Tom Faranda's Folly

The President points out that 80% of Americans want tax increases

Right.

President Obama on Friday kept up the pressure on Republicans to agree to revenue increases in a deal to raise the debt ceiling, claiming 80 percent of the public supports Democrats' demand for tax increases.

Meanwhile, over in reality-ville at the Wall Street Journal, there is this morning's editorial -

Obama and Reid need to convince their own caucus to raise taxes.

Democrats hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, so Majority Leader Harry Reid shouldn't need a single Republican vote to move his tax agenda forward. A budget resolution requires only 51 votes, which means Democrats could vote today to pass a budget resolution on a $1 trillion tax increase as President Obama has endorsed, or the $2 trillion that Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad has proposed.

Instead, Mr. Reid continues to put any Democratic budget with tax increases in the deep freeze even as the party keeps saying the polls show that Americans support a tax hike as part of a debt plan. Why not go for it?

The answer is Senator Reid can't rally his own caucus to get anywhere near 51 votes for a big tax increase. Even as President Obama and Mr. Reid continue to push for a closed-door bipartisan agreement to raise taxes, the only bipartisan consensus in the Senate on taxes right now is . . . against raising them.

Inflation up, manufacturing down

Predictable.

Manufacturing Gauge Slumps as Core Inflation Gains

Friday humor -- "Cheap Flights" (with subtitles)

Very funny, from humor consultant Ellen.

"50p" is about is about 80 cents.

Recognizing when someone is drowning - "Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning"

I suppose a strange title for a posting. But I found this article extremely interesting and worth reading if you are a swimmer, boater, etc.

Way back when I was living in Cayman and qualifying for my Divemaster scuaba diving rating (which qualified me to work commercially to take trained divers out on dives - I never used the qualification) I had to do a water rescue course. I think it was a Red Cross program. But I don't recall any description of how to tell when someone was actually drowning!

it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) – of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult.

Hit the link for the whole, very instructive article.

The faux economic recovery

Daniel Henninger's column in the WSJ this morning. Read the whole thing - 17 paragraphs.

Here is the lecture's provocative final thought: "Is it possible that by imitating European policies on labor markets, welfare and taxes, the U.S. has chosen a new, lower GDP trend? If so, it may be that the weak recovery we have had so far is all the recovery we will get."

Good news re: the first amendment, free speech, & helping women

I will be posting more about this later today or tomorrow. It's A VERY BIG DEAL.

Judge Halts New York City Law Attacking Pregnancy Centers

Judge Pauley, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, concluded the law violates free speech saying the law’s “over-expansiveness is evident from its very language.” He was especially critical of the City’s desire to single-out crisis pregnancy centers with the new law.

“Defendants’ second argument–that Plaintiffs engage in commercial speech because they are provided an audience to whom they can espouse their beliefs–is particularly offensive to free speech principles,” the court declared.  “While Defendants apparently regard an assembly of people as an economic commodity, this Court does not.  Under such a view, flyers for political rallies, religious literature promoting church attendance, or similar forms of expression would constitute commercial speech merely because they assemble listeners for the speaker.”

******

The ACLJ represents EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers and AAA Pregnancy Problems Center which operate a total of 13 crisis pregnancy centers across New York City. The pro-life legal group filed the lawsuit today on their behalf in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

EMC was founded by Chris Slattery. He was one of the persons insturmental in our adopting Tim.

LeRoy Petry, latest Medal of Honor winner - "Heroism Defined"

This is an editorial from yesterday's WSJ. It's short, only four paragraphs.

In an age in which it seems like every teacher, nurse and Little League coach gets to be called a "hero," it's important to have the likes of Staff Sgt. Petry to remind us of the real meaning of a word, no quote marks, full stop.

Below is Sgt Petry and here is his wikipedia bio. which includes a description of his Medal of Honor action.

 
 

The ol' Reagan line from 1980: "Are you better off?"

William McGurn's weekly WSJ column

Obama will have to answer the question Reagan asked in 1980.

White House adviser David Plouffe was hammered this week when he offered that "the average American" isn't going to "vote based on the unemployment rate." His remark gained instant notoriety after Friday's dismal jobs report showing an unemployment rate up to 9.2%.

In fact, Mr. Plouffe was right.

In and of itself, an unemployment figure will not drive voters one way or the other. As others were quick to point out, however, that should be of little consolation to the Obama White House. For the question that Mr. Plouffe should be worried about is how people think the unemployment figure affects themselves and their hopes for the future. Ronald Reagan understood this well, which is why his question at the end of his only debate with Jimmy Carter was so devastating:

"When you make [your decision to vote next Tuesday]," he said to the American people, "it might be well if you would ask yourself: Are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was?"

Drug smuggling submarines

Found this on another website.

The Columbian Navy auxiliary?

I'd say you'd have to be highly motivated to get into one of these things, but I guess there are plenty of willing participants.

Inside seized drug-smuggling submarines

 

My friend Sue Konig, running for Westchester County Legislator

Sue, my neighbor and author friend - a very interesting person - and interesting family! Here she is on FOX, a couple of years ago.

 
 
In the last election, Sue lost by (seven) 7 votes and the incumbent has decided not to run again, so it's an open seat.  

Here's Sue's website.   Susan Konig for County Legislator

The Newsweek photo-shoot of Palin

Great-looking, but a funny way to run for the Presidency ...

From the Business Insider

Less than two years ago, Newsweek featured on its cover a photo of Sarah Palin in running shorts, her elbow leaning delicately on an American flag draped over a chair. The use of the photo (which was originally taken for Runner's World magazine, and seemed to highlight Palin's well-toned legs) was controversial: would a news magazine ever pair a story on a male politician with a photo of him at the gym or in a bathing suit? Palin called it "sexist" and derided Newsweek as emblematic of a news media willing to "do anything to draw attention."

Either Palin has reconsidered her contempt for Newsweek or she has decided that she wouldn't mind grabbing a little attention to.

Here are the photos -  From Newsweek - the Palin cover shoot

More worries: Italian stock market down over 4% today; 10% in last five days

Chart of the Day: Italy Crash

"First Rule of Liberalism: Government Failure Always Justifies More Government"

James Taranto's daily column on the WSJ website is frequently amusing and just as frequently correct -

Remember the "stimulus," or, as it was officially titled, the Recovery Act of 2009? It was President Obama's first major legislative initiative, enacted the month after he took office with only Democratic votes in the House and just three Republicans in the Senate (one of whom was a Democrat by that summer). The price tag was huge, some $800 billion, or 50 times the size (in nominal terms) of the stimulus Bill Clinton proposed at the outset of his presidency. Congress killed the $16 billion Clinton stimulus because it was too expensive.

Unemployment that January was 7.6%, and Obama's economic advisers warned that it could rise as high as 8% without the stimulus. With the stimulus, it rose as high as 10.2% in October 2009. Last month's rate was 9.2%, still 1.2 points higher than the level the stimulus was supposed to prevent us from ever reaching. By contrast, in January 1993 unemployment was 7.3%. Without the Clinton stimulus, it had declined to 6.5% by the end of that year.

Oh well, at least school janitors in Nebraska have "diversity manuals," as the Omaha World-Herald reports:

The Omaha Public Schools used more than $130,000 in federal stimulus dollars to buy each teacher, administrator and staff member a manual on how to become more culturally sensitive. . . .

HIT THE LINK FOR THE WHOLE COLUMN !!

 

 

 

Police protocol

From my humor consultant Ellen -

A police motorcycle cop stops a driver for running a red light.

The driver is a real jerk, steps out of his car and comes strides toward the officer, demanding to know why he is being harassed by the Gestapo!

So the officer calmly tells him of the red light violation.

The motorist instantly goes on a tirade, questioning the officer's ancestry, sexual orientation, etc., in rather explicit terms.

The tirade goes on without the officer saying anything.

When the officer finishes writing the ticket he puts an "AH" in the lower right corner of the narrative portion of the ticket. He then hands it to the 'violator' for his signature. The guy signs the ticket angrily, and when presented with his copy points to the "AH" and demands to know what it stands for.

The officer says, "That's so when we go to court, I'll remember that you're an asshole!"

Two months later they're in court. The 'violator' has a bad driving record and he is in danger of losing his license, so he hired a lawyer to represent him.

On the stand the officer testifies to seeing the man run the red light.

Under cross examination the defense attorney asks; "Officer is this a reasonable facsimile of the ticket that you issued to my client?"

Officer responds, "Yes, sir, that is the defendant's copy, his signature and mine, same number at the top."

Lawyer: "Officer, is there any particular marking or notation on this ticket you don't normally make?"

"Yes, sir, in the lower right corner of the narrative there is an "AH," underlined."

"What does the "AH" stand for, officer?"

"Aggressive and hostile, Sir."

"Aggressive and hostile?"

"Yes, Sir.”

"Officer, are you sure it doesn't stand for asshole?"

“Well, sir, you know your client better than I do.”

Rugby: southern hemisphere Super 15 final, Canterbury (NZ) vs. Queensland (Aus)

Canterbury, trying to win it's 7th Super championship in 15 years, Queensland Reds going for their first. Game played in Australia.

Note long scrum-half score ... !!

My wife Brigid's niece and husband were at the game. They live in Queensland. Andrew dressed in some red spandex outfit and he's in several pictures.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the story of the guy who caught Jeter's home run/3000th hit.

Pretty good. You can go here to see Jeter's full at bat for the 3000th hit. (Obviously a Yankee fan who taped that!)  

 

Dramatic win by the USA over Brazil in Women's Soccer World Cup

A score in overtime extra-time by the US leveled the score at 2-2. And the US won the ensuing penalty shoot-out, 5-3.

There were plenty of controversial calls, with the USA playing one woman short from the 65th minute on - a red card. Wambach, Solo help deliver improbable U.S. victory in Women's World Cup

Here's the goal in extra time that tied the match - and it's a beauty.

How to nail a politician you don't like when you spot him in a restaurant

This is from Ann Althouse blog. Only takes a minute or two to read. Funny if it weren't pathetic.

The new oppo research: Spotting the labels on the wine on the politician's restaurant table.

Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit, a home run!

UPDATE: Jeter went 5 for 5 in this game (third time he's done that in his career) including the game-winning hit inthe eighth inning.

Just happened. With a phenomenal piece of good luck, I turned on the Yankee game as Jeter went up for his second at bat. And BOOM, Jeter obliged with homer well back in the left field seats.

Never any doubt it was going out.

28th player to get 3,000 hits

 

At Yankee Stadium, cont'd; Cano's laser home run

Back here Brigid and Tom go to the Stadium I posted about our fun trip, watching the Yanks beat the Texas Rangers, 12-4. in mid-June.

Here's Cano's home run, from our seat. A real bullet, which goes over the WB Mason sign in right-center in about 3 seconds. 

Quoting myself in the youtube description:

About eight rows back, but it was such a fast liner, that the right fielder barely moved! A fun night!!

If denying gay marriage is bigotry and prejudice, why is the Catholic church getting a NY State exemption from performing gay marriages?

If you buy the premise of the recently passed NY State law that opposition to gay marriage is bigotry (and I think the premise is absurd), then giving any exemptions is contradictory. What other forms of bigotry are various civic or religious groups allowed to practice?

Here's an excellent column by George Weigel on this very point.

A couple of excerpts below, but hit the link for the whole column.

No Homophobia

The Washington Post’s culture critic, Philip Kennicott, recently took to the pages of his paper to note the “cognitive dissonance” between ingrained “habits of homophobia” in American culture, on the one hand, and a recognition that “overt bigotry is no longer acceptable in the public square,” on the other.

As an example of those who resolve this dissonance by holding fast to their homophobic prejudices, Kennicott cited Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, who had remarked on the similarities between the Empire State’s recent re-definition of marriage and the kind of human engineering attempted by totalitarian states ...

******

Before the ink was dry on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature on New York’s new marriage law, the New York Times published an editorial decrying the “religious exemptions” that had been written into the marriage law at the last moment. Those exemptions do, in fact, undercut the logic of the entire redefinition of marriage in the New York law — can you imagine any other “exemption for bigotry” being granted, in any other case of what the law declares to be a fundamental right?

Either the recently enacted New York marriage law is nonsense, or its religious opponents are bigots whose prejudices should not be given the protection of law. To use Mr. Kennicott’s sociological term of art, it’s a matter of cognitive dissonance to try to have it both ways. ...

******

And that brings us to the totalitarian temptation. As analysts running the gamut from Hannah Arendt to Leszek Kolakowski understood, modern totalitarian systems were, at bottom, attempts to remake reality by redefining reality and remaking human beings in the process. Coercive state power was essential to this process, because reality doesn’t yield easily to remaking, and neither do people....

******

The 21st-century state’s attempt to redefine marriage is just such an attempt to redefine reality — in this case, a reality that existed before the state, for marriage as the union of a man and a woman ordered to mutual love and procreation is a human reality that existed before the state. And a just state is obliged to recognize, not redefine, it.

******

If the state can redefine marriage and enforce that redefinition, it can do so with the doctor-patient relationship, the lawyer-client relationship, the parent-child relationship, the confessor-penitent relationship, and virtually every other relationship that is woven into the texture of civil society. In doing so, the state does serious damage to the democratic project.

The jobs chart - horrendous

Hit the link for the bad news of jobs recovery, comparing this recession with past recesssions.

This chart measures the percentage of jobs lost during various recessions, and the pace of recovery. As you can see, this recession saw WAY more aggressive job cutting than in the past, and the recovery has been anemic.

 

Drudge Report headline with picture of Prez: "9.2%"

And the link is to -

Jobs Picture Gets Even Worse as Rate Swells to 9.2%

The unemployment rate climbed to a six-month high of 9.2 percent, even as jobseekers left the labor force in droves, from 9.1 percent in May.

"The message on the economy is ongoing stagnation," said Pierre Ellis, senior economist at Decision economics in New York. "Income growth is marginal so there's no indication of momentum.

The government revised April and May payrolls to show 44,000 fewer jobs created than previously reported. (Slideshow: Disappearing Jobs)

The report shattered expectations the economy was starting to accelerate after a soft patch in the first half of the year.

But no problem because W.H.: Jobless rate can drop to 8.2% 

"We must protect this house!" The rise of Under Armour - and a connection to my high school

The athletic clothier currently on a huge run. Tim has one of their long sleeve t-shirts. Good item, which we must have picked up on sale, since their stuff is way overpriced.

Here's an interesting feature about the company

The Incredible Rise of Under Armour

The stock has more than quintupled in the last 2 years, and the market cap is over $4 billion.

Under Armour has captured the public's imagination in a huge way by doing three simple things. It has innovative products, it's partnered with prominent athletes, and is branching out internationally.

Yes, great marketing.

One of the first athlete endorsers was Eric Ogbogu, "The Big E", and his commercials are where the line "We must protect this house" was first used. (Translation for people who don't follow sports - "We can't lose on our home field"). Ogbogu had a nice eight year NFL career, including four with the Jets, but more importantly, was a graduate of my high school, Stepinac.

And Tim will be playing football at Stepinac. He has a mini-camp for four days next week.  

The NY Times editorial page hints at "death panels"

And when it hints at something (like assisted suicide a few years ago) you know where their editorial page will end up.

Of course they don't use the term "death panel", but read between the lines.

Extremely Expensive Cancer Drugs

The Wall Street Journal took an opposite view towards Avastin for women with breast cancer, saying it should be between the patient and her physicians.

 WSJ editorial about Avastin: "The Race Against the Cure"

 

 

Good editorial on breaking the debt deadlock

In yesterday's WSJ. I think it's likely one of the ways the deadlock will be broken.

Funny how Bill Clinton is now supportive (without saying so) of Republican budget guru Paul Ryan's suggestion that corporate tax rates be lowered, while corporate deductions are curtailed.

"It made sense when I did it. It doesn't make sense anymore. We've got an uncompetitive rate," he said. "We tax at 35% of income, although we only take about 23%. So we should cut the rate to 25%, or whatever's competitive, and eliminate a lot of the deductions so that we still get a fair amount, and there's not so much variance in what the corporations pay."

... Mr. Clinton is exactly right on the failure of the 35% rate (39% on average including the states) to capture that share of corporate income in government revenue. We wrote earlier this year about Whirlpool, which had an effective tax rate of zero due to its many write-offs. Everyone knows the notorious case of GE.

The average effective corporate rate varies by industry but is far less than the 35% rate, and the injustice is that some pay much less than others if they can afford lobbyists to write loopholes or they invest in politically correct purposes. Anyone not in thrall of class-war symbolism understands that the U.S. corporate tax code provides the worst of both worlds: It makes U.S. companies less competitive even as it is raises much less revenue than advertised.

******

Our own guess is that such a reform would raise far more money than the official scorers would predict, since it would lead to a more efficient allocation of capital and less tax evasion. This would also promote economic growth, breaking out of the austerity mentality driven by debt reduction. If Mr. Obama really is worried that lower federal spending will hurt the economy, then this tax reform is also his best growth policy.

From Australia: "Sensitive husband"

From my friend Kevin, who lives in Australia, via England and Jamaica.

It took me a few moments to "get" this one.

> This guy is sitting at home alone when he hears a knock on the front
> door. There are two sheriff's deputies there. He asks if there is a
> problem.
>
> One of the deputies asks if he is married, and if so, can he see a
> picture of his wife.
>
> The guy says "sure" and shows him a picture of his wife.
>
> The sheriff says, "I'm sorry sir, but it looks like your wife's been
> hit by a truck."
>
> The guy says, "I know, but she has a great personality and is an
> excellent cook."
 

 

Rugby: south hemisphere 2nd semi-final Canterbury (NZ) vs. Stormers (So Africa)

UPDATE: Here's the other semi-final - Super 15 Semi-final - Reds vs. Blues

The Canterbury Crusaders had to play all their home games away, because the New Zealand earthquake damaged their stadium.

The first time a visiting team has won a Super 15 semi-final since 1999.

 

The stock market will // will not rally

The Business Insider  yesterday posted a very interesting piece using data from a Citigroup strategist (one wonders if the strategist was short Citigroup when it's price collapsed in '08 ...) which you can find here -

CHART OF THE DAY: Why There's A 97% Chance Of A Big Market Rally

It shows an interesting chart (the "panic/euphoria model") which blends nine indicators of investment sentiment. Purportedly, there's a 90% chance of a higher market in 6 months and a 97% chance of a higher stock market in one year. Back testing of the data says average 6 month gain is 8.9% and one year gain 17.3%.

I decided to check the grandaddy of all investor sentiment indexes - the Bearish
Sentiment Index first popularized by Investors Intelligence about 40 years ago. The Index surveys the opinions of financial newsletter writers. It is NOT a short term indicator, but when the sentiment goes to one extreme or the other - extreme bullishness or bearishness - then that's a sign the market is bottoming or topping out.

Here's what the current reading is -

Less bearish then it was, but still a "Bear confirmed" call     

In other words, pretty much the opposite of what the Citi strategist is saying.

Choose your poison.

Nun sets record by living 84 years in a cloistered convent

She's now 103.

 

More Obamanomics - Coney Island is/is not rationing toilet paper

Four strands of one ply.

But now they will end rationing (they say).

 

Croton's mayor celebrates July 4th as "Interdependence Day"

On the local patch blog. A rather odd way for Mayor Leo Weigman, who I know enough to say hello to, to recognize what 2/3's of the Country thinks is one of our most important holidays.

Perhaps this explains it - Harvard report: Democrats should avoid July 4th parades

Anyway, here's a commentary on the "Croton local" blog with excerpts from Mayor Weigman. I hadn't seen this - but it was sent to me by two different people.

Croton's Mayor Sells America Short

 

The Pope gets an iPad

Ha ha. See what he's got on it -

 

Rugby: southern hemisphere Super 15 Semi-final - Reds vs. Blues

Very patriotic for July 4th. That's Queensland Reds (Aus) vs. Aukland Blues (NZ) in the southern hemisphere provincial semi.

 

Harvard report: Democrats should avoid July 4th parades

Because they promote Republican Party sentiments.

Harvard: July 4th parades are right wing

The three key findings of those attending July 4th celebrations:

• When done before the age of 18, it increases the likelihood of a youth identifying as a Republican by at least 2 percent.
• It raises the likelihood that parade watchers will vote for a Republican candidate by 4 percent.
• It boosts the likelihood a reveler will vote by about 1 percent and increases the chances they'll make a political contribution by 3 percent.

What's more, the impact isn't fleeting. "Surprisingly, the estimates show that the impact on political preferences is permanent, with no evidence of the effects depreciating as individuals become older,"said the Harvard report.

 

"This is Noreen Connolly for the NY Times reporting from Burkina Faso"

My friend Noreen "Tanya". Here's a link to her prior postings on the Times website during her Africa trip, which I put up a few days ago Guest blog: Noreen (Tanya) writing from Africa

Hit the link below for the Nicholas Kristoff Sunday column, and Noreen's fine video, which is embedded on the left hand side of the column.

Noreen Connolly in the NYT

Motorcyclist dies on ride while protesting NY helmet law

Ugh.

Troopers say Contos would have likely survived if he had been wearing a helmet.

Motorcyclist dies on ride while protesting NY helmet law

Ugh.

Troopers say Contos would have likely survived if he had been wearing a helmet.

Brigid and Tom go to the Stadium

A couple of months ago we won two Yankee tickets - actually won an auction at a Montfort Academy luncheon.

The game was way back on June 14th. Just getting around to posting this - pictures take time to choose and then upload..

A couple of funny things. We took the train to the Stadium - first time we've done that, and was it ever easy - and the tickets were supposed to give us not only our seats, but entry into the "Jim Beam Suite". This is on the Terrace Level (third level) and it turned out we were one section out of the "Suite" seating. But knowing how Brigid is able to charm people with her accent, I had her chat to the doorman, and we were in, no problemo.

Good thing too, because it was raining/drizzling. Anyway, we get into the bar and right away see two friends of ours, Rich and Pat Santana, who we hadn't seen in a couple of years. So that was cool. We stayed in the bar drinking beer and eating popcorn and peanuts until the fourth inning, because of the wet. By then the Yanks were ahead by about 7-2, with CC Sabbathia pitching.

Here's the "Jim Beam Suite", another excuse to spend outrageous sums of money ($12 beers, with free peanuts and popcorn!), but it is nice.     

 

 

 
There is some art work hanging in the Suite. Here are two paintings - or more likely prints. Can you tell who the players are?

 

 
On to the game. It's like the fourth or fifth inning - Sabathia pitching.

View from the terrace level

 

 

 

 
Granderson hits a homer !!

 
 

Late in the game, with the result no longer in doubt. But faithful Yankee fan Brigid won't leave!

 

Still to come - Robbie Cano, the video, as he smacks a line drive into the right field seats.

Is console gaming going away?

I hope so. I'd love to sink the X-Box at my house n the Pacific Ocean.

Killed by smartphones and tablets?

The End of Console Gaming

Guest video blogging - fireworks on the Hudson

Taken by my brother Phil - probably on his phone. you can hear him and his kids -

His commentary on youtube -

I took a quick video of the fireworks on the Ossining Waterfront right by Sing Sing Prison. Not a bad show, and the kids enjoyed it.

 

Michele Bachmann: "You can get money wrong. But you can't get life wrong."

Watch the brief video of Bachmann embedded in this story.

Michele Bachmann, GOP presidential candidate: Miscarriage helped shaped my anti-abortion stance

The Cable news race

What is CNNHN (Headline News). Is it a real news channel or just gossip?

FOXNEWS OREILLY/INGRAHAM 2,330,000
CNNHN NANCY GRACE 2,242,000
FOXNEWS HANNITY 1,967,000
FOXNEWS BAIER 1,697,000
FOXNEWS BECK 1,691,000
CNNHN DR DREW 1,667,000
FOXNEWS SMITH 1,536,000
FOXNEWS GRETA 1,535,000
MSNBC MADDOW 900,000
MSNBC ODONNELL 705,000
CNN COOPER 632,000
MSNBC SHARPTON 630,000
MSNBC HARDBALL 616,000
CNN PIERS 405,000

Spitzer's CNN show "in the Arena" doesn't even register. Although much as I dislike Spitzer, he's a bright guy, fairly even-handed, and has on good guests. HIs show is much better then any of the MSNBC shows, or the moronic Piers Morgan show on after him. I only really watch cable news when I'm in the gym in the evening, channel-surfing between the three networks.

Romney's clever ad

This came out a couple of days ago, when both he and the President were in Pennsylvania.

The thematic "Obama isn't Working" is really stolen for Margaret Thatcher's initial campaign over 30 years ago in Britain as she ran against the Labor Party. The slogan was "Labor isn't Working."

But Mitt Romney ain't Thatcher.

 

The Yankees "steamroll"!?

For the moment life is good in the Bronx. Yanks have won nine of last 12 games. Of course a couple of losses tothe Mets would change the atmosphere ...

Just think of this: With Bartolo Colon scheduled to return to the starting rotation Saturday against the Mets and Phil Hughes pronouncing his shoulder inflammation-free and ready to provide 100 pitches in his next start, the Yankees suddenly find themselves with a wealth of six starting pitchers and a quandary of their own as to what do with all of them. What kind of odds could you have gotten on that back in April?

 

Kimmel: Michele Bachmann's story of America

Over the top, but funny.

 

Rove: How the Republicans can blow it in 2012

A few days ago I posted this Rove: Why Obama is likely to lose .

Now Karl Rove has a column on how the Republicans can easily blow it. only 13 paragraphs.

Finally, Republicans cannot play it safe. It is tempting to believe that Mr. Obama is so weak, the economy so fragile, that attacking him is all that's needed. Applying relentless pressure on the president is necessary but insufficient. Setting forth an alternative vision to Mr. Obama's will be required as well. Voters are looking for a serious GOP governing agenda as a reason to turn Mr. Obama out of office.

Failing to offer a well-thought-out vision and defend it against Mr. Obama's inevitable distortions, demagoguery and straw-man arguments would put the GOP nominee in the position of Thomas Dewey in 1948, whose strategy of running out the clock gave President Harry Truman the opening he needed.

Mr. Obama could have enjoyed the advantage of incumbency—with its power to set the agenda and dominate the stage—until next spring when the GOP nomination will be settled. Instead he prematurely abandoned the stance of an assured public leader to become an aggressive political candidate. Now his re-election depends on political rivals making significant errors. That's dangerous for any politician, but given his Oval Office record, Mr. Obama may have no other viable strategy.