THE PACIFIC: HOMAGE FINALLY PAID

It isn’t necessarily true in historical circles, but the Pacific campaign during World War II has mostly received short shrift from popular culture, as well as popular histories. Now HBO is going to remedy that shortcoming with a gigantic 10 part miniseries entitled The Pacific. By most reports, it is a winner - a worthy companion [...]

WHAT’S THE BEEF? THE SLAUGHTER RULE IS JUST A LITTLE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Here we go again, conservatives blowing something way, way out of proportion that when smart people think about it, doesn’t deserve all this hand wringing and angst-ridden diatribes on the right. When are conservatives ever going to learn that all this talk about the Constitution is just a distraction? What everyone should be looking at [...]

THE ‘ANYTHING GOES’ HOUSE

Just when you think you’ve seen just about everything in politics, one party or the other bites you in the ass to let you know that authoritarian tactics fit easily and comfortably over the democratic template laid down by the Founders. It really is seamless at times. Witness the Tom DeLay move to keep the vote [...]

ARE DEMOCRATS FOOLING THEMSELVES ON HEALTH CARE REFORM?

Greg Sargent touting President Obama’s speech in Philly as he tries to “close the sale” on health care reform: One striking thing about the speech Obama just gave at the big health care rally in Pennsylvania is how many times he stressed that if reform passes, voters will begin enjoying the benefits this year. Though he didn’t [...]

TO A BLOGGER DYING YOUNG

I first became aware of blogger Al Weisel (AKA “Jon Swift”) when I started my “Carnival of the Clueless” linkfest back in 2005. Al submitted a post each week almost from the beginning. I have to admit to being had by the Jon Swift character. I never read his submissions closely, scanning them for the essence [...]