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World Leaders Eat 18-Course Meal While Discussing Solutions To Global Food Crisis

Yes, had the meal been vegetarian and composed of local produce grown with sustainable agricultural techniques, these guys would have been putting their money where their mouth is so to speak. posted 07/08/2008 at 14:30:33

Health Care for America Now!

Yeah, they have a pretty bad track record on defense. posted 07/08/2008 at 00:16:54

MEDICARE posted 07/08/2008 at 00:09:09

Autism and This Election

I don't know what happened to my comment: autism is not schizophrenia. posted 07/08/2008 at 00:00:42

Autism is not schizophrenia. posted 07/07/2008 at 23:55:11

Obama Repeats Call For Merit Pay In Front Of Powerful Teachers Union

I don't know, but if you read some of the post here, it seems like some people want to blame everything on the teachers. I'm sure there are bad ones, but it is an incredibly difficult job with little thanks. posted 07/06/2008 at 00:28:22

And I think many of the most talented drop out because they HAVE other options. posted 07/05/2008 at 23:19:38

I think a lot of talented people DO drop out because the pay is low and the job is really hard. I have seen it happen to my friends and family. posted 07/05/2008 at 23:15:59

hawkseye provided a decent solution. You just wanted to disagree with me without bothering to come up with one. Not very convincing. posted 07/05/2008 at 23:13:28

Good point. Some kind of peer review. I have teachers in my family and I know that some of these principals can be power hungry pieces of work. posted 07/05/2008 at 23:06:51

Teacher pay has to be increased across the board. Then more talented, educated people will be attracted to teaching. Teachers are the lowest paid professionals in this country. And they have one of the hardest jobs. You couldn't pay me enough to do what teachers of children do and put up with. posted 07/05/2008 at 22:58:21

No, the problem is: how do you measure performance? More tests? We've already created a nation of little automaton test-takers.

And of course, the kids who do the best on the tests are the ones in wealthy districts. The teachers in wealthy suburbs already get paid more than teachers in less affluent areas. Way to encourage people to work with more difficult populations! posted 07/05/2008 at 22:48:56

I remember him talking about this at one of the debates. It's not a flip flop, but i think it's a bad idea. I think one of the problems with education in this country is NO CHILD BS. It should be ended. Low teacher salaries are a problem across the board. posted 07/05/2008 at 22:06:22

Majority Of Americans Say Founding Fathers Would Be Disappointed: Poll

Nicely said. posted 07/06/2008 at 00:22:18

Hmm, I think that if they saw the rampant citizen on citizen gun violence in our city streets, high schools, universities, shopping malls, and workplaces, they would rather regret putting that second one in. posted 07/05/2008 at 23:54:03

NY Times Slams Obama For Being "New And Not Improved"

Thank you for responding for me. I am getting too sleepy. Cheers! posted 07/04/2008 at 23:23:50

There is no extreme left in America in elected politics. Hence when you say O is moving to the center or is a centrist, what he really is doing is moving to the right.

Basically the left has been completely silenced in the last two-three decades. And now we finally get a chance to take back America politics, to insert a bit of sanity in the dialogue from which we feel entirely estranged, just a little bit, and our candidate is selling us out completely by becoming a pseudo Republican.

And I do not consider the ACLU extreme. Do you consider protecting civil liberties extreme? posted 07/04/2008 at 21:50:06

It is unacceptable to me. I am in shock. No one LIKES late term abortions, but they are done rarely and with much agonizing between women their partners and their doctors. posted 07/04/2008 at 14:54:15

I'm not trying to cause trouble. Huff Po just posted it. posted 07/04/2008 at 14:41:22

Now he is also chipping away at Roe v. Wade. posted 07/04/2008 at 14:35:24

Obama On Late Abortion: Mental Distress Doesn't Justify It

Yes, just like what is now happening re gun control. posted 07/04/2008 at 16:07:02

Absolutely. And that is the problem -- this is a slippery slope into government controlling medical decisions on the basis of someone else's morality. And it is pandering. posted 07/04/2008 at 15:58:23

I can't know what she would do, but I think this is a grave error, not just from a "rights perspective", but it could really cost him. He will win a couple evangelical votes and lose all those female Hillary supporters. It is a real F U to many women. posted 07/04/2008 at 15:45:19

Thank you. posted 07/04/2008 at 15:24:16

No one likes late term abortions and they are always only done for medical necessity. They are very rare. Women don't have them just because they changed their minds. We don't need the government making these already heart wrenching decisions for us. This is a slippery slope toward abolishing abortion and O is pandering to the evangelicals as he has been doing all week. posted 07/04/2008 at 15:13:15

Is it too late to get Hill.ary back? posted 07/04/2008 at 14:36:34

Disney, NRA Fight Over Allowing Guns At Work

If the courts don't strike this down, I will be sickened. How can a law allow people to carry guns on other people's property if that person/enity has declared their property gun-free? I don't get it. Luckily Disney has tons of money to get the best lawyers to fight this. posted 07/04/2008 at 11:32:09

Hopefully the more sick and extremist the NRA and its lawsuits become, the more average Americans will see the light about sane gun regulations. I actually hope they bring a few more absurd law suits out. Maybe concealed guns in fed buildings, schools, hospitals, etc. posted 07/04/2008 at 11:24:50

Thank you, courts for protecting us from these crazies. posted 07/04/2008 at 11:21:55

Ted Kennedy To Lead Renewed Universal Health Care Effort

Welcome back, Senator. You look good! Now can you please give your buddy, BO, a good talking to? His taking to the right is about to ruin everything. posted 07/04/2008 at 14:37:09

My Position On FISA

I don't but I have more confidence in him than in McSame. SCOTUS is teetering on the brink of becoming radically right wing posted 07/04/2008 at 11:47:29

Kucinich and real progressive congress members like him will have much more power with a Dem president than with McSame. Let's try not to forget this. posted 07/04/2008 at 11:03:31

This is not pandering to the middle. Obama was always in the middle (it still amazes me that progressives didn't see this.) It is pandering to the right -- on all the issues you sighted. And I agree with you -- it is a losing strategy.

I am still voting for him because of SCOTUS appointments. posted 07/04/2008 at 11:00:07

The thing is that you believe that Barack is being Barack, while I believe Barack is being a politician who is trying to win and I think he is doing it all wrong. Different perspective. posted 07/04/2008 at 10:31:04

It's not a single issue. It was about 5,6,7, issues in the past few weeks.

I'm still voting for O becasue of SCOTUS, but I don't really understand why he thinks he has to adopt republican ideology re: religion, guns, military, security, etc in order to win. This is ideology.

I think most Americans are very alarmed at the direction the country is going in economically etc. I think most American want real answers to this. posted 07/04/2008 at 10:12:52

The thing about Hill.ary is that she had less built-in electability problems. And I'm not talking race. She didn't have to prove she would be tough on terror, she didn't have to prove she was not a Muslim, she didn't have to prove she was a "patriot".

The left wing of the party gave the go ahead to BO recognizing that he had an unusual name etc and that he, as a relative unknown, had a lot to prove to win over more moderate voters.

So now he is pouring it on rather thick to overcome these accusations. We created it, we should support him (If only to save SCOTUS.) posted 07/04/2008 at 09:18:13

To Sen Obama: (As if you would listen to me) It's not just FISA, it's a whole array of items you came out with in the past few weeks. See today's NY Times editorial. (I'm sure your campaign is reading this with chagrin). If it had just been one or tow of these items, people might have swallowed the bitter pill more easily understanding that you were trying to broaden your appeal, that is was a necessary evil, but you bludgeoned us.

This was unnecessary overkill. Stop listening to who ever you are listening to. If you stopped trying to appear like a pseudo Republican and started telling the American people why we are paying 5 bucks a gallon for gas, why are grocery tabs are out of control, why they are losing their jobs, why the dollar is becoming a piece of worthless carp, and then explained what you are going to do to FIX this, you would ave no problem winning this election. BE BOLD, BE STRONG. We do not need a new JFK, we certainly don't need a new Ronald Reagan. We need a new FDR. posted 07/04/2008 at 08:59:52

To progressives who are pissed at BO: I am too, but after having calmed down a little and looked at the bigger picture, I've decided that he still has my support. Why? I still trust him to appoint more liberal or at least centrist judges to SCOTUS. And we are in a very dangerous, very precarious position in regard to the make-up of the court.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/opinion/03thu1.html?scp=1&sq=supreme+court+editorial&st=nyt Reading this woke me up. posted 07/04/2008 at 08:59:19

Do We Really Need A 'Faith-Based' Initiative?

Thank you for your opinion. i think it's high time that WE THE PEOPLE (whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Pagan, atheist or undecided) come together and say that religion is private. That is the way the founders intended it and for good reason! posted 07/01/2008 at 23:08:43

Obama Vows To Expand Bush's Faith-Based Programs

Cheers!!! posted 07/02/2008 at 00:00:12

I'm from NY. posted 07/01/2008 at 23:51:08

He is not pulling this off. He has angered his relationship with his base. I hope folks from his campaign realize this. posted 07/01/2008 at 23:51:06

I was also for Edwards and felt that the media silenced him too. I would vote for the Dem no matter what, except that I live in a state so deep blue that I can afford a f*** you vote.

I am, however, starting to see that the Hill would have been the better of the two. She had less built in "electability" liabilities and therefore would not have had to pander as wantonly.

This "face-based" bs is the worst of it so far for me. posted 07/01/2008 at 23:30:50

Worst speech I've ever seen him give. He was stumbling over his words and said "face-based " a number of times. It seemed like he was rushing through a prepared script, reading off the page. He obviously doesn't believe this. posted 07/01/2008 at 23:16:46

Oops. I meant Medicare. Getting sleepy. posted 07/01/2008 at 22:03:18

Medicaid. Medicaid. Medicaid. Do you have senior parents? I do. And I can't believe how great and easy their coverage has been -- even with serious, incredibly expensive illnesses. So much better that my b.s. private insurance. posted 07/01/2008 at 21:59:38

To me "faith" is not a disease, but it is a personal, private issue. I have a personal spirituality, but I don't subscribe to a religion. The separation church/state is one of the things that has made this country great. Seriously, it makes me REALLY proud to be an American. I'm not trying to be snarky, just a little playful. posted 07/01/2008 at 21:58:19

For me, the "chipping away" is the end of the world. Or at least the end of my feeling comfortable in this country. posted 07/01/2008 at 21:51:45

That has become part of the American "credo": skeptical of government programs. But they seem to work very well in other "advanced" wealthy societies. So really, what is our problem? posted 07/01/2008 at 21:32:13

LMAO posted 07/01/2008 at 21:27:13

Because our elected officials are cowards afraid of seeming "socialist." posted 07/01/2008 at 21:21:01

That is lovely. And wouldn't it have been even more lovely if there were a government program that would have supported you in your time of disability? A well-funded program, with minimal bureaucracy, easily accessible and sane and SECULAR? posted 07/01/2008 at 21:13:03

I was trying to be ironic. posted 07/01/2008 at 20:58:18

Yeah, and the first is my personal fave -- the one when trashed will make this nation no longer exist -- as we've known it. posted 07/01/2008 at 20:44:21

Amen. Hallelujah. posted 07/01/2008 at 20:31:29

And also LBJ, by the way. posted 07/01/2008 at 20:29:56

Was FDR a socialist, in your estimation? And people were REALLY afraid of the "commies" back then. I am not talking about making industry state run, I am only talking about making social service programs public and therefore fair and open to all who qualify. posted 07/01/2008 at 20:28:12

Yes, this is not just a church/state issue, this another step in the dismantling of public services started by the dearly beloved R. Raygun and continued by every president since. We are so scared of "socialism" in this country, that we'd rather just trash the first amendment. posted 07/01/2008 at 20:23:02

I stand corrected. But it is something to worry about. posted 07/01/2008 at 20:15:17

You know, when any not-for-profit organization (religious or not) receives grant money (public or not), a portion of that money can be used for administrative costs, read: salaries. posted 07/01/2008 at 20:06:59

You can only appeal to swing voters so far before you start to lose your base. posted 07/01/2008 at 19:57:38

I have a better idea: let's give public funds to corporations to run social service programs. Then when you go drop your kid off for daycare you can make sacred vows to the ATT, Haliburton what have you brand. posted 07/01/2008 at 19:55:19

And our rights are being totally bludgeoned. posted 07/01/2008 at 19:55:02

And who is going to judge what is mainstream and what isn't? posted 07/01/2008 at 19:45:04

Plenty of other civilized countries have wonderfully run government social service programs. They feed their poor and take care of their kids very well. It's just in America we are so afraid of (eek, dare I say it) socialism. So now we are delegating the responsibility to churches using tax payer dollars. The hypocrisy of this is so astounding. I expected it from the rethugs, but now we are getting this garbage from the dems as well. posted 07/01/2008 at 19:41:55

I'm starting a Satanic nursing home here in NYC. posted 07/01/2008 at 19:22:18

I get that very well!!!!! posted 07/01/2008 at 18:50:01

I live in a deep blue state. Mickey Mouse could win as a Dem in my state. If I lived in a swing state, I would still vote for 0 (If only because I seriously don't want the Sup Court to swing anymore conservative -- although I am now wondering about what kind of Justices O will appoint.) posted 07/01/2008 at 18:47:34

OK, so I was planning to volunteer my precious time to campaign for BO coming Fall and while I had lost some of my enthusiasm due to FISA, death penalty etc, I was still planning to do it because I believed BO was the better of the choices by a long shot and even though he was doing/saying things I didn't agree with, there was still enough common ground for me to proceed.

Now I don't even think I will vote for him. I live in a deep blue state, so my vote won't matter much anyway. But I will not be able to pull that lever.

I was born into a religious minority (not Christian) and as an adult, although I have a personal spirituality, do not subscribe to any organized religion. I am an American too and I do not want my tax money going to any religious groups (I don't care what kind of good work they are doing.) posted 07/01/2008 at 18:41:33

But that's communism. EEEK!!!! I'd much rather be part of a fascistic god fearing theocracy!!!
(Note god in small letters.) posted 07/01/2008 at 18:30:42

I can't begin to say how utterly disgusted I am. This is BS I am voting Nader. posted 07/01/2008 at 18:23:12

Bill Clinton Says Obama Must 'Kiss My Ass' For His Support

Oops. Progressives. posted 06/29/2008 at 23:14:59

They can't. They don't want to realize that B.C. was a moderate democratic president who did a lot of good to this country and some harm. They don't want to realize that, at the end of the day, B.O. is also a centrist democrat who will help us and hurt us at the same time.

None of them are true profressivies. posted 06/29/2008 at 23:14:00

Have you seen this article anywhere else? Because this is crap journalism at it's finest. posted 06/29/2008 at 23:01:53

The NY Post is not a tabloid? Got me. Read the article. There is not one single verifiable source. Please. posted 06/29/2008 at 22:55:31

The Brits, aside form the fact that they are very smart and witty also seem to love their garbage press. posted 06/29/2008 at 22:55:23

The 'Telegraph" is the UK equivalent of the National Enquirer. And you all have been played. posted 06/29/2008 at 22:49:26

Might Obama's Success Undercut Affirmative Action?

I would hardly call what got G.B. into Yale as affirmative action, but I do agree with you. I do think it's time for us to look at class, rather than race/gender as a qualifier. posted 06/29/2008 at 23:31:44

Supreme Court Strikes Down 'Millionaire's Amendment'

I agree with Sch.umer. I don't understand what this has to do with the first amendment. posted 06/26/2008 at 13:50:18

Supreme Court Gun Ruling Reactions

I must reluctantly confess that the decision was the right one per the wording of the second amendment.

That having been said, there are parts our our constitution which are outdated and do not reflect our current reality, a reality that the framer's could not have forseen. posted 06/26/2008 at 15:44:39

Supreme Court Upholds Right To Own Guns For Self-Defense

Persuasive argument. I rescind prior opinion. I am a bit on the fence with this one. I do think we need to address the wanton violence in our society in one way or another. The framers could have had no clue that kids would be massacred on college campuses and that nihilistic urban gangs would roam the city streets shooting whoever.... posted 06/26/2008 at 22:15:18

Fact is we have a love affair with the gun in this country and it is written into the constitution as a right. We need to admit this and then get past it.

We need to come together as a society because this is NOT a partisan issue and address the violence that we seem to be addicted to. We need to look into our American soul together and figure out why there was a Columbine, a Virginia tech etc, etc, etc ad nauseum. Then we need to come up with pragmatic solutions to prevention.

If not a ban, then there must be stricter licensing laws, background checks, etc. If you are a law abiding, sane, non-violent citizen who wants to own a gun, then you should have no objection to this. So, you have to take a gun safety class and pass some tests. Well, you have to do that to be able to drive a car... and so why not a gun? Guns should be registered and monitored just like cars are.

People with a history of mental illness (including drug abuse) should not have guns -- as well as people with criminal records.

then we need to address other social ills which seem to breed violence -- poverty, joblessness, etc.

I don't think we can dream of a gun free America. posted 06/26/2008 at 21:42:14

I completely agree with you. The second amendment is antiquated to the point that we can't even seem to agree what they were talking about. It no longer applies to our reality. What in the heck is a "militia"? I ain't seen any of those around here. And "arms", in this day and age wouldn't that include nuclear missiles? posted 06/26/2008 at 21:04:25

Yeah, unfortunately there's no amendment that says the gov't shall not infringe on the right to take drugs. posted 06/26/2008 at 13:56:42

Obama On FISA: Security Trumps Suing Phone Companies

I am very angry about his death penalty stand too. posted 06/25/2008 at 20:44:49

The Death Penalty - A Quick Primer

Exactly. Not to mention not very intelligent and prejudiced jurors.

BTW, Obama has come out against the supreme court decision.

Makes me wonder.... posted 06/25/2008 at 20:59:50

Court rejects death penalty for raping children

The point is: that it can and does happen to ANYBODY.

In the wrong place at the wrong time, hysteria, a witch hunt, a scapegoat, an ineffectual defense attorney, a jury full of morons who are prejudiced against you. A judge who doesn't like your "kind". posted 06/25/2008 at 17:19:39

Two words why the death penalty should be fully and completely abolished: wrongful convictions.

Period. End story. posted 06/25/2008 at 16:06:38

And what if someone is convicted and then later found innocent? Are you willing to have that blood on your hands? posted 06/25/2008 at 16:02:10

Serenity Lost: Obama And The Netroots

Yes, exactly. Sen. O was never a real progressive. The right is trying to brand him a commie leftist, but he is anything but. He is very middle of the road, a compromiser, a "bi-partisan".

And that is why, I never completely loved him. I was always kind of mystified why progressives were owning him as one of their own.

I just never got it.

He is much more like Bill Clinton than anyone else -- hopefully without all the annoying sex scandals. posted 06/25/2008 at 23:34:58

You know, I had a lot of lefty friends who were voting for R.alph N.ader in 2000 cause they didn't want to vote for Republican-lite and look what we got......

It's so sad, just think about it, just think about how different our world would be today. posted 06/25/2008 at 23:11:05

You know, you've given us all this build up, now we're dying for what you have to say. posted 06/25/2008 at 23:09:05

LMFAO posted 06/25/2008 at 23:00:37

Got me, Nyland. You asked for advice and I gave it. I don't work for H post so I don't really know their system or their agenda. I've just noticed that if I leave out names, I get posted more quickly. posted 06/25/2008 at 22:57:31

Thanks for trying to be positive. No, we shouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water.

I was just very disappointed when he came out against the SCOTUS decision today. No one likes a child rapist. Heck,part of me would like to see them all castrated in the most public and humiliating way, but there are other serious considerations.

Which we cannot forget if we believe in real justice and the rule of law. posted 06/25/2008 at 22:38:12

Don't use anyone's name. Say, for instance, "Sen. O" and make up a snaky nickname for the other one. posted 06/25/2008 at 22:32:22

What is his stand on non-violent drug offenders?

Our prisons are bursting with people who've done nothing of harm to anyone but themselves.

I heartily disagree with him on the death penalty. For a few very practical reasons. posted 06/25/2008 at 22:27:29

Right. No one LIKES late term abortions, sometimes it a painful necessity. And THIS is a privacy issue. posted 06/25/2008 at 22:14:31

I would NEVER vote for McLame, but I'm allowed to voice my discontent. (Just to set the record straight). posted 06/25/2008 at 22:04:18

Let's see:

FISA: strike

NAFTA:strike

Public campaign finance: strike

Death Penalty:strike

Tort reform:strike

I know there's something else, but I can't think of it at the moment.

I always thought the Senator was a bit of a slick used car salesman. posted 06/25/2008 at 21:40:40