Politics
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End of the Culture Wars
The bottom line on this vast and complicated subject is that the "culture wars" will never die in the fever swamps of the Right where they were nourished if not conceived, particularly on the abortion issues; that protecting the cultural status quo is a vastly more powerful position that progressives should aspire to occupy; and
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Quote of the Day: John Cole
I understand the psychological need for the Republicans to feel relevant, and I understand their opposition to spending, but really, we would be so much better off if the Republicans just took a little breather, got themselves pulled together and composed, and stopped being the crazy uncle at the holiday dinner ranting insanely about everything.
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Obama & Centrist Coalition Building
It's clearly counterproductive to think anything along those lines is possible with Congressional Republicans. Making nice with the Republicans simply will not work. Obama has to find a way to erode the ground upon which these guys stand. Over the next ten years, it's got to be understood that the only place a Republican can get
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Sustainability: A Dem or GOP Value?
Deneen has put up an interesting post in which he points out that Liberals are more conservative when it comes to the environment than people who call themselves conservatives. He talks, I think, accurately about the fundamental incoherence in both the liberal and conservative positions, and the post is worth reading here. What interested me
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What He Said . . .
Greenwald today on Obama's executive orders:' Whether these steps, impressive as they are, will be symbolic measures designed to placate certain factions, or whether they represent a genuine commitment on Obama's part, remains to be seen. Much of it will depend on how much political pressure is exerted and from what sides. Obama deserves real
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Yes We Did
Get Obama elected. I will be interested to see what we can say we did on this date in 20013. But some quick thoughts. I thought the emotional resonance of this wonderful day was captured in the musical performances–Aretha's "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and Yo Yo Ma's exuberant cello. The speech was a sober
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The Oligarchs We Shall Have Always with Us
I came across this site called Right Web: Exposing the Architecture of Power that is Changing Our World. Here's its description of its purpose: Right Web is a program of Political Research Associates (PRA) that monitors U.S. organizations and individuals — both in and out of government – that promote militarist foreign and defense policies,
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Slack Tide
I find myself almost incapable of paying attention to what others are paying attention to now. When it comes to what's going on in the political sphere, it's just wait and see what actually happens. I find I have no interest in commenting on all the preliminaries. Either Obama is going to rise to the challenge
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Torture (Updated)
The question that interests me is not whether torture is sometimes morally acceptable, but whether it is something we can move beyond, as we have done with human sacrifice and slavery. I'm not saying that moving beyond some attitude or behavior means that such things are never thought or done, but that certain behaviors become
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Quote of the Day: Abraham Lincoln
Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed. Consequently he who molds public sentiment, goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. He makes statutes and decisions possible or impossible to be executed. (Lincoln Douglas Debates, Ottawa, 8/21/58)