The Tragedy of Jared Loughner

The massacre that took place in Tuscon was a tragedy that shook the nation to its core.  As we mourn the loss of life and this attack on our democracy, I want to relate a story about a battle with mental illness that was very close to home and why I do that while Jared Loughner is not a victim of the...

Michele Bachmann’s War

Michele Bachmann’s appointment to the Intelligence Committee reminded me of one of my favorite scenes from Charlie Wilson’s War.  In this scene, Wilson is asked by one of Tip O’Neill’s staffers to join the ethics committee to help out John Mertha. I have included the hypothetical...

Because There’s No Such Thing As Too Many Posts Re: MSNBC Suspending Keith Olbermann

Following up on Mike’s post yesterday re: the MSNBC-Olbermann suspension debacle, amidst all the sturm und drang, Rachel Maddow tries to be ecumenical in supporting both Olbermann and the official company line: I understand the rule. I understand what it means to break it. I believe everyone should...

Three Cheers For Institutional Corruption

The NY Times: A secretive network of Republican donors is heading to the Palm Springs area for a long weekend in January, but it will not be to relax after a hard-fought election — it will be to plan for the next one. Koch Industries, the longtime underwriter of libertarian causes from the Cato Institute...

Gray Lady’s Paywall Will Allow Links from Blogs, Social Media

MediaPost provides details on the New York Times’ upcoming “metered” paywall — and it provides some comfort for bloggers/social media mavens: [T]he so-called “metered model” will allow readers who are referred from third-party sites such as blogs, social media networks and...

Sully’s Childish Righty Side Revealed

In typical sniping form, Andrew Sullivan has framed a snipped from an interview with a NYC improv comic as the reason “Why Americas Hate Government.” In a wonderful profile of an improv comedy performer in New York City, this excerpt struck me: When I ask him what he’s doing for money, he...