Buck Naked Politics

Apparently, GOP Senators Do Not Want Ordinary Americans to Have Good Health Care

2009-12-18T10:20:14-05:00

by Deb Cupples | The Hill reports: "Sen. Jim DeMint said Thursday he is prepared to use every procedural tool to delay a vote on the Democratic healthcare legislation." The Washington Post tells us: "Senate Republicans said Thursday that they would try to filibuster a massive Pentagon bill that funds the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, an unusual move that...

Having "The Talk" with Your Parents

2009-12-18T09:57:13-05:00

posted by Chris | As a member of the ‘sandwich’ generation, I am keenly aware of the pressures of both raising children, while at the same time developing a deeper relationship with aging parents. While the generational family baton is passed at different times for different families; at some point you will need to have a very serious and personal...

Someone's Gotta Pay

2009-12-10T15:48:39-05:00

Bloomberg tells us: "Americans want their government to create jobs through spending on public works, investments in alternative energy or skills training for the jobless. "They also want the deficit to come down. And most are ready to hand the bill to the wealthy." Yeah, and? Who else even could pay? More of our nation's wealth is concentrated in fewer...

"Compromise" on Public Option a Win-Win?

2009-12-09T13:08:01-05:00

by Deb Cupples | The New York Times reports: "The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, said Tuesday night that he and a group of 10 Democratic senators had reached “a broad agreement” to resolve a dispute over a proposed government-run health insurance plan, which has posed the biggest obstacle to passage of sweeping health care legislation.... "Under the agreement, people...

Man Chucks Tomatoes at Palin

2009-12-08T11:28:13-05:00

A Twin Cities TV station website reports: "A man was arrested for throwing tomatoes at Sarah Palin during her book signing on Monday at the Mall of America. "Jeremy Olson, 33, allegedly threw two tomatoes from the second balcony, however did not come close to hitting Palin. "Bloomington Police report that Bloomington Commander Mark Stehlik was struck in the face...

'Climate-Gate?' Oh, I Wish...

2009-12-05T05:34:50-05:00

by Bill Kavanagh: As Brad DeLong is fond of saying, "Why oh why can't we have a better press corps?" It's pretty disheartening, just as President Obama has announced he'll be going to the Copenhagen Climate Conference at its closing (implying a possible deal to announce on carbon emission reductions) to see that the WaPo is instead playing up the...

Keeping Faith

2009-11-30T18:22:19-05:00

by Bill Kavanagh: Today, with our spirit beaten down by two long wars, an economic collapse, and a seemingly paralyzed political process; we wait for the President’s speech on Afghanistan. We’ve become restless and fearful now, still waiting, but less hopeful for the big changes we thought would be coming after we threw off the chains of our former right...

Bin Laden Was "Within Grasp" in 2001

2009-11-30T00:19:00-05:00

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee released a report indicating that U.S. military strategists could have taken Osama bin Laden in December of 2001 -- or at least stopped him and his deputy from moving into Pakistan -- but they failed to. (NY Times). According to Al Jazeera, bin Laden was "within grasp" in the Tora Bora Mountains of...

Good News Round-up

2009-11-29T11:16:30-05:00

by Deb Cupples | Given that the holiday season has just kicked off, I thought I would focus today on charitable acts. Sherrie Gahn, principal of Whitney Elementary School in Las Vegas, has started a food bank to help feed students and their families. Reportedly, about 75% of Ms. Gahn's 622 students living in the "Boulder Strip" neighborhood of Las...

Obama and Afghanistan: Decision Made Long Ago?

2009-11-25T12:32:16-05:00

by Deb Cupples | Today's New York Times tells us that President Obama "may add" 30,000 troops in Afghanistan. This is not news, given that two weeks ago, CBS News reported that Obama was considering adding tens-of-thousands of troops in Afghanistan. Though treated as "news" two weeks ago, even CBS's report wasn't "news." At least as far back as July...

Citizens Groups Sue Florida Legislature over Education System

2009-11-24T16:38:06-05:00

by Deb Cupples | My home state of Florida is the fourth largest state in the U.S. -- and it's a fairly wealthy state. Yet, our K-12 school system is among the worst in the nation in some pretty important respects. According to the Miami Herald, Florida is 39th (or 47th) in the nation in terms of school funding, and...

Energy Jobs for a Renewable Economic Future

2009-11-24T07:29:47-05:00

posted by Bill: Check out what Stan Ovshinsky is doing in Detroit to create energy jobs for an American economic and environmental renewal. You won't hear about his work on the evening news, but Bob Herbert writes about him today in his column.

Chris on Beneficiary Designations

2009-11-23T00:01:00-05:00

posted by Chris | As you go through the various stages of life, it is important to periodically update your beneficiaries on your life insurance, annuities, IRA’s and other qualified retirement plans. We have all heard stories of the ex-spouse receiving the current spouse’s benefits upon the death of person who DID NOT change their beneficiary designation. Did you know...

Good News Roundup

2009-11-22T12:56:53-05:00

by Deb Cupples | This is an older story but a good one. A female toddler named Oluchi Nwaubani fell into a swimming pool earlier this year and survived after 18 minutes under water. At the hospital, Oluchi was put on a respirator. Believing that she would never recover, doctors discussed turning off the machine. Three days later, Oluchi started...

Revitalizing American Industry

2009-11-21T17:53:57-05:00

posted by Bill: I highly recommend Bob Herbert's column today as he tours through downtown Detroit, or what's left of it, with an economist from the Motor City. It's time we all started thinking about how America is becoming less like the capital of the world and more like Detroit all the time. Herbert's piece ends on this note: "We...

Finally, a Bank Official Says Executive Compensation Must Be Controlled

2009-11-21T10:11:02-05:00

by Deb Cupples | Yesterday, the Financial Times reported: "Germany’s new finance minister has echoed Chinese warnings about the growing threat of fresh global asset price bubbles, fueled by low US interest rates and a weak dollar. "Wolfgang Schäuble’s comments highlight official concern in Europe that the risk of further financial market turbulence has been exacerbated by the exceptional steps...

More Jobs

2009-11-18T08:10:58-05:00

posted by Bill: Hey, maybe I'm being too tough about the need for a jobs program, incentives, and more. Maybe people out of work just aren't looking hard enough. According to McClatchy, Mickey D's is hiring...at Guantamamo Bay. All you need is some restaurant management experience, a valid passport, a willingness to relocate to Cuba (er, or the 45 square...

Job One

2009-11-15T09:33:59-05:00

by Bill Kavanagh: Healthcare reform, climate change legislation, education reform, even changes in war strategy will all fall short of creating a lasting political program if Americans don’t have jobs. We have a crippling level of under/unemployment, which many believe actually tops 20% today (higher than the 17+ percent reported by the feds), even while the government tells us the...

Human Light Emissions and Water on the Moon

2009-11-14T00:03:00-05:00

by Deb Cupples | I came across two science-related pieces recently. The first, from Live Science, begins: "The human body literally glows, emitting a visible light in extremely small quantities at levels that rise and fall with the day, scientists now reveal." The second piece, from the New York Times, begins: "There is water on the Moon, scientists stated unequivocally...

Ex-Congressman Sentenced to 13 Years

2009-11-13T23:29:13-05:00

It was June 2007 that the U.S. House passed a resolution (373-26 votes) to investigate Rep. William Jefferson (DLA), who was indicted on corruption charges. Today, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported: "Former Rep. William Jefferson was sentenced Friday to serve 13 years in prison for what the lead prosecutor described as "the most extensive and pervasive pattern of corruption in...