-
Barack Obama and George Bush Show Congress How to Act Like Adults
Tweet Share on Facebook May 31, 2012 CommentAt first, it looked like some scene from an old movie, or perhaps something from the History Channel. There was the president of the United States, standing behind a lectern at the White House and paying tribute to his predecessor, a man of a different political party. Then, the former president of the United States got up and thanked the current president for his hospitality and graciousness. The current and former first ladies were honored, as were the current and former presidential daughters.
-
Donald Trump Makes Kim Kardashian Look Good
Tweet Share on Facebook May 30, 2012 CommentIt's fun to make fun of Kim Kardashian. Her whole persona is a bit silly. She's famous for being famous—though it's hard to know how the ball even got rolling. She made a fool of herself with an over-the-top wedding, one which earned her millions of dollars, followed by a speedy divorce. In many ways, Kardashian, while lovely, embodies everything that has gone wrong with popular American culture.
-
Is Congress Getting Dumber?
Tweet Share on Facebook May 29, 2012 CommentIs Congress really getting stupider over time? Or are Americans forcing them to act that way?
A report by the Sunlight Foundation shows that members of Congress speak at a grade level that is one full grade lower than lawmakers did just seven years ago. The pattern is more pronounced among newer members, and less pronounced among moderates. And on average, the more individual lawmakers spoke on the floor, the simpler their speech tended to be.
-
Why Is It Only Women Who Need 'Informing' on Reproductive Health?
Tweet Share on Facebook May 24, 2012 CommentLegislators from Arizona to Virginia want women to undergo often invasive procedures before having a legal abortion, since the lawmakers are convinced that the women don't really understand what they are doing. And leaders in the Catholic Church, which opposes contraception, are fighting Obama administration rules requiring employers (including those affiliated with the church, although not the church itself) to include birth control in their healthcare plans. The battles—which many of us thought had been fought and resolved decades ago—have caused dissension over religious freedom versus religious dictate, and on the role of government in people's lives.
-
Mitt Romney Brought Bain Capital Criticisms on Himself
Tweet Share on Facebook May 23, 2012 CommentMitt Romney's work at Bain Capital is "fair game," as the Obama administration phrases it. Criticism of Romney's work there is not an assault on capitalism, nor is it "proof" of the absurd contention by foes of the president that he is a socialist (the bigger issue, anyway, is what passes for a liberal in our era of hyper-conservative resurgence).
-
Rutgers Bullying Case About Gay Rights, Privacy
Tweet Share on Facebook May 22, 2012 CommentThe relatively brief jail sentence imposed on a Rutgers University student who tormented his gay roommate has caused debate, even within the gay community: Was 30 days too few for Dharun Ravi, who secretly filmed his roommate, Tyler Clementi, in a sexual encounter with another man, then encouraged others to watch the video? Or was Ravi just a basic, immature college kid whose stupid prank should not be blamed for the distress of Clementi, who committed suicide after the episode?
-
Facebook's Stock Flop Is an Allegory for Facebook Itself
Tweet Share on Facebook May 21, 2012 CommentFacebook's public debut on the stock market ended up being a financial allegory for the social networking site itself. Buzz-spreaders do not necessarily ended up becoming actual investors. That's not surprising, considering that your Facebook friends are not really your friends.
-
FTC's Skechers Case Is a Coup for Women
Tweet Share on Facebook May 17, 2012 Comment (4)American consumers are a pretty savvy bunch, and tend to know that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The Federal Trade Commission took it a step further, accusing the athletic shoemaker Skechers of running misleading ads about what its women's sneakers could do.
-
George W. Bush's Mitt Romney Endorsement Doesn't Matter
Tweet Share on Facebook May 16, 2012 Comment (10)At first blush, it looks like yet another indignity for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. There was former President George W. Bush, a man who surely understands that Romney is indeed going to be the man who will try to unseat the guy who beat the other guy who wanted Bush's job in 2008. And when Bush was asked whether he would endorse, he said, "I'm for Mitt Romney." Right as the elevator doors closed.
-
Why We Care About Mitt Romney's Dog and Bullying
Tweet Share on Facebook May 15, 2012 Comment (62)First, Mitt Romney was mean to a dog. And now, he was a childhood bully.
