Just when I thought the 2012 GOP field could not be any more gaffe-proof, Texas Governor Rick Perry proved me wrong. Last week, the 2012 Republican contender released a campaign advertisement worthy of the silver screen. As the ad began, I was fairly certain I was in store for another ludicrous, action-packed Michael Bay movie … Read more
In the midst of an economic meltdown, high unemployment, an increasingly interesting presidential candidacy race, relations with China, and the war on terror, it becomes easy to lose sight of a crisis that has the potential to not only bring our country to its knees but also has the ability to threaten the livelihood of … Read more
Person of Interest, CBS, Thursdays 9/8c It’s that time of year when the networks are premiering new shows right and left, and critics and viewers alike are trying to figure out what’s great and what’s terrible (For the latter, I’d nominate The Playboy Club). Among the all shows I’m just now hearing about, one I … Read more
When the Euro was introduced, many analysts predicted that centralizing monetary policy over such an economically diverse area would make the common currency unsustainable and prone to financial collapse. Why they were right, why they’re being ignored, and what must be done about it. In 1999, when the Euro was introduced into circulation, economists were … Read more
The flotilla incident of last year may have been buried in the depths of the Arab Spring, but for Turkey and Israel, the event is still very much pertinent. Israel has stubbornly refused to apologize for the attack on the grounds that its soldiers were acting out of self-defense. Turkey, in retaliation, downgraded diplomatic relations … Read more
When the Euro was introduced, many analysts predicted that centralizing monetary policy over such an economically diverse area would make the common currency unsustainable and prone to financial collapse. Why they were right, why they’re being ignored, and what must be done about it. In 1999, when the Euro was introduced into circulation, economists were … Read more
President Obama wants to end discrimination against the unemployed, by making it an unlawful employment practice to not hire someone because they’re unemployed. My question, and this is only partially rhetorical: does anyone think this is a good idea? The only possible scenario I can imagine where someone’s status as unemployed- and only that- would … Read more
I wrote a post last year about a social media campaign that struck me as particularly distasteful, and—more importantly—particularly impractical. That campaign was called the FCK H8 campaign, and the video in question was pretty vulgar. I used the campaign as a jumping off point to talk about the gay rights movement in general, and offered … Read more
We have recently experienced another set of special elections, which once more reaffirm the nation’s repudiation of Obama’s policies / have little or no bearing on the national political scene (pick one). See how they can be spun? Special elections can both symbolize a fundamental turning of the tide in the national political scene, or … Read more
What do Ted Turner and Adolf Hitler have in common? Strangely enough, both the media mogul and the maniacal Mensch both come under scrutiny of Nassir Ghaemi in A First-Rate Madness. The thesis is maddeningly simple: the “insane” leaders tend to charge through difficult times better than the “sane” leaders who waffle about and end … Read more