Archive for November, 2008
Obama’s confidence-rating: High, steady
by Mark Silva Perhaps it is the alacrity with which President-elect Barack Obama has set about assembling a Cabinet and army of advisers – an economic team named this week, defense coming next week. Or perhaps it is the expertise of the nominees – with a “towering” economic team that includes the six-foot-seven Paul Volcker, […]
29Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s confidence-rating: High, steady | Continued
Governing from Center Left or Center Right
Americans are finally experiencing rational government. As the Obama transition progresses we watch, with hope and with fear. The troubled world is scary and important decisions are at hand. Nearly every day there is a headline in the news about the transition. One day the media reports a ‘center-left’ process. The next day another headline […]
29Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Governing from Center Left or Center Right | Continued
Mumbai – Terrorist or Criminal?
The terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, are astonishing. Groups of armed men spread out in the city and began wantonly shooting people. The reports of fatalities are growing, and injuries are reported as over 1000 people. Hostages have been taken, demands of the release of criminals from legal custody made. One television reporter asked her […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
President-elect: ‘You can call me Barack’
Posted November 26, 2008 5:15 PM Veronica Lewis bows for President-elect Barack Obama, and his family, from left, Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha, 7, (hidden) Malia, 10, distributing Thanksgiving turkeys at the food bank at St. Columbanus Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago today. (AP Photo by Pablo Martinez by Mark Silva On the […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on President-elect: ‘You can call me Barack’ | Continued
Happy Thanksgiving: Charity shrinking
by William Neikirk Happy holidays, folks, and here’s some news. Citing the economic crisis, corporate America is cutting back on its charitable giving because of the economic crisis. The Wall Street Journal told us so on Tuesday. The publication is superior in reflecting board-room sentiment across America. But valuable inferences can be gathered from this […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Happy Thanksgiving: Charity shrinking | Continued
Thanksgiving Camp David-style
by Mark Silva Free-Range Roast Turkey. Cornbread Dressing. Cranberry Sauce. Sautéed Green Beans Morelia Style Gazpacho with Spinach Salad. It’s the Gazpacho that gives it away: These are the fixin’s for the Thanksgiving table today at Camp David, where President Bush has retreated with his family for the holiday. An overcast, wintry pall settled over […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Thanksgiving Camp David-style | Continued
Obama Volunteers at a Chicago Food Bank
President-elect Barack Obama, center, his wife Michelle Obama, left, and daughter Malia, 10, center, greet people at a food bank at St. Columbanus Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago, Nov. 26, 2008. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press) Tom DeFrank of the New York Daily News was today’s pool reporter covering Barack Obama’s visit to […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Obama Transition Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai
Onlookers stand at the site of a bomb blast in Mumbai Nov. 26, 2008. (Reuters) Obama Transition chief national security spokesperson Brooke Anderson condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, on behalf of the president-elect, saying: President-Elect Obama strongly condemns today’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama Transition Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai | Continued
Obama’s Speechwriter Moves to the White House
By Jeff Zeleny Barack Obama’s Chief Speech Writer at work on his victory speech for the New Hampshire primary election in a hotel lobby. (Jacob Silberberg for The New York Times) CHICAGO – President-elect Barack Obama’s wordsmith is moving to the West Wing. In his latest round of White House staff announcements, Mr. Obama said […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s Speechwriter Moves to the White House | Continued
Feminism and The Three Arguments Against Gay Marriage
By Michael Scherer Arguments against gay marriage tend to fall into three broad categories: it is a threat to tradition (the idea is historically not sanctioned; the bible does not approve); it is a threat to children (kids will learn about homosexuality in school, confuse gender roles, or even become gay themselves); and it is […]
26Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Feminism and The Three Arguments Against Gay Marriage | Continued
Barack Obama’s Leadership Paradox
Barack Obama has assumed the Presidency. Might we say he has transcended the transition? He will not take the oath of office until January 20, 2009 – but Barack Obama is the President in everything but title. Obama has assumed the leadership role in America and around the world. And the paradox of Obama centers […]
26Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
The Poverty Inoculation – Gratitude
This economy was beginning to make me sick. My stock portfolio has lost half of the value. Dividends are now 5% of $10 instead of 5% of $20 – so my income is shredded. The identification thieves skip my trash can – there is nothing left to steal. The illness was creeping into my neurological […]
24Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The Value in Hunting
Every year folks from all walks of life participate in hunting. From the poorest redneck to the high brow elite, young and old, men and women all enjoy hunting. Some are strictly trophy hunters only going for the big buck, tom turkey or whatever their fancy. Some of us hunt for the combined thrill and […]
24Nov2008 | Cole James | Comments Off on The Value in Hunting | Continued
The Meaning of Jihad in Islam
By Ali Gomaa Within Islam the term jihad refers to a large category of meanings. Today, however, there are attempts to isolate this term to only one form of jihad to the exclusion of all others. This includes a conception of jihad that at best refers only to armed struggle, and at worst to a […]
24Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Meaning of Jihad in Islam | Continued
Can the Obamas Choose a Church? Will We Let Them?
By David Waters As everyone knows by now, the Obamas are between church homes. That’s a difficult place for any churchgoing family, but especially one that has become the focus of the fears and hopes of the entire world. Finding a new church won’t get any easier now that they’re moving into the White House. […]
23Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Can the Obamas Choose a Church? Will We Let Them? | Continued
Fix Pick: Brooks on the Transition
New York Times columnist David Brooks is reassured by the people with whom President-elect Obama has chosen to surround himself. (By Linda Davidson — The Washington Post) Amid the chaos of Cabinet picks and the whirl of White House staff announcements over the past week, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. That […]
23Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Fix Pick: Brooks on the Transition | Continued
The Saturday Word: Obama Aims for 2.5 Million Jobs
By Sarah Wheaton In his weekly address for broadcast today, President-elect Barack Obama announced his intention to create 2.5 million new jobs by January 2011. “There are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, which has been many years in the making, and it’s likely to get worse before it gets better,” he said. […]
23Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Saturday Word: Obama Aims for 2.5 Million Jobs | Continued
The Inauguration: Planning Team Taking Shape
By Katharine Q. Seelye Barack Obama began preparing for his transition to the White House several months ago, and formally established his transition office right after his election. But the team planning his inaugural, set for Jan. 20, is just starting to take shape. One person who is expected to play a prominent role on […]
21Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Inauguration: Planning Team Taking Shape | Continued
Are Drug Addicts Worthless?
Well, that depends. While using drugs that addict is worse than worthless. While using an addict’s worth is in the negative numbers – they will lie and steal – to any one, any where, any time. When not using they return to their normal human pain-in-the-ass personalities. They are normal in the sense that humans […]
20Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Bailouts for white, not blue collars?
by Frank James Have the federal bailouts been biased towards white-collar and against blue-collar workers? That question was starkly raised by Rep. Barney Frank, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, which yesterday heard the chief executives of the Big Three automakers beseech Congress for $25 billion in taxpayer-funded loans. Frank, the committee’s chair, said: […]
20Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bailouts for white, not blue collars? | Continued
Trending Away From the GOP
By David S. Broder Sunday, November 16, 2008; Page B07 The deeper one digs into the returns from this past election, the more portentous the results seem. This Story Trending Away From the GOP 5 Myths About an Election of Mythic Proportions Watch Where You Walk, Mr. Obama I know the dangers of deciding too […]
20Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Trending Away From the GOP | Continued
A Nickel for Bread, But No One Has a Nickel
The old man who cleaned our office, back in the 1970’s, would sometimes talk of the great depression. “Ohg,” he would say, “Bread was a nickel a loaf, but nobody had a nickel.” Then Jimmie would smile and go about his business. Jimmie had a different comfort level – his tolerance for meagerness was greater […]
20Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
White House: Blame Dems if no Big 3 help
by Frank James The White House is trying to shift blame to congressional Democrats if the auto industry doesn’t get the financial bailout it’s seeking, saying Democrats appear unwilling to loosen restrictions on $25 billion that’s already been approved to help the industry retool to make their vehicles more fuel efficient. White House spokeswoman Dana […]
19Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on White House: Blame Dems if no Big 3 help | Continued
Auto execs testify as legislators try for deal
By John Crawley and Kevin Drawbaugh WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. auto executives went to Capitol Hill for a second day on Wednesday to argue their case for $25 billion in aid as legislators proposed changes to help a bailout pass Congressional and White House muster. The day’s hearings, before the House Financial Services Committee, got […]
19Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Auto execs testify as legislators try for deal | Continued
Detroit Bailout – an Ethical Conundrum
This writer has often defined self as being an economic conservative and a social liberal. Normally there is not much conflict in that ideology. I will help my neighbor as long as I don’t have to borrow money in the endeavor. I will not enable my neighbor to continue poor behavior by bailing him out […]
19Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The Early Word: How to Pick a Cabinet
By Michael Falcone President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team offered more clues about the makeup of his Cabinet and White House staff on Tuesday as word leaked out that Eric H. Holder Jr., a former Clinton administration official and Obama confidant, would likely be picked for Attorney General. The Times’s Eric Lichtblau and John M. Broder […]
19Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Early Word: How to Pick a Cabinet | Continued
Mission Endeavour
(Update: 8:25 p.m. EST) Space Shuttle Endeavour lit up the sky at the Kennedy Space Center as it launched tonight, racing up the east coast of the United States on its way to orbit Seven astronauts are on board. Their flight is scheduled to run just shy of fifteen days. By space shuttle standards, the […]
19Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Mission Endeavour | Continued
Obama – Focal Point of Mature Stability
This election was tough. Hard hitting, loud, boisterous, negative, slanderous, and sometimes mean spirited. All of us have enjoyed and distressed over the emotional roller coaster. This was better than any Hitchcock thriller – if tense excitement is what you like. But the election is over and we are seeing the emotional aftermath. We can […]
19Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama – Focal Point of Mature Stability | Continued
Huckabee’s Choice Words for Romney
By Michael Luo Ah, memories. Among The Caucus’s favorites from campaign days gone by were those from the bitterly cold days of December 2007 preceding the Iowa caucuses, when the silver-tongued Mike Huckabee and his indefatigable sparring partner, Mitt Romney, circled and slashed at each other from dawn until dusk. The episodes are now in […]
17Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Huckabee’s Choice Words for Romney | Continued
Obama, like Lincoln, ditches ideology
by Frank James Liberal supporters of President-elect Barack Obama’s who thought he was one of them should ready themselves, for they are about to be Greeleyed. Horace Greeley, for those who don’t or remember know their history, was the stridently abolitionist editor of the New York Tribune who in August 1862 wrote an open letter […]
17Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Drive Free, Retire Rich
Dave Ramsey has good advice for managing the expense of owning an automobile in America today. Check him out at Drive Free, Retire Rich We Love Our Cars The normal way of thinking Dragging a Payment What they don’t tell you After Six Years What if… Let’s Think Differently A Major upgrade Let’s keep going […]
16Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Drive Free, Retire Rich | Continued
Hillary Clinton ‘outstanding:’ Kissinger
by Mark Silva They don’t call Henry Kissinger a seasoned diplomat for nothing. The former secretary of state and veteran of Republican administrations said today that Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, under consideration for secretary of state in the administration of Democratic President-elect Barack Obama, would make “an outstanding appointment” and display “great courage” […]
16Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Hillary Clinton ‘outstanding:’ Kissinger | Continued
Obama Mixes the Personal and Political on ‘60 Minutes’
By Michael Falcone President-elect Barack Obama said in an interview on the CBS program “60 Minutes” on Sunday that one of his top priorities will be to “restore a sense of balance” to the regulation of financial markets, but rejected the idea of a so-called “new New Deal” for America. Mr. Obama acknowledged the parallels […]
16Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama Mixes the Personal and Political on ‘60 Minutes’ | Continued
The Utility of Socialism
Slow down big shooter. This writer is not a fan of socialism. Capitalism, moderated by honest Christianity, and regulated by mature government, works best. In 2008 the United States, the best example of marriage of capitalism, faith, and government, is taking great leaps toward socialism. Why – because the government recognizes some business functions as […]
16Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Utility of Socialism | Continued
Mormons Tipped Scale in Ban on Gay Marriage
By JESSE McKINLEY and KIRK JOHNSON Published: November 14, 2008 SACRAMENTO — Less than two weeks before Election Day, the chief strategist behind a ballot measure outlawing same-sex marriage in California called an emergency meeting here. “We’re going to lose this campaign if we don’t get more money,” the strategist, Frank Schubert, recalled telling leaders […]
16Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The Moose Stops Here
By FRANK RICH Published: November 16, 2008 ELECTION junkies in acute withdrawal need suffer no longer. Though the exciting Obama-McCain race is over, the cockfight among the losers has only just begun. The conservative crackup may be ugly, but as entertainment, it’s two thumbs up! Over at Fox News, Greta Van Susteren has been trashing […]
16Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Obama Announces More White House Picks
Two of these we sort of knew: Ron Klain will become Vice President Joe Biden’s chief of staff and Valerie Jarrett, longtime friend and confidante of both Barack and Michelle Obama, will have the title Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison (which looks like a very broad troubleshooting […]
15Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama Announces More White House Picks | Continued
Obama Delivers First Democratic Video Address
By Michael Falcone From now on it will be the weekly “Democratic Radio Address” in name only. President-elect Barack Obama, capitalizing on his successful use of multimedia technologies during the campaign, delivered his message on Saturday using video as well as audio. It may seem like a political no-brainer in the age of YouTube, but […]
15Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama Delivers First Democratic Video Address | Continued
The Right to Privacy – The 9th Amendment – Gay Marriage
Our Founding Fathers were masters of compromise. Some wanted specific rights established in the form of a Bill of Rights. Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom from search and seizure, Freedom to bear arms, Freedom of speech, we become redundant – suffice it to say that some rights were considered so important that […]
14Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Right to Privacy – The 9th Amendment – Gay Marriage | Continued
Life or Death – Warrior Virtues
The disaster of September 11, 2001, redefined our nation’s leadership. Perhaps. It may also be that the disaster of terrorism merely focused or gave clarity to a foregone destiny. Our President, George W. Bush, issued his proclamation. He did so with a sense of nobility right out of the Dark Ages. He said, “There is […]
14Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Life or Death – Warrior Virtues | Continued
Palin as Paris Hilton Celebrity
Sarah Palin is continuing to drag down the Republican Party. The other Republican Governors know this – but they cannot openly say so. When Palin talks she sounds less oriented than a wild and crazy Paris HIlton. At least Paris HIlton knows she is just a celebrity – she knows she is not taken seriously. […]
13Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 7 comments | Continued
The Job of the Corporate Accountant
The game is afoot. A high stakes game. A game in the neighborhood of 1,000 billion dollars. Government dollars. Taxpayer dollars. The bail out of Wall Street – or call it a rescue package – is the new game in town. And Corporate Accountants are scurrying around looking for the best possible outcome for their […]
13Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
George Winston – Contemporary Piano Master
George Winston is arguably the greatest piano virtuoso of our time. Winston plays a particular type of music – often referred to as “New Age” music. “New Age” conjures images of incense, beads, and meditation – but don’t be distracted by the labels. Listen to his music and judge for yourself. This writer is biased […]
13Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on George Winston – Contemporary Piano Master | Continued
Obama weighing idea of “auto czar,” aide says
CHICAGO (Reuters) – President-elect Barack Obama is considering naming a point person to lead efforts to help the distressed auto industry return to health, an Obama aide said on Thursday. General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler LLC are seeking a federal bailout of up to $50 billion. Automakers and Democratic congressional leaders have […]
13Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama weighing idea of “auto czar,” aide says | Continued
Palin Soaks Up Media Spotlight
ABC’s Kate Snow reports: Bill McAllister is suddenly a very busy man. As spokesman for the Governor of Alaska, his role was pretty much taken over in an instant last August — the moment Governor Sarah Palin was selected as John McCain’s running mate. The McCain campaign quickly selected a brand new team of communication […]
13Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Wag the Blog: Media Bias?
By Chris Cillizza It seems that every social event The Fix attends — and that list includes plane flights, field hockey games and shopping with Mrs. Fix, among others — there is someone who asks about bias in the media. Usually the “inquiry” comes in the form of an assertion — the media is far […]
13Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Wag the Blog: Media Bias? | Continued
The G.O.P.’s Five Stages of Grief (Video)
Grief is an emotional response to loss. Our original curiosity was around the five stages of grief after the election – but the folks who produced this video recognized the grief began before the cancerous terminal patient died. Curiosity drove us to enter “Election Grief” in the youtube search engine. This one video stood out […]
13Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The G.O.P.’s Five Stages of Grief (Video) | Continued
Change ahead on environment under President Obama
By Rocky Barker | Idaho Statesman Western Democrats and environmentalists will have more influence on federal land decisions in Idaho and the West under President Barack Obama. Decision-makers will defer more to scientists on resource issues and spending priorities will shift toward protecting land, fish and wildlife, Democrats said Tuesday night. But there is a […]
12Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Change ahead on environment under President Obama | Continued
Bush officials moving fast to cut environmental protections
By Renee Schoof | McClatchy Newspapers WASHINGTON — In the next few weeks, the Bush administration is expected to relax environmental-protection rules on power plants near national parks, uranium mining near the Grand Canyon and more mountaintop-removal coal mining in Appalachia. The administration is widely expected to try to get some of the rules into […]
12Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bush officials moving fast to cut environmental protections | Continued
Obama’s Fascinating Interview with Cathleen Falsani
Tuesday November 11, 2008 The most detailed and fascinating explication of Barack Obama’s faith came in a 2004 interview he gave Chicago Sun Times columnist Cathleen Falsani when he was running for U.S. Senate in Illinois. The column she wrote about the interview has been quoted and misquoted many times over, but she’d never before […]
12Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s Fascinating Interview with Cathleen Falsani | Continued