Politics

Dying of Thirst in New Orleans

As thousands of evacuees languished in the New Orleans Convention Center for four days, only one authority came to reassure them, according to NBC photographer Tony Zumbado: I went back with Harry Connick Jr. He spoke to them and told them he would do anything he can to help them. They seemed to appreciate that. He's the only person of authority -- believe it or not, a musician -- to go in there and tell them that things are going to be ok. Connick's upholding a fine tradition of entertainers ... (read more)

2005/09/02

I'm getting hammered by some people for my proposal that liberals and conservatives stage comparable relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims. One of the conservative bloggers I approached with this idea sent an e-mail that's still cooling off: You're sick ... trying to make a competition out of other's suffering. You should be ashamed of yourself. As I told him, competing to outraise another group is a routine charity practice. Look at all the weblogs in competition on TLB's Blog for ... (read more)

2005/09/02

Rabid Ideologues for Hurricane Relief

The Drudge Retort belongs to a large network of liberal weblogs that's trying to raise $1 million for urgent Hurricane Katrina relief. Donations go to the Red Cross for the specific purpose of helping thousands of people affected by a disaster of biblical proportions -- 90,000 square miles of four states were devastated by the storm, thousands may be dead, and more are dying by the hour. Site visitors have donated almost $100,000 in one day, which is good but still a long way from the goal. ... (read more)

2005/09/02

Dark Clouds Form Over White House

An editorial in Wednesday's Manchester Union Leader criticizes President Bush for "aloofness" in response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster: As the extent of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation became clearer on Tuesday -- millions without power, tens of thousands homeless, a death toll unknowable because rescue crews can’t reach some regions -- President Bush carried on with his plans to speak in San Diego, as if nothing important had happened the day before. Katrina already is measured as one ... (read more)

2005/09/01

Eugene Volokh Considers Gay Sex

Yesterday, UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh thrust into the public debate a very long post of turgid prose which rams the argument down our throats that gays are converting people: If you persuade someone to become a vegetarian, you can be said to have converted him to vegetarianism. He's still biologically an omnivore, but his practices are now different. Likewise, changing someone from (a) being an orientational bisexual who engages solely in heterosexual relationships to (b) someone who is ... (read more)

2005/08/23

Never Wrestle with a Pig

One of my friends is looking for archived versions of Rush Limbaugh's show from the years he was abusing Oxycontin. He figures there has to be comedy gold in the shows where Limbaugh was pontificating under the influence. Earlier this week, Limbaugh made a statement about Cindy Sheehan that's so bizarre we should be talking relapse: Cindy Sheehan is just Bill Burkett. Her story is nothing more than forged documents. There's nothing about it that's real, including the mainstream media's glomming ... (read more)

2005/08/19

Katherine Harris Sways Florida Voters

U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris announced her Florida Senate bid on Hannity & Colmes last week in one of the most bizarre interviews I've ever seen a politician give on television. She's sitting awkwardly in three-quarters profile, sways back and forth, and keeps moving her facial muscles around as if she's forgotten how to keep them still. Harris spokesman Adam Goodman has attempted to explain her conduct as fatigue from a long first day of campaigning. "She was just a little tired," he told a ... (read more)

2005/08/17

Air America Addresses Loan Issue

The New York Times reported today on the questionable loans that Air America Radio's former director Evan Cohen gave to the network from a New York children's charity. A spokesman for the charity told the Times that Air America has placed $875,000 in escrow as part of a repayment agreement. Al Franken addressed the subject in detail on his program earlier this week. This should take the wind out of the sails of the conservative bloggers who have been riding this story for weeks, inflating its ... (read more)

2005/08/12

Dukakis, Perot, Clinton, Gore, Kerry ... (read more)

2005/08/11

Turn Your AM Dial to the Left

I'm putting together a talk radio station lineup, in case I win the lottery and can bring liberal radio to Jacksonville. North Florida could use the variety -- I live within listening range of three stations that carry Rush Limbaugh live. I can only assume that the right wingers in this area are concerned that one or two stations might lose their towers to a hurricane or nuclear attack, so they've build some redundancies into the system. My rules: All hosts have to air live, should run in their ... (read more)

2005/08/11

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