Archive for November, 2009

Dan Calabrese

(Note: I do not plan to write a singular review of Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue, but I do plan a series of pieces on different sections of the book – with more emphasis on the information conveyed than on the literary quality. This is the first of those pieces.)

Substance.

You can’t help but notice that just about everyone who is part of the political establishment detests Sarah Palin. And you can’t help but notice that Palin couldn’t care less.

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Jamie Weinstein

Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue is already an amazing success in terms of sales and publicity. It will undoubtedly be one of the most successful tomes released this year. But what books will grab headlines next year? Here’s a look at the most anticipated non-fiction books to be released in 2010:

That's right, you know it . . .

Most Anticipated Non-Fiction Books of 2010, Authored by a Politician.

1) I’m Still Alive? By Sen. Robert Byrd

2)   How To Win the Nobel Peace Prize in Zero Easy Steps By President Barack Obama *

3)   How Do You Like Me Now Lefty Nutjobs? By Sen. Joe Lieberman

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Lawrence J. Haas

I read in the Washington Post over the weekend that former Bush press secretary Dana Perino organized an event at which successful women in Washington offered career advice to aspiring young females – in 10-minute intervals so the stars-to-be could roam from booth to booth and soak up as much advice as possible. 

Job hunters.

The event was bipartisan, with the advice dispensers including, along with Perino, Dee Dee Myers, the former press secretary to President Clinton who’s now with Vanity Fair; Anita McBride, the former chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush; CNN’s Candy Crowley; and NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell. 

From the Post’s write-up, the advice seemed sensible enough: “Anticipate what your boss is looking for.” “Turn off the TV and read.” “Delegate.” “Never let your enemies know who they are.” And so on. Read the rest of this entry »

Andy Hefty

That’s right.  I am against banning the use of text messages while driving.  But it’s not what you think.

Once again, Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist is jumping on the popularity bandwagon.  The man who led the proverbial charge toward GOP self-destruction in 2008 by endorsing John McCain now wants to pressure lawmakers to forgo budgetary issues, tax laws and other constitutionally mandated requirements so he can gain notoriety in his upcoming U.S. Senate bid.

On the popularity bandwagon.

His number-one item on next year’s legislative agenda is creating a law that will be impossible to enforce.

Translation:  He is putting symbolism over substance.

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Bob Maistros

“OK, Tommy, let’s go over that section again. We have a few problems with it.” 

“Well, all right. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident …’” 

“Yeah, stop right there. ‘Truths?’ Isn’t that a little arbitrary? I mean, what’s true for you might not be true for me, after all.” 

Come on, man! A 'Creator', Tommy?

“It’s capricious. There’s nothing ‘self-evident’ about your thoughts. How about this: ‘The concepts in this document, while not universally shared, are critically important.’” 

“Yes, that’s much more like it. Non-judgmental. I especially like the ‘critically important.’ Shows we’re serious, yet pragmatic. Tommy, keep going.”  Read the rest of this entry »

Steven Hutson

The holiday of Kwanzaa will soon be upon us.  This seven-day feast (Dec. 26-Jan. 1) was devised in 1966 by Professor Ronald Everett (he has since invented an “African” name for himself) to promote the ideals of family, community and culture among African-Americans.

Hey, just make some stuff up.

It’s rooted in the seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

In recent years, Kwanzaa has gained traction in the popular media as a warm-fuzzy occasion for family get-togethers and gift-giving.

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Brett Noel

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Large version for newspaper publication.

Grayscale version for newspaper publication.

Mark Watson

Imagine going into court, and the presiding judge asks your attorney whether your case is being pursued in the right venue, the initial and fundamental question about any litigation.

Imagine your attorney staring silently through a seriously pregnant pause before stammering that he doesn’t know the answer but will research the question.

O.J. redux?

Now imagine the judge dismissively telling your attorney, “Let me answer that for you, counselor. The answer is no.”

Well, ladies and gentlemen, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is your attorney, and he responded just like the hypothetical attorney above after being asked the seminal question any competent attorney would have anticipated being asked by a U.S. Senator in, some would argue, the most important legal case in this country’s history.

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Gregory D. Lee

After three months of contemplating his options, President Obama stated yesterday that he will probably make a decision about increasing requested troop strength in Afghanistan after Thanksgiving. The White House is already hinting that the U.S. cannot afford to send any more troops, and has released figures of it costing, on an annual basis, $1 million for every soldier sent there.

Fight like you mean it, or leave.

In classified cables leaked to the media, U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry, a former U.S. Army commander there, advised against sending additional troops.

Canada has announced it will remove all its military personnel from Afghanistan within a year. The British are heavily leaning in the same direction.

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Kelly Anderson Wright

Let’s face it, American women rock. Book authors and basketball players, heads of households and heroes, American women are free to be all they choose to be, or not. Sarah Palin, newly-crowned best-selling author and private citizen, is “all that,” and more.

But more what? The media and her detractors still don’t know what to make of Palin. Now that she’s not a politician, Palin doesn’t follow the rules. She’s not scripted, not packaged and not in sync with old school journalists like Barbara Walters, who openly cringe at Palin’s street-wise jargon.

Sarah seems comfy wherever she is, including Kuwait.

Sarah doesn’t seem to care. She says she’s the most honest she’s ever been, telling talk show host Sean Hannity that all her interviews now are “unplugged.” Every question is fair game, but be careful, Katie Couric… this time, she’ll tell you exactly where Alaskans get their world news (hint: not your network), and what she thinks of the “perky” yet arrogant media anchor who asked her the same question about abortion, 12 different ways.

Palin’s in the ring, her gloves are off, and she’s proving that she’s tougher than a “motha…” bear. No political handlers are scripting what she says. No one is telling her when to eat, what to wear or when to keep her opinions quiet. She’s calling the shots now, she’s gone rogue and she appears to be reveling in it. Why wouldn’t she be? Unlike Senator McCain, she’s not having to tangle with Harry Reid’s health care reform or watch Pelosi’s liberal love-in. Read the rest of this entry »