The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    Michael Maiello's picture

    Joe Lieberman Wants To Be Dictator Of Egypt

    By Michael Maiello on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 7:48pm | Politics

    Simply stunning.  The lesson that outgoing (but not outgoing) Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman has learned from Egypt's oppressive dictator Hosni Mubarak is that the President needs to be able to order the shutdown of Internet access in the U.S., too.

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Michael Wolraich's picture

    My Life is Empty Without Terror Alerts

    By Michael Wolraich on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:51pm | Politics

    I am sad to report that the Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to scrap the beloved five-level, color-coded terrorism advisory system in favor of a new two-tiered system that may or may not have colors.

    To many Americans, the Homeland Security Advisory System has long been a force of comfort and guidance.

    For the past nine years, I have woken up each day and immediately raced to the computer to find out if the security level had finally dropped from yellow (significant risk of terrorist attacks) to blue (general risk of terrorist attacks).

    I have a bottle of champagne and some blow horns prepared for the occasion. I used to have blue helium balloons, too, but they shriveled back in 2004. Of course, I never expected to reach green (low risk of terrorist attacks) in my lifetime. Green is a utopian ideal to aspire toward like world peace or a cure for baldness.

    Read the full article at CNN.com

    Topics: 
    Politics
    William K. Wolfrum's picture

    Sarah Palin: This just isn't funny anymore

    By William K. Wolfrum on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:20am | Politics, Media

    A while back, I wrote a post entitled “Sarah Palin will always be funny. Always!” In it, I had this to say:

    “I am shocked and offended that there are those out there that will say they are ’sick of Sarah Palin jokes.’”

    Yesterday, here’s how Palin countered Obama’s use of the “Sputnik Moment” analogy in his State of the Union Address:

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Media
    DF's picture

    RIP Maxine Udall, Girl Economist

    By DF on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 6:02pm | Personal

    Via Mark Thoma, I have learned that Maxine Udall, Girl Economist, (born Alison Snow Jones) has passed away.

    She was one of my favorite people in the econ blogosphere because she combined very sharp economic accumen with deep thinking about the moral implications of economic policy.  Really, the best kind of economist.

    She was a contributor to TPM Cafe and was linked to by Paul Krugman on a number of occasions.

    Topics: 
    Personal
    Michael Wolraich's picture

    TPM Book Club: Blowing Smoke

    By Michael Wolraich on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:40pm | Politics

    Readers,

    Talking Points Memo Cafe is hosting a book club for Blowing Smoke. A couple of dagblog regulars, including Michael Maiello (destor23) and Michael Orion Powell (Orion) will be participating along with a few other experts in the field, so it should be a great discussion.

    The book club will run until Friday. Please join the conversation at http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/tpmcafe-book-club/.

    And don't forget to give the articles a rec for old times sake.

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Series: 
    Persecution Politics
    William K. Wolfrum's picture

    Vital Egypt information for Americans

    By William K. Wolfrum on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 4:01pm | World Affairs

    Egypt on map

    There. Now you can find it on a map.

    You can find out more about the protests in Egypt and the U.S. response here, or follow the breaking news on Twitter with the #Jan25 hashtag. Or just be happy that you now know where it is.

    –WKW

    Topics: 
    World Affairs
    Donal's picture

    Tase of the Union

    By Donal on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 2:28pm | Politics



    We saw the state of the union speech under unusual circumstances.

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Michael Maiello's picture

    In the SOTU, did Obama promise to preserve Social Security's currently promised benefits for all workers?

    By Michael Maiello on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 10:25am |
    Yes. A plain language reading of his words implies a direct promise.
    20% (4 votes)
    No. He left wiggle room to, for example, change inflation calculations so that benefits aren't technically "cut."
    80% (16 votes)
    Total votes: 20
    Michael Wolraich's picture

    Rep. Paul Ryan: King Herbert Hoover II

    By Michael Wolraich on Wed, 01/26/2011 - 9:40am | Politics

    We need to reclaim our American system of limited government, low taxes, reasonable regulations, and sound money, which has blessed us with unprecedented prosperity. And it has done more to help the poor than any other economic system ever designed. That's the real secret to job creation -- not borrowing and spending more money in Washington. Limited government and free enterprise have helped make America the greatest nation on earth.

    -- Paul Ryan, 2011

    By adherence to the principles of decentralization, self-government, ordered liberty, and opportunity and freedom to the individual our American experiment has yielded a degree of well-being unparalleled in all the world. It has come nearer to the abolition of poverty, to the abolition of fear of want that humanity has ever reached before. Progress of the past seven years is the proof of it.

    -- Herbert Hoover, 1928

    Great minds think alike.

    Topics: 
    Politics

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