. In 1932 Ed Sullivan started his radio program on CBS; he later became the host of television's The Ed Sullivan Show. Also on this day, Arkansas Democrat Mrs. Hattie W. Caraway became the first woman elected to the US Senate. In 1944 Allied troops attacked Monte Casino, Italy; also on this day, former world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier was born in Beufort, SC. In 1945 German forces in Belgium retreated in Battle of Bulge; also on this day, Soviet forces began a huge offensive against the Germans in Eastern Europe. In 1948 the US Supreme Court ruled that states could not discriminate against law-school applicants because of race. In 1957 Elvis Presley recorded All Shook Up. In 1960 Scent of Mystery, the only film made in 'Smell-O-Vision,' opened in Chicago. In 1964 founder of Amazon.com Jeff Bezos was born in Albuquerque, NM. In 1966 television series Batman premiered on ABC TV. In 1971 President Nixon ordered development of the NASA space shuttle; also on this day, All In the Family debuted on CBS-TV. In 1976 mystery writer Agatha Christie died in Wallingford, England at age 85. In 1991 the US Congress passed a resolution authorizing President Bush to use military power to force Iraq out of Kuwait. In 1993 memorial services were held in Paris for ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev and in New York for jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, both of whom had died on January 6. In 2001 Hewlett-Packard Corp. co-founder William Hewlett died in Palo Alto, CA at age 87. In 2005 NASA launched Deep Impact. The spacecraft was planned to impact on Comet Tempel 1 after a six-month, 268 million-mile journey.
Tuesday, January 11. 2011
That didn't take long.
Rep. Jesse Jacksom Jr. (D-Chicago): 'Not only do we need to reverse the recently-passed 5% congressional budget cut for economic reasons, but we need to raise it an additional 10% for security reasons'!
The Chicago Tribune's Katherine Skiba reports:
Citing the Arizona shooting spree that gravely wounded a colleague, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. [D-Chicago] today proposed increasing lawmaker budgets by 10 percent to bolster security in district offices.
The proposal came after House lawmakers agreed in a 408-13 vote last week to a 5 percent cut in their yearly office allowances to get the deficit under control. Jackson, a Democrat, voted against that measure. His 2010 allowance, to cover Washington and district expenses, was $1.5 million. Rep. Jackson issued the following statement, which read, in part:
"My staff is working on a proposal to restore last week's 5 percent cut in member budgets, because in this economic climate, we should be providing more services to our constituents - not less. On top of that, I will propose a 10% increase in member budgets for security measures. "
Yesterday former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of conspiring to launder corporate money in the 2002 Texas state House elections.
In all the commentary about DeLay's conviction and subsequent sentencing, one detail of the trial has been largely overlooked: this was the first-ever criminal charge undertaken under Texas' century-old law against corporate contributions in state political races.
A law has been on the books for about 100 years, and this is the first time anyone has been charged with breaking it?
This seems relevant, especially given the political nature of the trial.
Update: Hot Air's Ed Morrissey has more.
Nick Gillespie, in Reason magazine:
How do you take one of the most shocking and revolting murder sprees in memory and make it even more disturbing? By immediately pouncing on its supposed root causes for the most transparently partisan of gains.
...
The problem isn't with the current moment's rhetoric, it's with the goddamn politicization of every goddamn thing not even for a higher purpose or broader fight but for the cheapest moment-by-moment partisan advantage. Whether on the left or on the right, there's a totalist mentality that everything can and should be explained first and foremost as to whether it helps or hurt the party of choice. Read the whole piece.
150 years ago on this date in 1861, Alabama seceded from the Union.
January 11 ...
In 1757 Alexander Hamilton was born in Nevis, British West Indies. In 1787 American astronomer William Herschel discovered Titania & Oberon, moons of Uranus. In 1797 Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and relative of Robert E. Lee, died at 62. In 1805 the Michigan Territory was created. In 1807 founder of Western Union Telegraph and Cornell University (NY) Ezra Cornell was born in Westchester, New York. In 1815 US General Andrew Jackson achieved victory at the Battle of New Orleans. The War of 1812 had officially ended on December 24, 1814, with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. The news of the signing had not reached British troops in time to prevent their attack on New Orleans. Also on this day, the first Prime Minister of Canada Sir John Alexander MacDonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1842 American philosopher William James was born in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1843 author of The Star-Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key died in Baltimore at age 63. In 1861 Alabama seceded from the Union. In 1867 Benito Juarez returned to the Mexican presidency, following the withdrawal of French troops and the execution of Emperor Maximilian. In 1878 milk was delivered in glass bottles for the first time in New York by Alexander Campbell. In 1913 the first sedan-type car, manufactured by Hudson Motor Company, was unveiled at the National Automobile Show in New York City. In 1914 writer Ambrose Bierce died at age 71. In 1922 14-year-old Canadian boy Leonard Thompson became the first person in history to have diabetes successfully treated using insulin. Also on this day, Popular Mechanics magazine was published for the first time. In 1935 Amelia Earhart Putnam became the first woman to fly solo from Hawaii to California. In 1942 Japan declared war against the Netherlands. The same day, Japanese forces invaded the Dutch East Indies. Also on this day, "The Big Man," Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, was born. In 1963 Whisky a Go Go opened on Sunset Strip in LA. The club helped to launch The Doors, Buffalo Springfield, and The Byrds. In 1964 US Surgeon General Luther Terry issued the first report linking cigarette smoking to disease. In 1973 owners of American League baseball teams voted to adopt the designated-hitter rule on a trial basis. In 1977 France released Abu Daoud, a Palestinian suspected in the murders of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. In 1989 President Reagan bade the nation farewell in an address from the Oval Office. In 1996 Ryutaro Hashimoto become Japan's prime minister. He replaced Tomiichi Murayama who had resigned on January 5, 1996. Also on this day, the space shuttle Endeavour blasted off on a nine-day mission. In 1997 director and actor Sheldon Leonard died at age 89. While he was best known as the producer of The Dick Van Dyke Show, many people remember Leonard for his role as Nick the bartender in It's a Wonderful Life.
Monday, January 10. 2011
Some things just speak for themselves: (via Hot Air)
Chancellor issues statement on Arizona shootings
10 January 2011
Dear members of our campus community:
This weekend's shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the deaths and injuries of many others in the horrific event at Tucson, Arizona have shocked our nation. We here at UC Berkeley offer our sincere condolences to everyone who has been personally affected by this tragedy.
Such a brutal and violent attack on an individual who has devoted herself to public service is deeply regrettable. It calls upon us as an academic community to stop and ponder the climate in which such an act can be contemplated, even by a mind that is profoundly disturbed. A climate in which demonization of others goes unchallenged and hateful speech is tolerated can lead to such a tragedy. I believe that it is not a coincidence that this calamity has occurred in a state which has legislated discrimination against undocumented persons. This same mean-spirited xenophobia played a major role in the defeat of the Dream Act by legislators in Washington, leaving many exceptionally talented and deserving young people, including our own undocumented students, painfully in limbo with regard to their futures in this country.
On our own campus, and throughout all the campuses of the University of California, we must continue to work toward a climate of equity and inclusion for all. We must be vigilant to condemn hate speech and acts of vandalism on our campuses by those wanting to promote enmity. We must work to support dialogue about our differences and eschew expressions of demonization of others, including virulent attacks on Israel, anti-Muslim graffiti, racism towards African-Americans, Chicano/Latinos and other underrepresented minority groups, and homophobic acts. Continuing to support our principles of community will ensure a better and safer campus. We must do this now so that our students, as future leaders of this great country, will continue to set the standard for a better and safer nation.
Robert J. Birgeneau
Chancellor, UC Berkeley Annual in-state tuition at Berkeley is about $25,000; out-of-state tuition is around $45,000.
Update: Glenn Reynolds has more.
What does it say about UC Berkeley, widely renowned as one of the US' finest universities, that is run by someone, Robert J. Birgeneau, who seems to honestly hold the pedestrian views cooked up in the GroupThink laboratory that our university system has sadly become?
And what does it say that such an institution charges between $25,000- $45,000 annually for the privilege of attending -- and that people are actually willing to pay it?
Whereas the folks at The New York Times are delusional, the sanctimonious buffoons at The Boston Globe are just confused.
Liberals are justified in expressing alarm over the coarsening of the political dialogue. But those who have rushed to blame conservative causes or leaders for the killings should pause and consider whether they, too, are waving a bloody shirt and feeding a culture of denunciation. What "coarsening?" More coarse than the Bush-bashing that went on unlamented by the Globe for eight years? At least their betters/owners at The New York Times had the stones to just come out and directly blame conservatives for the shooting.
The responsibility for maintaining a civil dialogue starts in every home and with every individual. And who decides what is civil? Paul Krugman? The Boston Globe editorial department? Did environmentalists get a talking-to for creating a climate that propelled the Unibomber? Did liberals get scolded by the Globe when Ronald Reagan was shot? Did Muslims who don't stand up (civilly, of course) to the radicals among them get chastized for the Ft. Hood shootings?
No. And they shouldn't, because the idea that expressing opinions causes violence is stupid on its face. It's not merely stupid: It is a dangerous idea. It implies that the First Amendment applies only to the civil people, like Boston Globe writers, but not to neanderthals like you and me. They have rights, we have responsibilities.
Michael Tomasky: "The shooting of Gabrielle Giffords may lead to the temporary hibernation of rightwing rage, but it is encoded in conservative DNA."
The Austin American-Statesman's Laylan Copelin reports:
Judge Pat Priest sentenced Tom DeLay to three years in prison.
The three-year sentence was on the charge of conspiring to launder corporate money into political donations during the 2002 elections.
On the charge of money laundering, DeLay was sentenced to five years in prison, but that was probated for 10 years. That means he would serve 10 years' probation.
"This will not stand," said his attorney, Dick DeGuerin. DeLay is the first person ever to be prosecuted under the century-old Texas law.
The Chicago Tribune's John Kass:
... though they've been quite ingenious, waiting for the end of a lame-duck legislative session to do their dirty work, they forgot something important.
They forgot to earmark some extra funds for that great, big wall.
You know, that wall they're going to need, 60 feet high, the one with razor wire on top and guard towers, equipped with police dogs and surrounded by an acid-filled moat.
The wall they're going to have to build around the entire state, to keep desperate taxpayers from fleeing to Indiana, Wisconsin and other places that want jobs and businesses and people who work hard for a living.
...
With the state billions upon billions in debt, and the political leaders raising taxes, borrowing billions more and not making any substantive spending cuts, we've reached a certain point in our history.
The tipping point.
Taxes grow. Employers run. The jobs leave. High-end wage earners have the mobility to escape. What's left are the low-end workers who are stuck here.
... the Democrats aren't about to disappoint their true constituents. So they don't cut, they tax.
Because the true constituents of the Democratic warlords are the public service unions and the special interests that benefit from all that spending. Why should politicians make cuts and anger the people that give them power, the power that allows them access to treasure?
Instead, they raise taxes and reap the benefits of the vote.
...
And so we reach another tipping point:
The point at which those who are tied to government, either through contracts or employment, actually outnumber those who are not tied to government. Do the math on Election Day.
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