There’s a nice guide to flip-flopping in the New Republic. Do you remember when conservatives used to speak warmly, and sometimes rapturously, about Barack Obama? That was back when they were certain that the Clinton voodoo magic would make Hillary … Continue reading →

Whimsley explores the poles of political thinking on economic issues. Imagine a society where everyone gets the same income. Then the income of one quarter of the population suddenly increases by a factor of five while the income of the … Continue reading →

[another half finished post. no idea what it was about or who said it] Senator Hillary Clinton’s use of the phrase “elite opinion” to dismiss the near unanimous opposition of economists to her proposal for a gas tax holiday was … Continue reading →

[every now an then I go back and hit publish on half-finished drafts. Today is such a day.] It’s the high numbers in Azerbaijan (42%) and Nigerian (60%) that scare me.

My understanding of the second amendment has gone through several phases. In my first phase it made no sense at all to me. Then I heard about Miller vs USA in which the Supremes of the day said “In the … Continue reading →

Nicholas Kristof is asking each of the presidential candidates to commit to a Truth Commission (modelled after South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee) early in the next administration. This commission would be to investigate claims like “There is no longer … Continue reading →

Subtle muscular adjustments can show, from left, wistfulness, determination, and unbridled Obama has been working on his looking-off-into-the-future pose. “A nod is acceptable,” Hosking said. “The American people respond well to nods.”

The organization, Scientists and Engineers for America have put together a questionnaire that they are sending to all candidates for the congressional elections in November. Innovation. Science and technology have been responsible for half of the growth of the American … Continue reading →

Catching up on my Tom Tomorrows. Haven’t read it for a while. More here.

Roger Cohen has a devestating round-up of the Bush years in the NY Times. When it’s dusk in America, the shadows spread wide.