United States & Canada The High Cost of Health Care Reform
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/20/2009
Americans are rightfully dissatisfied with the high cost of health care and the rough treatment they receive from private insurers, but the reforms Democrats in Congress are cooking up will only make things worse Societal Misperception of Mentally Ill Offenders
Marina Mazur - 11/17/2009
The dilemma of the mentally ill within the criminal justice system has been a pressing matter since the days of deinstitutionalization. Even though, the individual rights of the mentally ill have supposedly expanded, the treatment options have declined and community outreach is basically nonexistent. Instead of treating the mentally ill with medication and psychotherapy the society has decided to lock them up in a different institution, the prison. Thus, the mentally ill are perceived as doubly guilty. Not only do they have a mental disorder, but they are also seen as criminals. The social psy... America’s Leadership Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/17/2009
Bigger than the budget deficit, America has a leadership gap. The economic recovery is not creating jobs, unemployment is rising, and the President and Congress offer little more than nostrums and platitudes. Republicans push tax cuts that experience teaches have doubtful prospects for success. China’s Yuan, Not the Dollar, Is Too Cheap
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/17/2009
From Berlin to Bangkok, governments are screaming about the falling dollar, because they can no longer rely on reckless American consumers to power their economies. Time Ticking for Copenhagen Summit
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 11/17/2009
It’s less than five weeks for the crucial Copenhagen summit for climate change. It’s a deadline for a deal to stop the climate catastrophe. The issue involved is developing countries won't join in a climate deal unless rich countries, which created the climate crisis, pay to fix it. Trade Deficit Threatens a Double-Dip Recession, Economic Armageddon
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/17/2009
Friday, the Commerce Department will report September international trade in goods and services. The trade deficit—the amount imports exceed exports—is expected to rise to $32.5 billion from $30.7 billion in August. Stocks Soar, Unemployment Passes 10 Percent and the Dollar Slumps
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/17/2009
Stocks are soaring, yet unemployment surges and the dollar slumps. A contradiction made possible by Washington’s neglect of international challenges to U.S. growth. During the recent expansion, the trade deficit swelled to more than $700 billion or five percent of GDP. Americans borrowed from abroad, mostly to pay for oil and Chinese consumer goods. They posted as collateral homes at values inflated by slap-dash appraisals and slick Wall Street financial engineering. Fort Hood: The largest
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 11/17/2009
The Fort Hood killings, perpetrated by Major Malik Nadal Hasan, a psychiatric by training, no matter what the judiciary reports will conclude is for now the largest single Terror act in America since 9/11. This quantitative finding will take into consideration dramatic change in the data released by authorities. Intolerance and Arrogance Cost Democrats Virginia and New Jersey
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/17/2009
Last August, I wrote that on marquee issues—health care reform, cap and trade and the recession—the Democrats are unwilling to listen to the legitimate concerns of center-leaning voters and business leaders who made possible their victories in 2008, and arrogance will destroy their grip on power. Why I Murdered 13 American Soldiers at Fort Hood: Nidal Hassan Explains It All to You
Prof. Barry Rubin - 11/15/2009
How do we know that the attack at Fort Hood was an act of Islamist terrorism? Simple, Major Nidal Hassan told us so. You’ve seen reports of a long list of things he did and said along these lines. But what’s most amazing of all is this: The Scourge of Fundamentalism
Prof. Daniel M. Zucker - 11/13/2009
Religious fundamentalism, whether it is Muslim, Jewish, or Christian, results in the same unfortunate phenomenon: a closed mind and a view of life that ascribes the truth only to the self and those that accept that same truth. In effect, the fundamentalist frequently says: "God has whispered in my ear and in my ear alone." Sadly the recipients of such "unique" revelations frequently believe that nothing should be allowed to interfere with what they perceive as their divinely commanded duty to spread the word, and that such a crusade or jihad justifies the use of force against any that would dare oppose it. Media Wakes Up About the Obama Administration's Middle East Failure
Prof. Barry Rubin - 11/10/2009
There’s something big happening in the air regarding American media coverage of the Obama Administration. With the Washington Post in advance, the New York Times waking up the tiniest bit, the Los Angeles Times trailing far behind, and a lot of other newspapers getting tough, reality is seeping into their coverage. Even the Boston Globe, America's most liberal newspaper, is strongly criticizing Obama. America on the Children's Crusade
Prof. Barry Rubin - 11/3/2009
A friend of mine who used to be a high-ranking U.S. government official made a very interesting remark: Intelligence does not settle disputes in government, theories do. In other words, no matter how badly an enemy acts, you can interpret it as their building up bargaining chips to make a deal. They are hitting you to force you to offer them a good bargain. QUIZ: Who is This Politician? HINT: Not who you think!
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 10/27/2009
He was born to a part of the population that was often despised and mocked by the majority. Response to Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism on the Brandon Huntley case
Mike Smith - 10/23/2009
The Canadian Government in the form of minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, is seeking a review against their own Immigration and Refugee Board’s decision to grant Brandon Huntley refugee status and compiled a “Memorandum of Argument” slamming their own IRB. Nobel for Obama: Right or Wrong?
Tanveer Jafri - 10/20/2009
The US President Barack Hussein Obama was recently selected for the Nobel Peace Prize 2009 by the Prize Committee in Oslo. This biggest peace prize would be presented to Obama in Norway on 10th December later this year. This prize contains an amount of $1.5 million besides the medal. This award is given to Obama for his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said that President Obama is imagining of a nuclear weapons free world. The way he has given importance to diplo... President Obama's Policy Disaster
Amil Imani - 10/13/2009
Is history repeating itself? Is President Obama reenacting President Carter's tragic policy blunder toward Iran? Is Mr. Obama going to sacrifice the Iranian people at the altar of a misguided expediency as did Jimmy Carter some three decades ago? To what end? President Obama Has A Problem—And Its Not Health Care Reform
Trevor Albertson, PhD - 10/13/2009
The problems facing NATO and its efforts at creating a stable situation in Afghanistan are growing. Perhaps the greatest challenge is currently unfolding in Washington. President Obama must decide what to do with the recommendation from NATO’s senior military commander in the war-torn nation, U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal. General McChrystal has recommended President Obama increase American troop levels and continue the fight in Afghanistan. While on the surface this appears to be a fairly simple decision, it is in fact fraught with lasting implications for the future stability of Afghanistan and, more importantly, NATO itself. Washington’s Neglect of Main Street Banks Threatens Recovery
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/12/2009
The Federal Reserve has announced the recession has ended but watch out. Washington’s inclination to bail out the biggest banks while letting their Main Street brethren languish may prove the steel arrow through the heart of the economic recovery. The Indo-Us Nuke Deal: a Strategic and Defense Floodgate
Monotapash Mukherjee - 10/11/2009
Set against the backdrop of American financial Tsunami, the rise of China and Russia, the predicament of the U.S in Iraq, Afghanistan and the U.S policy failures on North Korea and Iran, the Indo-U.S Nuclear deal has profound strategic and defense implications. Trade Deficit Threatens “W” Shaped Recovery, Destroys Jobs
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/10/2009
Thursday, the Commerce Department will report July international trade in goods and services. The trade deficit, which is the amount imports exceed exports, is expected to rise to $28.0 billion from $27.0 billion in May. Nobel Committee Pulls Oil Plug on Democracy
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 10/10/2009
As soon as the Oslo committee issued its Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama, an expected debate raged in America about the legitimacy of such a move so very early in a U.S. presidential term. The Falling Dollar and China’s Cries for a Global Currency
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/10/2009
As the dollar falls against the euro, yen and other major currencies, China and other emerging economic powers holding lots of dollars and U.S. securities are crying foul, and for an end to the dollar’s central status in global commerce. If they are truly disgusted, they should look to themselves for answers. Nobel Obama – a bit too early?
Saberi Roy - 10/10/2009
The Nobel Committee for once has got it wrong, at least in terms of timing. The Nobel Peace Prize to Obama displays the bankruptcy of the Nobel Committee’s decision-making process as it seems the Committee has been too eager to give away a prize to an already overstretched process of Obama-fame. I am personally an Obama supporter but like everything else there has to be a fine line between fame and over exposure and this latest Nobel Prize stunt really leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The Nobel Committee should have waited – one year, maybe... Obama's Nobel Prize will Exacerbate His Narcissistic Tendencies
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 10/9/2009
Within a single year, Barrack Obama had been elected to the Presidency of the United States and had won the Nobel Peace Prize. While the merits of the first achievement are debatable, there is a consensus, even among his most ardent supporters, fans, and acolytes that he absolutely does not deserve the second honor. Health Care Reform is a Loser for President Obama
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/29/2009
Public opposition threatens to crush President Obama’s health care reforms and wound his presidency, because his plans would do more harm than good. The bills moving through Congress reveal the basic elements of his preferred approach. Universal Coverage and Community Ratings—everyone plays and pays what they can; insurers must accept all applicants, can’t charge higher premiums for preexisting conditions, or cancel policyholders. Jihadists are mushrooming inside America
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 9/28/2009
It is unprecedented in American counter terrorism annals: in one day the nation was dealing with three separate Jihadist plots to blow up civilian and other targets inside the Homeland. Although the cases were addressed at different time periods by the FBI and other agencies, nevertheless, the thickening web of Terror attempts breached the crossing line of US national security. American workers in a global economy
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/28/2009
Breakthroughs in electronics, biochemistry, and other industries, and sweeping changes in global trade are creating two American economies -- one prosperous, another poor. This radically alters what workers need to succeed and Washington should do to help. The Increasingly Obvious Failure of Obama's Middle East Policy
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/25/2009
It’s a development of shocking proportions if properly noticed and evaluated. President Barack Obama’s entire Arab-Israeli and Iranian policies are miserably failing, though partly concealed by theatrical events and media protection. Regulate Bank Pay
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/24/2009
Wall Street greed and irresponsibility have nearly destroyed the U.S. economy. Big bonuses for bankers encourage reckless risk taking and were a principal cause of the credit crisis and Great Recession. How the West's Enemies Are Saving It
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/24/2009
When people are very pessimistic, I say to them: Don’t worry our enemies will save us. By that I mean that the enemies of peace, progress, and democracy - Islamists and radical Arab nationalists, terrorists and silly people in the West alike--are so intransigent, obviously lying, and dangerously wrong about society that they will convince and force most people to reject and combat them. Guide To A Big Mistake: U.S. Decision to Talk with Iran
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/16/2009
Forgive me for a bit of repetition but what has just happened is so important that it deserves the closest attention and clearest analysis. A more comprehensive explanation is here. U.S Government Jumps Voluntarily into Iran's Trap; Pulls in Europeans, Too
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/13/2009
The great French diplomatist Talleyrand put it best: "That's worse than a crime, it's a mistake."
By accepting the Iranian proposal for negotiations, the Obama Administration has just made the most important foreign policy decision of its term so far. And it is a very bad mistake, a very bad one indeed. Two hurdles for Uncle Sam
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/4/2009
On Friday, the US Labor Department will report employment data for August. In July, the economy lost 247,000 jobs, and the consensus forecast is for another 200,000 jobs lost in August. Neutrality on Iraq-Syria: Obama Administration Betrays Ally and Doesn't Even Defend Its Own Soldiers
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/4/2009
On August 26, State Department spokesman, Ian Kelly, was asked what the United States thought about the Iraq-Syria dispute. His answer shockingly recalls the last time a U.S. government made the mistake of being neutral between an enemy radical dictatorship and a friendly moderate government. Friday’s Employment Report and the Recovery
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/3/2009
Friday, the Labor Department will report employment data for August. In July, the economy lost 247,000 jobs, and the consensus forecast is for another 200,000 jobs lost in August Interview with Anthony Woods, Congressional Candidate
Jordan Carr - 9/1/2009
Anthony Woods served two tours of duty in Iraq after graduating from West Point. Upon returning he attended Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Openly gay, he received an honorable discharge under the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy. Woods is running as a Democrat in the September 1st special election to fill Ellen Tauscher’s vacated seat in California’s 10th District. Main Street Banks May Crush the Recovery
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/1/2009
Like a boxer staggering to its feet, the U.S. economy is recovering. Since May, real consumer spending has been gradually rising. Technology spending is looking up, as computers age and Asian growth pulls demand for sophisticated components. New home construction is showing new life. How Obama Could Win Big on Health Care
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/1/2009
Health care reform is in trouble but with adjustments, President Obama could win big. With several bills moving through the House, the elements of his preferred approach are clear. Universal Coverage and Community Ratings—everyone plays and pays what they can, and insurers can’t charge higher premiums for preexisting conditions or cancel policyholders. Among the 46 million uninsured, many buy policies only when they anticipate major expenses, making coverage unaffordable for others seeking permanent insurance. Those reforms would fix that. No Engagement Game Because Iran Burned Down
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/1/2009
Gerald Seib’s article in the Wall Street Journal is worth responding to because it does symbolize the curious mentality about Iran prevailing in American policymaking and opinion-making circles. The article is entitled, "Iran Collapse Complicates U.S. Moves." The Self-Defeat of the United States
Fjordman - 9/1/2009
At the Center for Security Policy, Caroline Glick writes about “Surviving in a Post-American World”: An “X” Shaped Economic Recovery?
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/27/2009
Will the economic recovery be enduring—V shaped? Collapse after a short time—W shaped? For the middle class, it may be none at all—an X. United States that isn't America
Guy White - 8/27/2009
At least some of the opposition to diversity is driven by the dislike to certain people. But my opposition to it is based not on hate of other races and ethnicities. I can like other races, I can accept them as a small minority, but I oppose diversity because it signifies our national death. Diversity is not a threat because the “other” is bad. It is a threat because it undermines the society that exists in the invaded region. Obama’s Troubles with Health Care
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/27/2009
Health care reform is in trouble, because President Obama and congressional leaders are not adequately addressing issues that trouble many Americans. Blue Dogs, Health Care and the Devil
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/21/2009
If Daniel Webster were alive, the Blue Dogs in the House of Representatives would do well to seek his counsel. On health care, these conservative-leaning lawmakers are caught between the public trust and the devil. Democrats Are Heading for a Train Wreck
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/20/2009
Intolerance has captured the Democratic Party, and arrogance will destroy its grip on power. On marquee issues—health care, cap and trade, and the recession—Democratic leaders are unwilling to listen to the legitimate concerns of center-leaning voters and business leaders who made possible their victories in 2008. Would Dumping Israel Help U.S. Relations with the Muslim Middle East?
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/20/2009
One amazing thing about bad ideas or analytical myths about the Middle East is that they never die, they just get recycled. Here’s a simple little thought experiment you can do in the privacy of your own home without requiring the purchase of any special equipment or the use of any scarce natural resources. Obama Administration Says: Hooray for Jihad
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/20/2009
I’m beginning to understand the Obama administration strategy, at least in its initial phase, as a “bridge too far” approach. That expression came after the heroic Allied operation at Arnheim in World War Two, when what seemed a clever idea—to capture a key bridge far ahead of the existing Allied lines—turned into a military disaster. Trade Deficit Dampens Recovery and Destroys Jobs
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/19/2009
Wednesday, the Commerce Department will report June international trade in goods and services. The trade deficit is expected to rise to $28.5 billion from $26 billion in May. Health Care Reform and the Divine Right of Kings
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/19/2009
President Obama and congressional Democrats have failed to convince the American people their reforms will improve the national health care system. How Could Barack Obama Do This?
Guy White - 8/10/2009
About a month ago I was talking to a young woman who suddenly switched the conversation to the Sonia Sotomayor nomination. The girl is neither political nor racialist. In fact, her boyfriend is black and she’s white. A Letter To The President on Iranian Opposition
Prof. Daniel M. Zucker - 8/7/2009
Dear Mr. President:
It pains me to write to you of an incident that occurred today in Camp Ashraf, Iraq, home-base of the Iranian resistance organization, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an organization that has supplied the United States with intelligence about the Iranian regime’s nuclear and missile programs. Camp Ashraf, which has been under the protection of the United States Army until the SOFA agreement of December 2008, in which the right of the residents of Ashraf to continued asylum in Iraq was assured by the Iraqi government, maintaining the status of the MEK in Ashraf that had ... Economic Talks with China Not Likely to Accomplish Much
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/7/2009
U.S. leaders are sitting down to another round of talks with China on security, the economy and the environment. With banks stabilized, nothing is more important to accomplishing a sustainable U.S. economic recovery than recalibrating trade with China. Obama on Race: Process over Product
Yossef Ben-Meir, PhD - 8/7/2009
What was revealed about President Barack Obama’s outlook on racial issues as he dealt with the controversy over the arrest of Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.? Interestingly, the principle view shown by the President was also highlighted by his Attorney General in a controversial speech he gave last February commemorating African American History Month. Do All the World's Countries Really Love the Obama Administration? A Survey
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/7/2009
A recent article lists seven countries, aside from Israel, where it argues relations with the U.S. have declined since Obama took office, responding to a Washington Post editorial lavishing praise on the Obama administration and saying relations are better with every country in the world except Israel. Obama Administration Recognizes Ahmadinejad as President
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/7/2009
No, I don't want to keep writing every day about the Obama Administration's Middle East policy. There are many other topics I'd prefer, but the problem is that they keep doing things. Health Care: Creating Real Competition to Lower Costs
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/30/2009
U.S. health care is broken but President Obama’s reforms would raise costs and subsidize the beast with taxes on small businesses and the successful. Americans spend 18 percent of GDP on health care, and Obama’s patches and plugs would push that above 20. ECONOMY: Trade Deficit Negates Stimulus Spending
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/27/2009
The trade deficit rose to $31.0 billion from $29.2 billion in April. Subsidized manufactures from China and petroleum imports comprise more than 90 percent of the deficit and both will rise as consumer spending and oil prices rebound later in 2009. President Obama’s Donut Economics
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/27/2009
The stock market is rallying. The economy will recover by yearend, and strong profits among big players like Goldman Sachs, IBM and Google will spread to other big corporations. However, many small businesses and working Americans won’t be cheering. Health Care Reform and My Expensive Education in Economics
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/27/2009
America’s health care system is broken, but President Obama inspires little confidence with his fix. Health care absorbs 18 percent of GDP—about 50 percent more than in other wealthy countries. Prices are too high and are a terrible burden on jobs creation. The Economics of Michael Jackson
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/27/2009
The electronic mass media has created two interconnected phenomenon that give us personalities like Michael Jackson. A U.S. Middle East Policy Emerges: Great in Theory, Certain to Fail in Practice
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/27/2009
A clear, consistent, and carefully formulated U.S. strategy is emerging in the Middle East. Unfortunately, it’s a badly flawed one that won’t work. Probably, the Obama administration will spend the next six months finding out what I’ve just told you. Hopefully, it will learn and change as a result. Liberal-Islamist Alliance
Amil Imani - 7/27/2009
Presently, fanatical Islamists are lashing out with mad fury before their own final demise. The “infidel” world has been complicit in the surge of Islamism through its mistakes, complacency, and greed. Restore nation's ability to produce
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/27/2009
The $789 billion stimulus doesn’t fix what ails the economy and is doomed to fail. Since 2007, the private sector has shed 6.6 million jobs — half in manufacturing and construction. Governments added 185 thousand employees, hired teachers, and no change in those trends can be detected since the stimulus began. Health Care and President Obama’s Sinking Approval Ratings
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/27/2009
President Obama’s approval ratings are falling, and on critical issues like health care, those are falling below 50 percent. Simply, the president has not been honest with Americans and is getting caught at it by the Congressional Budget Office. Don't Believe in Truth? Don't Be a Reporter
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/27/2009
A reporter just wrote me a letter that contains a single sentence which I think reflects on why the Western world is in such trouble today. After understandably discussing such real problems of reporting as short deadlines, complex issues, and the duty of the reporter to report what people say, the letter concludes with this sentence: “And when it comes to the Middle East, one man’s [obscenity deleted] is another man’s truth.” The Obama Ideology and World Affairs
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/27/2009
Theme One: The Obama Revolution
To get a sense of Obama administration thinking, let’s examine the speech by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Council on Foreign Relations, July 15. Remember that the wording of such speeches is not random and that phrases and formulations are carefully chosen to convey messages. A Jobless Recovery and Strong Stock Market
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/27/2009
The economy is bottoming and a modest recovery will begin this fall. The stock market will soar but high unemployment will stain Barack Obama’s presidency. The President’s Health Care Pitch
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/27/2009
On health care and other critical issues, President Obama continues to purposefully confuse the debate. He presents choices as either his way or the failed ways of the past—no other solutions are possible. That is silly. 2009: A Diplomatic Odyssey
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/27/2009
“‘If anyone unwarily draws in too close and hears the singing of the Sirens, his wife and children will never welcome him home again, for they sit in a green field and warble him to death with the sweetness of their song. There is a great heap of dead men's bones lying all around, with the flesh still rotting off them. Therefore pass these Sirens by…. Barack Obama's Interesting Times
Guy White - 7/27/2009
After passing the Liberal Christmas List falsely known as the Stimulus, Barack Obama is now onto the Health Care bill. But even without the health care plan, our economy is already in deep trouble after the recent wave of spending. By 2020, taxes will have to go up by 44% according to the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office. Just the payment on the interest on our debt (not debt, but just the interest on it) will be about a trillion dollars a year, an equivalent of about 28% of today’s budget. Polygamy: To Legalize or Not?”
Ron Coody - 7/27/2009
Polygamy, from a biological point of view, is a more likely candidate for legalization than homosexuality. But even it has its problems, namely, you can search the world over and find very few women or men who would gladly put up for long with sharing their spouse in a slumber party of other reproductive partners. Among Muslims, who allow for one man to have up to four wives, the data strongly suggests that the arrangement is immeasurably more popular with males than females. Hollywood’s War on Whitey
Kyle Bristow - 7/27/2009
That which is viewed as being bad for humanity oftentimes has war declared on it by the powers that be. President Lyndon Johnson announced a “war on poverty,” President Richard Nixon announced a “war on drugs,” President George W. Bush declared a “war on terrorism”—it seems that society is at war with virtually everything: AIDS, cancer, crime, starvation, genocide, global warming, obesity—the list goes on and on. ECONOMY: Why Obama’s Economic Policies Are Failing
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/14/2009
The $789 billion stimulus doesn’t fix what ails the economy and is doomed to fail. Since 2007, the private sector has shed 6.6 million jobs—half in manufacturing and construction. Governments added 185 thousand employees, hired teachers, and no change in those trends can be detected since the stimulus began. Lenin’s dream of financial ruin
Mike Spaniola - 7/14/2009
Clues to the nation’s financial debacle can be found in the dustbin of history, but those most responsible hide their sleights of hand as closely as any magician. Obama: An Innocent Abroad
Jonathan Spyer, Ph.D. - 6/18/2009
The London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi has published what it claims are key details of the new Middle East peace plan to be presented by President Obama in his speech in Cairo on June 4. Details of the plan made the front page of two leading Israeli newspapers. Forty-Eight Hours of Reality
Prof. Barry Rubin - 6/18/2009
In the Middle East the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry because reality steps in. Israel and America: Neither Surrender nor Confrontation
Prof. Barry Rubin - 6/13/2009
The United States demands that Israel stop construction on settlements. If this doesn’t happen, it hints at dire retaliation. If Israel agrees to this step, President Barack Obama promises great things. First, he claims this will bring dramatic progress toward Israel-Palestinian peace. Reform fractured system through competitive plan
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/13/2009
American health care is broken. At 16 percent, the United States spends a much larger share of GDP on health care than Western European economies. Yet the United States has about 45 million uninsured, while its peers do not. Let's Dream of Financial Ruin
Mike Spaniola - 6/13/2009
Clues to the nation’s financial debacle are buried deep in the dustbin of history as the body politics most responsible for today’s money mess safeguard their sleights of hand as closely as any magician. Abolish all "Hate Crime" laws
Elizabeth Wright - 6/12/2009
How can we still be arguing over "hate crime" laws? Is there not a Constitution on which this country runs that claims equal treatment under the law for one and all? Unfortunately, over the years, under the influence of special interest groups, one municipality and state after another has enacted some form of law that gives greater legal protection only to certain victims, based on their race, gender, sexual proclivities, etc. Trade Deficit Expected to Rise, Overwhelms Effects of Stimulus
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/12/2009
Wednesday, the Commerce Department report will report April international trade in goods and services. The U.S. trade deficit on goods and services is expected to rise to $28.7 billion from $27.6 billion in March. My forecast is $29.9 billion. ECONOMY: A Moderate Recovery and Bull Market
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/11/2009
Finally, some good news from labor markets—job losses are slowing, recovery is in sight, and the stock market is poised for robust rally. Speaking Flattery to Power
Prof. Barry Rubin - 6/11/2009
Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo is one of the most bizarre orations ever made by a U.S. president, not a foreign policy statement but rather something invented by Obama, an international campaign speech, as if his main goal was to obtain votes in the next Egyptian primary. Obama's Apology for Supporting Israel
David Storobin, Esq. - 6/5/2009
"The Obama administration is considering reducing its support for Israel in the UN if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu does not agree to freeze settlement construction, US officials were quoted by the New York Times as saying. According to Monday's report, measures under consideration included refraining from the Security Council veto of United Nations resolutions that Israel opposes and making use of US President Barack Obama's "bully pulpit" to criticize the settlements." ECONOMY: Friday’s Jobs Report: Unemployment and Stock Prices Heading Up
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/5/2009
Friday, the Labor Department will report employment data for May. In April, the economy lost 539,000 jobs, and the consensus forecast is for another 550,000 jobs lost in May. My forecast is for a 561,000 loss. Health care: America can learn lessons from abroad
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/4/2009
American health care is broken. At 16 percent, the United States spends a much larger share of GDP on health care than Western European economies. Yet the United States has about 45 million uninsured, while its peers do not. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Prof. Barry Rubin - 5/31/2009
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall,
Whose the most popular statesman of all?
Who Cares?
Here's one of many questions that should be asked everywhere but you might only see it here:
If President Barack Obama actually succeeds in making himself more popular among Arabs and Muslims, what material advantage would it give the United States? The Recession Still Has Time to Run but the Stock Market Is Headed North
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/28/2009
Tuesday, the Conference Board reported a sharp improvement in consumer confidence—the index scored 54.9 in May, up from 40.8 the prior month. The stock market celebrated with a strong rally. The Media’s Gay Mafia “Queers” the News
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 5/28/2009
In their quest to “queer” America, radical homosexual activists in the media destroy lives, as they manipulate the principle of privacy, and make war on traditional masculinity, sports, and even the truth. Uncle Sam's 'F'-rated bonds
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/22/2009
Were the United States any other country, its bonds would lose their AAA rating. President Barack Obama plans dramatic increases in spending over the next four years on healthcare, the environment, education, and federal employment. Yet the private economy, which must be taxed, is likely to grow slowly, resulting in too much borrowing. Detailed Analysis of the Obama-Netanyahu Meeting
Prof. Barry Rubin - 5/22/2009
Part 1
So what did President Barack Obama say after the meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and what does it mean?
First, Obama went to great lengths to stress his belief in the special relationship between the two countries, knowing his fealty to it has been (understandably and rightfully) challenged. He consciously escalated it by calling it an "extraordinary relationship" adding "historical ties, emotional ties," "only true democracy of the Middle East," "a source of admiration and inspiration for the American people." He then went on to say Is... Fixing Health Care
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/19/2009
American health care is broken. At 16 percent, the United States spends a much larger share of GDP on health care than Western European economies. Yet the United States has about 45 million uninsured, while its peers do not. Is There Hope that the Obama Administration Might Change?
Prof. Barry Rubin - 5/19/2009
Regarding the Obama-Netanyahu Meeting, please forgive the following: I... told... you... so... and I'm glad there's good news for once. U.S.-Israel relations are again on a firm footing. On that I was sure. But now here's some speculation. Stress Tests: Investors Should Steer Clear of Banks Found Needing New Capital
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/13/2009
Whether or not the banks needed them, the Federal Reserve has completed the stressed tests. It has acted on pleadings from bank executives and will announce which major banks need to raise more capital late Thursday afternoon. Trade Deficit Rise in March, Drags on Recovery
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/13/2009
Yesterday, the Commerce Department reported the March trade deficit was $27.6 billion, up from $26.1 billion in February. Obama’ policy toward Iran
Hassan Daioleslam - 5/13/2009
Over the past four months, the Obama administration has been sending good will signals to the Iranian regime and has confirmed its policy of overture toward Tehran. Obama’s Nowrouz message combined with the entry of two well known Iranian-American experts into the administration, illustrates this trend. Culturist Perspective: “Islam Day” in Hawaii
Prof. John Press - 5/13/2009
The resolution to make September 24th, ‘Islam Day’ in Hawaii is culturist blashphemy. The Senate is multiculturalist. That means they do not believe the West has a core traditional culture to promote. They think our land is a blank slate without history where random cultures meet. And, for the sake of equal representation, we must celebrate Islam for a day. Herein is the irony. Multiculturalists do not believe that cultural diversity exists. They think it is all about food, fashion and festivals. They have never heard of Jihad. President Obama: You've Paid for the Report, Now Read It
Prof. Barry Rubin - 5/13/2009
The U.S. State Department has produced excellent research and analysis in its “Country Reports on Terrorism 2008” report just released. Now the only problem is to ensure the Obama administration reads and absorbs the contents. Obama Administration Withdraws Proposed Concessions to Hamas
Prof. Barry Rubin - 5/13/2009
This has become a very interesting situation. On May 1, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in congressional testimony, reinterpreted the proposal discussed below to make it clear that the United States did not embrace the proposal (earlier raised by the French) to back a PA coalition with Hamas. She said that every individual minister of such a government would have to accept the quartet provisions that included recognizing Israel and abandoning terrorism. This would effetively rule out U.S. aid to a Fatah-Hamas coalition (which isn't going to happen any way). Here Comes Hillary; There Goes Lebanon
Prof. Barry Rubin - 5/4/2009
Suddenly, the United States has awoken to the fact that in one month Lebanon is likely to be taken over by a radical government and hijacked into the Iran-Syria alliance. Unfortunately, this apparently doesn�t mean it�or European states�are going to do anything about it. Barack Obama's Crossroads
Lorna Thomas - 5/4/2009
Addressing students and young professionals gathered at Strasbourg in April 2009, for the NATO Youth Summit, President Barack Obama said "We find ourselves at a crossroads, ... all of us, for we've arrived at a moment where each nation and every citizen must choose, at last, how we respond to a world that has grown smaller and more connected than at any time in its existence." He added "But it's also a tremendous responsibility, because it is you who must ultimately decide what we do with this incredible moment in history." America: Is violence linked with recession?
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 5/3/2009
“If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” In few countries does the old adage resonate more loudly than in the United States of America . America may be pulverizing the Taliban and al- Qaeda in the Pak- Afghan border and watching post-conflict transition in Nepal , especially the Maoists snail like lackluster transformation with caution after the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 21 November 2006, but back home, it is facing a much tougher enemy – Gun Violence. Chrysler, Stress Tests and Swine Flu
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/3/2009
This week we will get a first glimpse of the beginning of the end of the recession, perhaps. Chrysler and How the Government Can Screw Up Capitalism
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/1/2009
Chrysler is teetering on Chapter 11, and the federal bailout illustrates how government efforts to rescue failing businesses often fall victim to crass political considerations. The Unbearable Lightness of Wishful Thinking
Prof. Barry Rubin - 5/1/2009
Congratulations, the conflict is over! Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad isn't a radical, aggressive Islamist and Holocaust denier but a peacenik! Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is against war and terrorism! Obama's Foreign Policy: Bambi Versus the Sharks
Prof. Barry Rubin - 4/29/2009
It is not such a big deal to disagree with a president and his policies. But it is shocking to realize that the leader of the world’s most powerful country doesn’t appear to understand the most basic principles of international relations.This isn’t surprising since Barrack Obama has no—zero, nada—previous experience in this area. It shows. There are two distinct ways other countries respond to this combination of his ignorance at realpolitik, urgent desire to be liked, and pride in projecting U.S. weakness: Economic Recovery and the “D” Word
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/29/2009
The consensus among economic forecasters is that the economy will achieve very modest growth in the third quarter and climb out of the doldrums in the fourth quarter. However, among those soothsayers conviction may be waning, The Great Recession
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/27/2009
Economists expect a late year economic recovery, but their conviction appears failing. Barack Obama's Trip to Turkey
Ron Coody - 4/27/2009
Two weeks ago police and security forces sealed streets around the ancient capitol metropolis of Istanbul for miles in every direction when US president Barak Hussein Obama and his entourage arrived for the Alliance of Civilizations conference. The boldfaced Hussein is not a misprint. For days before and since Obama’s visit, a quick glance at the Turkish newspapers or television might lead you to believe that Hussein was Obama’s only name. It is ironic that during the presidential election, Obama and company successfully managed to almost completely erase any trace of his m... Rule of Law Vetoed by President Obama
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 4/27/2009
There are no headlines or pontificating pundits, but the real news that has become crystal clear to any but the most delusional and distracted Americans is that President Obama has no commitment to applying the rule of law where it counts. Certainly, not applying it to the large number of rich and powerful people that have violated our Constitution and plunged the nation into economic disaster. America's Abundance Has Led to Apathy
Amil Imani - 4/22/2009
The vast land of United States was once inhabited by a relatively small number of indigenous people. These native “Indians” had lived throughout the land for thousands of years, and they will always remain the first inhabitants of what is now the United States. These native people helped the pilgrims survive the winter. Later, European immigrants came and the number of settlements finally outgrew the native Americans. Housing Sales and Fixing the Economy
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/22/2009
It seems an article of faith that the first signs of recovery will emerge in the housing market. March data for existing and new homes sales, due out Thursday and Friday, will be trumpeted crocuses of spring if those beat expectations. The Confrontation Con-Game
Prof. Barry Rubin - 4/21/2009
There are many people eager to see President Barack Obama and his administration bash Israel, or predict that has already happened. But the administration has yet to make any significant direct anti-Israel actions or statements. I expect this widely predicted conflict isn’t going to take place. Understanding Nationalism
Mike Smith - 4/20/2009
Few words today bring up as much misunderstanding, confusion and resentment today as “Nationalism”. Nationalism has been vilified by the Marxist Communist agenda that see it as the biggest stumbling block in their way to a Global Communist State. One of the first things the Communists attack is a people’s Nationalism. Naivete Kills
Prof. Barry Rubin - 4/20/2009
It never ceases to amaze me that people who know nothing about the Middle East, in this case Roger Cohen but many other names come to mind, can suddenly proclaim themselves experts and make the most elementary errors involving the lives of other people. It also never ceases to amaze me that people can visit a country, especially a dictatorship, be wined and dined, handed a line and believe it so thoroughly that their mind is closed ever after. Thursday's Housing Starts Data and the Economic Outlook
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/20/2009
Thursday, the Commerce Department released key data for new home construction—housing starts and permits issued for March. After rising in February to 583,000, housing starts are expected to slip back to 550,000, and those February levels were hardly anything to cheer about. Building permits are expected to remain at recessionary levels. President Obama: What Is It That You Do Not Understand?
Amil Imani - 4/20/2009
At the G20 summit, President Obama once again repeated the same mantra, “The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations.” Apparently, the White House staff does not read my articles so President Obama continues to parrot the same mantra everywhere he goes. Culturist Immigration Law
Prof. John Press - 4/20/2009
The Diversity Lottery must be stopped to combat multiculturalism and internationalism. This immigration mechanism provides visas to nations with low levels of immigration to the United States. This program’s multicultural logic ignores that we have a culture to protect and thereby flaunts our sovereignty. Somali immigration exemplifies the cultural and physical dangers of such a policy. It invite a foreign and hostile cultures onto our shores. We should, at very least, stop Somali immigration until their piracy of our ships stop. Suc... Bowing, Bowing…Bowed
Ron Coody - 4/19/2009
Perhaps it is much ado about nothing. In the recent trip to Europe participating in the G-20 summit with world leaders from every corner of the globe, President Obama greeted King Abdullah from Saudi Arabia with a deep bow, bending his tall frame before the much shorter king. Obama bent over ninety-degrees from the waist and bent one of his knees as the Arab monarch stretched forth his hand and smiled broadly, as anyone can easily see from the photographs set loose upon the boundary-less world of the internet. It was a sign of…what? It certainly fit comfortably within the whole Islamic pa... Multiculturalism endangers the West
Prof. John Press - 4/8/2009
President Obama’s being a multiculturalist endangers the West. In a speech in Turkey he announced, “The United States is not and will never be at war with Islam.” He also called for Turkey to become a part of the EU. Both of these statements reflect a very poor understanding of history and cultural diversity. It is dangerous for our president to be multiculturalist instead of culturist. Businesses Gird for Economic Depression
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/8/2009
The economy is shifting to permanently lower levels of production and employment, as the recession nears a depression. Political Correctness in the War on Muslim Terror
Rock Peters - 4/8/2009
President Barack Obama and his Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napalitano have scrapped the terms "war on terror" and "terrorist attacks." The new hygienic, sterilized language and "politically correct" term being introduced by the Obama administration for the 'war on terror" is now "Overseas Contingency Operations". In place of "terrorist attacks" the politically correct term is "Man Caused Disasters." Let's not offend murderers, al-Qaeda and the Muslim terrorists that attacked us! This will make us safer, no doubt. Neoconservatism and Nepotism: John Podhoretz at Commentary
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 4/8/2009
In the history of the Jews in America, January 1, 2009 is a day which will live in infamy. For that was the day on which John Podhoretz took the reins as editor-in-chief of Commentary magazine. GOP Shall Not Go Quietly Into The Night
David Huntwork - 4/8/2009
After the schelacking of the Republican party by the Democrats on November 4th many people are asking themselves “what happened” and “what do we do next”. The “what happened” was eight years of a lackluster president who enacted the Surge about two and half years too late, surrendered on the public relations front, and abandoned the conservative principle of small government while joining the Republican controlled Congress in a frenzy of (then) unprecedented deficit spending. ECONOMY: Obama Courting Disaster
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/27/2009
President Obama’s strategy to combat the recession courts disaster. He proposes huge federal deficits from 2009 to 2011 to prop up domestic demand and break the negative feedback cycle of rising unemployment, falling incomes and sinking consumer spending, while recapitalizing the banks to get credit flowing again. Tracked by Spies and Informers
Julia A. Shearson - 3/27/2009
The February 26, 2009 revelation in the Los Angeles Times that FBI domestic intelligence informant and ex-convict Craig Monteilh and others were paid handsomely to spy on Muslim Americans in their houses of worship in Southern California should come as no surprise. Such domestic intelligence gathering has a history in the United States . The Special US-Israel Relationship Under Assault
Ted Belman - 3/27/2009
Predictably, John Measheimer comes out in support of Chas Freeman in his article The Lobby Falters. According to him “the Israel lobby launched a smear campaign against Freeman” and he suggested the attack was unfounded. He faults Obama with these words “But Barack Obama’s pandering to the Israel lobby during the campaign and his silence during the Gaza War show that this is one opponent he is not willing to challenge.” NY Times' Cartoon: Political Misunderstanding, not Hatred
Prof. Barry Rubin - 3/27/2009
It is silly to say that the Pat Oliphant Cartoon in the New York Times and many newspapers around the world is antisemitic. But it’s also a bad mistake because the cartoon deserves serious analysis to show just how dangerous and wrong it is, in ways that not only hurt Israel but all Western democracies. It's Worse Than a Crime, It's Blundering Analysis
Prof. Barry Rubin - 3/24/2009
The problem, as we see repeatedly, with much media coverage of issues involving Israel is the way the story is defined. There need not be any sense of bias by a reporter. Merely copying what other journalists do or from a specific ideological framework—not because reporters have preconceptions but because they make far less effort than in the past to balance them—leads to a conception of the story that is skewed. Brzezinski and the Iranian Bomb
Hassan Daioleslam and Keyvan Koboli - 3/24/2009
On March 5th, Zbigniew Brzezinski, the former US National Security advisor under President Carter testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee elaborating on the U.S. policy toward a nuclear Iran. In his testimony, Brzezinski told the Senate committee that the prospect of a nuclear Iran is not that frightening. Teaching the Controversy
Ron Coody - 3/24/2009
The recent passing of Darwin Day continues to generate discussion in various quarters as to exactly what, if any, is the relationship between the question of evolution and the question of creation. The folks involved in promoting Intelligent Design, have in the past few years sought repeatedly to make a legal and scientific case for what they call “teaching the controversy” of evolution. The idea is that Darwinian theory, that all organism originated from a common ancestor and evolved over the eons by random mutation and natural selection, in spite of evidence for it, also has some glaring p... Fixing America's banks: Geithner's tactics not the answer
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/24/2009
Timothy Geithner’s policy to fix the banks is destroying private equity and simply inadequate. Facts and Fictions in the Securities Industry
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 3/24/2009
The securities industry worldwide is constructed upon the quicksand of self-delusion and socially-acceptable confabulations. These serve to hold together players and agents whose interests are both disparate and diametrically opposed. In the long run, the securities markets are zero-sum games and the only possible outcome is win-lose. Senator Feingold's Constitutional Opportunity
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 3/18/2009
Like others promoting constitutional amendments, Senator Russ Feingold, Democrat, Wisconsin , apparently is unaware of the refusal by Congress to obey Article V of the Constitution. He has a fine idea: every senator must actually be elected rather than appointed to that position. In 1913 the 17th amendment created the potential for governors to make appointments to fill Senate seats until the next regular scheduled general election and 38 states allow this; there have been 185 such appointments. Feingold is right to condemn “decisions being made solely by the powerful, without the consent, or even the input, of the people.” AIG or GM: Who Is the Fool?
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/18/2009
Washington and the nation are enraged that AIG is paying millions in bonuses to retain financial wizards that sold insurance on mortgage backed securities with few assets to back up their promises. Stewart vs. Cramer
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/18/2009
I can’t attend church these days, never mind be interviewed, without being asked: Four Integrity Tests for President Obama
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 3/10/2009
A great smile does not make a truth teller. A talker of change does not define a reformer. Make no mistake, for the good of the nation I want President Obama to succeed in getting us out of the scandalous economic meltdown we are immersed in. But I do not like many of his actions, policies and strategies for accomplishing this, nor does the stock market. The Current Global Crisis in Historical Context
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 3/9/2009
Housing and financial crises often precede, or follow the disintegration of empires. The dissolution of the Habsburg and the British empires, as well as the implosion of the USSR were all marked by the eruption and then unwinding of imbalances in various asset, banking, and financial markets. Bankers and Stockbrokers as Malignant and Psychopathic Narcissists
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 3/4/2009
The perpetrators of the recent spate of financial frauds in the USA acted with callous disregard for employees, investors, and shareholders - not to mention other stakeholders. Yet, they are the tip of a pernicious iceberg of perfidious, self-enriching, callous, and antisocial bankers, stockbrokers, analysts, and other members of the professions within the financial sector. Culturist Economics
Prof. John Press - 3/3/2009
Culturism and economics intersect at several places. In fact, our culture has been very important to our economic development. And, a strong economy is important to our culture. We as a society are paying for our lack of culturist thought. Immigration and globalization are driven by multiculturalism. We must again become culturist to undo their damage. Treasury’s Flawed Plan for Citigroup and Other Banks
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/3/2009
Timothy Geithner continues to destroy bank equity with a misguided TARP and vaguely-defined Financial Stability Plan. He seeming doesn’t grasp that he can’t stop a tub with a two inch drain from losing its water with a one inch stopper. Eric Holder's Cowards and Real Questions About Race
Guy White - 3/3/2009
Barack Obama's administration has recently gone on a racial offensive, demanding that Americans stop being cowards and discuss race. First Eric Holder called us a nation of cowards. Then a similar challenge was issued by the EPA administrator Lisa Jackson and First Lady Michelle Obama. But do they really want us to discuss race-related issues honestly? Or are they just trying to create an anti-white national assault where whites are blamed for all the minorities' problems and in this "dialogue" even complete incivility towards whites would be welcomed. If the Obama administration really wants ... On the Menace of the Vanishing Somali Youth
Abukar Arman - 3/3/2009
Somalia has a new government that many consider to possess what it takes to spearhead sustainable peace and bring the lawlessness of the past two decades to an end. However, this article is not about that, or about the so-called Somali piracy. Hate Speech At San Francisco State University
Richard L. Cravatts, Ph.D. - 3/3/2009
The fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in the recent Gaza incursion may have brought a tentative peace to that region, but on campuses in California — the veritable ground zero of anti-Israel sentiment in the academy — the debate over the 60-year conflict has gained a new, and more insidious, momentum as student demonstrations, protests, and denunciations of racist Zionism, a “brutal occupation,” and “genocide” of Arabs were heard on campuses worldwide. Would the Real Messiah Please Stand Up?
Ron Coody - 3/3/2009
During last year’s boisterous, historical, and sometimes hysterical presidential election, campaigners spared no words to elevate their man or woman. One of the lofty pontifications flowed from the tongue of world famous Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, and known for his Million Man March on Washington D.C. a few years back. Extolling the virtues of Barak Obama he launched deep into the unexplored frontiers of hyperbole with accolades falling from his lips comparing Obama to the Messiah, the Chief Corner Stone. It sounded good, his listeners loved it, and if Obama ever got wind of it, he certainly never made any attempt to deny the charges. Helping Hillary While Keeping Israel Safe
Prof. Barry Rubin - 3/3/2009
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Israel on the first of what will no doubt be many visits. Beyond the simple self-interest of making her feel appreciated, most Israelis are genuinely glad that she was appointed to this job. The reason why is critical to understanding the future of U.S. Middle East Policy and U.S.-Israel relations. Do You Recognize Barack Obama in These Texts? - First Series
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 3/2/2009
This is the first in a series of articles examining Obama's psychological makeup in minute detail. The Role of Governments in Global Crises
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 2/25/2009
Market failures signify corruption and inefficiency in the private sector. Such misconduct and misallocation of economic resources is usually thought to be the domain of the public sector, but actually it goes on eveywhere in the economy. Is America a Judeo-Christian Nation?
David Storobin, Esq. - 2/24/2009
Is America really a Judeo-Christian nation? The Christian influence is of course beyond any doubt. All the Presidents were at least nominally Christian, as were many great Americans such as the Wright Brothers and Alexander Graham Bell. But how much of a role did the Jews play in creating American culture? Elizabeth Alexander, Poet of Iron
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 2/24/2009
Ought Congress to pass a law, banning the reading of official state poems at presidential inaugurations? Or should we instead use the ritual as a barometer with which to measure America’s cultural decline? Obama seeks American Jewish support for pressuring Israel
Ted Belman - 2/23/2009
A year ago Obama spoke in Cleveland to the leaders of the Jewish community and tipped his hand, Intellectual Dishonesty about the War on Terror
Anthony Tsontakis - 2/23/2009
In what follows, I have chosen a particularly eccentric example of intellectual dishonesty about the War on Terror, but this has been to illustrate a point. The point is, that, if we fail to appreciate the complexity of the War on Terror, or whatever you would like to call it, we risk, however inadvertently, the legitimization--or, worse, the institutionalization--of organizations and movements which are otherwise irreconcilable to the general rule of secular law in international affairs. The prospects of such developments are problematic, because standardized radicalism within foreign gove... U.S. Registers $677 Billion Trade Deficit in 2008
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/23/2009
Last week, the Commerce Department reported the 2008 deficit on international trade in goods and services was $677.1 billion. This is down from $700.3 billion in 2007 but still 4.7 percent of GDP. The trade deficit was smaller in 2008, becasue economic growth and consumer spending began to decline during the second half 2008. Mesmerized by Melodic Rhetoric
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 2/23/2009
"I've been through Y2K and I've been through 9/11. I have never seen people so afraid as what we are seeing right now,” said gun shop owner Scott Moss recently. With more guns per capita – easily 250 million privately owned ones – and certainly more people in prisons than any other democracy, the intriguing question in this still worsening economic calamity is: If Americans found the courage for political rebellion now, would it preempt massive criminal violence, social havoc and armed rebellion later? Start by abolishing all income taxes and fire your government employees
Iqbal Latif - 2/23/2009
Atlas Shrugged* was Ayn Rand's greatest achievement and last work of fiction. "Atlas" bleakly predicted that we will treat the inept that destroy their companies as victims, while those ingenious business owners who deliver earnings are depicted as recipients of illicit boon. (According to a survey by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club, readers rate "Atlas" as the second-most influential book in their lives, behind only the Bible. ) Muslims in America, The Series, Part One
Kathy Shaidle - 2/23/2009
Imagine a Super Bowl with all male cheerleaders and half-time prayers. In that America, they drink Jihad Cola instead of Coke and thank Allah when they win an Oscar. Muslims in America, The Series, Part Two
Kathy Shaidle - 2/23/2009
"One in 10 inmates behind bars turns to Islam."
It was small story in a local newspaper called the Daily Herald out of Everett, Washington, but it spread quickly around the internet, thanks to that startling claim. The Great Diversity Depression
Guy White - 2/23/2009
The present economic crisis is the direct result of our nation’s diversity and affirmative action. We can’t say so out loud because that would be “racist”. Anything other than blaming white men (openly or by using code words like “greed”) is racist. But this recession’s main issue is very clear. The Next 18 Months: Recession, False Recovery, Depression
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 2/22/2009
The Obama stimulus package, worth some 800 billion USD, the 1.9 trillion USD in TARP funds and the endless Fed injections and auctions are bound to revive the moribund American economy by the third and fourth quarter of 2009. The Dow-Jones is likely to touch 10900, consumption will recover, as will housing starts and, in some markets, housing prices. Trade Deficit in 2008 Significant Cause of Economy's Recession
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/17/2009
The 2008 deficit on international trade in goods and services was $677.1 billion, down from $700.3 billion in 2007 but still 4.7% of GDP. The trade deficit was smaller in 2008 because economic growth and consumer spending began to decline during the second half of 2008. Why We Hear the Muslim World All Too Well
Prof. Barry Rubin - 2/10/2009
Message to New York Times: Read your own op-ed page. ECONOMY: Unemployment Headed for 9 Percent
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/6/2009
Today, the Labor Department will report employment data for January. In December, the economy lost 524,000 jobs, and the consensus forecast is for another 535,000 jobs lost in January. My forecast is for a 520,000 loss. Economy: Tax Solution to Wretched Greed
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 2/5/2009
By now most Americans have experienced extreme disgust upon hearing about the nearly $20 billion in bonuses given to people in New York City ’s financial sector at the end of 2008. After sending the nation into the current economic black hole there is no way of comprehending the audacity of financial company executives in giving themselves and their colleagues shameful rewards for abysmal and disgraceful performance. Other than screaming and moaning about all this dishonorable behavior what should the Obama administration and Congress do? World Economy to further suffer from Economic Epidemic in 2009
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 2/5/2009
How many economists does it take to fight the recession and how long will the downturn last? The world is asking questions such as these every moment but no one has been able to answer these questions with accuracy. Economy's Meltdown Creates New Global Champions
Naseem Javed - 2/5/2009
We have now arrived right in the middle of that second half of the hyper-accelerated phase, where western brands start to fall like dominos. As pointed in my column of 2006, ‘The Global Image Repositioning Shifts’, in the US alone hundreds of its world-class brands are being erased, from monster banking to mega manufacturing, some 73,000 stores alone being closed in the first half of 2009 according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, overall a Trillion-dollars worth of branding imagery that took decades of image building is getting scrubbed out worldwide. The damage so huge it can possibly be seen from the space, as streets are less bright and the cities are dimmer. Sophistry On Our Economy Reigns Supreme
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/5/2009
As Congress has added to the stimulus package, members have become ever more elastic in defining various kinds of spending and tax programs as GDP boosting and jobs creating. Expanded welfare payments, unemployment benefits for part-time workers and more generous tax write offs for past corporate losses to name just a few. Letter to an American Patriot
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 2/5/2009
On Monday, I received the following letter from a reader who had seen my inauguration essay, “Should Obama be Sworn in… or Arrested?”. And the Winner of the Academy Award for Most Politically Correct Lead Actor is…
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 1/28/2009
Sean Penn!
When the ceremony is held on February 22, expect Penn to win the Oscar for his biopic vehicle, Milk, about San Francisco homosexual activist-politician, Harvey Milk, who was slain while in office. (The nominees will be announced on Thursday.)
In 1977 Milk, who initially financed his activism through the photography shop he owned, was elected, on his third try, to the Board of Supervisors in the city by the bay. On November 27, 1978, he was assassinated by Dan White, a 32-year-old former policeman and fireman who had been el... Obama's Decisive Actions
Ursula Siebert - 1/28/2009
It’s a joy watching the news again, e.g. Obama signing executive orders on environmental issues, making them a priority, reversing George Bush’s policies from day one in office. Fixing Banks
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/28/2009
For every new president, campaign promises and inaugural idealism must give way to the hard choices that measure the mettle of their leadership. The Unpopular Prospect of World War III
Dr. Andreas Umland - 1/27/2009
A regularly employed analyst runs a certain risk when publicly speaking about the possibility of a destruction of humanity, in the foreseeable future. “Professional myopia” or “immaturity in judgment” may be among the less denigrating – “unprofessional hysteria” or “irresponsible conduct” the more damning – reactions by colleagues. One workplace-friend recently advised me to delete from an article the term “World War III.” I decided not to do so. Why Recessions Happen and How to Counter Them
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 1/19/2009
The fate of modern economies is determined by four types of demand: the demand for consumer goods; the demand for investment goods; the demand for money; and the demand for assets, which represent the expected utility of money (deferred money). U.S. Economy Records Huge Trade Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/18/2009
Tuesday, the Commerce Department reported the November trade deficit was $40.4 billion. This was down from $56.7 billion in October, largely because oil prices fell and the recession is curbing demand for imported consumer goods and petroleum. Revival of U.S. Automaking Awaits if UAW Will Follow Toyota Model
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/17/2009
General Motors and Chrysler are on the anvil of history. United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger holds the hammer and will determine whether they emerge more competitive or shattered in pieces and sold to foreign investors. Obama’s Policy directions for the Middle East crisis
Saberi Roy - 1/17/2009
As the world waits for the grand inauguration on January 20th, Obama will have to introduce himself to the world as the US President with more solutions and more promises. Although he has been focusing on the financial crisis and terrorism and there are too many expectations now that the economic plan with its emphasis on job growth and tax cuts could bring back US prosperity, Obama has actually been very silent about his foreign policy directions. There are many foreign policy issues that Obama has not mentioned in his campaign and although economy will take centre stage for the first few mon... ECONOMY: Wall Street Produces More Villains In A Year Than the Hollywood
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 1/17/2009
Old habits die hard in Corporate America. One of the most durable is a reluctant to be at all honest about the health of the organization in charge by the top executives of the firm. Advice for President Obama on 'the Aspirations of the Iranian People'
Prof. Daniel M. Zucker - 1/17/2009
On Sunday, January 11, 2009, President-elect Barak H. Obama stated in an interview on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos”, that his administration would move quickly to change the U.S. approach towards Iran, moving to engagement and increased diplomacy, “sending a signal that we respect the aspirations of the Iranian people,…” Such a statement sounds admirable and it would be a very fine policy—if it was truly the aspirations of the Iranian people that were being addressed. Unfortunately, Obama is falling into the same trap as the prior two administrations, and failing to realize tha... Libertarianism: If Not Now, Then When?
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 1/12/2009
With the meltdown of the American economy, what better time to ask: Can libertarianism come to the rescue? Perhaps the most interesting statement in the Wikipedia discussion of libertarianism is that “There is no single theory that can be reliably identified as the libertarian theory, and no single principle or set of principles on which all libertarians would agree.” The Economy Is in a Depression
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/11/2009
The Labor Department reported on Jan. 9 that the economy lost 524,000 payroll jobs in December, and average employment was 1.3 million lower in the fourth quarter than in the third quarter. I believe the economy is already in the jaws of a depression. Obama, Iran and the nuclearization of the Middle East
Abid Mustafa - 1/10/2009
On 13/12/2008, Robert Gates, the US Secretary of Defence speaking at international security conference in Bahrain gave some insight about forthcoming relations between America and Iran. He said, "Nobody is after a regime change in Iran...What we are after is a change in policies and a change in behaviour so that Iran becomes a good neighbour of people in the region (rather) than a source of instability and violence." In response to a question about Iran, Gates said, "If we say that we want to try to change Iranian behaviour and want to deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons and we want to ... Rewriting Bush’s Legacy
Ron Coody - 1/9/2009
Now, at the end of George W. Bush’s presidency, a news commentator remarked it is as though President Obama is inheriting problems equivalent to the Great Depression and the bombing of Pearl Harbor , and of course it is all Bush’s fault. Is this true or exaggeration? It’s true the markets have suffered serious fluctuations and the government has stepped in with major financial bailouts. But when comparing the amounts of money involved taking into consideration the value of the dollar in 1930, plus the level of unemployment that the nation experienced at that time, the current level of unemp... ECONOMY: Bush Auto Plan Will Test Obama's Union Loyalties
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/8/2009
President Bush has agreed to lend GM and Chrysler $17.4 billion on the condition these firms complete a plan to accomplish financial viability. Obama’s “Natural Born” Problem
David Huntwork - 1/8/2009
By now you are probably aware that there have been a multitude of lawsuits filed in regards to the question of whether or not President-elect Barack Obama is in fact eligible under the “natural born” provision of the Constitution of the United States of America to be the President of the United States (POTUS). The 99 Most Memorable, Interesting and Outrageous Political Quotes of 2008
David Huntwork - 1/8/2009
The year 2008 was politically the most exciting and unusual in a generation. It hosted a long, divisive and drama filled campaign season that featured the rapid rise and fall of Rudy Guiliani, Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee, the unlikely rise of John McCain and Barack Obama, and the eventual bitter defeat of Hillary Clinton. It brought us an unusually long and brutal primary with emotional charges of racism and sexism, the rise of the Superdelegate, and the explosion of Sarah Palin upon the national stage. All of this was followed by a rough and tumble presidential campaign whose outcome may ... Ten Rules for the Future: An Obama Suggestive
Leslie J. Sacks - 1/8/2009
1. Cap tax-deductible CEO remuneration at a maximum of 30 times the salary of that public company's lowest paid worker. Thereabove, salaries will not be tax deductible as an operating expense for an employer. In addition, no bonuses (in cash or shares) for top management of a public company will be tax deductible if the company suffered losses by the end of the relevant year. Improvilating Wikipedia: Monsters of the Midway
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 1/8/2009
The Wikipedia entry, “Monsters of the Midway,” which has not been touched since November 15, 2008, is supposedly about the Chicago Bears, whose historic nickname, going back to circa 1940, is “the Monsters of the Midway,” although that name has only been used when the team was dominant. In the third paragraph however, the entry gets kidnapped, and taken away to the Wikipedia Zone: ECONOMY: Unemployment Headed for 8 Pecent
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/8/2009
Friday, the Labor Department will report employment data for December. In November, the economy lost 533,000 jobs, and the consensus forecast is for another 475,000 jobs lost in December. My forecast is for a 480,000 loss. Countering The Marxist Critical Theory
Mike Smith - 1/8/2009
"Out of the dominant characteristics of both belligerents a certain center of gravity develops, the hub of all power and movement, on which everything depends. That is the point against which all our energies should be directed.”
– Carl von Clausewitz Obama Administration in the Middle East
Symposium - 1/8/2009
Barry Rubin, "The Administration's Theme: Conciliation with Enemies"
Patrick Clawson, "Obama, the Gulf, and Iran"
Norvell B. De Atkine, "Iraq: The Chimera of the 16-Month Withdrawal"
David Schenker, "Syria, Israel, and Lebanon"
John S. Duffield, "The Obama Presidency, Oil, and the Middle East"
Mark N. Katz, "What Obama Should Do About Russia in the Middle East"
Barry Rubin, "The Region's Dilemma: How to Deal with Obama"
Jeffrey Azarva, "Obama and Egypt's Coming Succession Crisis"
Tony Badran, "Syria Sets Its Traps for the Obama Administration" Passing the Iraq Baton to Barack Obama
Kenneth M. Pollack - 12/29/2008
All across America, people increasingly seem to believe that the war in Iraq is won. Republicans proclaim it triumphantly. Democrats acknowledge it grudgingly and then try to change the subject to Afghanistan. None Dare Call It News Coverage
Prof. Barry Rubin - 12/29/2008
I realized something important when reading a relatively marginal feature story from the Associated Press. What's Next for the Fed: The People's National Bank?
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/29/2008
The Federal Reserve has cut the federal funds rate and its short-term lending rate to banks to near zero, but those moves have done little to unlock credit markets. Conventional mortgage money and business loans remain too scarce, as regional banks, which are the arteries and capillaries of our credit system, remain short of loanable funds. Bush Auto Plan Will Test Obama's Union Loyalties
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/22/2008
President Bush has agreed to lend GM and Chrysler $17.4 billion on the condition these firms complete a plan to accomplish financial viability. U.S. Economy Records Huge Current Account Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/18/2008
Yesterday, the Commerce Department reported the third quarter current account deficit was $174.1 billion. This was caused largely by a $214.7 billion deficit on trade in goods. Retired DEA Agents and NYPD Cops Sue Frank Lucas, 'American Gangster'
Ron Chepesiuk - 12/18/2008
“American Gangster,” the highly profitable 2007 film that grossed a reported $255 million and claimed to portray the true-life story of Frank Lucas, the 1970s Harlem gangster, has long since gone to DVD. The controversy surrounding the movie, however, is hanging around like a bad cold. Bottom-Up Stimulus for the U.S. Economy
Yossef Ben-Meir, PhD - 12/18/2008
What development projects deliver short-term relief to people and long-term economic structural change for sustained growth and should therefore be part of the upcoming economic stimulus package? The answer: projects determined and managed by the local communities they are intended to benefit. Twelve Years of Iranian lobby
Hassan Daioleslam - 12/18/2008
A few weeks ago, on November 18th, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) held a conference in the Hart Senate building. A group of lawmakers, former diplomats and Iran experts gathered to indirectly advise the President elect Obama on how to deal with Iran. Or, how to reduce the pressure off the Iranian regime and augment the incentives.1 The moderator of the event was Trita Parsi, the president of NIAC. Invisible Victims: Wikipedia Still Has No Page Devoted to the Winchester Atrocity
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 12/18/2008
On October 15, the tortured corpses of newlyweds, Marine Sgt. Jan Pawel Pietrzak, 24, and Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak, 26, were found in their Winchester, CA home. Mrs. Pietrzak had been gang-raped, and husband and wife had each been bound, gagged, and shot, execution-style, in the back of the head. Auto Industry Bailout Testimony
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/16/2008
On Tuesday, December 9, I testified on the auto industry bailout before the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Here is my testimony. Obama Administration and Israel: A Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion - 12/16/2008
On November 6, 2008, in light of Barack Obama's election as forty-forth president of the United States, the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held a panel discussion on the prospects for U.S-Israeli relations under the Obama administration. Those participating were Prof. Barry Rubin, Ambassador Daniel Ayalon, Ambassador Dan Halpern, and Zvi Rafiah. Brief biographies can be found at the end of the article. Dear President Obama ...
Prof. Barry Rubin - 12/15/2008
Dear President Obama: They say that you prefer the name Barry and so it pleases me no end that another Barry is finally president of the United States. In addition, I once worked as a community organizer so we have two things in common. U.S. Economy Registers $57.2 Billion Trade Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/15/2008
Last thursday, the Commerce Department reported the October deficit on trade in goods and services was $57.190 billion, up from $56.559 billion in September. The consensus forecast was $54.0 billion and my forecast was $53.5 billion. AIG Defies U.S. Taxpayers by Promoting Sharia in America
Jeffrey Imm - 12/15/2008
For the third month in a row, AIG is in the news regarding its promotion of Sharia-compliant finance (SCF) products, which promote the Islamic supremacist, segregationist ideology of Sharia. For a company struggling with its financial survival, it remains astounding that AIG would want to incite its American taxpayer owners by promoting products that are based on an Islamic supremacist political ideology. In October 2008, I wrote how the U.S. Russia and Europe want a multi-polar world
Lorna Thomas - 12/9/2008
1. REINS OF POWER SLIPPING FROM U.S. ARE BEING TAKEN UP BY EUROPE WHICH INCLUDES RUSSIA
“We are facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime, and we're going to have to act swiftly to resolve it," President Elect Barack Obama said during his first public address after election. From Pearl Harbor to 9/11 to the Selection of Barack Obama
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 12/9/2008
How did America get from the patriotic nation it was on December 7, 1941, to the nation in moral collapse that it is today, in which a racial socialist, who had once made no secret of his hostility towards her, and has since given many hints of his plans to destroy her, is about to take the oath of office as the nation’s chief executive? Economy: Friday's Job Report
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/6/2008
Friday, the Labor Department will report employment data for November. In October, the economy lost 240,000 jobs, and the consensus forecast is for another 300,000 jobs lost in November. My forecast is for a 275,000 loss. Media's Pretend Objectivity and the Electorate
Tom McLaughlin - 12/3/2008
It was a bad week. Couldn't start my column on Sunday like I usually do because the hard drive on my laptop crashed while I was away for the weekend. Monday morning I got it outlined on my back-up machine before leaving for school, but after school I had to drive a hundred miles (round trip) to drop my main machine off with the nearest Apple-certified technician. Tuesday after school I picked it up and hurried home to vote before the polls closed. Election results were depressing for conservatives like me. Wednesday morning I was pulled over for speeding on the way to school. Been driving that road the same way for 31 years, but oh well. I was going 55 in a 45. Barack Hussein Obama and the Triumph of Marxism
Fjordman - 12/3/2008
One of the recurring themes in my essays is the realization that the West didn't win the Cold War as decisively as we should have done. A generation after we "defeated" Marxism, Marxist-inspired groups control much of the Western education system as well as Western media and form alliances with our enemies, especially Islamic ones. I have concentrated on Europe, but this is a problem in North America as well. Obama and the Phenomenon of Change
Ronald Elly Wanda - 11/26/2008
I am still trembling from the griping suspense of watching the so called “Bradley” theory demolished by the Obama phenomenon in the concluded US election. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate on Wednesday 5th November 2008 secured a resounding victory over John McCain- the veteran Republican candidate, overcoming the country’s bitter legacy of slavery and bigotry, matching straight into history books as the country’s first black president. Significance of Michael Jackson's Conversion to Islam
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 11/26/2008
Pop star Michael Jackson has converted to Islam at a ceremony in Los Angeles recently. Jackson , whose once amazing career has been eclipsed in recent years, is said to have changed his name to Mikaeel, one of the angels of Allah name and taken the 'Shahada' or a declaration to believe in Islam. Culturism, Obama and Loyalties
Prof. John Press - 11/26/2008
Divided loyalties should worry any political observer with a sense of culturism. Presidents must be born American citizens. If you're in the Congress or the Supreme Court there is no such requirement. The answer as to why brings us to recognize the importance of loyalty. Though some controversy reverberates in come circles, President-Elect Barrack Obama has American citizenship by birth. But there are still loyalty problems. Traitors of the West
Kyle Bristow - 11/26/2008
Western civilization is plagued with traitors who are cheerleaders for the destruction of the West. This assertion is not new, for British Member of Parliament Enoch Powell delivered his famous “Rivers of Blood” speech roughly four decades ago, and in his speech, he derided his countrymen for pursuing policies that served as a detriment to England. At one point in his speech, he declared that: Peace Corps in a Bottom-Up and Troubled Era
Yossef Ben-Meir, PhD - 11/26/2008
Considering the economic and political challenges facing the United States and the world today, and given the lessons learned in foreign assistance since it began after World War II with the Marshall Plan, now is the time that the Peace Corps should amend the role that its volunteers play in international development. The Next Crisis: Imploding Bond Markets
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/16/2008
To finance enormous bailout packages for the financial sector (and potentially the auto and mining industries) as well as fiscal stimulus plans, governments will have to issue trillions of US dollars in new bonds. Consequently, the prices of bonds are bound to come under pressure from the supply side. Who Needs Investment Funds?
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/12/2008
The credit and banking crisis of 2007-9 has cast in doubt the three pillars of modern common investment schemes. Mutual funds (known in the UK as "unit trusts"), hedge funds, and closed-end funds all rely on three assumptions: Leftist Perverts Launch Coordinated Attack on Church during Sunday Service
Kyle Bristow - 11/12/2008
On Sunday, November 9, 2008, a mob of sexual deviants launched an attack on Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan. According to an article published in City Pulse entitled “Gay Anarchist ‘Action’ Hits Church” (11/11/08), the leftist group Bash Back disseminated a press release in which they claim that they targeted the church with nothing short of outright terrorism, because the church is “complicit in the repression of queers in Michigan and beyond.” Paulson’s Folly: Throwing Good Money after Bad at AIG
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/12/2008
The Treasury is injecting another $27 billion into AIG and raising the taxpayers’ investment to $150 billon. Secretary Paulson appears more intent on helping his pals on Wall Street than protecting taxpayer interests. Why all the Stock Exchanges Collapsed
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/11/2008
In the wake of the global credit crunch, stock exchanges throughout the world collapsed in tandem. Why? Paul Krugman: The Nobelist Blogger
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/7/2008
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2008 Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel to Professor Paul Robin Krugman (born 1953). There is no Free Lunch
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/6/2008
During the months of September-October 2008, governments throughout the world took a series of unprecedented steps to buttress tottering banks. In the USA, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department have flooded the financial system with liquidity; granted commercial banking licenses to the few investment banks left standing; lent funds against financial instruments turned toxic; and purchased non-voting equity and senior debt in a host of firms and banks. Several European countries have guaranteed all bank deposits and short-term interbank loans. Are Free Markets Dead?
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/5/2008
Three of the most important functions of free markets are: price discovery, the provision of liquidity, and capital allocation. Honest and transparent dealings between willing buyers and sellers are thought to result in liquid and efficient marketplaces. Prices are determined, second by second, in a process of public negotiation, taking old and emergent information about risks and returns into account. Capital is allocated to the highest bidder, who, presumably, can make the most profit on it. And every seller finds a buyer and vice versa. Pat Buchanan: Guardian of True Freedom and Defender of Western Civilization
Kyle Bristow - 11/3/2008
Yesterday, November 2, is Pat Buchanan’s birthday, and I felt it necessary to write a brief essay to extol the contributions he has made to American conservatism, for very few people have contributed to conservative philosophy to such a degree as has he. Strategies to End the Economy Crisis
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/3/2008
Global stock and commodity prices continue to drop, as the threat of a long recession looms. Fear casts a shadow that threatens the viability of democratic capitalism and threatens a wholesale breakdown of the economy into a depression. Ebonics: The Language of Hate
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 11/3/2008
Which language do you speak -- "Ebonics" or the "Language of Wider Communication"? Of which nation are you a citizen -- "Amerika" or "Afrika"? Notes on the Credit Crisis
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/3/2008
The global crisis of 2007-9 was, actually, a confluence of unrelated problems on three continents. In the United States, investment banks were brought down by hyper-leveraged investments in ill-understood derivatives. As stock exchanges plummeted, the resulting devastation and wealth destruction spilled over into the real economy and caused a recession which is bound to be mild by historical standards. Barack Obama: A Victory of Multiculturalism
Prof. John Press - 11/3/2008
The election of Barack Hussein Obama will be a great event for mulitculturalism and thus a horrible one for culturism. Multiculturalism denies that western nations have a core culture. They would assert that America has no more of a tie to the heritage of British protestant culture than it does to Saudi Islamic culture If Barack Hussein Obama gets elected, if our President's name has an Islamic cast, it will undermine our ability to define ourselves as unique and in competition with other cultures. McCain's 'Hail Mary' Tour
Ryan Mauro - 10/28/2008
As we speak, Senator McCain’s advisors may well be drafting his concession speech. The outlook is dim. Democratic turnout in early voting is huge; most polls show Obama with a five to twelve point lead, aside from the occasional outlier; Obama is pulling away in Colorado and even Virginia; the Republican base is depressed, and the media’s pre-emptive appointing of Obama as the next president may well decrease Republican turnout. Leftists: Obama’s Useful Idiots
Amil Imani - 10/28/2008
A major problem with Obama is that there are as many different versions of Obama as there are leftist pundits and there are legions of them. Another reason why Obamamania in engulfing this nation is because he is all things to all pundits. Even a cursory study on Mr. Obama's past will reveal his abnormal body of contradictions and even outright deception. It is a fact that over the years a clique of masses on the left have been heavily indoctrinated with selective teachings that promote anti-Americanism, a love for socialism, hostility toward capitalism and free enterprise. Deconstructing Star Wars
Kyle Bristow - 10/28/2008
Ever since the middle of the 20th century, Marxists have infiltrated Hollywood to promote communist propaganda. Walt Disney and Ronald Reagan, who at the time was the head of the Screen Actors Guild, both testified to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) that the threat of communism in America’s film industry was a serious one. Adolphe Mejou, an actor who was a member of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals—an anti-communist organization—cooperated with HUAC and went as far on one occasion to proclaim, “I am a witch hunter if witches are communists... Chrysler makes a poor fit for GM
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/28/2008
General Motors Corp. is having trouble lining up the financing to acquire Chrysler LLC -- either by merging it into its operations or as a scaled-down subsidiary. Observers may blame the credit crisis and the present reluctance of banks to lend. While that makes GM's task more difficult, it certainly is not the central reason why the acquisition should not go forward. When the Federal Government Fails the People
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 10/22/2008
The hardest thing for Americans to do right now in this presidential election season is to fight distraction and, instead, focus on the failure of all three branches of the federal government. And also to resist the propaganda masquerading as patriotic obligation that voting will fundamentally fix the federal government. The real lesson of American history is that things have turned so ugly that electing a new president and many new members of Congress will at best provide band-aids when what is needed is nothing less than what Thomas Jefferson wisely said our nation would need periodically: a political revolution. Will a Stimulus Package Work For the Economy?
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/22/2008
Several reporters and producers have asked for my views on a stimulus package. Here it is. A stimulus package generally takes a quarter or more to implement and then gives the economy a temporary lift. As we saw, the last package gave consumption a lift that slipped back after a few months. That gave GDP growth a sugar high late in the second quarter and helped growth from slipping too much in the third quarter. Somali Violence in Minnesota
Mohamed H. Hassan - 10/22/2008
Aside from all the daily nuisance crimes and life struggles so as to adjust into a new life and culture, Somalis in Minnesota are now havocked by hopeless and senseless killings, gang violence - Somali on Somali. In last than a year, 6 young men have been killed, three in one week - all are between the ages of 17 to 30 years. Worst, neither the Somali community nor the authorities are doing enough to divert further senseless killings. Ten Reasons to Be Concerned about Obama’s Stance on National Security
Ryan Mauro - 10/12/2008
Due to the recent economic crisis and a McCain campaign knocked off kilter, Sen. Barack Obama is becoming more and more the presidential candidate the experts predict to win the election. Such a victory would be unprecedented but not due to his race. It will be unprecedented in that never before has America embraced a candidate with such little experience and ill-defined views. Those views which he does profess represent a naïve break from reality, a poorly thought-out exercise in moral equivalence, and a repetition of policies and philosophies with long debunked credibility. Can America Afford Another Jimmy Carter?
Amil Imani - 10/12/2008
The current presidential election is reminiscent of the presidency of Richard Nixon; one cannot help but be reminded of the Watergate Scandal, the biggest political scandal in American history. Watergate caused the American public to lose faith in the presidency and especially the Republican Party. As a result, in 1977 Democrats and some conservative Christian voters rushed to the polls to elect a virtually unknown political figure outside of Georgia and one of the most unqualified liberal presidents in the history of America, Mr. Jimmy Carter. ECONOMY: U.S. Trade Deficit at $59.1 Billion in August
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/12/2008
Friday, the Commerce Department reported the August deficit on trade in goods and services was $59.1 billion. This was not much changed from the July deficit of $61.3 billion. Nationalism and Hollywood
Kyle Bristow - 10/12/2008
Hollywood has a tendency to produce films that use postmodernism, cultural relativism, and other tactics invented by the Marxist Frankfurt School to slander the West. However leftist Hollywood may be, one of the movies they produced in 2006, "300", is anything but left-wing. On Patriotism and Exceptionalism
Ted Belman - 10/12/2008
In the past week, both McCain and Palin have defended patriotism and American exceptionalism both concepts that the Democrats deride. It doesn’t get more basic than that. America’s Achilles Heel: A Tale of Two Gulfs
James Leigh - 10/12/2008
Americans may have a vulnerable Achilles heel made up of two gulfs: the Gulf of Mexico and the Persian Gulf. Patriotism and Exceptionalism
Ted Belman - 9/30/2008
In the past week, both McCain and Palin have defended patriotism and American exceptionalism both concepts that the Democrats deride. It doesn’t get more basic than that. McCain’s Five-Step Path to Victory
Ryan Mauro and Nicholas Guariglia - 9/30/2008
With the post-convention bounces fading, the race has tightened and Obama appears to have settled with a slight lead in national polls and in the electoral college. Obama has the potential to substantially increase his projected margin of victory through massive turnout of African-Americans and younger voters. McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate has provided his supporters with optimism, and his argument that he’s the “real agent of change” is resonating. However, McCain must further refine his message in order to win the election. There are five steps McCain must immediately take: AP Blames Israel For Making Palestinians Want to Destroy It
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/30/2008
In an article of September 20, Ali Daraghmeh, "Army says troops kill Palestinian with firebomb," there is a long discussion of the current state of the peace process. Let's be clear: virtually nobody in Israel who is not speaking as an official government spokesman believes that there is any chance that there will be a peace soon with the Palestinians. The great majority of them place most or all the blame on the Palestinians. In addition, most people in political life who would say publicly that there is a chance for peace have the opposite view in private conversations. Microsoft's Student and Encarta Premium 2009
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 9/29/2008
Homework assignments are the bane of most students I know (not to mention their hard-pressed and nescient parents). This is mainly because of the tedious and mind-numbing chores of data mining and composition. Additionally, as knowledge multiplies every 5-10 years, few parents and teachers are able to keep up. America misses yet another boat
Ursula Siebert - 9/29/2008
America is falling behind in the global race for new patents and pharmaceuticals based on stem cell research. The brain drain from America to countries with more liberal legislation is growing in leaps and bounds. Deception and Delusion: Dummies for Democracy
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 9/29/2008
I confess. I believe there is a ruling class that sustains the two-party plutocracy running the nation for the benefit of the rich and corporate class. Their broad strategy is deception and delusion. Tactically, they use government, the mainstream media, the financial services sector, funding of politicians and the two major parties, and many other parts of the culture and economy to maintain their power and control. What Really Happened on September 11? Interview with David Ray Griffin
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 9/29/2008
On September 11, I entertained a couple of house guests, senior journalists from Scandinavia. I remember watching in horror and disbelief the unfolding drama, as the United States was being subjected to multiple deadly attacks on-screen. I turned to the international affairs editor of a major Danish paper and told her "This could not have been done by al-Qaida." I am an Israeli and, as such, I have a fair "sixth sense" as to the capabilities of terrorists and their potential reach. Terror Pays, Capitulation Doesn’t
Ted Belman - 9/29/2008
The seventies were witness to the Munich Massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes, the Yom Kippur War, the oil embargo, the PLO terrorist attacks on international airlines and airports, and finally the appearance of gun-toting Yasser Arafat before the General Assembly of the United Nations. Unintelligence in Federal Intelligence Agencies
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 9/29/2008
The Bush administration has found yet another way to waste taxpayer money while providing huge sums to private contractors. According to a survey of activities in 2007 by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, about a third of the federal professional intelligence workforce now consists of contractors, mostly in the Washington , DC area. Bailout and the Economy
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/29/2008
The US trade deficit has grown to $US700 billion, which of course is money not spent on US goods and services. This has killed off well paying jobs, has slowed the economy and created unemployment. Our Republic Raped and Still No Revolution!
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 9/29/2008
Are Americans ready for a revolution? What worse than the current meltdown of the financial sector, the unraveling of our economy, and burdening us and future generations with astounding debt is needed to convince Americans that the two-party plutocracy has sold out ordinary Americans? What we are witnessing is far worse than the taxation without representation that spurred the American Revolution. Taxation with MISrepresentation is a greater evil and shameful sellout of democracy that so many Americans have fought and died for. Economy: An Explanation of a Crisis
John Mangun - 9/29/2008
It is as complicated as trying to trace one noodle in a plate of spaghetti. I was asked during a recent television interview, “Who is to blame?”. That is like asking who is to blame for a bowl of tangled pasta. The guy who invented spaghetti, the cook, the sauce, and the one who is eating. No one is to blame; everyone is to blame for “The Crisis”. Obama’s Dirty Tricks KO Palin, Israel & America
Ted Belman - 9/19/2008
Yesterday we learned that Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States, had been disinvited from the anti-Iran UN rally this coming Monday in New York City that is being sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Hillary Clinton had agreed to speak at the rally, but abruptly canceled her engagement upon learning that Mrs. Palin would also be participating at the important event, that will coincide with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the UN. We are shocked and angered at your decision, Malcolm (Malcolm Hoe... The Iran Rally Outrage
Bill Levinson - 9/19/2008
We thought it was impossible for the National “Jewish” Democratic Council to sink any lower in terms of depravity and pure opportunism. Its effort to disrupt the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations’ Rally to Stop Iran to embarrass Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin hardly surprises us, though. In addition, the National “Jewish” Democratic Council misrepresents Hillary Clinton’s reasons for not attending the rally with Palin. Can the bailout save the economy?
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/19/2008
The Treasury Department has placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under federal conservatorship and booted the senior management. This bailout will impose needed reforms in the companies' business practices. And, contrary to much conventional wisdom, the cost to the taxpayer may not be large - that is, if the federal government gets Wall Street to help. Tarring Sarah Palin
Amil Imani - 9/19/2008
The left lost not a minute in tarring Sarah Palin after McCain selected her as his running mate. Of course they had to be careful—very careful. As hard as they worked, they couldn’t dig up anywhere near as much dirt on this outstanding self-made governor than they have all along covered up for their darling Obama. Obamanomics 101
J.B. Williams, CFP - 9/18/2008
Like many other definitions that have been rewritten by left-wingnuts over time, the term “general welfare” no longer means what it did when it was written in our Constitution and ratified by the colonies in 1789. A ‘Community Organizer’ Frame of Mind
Yossef Ben-Meir, PhD - 9/18/2008
The denigration of ‘community organizing’ by Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin and former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani at the Republican Convention could become a setback for their party if the American public came to understand the real lessons of community organizing about how to deal with recent world events. To Defend Morality, Defend the Nation
Kyle Bristow - 9/18/2008
Left-libertarians, liberals, leftists, and atheists who live in Western countries oftentimes argue that reason alone can dictate morality. It is amusing, in my mind, that they can even suggest this, for they usually have lived most—if not all—of their lives in a Western country in which Christianity served as a major force in forging the society. Those who preach the importance of reason in judging what is moral cannot escape from the culture in which they were born, raised, and lived for much of their life, for beliefs that they hold are ingrained through culture in their hearts. The athei... ECONOMY: Reasons to Cheer Lehman’s Demise
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/18/2008
Lehman Brothers appears headed for liquidation and that may hasten needed reforms on Wall Street. Efforts to find a buyer or dismember the company in an orderly fashion failed this weekend for the same reasons that CEO Richard Fuld’s earlier proposal to reorganize Lehman generated little enthusiasm. Things We're Not Told
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/18/2008
In the olden days, when night watchmen patrolled the streets of towns, they had a standard chant: "Ten o'clock and all is well!" Sleep soundly; nothing's wrong. ECONOMY: U.S. Records Another Huge Current Account Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/17/2008
Today, the Commerce Department reported the second quarter current account deficit was $183.1 billion. This was caused largely by a $216.3 billion deficit on trade in goods. How to Celebrate Constitution Day
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 9/17/2008
Today, September 17 is Constitution Day, but very, very few Americans know this or will celebrate it. If you think of yourself as a politically engaged, civic-minded and patriotic American, then I urge you to celebrate today by expanding your mind about a critically important but never-used part of our Constitution. Economy Loses 84,000 Jobs in August
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/9/2008
Today, the Labor Department reported the economy lost 84,000 payroll jobs in August, after losing 60,000 jobs in July. This was much worse than was expected, as the full weight of banking crisis, rising oil prices and imports from China drive up unemployment. The Google Domination
Naseem Javed - 9/9/2008
Frankly speaking, stop the guesswork and open heartedly accept that it’s Google’s turn now, as the next decade clearly belongs to Google, best not to resist and go with the flow. As a company, it’s amazing how it started and what it’s done and where it’s now headed. There have been a lot of such great success stories in the past, from Coca-Cola to General Motors, and from IBM to Microsoft, but this one had its phenomenal speed with extraordinary accuracy and extremely high profitability. When all this is combined it has clearly cut a different path over the rest. In Defense of True Freedom
Kyle Bristow - 9/9/2008
In my humanities class at Michigan State University, which focuses on the topic of “Freedom in the Modern World,” students during recitation recently discussed rights that people have. Some students suggested that group-based rights exist (i.e. women’s rights, minority rights, gay rights, etc.), while others suggested that so-called “human rights” exist which should be enjoyed by all people on earth. After the students agreed that they could not agree on what constitutes a right, they then when on to squabble over where rights come from (i.e. God, nature, reason, a social contract, etc.). W... Do not underestimate Sarah Palin
Ted Belman - 9/9/2008
Do not think of Sarah Palin as the Governor of Alaska. That obscures what matters. Focus on the qualities that enabled her to achieve such a position. The Encyclopedia Britannica 2009
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 9/9/2008
The Encyclopedia Britannica 2009 (established in 1768), both in its Ultimate (now also called "Student and Home") and Deluxe versions, builds on the success of its completely revamped previous editions in 2006-8. The rate of innovation in the last three versions was impressive and welcome. It continues apace in this rendition with Britannica Biographies (Great Minds and Leaders), Classical Music (500 audio files arranged by composer), and a great Workspace for Project Management (a kind of friendly digital den). Generous 6-12 months of free access to the myriad riches of the Britannica Online complete the package. ECONOMY: GDP UP 3.3 Percent in Second Quarter
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/1/2008
Thursday, the Commerce Department reported second quarter GDP rose 3.3 percent, as compared to 0.9 percent in the first quarter. Stronger exports, reduced imports and increased personal consumption contributed importantly to this strong growth report. The McCain-Palin ticket made Hillary Clinton the new kingmaker
G.M. Solaiman - 9/1/2008
With an exceptional speech at Democratic National Convention 2008, Hillary Rodham Clinton proved her class. She ensured all democratic enthusiasts that post primary Hillary is all in for making the dream come true. Should blacks join political parties?
Elizabeth Wright - 9/1/2008
Of course, lots of people got it right about the implications of what we all saw during the New Orleans hurricane disaster. In the predicament of the flood victims, we all got a view of the welfare state writ large. From the plaintive calls for rescue, water and food, as if these were all due by right, to the bungling of those Keystone Cops known as government bureaucrats, beginning with the New Orleans Mayor and working its way to the top of the Feds -- we witnessed scenes that we hope will never be repeated. 'Don’t Ask; Don’t Promise' on Troop Withdrawal
Prof. Kazem Kazerounian - 8/29/2008
The current political climate in the US is influencing many politicians on both sides of the isle to promise early withdrawal of the troops by offering all sorts of time tables unsubstantiated by the reality of the situation. The debate over troop withdrawal must not be muddle up with rationalizing or arguing against the genesis of the Iraq war. While the countries are the same, the issues and the players are drastically different. The current war is not against remnants of Sadam’s army or Al-Qaida in Iraq or Taliban in Afghanistan. It is absurd to believe that these groups have been ab... No Justice for White Victim of Savage Crime
Kyle Bristow - 8/27/2008
On June 9, 2008 the Global Politician published a column of mine entitled "Hunting Season for Whites", which was republished on dozens of websites, including Jared Taylor’s "American Renaissance" and even a major news website all the way in Italy. The article dealt with the wee hours of the morning of June 1, 2008 when a mob of nearly two dozen black teenagers terrorized the citizens of Mount Clemens, Michigan. To recapitulate what happened, these hoodlums robbed people of cell phones and wallets, threw a brick thr... ECONOMY: Durable Goods Orders Jumped 1.3 Percent in July
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/27/2008
Today, the Commerce Department reported new orders for producer durable orders bounced up 1.3 percent in July. This confounded the more conservative estimates of forecasters�the consensus of prognosticators was for a 0.2 percent gain. A Middle East Strategy For The West
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/27/2008
The great battle of our younger years was between Communism and democratic liberalism. Its contemporary equivalent is Arab nationalism versus Islamism. Would There Be Change in Obama's Americas Policy?
Laura Carlsen - 8/26/2008
The great debate on how much—or how little—Barack Obama would change our disastrous U.S. foreign policy usually focuses on the Middle East. That makes sense. Nowhere has the price of the Bush national security strategy been higher, as the violent deaths of more than 4,000 U.S. soldiers and 93,000 Iraqis attest. Beyond Obama's Fairth-Based Initiatives
Yossef Ben-Meir, PhD - 8/26/2008
Recently, Senator Barack Obama announced his plan for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives if he became president. Although his proposals are in the right direction, other formative measures can be taken to strengthen community and individual empowerment through more assured nonsectarian processes. Immigration - Betrayal by black elites
Elizabeth Wright - 8/26/2008
Black blogger Byron Crawford sort of, kind of gets it. Usually quite caustic in his anti-white bias, this time he realistically speculates on the degree to which so-called white privilege might be indelibly linked to the privileges of freedom enjoyed by all Americans, including blacks. The Anti-Conservative Agenda at Michigan State University
Kyle Bristow - 8/26/2008
Every semester I email the student newspaper of Michigan State University, the State News, to see if they would let me write biweekly columns for the paper. The newspaper, which is funded through student tax dollars, is notoriously left-wing, and has a history of firing the unpaid columnists if they articulate the conservative point of view in their columns. Jason Van Dyke, now a lawyer in Texas, was fired from the newspaper when he wrote a column about the militancy behind the homosexual movement. Nate Sherman, a political science major, managed to get only two columns published—one about ... School Violence and Race: Michelle Malkin Strikes Out Again!
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 8/26/2008
Initially, Michelle Malkin’s new column looks promising. “Abu Ghraib-i-fying America's Schools” discusses the violence plaguing so many of America’s public schools, and the ACLU’s racist disinformation campaign, whereby it presents black students as victims of racism, because black boys get punished 1.4 times as often, and black girls 2.1 times as often as their proportion of the school population. But then Malkin wimps out, and goes Republican. Joe Biden: Respectable but Wrong
Ryan Mauro - 8/26/2008
As predicted by the Global Politician, Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Obviously, this helps Obama deal with his lack of experience and credibility on foreign policy. Biden knows his stuff and whether you agree with him or not, his knowledge can not be doubted. Is the Fed Still a Central Bank?
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/26/2008
Federal Reserve officials, academics and central bankers from abroad are gathering for Ben Bernanke’s annual confab in Jackson Hole Wyoming to discuss the management of financial crises. A better topic might be: Is the Fed Still a Central Bank? Obama Picks Joe Biden
David Storobin, Esq. - 8/22/2008
Our sources are indicating that Barack Obama's selection as his running mate is Delaware Senator Joseph Biden. The End of Identity Politics?
Elizabeth Wright - 8/15/2008
In these times I am rarely surprised by most notions put forth by political pundits. But I must admit to being taken aback by the suppositions of Terry Michael in “Obama as the End of Identity Politics as We’ve Known Them” (Reason magazine, 6/10/08). Michael appears to believe that under an Obama presidency, we soon will be on “the beginnings of a journey away from the Great Society mind-set of the Democratic Party” and on a course that will put “the Jesse Jacksons, the Al Sharptons, and the white identity politics liberals out of business.” Dangerous Liaisons: Online Banking
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/15/2008
Banks in developing countries offer to their customers financial services and products through the Internet. However, as opposed to their counterparts in the West, none of them is aggressively pushing its clientele to adopt online banking. This may be the result of multiple reasons: (1) A computer-illiterate public, unaccustomed to working on the Web; (2) Staff lacking in training; (3) Computer systems that do not integrate seamlessly Internet-generated transactions with the banks' ledgers; (4) In poor countries, online banking may be no less costly to process than "bricks and mortar" transactions at the branch. Canada Must Stand With Georgia
Salim Mansur - 8/15/2008
Russia’s invasion of Georgia has made public the brutal face of the Russian bear. Again, Russia has set out to crush independence, undermine sovereignty and mock the democratic aspirations of its former vassal states. The disintegration of the Soviet Union had set back the Russian bear only momentarily, its weakness and lies exposed. But the Russian bear has returned menacingly and turned the clock back to 1968 when it crushed the Prague spring as it is doing today in Georgia. ECONOMY: U.S. Trade Deficit at $56.7 billion in June
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/13/2008
Yesterday, the Commerce Department reported the June deficit on trade in goods and services was $56.7 billion, down from the $59.2 billion deficit in May. U.S. imports of consumer goods did ease, as a result of the recession in retail sales, but the cost of oil imports and the trade deficit with China continued to rise. Barack Obama - Narcissist or Merely Narcissistic?
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/13/2008
Barack Obama appears to be a narcissist. Granted, only a qualified mental health diagnostician (which I am not) can determine whether someone suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and this, following lengthy tests and personal interviews. But, in the absence of access to Barack Obama, one has to rely on his overt performance and on testimonies by his closest, nearest and dearest. A One-Term, Non-Incumbency Pledge by McCain?
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 8/13/2008
It is hard in American politics for a party to win three consecutive national elections. This is true even when the party is viewed favorably, the incumbent administration is popular, and the general mood of the electorate is optimistic. Al Gore’s loss in 2000 is a case in point. Today, however, conditions for the incumbency are even worse. The Republican Party is viewed unfavorably, President Bush is incredibly unpopular, and most Americans think we are headed in the wrong direction. Crashing and Cashing, Pumping and Dumping: Stock Manipulation in the U.S. Economy
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/11/2008
In early July, 2008, America's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and New York Stock Exchange Regulation announced that they will investigate the spreading of unsubstantiated or patently false rumors in order to manipulate the prices of stocks. The Right-Wing Democrat Insurgent Campaign
Kyle Bristow - 8/11/2008
A candidate for the United States Senate is attempting to oust from Congress a notorious neoconservative cheerleader for the invasion of Iraq and amnesty for illegal aliens. That candidate is Democrat Bob Conley, and the conservative Taki’s Magazine (Takimag.com) said of him in an article entitled “A Ron Paul Democrat?” (6/18/08) that “his candidacy is perhaps the best hope for putting a paleoconservative in the U.S. Senate this November.” Bringing Barack Back Down to Earth: His Support Base Borders On Creepy
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 8/11/2008
There was an episode of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm –– one of the better shows on television –– where Larry David begrudgingly brings his wife to the beach. “I don’t get it, I don’t understand people’s fascination with the beach,” David wryly says. “Don’t you feel calmer being here, by the ocean?” his wife innocently asks. “I feel aggravated that I don’t know what other people are getting,” David replies in classic Seinfeldian form. Mr. Obama, Meet Mr. Jihadi
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/11/2008
Barack Obama says regarding his thoughts after 9/11: "The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence, and may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics. Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair." ECONOMY: U.S. Productivity Advances 2.2 Percent
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/8/2008
Today, the Department of Labor reported productivity in the nonfarm private business sector increased at a 2.2 percent annual rate in the second quarter of 2008. This was a very good showing the middle of an economic slowdown, and in line with the 2.6 percent increase recorded in the first quarter of 2008. Racial Dialogue with Whites
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 8/4/2008
As I write this, my sister-in-law and her live-in boyfriend are visiting. They’re in the other room. “Parbatee,” the sister-in-law, and “Joe,” the boyfriend, were previously married to other people, and have been together four or five years, now. As Parbatee is my wife’s sister, she’s a Trinidadian Indian; Joe is Italian. Like many New York Italians, Joe could pass for a Jew, which is what I long assumed him to be. When I said something about him being Jewish last year, and he corrected me, he didn’t seem flattered. Whatever. Iran: Minefield or Milestone for Next US Administration?
Robert Carpenter - 8/4/2008
If it wasn’t near the top of the agenda already, Iran’s recent ballistic missile tests firmly fixed Iranian-US policy as a key issue in the 2008 presidential election. The tests gave Tehran what it seeks most: worldwide attention and an acknowledgement that the clerical regime is a force to be reckoned with and not bullied. Why Is Bush Silent?
Ryan Mauro - 8/4/2008
Today, a friend of mine was over my house who, although she voted for President George W. Bush, doubted the credibility of my work on the possibility of the Iraqi WMDs being housed in Syria which I described in an article I had published at WorldNetDaily. Barack Obama As The Burger King Candidate
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 8/4/2008
Search the annals of American history. Scan through all of the national elections that have occurred since our inception as a nation. Now, try to find a presidential candidate, either successful in getting elected or unsuccessful, who had less experience than a few years in the Senate. Hope? Change? Yes! Hope Obama Changes!
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/4/2008
Barack Obama has been to the Middle East. He said he supported Israel and wanted peace. So I guess everything's ok, right? Well, if he's elected president and follows through on these words that'll be just fine. Black Slaveowners
Elizabeth Wright - 8/4/2008
Many historians have argued that the majority of black masters purchased their relatives and friends who were held in bondage. Being unable to manumit their loved ones, the black masters were forced to hold their kinsfolk and friends as nominal slaves. So they treated their relatives and friends as free persons, and whenever possible, they attempted to manumit their loved ones. Thus the dominant pattern of slaveholding that developed among free blacks was benevolent and based primarily on kinship. The chief architect of the benevolent interpretation was Carter G. Woodson, and his thesis has been accepted by most historians. Economy Loses 51,000 Jobs in July
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/3/2008
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy lost 51,000 payroll jobs in July, after losing 51,000 jobs in June. Economists expected a 75,000 loss in June. My forecast was for a 60,000 loss. On Cholesterol Related Premature Death of South Asian Immigrants in America
Prakash Bom - 8/3/2008
Average south Asian immigrants who have come to America are middle class of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka whose whole infant life for generations have been nourished with the fatty water-buffalo-milk products. The water-buffalo-milk is high in LDL (low-density-lipid) cholesterol, which causes cardiovascular disease, and heavy in lactose or milk sugar that cause diabetes. ECONOMY: When Will Henry Paulson Learn?
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/3/2008
Once again, we have good news and bad from Wall Street. Henry Paulson has announced Citigroup and three other banks will begin issuing covered bond in an effort to rejuvenate commercial bank mortgage lending and the housing market. Why Obama Will be Worse Than Bush
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/29/2008
I. Historical Prolegomena In the last few decades, the electorate of the United States of America has voted into the White House either psychopathic leaders or narcissistic ones. George Bush junior is a prime example of the former, while Bill Clinton of the latter. Barack Obama appears to be a narcissist. Pathological narcissism is a reaction to prolonged abuse and trauma in early childhood or early adolescence. The source of the abuse or trauma is immaterial: the perpetrators could be dysfunctional or absent parents, teachers, other adults, or peers. Jews can’t vote for Obama and be pro-Israel at the same time
Ted Belman - 7/29/2008
In the poll of Jewish voters (conducted April 1-30), it showed Obama getting 61% of the Jewish vote against John McCain (32%). Yet in the same poll Hillary Clinton beat Obama among Jewish voters 62% - 38%. So obviously Jews are lifelong democrats who will vote for Obama, whom they rejected in the primaries, rather than vote for McCain. Thus, for them, party loyalty is preferable to Israel loyalty. Culturist Tensions with my Muslim Friend
Prof. John Press - 7/29/2008
My oldest friend, Geeta, is a Muslim. I just saw her for the first time in six years. Geeta came to this country when she was 13 - the Ayatollah chased her family out. Her clothes, drinking habits and relationship patters - her basic values - are highly Americanized. Geeta is a rock n roll woman and someone I care deeply about. When we were kids, our differences did not bother us at all. But current political realities made this visit tense at the edges. The Decline of Art; the Decline of Culture
Kyle Bristow - 7/28/2008
Throughout its history the West has been blessed with leaders in the arts. Rembrandt, Mozart, and Shakespeare, among many, many others are such leaders, but the West today lacks real artists. In the postmodern West, degenerate “artists” have embarked on a campaign to pervert the definition of art, and this perversion of modern-day Western art has put Western culture in jeopardy. Why Some Governments Like Inflation
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/28/2008
Some governments like and encourage inflation because inflation masks the true situation and makes them look good. Inflation helps to deceive the public and even experienced observers. How? ECONOMY: GDP and Jobs Data Highlight the Week Ahead
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/28/2008
Second quarter GDP and the July employment report highlight this week’s economic data. The hiring data, reflecting business sentiment about future sales, are key indicators of where the economy is headed in the second half. Dumb me down, Scotty!
Ursula Siebert - 7/16/2008
Languages have become more dynamic, acquiring new vocabulary from other cultures. English is particularly adept at borrowing from other languages. I'm propagating a new word, Volksverdummung, i.e. deliberate deception of the public. The time is right. Daily political occurrences and their reporting in the mainstream media justify its introduction. The Billion-Dollar Domain Babies
Naseem Javed - 7/16/2008
The latest ICANN plan to allow the global populace to assemble an entire domain name like www.yourname.yourname as their free-choice is a revolutionary and timely decision. This now open doors to cyber-brands like my.ibm, hotel.chicago, it.jobs, play.poker, fly.usa or go.dell and applicants will submit a non-refundable fee of $100-500K USD for each name idea and the businesses are already jumping to get started. ECONOMY: Bernanke, Congress and President Drive Stock Market Rout
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/16/2008
On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke outlined Washington efforts to restore confidence in U.S. financial institutions. Initially, this gave the market a lift. After closer examination by investors, the market continued its downward spiral on Wednesday, led by financial stocks. U.S. Trade Deficit Remains Stifling in May
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/16/2008
Friday, the Commerce Department reported the May deficit on trade in goods and services was $59.8 billion. This was not much changed from the April deficit of $60.5 billion in April. What Do Americans Know About Obama’s ‘Black Liberation’ Theology?
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 7/7/2008
Several months ago author Christopher Hitchens, on the heels of his magnum opus God is Not Great, wrote an opinion piece suggesting it was not out of line to question former presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith. Besides some of the more peculiar aspects of the Mormon doctrine –– that whole business about Garden of Eden being in Missouri –– there were more pressing matters, Hitchens felt, which required an explanation on behalf of Governor Romney. The primary concern went as follows: The Domain Blast
Naseem Javed - 7/6/2008
Now you can buy any domain with any suffix. If a dotcom is gone, so what? For a cost, you can create your own suffix, any letters and any name. The Barack Obama Thrown-Under-the-Bus Club
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 7/3/2008
As Barack Obama and his supporters have repeatedly made clear, only a “racist” would criticize or fail to support the post-racial, post-political Perfect Master. And yet, His path to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is already littered with a record number of political “corpses” of His most loyal supporters. If this is “beyond politics,” give me a smoke-filled room, any time! Economy Loses 62,000 Jobs in June
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/3/2008
Today, the Labor Department reported the economy lost 62,000 payroll jobs in June, after losing 62,000 jobs in May. Economists expected a 50,000 loss in June. Bursting the State Department’s Iran Fantasy Bubble
Prof. Daniel M. Zucker - 7/2/2008
Cultural exchanges between peoples is a good way to break down the barriers that are so easily erected in the wake of the distrust and misunderstanding that result when alien cultures like those of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America collide, as they have done for the last twenty-nine years. Surely that is the reasoning behind the current contemplation within the halls of the Department of State to open an interest section in Tehran, similar to the one it has in Havana since 1977, an idea reported by Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post on Monday, June 23, 2008. Comme... Propaganda, Lies, and Wire Service Articles
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/2/2008
Today, journalism students, in our course, "Absolutely Introductory Basic Rules of Journalism, we will discuss the absolutely introductory basic rules of journalism. Our Matriarchal Society
Guy White - 7/2/2008
The multiculturalists, feminists and mainstream media never stop ranting about our male-dominated society. But can you name a single society in the history of the world that was more dominated by women than ours? The War Against the West
Kyle Bristow - 7/2/2008
There is nothing better that symbolizes a nation than a flag. When Christian crusaders invaded heathen territory centuries ago, they brought the flags of their lands with them. When Americans landed on the moon, they left only their footprints and a flag behind. When patriots rally on July 4th of every year to celebrate American independence, flags can be seen throughout the throngs of people at parades. Because the flag of a nation is so symbolically important to that nation, enemies of that nation burn that flag while demonstrating. The American flag, for example, is representative of t... Classification of Social Attitudes to Health
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/2/2008
Somatic societies place emphasis on bodily health and performance. They regard mental functions as secondary or derivative (the outcomes of corporeal processes, "healthy mind in a healthy body"). ECONOMY: Bernanke aggravates trade deficit risks
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/27/2008
The growing United States deficit on trade in goods and services, rising to US$60.9 billion in April from $56.5 billion in March, heightens the risk of recession and surging unemployment. he recent comments by Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke about oil-driven inflation only serve to distract attention from these issues and aggravate risks. The New Name-Economy of The New World
Naseem Javed - 6/27/2008
Among other things, the top one percentile of the global brand name identities also causes what's pulling the strings of the world's stock exchanges, as when they sneeze, a shiver triggers throughout the globe, altering the wealth of national economies. The fact that markets shoot up or down when customers of the world, en masse respond to their dazzling offering either jumping in joy or taking a momentary pause proves their influence on global moods of the economy. These brand identities are extremely powerful and command respect from the universal populace; they also have obtained exclusive ... US Poll 2008: Obama begins Final campaign
Abdul Ruff - 6/27/2008
In the background of the long, historic US-led terror wars in Afghanistan and Iraq killing thousands of innocent Muslims since the Sept 11 event, US is undergoing a long poll campaign season to elect a new president to take office in 2009. With primaries coming to an end, the US voters are keenly watching the outcome of the ensuing debates as the campaigns for presidential finals in November election by Democratic Senator Barack Obama and Republican Senator John McCain have begun. Barack Obama has started his journey from Virginia towards the White House when another Democratic Party candida... US Poll 2008: Is Obama better than McCain?
Abdul Ruff - 6/27/2008
In the background of a long, historic US-led terror war in Afghanistan and Iraq killing thousands of innocent Muslims since the Sept 11 event, US is also experiencing a long, heat poll campaign season to elect a new president to take office in 2009. With primaries at an end, the US voters are keenly watching the outcome of the ensuing debates as the campaigns for presidential finals in November election by Democratic Senator Barack Obama and Republican Senator John McCain have begun. Barack Obama has conducted campaign successfully in an unprecedented primary season that built grassroots infra... Economy: Current Account Deficit Surges in First Quarter
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/19/2008
Yesterday, the Commerce Department reported the first quarter current account deficit was $176.4 billion, up from $167.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007. The deficit was 5.0 percent of GDP. Bush's Vision Requires A West Bank Subdivision
David Singer - 6/19/2008
Subdivision of the West Bank between Jewish and Arab claimants has always been an essential ingredient of President Bush's 2002 vision to create a new Arab State between Israel and Jordan. A Tribute to Fathers
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 6/15/2008
Dad play a very important role in the lives of their children, and that’s true for our guests staying at Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter. For Father’s Day 2008, we asked a number of our residents to write down their thoughts about “Dad.” Preparing Unipolar Children for a Nonpolar World
Jennifer L. Jackson - 6/15/2008
America is still preparing our children for life in a unipolar world, and as described by Richard Haass[1] and Fareed Zakaria[2] in separate essays which appeared in a recent issue of Foreign Affairs, we are living in an emerging nonpolar world. The ability of the United States to adjust, survive, and prosper in this new world order will depend upon successful preparation of the next generation for the evolution of the international power structure already happening. ECONOMY: Bernanke Aggravates Risks and Ignores Fundamental Problems
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/10/2008
Today, the Commerce Department reported the April deficit on trade in goods and services was $60.9 billion. This was up from $56.5 billion in March, substantially larger than the 59.5 billion consensus forecast. Stung by the word 'white'
Elizabeth Wright - 6/9/2008
To observe that blacks are voting in mass for a black man, only because he is black, is considered acceptable conduct and even praiseworthy. Yet, to bring up the reality of race, when it's clear that many whites prefer to vote for white candidates, is a sign of "racism" and unmitigated bigotry. How could anything except outright racial bias account for Barack Obama getting 91% to 98% of the vote of a single ethnic bloc? How Barack Obama won the nomination of the Democratic Party
Reza Hossein Borr - 6/9/2008
Martin Luther King did not accept the decisions that were made for him by others. The history had decided his place in the society but he was not satisfied with that place and therefore, he changed the course of history by changing first himself and his own beliefs. These are the beliefs that make history and a person represents his beliefs when he presents them to a state of affair which is in complete contrast with it. People have never been given a wish without being given the intelligence and resolve for achieving it. For generations people thought: black and white that the state of ma... Hunting Season for Whites
Kyle Bristow - 6/9/2008
Between the night of May 31 and the wee hours of the morning of June 1, 2008, between 20 and 30 black teenagers formed a mob to terrorize the citizens of Mount Clemens, Michigan. These hoodlums robbed people of cell phones and wallets, threw a brick through the window of a moving car, and beat up their victims so badly that at least one of their targets was hospitalized with a fractured skull. In an article in the Macomb Daily entitled “Mob, Carnival Attacks May Be Linked” (6/5/2008), the mother of one of the victims told police that “her son was on the ground trying to fend off the attackers who were ‘about ready to kick his head in’ when deputies arrived.” President Clinton Was A Warmonger
Elizabeth Wright - 6/9/2008
Author William Blum claims that Americans who feel outrage at the "Bush crime syndicate's foreign policy" should not lose sight of his predecessor's criminal dealings abroad. In "Don't Look Back: Who Said Clinton Didn't Kill Anybody?" (CounterPunch), Blum outlines the Clinton administration's interventions around the world that would warm the heart of any lover of George W. Bush. Here are thumbnail sketches of just a few described by Blum: Educating Women
Prof. John Press - 6/9/2008
The Educating Women Conference’s keynote speaker, Jane Roland Martin, chose Hillary Clinton and misogyny as her main topic. When a man is aggressive, she told us, people admire the trait. When a woman is aggressive she gets called the “b word.” This puts Clinton in a lose – lose situation. If she comes off as feminine, people will say she is not tough enough to be President. If she tells people she is tough, they consider her outside the pale of normal female behavior, an aberration, or even "a monster" Martin declared. ECONOMY: What to look for in Tuesday’s Trade Deficit Data
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/9/2008
Tuesday, the Commerce Department will report the April trade deficit. Last month, the Commerce Department reported the March deficit on goods and services was $58.2 billion. For April, my published forecast is $60.0 billion and the consensus forecast is $59.5 billion. To Cope With Oil Shock, Emulate Japan
Dilip Hiro - 6/8/2008
With the price of oil rocketing to the unprecedented level of $130 a barrel, there is a talk of another oil shock. Unfortunately, unlike past instances, this one is unlikely to subside, and may indeed keep intensifying. The only way out is for Western nations, the gluttonous users of petroleum, to cut their consumption and emulate Japan in its consistent drive for energy efficiency and alternate sources. US Poll 2008: Candidates United on Foreign Policy
Abdul Ruff - 6/8/2008
Now that Obama Barack has won the Democratic nomination for facing the Republican McCain in the Presidential finals, the battle scenario is becoming clearer and world would witness a lot of rhetoric war between them. But there is very little difference in their respective foreign policy. Bush Legacy: Vindication or Blunders?
Rashidul Bari - 6/8/2008
Many political pundits started writing books assessing President George Bush success and failures. He is leaving White House in seven months. How much he could do in these time period? Could he fix the damage he made over the past seven years? Could he leave Iraq before he leaves White House? Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, gave a permission to drop Atomic Bombs on Japan—which killed as many as 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki. However, Truman still regarded as one of the greatest presidents of United States. Will Bush eventually receive a Truman-like v... Economy: What to look for in Tuesday’s Trade Deficit Data
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/8/2008
Tuesday, the Commerce Department will report the April trade deficit. Last month, the Commerce Department reported the March deficit on goods and services was $58.2 billion. For April, my published forecast is $60.0 billion and the consensus forecast is $59.5 billion. Bush Special Lecture on Democracy
Abdul Ruff - 6/8/2008
It is an established fact that USA has enormous capacity to project its strengths and hide its failures both on domestic and external fronts by way of aggressive actions abroad, war inclusive, and spurious lectures of warning and advice to its adversaries and opponents. US failures in Mideast and Afghanistan where the Americans have not only killed thousands of Muslims, squandered their resources, but also spent huge resources. In Mideast peace initiate of the Bush administration, Bush single-handedly could generate enormous confusion with his conflicting actions. Current Indicators Women are Still Not Equals in U.S. Society
Jennifer L. Jackson - 6/7/2008
Women in America have a choice – continue to be placated by superficial "equality" that exists in rhetoric and symbolism alone; or demand substantive change and a true equal position in all aspects of society. Why, as women, did we fight so vigorously for the right to vote, and have not fought just as tenaciously for an equal opportunity to hold office? Why have we so graciously filled the ranks of the labor market, and not demanded equal career opportunities or equal compensation? Why are we so grateful that we are finally allowed to "control" our own bodies when it comes to abortion, and ... Poisonous Plutocracy Pushes Economic Inequality
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 6/7/2008
The biggest political issue receiving no attention by the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates is the powerful plutocracy that has captured the government to produce rising economic inequality. US Poll 2008: Focus on Foreign Policy
Abdul Ruff - 6/7/2008
Now that Obama Barack has won the Democratic nomination for facing the Republican McCain in the Presidential finals, the battle scenario is becoming clearer and world would witness a lot of rhetoric war between them. But there is very little difference in their respective foreign policy. Economy: Recession Grips the Job Market
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/7/2008
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy lost 49,000 payroll jobs in May, after losing 28,000 jobs in April. My published forecast was for a 50,000 loss. Legislation to limit U.S. greenhouse emissions would actually accelerate global warming
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/5/2008
Congress is finally getting serious about global warming. But ironically, the approach it is considering would hasten, rather than slow, environmental calamity. Interview with Barry Scott Zellen: Arctic Lessons
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 6/5/2008
Barry Scott Zellen is the Deputy Editor of "Strategic Insights", and Research Editor of the Arctic Security Project at the Center for Contemporary Conflict. Economy: Extending discount window a threat to markets
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/4/2008
US Federal Reserve vice chairman Donald L Kohn has floated the idea of giving Wall Street securities firms permanent access to Federal Reserve loans conditional on imposing greater regulatory oversight. While temporary Fed lending to these firms helped stabilize markets during the subprime meltdown, longer-term moral hazard has been established by creating expectations that both the Wall Street banks and primary securities deals may rely in the future on big Fed bailouts. FTO-Listed Iranian Terrorist IRGC Rockets Unarmed Opposition City
Prof. Daniel M. Zucker - 6/2/2008
On Monday, May 26, 2008, 16:23 local time, agents of the Sepah-e Qods (Qods Force), the Islamic Republic of Iran’s elite secretive unit of the Sepah-e Pasdaran (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps), the regime’s military organization tasked with executing IRGC extra-territorial terrorist operations, and the section that was proscribed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization this past October (2007) by the U.S. Department of State,[1] in an unprovoked attack, fired a Grad missile at Ashraf City in Diyala Province, Iraq. Ashraf City is home to the 3,400 members of the Iranian opposition organization... Win-Win-Win: Employers, Employees, and the Environment
Jennifer L. Jackson - 6/2/2008
The continually rising cost of gas and goods is making it more expensive for Americans to go to work, and is also increasing the cost to operate places of employment. At the same time as employees and employers are facing these new economic challenges, the movement to "go green" is gaining momentum. There are five simple steps that employers can take to help save the planet, improve the job satisfaction and efficiency of their employees, while saving money and increasing productivity. Our Slave State
Kyle Bristow - 6/2/2008
In 1913, Catholic theologian and historian Hilaire Belloc published a book entitled The Servile State. In this book, he argues that the West will degenerate from embracing freedom and liberty into a civilization that tolerates and encourages “the reestablishment of slavery.” To Belloc, unfettered capitalism that serves the interests of big business is the vehicle to which a hell on earth will be established. Friday’s Home Sales Report and the Sorry State of Banking
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/1/2008
On May 21, the National Association of Realtors will report April existing home sales and prices. These are expected to continue the down trend of recent months and reflect the sorry and dysfunctional state of the banking industry. Will Congress Aggravate Global Warming?
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/1/2008
Congress is getting serious about global warming but approaches being considered will hasten environmental calamity. The full Senate is about to take up the Warner-Lieberman Bill. It would limit U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2012 to 2005 levels, and reduce those by 70 percent in 2050. Economy: Extending Fed Discount Window to Securities Dealers Would Destabilize Markets
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/1/2008
Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Kohn has floated the idea of giving Wall Street securities firms permanent access to Federal Reserve loans conditional on imposing greater regulatory oversight. While temporary Fed lending to these firms has helped stabilized markets during the subprime meltdown, longer term moral hazard has been established by creating expectations that both the Wall Street banks and primary securities deals may rely in the future on big Fed bailouts. The Watch List Through the Prism of Global War on Terrorism
Ahmad Al-Akhras, Ph.D. - 6/1/2008
Like racial profiling, the so-called Watch List hinges on a false premise that people commit crimes because of their racial, ethnic or religious background. This false premise caused huge suffering to African America, Japanese Americans and now Arab and American Muslims. The worst part of this is the assumption that practicing Islam, never mind being an activist at that, gives one an appetite for terrorism. In the process, people who are in good standing who did not commit nor had a criminal record are treated as "posing a threat to civil aviation or national security" or as "potential enemies of the state". American Target- Terrorism or Islam?
Tanveer Jafri - 6/1/2008
Terror or terrorism is one of the oldest disasters on the earth. It can be said that this system named terrorism is, for the centuries, here on this earth. But there have always been differences to define it. If you talk from the side of terrorists, you can hear different reasons of terrorism from every affected area of terrorism. If not going deep into, it can be understood, the affected victims of the society call it terrorism what the terrorists indulged in terrorism call it crusade, revenge or an offensive action to oppose. The worldwide terrorism has different reasons in different parts o... Vote 2008: Candidates united on foreign policy
Abdul Ruff - 6/1/2008
It seem even if Bush administration in collusion with the Pentagon now focused on war with Islam and not exactly on terrorism invades a few more countries in Islamic world, the US leaders , cutting across the political divide, would support that as a matter of backing the so-called US national as well as global interests. Not only the leaders, but even the media in the USA and the West would fall in line and only condemn the Muslims as "fundamentalists” and terrorists” and the like. That is the essence of US foreign policy today. US foreign policy: Bush Double-speak in MIdeast
Abdul Ruff - 6/1/2008
In the West Bank and Gaza, the Palestinians marked what they call "the Nakba", or the catastrophe, which is their commemoration of the Arab exodus that coincided with the founding of Israel, while US and Israel celebrated 60th anniversary of Israel. CCD urges immediate action on eligibility of Qazi Hussain Ahmad to enter Canada
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 6/1/2008
Ottawa, Canada - The Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD) is calling on the federal government to review the application for a Canadian visa by Mr. Qazi Hussain Ahmad, who has been invited to speak in Canada this weekend. The Blitzkrieg in the Kulturkampf Western Civilization Faces
Kyle Bristow - 5/21/2008
Our culture has been besieged by opponents of Western civilization who wish in the depths of their dark hearts to dismantle the greatest civilization that has ever existed on the face of the planet, to deny us of our destiny, and to do away with our liberties. What our people face now is akin to what the people of Poland faced on September 1, 1939. Though our civilization is not being destroyed through a calculated military assault, it is however being destroyed through a calculated political and cultural assault. If our civilization is to survive, patriots must rise up in its defense. What’s behind the “appeasement” kefluffel?
Ted Belman - 5/21/2008
Democrats outraged by the remarks of President George W. Bush “appeasement” when he said, “America stands with you in breaking up terrorist networks and denying the extremists sanctuary. And America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions. Permitting the world’s leading sponsor of terror to possess the world’s deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” President Bush, Condoleezza Rice and Forgotten Letters
David Singer - 5/21/2008
President Bush and Condoleezza Rice have a lot on their minds as they grapple with a multitude of the world's current conflicts which - no doubt - have caused overloading of their respective memory banks. The Death of the Written Word and the Rebirth of Speech
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 5/20/2008
Well into the 16th century, people in a quest for knowledge approached scholars who, in turn, consulted musty, hand-written tomes in search of answers. Gutenberg's press cut out these middlemen. The curious now obtained direct access to the accumulated wisdom of millennia in the form of printed, bound books. Still, gatekeepers (such as publishers and editors) persisted as privileged intermediaries between authors, scientists, and artists and their audiences. It's Them or U.S.
Prof. Barry Rubin - 5/20/2008
After seeing how Western leaders are handling Lebanon , said an Israeli official privately, “Hizballah could only laugh. We have to take it into consideration that nobody will ever help us.” Of course, Israel is not alone because there are so many others becoming victims of a combination of Western dithering and radical aggressiveness. What Are We Waiting For?
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 5/20/2008
Long before the disastrous George W. Bush administration, I had been waiting for profound, systemic changes in our political system. Perversely, I saw the upside of Bush as motivating more Americans to demand political change. And that happened. But the national yearning for change was co-opted by Ron Paul on the right and Barack Obama on the left while John Edwards with the most authentic populist change message fizzled out early. Measures to Contain Inflation and the Trade Deficit
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 5/20/2008
Countries around the world - from Vietnam to Kazakhstan - have adopted these measures to reduce their burgeoning inflation and trade deficit: Democracy versus the Electoral College
Jennifer L. Jackson - 5/20/2008
Democracy is more than a form of government or a political science concept; democracy is an idea, an ideal, an aspiration. Wars have been waged to spread it, and peace has been sought to protect it. While the United States claims to be the birthparent of democracy, the Electoral College puts the free child up for adoption to the least populous states. Global warming is about the way we live
Iqbal Latif - 5/20/2008
As the world's poor suffer from severe food shortages, we 'waste' and cry about 'CO2 footprint' in the same breath at the same time. If we cut waste, we can help cut global warming, if there is one. The Positive "R" Words
Naseem Javed - 5/20/2008
The current and unavoidable Recession of America, slowly impacting Canada, Mexico, spreading it wings towards Europe and Asia, all the way to the farthest corners of the world is nothing to be either afraid or surprised of. It is just one of those cycles that appear every decade or so. While some land soft, some land hard, but this may be the hardest, yet still there are some very positive things in that "R" word. An Open Letter To President Bush Regarding Russian
Lorna Thomas - 5/20/2008
Over the last years I have written to both you and former President Clinton that Russia and Europe are steadily growing closer in unity and power as the U.S. and Britain decline in power and prestige. I have also written that unless changes occur, as horrifying as it is to contemplate, the U.S. like Britain, is heading into captivity to its enemies. Creating a More Perfect America
Rashidul Bari - 5/20/2008
Speaking in Philadelphia , the place where 221 years ago the Constitutional Convention was held, Sen. Barrack Obama discarded racially emotional remarks made by his former Pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Earlier Rev. Wright claimed that “God Dam America ” is more appropriate sentiment than “God bless America ” and asserted that the September 11 terrorist attack on America —represented the “chickens coming home to roost”. He also accused America as a racist society that dropped nuclear bombs on Japan and helped to oppress Palestinian and South American. Finally he said that America invented AIDS to eliminate blacks from the earth. Race and Western Civilization
Kyle Bristow - 5/15/2008
It is rare for a professor at my university to assign a truly enlightening book for us to read, so I have made a habit of not only reading the books my professors assign, but also, I read as many non-assigned books as I possibly can. The most recent book I finished was Race and the American Prospect: Essays on the Racial Realities of Our Nation and Our Time, which was edited by the late Sam Francis. I enjoyed the book so much that I felt obliged to write a book review of it to encourage more people to read it. The Results of Legal Plunder
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 5/15/2008
The French philosopher Frederic Bastiat once defined the nexus of legality and morality in an 1849 treatise entitled The Law. In it, Bastiat highlights “the results of legal plunder,” a dilemma in which citizens may find the lawfulness of a practice to be ethically abhorrent. “The safest way to make laws respected is to make them respectable,” it states, continuing, “When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law. These two evils are of equal consequence…” Jews Must Choose Between Obama and Israel
Ted Belman - 5/15/2008
In the poll of Jewish voters (conducted April 1-30), it showed Obama getting 61% of the Jewish vote against John McCain (32%). Yet in the same poll Hillary Clinton beat Obama among Jewish voters 62% - 38%. So obviously Jews are lifelong democrats who would vote for Obama, whom they rejected in the primaries, rather than vote for McCain. Thus, for them, party loyalty is preferable to Israel loyalty. The US must get real about energy independence
Ted Belman - 5/14/2008
I watched O’Reilly’s interview of John McCain last night and came away very disappointed. McCain says that voters will prefer him for his experience over Obama with his inexperience. At best this will just overcome the age factor. After all, McCain, as they say, is no spring chicken. To my mind, this election will be determined by the policies put forward. A recent poll reported the following as the big issues with their relative importance noted; The economy (35), situation in Iraq/war (21), health care (8) and fuel costs (8). This rather surprised me. McCain wants to give each... US Polls 2008: The Main Fight is Yet to Start
Abdul Ruff - 5/14/2008
Americans are already witnessing a sort of a tug of war among the hopefuls, particualry among the Democratic aspirants, although the US presidential elections are still far away in November . At the very outset it should be unambiguously stated that irrespective of who finally manages to enter the White House to succeed President George W. Bush to rule not only the America, but, as the only super power to dictate terms to both the friendly and unfriendly nations, the most of the world, the over-all premises of the new incumbent would not be essentially different and would pursue essentially t... Economy: What to Watch in Wednesday's Consumer Price Data
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/14/2008
Wednesday, the Labor Department will issue April data for the Consumer Price Index. The consensus forecast is for a 0.3 percent increase in the headline number and a 0.2 percent increase in the core index—the headline number with energy and food prices removed. My published forecasts are 0.5 and 0.2 percent in these two indicators of consumer inflation. Confusing Diplomacy of Bush
Abdul Ruff - 5/14/2008
President George W Bush, accompanied by his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, arrived in Israel 14 May morning, his first stop on a five-day, three-country Middle East tour that will mix ceremony with substance as he marks the 60th anniversary of Israel’s founding while trying to prod along faltering peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, and headed to Jerusalem for back-to-back meetings with Israeli Peres and premier Olmert. The trip was long-planned jointly by the Bush administration and Israeli lobby in the USA to coincide with Israel ’s 60th birthday. Bush, a 100% pro-Isra... Economy: What to Watch in Tuesday's Consumer Price Data
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/12/2008
Tuesday, the Labor Department will issue April data for the Consumer Price Index. The consensus forecast is for a 0.3 percent increase in the headline number and a 0.2 percent increase in the core index—the headline number with energy and food prices removed. My published forecasts are 0.5 and 0.2 percent in these two indicators of consumer inflation. Climate Change and Tourism’s Winners and Losers
Eric Heymann - 5/11/2008
Tourism is one industry which has seen a phenomenal growth in an increasingly globalized world. But the forces of globalization have now confronted the industry with a new and serious challenge – that of climate change. It will require a series of long-term of adjustments and is bound to leave some winners and losers. US Polls 2008: McCain, Obama or Hillary?
Abdul Ruff - 5/11/2008
The US presidential elections are still far away in November. Americans are already witnessing a sort of a tug of war among the hopefuls. At the very outset it should be unambiguously stated that irrespective of who finally manages to enter the White House to succeed President George W. Bush to rule not only the America, but, as the only super power to dictate terms to both the friendly and unfriendly nations, the most of the world, the over-all premises of the new incumbent would not be essentially different and would pursue essentially the same policies of USA. Even as Republican restlessly... Libel Tourism is Real
Elizabeth Samson, Esq. - 5/11/2008
Several months ago I began an analysis of the misuse of foreign and domestic judicial systems for political purposes. At the same time it seemed as though there were frequently instances of strange happenings in the news. Taxi drivers not allowing passengers with seeing-eye dogs in their cars because it was inconsistent with their religious beliefs, imams being removed from a flight after acting suspiciously and then suing the airline for unspecified damages, citing "fear, depression, mental pain and financial injury", and one my personal favorites, the Oklahoma State Legislature practically... Economy and the World in Crisis: Gas, Food, Thought
Jennifer L. Jackson - 5/11/2008
Crisis is defined first as a "turning point" and secondly as a "crucial situation." Currently the world is deep into the latter as it relates to energy and food, though inevitably the present situation will evolve into the former. The international community, and particularly the United States, must be willing to think differently about energy, food, and the environment. The current paradigm, as expressed by consumption and inaction, reflects an underlying belief that there will always be more and that this crisis, and others before it, are temporary. Just as society had to accept that the... Economy: U.S. Productivity Advances 1.9 Percent
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/11/2008
This week, the Department of Labor reported productivity in the nonfarm private business sector increased at a 2.2 percent annual rate in the first quarter of 2008. The consensus forecast was 1.5 percent, and my published forecast was 2.0 percent. Why Waste?
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 5/11/2008
I. Waste in Nature Waste is considered to be the by-product of both natural and artificial processes: manufacturing, chemical reactions, and events in biochemical pathways. But how do we distinguish the main products of an activity from its by-products? In industry, we intend to manufacture the former and often get the latter as well. Thus, our intention seems to be the determining factor: main products we want and plan to obtain, by-products are the unfortunate, albeit inevitable outcomes of the process. We strive to maximize the former even as we minimize the latter. After Hillary, Voting With Conscience and Pride
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 5/11/2008
This general election more than most will test the courage of voters to avoid lesser-evil strategic voting that has propped up our two-party plutocracy. People with intelligence and conscience must resist peer pressure and the temptation to vote against John McCain by voting for Barack Obama. Economy: U.S. Trade Deficit Falls to 58.2 billion in March, Lowers GDP by $250 Billion
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/11/2008
Friday, the Commerce Department reported the March deficit on trade in goods and services was $58.2 billion. This was down from $61.7 billion in February and was about 4.9 percent of GDP. Anti-Semitic people in Associated Press
Sunita Paul - 5/11/2008
Following the publication of my recent article titled 'Press Under Attack in Bangladesh', which was published in a number of global newspapers, I received several mails from various individuals and journalists from Bangladesh expressing thanks for putting focus on this extremely important issue, while a journalist named Ms. Parveen Ahmed, who works with Associated Press (AP) in Dhaka (Bangladesh) as well an unidentified individual named Syful Islam sent me two separate mails, almost at the same time expressing their anti-Semitic attitude. Obama has no credibility
Ted Belman - 5/4/2008
Finally, Obama’s Denunciates Rev. Wright. After days of largely ignoring the media blitz his former pastor has waged, Barack Obama reversed course and denounced the Rev. Jeremiah Wright in the strongest and most direct terms yet on Tuesday. It was a decision that may help him reclaim some of the initiative in a tight presidential primary contest, but it is not without risks. Multiculturalism, Culturism and the Americanization Movement
Prof. John Press - 5/4/2008
The Americanization movement greeted immigrants between 1895 and 1924. Few people nowadays know about the Americanization movement, but it swept the nation at a level comparable to that of abolition movement, prohibition, women's suffrage and the Great Awakenings. In 1918 two branches of the Federal government ran Americanization programs. One had over 100 employees, surveyed the activities of 50,000 local organizations working with foreign populations, and coordinated tactics with at least 15,000. Industries and Presidents participated in this effort. The Americanization movement provides a traditional culturist model we should all know about. Why Won’t Whites, Jews, and Catholics Vote for Obama?
Bill Levinson - 5/4/2008
Despite the endorsement of Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), Barack Obama lost the Pennsylvania primary by a 55-45 margin. In Luzerne County PA, a traditional Democratic region whose demographics include factory workers and the descendents of immigrant coal miners (many Catholic), Obama lost by a three to one margin. Why does Barack Obama have so much difficulty in getting white people (and especially Catholics and Jews) to vote for him? Let’s give “Barry” some hints and see his likely conclusion. How to Get Universal Health Care
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 5/3/2008
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama say they believe in giving Americans universal health care. I don’t believe them. Anyone who takes the time to understand universal health care should conclude that only a simple single payer system will reform the current outrageous system that benefits the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. American Economy Going to Hell
Kyle Bristow - 5/3/2008
I am sad to say it, but it seems that the United States of America, the country that produced the scientist who cured Polio, the army that defeated Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany, and the first country to put mankind on the moon is in an economic free-fall. Countries in Glass Houses Shouldn't Threaten Boycotts
Jennifer L. Jackson - 5/3/2008
A large number of organizations, celebrities, politicians, and average Americans are calling for a boycott of the 2008 summer Olympics in China. The boycott demands range from snubbing attendance at the Opening Ceremonies to complete withdrawals of athletes from competition. Public figures including Hillary Clinton, Steven Spielberg, and Bob Costas have all weighed-in on the issue; all have expressed outrage regarding China's human rights abuses and support of the Sudanese government. Mia Farrow termed the Games the "Genocide Olympics." Dick Enberg, a veteran broadcaster set to cover tennis... Chelsea Clinton campaigns for Hillary
Abdul Ruff - 5/2/2008
Like in any developing country but unlike in great power politics generally speaking, daughter of one of the hopefuls for Democratic nomination as the candidate for US president’s poll, Chelsea Clinton is graduating into campaign tactics in favor of her mother and NY senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. It happened even as Hilary was lagging behind her rival Obama and much before when she outsmarted Obama in Pennsylvania Primary. What US delegation may discuss
Sunita Paul - 5/2/2008
According to latest news received from Dhaka, US Assistant Secretary of States, Mr. Richard Boucher and Counter-Terrorism Department's Coordinator and Assistant Secretary Dale Daily are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on May 7 on a 3-day visit. Multiculturalists Gone Wild
Prof. John Press - 5/1/2008
Buddha is Hiding by Aihwa Ong shows the perils of multicultural policy compounded by multiculturalist thought. Ong's book follows the lives of 50,000 Cambodian refugees we accepted in the 1970s. During the reign of Pol Pot in Cambodia approximately one third of the population was killed. Many of those given asylum ended up congregating in Northern California. Economy: Is The United States Headed for Economic Malaise?
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/1/2008
The Labor Department will report employment data for April on Friday. This is a key indicator of the depth and duration of the economic slowdown, which began in the fourth quarter. Obama’s Crotch Itch Problem
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 4/30/2008
I finally figured out why Obama so often looks uncomfortable, impatient and annoyed. He never seems to be a regular guy. One who can enjoy his public opportunities at local eateries and indulge himself like a real American enthralled with delicious unhealthy foods. To joyously let loose and just be a happy black guy able to live in a millionaire’s McMansion and have a shot at being president after hardly learning how to be a senator. Why? The Results of Legal Plunder
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 4/30/2008
The French philosopher Frederic Bastiat once defined the nexus of legality and morality in an 1849 treatise entitled The Law. In it, Bastiat highlights “the results of legal plunder,” a dilemma in which citizens may find the lawfulness of a practice to be ethically abhorrent. “The safest way to make laws respected is to make them respectable,” it states, continuing, “When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law. These two evils are of equal consequence…” Who will be in the White House?
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/29/2008
Who will finally win the presidential election in 2008 remains a million dollar question indeed! Although the Republicans are already set with Senator John McCain as the contestant in the Presidential election in 2008, Democrats are yet to finalize their contestant. According to global media reports, Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton are leading neck-to-neck battle in winning the nominations from the Democrats in ultimately getting into the real battle of presidency. But, due to the ongoing battle between Senator Hillary and Barack Obama, there is no doubt that Democrats are ver... Americans will choose whom?
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/29/2008
The entire world is closely monitoring the pre-election battle between Democrats and republicans. US media too are busy in either predicting the potential winner or analyzing policies of the candidates. It will be surely difficult at this moment to give a clear anticipation on who will finally enter the White house after the election on November 4. Several international news media are continuing to publish their own predictions or polls on a regular basis. In Bangladesh, the only newspaper, having wide global and local readership, Weekly Blitz [online edition available on www.weeklyblitz.net] ... Irrational Exuberance to Bust: Financial Bubbles Demand Regulation
Kemal Dervis - 4/29/2008
The last 15 years have been characterized by rapid, accelerating world growth, with three interruptions: the Asian and then Russian financial crisis around 1997, the dot-com bubble burst around 2001, and most recently a financial crisis rooted in the US sub-prime mortgages and securitized investment vehicles. In all three cases “irrational exuberance” as well as regulatory failures in the financial sector led to the shocks and growth slowdowns. The pattern suggests that there’s a strong case for overhauling regulation of the financial sector. Humans did not do it
Iqbal Latif - 4/29/2008
A journey into where we're from and where we're going... I like what Carl Sagan said, "I don't want to believe, I want to know." Nature has its own path to create balance and ensure survival of the fittest. Some 99.9 percent of all species that ever lived on earth are now extinct. The charges that we humans are causing the next mass extinction - the sixth in the history of life on Earth - are nothing but fiction. A latest study by researchers at Stanford University estimated that the number of early humans may have shrunk as low as 2,000, before numbers began to expand again in early Stone Age... The Economy: Not Random or By Accident
John Gregory - 4/29/2008
What happens when a person gets distracted? What they were working on or thinking about doesn't get the attention it needs; and that is what finger-pointing is all about. If a problem isn't going away, let's just blame somebody, until THEY fix it, even if their part in it is small. Whites not allowed
Elizabeth Wright - 4/25/2008
In a column in the New Pittsburgh Courier, black columnist William Reaves once asked, "Can any progress be made without settling the concerns of white people who want to insure a future for their white posterity?" Reaves asked his question back in 1998, emphasizing those blacks and whites who were "uncomfortable" about sorting out the actual reasons for what he called "the true motivation for white supremacy." Why McCain may win
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/25/2008
Undoubtedly any sensible individual will have the right to ask question as to why researchers in Weekly Blitz [who are very closely monitoring the Presidential electoral process in United States] are finally predicting a clean victory of Republican candidate Senator John McCain in the election, which is scheduled to take place on November 4, 2008. Is the World’s Greatest Golfer a Woman?
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 4/25/2008
People disagree as to who the world’s greatest athlete is. Some say it’s David Wright, some pick Carlos Beltran, still others prefer Johan Santana, and some are still carrying a torch for Jose Reyes. But not AOL’s Kevin Blackistone. In “Ochoa Hottest Athlete in Sports,” he says it’s female golfer, Lorena Ochoa, who just won four consecutive tournaments. Though Valentine’s Day was two months ago, Blackistone even wrote a valentine to Ochoa: How Hillary Can Knock-Out Obama
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 4/25/2008
Now is the time for Hilary Clinton to take a bold position that in one brilliant, courageous stroke shows the nation that she is more willing to pursue true reforms of the two-party plutocratic political system than Obama is. Cut trade deficit and clean up Wall Street
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/24/2008
THE RECESSION is a wake-up call. Americans need to confront some false gods — free trade, gas guzzlers and Wall Street. In the 1990s, the U.S. launched the World Trade Organization and opened trade with China. Americans were to import more T-shirts and TVs and sell more software and sophisticated services to a world hungry for U.S. know-how. That would move Americans into better paying jobs. Unfortunately, the U.S. welcomed imports with more enthusiasm than China and other developing countries, which kept high tariffs and notorious regulatory barriers to purchases of western products. America’... The Death debate
Geetanjali Jha - 4/24/2008
Recently, the Supreme Court of United States of America rejected a challenge to the use of lethal three-drug cocktail injections used in most U.S. executions. The case and its consequent decision in favor of the method of execution has once again triggered the long and emotional debate on death penalty; its justification, ethics and human rights. The case, made by two death row inmates convicted of murder and sentenced to death, was based on the eighth amendment of the US constitution which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. An eternal optimist's humble riposte to Professor Krugman
Iqbal Latif - 4/24/2008
Living with hope and buoyancy is far better than gloom and kismet. We are all inherently dull creatures; we steal our moments of happiness from sorrows around us. We need to live every instant with the greatest of relish, this is what life is all about. Give it your best shot silly - GIYBSS is my motto. GOP, Dems Out of Ideas
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/23/2008
John McCain has tabled an economic program that won’t rescue the economy from its mess but Senators Clinton and Obama offer little more. McCain advocates tax cuts for parents and corporations and mortgage relief for distressed homeowners, paid for by pairing nondefense, discretionary government spending and higher Medicare premiums for the well off. Why Democracy-Mongering is a Problem
Kyle Bristow - 4/22/2008
The desire to spread democracy abroad is not exclusive to contemporary neoconservative ideology. During the 5th century BC, a superpower that was plagued with politicians who exhibited hubris that is not dissimilar to the hubris of warmongering neoconservatives caused war to roil the ancient world. Maybe It's Time To Fess Up
Jeff Dunetz - 4/22/2008
When I first heard about the Harvard paper addressing the power of the Jewish Lobby an uneasy chill ran down my spine. After all, this "academic" paper blew the cover off how Jews control the US State department and American Foreign Policy. Time to lean on Mexico about Extradition
Ross Kaminsky - 4/22/2008
Marine Corporal Cesar Laurean, suspected of murdering a pregnant Marine, 20-year old Corporal Maria Lauterbach, then burning her body and burying it, was arrested in Mexico by police officers who thought he looked suspicious. Hate Crimes: The Whitey Did It?
Guy White - 4/20/2008
When people talk about hate crimes, commonly and accurately referred to as the most reprehensible form of violence, they think of whites attacking blacks. But is that reality? Do whites commit all the hate crimes? Do they commit even a majority of the hate crimes? Ignatieff’s non-apology
Rochelle Wilner - 4/20/2008
Recently the Toronto Star reported on a speech given by Michael Ignatieff at Holy Blossom Temple. “Ignatieff Apologizes for Israeli War Crime Comment” screamed the headline in the Toronto Star’s April 14, 2008 edition. Being keenly interested in these matters I scanned the article for the words, “I am sorry.” Oddly enough the reporter did not quote them. I was more than intrigued and secured a copy of the speech in its entirety. After reading it several times I am compelled to respond. The Smarter Jimmy Carter Charter
David Singer - 4/20/2008
Ex-President Jimmy Carter has hogged the media spotlight this week over his intended - and subsequent - meetings with Hamas head honcho Khaled Meshaal and other Hamas leaders - thereby incurring the wrath of Israel, the United States, the European Union and the Palestinian Authority. Affirmative Action Leads to Bureaucracy, Censorship and Even Death
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 4/20/2008
The mainstream media supports the continued admission to otherwise highly selective universities of unqualified minority applicants based on their race or ethnicity, as a means to achieve “diversity.” Since affirmative action’s 1960s’ origins, however, this plague has spread beyond college admissions, to corrupt all of America’s institutions. In higher education, affirmative action has led to the hiring of incompetent, often openly racist black and Hispanic professors. It has further led to the creation of entire disciplines — black, women’s, Hispanic and gay studies — exist in order to genera... The downside of integration
Elizabeth Wright - 4/20/2008
How confusing it must have been back then for the black bourgeoisie. What to do, what to do! On the one hand, it's the 1960s, and the gates have been opened to the world of whites, to jobs created by white men, to entry into places only once dreamed of. Here is the desegregation-integration so yearned for. Milton Friedman produced millions of millions of Tank Men
Iqbal Latif - 4/20/2008
In response to: ''Do u guys like the ideas that inspired Tieanenman Square or the ideas of Pinochet? I think u'll find they took many of their ideas from Friedman. Have a think about whether u want to be his fans in the light of that? I'm off out of here (i.e. I joined just to post this and am leaving his fan group now.' Racism, some questions
Stephen W. Browne - 4/20/2008
Everybody talks about racism these days, but has anybody actually gone back and defined what the heck it is they're talking about? I mean, racism is a pretty serious charge these days. In certain contexts it can be a career-wrecking accusation.* And for anyone who writes seriously on subjects such as affirmative action or immigration policy, being accused of racism is almost a rite of passage. Clash of Civilizations Revisited
Safdar Jafri - 4/19/2008
As the religious violence rages across the world, Huntington's Clash of Civilizations has become one of the most talked about theories of the day. The theory argues that West and Islam are two radically different civilizations that are bound to clash in view of their extremely conflicting values. It stereotypes Islam as inherently non-progressive and anti-liberal; the two most core values of the western civilization. Recent surge of radical Islam that culminated in the ghastly events of 9/11, has catapulted this once obscure theory into political and intellectual limelight. Clock Running Out on Irreversible Climate Change – Part II
Bo Ekman - 4/19/2008
To all intents and purposes, the Kyoto Protocol is dead, and unless urgent actions are taken its successor, the Copenhagen process may turn out to be dead on arrival or comatose. Kyoto never delivered reductions of CO2 emissions, but still binds 174 nations until 2012. Meanwhile, global greenhouse gas emissions have steadily increased since the reference year of 1990. Clock Running Out on Irreversible Climate Change
Jim Hansen - 4/18/2008
Fifty years ago, Yankee Stadium had about 70,000 seats. It seldom sold out, and almost any kid could afford the cheapest seats. Capacity was reduced to about 57,000 when the stadium was remodeled in the 1970s. Most games sell out now, and prices have gone up. The G7, the Banks and GE
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/18/2008
This week, it’s tough to pick the most significant news. The G7 Finance Ministers Meeting was significant for what it didn’t do—something truly constructive about the credit crisis. Tired carpenters, the ministers and central bank chiefs hammered the same old nails. Their Financial Stabilities Forum report served up the same tired nostrums—extended capital requirements, transparency, closer international cooperation and the like. Two Words: America First!
Kyle Bristow - 4/18/2008
It seems that American politicians are more concerned with serving the interests of foreign peoples rather than the interests of their constituents. As American jobs are exported overseas and what jobs that remain are taken by people who immigrate to the United States, one can only wonder how soon it will be until the United States collapses. When the “shining city upon a hill,” as Ronald Reagan called the country he loved in his farewell address, falls economically, but more importantly culturally, a new Dark Age will begin for the world. The only course of action that can stop America from falling is if politicians in Washington begin to put their country’s interests first. Barack Obama Still Castigating Whites
Elizabeth Wright - 4/18/2008
"So it’s not surprising then," said Sen. Barack Obama, "that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Oops! Careful, Barack, or your own bitterness might begin to show. And how would that look coming from a "post-racial" man, a brother who has risen above bitterness? You just might yet expose the typical black notion that only people who look like you (more or less) should be moved to express grievances – be they social or political. The Domain Exchange
Naseem Javed - 4/18/2008
Forget the bricks and mortar for a minute, and just dream of owning a universal domain name identity in cyberspace, along the likes of priceline.com, food.com, creditcards.com or cheapflights.com, as such identities are valued in tens of millions and continue to double in price every year. The entire domain name industry has advanced to a more mature level, which now fully recognizes the super value of having a generic globally recognizable domain identity as a true cyber-real-estate asset. But the name game in this current race must be played under the correct laws, as most of these assets sometimes simply evaporate into thin air. Multiculturalists, Crime, Terror and Diversity!
Prof. John Press - 4/18/2008
Multiculturalists' slogan is "celebrate diversity" aids and abets terrorists. Under this paradigm rather than judge we must accept all cultures. Their take on diversity conceives of it as superficial; all cultures are equally American. The Institute Studies Institute begs to differ. As culturists, ISI believes we have a core culture and some people's beliefs are so diverse they offend Western ideals; some people actually hate America. Usually ISI celebrates Western culture. Today, they sponsored lectures about threats from those who seek to destroy the country we hope multiculturalists will someday also recognize as unique and worth defending. At War with Liberalism
Kyle Bristow - 4/17/2008
Western civilization is in a struggle not only with foreign adversaries such as Islamic civilization, but also with domestic subversives who promote the utopian ideology of liberalism. In order to combat the latter menace, Westerners must understand the tactics of the Left. Any person who espouses liberalism, communism, socialism, or any other variation of Marxism in which they may self-label themselves with more innocuous names such as “progressive” is an enemy of the West, and must be confronted if Western civilization is to triumph in the culture war. Lennonism Imagines The Middle East
Prof. Barry Rubin - 4/17/2008
The Middle East today is driven by five big conflicts: Among states for power; the Iran-Syria alliance’s war on everyone else; the struggle between Arab nationalists and Islamists to control each country, and the Sunni-Shia and the Arab-Israeli conflicts. The Most Powerful People in America
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 4/17/2008
They are not the rich and superrich, nor the politically powerful running the two-party plutocracy, nor the greedy heads of banking and finance companies, and certainly not the media moguls and bloviating pundits. The most powerful people are US, American consumers that account for over 70 percent of the economy. It is exactly now, when the economy is in the toilet, that consumers hold the maximum power. So why are we the people still deluding ourselves that the path to a better future rests on electing a new president? Knocking Down False Gods
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/17/2008
The recession is a wake up call. Americans need to confront some false gods -- free trade, gas guzzlers and Wall Street. Liberal Orthodox Church, Science and Witch Hunts
Guy White - 4/17/2008
One of the white readers of my blog commented that he would get fired if anyone found out that he reads my thoughts. Not only is he not allowed to agree with me, he's not even allowed to read this. One's mind must be so completely closed that he's not allowed to find out what the "enemy" is thinking, unless he's a "trained professional" acting as part of anti-racist witch hunt organization like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and other High Priests of the Liberal Orthodox Church of Political Correctness and Minority Empowerment ("LOC"). McCain Confirms GOP Out of Ideas but So Are the Democrats
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/16/2008
John McCain has tabled an economic program that won’t rescue the economy from its mess but Senators Clinton and Obama offer little more. McCain advocates tax cuts for parents and corporations and mortgage relief for distressed homeowners, paid for by pairing nondefense, discretionary government spending and higher Medicare premiums for the well off. Three Culturist Questions
Prof. John Press - 4/14/2008
Yesterday I spoke to a group of libertarians. One of the most interesting questions was, "Doesn't the universal desirability of technology such as air-conditioning show a global value system towards which the whole world is moving?" My polished answers was, Democratic Party will endanger the chance of Middle East Peace
Ghazal Omid - 4/14/2008
On April 08, 2008, immediately after General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testified before the Senate, Senator Feinstein joined NIAC at a press conference in the Russell Building, as evidenced by the accompanying photo from the NIAC webpage. Democrats slam McCain on Economics
Abdul Ruff - 4/14/2008
The Republican presidential candidate John McCain's opponents from the Democrats are still fighting a stiff course to gain the party nomination for presidential poll in November; they not only fight one another in rhetoric but also are at odds with the Republican hopeful who has already secured the ticket to contest. As the days pass on, the initial glow seen in the faces of the democratic candidates is gradually disappearing, reflecting on desperation and despair to the worried democrats, though they now control both the Houses of the Parliament. Issues relating US economy continues to occupy a significant place in their debate. America's Failure: Russia and Serbia
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 4/13/2008
The United States had two strategic goals as it faced its reluctant allies in NATO in the April 2008 Bucharest Summit: Mr. Gore you are robbing Peter, paying Paul
Iqbal Latif - 4/12/2008
More people are expected to die of famine in Africa than imprinting a larger CO2 footprint. 'Al Gore Environmental policies' are aimed at 'Robbing Peter paying Paul.' Green based priorities are creating severe food shortages. Hunger in African will kill faster and will have larger impact on the flimsy structure of the growing under class of the world.Is human life less than a computer driven theoretical reading of rising CO2 emissions? Lets not forget we all make mistakes, computer generated models are far inferior than human complex life, we owe it to our conscious to save every human being. ... Barack Obama married his 'mother'
Ted Belman - 4/11/2008
Spengler points out that Obama’s women reveal his secret Economy: U.S. Trade Rises in February; Drags Growth, Lowers GDP by $250 Billion
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/11/2008
Yesterday, the Commerce Department reported the February deficit on trade in goods and services was $62.3 billion. This was up from $59.0 billion in January and about 5.3 percent of GDP. The deficit was pushed higher by rising prices from many industrial supplies and materials and increased imports of consumer goods. Podhoretz in defense of Bush, Sharon and himself
Ted Belman - 4/10/2008
Norman Podhoretz, as you will recall, was a staunch supporter of George W. Bush, and is staying the course, and was in support of Sharon’s Disengagement. He now replies to his critics of both these positions, in his Commentary article, Israel and the Palestinians:Has Bush Reneged?. Anyone interested in the peace process from its beginning in Madrid should read this very informative article. He begins, Obama, the visionary, disappoints again
Elizabeth Wright - 4/10/2008
There I was, listening to Barak Obama's Great and Eloquent speech, but I had not yet learned from the Anointed Wise Men that it was Great and Eloquent. Since I was not yet privy to this information, I just continued listening, while doing my own spontaneous evaluation of his message. About three-quarters into his speech, it occurred to me that this was simply the same old, same old. It sounded like the standard boilerplate liberal stuff to me. Mr. Obama & Rev. Wright, America’s Debt to Blacks Already Paid in Full
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 4/10/2008
While millions of American blacks demand that American taxpayers (read: whites) pay slavery reparations of up to one million dollars to each and every black resident of the United States, in fact, American taxpayers—and consumers—have already paid trillions of dollars in reparations (read: racial extortion). And the tab is rising daily. Commerce Department to Release February Trade Deficit Data on Thursday
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/10/2008
Thursday, the Commerce Department will report the February trade deficit. Brzezinski’s Back
Ted Belman - 4/10/2008
Events of the past few days indicate that the Zbigniew Brzezinski faction of lunatic Russia haters have now won the upper hand inside the secret councils of the Anglo-American finance oligarchy, displacing the hitherto dominant George Shultz-neocon faction. Although George Bush and his cronies still occupy the White House, the policies that are being carried out are coming from the Brzezinski left CIA machine. Brzezinski has returned to public prominence in recent months due to his role as top establishment controller for the Obama campaign. But Brzezinski is not waiting for the outcome of the November elections to take over key parts of the US government. Poll: Obama Losing White Vote Against McCain Even In New York
Guy White - 4/9/2008
People will speak the truth, or what they think is the truth. Maybe not immediately, but eventually they will slip and show their cards. Politicians may bite their tongue during campaigns, but those around them will speak their minds. At times they’ll say something they think is common sense, but it’s only common sense to them. A Return From The Feminist Abyss?
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 4/9/2008
In her 1998 book, A Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue, Wendy Shalit argues that not money, but modesty (read: chastity) makes the world go ‘round. Shalit sees the loss of female sexual modesty as having made girls and women miserable, and invited men—who hardly need such an invitation—to treat them badly. In the name of a more “authentic” sexual culture, everyone’s “doing it,” yet almost everyone’s miserable.
A 23-year-old recent graduate of Williams College at the time of the book's publishing, Shalit believes that real sex differences exist, as o... Obama is in bed with the Iraq Study Group
Ted Belman - 4/9/2008
A number of people have written to me to tell me Brzezinski, either is not on Obama’s foreign policy team or is just one member of it. Ever since Brzezinski introduced Obama last summer, Brzezinski has remained in the background for fear of alienating Obama’s Jewish support. It makes little difference because all the others on the team are generally in agreement with his policies. IQ Differences: Do they exist and can we admit it?
Guy White - 4/9/2008
Last year the Fire Department of New York was sued by the federal government because of the racial gaps between races. No reasons were given to prove that there was any bias, just the fact that blacks did not score as well as whites. The FDNY test was not the only test to show a gap. So did the SAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, bar exam, police exams, IQ test - every test of aptitude. All of them are supposed to be racist. Americans must live within their means
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/8/2008
The U.S. economy is in recession, with no end in sight. Falling housing prices and questionable mortgages are blamed. But digging out will require Americans to use less gasoline, get tough on trade with China, and learn to live within their means. Addressing Black Concerns and Delusions
Guy White - 4/7/2008
African-Americans frequently accuse whites, all whites, of racism. Even though they got tremendous opportunities as a result of living in a white nation that they could never have gotten in pre-colonial or even modern Africa, their complaints never end. It's really interesting to read their exact statements because they are often nearly incomprehensible and show that Jeremiah "Shaka Zulu" Wright is not the exception, but the rule. This is the father of Venus and Serena Williams: The Immorality of Interventionism
Kyle Bristow - 4/7/2008
Otto Von Bismarck understood why interventionism was not prudent when he said that “The whole of the Balkans is not worth the bones of a single Pomeranian grenadier.” Is Barack Obama a Muslim wolf in Christian wool?
Reuven Koret - 4/7/2008
The glib handling of criticism of his relationship with the anti-American ("God Damn America!") and anti-Israel ("a dirty word for Negroes") Reverend James Wright may have bought him a little time. But the legacy of dissimulation about his long-concealed identity is about to come crashing down around the ears of Barack Hussein Obama, courtesy of the assembled testimony of his family, friends, classmates and teachers. What We Must Remember on the Anniversary of MLK’s Assassination
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 4/7/2008
Friday, the fourth day of the year’s fourth Black History Month, the nation commemorated the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. On the TV earlier today, I continually saw images of MLK. I didn’t bother listening, and The Boss was kind enough to keep the sound on low. How many winter’s days have I wasted since 1987, watching propaganda about that man? And now, with twelve Black History Months per year, the propaganda never stops. Failed Rice Mission
Abdul Ruff - 4/5/2008
Not withstanding the efforts from the USA to find a lasting solution to Middle East turmoil by establishing a Palestine state to exist side-by-side with its arch foe that keeps killing innocent Palestinians in its air-strikes conducted intermittently, Israel has once again invaded the Gaza territory of defenseless Palestinians. This generated world wide criticism and many nations requested US to quickly intervene to stop Israeli air-strikes in Gaza . With a view reducing tensions in Gaza , US president George W. Bush dispatched his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region. The Yin and Yang of US Debt
Prof. Dwight Jaffee and Ashok Bardhan - 4/5/2008
American homeowners worried about dwindling property values and the burden of adjustable-rate mortgages may not care to know what made their mortgages so affordable. Increased purchase of US Treasury bills, Agency bonds and mortgage-backed securities by foreign government institutions that made mortgages so low, however, has worried economists. With the US economy reeling from multiple shocks, economists have another source for concern – the increasing role played by foreign institutions and sovereign wealth funds, mostly belonging to emerging economies, in financing imports of goods and services to the US that support its lifestyle. Toronto 18 Suspects Undergo Trial By Media
Beenish Gaya - 4/5/2008
The trial of the only remaining youth in the Toronto 18 case commenced last week in a Brampton courtroom. The new details disclosed in the Crown factum filed in the case elicited depressingly new emotional lows in all of the accused and their families. Reminiscent of that fateful day in June, 2006, the media sensationalism started all over again, with the reporting of incomplete evidence and outrageous headlines. Having attended the entire preliminary hearing, I must confess my shock and disbelief at the fact that these allegations continue to be presented in a manner which precludes the public from seeing a complete or accurate picture. Culturist Censorship, Free Speech and Dangerous Ironies
Prof. John Press - 4/5/2008
I submit most of my blog entries to internet article distributors. Recently, several of my articles have been rejected for the political beliefs they convey. Dangerously, this censorship does not stem from malice or ambition; it stems from increasingly commonplace cultural assumptions about what can be said. Obama favors an unholly alliance between Marxism and Islam
Ted Belman - 4/5/2008
In "Obama’s Muslim connection"I wrote, that Obama’s foreign policy favours accommodation to Islam. Here's more information about the Democrats' likely nominee: Isn't Glossocracy Great?
Dymphna - 4/5/2008
Fjordman happened upon yet two more examples of verboten words: "Mexican" and "immigrant." In the first story, a man in Iowa was fired for referring to someone from Mexico as a "Mexican." US Poll 2008: McCain as Republican candidate
Abdul Ruff - 4/4/2008
Even as the Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are waging a tough battle for Democratic nomination, John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona , US Pushes Pie-in-the-Sky Missile Defense in Europe
Prof. Tom Sauer and Prof. Dave Webb - 4/4/2008
Missile defense will figure high on the agenda at the NATO summit of heads of state in Bucharest. The odds are that, without any meaningful parliamentary debate within or between European states, Europe will quietly go along with the US proposal to install missile-defense interceptors in Poland and a powerful radar system in the Czech Republic. Labor Department Releases Key March Jobs Data Friday
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/4/2008
The Labor Department will report employment data for March on Friday. This is a key indicator of the depth and duration of the recession, which began in December. If the payroll jobs decline for a third straight month, it will be hard to deny that the economy has entered a recession of unknown depth and duration. Obama’s 'change' comes through agitating a community, not uniting all communities
Ted Belman - 4/4/2008
Why did Obama not pursue a corporate law practice but instead looked to community work as his life’s work? Why has he identified with agents of radical change, including William Ayers a convicted terrorist, throughout out his adult life. Why did he join a Black Nationalist, Africacentric Church? Why did he write (see Damning Quotes from Obama) On Trial in California and on Parade in Binghamton
Baron Bodissey - 4/4/2008
Ramadan Abdur-Rauf Abdullah, a member of Jamaat ul-Fuqra, is on trial this week in California for the 2001 murder of a sheriff’s deputy. A local news report gives an account of recent testimony heard by jurors, including a tape of Abdullah’s questioning by detectives not long after the murder. Paulson Regulatory Reform Plan Falls Short
Prof. Peter Morici - 4/1/2008
The regulatory framework proposed by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will not address fundamental problems in the banking sector that contributed significantly to the recession and that must be fixed to rescue the U.S. economy from recession and avoid future crises. Antarctic ice 7 times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed
Iqbal Latif - 3/31/2008
A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk and an ice shelf about the size of Connecticut is "hanging by a thread," scientists told March 25, 2008. In my humble opinion, this is a grand marketing exercise and an extreme example of ' Voodoo Science of global warming.' The Jewish Left wants Washington to pressure Israel
Ted Belman - 3/30/2008
Following up on my article Liberal Jews support Obama in part because they blame the Jews too in which I pointed out that "progressive Jews" were naturally allies of Obama, I came upon this Prospect Magazine article by Gershom Gorenberg entitled A Liberal Jewish Lobby. Can Obama be a catalyst for change in the Middle East?
Namjoo Hashemi - 3/30/2008
With the 2008 primaries and caucuses nearing their end the likely presidential nominees are John McCain as the Republican Party representative and a hotly contested battle continues to broom between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as the representative for the Democratic Party. Reconquista: Mexico's Retaking of US Territory
Jake Jacobsen and MJ Jacobsen - 3/28/2008
The what is the “retaking” of vast portions of the American southwest: the phrase itself translates as “the reconquest.” Things gFirst, lets talk about what we think is the less concerning of the two. It’s led by groups such as MECha, which others might lull you into believing no longer has any desire to take back La Raza's stolen land of Aztlan, except their name still means the Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan. Their race-driven activities are aided and abetted by groups like the NCLR, whose well-known slogan means “for The Race everything, outside the race nothing.” Obama’s Muslim connection
Ted Belman - 3/28/2008
What is Barack Obama's Muslim connection? The question has been discussed and subject to a lot of rumors, but recently overshadowed by his membership in Rev. Jeremiah Wright's racist, anti-Semitic and anti-American church. But it remains important to answer this question. Subprime Crisis: Racist If You Do, Racist If You Don't
Guy White - 3/28/2008
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Today banks are accused of racism for giving loans to unqualified people. But when banks did not give loans to unqualified blacks, they were sued and attacked in the media for racism. Obama: Saint or Nihilist?
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 3/28/2008
Writing on Barack Obama Wednesday at his blog, Blithe Spirit, my Oak Park, IL journalist friend, Jim Bowman, raises “The Grandmother Issue.” Hope We Can Hope In
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 3/28/2008
Like a modern-day Demosthenes, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Senator Obama has embraced the prose of the classic pied-piper, the role of abstract orator. He says everything and nothing all at once, with a kind of eerie religiosity sweeping across his great, mystifying vernacular. Chris Matthews has declared that “(Obama) comes along, and he seems to have the answers. This is the New Testament.” Oprah Winfrey and Maria Shriver swear up and down that Barack is “the truth” –– leaving one only to wonder if he is likewise the way and the light. Knocking Down False Gods
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/28/2008
The recession is a wake up call. Americans need to confront some false gods--free trade, gas guzzlers and Wall Street. In the 1990s, the U.S. launched the World Trade Organization and opened trade with China. Americans were to import more tee-shirts and TVs and sell more software and sophisticated services to a world hungry for U.S. knowhow. That would move Americans into better paying jobs. The West, Japan, and Cultural Secondarity
Fjordman - 3/28/2008
Dymphna of Gates of Vienna recommended to me a book called “Eccentric Culture: A Theory of Western Civilization,” by Rémi Brague. The Romans admired the earlier culture of the Greeks. Christians had a love/hate relationship with Judaism, but they did recognize that the Jews had an older religious tradition than they did themselves, and that they were greatly indebted to it. Christian Europeans thus inherited a twin “cultural secondarity” in relations to their Greek and Hebrew ... Skeptical about Environmentalist Solutions: A Review of Bjorn Lomborg’s 'Cool It'
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 3/26/2008
In Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist’s Guide to Global Warming, Bjorn Lomborg expands on previously written firestorm articles regarding the state of the environment. His central thesis if contentious to say the least. Lomborg’s writings prior to Cool It had already spawned over 400 articles in major metropolitan papers, and his latest work was no less controversial. But what precisely is it about this Greenpeace-advocate self-described environmentalist Dane that so irks the so-called environmentalist community? Fed Bernanke and the HKMA Donald Tsang
Iqbal Latif - 3/26/2008
Via MediaBistro, we learn that Fox Business Network has bought ad space in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, poking fun at CNBC's Jim Cramer, and what he said about Bear Stearns, days before its collapse. Economy: Fixing the Banks
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/26/2008
America's banks are broken, and the U.S. economy cannot be pulled out of recession until they are fixed. Thirty years ago, mortgages were straightforward. Homebuyers went to banks, which checked incomes, purchased independent appraisals and loaned buyers the money. The bank held notes or sold them to Fannie Mae or perhaps insurance companies. Oil May Not Grease Friendship
Amity Shlaes - 3/25/2008
In the post-Cold War period, researchers have long wondered why some countries befriend the US. They have noted some common characteristics of US friends – cultural affinity, urban dominance, level of entrepreneurship and so on. They also noticed that oil wealth can correlate with hostility towards the US. Much of this work, while evocative, is anecdotal. Digging The Economy Out of the Recession
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/25/2008
The U.S. economy is in recession with no end in sight. Falling housing prices are blamed, but the root causes are bad economic policies and lousy banking practices. Racial Dialogue in America
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 3/25/2008
Every time a black says he wants an “honest” dialogue about race, I reach for my wallet with one hand, and for my pistol with the other. Now, it is Barack Hussein Obama, the “black” candidate for president who says he wants “dialogue.”
Obama doesn’t want dialogue on race, any more than black people do. Dialogue for them means lecturing, hectoring, and otherwise abusing whites, lying to our faces about race, the more egregious lie the better, and daring us to tell the truth, so they can curse us, assault us, and have... Financing Failure: How Foreign Aid is Mismanaged
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 3/25/2008
Who can explain the logic of first propping up a seemingly friendly autocrat, then disregarding the autocrat’s disloyalty, only to end this trifecta by subsidizing it all along? Take for example the late Yasser Arafat, whose decades of murdering diplomats and overseeing hit-squads was legitimized overnight by overt international assistance. Somewhere along the line, it was deemed that any hypothetical Palestinian state required the presence of an imposing “strongman,” someone to keep the apparently crazier folk down. (So who better than a Jordanian to do it?) Liberation Theology in Kenya and the U.S. Elections
David J. Jonsson - 3/25/2008
This is the sixth of a series of articles on The Clash of Ideologies and Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance We are seeing first hand the role Liberation Theology is playing in the Ideological conflicts in Kenya led by Barack Hussein Obama and the opposition leader, Raila Odinga. In spite of Obama’s and to some extent Hillary Clinton’s objections to involvement in the political situations in foreign countries we are see the fingerprints of Obama in his support of Raila Odinga and the implementation of Shariah law in Kenya. ... Eliot Spitzer, David Brooks, and the State of Nature
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 3/24/2008
The article by David Brooks on March 14 in the New York Times, “The Rank-Link Imbalance,” purports to explain the mindset of New York’s fallen ex-governor. Anti-Feminism: What Is It?
Pranav S. Atit - 3/24/2008
It is uncertain as to what anti-feminism is or it can also be said that it is uncertain as to what feminism is. Although, it is ambiguous as to when anti-feminism originated, it originated due to adverse views against feminism. The origin of feminism in turn originated due to the fact that women traditionally had been regarded as inferior to men, physically and intellectually. Both the law and the feminist movement, however, was concretely established when an issue for declaration of independence for women , demanding full legal parity, equal compensation and the right to vote was pressed for ... Latinos’ Education Failure is Their Own Fault!
Prof. John Press - 3/24/2008
Latinos score lower than whites on tests and drop-out of school more often and it is largely their fault!!!! The same goes for Black American youth! Wow!!! That was risky. One can get fired for saying such things. So to cover my buns let me just clarify that nothing in this paragraph had anything to do with race. Culture, not I.Q. or innate ability, explains this discrepancy. And if you really want to minimize the achievement gap between Latinos, Asians, Whites and Blacks, you should read on. Open Letter to John McCain
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 3/23/2008
Every few days I get yet another mailing begging me for money for your campaign. There is always explicit language about my being one of your supporters. But I do not support you for president. You are an abomination, because of your support for President George W. Bush and his unjustified, immoral and illegal Iraq war. Everyone who sees a McCain presidency as a continuation of the Bush administration is totally correct. Economy and The Global Meltdown
Iqbal Latif - 3/23/2008
For an average trader the real day starts at nearly 1.30 in the morning as Japanese markets pick up steam and ends at 8.00 in the evening, just six hours into the close New Zealand is trading and with yen carry trade being unwound the pain never seems to end around the clock. The six hours are the real party time, the sun down time. Ask me would I like to live any other way, burning at two ends I would rather resign and burn to the end, life in the slow lane is not for me. The ecstasy never ends, the fatalities mount and profits search is like unending pursuit of Eldorado, seeing perfectly nor... What You Don't Know About Obama Can Hurt The Nation
Ted Belman - 3/23/2008
In Obama’s, a More Perfect Union speech, he said of Pastor Wright, U.S. Economy Records $738.6 Billion Current Account Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/19/2008
Monday, the Commerce Department reported the 2007 current account deficit was $738.6 billion, down from $811.5 billion in 2006. The deficit exceeded 5.3 percent of GDP. The fourth quarter deficit was $172.9 billion. Obama's Pastor and Politics of Noam Chomsky
Iqbal Latif - 3/19/2008
Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not chant "God Bless America" but "God damn America." Obama's Pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has a record of what even Obama's Campaign aides declare is 'Inflammatory Rhetoric.' My opinion is that Jeremiah Wright is a fervent pastor affronted by the injustices of the system. The rhetoric of the pastor is Politics of Noam Chomsky. Chomsky has stated that his "personal visions are fairly traditional anarchist ones, with origins in libertarian socialism. It is obvious that Obama has found inspiration and motivation in his pastor's rage and therefore he... Presidential Branding
Naseem Javed - 3/19/2008
The boy wonder of the USA minority blacks, Senator Obama, is being referred to as being a "just do it" brand, and Lady Clinton of the good old Whitehouse days of the sleek Clinton era as a "yes we can" brand. You surely would know what these two slogans being created by the big advertising machines stand for, American people, have become fully entrenched in the ad lingo, bombarded with daily ads, where some of these lines have become catch phrases, while very often, no one recalls their true commercial origin, like "where’s the beef"? With the election frenzy on the way, another wicked way is ... Economy: Fire Sale at Bear Stearns and Panic at the Fed
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/18/2008
Sunday evening J.P. Morgan announced its purchase of Bear Stearns at $2 per share after it had closed at $30 on Friday, and the Federal Reserve announced yet another emergency credit facility. Interview with Sam Vaknin: Private Armies and Private Military Companies
Barry Zellen - 3/18/2008
Barry Zellen conducted this interview with Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. Dr. Vaknin (http://samvak.tripod.com) is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He is the associate editor of the Global Politician and has served as a columnist for Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101. Why I wouldn’t vote for Obama
Ted Belman - 3/18/2008
My article Obama will win the nomination but lose the election got a lot of attention and caused quite a stir. It informed about his views on Israel, his church and its connection to SABEEL and Farrakhan, his pastor, his statements in his book and his association with the Palestinian cause and much more. The State of Racism: Part 2 - The Heart of Whiteness
Guy White - 3/18/2008
Massive white racism is taken as a fact of life. Blacks suffer at the hands of whites on daily basis, at every turn, as hate-filled white people abuse and assault the “people of color”. There are no non-racist whites and any white person who denies hate in his heart is a racist of the worst kind. In American universities teenagers study institutional racism, unconscious racism, white privilege, ideological whiteness, and other types of persecution that benefit whites at the expense of blacks. American history is nothing more than a history of racism. Western history is nothing more than histor... The Diseased West
Kyle Bristow - 3/18/2008
Nations are organic, because just like an organism, they are born, mature, decline in strength, and eventually die. To what degree of power and prestige they achieve during their lifetime is dependent upon the people of the nation. If the people are collectively prudent, courageous, and dedicated to their nation, the nation can attain great strength. When the citizens of a nation lose their national identity—either through a decline in historical understanding or a decrease in national saliency—the nation grows weak. This weakness amounts to a sickness that patriots of a nation must cure if the nation is to survive. Candlelight Vigil Met With Anti-Semitic Protest
Jennifer Kutner - 3/16/2008
One day after the brutal terrorist attack in Jerusalem in which a Palestinian terrorist infiltrated the Mercaz Harav rabbinical seminary and opened fire on a crowded library and study hall, killing eight students and wounding 11 others. Among those killed or injured were students who held dual Israeli-American citizenship. A candlelight vigil in memory of the innocent victims was held outside the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, organized by StandWithUs, an international education organization. The Orange Democratic Movement and The National Muslim Leaders Forum
David J. Jonsson - 3/16/2008
This is the fifth of a series of articles on The Clash of Ideologies and Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance. Trade Deficit Rises to $58.2 billion in January
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/13/2008
Yesterday, the Commerce Department reported the January deficit on trade in goods and services was $58.2 billion. This was up from $57.9 billion in December and was about 5 percent of GDP. Undervaluation of the dollar against the Chinese yuan and high oil prices keep dragging the trade deficit up. Pyrrhic Victories of Anti-Trade Crusaders
Ernesto Zedollo - Former President of Mexico - 3/13/2008
With the American election season upon us, fear once again emerges as the most salable commodity for aspiring presidential candidates. As the primary results show, the fear of trade has emerged as the potent weapon in the hands of Democratic candidates, much as fear of terrorism was in the hands of their Republican rivals for the previous two election seasons. Why the Grand Old Party is not so grand anymore
Kyle Bristow - 3/13/2008
It has been said that the Democratic Party is the “evil party” while the Republican Party is the “stupid party.” After John McCain was selected as the de facto Republican nominee for president, I could not help but think that “stupid” may be somewhat of an understatement. Bernier should disclose conditions for latest $300 million to Palestinian Authority
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 3/13/2008
Ottawa, Canada - In December, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier announced $300 million in new funding over five years to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA). This amount was on top of the $500 million given to the PA since 1993. As part of the new announcement, Minister Bernier proclaimed that "our funding is not unconditional. We will need to see … a viable Palestinian state that is democratic, accountable, and living in peace and security as a neighbour to Israel.” The change Obama believes in
Ted Belman - 3/13/2008
Obama has taken offense to the mention of his middle name “Hussein” and to the publication of his picture shown in East African garb and has been at pains to say he never was a Muslim, notwithstanding that anyone born of a Muslim father is automatically regarded as Muslim. The State of Racism: Part 1 - Is Black Racism Possible?
Guy White - 3/9/2008
Accusations of white racism are rampant, with the topic of race turning immediately to the alleged hate deep in the heart of every white person. In fact, any “dialogue” on race is nothing more than a vicious black attack on whites who cannot defend themselves and usually respond with a payment to black organizations and neighborhoods from the government and corporations. But what about black racism? Is it even possible? If so, does it exist? And if it exists, is it more or less virulent than white racism? Economy Loses 63,000 Jobs in February
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/9/2008
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy lost 63,000 payroll jobs in February, after losing 22,000 jobs in January. Governments added 38,000 jobs and private sector employment contracted 101,000. Businesses have become too pessimistic about the outlook for the economy, and the capacity of the Bush Administration and Federal Reserve to manage it, to be adding new employees or replacing those that leave. Obama: Charisma Isn't Enough
Prof. Barry Rubin - 3/9/2008
The U.S. presidential election is not--at least not supposed to be--like electing a high school class president. Vague promises, glib speeches, and personal popularity shouldn’t be enough to gain victory. This should be especially true this year since so many Americans don’t seem to think they did such a great job of choosing the last time they voted. Boys: Casualties of the Gender War
Robert A. Fink, MD - 3/6/2008
Recently, educational researchers have begun to review the changes within our educational system brought about by such diverse factors as standardized testing in the schools, the rise of gender feminism, and the currently widespread use of drugs to treat alleged behavioral disorders in our schoolchildren. Michigan State University Refuses to Revoke Mugabe’s Honorary Degree
Kyle Bristow - 3/6/2008
Michigan State University is known for a lot of things. It has a good basketball team, a decent football team, and its students—the Spartans—riot in the streets every few years or so. (Riots have occurred in 1997, 1998, 1999, and most recently, on April 2, 2005.) What is not widely known is that MSU gave in 1990 an honorary degree in law to the dictator of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, when he spoke at the university. Honorary degrees are not earned through coursework; they are given to people by the university as a symbolic trophy to honor their achievements in life. Slow housing economy needs jolt
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/6/2008
The National Association of Realtors reported January existing home sales sank to 4.89 million from 6.38 million a year earlier, and the average price was $201,100, down 4.6 percent from $210,900 from a year earlier. In December, sales were 4.91 million and the median price was $207,000. The large price drop from December was particularly disturbing. Establishing the Islamic Kingdom of God in Kenya
David J. Jonsson - 3/6/2008
This is the fourth of a series of articles on The Clash of Ideologies and Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance God Bless Ralph Nader
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 3/6/2008
Because he wants to salvage American democracy and help Americans, Ralph Nader is running for president again. He deserves the support of all Americans that see themselves as progressives, dissidents, independents, and patriots who want to remove the stranglehold of the two-party plutocracy on our political system. The Mexican Border and Culturist History Lessons
Prof. John Press - 3/6/2008
Culturist thought can improve the insights of our historians. This, in turn, can lead to policy implications, including immigration. Applying culturist insights to the book Translating Property by Maria E. Montoya provides examples in spades. This book discusses how we settled land disputes after our victory in the Mexican – American War. The importance of our border with Mexico makes analyzing the way we look at the outcome of this dispute vitally important. Obama will win the nomination but lose the election
Ted Belman - 3/6/2008
Obama will win the nomination but lose the election. The media is now on to him. The arguments of our "smear" campaign are gaining traction and some of the media is running with them. Slowly, but surely Obama, is doing himself in. It is not just the company he keeps, but also what he is now saying. The Lure of Protectionism in Ohio
Morgan Robinson and Susan Froetschel - 3/5/2008
The candidates for US president sense deepening anxiety over globalization among workers, blue and white collar alike. But too often, they frame globalization as a choice for employers or government, and not for consumers. The experience of a tiny TV manufacturer shows how an electorate’s inability to look at globalization in its totality risks taking the country in a wrong direction. Bernanke should encourage banks to adopt sounder business models
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/5/2008
Ben Bernanke, in recent testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, noted the shortages of credit, especially the reluctance of banks to extend credit to one another. More than Three Hots and a Cot
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 3/5/2008
New Mexico’s Joy Junction is more than just a place where the homeless go to get a meal and a bed. Are we ready to vote?
Nickolas Hoog - 3/5/2008
With non-proliferation hanging by a thread, tension boiling world wide, U.S. hegemony and soft power at its lowest point in decades, it is difficult to imagine that a single individual carries the solutions to these crises. But, here we are, skeptical and a little demoralized, watching the democratic and republican presidential candidates sweep across the nation, waving flags, shaking hands with farmers, kissing children, promising to pull us from the depths of what many have criticized as the worst administration in American history. The weight of responsibility that every citizen of the Unit... Is Obama’s Life at Risk?
Amil Imani - 3/4/2008
In eloquent speeches presidential candidate Obama has made copious promises, understandably to attract voters. He talks about “change,” without really spelling out change from what to what. It just sounds good: “change.” A great sound bite, indeed. Change is exciting, while status quo is viewed as stagnant and boring. It is all part of the political game of telling people what they want to hear, getting elected, and worrying about delivering later. Media: Pledges Not Made, Fairness Not Met
Prof. Barry Rubin - 3/4/2008
Keep repeating to yourself what the media institution's spokespeople tell us: Coverage is fair, coverage is fair, coverage is fair. But as you do so be sure not to look at the actual articles. Corruption and Culture – Part 2
Saberi Roy - 3/3/2008
The term culture as we understand would refer to our social and moral systems, as well as all forms of human activity that are carried through generations comprising the gamut of human beliefs, values, arts, religions, languages and behavior. Culture is the product of civilization, a way of life and establishes traditions for societies. Corruption is counter to culture and erodes cultural integrity and moral systems of societies and thus has a deep and long lasting impact on the continuous evolution of human society. The different facets of culture are reflected through arts, knowledge systems, music, entertainment, religions and rituals. Is the Sun Setting on US Dominance? – Part II
Jiang Qian - 3/3/2008
CAMBRIDGE: It has become fashionable to talk about the arrival of a multipolar world, in which the US faces increasing competition from rising powers like Europe, China and India, or resurgent powers like Russia and Japan. Proponents of such a "multipolar worldview" often claim to hold a "realist" view of international relations. They believe the US should retreat from its ideological crusade and instead engage in a contest for influence with other global "poles", à la "the Great Game," on "unclaimed playgrounds such as Africa or Latin America. David vs Goliath; Homeowner Forced to Live on the Streets
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 3/3/2008
Neatly dressed and immaculately groomed, Joe Calkins shatters any stereotype image you may have had of a homeless person. Strangulation in the Dark: Palestine, Somalia, and the American Mainstream Media
Abukar Arman - 3/3/2008
Whenever the media fails to press and keep the powerful at check the inevitable consequence is prolonged oppression, lethal destruction, and radicalized insurgency. Aside from Baghdad, nowhere is such consequence more evident than in Gaza and Mogadishu. The North American Union Farce
Laura Carlsen - 3/3/2008
It's got millions of rightwing citizens calling Congress, sponsoring legislation, and writing manifestos in defense of U.S. sovereignty. It comes up in presidential candidates' public appearances, has made it into primetime debates, and one presidential candidate—Ron Paul—used it as a central theme of his (short-lived) campaign. Primary Economics
Prof. Peter Morici - 3/3/2008
The Texas and Ohio primaries could well determine the Democratic nominee for President. Its high time Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton quit musing about change and explain what they will do to fix the economy. Is the Sun Setting on US Dominance?
Joergen Oerstroem Moeller - 2/28/2008
As the world’s economic and security interests become increasingly interconnected, many analysts speculate on what global leadership will emerge throughout the 21st century. This two-part series examines the changing role of the United States in the world‘s economic and security scene. In the first part of the series, Joergen Oerstroem Moeller, visiting senior research fellow with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, argues that the US may be losing grip of the steering wheel and Asia will likely emerge as the world’s largest and most dynamic economy. Asian financial institutions coming t... The Auction-Rate Securities Fiasco
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/28/2008
I dont know how Broadway sells tickets these days when folly is in so plain array on Wall Street. Auction-rate securities drama provides the latest tale of greed and betrayal. Ignorance and Realism: A Critique of Mearsheimer-Walt
Ofira Seliktar - 2/28/2008
John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt's assertion that the Israel lobby, acting as an agent of Israel, has turned American foreign policy into a tool of Zionism and hurt the national interest is based on their realist view of international relations mixed with ignorance about the politics of the Middle East. This account either misrepresents or glosses over the complex realities in the region, among them such "non-rational" factors as the power of a messianic Islamist ideology and the existence of radical regimes that require continuous conflict in order to survive. America's Destruction of the Control Spy Satellite US 193
Monotapash Mukherjee - 2/28/2008
Feb. 21, the US military destroyed a defunct and out-of –control spy satellite US 193 with a specially designed SM3 ballistic missile with pin-point accuracy. It was an unprecedented mission for the navy, so extraordinary that the final go ahead to launch the missile was reserved for Defense Secretary Robert Gates rather than a military commander. The Next President Should End The Madness
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/26/2008
VOTERS ARE FOCUSING too much on personalities and not enough on issues. This is unfortunate. Americans need a president to address tough problems and implement solutions. Economy: Home Sales, Home Prices Sink Again
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/26/2008
The National Association of Realtors reported January existing home sales sank to 4.890 million from 6.380 million a year earlier, and the average price was $201,100, down from $210,900 or 4.6, percent from a year earlier. In December, sales were 4.910 million and the median price was $207,000. The large price drop from December was particularly disturbing. Presidential gutter debates
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 2/26/2008
Presidential primary debates in the United States of America has spawned media coverage and caught the public’s attention, but the debates however has failed to lived up to its expectation - it has been labeled as monotonous and too personal by the public. Obama's "Hope" is beating Clinton's "Help"
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 2/26/2008
Hope mongering has been working much better than experience mongering. Now, the rest of the story…. As befits American culture, politics is all about slick selling to the masses. Hillary Clinton is selling Day-1 help to victims and sufferers. Barack Obama is selling effervescent hope to yes-we-can dreamers. This media hyped horse race is like a fight between diet Coke and diet Pepsi, artificially sweetened candidates devoid of real nourishment. Corruption and Culture - Part I
Saberi Roy - 2/26/2008
Corruption is not just the abuse of power for personal gain but also personal gain at the expense of others so it has moral, ethical, social, economic, political and broader geographical impact. Although some form of corruption has always existed in human society, the practice or culture of corruption has taken up gigantic forms since the 20th century. From politics to the corporate world, from entertainment to education corruption is a disease and a vice of organizational systems. Almost like cancer, corruption begins slowly and gradually permeates to affect the whole of society. Most people ... Obama Promotes Anti-Semitism, Racism, Hatred of Israel
Bill Levinson - 2/26/2008
A growing number of bloggers are pointing out Barack Obama’s numerous connections to unsavory individuals and organizations that espouse and promote hatred of Jews, Catholics, white people, Israel, and/or the United States. Culturist Asylum
Prof. John Press - 2/22/2008
In U.S. law, in order to qualify as a refugee and apply for asylum, an alien must be unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality because he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or "membership in a particular social group." This quoted portion of our law has been used to argue that women who fear female genital mutilation should all be granted asylum. Laws such as this show no appreciation for the existence or impact of international cultural diversity. We need to replace internationally-oriented, culturally-neutral laws with laws informed by culturist understandings. Global Economy: Recession in America , Inflation in China
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 2/22/2008
Possible fear of Recession has created panic in America as its economy is in doldrums, whereas China is trying hard to cool its economy from overheating as inflation lurks in. Blame It On The Whitey!
Guy White - 2/22/2008
The West is a society of emasculated liars. A people lacking the will to stand up and say that the emperor has no clothes are easy to control. They all know that multiculturalism and race card tricks are a lie, but cooperate in the cultural and demographic destruction of their nations nonetheless for the fear of being called “racist”. So powerful is the claim of racism that more than 95% of people will immediately back down if you only accuse them of being racist. It does not matter what you discuss – immigration, taxation, favorite athlete, music, anything – try calling your opponent a racis... The Clash of Ideologies in Africa – Kenya
David J. Jonsson - 2/22/2008
This is the third of a series of articles on The Clash of Ideologies and Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance. Delusional Hope: The Obama Rapture
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 2/22/2008
Never have so many hoped for so much because of rollicking rhetoric and pulsating platitudes. A tsunami of hope has plunged America into electoral euphoria. In its path is the wreckage of critical thinking about what ails the US and what bold, revolutionary actions are needed. Barry Obama has accomplished semantic alchemy, turning justified but grim distrust and outrage with government and politics into hallelujah hope. But most hope never materializes and is a terrible predictor of reality. Economy and Stagflation
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/22/2008
The chickens are coming home to roost. Reckless trade and energy policies and fraudulent banking have set up Americans for a tough bout with stagflation - rising prices and unemployment. Washington offer palliatives but no solutions. The Trinity United Church of Christ and Louis Farrakhan
David J. Jonsson - 2/21/2008
This is the second of a series of articles on The Clash of Ideologies and Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance. Economy: Cerberus Acquisition of Chrysler Makes Little Sense
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/21/2008
Cerberus will acquire control of the Chrysler Group from DaimlerChrysler. Cerberus will pay $7.4 billion for 80.1 percent of Chrysler Group and assume the North American automaker’s pension and health care liabilities. Daimler would retain 19.9 percent ownership. A Lament for John Edwards
Amir Khan, Ph.D. candidate - 2/21/2008
If ambition is the original sin for any politician, then John Edwards’ exit from the political arena is some form of poetic justice. No one embodied vanity better than Edwards. His White House bid was a transparent attempt to capture yet another trophy for his rather formidable display case, one which currently houses wares attesting to a rather remarkable career as a civil litigator. What Is An American?
Prof. John Press - 2/21/2008
In speaking about culturism I’m asked what is an American – what is the majority culture of which you speak? This question is, of course, hard to answer because we are not defined, like other countries, by religion or race. We have a shared history and ideals and a shared future. But beyond that you have so many options that it boggles the mind: Gay ministers are good Americans and conservative gun proponents are good Americans too. We are a nation full of liberty and spectrum. But two general answers come to mind. Doing Something about Global Warming
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/21/2008
Americans appear poised to act on global warming, but despite the best intentions, we may hasten environmental calamity. The Lieberman-Warner Bill has passed Committee and appears headed to a full Senate vote. It would limit U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2012 to 2005 levels, and reduce those by 70 percent in 2050. Sadly, by encouraging energy-intensive industries to move to developing countries, it would accelerate global warming and harm U.S. industries that could contribute importantly to a sustainable global solution. Barack Hussein Obama’s Contribution to the Clash of Ideologies
David J. Jonsson - 2/20/2008
This is the first of a series of articles on The Clash of Ideologies and Leftist/Marxist – Islamist Alliance Economy: 2007 Trade Deficit Exceeds $700
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/20/2008
Last Thursday, the Commerce Department reported the 2007 deficit on international trade in goods and services was $711.6 billion. This is down from $758.5 billion in 2006 but still 5.1 percent of GDP. Economy: Is Bernanke Headed for the Exit?
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/19/2008
Last Thursday, Ben Bernanke appeared before the Senate Banking Committee. In his testimony, he noted the shortages of credit, especially the reluctance of banks to extend credit to one another, and the inability of the banks to securitize Alt-A, Subprime and Jumbo mortgages. The latter makes all but Fannie Mae conforming mortgages and home equity loans too scarce. Free Speech For Some, But Not For All
Elizabeth Wright - 2/19/2008
Is freedom of speech a moot issue at this point in American history? Are those who persist in fighting to uphold the principles of the First Amendment fighting an already lost battle? From several recent polls of American citizens, it would seem that most people are more concerned about avoiding social discord than with preserving individual rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Are White Men an Elections Albatross?
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 2/19/2008
In Frank Rich’s New York Times column yesterday (you know, the same one he’s rehashed hundreds of times before, with slight edits), he speaks of the “demographic monotony: all white and nearly all male” of Sen. John McCain’s (Media-AZ) victory “posse” (“The Grand Old White Party Confronts Obama,” February 17, 2008). Obama Hopes Beating Clinton Will Help
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 2/18/2008
Hope mongering has been working much better than experience mongering. Now, the rest of the story…. Economy: Bernanke's silence ignores his task
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/18/2008
Ben Bernanke appeared before the Senate Banking Committee Thursday. In his testimony, he noted the shortages of credit, especially the reluctance of banks to extend credit to one another, and the inability of the banks to securitize alt-A, subprime and jumbo mortgages. The latter makes all but Fannie Mae conforming mortgages and home equity loans scarce. US Ranks Below India In Report On Environmental Issues And GDP
Angelique van Engelen - 2/18/2008
The US ranks at the bottom of the G8 in the report which was compiled by researchers at the Yale and Columbia Universities. That's below India and only just above China, two countries that have been exempt from stringent climate regulations due to their Third World status. Investments by Sovereign Wealth Funds in the United States
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/14/2008
In purest form, a sovereign wealth fund is a pool of resources, owned and/or controlled by a government, invested in public or private assets, including debt instruments, equities and direct investments in property. Researchers Show Why Road Traffic Pollutes Worse Than Aviation
Angelique van Engelen - 2/14/2008
A new study into various transport sectors’ contributions to pollution reveals that road traffic is the worst offender. It causes more greenhouse gas emissions than aviation, which is the second-largest pollutor. By contrast, shipping has a cooling effect. Racist Mass Murderer was a “Hero,” Say Blacks
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 2/14/2008
Kirkwood, Missouri Police Sergeant William Biggs, 50. KPD Officer Tom Ballman, 37. Director of Public Works Kenneth Yost, 61. Councilman Michael H.T. Lynch, 63. Councilwoman Connie Karr, 51.
All dead, all white.
Mayor Mike Swoboda, age unknown. Suburban Journals reporter Todd Smith, 36.
Both wounded, both white.
Shooter Charles “Cookie” Thornton,... Challenges for the New President
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/13/2008
Voters are focusing too much on personalities and not enough on issues. This is unfortunate. Americans need a president to address tough problems and implement solutions. From 'White Makes Right' to 'the Darker the Berry, the Sweeter the Juice'
Guy White - 2/13/2008
According to the politically correct dogma, white people have no legitimate rights, grievances or even interests. All such claims are attacked as "racist". Any positive statement about the accomplishments of the white people is "racist". In any competition - whether it's criminal prosecution, admission to college or a political race - anyone supporting whites is condemned as a "racist". But why? Whiteness Studies: Understanding Culture or Promoting Hate?
Prof. John Press - 2/13/2008
Culturists and other Americans should all know about whiteness studies because they command a lot of respect in academia's humanities departments. The book "How the Irish Became White" by Noel Ignatiev popularized whiteness studies. Whiteness studies has an interesting perspective. However, logical fallacies, culturist ignorance and destructive tendencies make this field an overall disaster for America. Academia influences our culture and teaches tomorrow’s leaders. For these reasons, it behooves those of us who are concerned with the fate of America to be aware of whiteness studies and culturist critiques of it. We the People
Amil Imani - 2/12/2008
In the United States, the oath of office for the President of the United States is specified in the U.S. Constitution (Article II, Section 1): Stimulus Package, Interest Cuts Should Help, but Crisis Continues
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/12/2008
The $150 billion dollar stimulus package announced by the George W. Bush Administration and Democratic leaders, coupled with interest rate cuts implemented by the Federal Reserve, should help avert an economic debacle but the danger of recession continues. One Journalist’s Experience With the Media Elite: Gangsters, Cadavers and Misinformation
Ron Chepesiuk - 2/12/2008
Last December, the U.S.´s Federal Communications (FCC) pushed through new rules that will unleash a torrent of further media consolidation and wipe out independent voices in cities already woefully short on local news and investigative journalism. Six major companies own most of the media outlets in the U.S., and since 1995, the number of companies owning commercial TV stations has declined by 40 percent. This trend is reflected globally, as News Corp, Viacom and the other multinationals continue to gobble up media companies. With Expected Upsurge in Homeless Veterans, Joy Junction Vets Give Advice to Their Comrades Returning Home
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 2/12/2008
According to a Nov. 7 2007 story in the New York Times, more than 400 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are homeless, and the Veterans Affairs Department and other service groups are expecting a new surge in homeless veterans in the years to come. No Country for Old Men
Prof. John Press - 2/12/2008
The movie No Country For Old Men was fantastic. It raised important philosophical issues and refused the easy happy ending. The movie follows people in pursuit of a sociopathic hit man and features a lot of random violence. But the violence is not gratuitous as it is the point of the film; extremely brutal actions are an increasingly common part of our culture. This must alter our sense of this world; we should expect to increasingly see life as more arbitrary, violent and out of our control. The Bush - Bernanke Show Goes On
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 2/12/2008
Many Americans have lost confidence in their country's "economic security" over the last few years and as the recent CNN poll found that 57% of the public believe that the U.S. is already is recession. Jenny’s Story-A Tale of Horror and Redemption
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 2/10/2008
If I’d had to endure the terror-filled life experienced by one of our young clients at Joy Junction I doubt whether I would even be at the place she’s at. Fed Interest Rate Cuts Will Not Be Enough
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/10/2008
In recent weeks, the Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate a half point to 3.0 percent, as expected. It really had little choice. Not Even Pretending to be Fair: The New York Times On Gaza
Prof. Barry Rubin - 2/7/2008
The New York Times coverage of the Middle East, especially Steven Erlanger (who will soon be leaving) has often been terrible. Naturally, the Times and Mr. Erlanger will dispute this, but they will not do so by examining the specific stories filed and what these articles do--and do not--say. Decision 2008: Will America pick a President of Peace or War?
Ghazal Omid - 2/5/2008
The process of picking a President has become so lengthy most Americans wait until Super Tuesday to choose who to vote for. Sort of like the Friday after Christmas when everything is on sale and you take what is left. Smart shoppers know that just because there is a line up for something or someone, that doesn’t means it is worth buying or voting for! Economy Loses 17,000 Jobs in January
Prof. Peter Morici - 2/4/2008
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy lost 17,000 payroll jobs in January. These poor jobs data are the strongest evidence so far that the economic expansion is grinding to a halt. The Evolution of Evil
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 2/4/2008
Perhaps a global political apocalypse has already arrived. Activists and dissidents should understand that evil forces and tyrannical governments have evolved. Just as human knowledge and science expand, so do the strategies and instruments used by rulers, elites and plutocrats. By learning from history and using new technology they have smarter tools of tyranny. The best ones prevent uprisings, revolutions and political reforms. Rather than violently destroy rebellious movements, they let them survive as marginalized and ineffective efforts that divert and sap the energy of nonconformist and rebellious thinkers. Real revolution remains an energy-draining dream, as evil forces thrive. American Economy: Flirting with Recession
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 2/4/2008
The Earth revolves around the Sun, and around the Earth, US dollar revolves - until few years ago this used to be an omnipotent realism. But today, Earth still revolves around the Sun, but same cannot be said of the U. S dollar’s circulation around the Earth. Presidents and Populist Platitudes
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 2/4/2008
The most annoying poll taken during election cycles is without a doubt the much-sought “likeability” poll. “Who would you rather have a BBQ with?” “Who would you like to go to a baseball game with?” “If lost, who would you most like to ask for directions?” It is a stale test, one that should be done away with, and one in which the lowest common denominator of an executive is trumpeted as something other than it should be. The intangibles of personal attractiveness and likeability ought not to be a desire our nominee choices pander for, but rather a byproduct of their genuine character. False Gods Create False Hope
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 1/30/2008
The good news is the huge pent up public demand for political change. The bad news is that presidential candidates have made a mockery of the concept of change while ignoring true political reforms. Missing are details about fixing the corrupt, dysfunctional political system and restoring balance among the three branches of government and between the states and the federal government. Harper Government Withdraws From UN
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 1/30/2008
Ottawa, Canada - The Stephen Harper government has withdrawn its support for a UN anti-racism conference scheduled to take place next year in South Africa, according to a media release today from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Democrats’ Chickens Come Home to Roost: Black Fairy Tale, White Nightmare?
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 1/29/2008
The following passage was added by AOL to Black Leaders Question Clinton Remarks, New York Times on Jan 12, 2008: American Economy: Strolling over the troubled waters
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 1/29/2008
Against a backdrop of growing concern about the recession, the central bank of the United States, the Federal Reserve unexpectedly, out of the blue, slashed a key interest rate by three – quarters of a percentage point, from 4.25 percent down to 3.5 percent on Tuesday January 22nd after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his team approved the huge rate cut after an emergency video conference on Monday night. McCain Reinforces Role As Frontrunner; Still Can't Win The Conservative Vote
Ryan Mauro - 1/22/2008
The Republican race may not be as anti-climactic as some anticipated. The majority of pundits on TV predicted a Huckabee victory due to the large evangelical base, but McCain managed to come through. The winner of the South Carolina primary for the past few decades has always become the Republican nominee. With momentum on his side, and polls putting him ahead of Giuliani on the east and west coasts, it seems very likely that McCain will be the Republican nominee. The amazing dynamic at play is that should be become the Republican nominee, it will not be with the blessing of conservatives. In ... Bush's lasting legacy for Arab League
David Singer - 1/22/2008
President George W. Bush delivered a severe rebuff to the Arab League in remarks made by him at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on 10 January 2008 ( "the King David Declaration"). Bush and Musharraf - The greater evil and the lesser evil!
Iqbal Latif - 1/21/2008
The hatred of the two unite Liberals and Extremists with equal zest and enthusiasm The Darker the Berry, the Sweeter the Juice - But Does Anyone Really Believe In Affirmative Action?
Guy White - 1/21/2008
Diversity is a strength, we are told. The greatest strength even. And affirmative action is the way to achieve this panacea. But does anyone really believe in affirmative action for the sake of diversity, or for any other reason? Five-Way for the GOP Nomination: The Race Just Became Even More Unpredictable
Ryan Mauro - 1/18/2008
Mitt Romney’s comfortable victory in Michigan keeps him in the race, and may very well provide him with a bounce due to the low expectations for his campaign after New Hampshire. Commentators will argue over whether Romney won because of high Republican turnout, relatively low Independent turnout, or perhaps, the orders from the Daily Kos for Democrats to vote for him. If the pundits and rival campaigns can point out how McCain has only performed so well in contests where independents can vote, and loses among conservative Republicans, McCain may be derailed in South Carolina. Miscalculating Inflation
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 1/18/2008
The most accurate yardstick of inflation is the GDP deflator (which includes the prices of capital goods and export and import prices). Regrettably, it is rarely used or mentioned in public. The GOP Primaries: New Hampshire, Michigan, & Beyond
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 1/18/2008
And the winner of the first two Republican primaries is … Big Media! Well, whaddya expect? As the sayings go, “The media make their own history, but not on their own terms,” and “Journalists write the first drafts of historians’ lies.” Vote Keep America Alive
Amil Imani - 1/17/2008
America is a nation and an ideal, birthed by a group of visionaries that gave it the Constitution to nurture it and protect it. What makes America, America the Beautiful, more than just a blessed land is our legacy, the Constitution. Sadly, the Constitution also makes for America the Vulnerable by enshrining freedom that enables the malevolent to subvert and destroy America from within. You, the voter, are the guardian of the Constitution. Your vote determines the health and survival of America. The Federal Reserve Needs More Than a New Communications Strategy
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/17/2008
Ben Bernanke has indicated that the Federal Reserve will redouble its efforts to communicate clearly about the outlook for the economy and monetary policy. Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush
Prof. Barry Rubin - 1/17/2008
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of articles have been written on President George Bush's visit to the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian issue. And not a single one that I've seen has mentioned the ridiculously obvious point that goes so far in explaining everything. US-Iran Tensions Heightened
Roger Gale - UK Member of Parliament - 1/17/2008
The war of words and actions between the Iranian regime and the US administration has been at the forefront of all Middle Eastern affairs since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. However, one incident in the last week brought this to our sharp attention. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Straight of Hormuz were seen to have threatened a US naval fleet with what can only be described as extremely provocative actions. This most recent event occurs less than a year after 15 British sailors were detained in international waters by Iranian officials, taken to Iran and paraded on TV. On the Streets of Albuquerque
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 1/11/2008
It was a cold January afternoon in Albuquerque as I came out of the post office. I was just about to get in my car as a man who was, I suspect, much younger than he looked approached me and with obvious difficulty slurred out the words, “Can you give me 50 cents to catch the bus to get home?” Why the Trade Deficit Matters
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/10/2008
On Friday, the Commerce Department will release data for the November 2007 trade deficit. The consensus estimate is $60 billion, up from $57.8 billion in October. It may be a bit larger or smaller, but either way, it comes to about 5 percent of GDP, That is an enormous drag on national income and growth, and has corrosive consequences for our children's future.. The New Hampshire Surprise: Edwards Makes Clinton the Front-Runner
Ryan Mauro - 1/10/2008
Wow. All the polls were wrong. All the experts were wrong. Every analysis and projection for the future has to be re-worked. No major poll or expert indicated a comfortable Clinton victory, and there was almost unanimous consent that just the opposite would happen, with some predicting an Obama landslide due to Iowa’s momentum and independents. In easily the most stunning political turn-around of this election year, Clinton won brought out droves of female voters, particularly single female voters, that surpassed the tremendous advantages Obama had going in. Change Yes, Ron Paul No
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 1/8/2008
Ron Paul’s obnoxious supporters like more traditional political activists can spin and delude themselves about election results. But the Iowa caucus results could not be clearer: The vast national desire for political change is manifesting itself through support for both Democratic and Republican change-candidates. Despite Paul being flush with money and having a large number of workers in Iowa, he was solidly rejected as the leading change agent. 2008 - Time to pay the piper!
Denis Petit - 1/8/2008
The year 2008 will be a year for the history books. All of the events since the creation of the FED and the Bank of Canada in 1913 which led to America’s first default in 1934 when the US government removed the convertibility of the US dollar into gold bullion for US citizens, then up to the US default in1971 when Nixon took America off the gold standard and officially put the US and because of the Breton Wood agreement of 1944 the rest of the world on a fiat (money back by nothing but empty government promises) monetary system has led us to where we are today. Anyone who has studied the works... New Candidate Ratings Before New Hampshire Vote: Huckabee and Obama Remain Favorites
Ryan Mauro - 1/8/2008
In my last report, I argued that Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama were the frontrunners for their party’s nominations. Yesterday’s results in Iowa solidify their positions for the moment among the media and pundits. With New Hampshire coming up on January 6th, it is important to note this could change. The few polls that have results from the day after the Iowa caucuses puts Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as tied or have Clinton winning by a few points, and most seem to indicate McCain is leading Romney in New Hampshire. By the time our next report is published after New Hampshire votes, there... Canadians urge Harper to Support Democracy in Kenya
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 1/8/2008
Ottawa, Canada - The Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD) and members of the Kenyan-Canadian community applaud Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier and International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda for their initiative during the post-election crisis in Kenya, and commend the Government for its initial offer of financial assistance to the people. Too Much America Bashing: Bad For World’s Security
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 1/8/2008
The fight against terrorism is not over. It is not even, in reality, nearly over as Osama bin Laden and other senior al- Qaeda leaders are yet to be captured or killed by America and her allies united for the fight against international terrorism upon the aftermath of September 11th. Nevertheless, as this year comes to its close, it can be said that the fight against terrorism though lopsided and tedious at times have so far, nevertheless, has helped to shape the future campaign. Bush's Last Year: The Best Is Yet To Come?
Prof. Barry Rubin - 1/8/2008
What should President George W. Bush, currently visiting the Middle East, expect to achieve during his last year in office, even as the American people begin to choose his successor? President Bush, the PLO, Rocket Science and Commonsense
David Singer - 1/8/2008
President Bush's last ditch effort to save his two state vision will reach a climax with his visit to Israel and the West Bank this week. The President must have shivered in his boots as he read some of the welcoming statements that were published in the Jerusalem Post last week ["PA official says Olmert must be living on a different planet" - 2 January] - obviously made with the President's imminent visit clearly in contemplation. 2007 - A Year For The History Books!
Denis Petit - 1/8/2008
I am convinced that future historians will look at 2007 as the year that the Over The Counter (OTC) derivative market, the largest financial market ever created in all of human history began it’s inevitable collapse that will lead to the chaos that is to come in 2008 and beyond. Economy Adds Only 18,000 Jobs in December
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/7/2008
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy added only 18,000 payroll jobs in December, after posting an 115,000 gain in November. Economists expected a 70,000 gain in December, and these jobs data are the strongest evidence so far that the economic expansion is grinding to a halt. Recession Watch, the Jobs Report and Fed Policy
Prof. Peter Morici - 1/4/2008
The holiday season did not bring a lot of good economic news. Weak retail sales, the flagging fortunes of automakers and declining industrial production have pundits guessing whether the U.S. economy has entered a recession and, if so, how long will it last. How The News Is Made
Prof. Barry Rubin - 1/4/2008
Ring, ring, goes the telephone. And of course I answer it. The voice on the other end says that he is “Joseph” of Reuters. I get many calls from journalists and wire services but never has someone I don’t know introduced himself by first name only. Since he has an obvious Arabic accent it is quite clear that he thinks I am either so biased as to care what his family name is or so stupid not to guess why he isn’t giving it. So the effect is to achieve the exact opposite of what he wants. It puts me on my guard. Verification of 22 Historic Climate Studies Pinpoints Patterns in Data Errors
Angelique van Engelen - 1/3/2008
We're swamped with information about anticipated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But the indicators vary wildly. A new study compared the historic numbers of 22 trend-setting organizations to actual findings and found out where data fouls up. Answer to “The Demise of the Expert and the Ascendance of the Layman”
Sammy Elrom - 12/28/2007
In spite of the eloquent phrasing and admirable language, I find the article "The Demise of the Expert and the Ascendance of the Layman" to be troubling. Black Men: They Could be Heroes - Part 1
Elizabeth Wright - 12/28/2007
"Every demonstration of pathology offers the chance to submit "proposals" for yet newer and trendier social programs that will, of course, require the input of the black elites' wise and judicious expertise. Black social problems offer unlimited fodder for workshop topics and themes for the endless string of conferences funded by Philip Morris or Anheuser-Busch, and hosted by the growing numbers of black social scientists and talk circuit riders." His Beatitude's Attitude Leaves Bush With No Latitude
David Singer - 12/27/2007
President Bush must be aghast at the call for the rejection of Israel as the Jewish State made by the top Roman Catholic clergyman in Israel - His Beatitude Michel Sabbah Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. His statement mirrors similar views recently expressed by Mahmoud Abbas - Chairman of the PLO and President of the Palestinian Authority and Saeb Erekat - chief negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The Year of Acting Dangerously
Prof. Barry Rubin - 12/26/2007
While 2007 didn't greatly change the Middle East compared to some of its predecessors, here are some of its significant trends which will continue to dominate the year to come. What A Difference A Year Makes!
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 12/24/2007
From mid-2003 throughout the end of 2006 no one was more disheartened over the course of U.S. involvement in Iraq than I. What was a clean, successful, three-week liberation somehow devolved into an unnecessary and counterproductive occupation. Iraq, we were told, was to be a quick, in-and-out, SWAT-like takedown. Central Banks and the Credit Crunch of 2007
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 12/24/2007
I. The Credit Crunch of 2007 The global credit crunch induced by the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States, in the second half of 2007, engendered a tectonic and paradigmatic shift in the way central banks perceive themselves and their role in the banking and financial systems. Melting Ice Sheets Could Result In Sea Level Rise Twice As High As Predicted By IPCC
Angelique van Engelen - 12/23/2007
Sea levels rose as much as 1.6 metres every one hundred years on average the last time the Earth was as warm as it is predicted to be later this century. A new study predicts a six metre rise in the near future. We Shall Overcome Jesse Jackson
Elizabeth Wright - 12/23/2007
Jesse Jackson and other liberal black elites understand well that the only power they possess comes through their influence within and over the black masses. To guarantee their success as brokers for their own elite class, for whom they extract sundry affirmative action perks, they must appear to maintain a firm attachment to the "downtrodden underclass." It is this underclass that is held up to whites, to preserve white fear of potential riots and mayhem. And it is the prospect of turmoil and pandemonium that underlies all the successful wheeling and dealing pulled off by these black elites. George W. Clinton and President Condi Rice
Dymphna - 12/23/2007
That’s the appellation assigned to President Bush by Michael Freund. Infinite Space And Our Difficulties Getting There
Angelique van Engelen - 12/22/2007
Pioneers of mathematics often encountered significant resistance to their work during their lifetime. Donald Coxeter, a man described as the King of Infinity knew about this first hand. As did Rene Descartes. Both made significant strides into infinity. The Demise of the Expert and the Ascendance of the Layman
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 12/22/2007
In the age of Web 2.0, authoritative expertise is slowly waning. The layman reasserts herself as a fount of collective mob "wisdom". Information - unsorted, raw, sometimes wrong - substitutes for structured, meaningful knowledge. Gatekeepers - intellectuals, academics, scientists, and editors, publishers, record companies, studios - are summarily and rudely dispensed with. Crowdsourcing (user-generated content, aggregated for commercial ends by online providers) replaces single authorship. Rivers Of Blood: Diversity Is Our Greatest Threat
Guy White - 12/22/2007
"We didn't have the wonderful diversity of people that you have here today," said Hillary Clinton during her 1995 trip to the Chicago school she attended as a child. "I'm sad we didn't have it because it would have been a great value, as I'm sure you will discover." Business as Usual: the Energy Bill, Subprime Mess and Recession Watch
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/21/2007
The stock market remains unsettled, as the nation's economic problems grow. Washington from the White House to Capitol Hill to the Federal Reserve gives us lots of bustle but no truly comforting action. Subsidizing Hunger On Borrowed Cash
Lagan Sebert - 12/21/2007
A window of opportunity for farm-subsidy reform is closing after the Senate approved a new $286 billion farm bill passed on Friday. The bill’s innocuous name belies a wide-reaching American policy. The farm bill continues to be touted as a safety net for American farmers, but the word farm isn’t even in the bill's official title this year-- The Food and Energy Security Act of 2007. An odd coalition of critics ranging from President Bush to environmental groups have charged that the Senate failed to significantly reform a subsidy system, which continues to subsidize large-scale farmers already making record profits and wealthy city-slickers cashing in on vast land ownership. Canadian Father Kills His Daughter For Not Wearing A Hijab
Ali Sina - 12/21/2007
On 11th of December, in Mississauga Canada, Aqsa Parvez, a 16 year old Canadian girl was choked to death by her Pakistani father, Muhammad Parvez, for not wearing hijab. "She wanted to live her life the way she wanted to, not the way her parents wanted her to," her classmates told the reporters. "She just wanted to be herself, honestly she just wanted to show her beauty, and not be pushed around by her parents telling her what she has to be like, what she has to do. Nobody would want to do that." Canadian aid to Palestinians
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 12/19/2007
Ottawa, Canada - Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said today that Canada would commit $300 million over the next five years in foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA). This commitment is on top of the nearly 500 million Canadian tax dollars that have already been given to the Palestinians. The 2008 Campaign: New Candidate Rankings
Ryan Mauro - 12/18/2007
The following are the latest rankings of the candidates for U.S. Presidency in 2008. U.S. Records $178.5 Billion Third Quarter Current Account Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/18/2007
Monday, the Commerce Department reported the third quarter current account deficit was $178.5 billion, down from $188.9 billion in the second quarter. The deficit exceeded 5.4 percent of GDP. Huckabee, Obama the New Frontrunners…For Now
Ryan Mauro - 12/17/2007
It is hard to remember a time when the presidential race was this wide open. First, it was a Giuliani-McCain race, then a Giuliani-Romney race, with Clinton as the frontrunner by a long-shot. Then Fred Thompson entered the mix, and quickly deflated. Enter Mike Huckabee, arguably less conservative than Thompson but a far better messenger of a conservative message. In today’s 30-second sound byte world, the messenger matters more than the credibility of the message. The race, as a result, has done a complete turnaround with two new frontrunners who for so long lagged behind in national polls: Senator Barack Obama and Governor Mike Huckabee. Jews Who Speak Up for Christmas
Sharon Hughes - 12/16/2007
Once terribly divided, Jews and Christians are finding a new unity as the walls between them are coming down. Why is this happening? Primarily for two reasons. Is Ethnicity Irrelevant In The United States
Fjordman - 12/16/2007
I know many people on the outside are puzzled by this fight with LGF and believe it is about personal egos alone. I disagree. There are very real issues involved here. Perhaps one of the most important ones is whether ethnicity matters or whether it is not just wrong but evil to talk about it. Charles Johnson: The Dan Rather of the Blogosphere?
Baron Bodissey - 12/15/2007
Remember this? This is the infamous “Killian Memo”, the blatantly forged document that discredited Dan Rather and CBS News during the height of the 2004 presidential campaign. If this hoax had been deployed prior to the emergence of blogs, it would probably not have been discredited before election day, and might have changed the course of the election. Chinese Dragon Does Not Flinch and the Bernanke's Toothless Dog
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/14/2007
This week, the big news continues to center around the dollar and the credit crisis. Secretary Henry Paulson returns from China empty handed on the dollar-yuan exchange rate, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is stunned when an interest rate cut sinks the stock market. Jackie Mason vs. James Watson: IQ, Jews and ‘Shvartzers’
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 12/14/2007
In the Watson Affair (read this, this, and this), since Nobel Prize-winning geneticist James Watson was forced, in October, to recant his statement that blacks are, on average, less intelligent than whites and that there are genetic reasons for this inequality, and to resign his position as chancellor of the world-famous (due to Watson’s 40-year lead... America’s Socio- Economic Conundrum
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 12/14/2007
At the dawn of the 21st century, the United States is still an economic powerhouse and the one and only superpower of this world. But its economy is facing competition from the rising giants such as China and India and as well as from its internal socio-economic differences. Its lower and middle classes are facing the economic heat, and the United States which was the world’s biggest creditor until the 1980s is now the world’s biggest debtor. Hence, it’s worth scrutinizing the United States and its socio- economy more closely. Obama versus Clinton versus Plutocracy
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 12/14/2007
Here comes another inconvenient truth. Despite all the attention to Oprah for Obama and the pundit blabbering about the Democratic primary horse race the outcome has been predetermined. What people do not want to know is that power elites control what the Democratic ticket will be. When the primaries end the winner will be the reigning plutocracy. President Bush's Mortgage Program and Rumblings from Europe about the Dollar
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/11/2007
This week, the big news may be the shoes that are yet to drop: President George W. Bush's program to help distressed homeowners and halt the free fall in housing and subprime securities markets, and the continued carping from the Europeans about the decline in the dollar. ACLU's War On U.S. Immigration Law
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 12/10/2007
While President George W. Bush, ICE, and Congress act as if the U.S. had no immigration laws and no borders, some heroic local officials and private organizations have nevertheless sought, against all odds, to enforce and uphold immigration law. And every time they have done so, the ACLU has been there to fight them, on behalf of the criminals invading America. Why Does LGF Lend Credibility to Eurabia Deniers?
Fjordman - 12/10/2007
I notice Charles Johnson and Little Green Footballs are at it again with their biweekly — or is it daily? — bash Fjordman/Gates of Vienna/The Brussels Journal/Fascists/Euroweenies post, which is by now becoming as predictable and exciting as watching paint dry. Economy Adds 94,000 Jobs in November
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/9/2007
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy added 94,000 payroll jobs in November, after posting a 170,000 gain in October. Economists expected a 70,000 gain in November, and my published forecast was 88,000. The grip of the subprime mortgage crisis is apparent, as jobs growth has slowed to much less than the 115,000 necessary to keep even with labor force growth at one percent a year. Slow jobs growth, along with the shortage of business credit, declining home prices, and falling industrial production, indicate the risk of a recession is clearly above 50 percent. Either the economy has already entered a recession or the risk that a recession will begin soon exceeds 50 percent. Of “Moderates” and Radicals
Ted Belman - 12/8/2007
“Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists," said President George W. Bush said after 9/11. He went on to identify N. Korea, Iran and Iraq , the “axis of evil” and to declare the “war on terror”. The last thing he wanted to do was to identify the enemy. N. Korea was included in the list for fear that someone might think, G-d forbid, that Moslems were the enemy or that Islam was the enemy just as Communists and Communism were during the cold war. Good News for Inflation, Interest Rates and Stocks
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/7/2007
Wednesday, the Department of Labor reported productivity in the nonfarm private business sector increased at a 6.3 percent annual rate in the third quarter of 2007. This was significantly higher than the 2.2 percent increase recorded in the second quarter. President Ron Paul - Could He Really Win?
Ronald Holland - 12/7/2007
What if at noon on January 20, 2009 Ron Paul is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States? First, how could Ron Paul actually win the GOP nomination? Second, could he beat Hillary Clinton and win the Presidency? Finally, what could a Ron Paul Administration accomplish with the powerful special interests allied against him and his agenda controlling the leadership of the Republican and Democrat parties? Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Disappoints
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 12/7/2007
RFK, Jr. has disappointed millions of liberals, progressives and environmentalists by endorsing Hillary Clinton. Once he said, “the Republicans are 95 percent corrupt and the Democrats are 75 percent corrupt.” This has been widely quoted because of its honest assessment of the corrupt two-party system. He has also pointed out: "While communism is the control of business by government, fascism is the control of government by business. …The biggest threat to American democracy is corporate power. …our most visionary political leaders have warned the American public against the domination of g... Everyone is switching to the radicals, US included
Ted Belman - 12/6/2007
The Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leader was invited for the first time to the OCC meeting of six Gulf Cooperation Council leaders which opened in Doha Monday, Dec. 3. DEBKAfile: His warm welcome by the “moderate” Arab rulers further bankrupts Washington’s policy backed by Israel’s Olmert government, which attempts to draw a distinction between “radical” and “moderate” Middle East governments. Drilling a Hole in the Lifeboat
Prof. Barry Rubin - 12/3/2007
What would you do if your foreign policy agenda had these priorities: Avoiding A Recession
Prof. Peter Morici - 12/2/2007
Recessions are not inevitable adjustments built into the clockwork of a modern economy. Businesses no longer make products on long lead times and stumble into excess inventories of cars and appliances, triggering layoffs and pauses in consumer spending. Computer-aided supply chain management and tracking customer purchases permit businesses to better align what they make to what can be sold. Rising Hunger: The muddle in America
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 11/30/2007
When talk turns to America, the world is almost as full of self-described "realists" who believe that there is not an iota of problem in America, and the nation is an emblem of paradise. It is indeed rich, powerful and even the poor masses enjoy numerous benefits because of vast economic opportunities but everything is not rosy in the United States as it looks to the eye of the beholder. In reality, the facts are diverse. Global Politician Turns Three Years Old!
David Storobin, Esq. - 11/27/2007
Today, the Global Politician is three years old and this has been our most exciting year to date! We published almost 1,400 new articles and 22 new interviews, while doubling our readership! How Diasporas Can Help the Motherland
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/27/2007
The following steps are considered to be the "minimum package" in the strengthening of relationships between countries of origin and national diasporas: Podhoretz, like Bush, Is Staying The Course
Ted Belman - 11/27/2007
Ever since being introduced to Commentary Magazine in the sixties I have been an avid reader of Commentary and fan of Norman Podhoretz. On November 10 I attended a lecture given by him. You may recall he was responsible for preparing the intellectual groundwork that enabled Ronald Reagan to win the White House. He led the battle against Oslo Peace Accords. Unfortunately he also supported the disengagement from Gaza. Newspaper Editors' Changed Roles
Angelique van Engelen - 11/26/2007
Jeff Jarvis recently wrote a description of what he thinks the quintessential 21st Century editor is like, by analysing recruitment ads of a few renowned newspapers. The roles which the papers were looking to hire new people for, sound pretty tech savvy. Jarvis cites the Guardian's hiring of a tag editor. The people there will refer to the new recruit as a keyword manager. What he or she will be up to will amount to labelling online content, to ensure that it is consistent with the needs of readers as well as with editorial values. Envy Driven Society
Aleksandar Dimishkovski - 11/26/2007
Doing more, doing better… This unwritten rule that is a pure representation of envy has been the reason behind many people's successes, many victories, great business achievements, advanced technology development etc. Being envious obviously motivates humans to render a better version of themselves, by constantly comparing themselves to others. To be better than the rest is also the most important rule in business in any sense, from innovative production to pure profit making – the more, the better. Bush Pardons Turkeys While Eagles Romas and Compean Remain Caged
Dan Howard - 11/26/2007
I would give anything if I could write a syrupy-sweet, all-is-fine Thanksgiving Day message for you today. However, I have always taken pride in my endeavor of not being politically correct, but rather just ‘correct.’ Unfortunately while we should obviously offer thanks that we are still ‘technically’ free, we are in a battle to save our country. Anthropocentric Global Warming As New Geopolitics Of Energy
Edward Turner - 11/25/2007
Al Gore has an Oscar and a Nobel Peace prize. The British Conservative Party has changed its logo from a fiery torch to a green tree. The Independent newspaper has frequent front page splashes on melting Arctic ice. This article outlines three reasons why carbon emissions are being reduced in the West. None of them have anything to do with the theory of anthropocentric global warming. Because the axis on which all this public and political discussion - and an international legal treaty - spins, the idea of anthropocentric global warming, is itself in orbit around the geopolitics of oil and gas. Musharraf: An American Dilemma
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 11/25/2007
Someone once asked me, what are the similarities, between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and the Dog’s tail. I said, I don’t know. He smiled and said, they are pretty similar, both are very stubborn. He went on saying; I’ve never seen anything as stubborn as the dog’s tail nor have I seen any human as stubborn as Musharraf. The $100 Zerophobia
Naseem Javed - 11/25/2007
What a difference a single dollar makes. A very big difference indeed. As a matter of fact, almost like a mind-altering-shock wave, a global hysteria, a cry of the consumer to be heard around the deepest corners of the globe, in addition to being 'breaking news' to the hearts content for the glitzy-TV-media-machine. The current oil prices have been coasting around, give or take a few dollars less than $100 for a little while; it is only a matter of time before, sooner or later, when that one dollar addition becomes the anticipated reality. So what does this mean? The global population has par... Another American Century or Another American Civil War?
Fjordman - 11/22/2007
Americans tend to be skeptical of any criticism of their country coming from Europeans, which understandable given the amount of anti-Americanism spewing out of the European press these days. However, there is some truth in the old maxim that “clarity is gained from a distance.” Just as Americans may sometimes see more clearly than Europeans how Muslim immigration is destroying their continent, perhaps it is possible for a European to notice some developments in the USA, too. Slavery Reparations - The Ultimate Prize
Elizabeth Wright - 11/22/2007
What are black youth to make of the adults around them who insist that their life chances are "limited" due to the enslavement of their ancestors, the segregation of their ancestors, and the mistreatment of their ancestors? Should they assume that all the black men and women who have lived since those troublesome times were powerless to construct productive lives beyond those past ordeals? Should they assume that they too are just as powerless to move beyond this past adversity, unless and until bundles of money, this time in the form of official "reparations" for the labor of those ancestors, are delivered to them? First Woman, First Black, First Latino, or First Honest President?
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 11/22/2007
The phrase honest politician has become an oxymoron. We should not be impressed by the prospect of having the first woman, first black or first Latino president. What would be far more radical would be to have the first honest president, if not ever, certainly in a very long time. An Emergency Interest Rate Cut?
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/21/2007
Tuesday, stock markets were lifted on speculation that Ben Bernanke will call an emergency meeting at the Federal Reserve to further cut interest rates. This would be a remarkable turnaround for Chairman Bernanke. On October 31, the Fed cut the federal funds rate a quarter point to 4.50 percent but essentially said that it would not likely cut rates further. The Open Market Committee stated: "The Committee judges that, after this action, the upside risks to inflation roughly balance the downside risks to growth." The Civilizing Power of Marriage and Family
Elizabeth Wright - 11/20/2007
[Review of George Gilder's VISIBLE MAN, new edition published by ICS and Discovery Institute.]
For reasons that have been endlessly chronicled and analyzed, tens of thousands of black men have removed themselves from playing productive roles as fathers and husbands. These men are in prisons across the country, roam the streets of cities and towns, and are attached to activities that undermine the cohesion of every community they pass through. It is this missing masculine drive and energy that is at the heart of why the poor black comm... The Legacy of the Confederacy
Baron Bodissey - 11/20/2007
On the night of April 2nd, 1865, My great-great aunt stood on the southern bank of the James River with her sisters and watched the city of Richmond burn. After staring in rapt silence for a time, the little girl turned to her big sister and asked, “What do we do now?”
I know about this because as an old woman she told the story to my cousin Mary, who in turn told it to me when she became an old woman. Our family has long generations, so there is only a single degree of separation between me and a personal experience of the Civil War. Barry Bonds - Racist
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 11/20/2007
Barry Bonds not only loves steroids, he also hates white people. In an excerpt from Ron Kittle's Tales from the White Sox Dugout, that appeared on May 31, 2005 in suburban Chicago’s Southtown News newspaper, former Chicago White Sox player Kittle quotes Bonds as saying, "I don't sign [autographs] for white people." Culturism or Racism?
Dymphna - 11/20/2007
What the Left is describing as racist is very often culturalist. For example, is it cultural or racial to perform genital mutilation on infant females? Is it cultural or racial to celebrate Thanksgiving? Is it cultural or racial to honor the dead in some form? A Brief History of the Book
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/19/2007
"The free communication of thought and opinion is one of the most precious rights of man; every citizen may therefore speak, write and print freely."
(French National Assembly, 1789) The Media Comedy Club
Prof. Barry Rubin - 11/19/2007
One of the dubious rewards of spending too much time reading newspapers on the Middle East are the laughs derived from those wonderful little phrases that seem logical but are so profoundly bizarre. Some indicate media bias but they are more often the result of some reporter, newsmaker, or editor who so takes for granted the bizarro, flat-earth version of the Middle East as to be blissfully unaware of the yawning contradiction in what they say. Primary Colors - Coloring Political Movements
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 11/19/2007
You may be politically colorblind, and not even know it. We provide therapy. While “a rose is a rose is a rose,” it is not necessarily the case that “red is red is red.” My Farewell to Little Green Footballs
Fjordman - 11/19/2007
I recently announced my intention to take a long break from posting at the website Little Green Footballs due to the ongoing controversy regarding the participants in the counter-Jihad in Europe. Shortly after, Charles Johnson announced that Fjordman was "taking a permanent break. After the misrepresentations he's posted about me and my views, despite being corrected many times, he's not welcome at LGF." Just out of curi... Hillary Clinton: Is Gender on Trial?
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 11/18/2007
For years, the most striking features of America under Mr. Bush was its fight against the terrorism and the close association between President Bush and his chief political strategist Karl Rove in shaping the destiny of America. Karl Rove is history now, and as people are already counting the days of Mr. Bush in the White House, American politics is on the verge of a major twist. Vaccine or Viagra: The Debate Continues
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 11/17/2007
Budgets are finite but the health care demands are almost infinite in the developing nations. From this truism springs one of the characteristics of the developing world- that the developing nations are crawling way behind in life saving medical cares too. Sane Bush Hatred
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 11/16/2007
The Wall Street Journal gave the top half of its opinion page yesterday to a long essay by Peter Berkowitz titled “The Insanity of Bush Hatred.” If anything, it deserves a gold medal for political propaganda – make that political lies. What caught my attention immediately was the frequent use of the word “progressive” to describe the people Berkowitz was attacking. It was used ten times. In other words, progressives were attacked for hating Bush. It's Elementary, My Dear Dr. Watson
Albert Brenner - 11/16/2007
It is always fascinating to watch the drama unfold when Reason and 'Church' clash. This time round James Watson (of DNA/RNA fame) dared to cross the De-Rationalized Zone of scientific inquiry to cast doubt on certain blatantly feel-good assumptions underpinning the lop-sidedness of Western multi-culturalism. His critique basically boiled down to questioning the irrational assumption that all the races have exactly the same skills and abilities (even in the 100-meter sprint), irrespective of the geographical and historical variables that fostered their development. America's Grand Delusion
Joel S. Hirschhorn - 11/15/2007
With an endless, futile and costly Iraq war, a stinking economy and most Americans seeing the country on the wrong track, the greatest national group delusion is that electing Democrats in 2008 is what the country needs. Keith Olbermann was praised when he called the Bush presidency a criminal conspiracy. That missed the larger truth. The whole two-party political system is a criminal conspiracy hiding behind illusion induced delusion. Feminism and Demoralization of the Military
Elizabeth Wright - 11/14/2007
Of the many painful consequences brought on by the surrender to political correctness, the demoralization of the United States military is surely among the saddest. First, force young men, who already face the challenge of bringing their unruly spirits under the control of rigorous military discipline to face the even greater challenge of reining in their urgent, natural drives-while living, dining and sleeping in close quarters with women. Then mix in the young women, who, while ostensibly pursuing military careers, are expected to suppress their visceral drive to capture lifemates. And what do you get? Confusion, and a lot of pregnancies. The Roots of Non-Discrimination - Liberalism or Marxism?
Fjordman - 11/14/2007
What is the driving force behind the ideology of absolute equality and total non-discrimination in the Western world? I’ve seen many different explanations blaming it on Christianity, democracy of universal suffrage, Marxism, decolonization or - perhaps most likely - on Nazism and the devastation caused by the Second World War. This triggered a rejection of absolutely everything perceived to be divisive, including the nation state, and has enabled a Multicultural ideology that is, ironically, itself becoming increasingly totalitarian. The Legacy Of Slavery - White Guilt or White Pride?
Guy White - 11/14/2007
One of most common myths that people are forced to repeat in the Left’s never-ending quest to humiliate whites at the altar of egalitarianism and multiculturalism is the idea that whites should feel guilty about their legacy of slavery. Little Green Footballs and Racism In The United States
Fjordman - 11/13/2007
As many readers know by now, I have been involved in what has unfortunately become a very public brawl — some would probably say witch-hunt — with Charles Johnson of major American blog Little Green Footballs about the supposed “racism” of the Sweden Democrats and the Vlaams Belang. Many of these claims have already been countered, though LGF refuses to link to this. I have announced my intention to take a break from commenting at LGF, where I have been active for several years, since it has become abundantly clear that neither Charles nor many of his readers have any interest whatsoever in having an actual debate, and certainly not about the real threats to freedom in Europe. Doug Tracht As the Precedent for White Groveling and Cowardice
Elizabeth Wright - 11/13/2007
As a black woman, there is little these days that shocks me when it comes to white acquiescence to black demands. But I must say that even this cynical soul was unprepared for the groveling behavior of that radio personality Doug Tracht (The Greaseman) when the hounds were set upon him several years ago. How the Feminists’ “War against Boys” Paved the Way for Radical Islam
Fjordman - 11/12/2007
Some commentators like to point out that many of the most passionate and bravest defenders of the West are women, citing Italian writer Oriana Fallaci and others. But women like Ms. Fallaci, brave as they might be, are not representative of all Western women. If you look closely, you will notice that, on average, Western women are actually more supportive of Multiculturalism and massive immigration than are Western men. Demise of US Supremacy in the Middle East and its Consequences
Mahmood Ahmad - 11/12/2007
The advent of Modern Middle East marked by Napoleon’s arrival in Egypt just two centuries ago – some 80 years after the demise of the Ottoman Empire, 50 years after the end of the colonialism, and less than 20 years after the end of the Cold War – the American era in the Middle East, has ended and a new era in the modern history of the region has started to evolve. New actors and forces competing for influence will shape it, and will try to master it. The Limits of Federal Reserve Policy
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/12/2007
Federal Reserve policymakers and critics labor under false assumptions. Hawks believe tighter credit can stave off inflation. Doves hew to lower rates to mitigate risks of recession. Newspaper Editors Are Hiring Internet Savvy Professionals
Angelique van Engelen - 11/11/2007
Jeff Jarvis recently wrote a description of what he thinks the quintessential 21st Century editor is like, by telling his audience all about recruitment ads of some renowned newspapers.The roles which the papers were looking to hire new people for, sound pretty tech savvy. The Rule of Law vs. Obedience to the Law
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 11/10/2007
We often misconstrue the concept of the "rule of Law" and take it to mean automatic "obedience to laws". But the two are antithetical. Laws have to earn observance and obeisance. To do so, they have to meet a series of rigorous criteria: they have to be unambiguous, fair, just, pragmatic, and equitable; they have to be applied uniformly and universally to one and all, regardless of sex, age, class, sexual preference, race, ethnicity, skin color, or opinion; they must not entrench the interests of one group or structure over others; they must not be leveraged to yield benefits to some at the expense of others; and, finally, they must accord with universal moral and ethical tenets. U.S. Records $56.5 Billion Trade Deficit in September
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/9/2007
Today, the Commerce Department reported the September deficit on trade in goods and services was $56.5 billion. This was down slightly from $56.8 billion in August but was still 4.9 percent of GDP. Stock Prices and the Trade Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/8/2007
Wall Street and American capitalism are suffering a crisis of confidence. Stock markets are in turmoil, because U.S. banks are taking record losses from foolish bets on subprime mortgages, the dollar is tanking against the euro and some other currencies, and oil prices are rocketing. Feminism Leads to the Oppression of Women
Fjordman - 11/7/2007
As University President, Lawrence Summers in 2005 gave a speech where he dared to suggest that innate differences between men and women could explain why men hold more seats as top scientists than women. This is a plausible thesis. According to Dr Paul Irwing at Manchester University, there are twice as many men with an IQ of 120-plus as there are women, and 30 times as many with an IQ of 170-plus. There are o... Immigration: Betrayal By Black Elites
Elizabeth Wright - 11/7/2007
Black blogger Byron Crawford sort of, kind of gets it. Usually quite caustic in his anti-white bias, this time he realistically speculates on the degree to which so-called white privilege might be indelibly linked to the privileges of freedom enjoyed by all Americans, including blacks. The political face of war today
Ian Lawrence - 11/7/2007
It was said that during the Vietnam War the face of America at war had greatly transformed. With fresh footage screened right across American homes on the nightly news, the reality of war was presented into our living rooms for the first time ever. The political repercussions of a nation at war were now real, and potentially threatening to the government’s ability to handle national security objectives in the strategic interest of the country. U of Delaware "All Whites Are Racist" Program Officially Ended
David Storobin, Esq. - 11/7/2007
The University of Delaware has surrendered to public pressure and ended their "anti-racism" program that called all whites "racist" and claimed that all the aspects of civilization, "religion, philosophy, art, language, architecture, science, medicine, agriculture and urban planning", have derived from Africa. Is America Doomed?
Amil Imani - 11/7/2007
Because we are our own worst enemy. Because it is going to take more than 9/11 to wake us up. Because our politicians don’t have the stomach to tell the truth. Because we have lost our will to call a spade a spade. Because we are ignoring the most important element of intelligence -- understanding the mindset and dedication of our enemies -- and because being politically correct has become our norm. The Falling Dollar and the Stubborn U.S. Trade Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 11/7/2007
Since October 2006, the euro has risen about 13 percent against the dollar but don't expect dramatic improvements in the U.S. trade deficit until China and other Asian exporters permit their currencies to rise significantly too. Clinton, Carter, Condoleezza and Candour
David Singer - 11/7/2007
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack revealed this week that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been talking to ex-Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton about their experiences in trying to negotiate peace between Israel and its Arab enemies. Has President Bush's Vision Succumbed To Reality?
David Singer - 11/6/2007
President Bush appears to have abandoned any hope of creating a new Arab State between Israel and Jordan. His closest confidante--the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice--suggested as much when she made this blunt observation after her visit to the Middle East this past week: Affirmative Action Grading In Universities: Part 7 - To Be Of Use
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 11/5/2007
"You've got to look under rocks," said Chris Christopoulos. Chris was a hotel technology instructor at Sullivan County Community College. Chris meant, "To make money." I creatively misunderstood the line to be about getting at the truth. Of course, if you look under enough rocks, you run across more than a few snakes. Affirmative Action Grading In Universities: Part 8 - Deafening Silence
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 11/5/2007
"What do you call a black man with a Ph.D.?" Malcolm X famously asked, forty years ago. He answered, "A nigger!" What was once true of an educated black man, is today true in academia of an educated white man with the outcast status of adjunct professor. For in academia, caste rules. Affirmative Action Grading In Universities: Part 6 - The Garden State
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/22/2007
"What do you call a black man with a Ph.D.?" Malcolm X famously asked, forty years ago. He answered, "A nigger!" What was once true of an educated black man, is today true in academia of an educated white man with the outcast status of adjunct professor. For in academia, caste rules. Why the Bernanke Should Cut Rates
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/20/2007
This week Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson admitted the mortgage crisis and housing slump are more critical than previously assessed. Paulson is prodding major players in the private capital markets to create a safety net for bonds that fund home mortgages and refinance more adjustable rate mortgages (ARMS). The goal is to put a floor under housing prices and save the economy from recession. An interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve would help a lot. The Haunted America
Naseem Javed - 10/20/2007
Countries are like little homes; they house a nation, hold ideologies and provide shelter and comfort to its people in hopes that the occupant will nurture better ideas for themselves and further flourish humanity. Such are primary desires and goals of most countries on this small planet. America is no exception. For decades, billions of people around the world slept at night on empty stomachs amidst dreadful circumstances, often dreaming of the freedoms and liberties of America, which they likened to a great land, a paradise and a final destination point. Affirmative Action Grading In Universities: Part 5 - Smoking Guns
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/20/2007
"But many colleges have night classes so you could have worked and gone to college also pay for your education although some other programs to help pay on some where you don't pay or some where you don't pay at all so you were lazy." Affirmative Action Grading In Universities: Part 4 - Fighting City Hall
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/19/2007
"What do you call a black man with a Ph.D.?" Malcolm X famously asked, forty years ago. He answered, "A nigger!" What was once true of an educated black man, is today true in academia of an educated white man with the outcast status of adjunct professor. For in academia, caste rules. Crafting a U.S. Response to Global Warming
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/19/2007
The United States appears poised to act soon on global warming. Hopefully, Congress will craft policies that motivate a truly international solution rather than make the problem worse, hurt the economy, and create windfall profits for some regulated industries. Most Americans are convinced that the buildup of green house gases (GHG) in the atmosphere is responsible for warming Artic seas, shrinking mountain ice caps, and 90 degree October heat in New York. In Praise of the First and Second Amendments
Fjordman - 10/19/2007
In a true, totalitarian society such as the old Soviet Union, crime rates are usually low because of the crushing state control of all its citizens. Supposedly, street crime in Moscow in the USSR was rare, probably because the state itself was the biggest criminal. In contrast, in the European Union of today, which is not a totalitarian society, at least not yet, crime rates are booming in major cities. At the same time, authorities are stepping up censorship efforts, openly talking about media “speech codes” and aggressively slapping labels such as “racism” or “xenophobia” on anybody daring t... U.S. Banks Offer Plan to Calm Credit Markets
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/18/2007
The creation by Citigroup, JP Morgan, and Bank of America of a special fund to purchase the collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) of major structured investment vehicles (SIVs) should be viewed as good news by the stock and bond markets. Affirmative Action Grading In Universities: Part 3 - Plagiarism
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/18/2007
Plagiarism might not seem like a method of grade inflation, but it has developed into one, as so many professors and administrators have turned a blind eye to pervasive plagiarism, as to implicitly encourage it. Instructors give plagiarists high grades for fraudulent work, while giving honest students — whom they are ultimately punishing for their honesty — lower grades. Consumer Prices Increase 0.3 Percent in September
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/17/2007
Today, the Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.3 percent in September because of continuing pressures from rising food prices and a very modest rebound in consumer energy prices. The FBI’s War on Richard Jewell: Part 2 -
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/17/2007
Why bother with investigating and gathering evidence, when you can just call reporters and railroad some poor sap? On Propaganda and Islamophobia
Abukar Arman - 10/17/2007
The daunting reality facing people of conscience is the seemingly impossible task of controlling propaganda in a free society, and how the protected freedom of the perpetrators increases the vulnerability of their potential victims. Conservative Bloggers Fight for Free Speech
Fjordman - 10/17/2007
It has been documented countless times that journalists in Denmark and many other European and Western countries to a very large degree vote for parties to the left of the center. But a totally different picture emerges when looking at their non-professional colleagues in cyberspace. Affirmative Action Grading: Part 2 - Crime Scenes
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/16/2007
When people think of criminals, they usually conjure up images of street muggers, carjackers, and stock swindlers. They need to add to that rogues' gallery, images of college presidents, English Department chairmen, and professors. Affirmative Action Grading In Universities: Part 1 - Reality Testing
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/15/2007
As I write, college professors around the country are looking at their grade books, and holding the following internal monologue: "Well, her attendance is terrible, she hasn't done her assignments, and her test average is a 'D,' but she's black, and she could get me fired, so I'll give her a B+. But he's white, so I'll lower his grade to avoid being called a racist. Now this third student is totally illiterate, but she's Puerto Rican, so I'll give her a B-." Such internal monologues are typical for professors in what I call the "Asphalt League" of public higher education, a.k.a. academia's urban precincts. Selective Bias In Media And Academia
Prof. Barry Rubin - 10/14/2007
It’s a difficult philosophical problem. President Shimon Peres said in regard to the invitation to Iran’s president to speak at Columbia that there’s a difference between academic freedom and freedom to lie. In other words, there must be some determination of what is reality. The Failure of Western Universities
Fjordman - 10/14/2007
Kari Vogt, historian of religion at the University of Oslo, has stated that Ibn Warraq’s book “Why I am Not a Muslim” is just as irrelevant to the study of Islam as The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion are to the study of Judaism. She is widely considered as one of the leading expert on Islam in Norway, and is frequently quoted in national media on matters related to Islam and Muslim immigration. People who get most of their information from the mainstream media, which goes for the majo... The Skyrocketing Black IQ
Robert Lindsay - 10/13/2007
One of the most interesting things that has been happening in the area of intelligence testing in the past 80 years has been something called the Flynn Effect. The Flynn Effect has shown that IQ scores have been rising all across the West for the past 80 years. There is much debate about the causes of this effect and whether or not it is real. On Achievement
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 10/13/2007
If a comatose person were to earn an interest of 1 million USD annually on the sum paid to him as compensatory damages – would this be considered an achievement of his? To succeed to earn 1 million USD is universally judged to be an achievement. But to do so while comatose will almost as universally not be counted as one. It would seem that a person has to be both conscious and intelligent to have his achievements qualify. Richard Jewell: Part 1 - Ray Cleere Seizes an Opportunity
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/13/2007
This is the story of Richard Jewell, the hero who saved countless lives, and of Ray Cleere, the first of many heels who sought to railroad him for another man’s crime. TSA and Aviation Security: What is wrong with their concepts and strategy – Part Two
Sammy Elrom - 10/13/2007
El Al on the contrary, considers profiling a vital early detection and prevention tool. In the US, in spite of the obvious necessity to widely use profiling and because of fears of being accused of state-based racism and being sued by organizations such as ACLU, CAIR and many other anti-security advocates, security personnel cannot question passengers. Adding to this diminishing factor is that local airport staffs which has the potential of becoming an important support source in aiding security personnel, lacks basic security training focused on terror aspects. Rather, security personnel is t... Fatalism and the Loss of Western Cultural Confidence
Fjordman - 10/13/2007
It was suggested to me that the Western culture of self-destruction should be called seppukultur, from the Japanese word “seppuku,” the ritual suicide by disembowelment which was a part of the Samurai code of conduct, more commonly known as hara-kiri. I find the word intriguing, but it isn’t entirely accurate. What modern Westerners are doing is eradicating their own culture. This concept would never have occurred to Japanese who followed bushido teachings. Those who committed seppuku did so precisely out of a deep commitment to their traditions. For good or bad, the Japanese always have been ... TSA and Aviation Security: What is wrong with their concepts and strategy – Part One
Sammy Elrom - 10/12/2007
Aviation security is an almost forgotten topic, commonly confused with flight security because since 9/11 we did not encounter another such terror attack on American soil. This article is meant to remind us that the threat did not disappear as seen a several recent events. The author demands that Israeli aviation security philosophy be immediately adapted instead of reinventing the wheel. Abortion - The Aborted Contract
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 10/12/2007
The issue of abortion is emotionally loaded and this often makes for poor, not thoroughly thought out arguments. The questions: "Is abortion immoral" and "Is abortion a murder" are often confused. The pregnancy (and the resulting fetus) are discussed in terms normally reserved to natural catastrophes (force majeure). At times, the embryo is compared to cancer, a thief, or an invader: after all, they are both growths, clusters of cells. The difference, of course, is that no one contracts cancer willingly (except, to some extent, smokers -–but, then they gamble, not contract). Deficit Lowers GDP $1750 for Each Working American
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/12/2007
Thursday, the Commerce Department reported the August deficit on trade in goods and services was $57.6 billion. This was down from $59.0 billion in July, but the trade deficit still is about 5.0 percent of GDP and remains a big drag on economic growth and incomes. The consensus forecast was $59.0 billion, and my published forecast was $58.1 billion. The Golden Keys of E-Commerce
Naseem Javed - 10/11/2007
It only takes a minute to establish if one is holding that magical key or just toying with a rusty screwdriver. Today, in order to have a commanding presence with universal access on e-commerce, domain names must act like very special golden keys as without it, the entire exercise of Internet-centric commerce becomes almost useless. Super-success in cyber-branding lies in the sophisticated creation, development and ownership of these powerful and magical keys, so that they may open an undiscovered universe of billions of unknown customers around the world. Without this power and access, what's the point of being in the race for leadership and image positioning? Military Use Of The Occult, Remote Viewing
Angelique van Engelen - 10/11/2007
Officially, the US military does not make use of Remote Viewing activities, having closed down the departments that were involved in them in the 1990s. Private Remote Viewing experts however, are involved in drawing sketches of far off locations, some of which turn out remarkably precise. One US ex-army officer involved from Texas who's involved in Remote Viewing, claims to have seen Iranian complexes which are used for creating nuclear bombs. An interview with UK artist Suzanne Treister, who created HEXEN2039, a project about the military's historical use of the occult for psychological warfare. The Cycle of Wishful Thinking
Lee Harris - 10/11/2007
THE AGE OF illusions is over," the historian Walter Laqueur wrote recently, referring to the illusions the West continues to entertain about the confrontation with radical Islam. Needless to say, Laqueur did not mean that we in the West no longer have any illusions on this subject; those still abound. He meant, rather, that we can no longer afford to harbor them and that the time has come to shed them. Yet human beings have great difficulty in freeing themselves from illusions — even quite dangerous ones — as long as they offer comfort and provide peace of mind. The best place to start the fre... The Age of White Masochism
Fjordman - 10/11/2007
Imagine if you planned a country’s economic future using calculations exclusively based on even numbers. For ideological reasons you excluded odd numbers because you declared that they represent bigotry and have divisive nature since they cannot be divided equally in half. Absolutely all calculations for the future would then end up being wrong. This sounds insane and improbable, but what we’re doing now in the Western world is exactly this naïve. In the name of Multiculturalism we completely ignore all ethnic, religious, cultural and, yes, racial differences, because we have decided that thes... Interview with Alex Linder of the Vanguard News Network: Jewish journalist interviews leading anti-Jewish activist
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 10/11/2007
Alex Linder is the operator of the Vanguard News Network. The motto of the web site is "No Jews, Just Right". The Southern Poverty Law Center criticized VNN stating that its web site "[offends] even many of the most extreme racists and anti-Semites with Linder's potty humor [and] untrammeled misogyny." Alex Linder formerly worked for CNN's "Evans & Novak" show and then "The American Spectator". He was also a member of the National Alliance, which has similar views on many subjects as the VNN, but left the alliance after he allowed criticism of it... Democratic Accountability and the Doha Round
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/9/2007
History teaches that open markets best promote economic progress, but markets without good rules can pitch us into chaos, and the rule makers must be broadly accountable or tyranny will follow. In our effort to bring order and fairness to global markets, the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations could sabotage democratic accountability by relegating tough issues to unelected bureaucrats in Geneva. Best Beware Of This Elephant
Salim Mansur - 10/8/2007
Provincial elections in English Canada rarely have any national implication. But as Ontarians prepare to vote Oct. 10, their decisions on public funding of faith-based private schools in the province and the referendum on adopting a modified proportional representation for electing members to the legislature in the future might well reverberate across the country. Democrats make it a virtual secession from the Union this time
Mike Spaniola - 10/7/2007
Shortly after the fledgling Republican Party’s Abraham Lincoln defeated Democrat John C. Breckinridge in the presidential election of 1860, Democrats made it official: they would secede from the Union. Today, Democrats have effected a similar, though virtual, secession from the Union. Economy Adds 110,000 Jobs in September
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/7/2007
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy added 110,000 payroll jobs in September, after posting an 89,000 gain in August. The consensus forecast was 100,000, and my published forecast was 110,000. The grip of the subprime crisis is apparent. In the third quarter, jobs growth was 99,000 per month, at bit less than is needed to keep unemployment from rising. The economy grew at a decidedly slower pace in the third quarter than the 3.8 percent posted in the second quarter. Something in the range or 2.5 percent, or a bit less, is likely for the third quarter. How stupid is this idea?
Salim Mansur - 10/7/2007
Public policy is generally judged on the basis of its intended effect. But not infrequently the public is left to contend with the unintended consequences of a policy -- for instance, the NEP of the Trudeau years or the Meech Lake Accord of the Mulroney years -- long after the intended effects would have been consummated. Politicians seek the glow of the intended effects of policies they initiate, and flee from the unintended consequences of those same policies that might leave the society worse off than the situation when a particular policy was proposed or enacted. FBI On Blackwater's Case
Angelique van Engelen - 10/6/2007
Investigations into Blackwater's Iraq dealings have been handed over to the FBI, the State Department has said. The FBI bridges the process to its next stage, which will be in the hands of the Iraqi ministry of Justice or the US Justice Department. Is the Anti-Illegal Immigrant Movement Racist?
Robert Lindsay - 10/4/2007
It's actually a trick question. Some of them are, for sure. Racists will always join any movement critical of immigration. So what? This entire argument rests on a fallacious assumption. That the presence of one group in a movement means that all of the other members of the movement share the feelings of that one group. US Investigation Into Iraqi Government's Corruption Is 'Classified Information': State Department
Angelique van Engelen - 10/3/2007
The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is corrupt. The Bush administration knows it. Yet the State Department in Washington has decided that the investigation into this issue will be classified to the extent that all ‘embarrassing issues’ will stay out of the public domain. An October 4 hearing by the House government oversight and reform committee (which has powers to investigate any federal legislative issue) is seriously impeded by the secrecy. How Can We Win Without Going To War With Iran?
Ghazal Omid - 10/3/2007
It would be a mistake to go to war with Iran. America neither has to go to war nor negotiate with Iran. There is a third choice. There is an expression in Farsi, “You don’t have to open a knot with your teeth when you could open it with your fingers.” This proverb should not be interpreted to mean negotiation. It simply means logical decisions based on facts that make sense are better options than are obligatory triggered by emotional fuel.” Facebook for Analysts: Launching the International Analyst Network
David Storobin, Esq. - 10/3/2007
In recent months, the Global Politician has worked with the Intelligence Summit and private analysts to create the International Analyst Network. The International Analyst Network brings together experts around the world in the fields of foreign policy and geopolitics. This network offers updates with the latest news and analysis on an hourly basis. Defending Blackwater and Understanding the Western Way of War
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 10/2/2007
Judging from the reactions of fellow diplomacy students, one may have fallen under the impression I was justifying Jeffrey Dahmer’s eating habits. Regardless, I am coming to believe something is apparently very wrong with me, in that I feel private military companies (PMCs) –– particularly Blackwater USA –– are amongst the most efficient humanitarian organizations in business. The Perils of Going Slow to Clean Up Mortgage Lending and Bond Rating
Prof. Peter Morici - 10/1/2007
If the hearings at the Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committees demonstrate anything, fixes to the broken mortgage lending and bond rating processes will come only slowly, and that is bad for U.S. home buyers and capital markets more generally. The Treasury and Federal Reserve favor minimum intervention and letting market discipline establish transparency in credit markets as much as possible. However laudable that might be, it is apparent that such approaches have already failed. That is how we got into the fix we find ourselves. Personal Income up $40.2 Billion in August
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/30/2007
Friday, the Commerce Department reported in August personal income increased $40.2 billion or 0.3 percent, disposable personal income increased $37.2 billion or 0.4 percent, and personal consumption expenditures increased $54.8 billion or 0.6 percent. Consumer spending continues to support economic growth, and for July and August, consumer spending outpaced second quarter growth. Ackerman Resolution on Lebanon Passed by House 415-2
Pierre A. Maroun - 9/27/2007
(Washington, DC) Congressman Gary L. Ackerman today led the House of Representatives to pass of his resolution calling for strong U.S. support for the government of Lebanon by a vote of 415 to 2. Ackerman, the chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, warned the House that “Lebanon is being bullied†by Iran, Syria and their proxies, Hezbollah, Amal and Gen. Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement. UAW - GM Pact Leaves GM at Cost Disadvantage
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/27/2007
The details that emerged in the press today about the "historic" UAW - GM labor pact indicate the deal may prove the death knell for yet many more Midwestern manufacturing jobs. Reasons to Impeach President George W. Bush
Gina-Marie Cheeseman - 9/27/2007
President George W. Bush has committed offenses which are injuries to the American society, and especially to American democracy, the system of government our Founding Fathers created. Among the President’s offenses are the “initiation and continuation of the Iraq war,†the authorization of warrantless wiretapping, and authorizing the use of torture on detainees. Canadian action needed to end military dictatorship in Burma
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 9/27/2007
Ottawa, Canada - On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier condemned Burma's military junta for the regime's escalating assaults on freedom, democracy and individual liberty. The junta has long detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, abused other pro-democracy leaders and protesters, and denied free expression and free association to its citizens. Tough Choices for Bernanke
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/26/2007
The Fed is in a tough box. Vital signs--housing sales, new home construction, retail sales, and jobs creation--all indicate slower growth and the risk of a recession. Cutting interest rates is a necessary but limited policy option for two sets of reasons. Why Did Columbia host Ahmadinejad?
Mohammad Parvin and Hassan Daioleslam - 9/25/2007
Iran's President Mahmood Ahmadinejad is scheduled to speak at Columbia University on Monday September 24th. This arrangement is not accidental. The event would have not been possible without the tireless and focused efforts of the well known Tehran advocate Dr. Gary Sick, an influential figure in Columbia. Mythmakers About the Middle East
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/25/2007
People don't often threaten to murder me face to face. But in the spring of 2007, Alexis Debat, director of the terrorism program at the Nixon Center and consultant to ABC News, did so. Bush Must Resist The Threatened Arab Boycott
David Singer - 9/21/2007
President Bush's planned meeting on the Middle East in November has been dealt a severe body blow as the Palestinians and Saudi Arabians threaten to boycott the meeting if their agenda demands are not met. A senior advisor to Palestinian Authority and PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is reported in Israelinsider on 17 September as stating: Producer Prices Fall 1.4 Percent in August
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/21/2007
Tuesday, the Labor Department reported the Producer Price Index fell 1.4 percent in August, after rising 0.6percent in July. Anthrax Letters Still Being Sorted 6 Years Later
Ross E. Getman, Esq. - 9/21/2007
On July 4, 1993, United States Postal employee Ahmed Abdel Sattar spoke to the press about Abdel Rahman's arrest and said "we haven't decided the time or place, but our Muslim community will demonstrate its outrage at the arrest of the Sheik." In the indictment of the Staten Island Post Office employee who worshipped in Brooklyn, the United States government alleged that following his arrest, Abdel Rahman, in a message to his followers recorded while he was in prison, urged: "Oh Muslims! Oh Muslims! ... It is a duty upon all the Muslims around the world to free the Sheikh, and to rescu... Fed Cuts Federal Funds and Discount Rates by 50 Basis Points
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/20/2007
Tuesday, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee cut the target federal funds rate by 50 basis points to 4.75 percent and lowered the discount rate by the same amount to 5.25 percent. General Petraeaus Reports
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/20/2007
Everybody in Washington has been waiting for General David H. Petraeaus to give his report on the Iraq war. Expectations became most inflated, as if he would deliver America of this seemingly unsolvable problem in a messianic manner. U.S. Records $190.8 Billion First Quarter Current Account Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/16/2007
Friday, the Commerce Department reported the second quarter current account deficit was $190.8 billion, down from $197.1 billion in the first quarter. The deficit exceeded 5.5 percent of GDP. My published forecast was $191.7 billion for the second quarter. Musings on Media Coverage Of The Middle East
Prof. Barry Rubin - 9/16/2007
When is the media or non-governmental organizations fair or unfair in discussing the Arab-Israeli conflict? Critical here is how they present each side's motivations and actions. Below are some examples in both categories to give a sense of what is right, and wrong, with coverage. Cyber Profs Set Up A Communal Writing Project To Establish A Standard For Decentralized Legal Scholarship
Angelique van Engelen - 9/16/2007
A group of cyber professors specializing in law and intellectual property rights are conducting an interesting experiment; they are writing a communal article, just to prove that decentralized legal scholarship might be a rather viable concept. The subject? Intellectual Property. Those two words. Dealing with Iran: The Key to Bush’s Middle East Legacy
Namjoo Hashemi - 9/15/2007
The recent resignation of Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General, and long-time friend of President Bush, follows the path of Carl Rove and Donald Rumsfield. While things have not been going well for the Bush administration on the domestic front, his foreign policy has taken even greater hits. There’s been no progress to report in Afghanistan; rather, the Taliban gain ground there daily and though the recent surge in troops in Iraq, while it may have offered temporary relief in limited areas, any sign of a long term positive affect are fading fast. With criticism mounting from all sides, the White... Oil, China and Autos Push Up Deficit - U.S. Records $59.2 Billion Trade Deficit in July
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/15/2007
Tuesday, the Commerce Department reported the July deficit on trade in goods and services was $59.2 billion. This was down slightly from the $59.4 billion deficit in June, and was still about 5.2 percent of GDP. The consensus forecast was $59.0 billion, and my published forecast was $59.4 billion. Henry Paulson's Fear Mongering
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/14/2007
Recently Treasury Secretary Paulson warned that legislation moving through Congress to address the harm imposed by Chinese protectionism could set off a trade war and unsettle global markets. Such fear mongering places the U.S. economy at grave peril. The Encyclopedia Britannica 2008
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 9/12/2007
The Encyclopedia Britannica 2008 (established in 1768), both Ultimate and Deluxe, builds on the success of its completely revamped previous editions in 2006 and 2007. The rate of innovation in the last two versions was impressive and welcome. It continues apace in this rendition with Britannica Biographies (Great Minds), Classical Music (500 audio files arranged by composer), and a great Workspace for Project Management (a kind of friendly digital den). Generous 6-12 months of free access to the myriad riches of the Britannica Online complete the package. Concerns About Canadian Government Enforcement Of Sharia Practices
David Harris - 9/11/2007
Ottawa, Canada - The Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD) applauds Prime Minister Stephen Harper for taking a stand against exempting one religious group from the requirement of photo identification when voting. The Path To 9/11
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 9/11/2007
Almost five years ago, a horrified world stood still–transfixed when terrorists used four planes as weapons of mass destruction against thousands of innocent Americans. ABC Television is commemorating the tragic day and its aftermath by premiering a made-for-television movie entitled, "The Path to 9/11". 9/11 Terrorism: Motivation and Learning
Imran Khan - 9/11/2007
After the horrific incident of 9/11/2001 the world has seen several changes. America declared a war against terrorism, its policies have been changed and use of power is more evident after 9/11. Many things which USA has never done are in practice whether they conflict with international laws are not. Like Guantanamo prison, secret flights, secret prisons etc. The Phony War On Terror
Ted Belman - 9/11/2007
As a result of the Muslim atrocity of 9/11, President George W. Bush declared war on terror. On Sept 20th he spoke to the combined houses and declared “On September the 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country.” Although he did call it an act of war, he limited the perpetrators to “enemies of freedom” even though all 19 hijackers were Muslims motivated by the Koran. And 15 of these were Saudis. 9/11/01: Remembering the Unforgettable
Amil Imani - 9/11/2007
It is said that "powerlessness frustrates and absolute powerlessness frustrates absolutely; absolute frustration is a dangerous emotion to run a world with." Sometimes I wonder why I am so restless, why I cannot cease thinking! It seems like the world we live in reveals to us incessantly, at certain moments or in certain circumstances, just how little we are and how vast the universe is. This world of ours is a very complex world. The world we live in is a world of many brutal voices. It is a world of heavy blows and delirious trances, but it is the only world that we know. What the future might hold if we fail to deal with the Leftist/Marxist-Islamist Alliance
David J. Jonsson - 9/11/2007
With every passing year following the events of 9/11 the rise of Leftist/Marxist-Islamist Alliance has increased global instability. By the beginning of 2006, nearly all the combustible ingredients—far bigger in scale than those leading to World Wars 1 and 11 and the Gulf Wars of 1991 or 2003—were in place. The Original 9/11 in 1683: Why Muslims Attacked Specifically on 9/11
Baron Bodissey - 9/11/2007
Last year on September 11th I composed a memorial post, and then went browsing among all the other bloggers who had posted their own memorials. There were some excellent posts and photo essays, notably at Michelle Malkin, Dr. Sanity, and CUANAS, and all so much better than my own. The Judas Syndrom: American Media and the War on Terror
Major Dennis W. Lid - 9/11/2007
It's happening again, just like it did during the Vietnam Conflict. The collective voice of a disaffected public grows louder with each negative incident that occurs in Iraq. As the fatalities increase and the casualties mount from the daily incidence of improvised explosive devices, ambushes, assassinations, suicide bombings and other terrorist acts, the fainthearted and disillusioned are repulsed by the appalling statistics and disheartened from any desire to stay the course. America’s Limited Options In The War On Terror
Ted Belman - 9/11/2007
Before 9/11, Islamists attacked American forces, ships, diplomats and Embassies from time to time with relative impunity. The enormity of 9/11 demanded that the US put an end to such attacks. Her first response which came within 24 hours of the attack was to enable plane-loads of Saudi VIPs to leave the country. Thus even before determining who was responsible and what course of action to be taken, the Bush decided to absolve and protect the Saudis. Incredible, considering that 15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudis. Strategic Assessment Of The War Between The West and Islam
Jan Lamprecht - 9/11/2007
Five years after 9/11, it’s time to focus and analyze the military and political consequences of it. The mere fact that no terrorist acts have occurred on US soil since then tells us that the enemy caught American Intelligence by surprise on September 11. But this has been remedied. From various sources, it appears that the CIA went on a secret worldwide offensive based on the principle that attack is the best form of defense. The idea being to nail the terrorists before they get to the USA. All in all, the CIA has not done badly. Americans have done a reasonable job of keeping terrorism out o... Is American Foreign Policy Responsible for 9/11?
Ryan Mauro - 9/11/2007
After the attacks of September the 11th, many questioned, “Why do they hate us?” While any deliberate attack on innocent civilians is deplorable, it is important to find the cause of radical Islamic terrorism. Many people point to the sources of anti-Americanism as the cause of terrorism, but anti-Americanism does not translate into an acceptance of, and willingness to participate in, suicide bombings. It is not fair to blame anti-Americanism (and thus American policy causing anti-Americanism) as the cause of the sickness, because hatred of one country’s policy does not lead most people to jus... The Cyber Narcissist
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 9/11/2007
To the narcissist, the Internet is an alluring and irresistible combination of playground and hunting grounds, the gathering place of numerous potential Sources of Narcissistic Supply, a world where false identities are the norm and mind games the bon ton. And it is beyond the reach of the law, the pale of social norms, the strictures of civilized conduct. The Color Of Crime: Who Commits Crime, Why and The Liberal Response
Guy White - 9/10/2007
Several years ago, the New Century Foundation, called “White Nationalist” by supporters and “racist” by the Civil Rights Crusaders, published a study called “The Color Of Crime” on race and crime based on official government statistics. In response, Tim Wise penned an article that sought to counter the report. Whether you agree with the goals of the New Century Foundation, it is hard not to conclude that Mr. Wise‘s response (1) is meant to obfuscate the issue, while “The Color Of Crime” is a mostly honest account of what our own government states. Those who support affirmative action must be especially upset at the lying and false logic used by Mr. Wise. IQ and Crime in the US Redux
Robert Lindsay - 9/10/2007
This is follow-up to an earlier post - Black Crime and Intelligence - An Intrepid Investigation. No matter how much Leftists and liberals deny it, there are clear differences in racial crime rates in the US. US Hispanics and Blacks have higher crime rates than Whites in the US in the same way that Asians have lower rates. It is neither controversial nor racist to report on this observable fact. Extremist Navy Officer Receives Slap On The Wrist
Christopher Pryor - 9/9/2007
On September 12, 2001 , Americans throughout the country were mourning catastrophic loss of life as well as the destruction and damage of treasured American icons - the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. US policy has always been the same
Kamala Sarup - 9/9/2007
US Freedom and democracy means that the general population has control of the legislators. I think, post-World war two US policy has always been the same as pre-World war two US policy. Freedom is not a short term gain; it is long term. It is about "the fundamental values of democracy". That sentimental concept is the kind of powerful statement that the US govt puts out to its citizens. The US gov't., since 1776, has used such appeals to "democracy", "American way of life", "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", "four score and seven year ago etc., in the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address" and other appeal. Economy Losses 4000 Jobs in August: Impact of Subprime Crisis Apparent, Fed Likely to Cut Rates
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/7/2007
Today, the Labor Department reported the economy lost 4000 payroll jobs in August, after posting a 68,000 gain in July. Economist expected a 110,000 gain in August and were clearly taken off guard by the sudden drop in hiring. U.S. Productivity Improves: Good News for Inflation, Interest Rates and Stocks
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/6/2007
Today, the Department of Labor reported productivity in the nonfarm private business sector increased at a 2.6 percent annual rate in the second quarter of 2007. This was significantly higher than the 0.7 percent increase recorded in the second quarter of 2007. Canada position on 'faceless voting' undermines electoral integrity and equality before the ballot box
David Harris - 9/6/2007
Ottawa, Canada – The Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD) regards as unconscionable Elections Canada’s reported new policy of allowing Muslim women to wear identity-concealing face veils, including full burqas, when voting in upcoming federal by-elections in Quebec and Ontario. Canada’s federal elections’ regulator says Muslim women can “vote veiled” merely by identifying themselves with a driver’s licence and second piece of identification. As an alternative, “covered” women need only swear an oath and have another voter vouch for them. Spectrum of Advertisement in Soap Opera
Panchanan Bhoi, Ph.D. - 9/4/2007
Ad expert Steward H. Britt once mentioned, “Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark, you know what you are doing but no-body else does”. Though means of advertising include creative and media strategies, but now it is criticised on the grounds of deception, manipulation and bad taste. It manipulates the consumers against their will. Matter of taste in advertising and possible preoccupation with exploiting sex appeal is quite common in its publicity. Taking people much exposure to the electronic channels, the advertisers are now rush to this medium of communicat... Social Networks And Journalists Secrets
Angelique van Engelen - 9/4/2007
Social networks are beginning to open their eyes to the needs of journalists. Publish2.com, which is set to launch later this month, is entirely geared up for reporters. This ‘social media company’ is in beta testing, but its founders promise to deliver on a few key features which the currently available social networks like FaceBook, LinkedIn etc. miss out on. One of those promising features is a news aggregator ‘which puts journalists at the center of news’. Who gets to be a part of it depends on the community that Publish2 starts off with. They say on... ICE campaign - In Case of Emergency
Michael Hart - 9/1/2007
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign. Putting Lipstick On Pigs
Prof. Peter Morici - 9/1/2007
The pope and US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke both rely on a higher force to motivate millions. The pope relies on faith in the Resurrection; poor Ben depends on the credibility of the bond market. The latter, ultimately, rests on the integrity of investment banks and bond-rating agencies, and those have proved faulty. The Dark Berry Theory of Race and Justice
Guy White - 8/31/2007
The Duke rape case has been one of the most well-documented criminal dramas in recent memory. But one aspect of the hoax has been misrepresented and then shut out by the media – the role of race in the malicious prosecution of Reade Seligmann, Dave Evans and Collin Finnerty. When the case broke, race was central to the media. But as the accuser’s story unraveled, race disappeared from discussion. But it was not just a story of 3 boys being railroaded by a rogue prosecutor. This is a story of how American elites view their country: the media, the academia, the corporate management, the criminal... The Idea of Reference
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/31/2007
The Wikipedia was touted as the greatest reference work in history. A collaborative effort of contributors and editors across time and space, it bloated into hundreds of thousands of articles on subjects both deserving and risible. Anyone with a connection to the Internet and a browser can edit the Wikipedia, regardless of his or her qualifications to do so. Geographical Ignorance is Bliss?
Dr. Norman Berdichevsky - 8/31/2007
“No child left behind? This has been one of the popular and hollow political catch-words used in recent electoral campaigns in the U.SHow far behind was “Beauty queen” and contestant Lauren Caitlin Upton, a hopeful in the “Miss USA Teen Pageant”, who outdid Grouch Marx’s best one-lines with her off-the-cuff response as to why one-fifth of Americans can’t locate the United States on a world map. Her explanation was….” I personally believe that ….uh… Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some people out there in our nation don't have maps,". These poor folks are obviously another group of d... Project Gutenberg's Anabasis
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/28/2007
In October 2003, Project Gutenberg (PG) - the Web's first and largest online library of free electronic books - released a long-awaited DVD containing close to 10,000 of its titles. Since then, another 14,000 texts were added to its burgeoning archives. The Project spawned numerous other Web sites. Some of them - such as as the late lamented Blackmask - offer free downloads and sell their own DVD with mostly Project Gutenberg eBooks in multiple formats. Others provide free browsers and library applications specific to PG's content. Losing On Democracy Promotion in the Middle East, an American Foreign Policy Challenge
Timothy Brown - 8/28/2007
The August 2007 by-elections in Lebanon were held to fill the parliament seats that became vacant by assassinations earlier this year. Former president Amin Gemayel, whose son Pierre was slain in March, lost to a relatively unknown candidate in the early August elections. In the New York Times (10 Aug 2007) article, “U.S. Backs Free Elections, Only to See Allies Lose” by Hassan M. Fattah, describes how Mr. Gemayel’s demise was more than like attributed to his backing by the United States rather than a split Christian vote, the Armenian vote, and alleged election rigging. In January of 2006, th... Barack Obama’s Silly Month: From Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 8/27/2007
By the time President Reagan met his Soviet counterpart, he had already been eleven months into his second-term. Mikhail Gorbachev was the new Russian premier, and the first to hold talks with Reagan (the three previous Soviet leaders all passed away within the span of a few years). Washington and Moscow negotiated the conditions of the summit, set to take place in November 1985, for months. Anticipation for the conference was building since at least that May. Democracy and the Media Bias
Fjordman - 8/27/2007
In democratic societies the press, the Fourth Estate, should supposedly make sure that the government does its job properly as well as raise issues of public interest. In practice, we now seem to have a situation where the political elites cooperate with the media on making sure that some topics receive insufficient or unbalanced attention while others are simply kept off the agenda altogether. This isn't the case with all issues but with some more than others, especially those related to Multiculturalism, mass immigration and anti-discrimination where there seems to be a near-consensus among ... Foreign Policy Towards Middle East: Engage, Moderate, Split
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/27/2007
Engage, moderate, and split--that's the mantra for Middle East policy of the wrong-headed in many foreign ministries, newspaper editorial offices, universities, and other places where the rapidly growing international bad-ideas industry is centered. How the West Lost the Cold War
Fjordman - 8/26/2007
The girlfriend of a politician from the Sweden Democrats, a small party critical of mass immigration, was recently attacked at her home outside Stockholm. The young woman was found bound with duct tape in the apartment block where she lives with Martin Kinnunen, chairman of the youth wing of the SD. Three men had forced their way into the couple’s apartment and held the 19-year-old at knife point. Kinnunen tells of several threats and anonymous phone calls to the family. 'God's Warriors' on CNN: Perfect Example Of Media Bias
Blake Gartner - 8/26/2007
This week, CNN ran a series on God's Warriors - Jewish, Christian and Muslims. I'm sure CNN got many replies to their report: some were in favor, some against, some accused CNN of anti-Muslim bias, some anti-Christian bias and some anti-Jewish/antisemitic bias. I'm even more sure that this will convince CNN and the show's host Christiane Amanpour that getting criticism from all sides proves that they are unbiased. Of course, everyone who voices his opinion to a large number of people will always be the subject of attacks from all sides - unless of course you are an extremist who not only takes sides, but takes sides with someone's the most extremist elements. The Secret of anti-Americanism
Mencius Moldbug - 8/26/2007
As a young American living outside the US I often found myself exposed to the odd belief system that's often called "anti-Americanism." I had trouble understanding how or why anyone could think this way. Reality, which my father brought home every night in the slim and serious form of the Herald Trib, was one thing, and anti-Americanism quite another.
And yet the creed seemed quite popular. Moreover, it was no peasant superstition. If anything, the local elites - with whose spawn I was of course raised, and whose wealth and sophistication were unden... Ten Postulates of Political Correctness
Baron Bodissey - 8/26/2007
Political correctness insinuates itself into the body politic under many aliases – multiculturalism, diversity, tolerance, conventional wisdom, progressive thought (how’s that for an oxymoron?), all the smelly little orthodoxies of our time. It comes in a number of varieties and flavors.
As a public service, I have gathered together the ten basic principles of PC. You might call them the Ten Postulates of PC; or maybe they could be couched in the imperative as the Ten Commandments of Multiculturalism.
1. America is uniquely evil.
2. America is never justified in... Barbarians Kill as West Drifts
Salim Mansur - 8/26/2007
There comes a point at which diminishing returns on most issues begin to go negative. Such a point in denouncing Islamist terrorism and equally the Muslim majority's silence against this menace was reached sometime ago. As Islamist terrorism, however despicable, became mundane occurrence in the daily news cycle, the deafening silence of Muslims -- except for lonely voices of feeble opposition -- has given credence to growing numbers of non-Muslims that Islam is as much a religion of peace as the Klanmen's politics is an expression of multiculturalism. When Trust Fails, Credit Markets Collapse
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/25/2007
The Pope and Ben Bernanke both rely on a higher force to motivate millions. The Pope relies on faith in the Resurrection, poor Ben depends on the credibility of the bond market. The latter, ultimately, rests on the integrity of investment banks and bond rating agencies, and those have proven faulty. Indo-US Nuke Deal In Line of Fire
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 8/25/2007
“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a traitor who has betrayed the nation by continuous bluffing on the Indo-US nuclear deal. Had an American President done that he would have been removed, if it were in China they would have settled it with one bullet in his head.” These comments are made by the NDA convener and opposition leader George Fernandes. Kucinich Must Find a Better Role Model Than Bob Ney
Hassan Daioleslam - 8/24/2007
Bob Ney, a current federal prisoner and former Ohio Congressman, has left quite a legacy. Throughout his tenure in the US Congress he received bribes in exchange for providing services to a variety of clients. Ney was finally convicted for several charges including accepting bribes from lobbyists and international arms dealers in an effort to circumvent sanctions to sell US-made airplane parts to Tehran1. In the US congress, Ney was an active and outspoken advocate of the Iranian mullahs. He fought hard against sanctions, toned down the pro human right statements against Iran and worked hard t... British Muslim Cleric Linked To USS Cole Blast
Glen Jenvey - 8/22/2007
Abu Hamza may be linked to the attacks on the USS Cole battleship in Yemen, which killed 17 sailors and injured over 30 on October 12, 2000. The evidence has been there all the time, but not looked at properly. The United States has a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the location of those persons who committed or aided in the attack on the USS Cole. Asset Confiscation and Asset Forfeiture
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/22/2007
The abuse of asset confiscation and forfeiture statutes by governments, law enforcement agencies, and political appointees and cronies throughout the world is well-documented. In many developing countries and countries in transition, assets confiscated from real and alleged criminals and tax evaders are sold in fake auctions to party hacks, cronies, police officers, tax inspectors, and relatives of prominent politicians at bargain basement prices. Conservative By Default: Black Warmongers and Pseudo-Conservatives
Elizabeth Wright - 8/22/2007
The passage of just a few short years has made it hard to remember when only the views blessed by the progressive left found a path into the public arena. And, although modern liberalism still prevails as society's dominating force, by the year 2007, much has changed when it comes to the ability to disseminate and broadcast other political messages. For close to four decades, the subject of race, especially, was locked down tight. In public discourse, one was expected to be racially-correct, as only the most sympathetic approach to the subject was tolerated. A form of self-censorship became the norm. Voucher Communities - the Solution to Unemployment?
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/21/2007
I. Executive Summary "Voucher Communities" are communities of unemployed workers organized in each municipality. The unemployed exchange goods and services among themselves in a barter-like or countertrade system. They use a form of "internal money": a voucher bearing a monetary value. Thus, an unemployed electrician can offer his services to an unemployed teacher who, in return, gives the electrician's children private lessons. They pay each other with voucher money. The unemployed are allowed to use voucher money to pay for certain public goods and services (such as health and education)... Where Can Newsroom Editors Turn For International Grassroots Reporting?
Angelique van Engelen - 8/20/2007
This month, significant developments have taken place in citizen journalism. There’s no longer any doubt that audience participation is maturing; citizen reporting is on its way to become part and parcel of the established media. Handsome amounts of cash are being paid for platforms gathering reports by mere mortals who relay first hand experiences of events to the world. Associated Content landed $10 million in financing earlier this month from Canaan Partners. At the same time, NowPublic raked in $10.6 million Rho Ventures. So what are winning strategies for newsroom editors in dealing with the citizen platforms? Whites Need Not Apply? Job-Hunting While White
Baron Bodissey - 8/20/2007
Imagine that sign in a window. Actually, in this case it should read “White English” — Jock and Mick and Taffy are welcome, but Jane Bull might as well forget it. The White Race: Going Gently Into That Good Night
Fjordman - 8/20/2007
Fjordman wrote this as a response to “Whites Need Not Apply? Job-Hunting While White”.
I usually don’t write about skin color, although I have done so sporadically in the past. However, the amount of hatred and racism against whites is now becoming so aggressive, palpable and indeed publicly accepted in much of the world that perhaps I should write another essay about it. Let me start briefly he... Baghdad Ablaze: Interview with Prof Ray Tanter On Winning In Iraq and Iran
Ryan Mauro - 8/20/2007
Professor Raymond Tanter is the president of the Iran Policy Committee. The IPC has just published their new book, “Baghdad Ablaze: How to Extinguish the Fires in Iraq and Allow for a Triumphant Return Home of US Military Forces.” Raymond Tanter served at the White House as a Senior Member on the National Security Council staff, from 1981 to 1982. In 1983-1984, he was personal representative of the Secretary of Defense to arms control talks in Madrid, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Vienna. In 1967, Tanter was deputy director of behavioral sciences at the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S.... Hardball Tactics In An Era Of Threats
Ross E. Getman, Esq. - 8/17/2007
a. Amerithrax: The Other "Person of Interest" A colleague of famed Russian bio-weaponeer Ken Alibek and former head of The United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases ("USAMRIID") Charles Bailey, has been convicted of sedition and sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years. He worked in a program co-sponsored by the American Type Culture Collection ("ATCC") and had access to ATCC facilities, as well as facilities of the DARPA-funded Center for Biodefense at George Mason University then run by Dr. Alibek and Dr. Bailey. The bionformatics grad student once had a high security clearance for mathematical support work for the Navy. Oil, China and Auto Parts Push Trade Deficit Up
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/16/2007
Today, the Commerce Department reported the June deficit on trade in goods and services was $58.1 billion. This was down from the $59.2 billion deficit in May but was still about 5.1 percent of GDP. This was lower than expected. The consensus forecast was $61.0 billion. Ottawa needs a comprehensive strategy for Canada-India relations
David Harris - 8/16/2007
Ottawa, Canada - August 15, 2007 - India celebrates 60 years of independence. This occasion offers Canada an opportunity to reevaluate its relationship with one of history’s oldest continuing civilizations, a nation that is the world’s largest pluralistic democracy, and a major Asian military and economic power. Walking on Eggs: Bigfoot and Trans-Atlantic Paralysis
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 8/16/2007
Can a keen political advisor or at least a loving God help Canadian MP Mike Lake for his probable derangement? The youthful parliamentarian has been working closely with his Edmonton constituents to make it Canadian law, as in passed by the House of Commons, to “establish immediate, comprehensive legislation to affect immediate protection of Bigfoot.” You are not reading that decree incorrectly, nor would it be inaccurate to say former French presidential candidate Segolene Royal –– of the socialist league –– enjoyed playing to the most conspiratorial neo-Marxist hooey base of French politics during her losing bid. Where Can Newsroom Editors Turn For International Grassroots Reporting?
Angelique van Engelen - 8/15/2007
This month, significant developments have taken place in citizen journalism. There’s no longer any doubt that audience participation is maturing; citizen reporting is on its way to become part and parcel of the established media. Handsome amounts of cash are being paid for platforms gathering reports by mere mortals who relay first hand experiences of events to the world. Associated Content landed $10 million in financing earlier this month from Canaan Partners. At the same time, NowPublic raked in $10.6 million Rho Ventures. So what are winning strategies for newsroom editors in dealing with the citizen platforms? Education With The Right Direction
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 8/15/2007
What I understand the education with right direction, of course of the imagination of Mahatma Gandhi too, and on which I have emphasized time-to-time in India and abroad, is a process containing four kind of learning. It may be called complete education also, and through it, as I believe the real objective of education can be fulfilled. In it, apart from general education that is imparted according to the syllabus fixed to the purpose at different level, there is a provision of physical, moral and technical learning. Would You Chew The Meat Of Cloned Animals?
Angelique van Engelen - 8/13/2007
It is estimated that by the year 2010 Americans and Europeans will be eating the meat of cloned cows and drinking their milk. By the end of this year, US regulators will decide whether to allow cloned animals from entering the food chain and the EU is studying the issue at this moment. Experts say the decision is not going to be without consequences. In the EU, the public is largely ignorant of what is going on. Unlike in the US, where consumers are ganging up against it. Regulate the Internet!
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/13/2007
With the advent of Web 2.0 and UGC (User-generated Content), the Internet has completed its transformation into an anarchic and lawless ochlocracy (mob-rule). The Internet is a mass medium and like all media it must be regulated. The laws that apply offline must and, in due time, as legislators are exposed to the less savory aspects of the Web, will apply online. Free Speech Struggles To Survive In U.S. and Europe
Elizabeth Wright - 8/13/2007
Unfortunately, there are always more updates to be done on the victims of Europe's "hate crime" laws. In the last Commentary, The insidious chilling of debate, "thought criminals" David Irving and Ernst Zundel were awaiting their fates in German and Austrian jail cells. As you know, in December, Austria freed Irving, and in February, Germany sentenced Zundel to five years in prison. The 67-year-old Zundel has been incarcerated in Germany for almost four years for the "crime" of publicly disputing the official version of Holocaust history. Tancredo's Call To Bomb Muslim Holy Sites Promotes Anti-Americanism
Ahmad Al-Akhras, Ph.D. - 8/12/2007
It was shocking to hear presidential candidate Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) call for the bombing of Muslim holy sites as a deterrent to terrorist attacks on our nation and that is part of his “presidential anti-terror package.” When reported overseas, such bigoted words can contribute to anti-Americanism, endangering American’s and providing Al-Qaeda and its ilk with a tool to recruit support and raise funds. White Pride Denied
Elizabeth Wright - 8/11/2007
Did you know that the terms "Black Power," "Black Supremacy," and "La Raza" (The Race) are all trademarks that have long been approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office? Even the Black Panther Party's slogan "Burn, Baby, Burn" (which still evokes the threat of rioting and mayhem), had no problem winning official trademark recognition. And then there's "African Pride," "Black Pride," "Chippewa Pride," "Cuban Pride," "Indian Pride," "Jewish Pride," "Red Pride," and lots more -- all aimed at acknowledging a race or ethnicity. And all terms approved by the U.S. government. Hedge Funds, Private Equity Funds and Stock Markets
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/11/2007
The recent market meltdown had much less to do with bad subprime loans than advertised. It was caused more fundamentally by excesses at hedge and private equity funds. There's Never Enough Blacks
Elizabeth Wright - 8/10/2007
In the mid-1980s, officials of the national NAACP engaged in several sessions with various Hollywood producers and other bigwigs in the industry. As these representatives of the country's "official" civil rights organization had done many times before, in other venues, they came to cajole, and, if necessary, to threaten and intimidate Hollywood's powerful entertainment figures into opening up more roles for blacks in front of and behind the camera. Once again, the NAACP was playing the muscle man for a constituency determined to get their "piece of the pie." Appearance is Everything
Jonathan Spyer, Ph.D. - 8/9/2007
US Secretary of State Condolleeza Rice has now completed her four day trip to the Middle East. Dr. Rice was evidently well-pleased at what she found, describing herself as "impressed by the seriousness of (Olmert and Abbas) to really advance this two state solution." A number of commentators have remarked on the similarity between the current moment and the days of the Oslo peace process. A notable difference, however, is that during Oslo one had the sense that the protagonists, or at least some of them, really believed they were on the way to making peace in the Middle East. This time around, the whole thing has a strained, slightly unreal sense to it. What lies behind this? America Alone
Stephen W. Browne - 8/8/2007
I tend to be skeptical about disaster scenarios based on statistical reasoning. Firstly, I'm old enough to remember when the fashionable disasters were the Next Ice Age, one-square-meter-per-person overpopulation, and famine deaths in the billions - the latter set to arrive without fail in 1980. Fashion disaster accessories included exhaustion of natural resources and the extinction of blondes by the year 2000. Lawsuit Gravy Train: Doing It the Black Way
Elizabeth Wright - 8/7/2007
In the Winter 1997 edition of Issues & Views, writer Shahrazad Ali described the antics of blacks who either had filed class-action lawsuits or were plotting lawsuits against their white employers for so-called discriminatory practices. Calling this stratagem "a new job related lottery," she chided such blacks for their "perpetual begging" and willingness to have whites "buy and sell" them. Thanks to today’s political climate, the perpetual begging has turned into perpetual demands--with more than a hint of punishment for any corporate executive who’s too dense to understand the nature of the times we live in. Robert Nardelli and Chrysler
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/7/2007
Yesterday Ceberus shoved aside Thomas LaSorda to name Robert Nardelli CEO of Chrysler. One wonders why. As things currently stand, the North American automobile industry is losing money. Toyota earns about $1200 a car and the Detroit Three lose more than that. Overall, the Big Six--GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda--have trouble turning a profit. AEYRheads In American Academia
Stephen W. Browne - 8/6/2007
Until I came back from Eastern Europe I hadn’t often had to put up with a certain kind of person that infests the universities and intellectual circles of America and Western Europe. I refer to the kind of "progressive" intellectual I call the Achingly Earnest Young Radical, or AYERhead for short. You know the kind I mean, the ignorant, arrogant know-it-all little twerps who revel in their superior insight at having discerned the true patterns of history, the ulterior designs and the true motives of the rapacious ruling class. America’s Lopsided Foreign Policy
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 8/6/2007
A foreign policy crisis has loomed in America. And what should the president intrude? What he should do to mend all his mistakes and in next several months build a new foreign policy model, one that could help him earn a distinguished place in the history books. The Damage of Brown v. Board of Education
Elizabeth Wright - 8/5/2007
"There is no reason to think that black students cannot learn as well when surrounded by members of their own race as when they are in an integrated environment." What sound, sensible words. How long so many of us have waited to hear them and see them once again in public print. They are all the more meaningful since they emanate from the pen of a black man. These words come from the concurring opinion of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the Missouri v. Jenkins decision of June 12, 1995. Such words and the meaning behind them are neither shocking nor foreign to a great many blacks. Eve... United States Caught in an Abusive Relation With Mullahs
Prof. Kazem Kazerounian - 8/5/2007
The dynamics of the relation between the United States and the Iran's mullahs resembles that of an abused wife and the batterer husband. Domestic violence comes as a form of bullying, as a means that is easier than other methods. There are different reasons why spouses stay in physically abusive marriages. Some women stay because they fear the community's reaction, some hope that their husbands will change, some stay out of fear of the husband's violent reaction, some stay because of low-esteem, and some stay because they can't find a way out. United States must find a way out of this dishonorable cycle. Economy Adds 92,000 Jobs in July
Prof. Peter Morici - 8/5/2007
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy added 92,000 payroll jobs in July, down from 126,000 in June. The consensus forecast was 135,000. Ethno-Politics Poison Canadian Democracy
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 8/4/2007
Last week, Ontario Auditor-General Jim McCarter reported that the province's Immigration and Citizenship Ministry has been dispensing millions of dollars in grants to ethnic groups under a process that is "not open, transparent or accountable." In many cases, groups got money simply because their members were chummy with ministry insiders. "In essence, the decisions behind 'who got what' were often based on conversations, not applications," Mr. McCarter concluded. Un-American Intimidation Tactics Will Not Silence Muslims
Ahmad Al-Akhras, Ph.D. - 8/4/2007
In the short yet painful period of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s prominence, he accused people who disagreed with his views of being Communists and many were ostracized in society. People became afraid to challenge him, fearing for their reputations and livelihoods. McCarthy’s relentlessly overreaching tactics included investigating various governmental agencies, universities, and even the United Nations. He routinely coerced individuals and institutions to march to his orders or else suffer the consequences. The Role of Politicians
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/3/2007
It is a common error to assume that the politician's role is to create jobs, encourage economic activity, enhance the welfare and well-being of his subjects, preserve the territorial integrity of his country, and fulfill a host of other functions. U.S. Dollar Keeps Falling
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 8/3/2007
An economist, it has been said, is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday did not happen today. This is especially true of currency forecasting too. Over the past couple of years economists have repeatedly forecast that the dollar would strengthen against the other main currencies. They have been wrong. Pro-Ayatollah Disinformation and Manipulation Campaign by Washington Think Tankers
Hassan Daioleslam - 8/3/2007
The policy of United States on Iran over the past decade has been amalgamated with confusion and shortsightedness. This is not accidental. A key factor in shaping this policy has been a disinformation campaign by the pro-Iranian circles. A leading champion of this propaganda crusade is the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR) and Dr. Ray Takeyh. Dr. Takeyh is a senior fellow at CFR and has testified frequently at various congressional committees and has appeared in numerous media venues. Takeyh until early 2000s was an ardent opponent of engagement with Iran but surprisingly became a strong adv... The Los Angeles Times And Its Naivete of Bias
Prof. Barry Rubin - 8/2/2007
What is really amazing about something like this Los Angeles Times editorial (see below) is that those writing it don't have the least consciousness of the fact that in Arab and Palestinian media, books, politics, etc., there is not the slightest acknowledgement to anything Israelis and Jews say, feel, or have experienced is acknowledged in any way. In other words, they and others demand that Israel be completely balanced--and criticize anything that appears not to be--while not demanding anything of the other side. I might add that I am not opposed to a passage being put in Israeli textbooks saying that the Arabs consider the creation of Israel a disaster for themselves. Bush And Abdullah Chew Over The Bones Of Palestine
David Singer - 8/2/2007
US President George W. Bush held talks at the White House at a hastily arranged private dinner on Tuesday with Jordan's King Abdullah II to discuss major regional issues - with no joint public appearances afterwards. INTERVIEW: Dr. Johann Wingard On Synthetic Fuels and Energy Crisis
David Storobin, Esq. - 8/1/2007
For more than twenty years Dr. Wingard was deeply involved in the development of the South African synfuels and energy industry as an engineering executive. Member of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers, he holds a PhD in Industrial Economics. His biological profile appears in “The Marquis Who’s Who in the World” (1996). Dr. Wingard is holder of several patents in the energy field, such as plasma-arc gasification of coal, improvements relating to dry cooling towers, improvements relating to boundary layer effect gas turbines and others. Ron Paulism: Moral and Intellectual Confusion
Nicholas M. Guariglia - 8/1/2007
There has been much brouhaha over the quarrel between Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul which occurred during a recent candidates debate. The topic turned to the overriding issue of transnational terrorism, where Mr. Paul went unfettered: “Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we’ve been over there… I’m suggesting that we listen to the people that attacked us and the reason they did it. And they are delighted that we’re over there…” Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Political Correctness
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/30/2007
News item: The Iranian establishment daily Kayhan, July 26, 2007, criticized officials there for allowing the sale of the new Harry Potter book, claiming the series is a Zionist project in order to disrupt the minds of young people. A Sino-American Turf Battle In Pakistan?
Ahmed Quraishi - 7/30/2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—An anti-American Islamic fanatic is arrested in Afghanistan, flown to Guantanamo Bay and then released back to Afghan authorities. He’s supposedly seething with anti-Americanism. But after crossing the border and returning to Pakistan, his first mission is to kidnap and kill a Chinese engineer. Fed Policy and Interest Rate Outlook: Fed target unchanged through November
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/29/2007
Treasuries are currently overbought. The long end of the Treasury yield curve will rise as the subprime scare subsides, freeing up additional cash for solid mortgages and enterprises with sound business plans. The ten-year Treasury rate should rise through the balance of the third quarter. Look for something above 5.10. Treasury long rates are artificially suppressed by the subprime scare. This may be a good time to move high quality corporate and municipal debt, and for investors to move from Treasuries to lower grade, but investment quality corporate debt. Second Quarter GDP Increases 3.4 Percent
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/28/2007
Yesterday, the Commerce Department reported that GDP grew at a 3.4 percent annual rate in the second quarter of 2007, up from 0.6 percent in the first quarter. This exceeded the consensus, which was 3.2 percent. Don't Blink: Interview with Jeff Harrow
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/28/2007
Jeff Harrow is the author and editor of the Web-based multimedia "Harrow Technology Report" journal and Webcast, available at www.TheHarrowGroup.com. He also co-authored the book "The Disappearance of Telecommunications". For more than seventeen years, beginning with "The Rapidly Changing Face of Computing", the Web's first and longest-running weekly multimedia technology journal, he has shared with people across the globe his fascination with technology and his sense of wonder at the innovations and trends of contemporary computing and the growing number of technologies that drive them. Jeff ... Is E-Voting the Next Wonder of the World?
Naseem Javed - 7/27/2007
With over 90 million e-votes, the global populace just reconfirmed the new Seven Wonders of the World and also introduced a new global E-Vote democracy. Two things: Firstly, untraceable e-votes can easily dominate the media and public perception, suggesting that even modern structures can sometimes replace the ancient wonders of the world. Second, the abundance of new global issues on the horizon makes the e-voting process a highly attractive method to suppress public opinion by camouflaging it with massive untraceable pulsating loads. The Universal Intuitive Interface
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/26/2007
The history of technology is the history of interfaces - their successes and failures. The GUI (the Graphic User Interface) - which replaced cumbersome and unwieldy ttext-based interfaces (DOS) - became an integral part of the astounding success of the PC. Stop Telling Us To Stop Reinventing The Wheel
Michael Hart - 7/26/2007
I'm tired of people complaining about other people reinventing whatever wheel happens to be theirs in the one sense and they want it to be theirs in all the possible senses, including outright ownership. Nobody owns the wheel. It can be, and has been, reinvented over countless years and countless times, and we can benefit a countless number of times in our lifetimes. As a result there are plenty of wheels for numbers of jobs in the thousands or tens of thousands. Civilization And Its Discontents - Criticism Q & A
Stephen W. Browne - 7/25/2007
A reader, who emphatically didn't like my article: 'Western Civilization and its discontents" sent a link (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-Interventionen_im_Ausland<), which details a number of American military interventions abroad. It's in German, but shouldn't be too hard to follow. I'm going to deal with the issues raised in several future posts, but for now I'll point out that they missed an important one - America's first foreign war in 1804 against the Barbary pirate state of Tripoli. Remember that example. Western Civilization and It's Discontents, Part 5
Stephen W. Browne - 7/24/2007
“Nowhere at present is there such a measureless loathing of their country by educated people as in America.” Obama, Sex Ed And The Forgotten Constitution
Ross Kaminsky - 7/24/2007
Much has been made in recent hours about Senator Barack Obama’s call for sex education for kindergarteners which he made at a Planned Parenthood event on Tuesday. But of the several notable position statements made by Obama during his presentation, that was probably the least objectionable. Interview: Peter Suber On Copyright Law and Free Online Scholarship
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/24/2007
The battle between owners of content and its users extends to all corners of the publishing world. Following a brief period of enthusing about "synergies", most media companies, content aggregators, content providers - movie and recording studios, publishers, news organizations - came to view the digitization of content as a threat rather than an opportunity. In an effort to protect their intellectual property rights, publishing and recording corporations have fostered the radicalization of copyright law (mainly in the DMCA - the Digital Millennium Copyright Act). They have also retarded the f... Western Civilization and Its Discontents: Part 4
Stephen W. Browne - 7/23/2007
“How… can people like Noam Chomsky and Michael Moore tally the sum of people killed in all the conflicts since the end of WWII and lay all of them at the feet of America? Why else could people blandly watch Bowling for Columbine total hundreds and thousands and millions dead, all hung around the neck of America, without so much as a mention, not a hint, not a peep of the words Soviet Union? Oh, and give it an Academy Award, and claim it is “the greatest documentary ever made.” Wikipedia - Can Teenagers Write An Encyclopedia?
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/22/2007
The vast majority of Wikipedia contributors and editors are under the age of 25. Many of the administrators (senior editors) are in their teens. This has been established by a survey conducted in 2003 and in various interviews with Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of the enterprise. Western Civilization and Its Discontents: Part 3
Stephen W. Browne - 7/22/2007
Self-hating Americans: Unsatisfactory Explanations Liberal Guilt Probably the most common explanation for Left radicalism, and its program to overturn and level American society, is “Liberal guilt”. Though this attitude has had a lot of brilliant and witty fun poked at it, it at least concedes the good intentions of the bearer. The thesis is that the fortunate children of wealth and privilege, upon encountering the reality of the poor, unprivileged and oppressed, feel guilty at their unearned fortune and embrace redistributionist and leveling ideologies, even if they are ineffective or downright counterproductive. Western Civilization and its Discontents: Part 2
Stephen W. Browne - 7/21/2007
“Many clever men like you have trusted to civilization. Many clever Babylonians, many clever Egyptians, many clever men at the end of Rome. Can you tell me, in a world that is flagrant with the failures of civilization, what there is particularly immortal about yours?” The Internet and the Library
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/21/2007
"In this digital age, the custodians of published works are at the center of a global copyright controversy that casts them as villains simply for doing their job: letting people borrow books for free."
- (ZDNet quoted by "Publisher's Lunch on July 13, 2001) President Bush Presses The Palestine Panic Button
David Singer - 7/21/2007
President George Bush is having a panic attack as his five year old vision of implanting an Arab state between Israel and Jordan in 6% of historic Palestine - the Bush Dream - has turned into a nightmare. The President has been exposed as totally powerless and lacking in influence to resolve what seemed to him to be so readily achievable in 2002. Sex Education For Kindergarteners: Analysis Of A Bad Idea
Federico Genoese-Zerbi - 7/20/2007
Senator Obama, in his recent suggestion that sex education be provided to kindergarten aged children, was referring at least in part to child protection programs based on touch identification. Without entering the debate about whether this is a constitutional role for the federal government (it’s not) I want to review the data about these programs, now in wide use across the country. The point, and one that nobody seems to focus on, is that these programs: (a) haven’t been shown effective; (b) may be harmful; and (c) cost a lot of money. If these programs were a vaccine against child sexual abuse, the FDA would not approve them and the public would be aghast if they were used. Microsoft Student 2008
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/20/2007
Homework assignments are the bane of most students I know (not to mention their hard-pressed and nescient parents). This is mainly because of the tedious and mind-numbing chores of data mining and composition. Additionally, as knowledge multiplies every 5-10 years, few parents and teachers are able to keep up. No Change in Federal Reserve Policy Likely, Stocks Poised to Rise
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/19/2007
Yesterday, the Labor Department reported the Producer Price Index fell 0.2 percent in June, after rising 0.9 percent in May. For June, the consensus forecast was 0.2 percent, and my published forecast was 0.0 percent. When the Politics of Polarization Prevails: Islamophobia and the Specter of Neo-McCarthyism
Abukar Arman - 7/19/2007
As a beneficiary of the climate of hysteria and suspicion resulting from those heinous acts of terrorism that shock the world on 9/11, pseudo news outlets such as Front Page Magazine has been raised to prominence in certain Islamophobic circles. Flanagan Method: West's Policy Towards Middle East
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/18/2007
Father Edward Flanagan was a great man. In 1917 he founded Boys Town, now Boys and Girls Town, in Nebraska as an orphanage combining revolutionary and traditional approaches to help orphans who had never before known kind treatment. Flanagan was an innovative educator but he never meant his methods to be used in Middle East politics or international affairs. Food Costs Drive Inflation, Gasoline to Spike, Yet Bull Market to Continue
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/18/2007
Today, the Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 percent in June, thanks in significant measure to rising food prices. Food prices were up 0.5 percent, after rising 0.3 percent in May. Rising food prices are exacerbated by the ethanol program, which is pushing up the prices for grains and derivative products like poultry, beef and baked goods to supplement imported gasoline supplies. Federal policy is clearly pushing up food prices to cope with oil import dependence. Western Civilization and its Discontents: Part 1
Stephen W. Browne - 7/17/2007
The fact that a great many of the most privileged members of our country and our civilization hate and resent it is beyond dispute. Their words and, more importantly, their actions give them away no matter how much they protest. An observer from the hypothetical "man from Mars" point of view would have to consider this seriously weird, if not insane. Why on earth would people who are arguably the luckiest individuals in the history of the human race, hate and resent their good fortune? Outlook for Interest Rates, Stocks Remains Good
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/16/2007
Friday, the Commerce Department reported June retail sales were down 0.9 percent from May. Less automobiles and parts, retail sales fell 0.4 percent. This retreat was greater than expected by forecasters. The House Vote Is A Recipe For Horrific Mass Murder In Middle East
Iqbal Latif - 7/15/2007
President George W. Bush is right when he says "I don't think Congress ought to be running the war, I think they ought to be funding the troops." The 9/11 terror attacks were not conceived in vacuum. Those who draw moral equivalence to terrorist acts today, citing that post 9/11 has encouraged extremism, forget that pre-9/11, there was no justification to destroy civilian targets in the heart of NY City. If the reaction would have been like post USS Cole or post Kenyan embassies, the world would have seen the war and its theatre shifted to the heart of western civilisation. Someone then would ... Harper's Resumption Of Canadian Aid To Fatah Repeats Past Mistakes
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 7/15/2007
Ottawa, Canada - According to published reports, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to announce a resumption of aid to Palestinians President Mahmoud Abbas when he meets with Jordon's King Abdullah this week. U.S. Records $60 Billion Trade Deficit in May
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/14/2007
Thursday, the Commerce Department reported the May deficit on trade in goods and services was $60.0 billion. This was up from the $58.7 billion deficit in April and was about 5.2 percent of GDP. The petroleum deficit increased to $23.9 billion in May from $22.4 billion in April, while the trade deficit on nonpetroleum products increased to $42.7 from $42.4 billion. The Fall and Fall of the P-Zine
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/13/2007
The circulation of print magazines has declined precipitously in the last 24 months. This dissolution of subscriber bases has accelerated dramatically as economic recession set in. But a diminishing wealth effect is only partly to blame. The managements of printed periodicals - from dailies to quarterlies - failed miserably to grasp the Internet's potential and potential threat. They were fooled by the lack of convenient and cheap e-reading devices into believing that old habits die hard. They do - but magazine reading is not habit forming. Readers' loyalties are fickle and shift according to... Knoxville Murder: Hunting Fugitives is No Job for Tommy Lee Jones
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 7/10/2007
As the chief deputy U.S. marshal explained to the interviewer, real-world fugitive apprehension has nothing in common with the movie version. Remember the big set piece in the movie The Fugitive (1993), when in a fiery train crash, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), wrongly convicted for his wife's murder, escapes from the bus meant to take him and other condemned men to the prison where they will soon be executed? (In the movie, the wheels of justice turn remarkably fast.) Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones, in his Ac... Daniel Pipes - A Zionist Islamophobe?
M.A. Khan - 7/8/2007
Mr. Daniel Pipes, a leading American scholar on the Middle East Politics, has recently been accused of being an Islamophobe for his no-nonsense critique of the Palestine Authority and of the Islamic world in general. He has naturally made too many enemies that not only include the Muslims but also their strange but committed leftist allies. No Change in Fed Interest Rate Policy Likely and Stocks Will Continue Up
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/8/2007
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy added 132,000 payroll jobs in June, down from 190,000 in May. Wages increased a moderate 6 cents per hour, or 0.3 percent, despite surging energy and food prices. Moderate wage and labor productivity growth should help keep core inflation in check, but rising gasoline prices later this summer and pressure from the ethanol program on grain and food prices could yet ignite a wage-price spiral. The Federal Reserve will remain cautious about inflation. Electing a New People: The Leftist - Islamic Alliance
Fjordman - 7/8/2007
Bertolt Brecht wrote a satirical poem after the 1953 East German risings: Amnesty: Kicking Butt and Taking Names
Matt Parrott - 7/4/2007
The American people pummeled the amnesty bill last week. The full weight of the executive office, the big business lobby, the hispanic lobby, the Republican leadership, the mainstream media, and even Fox News was orchestrated behind a historically unprecedented putsch. Never have the special interests been so visible and direct in the pursuit of their anti-American agenda. The saying goes "kicking butt and taking names". We just did the butt-kicking, but we also have to follow through by taking names. Guide For Media On How To Rationalize Islamist Dictatorships
Prof. Barry Rubin - 7/3/2007
The AP explains things to us as if they were the Hamas public relations department. This is not only bad journalism, not only a shamefully slanted apologia for Hamas, but a real case study of how the Western media is totally taken in by dictatorships (or at least the ones that are anti-American). AP doesnt seem to get the rather obvious point that if there is no sign of Hamas imposing rule of Islamism in Gaza it is because people get the hint. The Territorial Web
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 7/3/2007
The Net was supposed to dissolve anachronistic national borders and cultural boundaries. It was expected to vitiate distance - both physical and mental. It was hailed as the invention that will unify Mankind and harmonize (though not homogenize) civilizations, east and west. Why Giuliani is still the frontrunner
Ross Kaminsky - 7/2/2007
I am enthusiastic about both Fred Thompson and Rudy Guiliani. I believe one of them will be the nominee. There is a lot of excitement about Thompson and he is polling exceptionally well for someone who hasn't spent a dime on advertising or even officially entered the race. I am a big fan of Thompson's recent writing at TownHall.com and speeches in which he emphasizes first principles such as federalism and limited government. The Trials of Bear Stearns
Prof. Peter Morici - 7/1/2007
The near melt-down of two Bear Stearns hedge funds invested in subprime mortgages has focused attention on two critical questions. Will mortgage financing dry up, throwing the economy into the great abyss? Will the rush of private equity into publicly trade companies, aimed at reorganizing U.S. corporate assets, reverse and send stock prices tumbling? Online eBook Fair Provides 3/4 Million eBooks
Michael Hart - 7/1/2007
Urbana, Illinois and Honolulu, Hawaii: Free access to over 750,000 free online eBooks starts on July 4, for a month long World eBook Fair. Leading providers of electronic books have provided free access to materials on every possible topic. The World eBook Fair is a showcase for the range and importance of eBooks for enjoyment, education, research and literacy. Inflation Slows, Stocks Should Rally
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/30/2007
Yesterday, the Commerce Department reported in March personal income increased $47.3 billion or 0.4 percent, disposable personal income increased $37.6 billion or 0.4 percent, and personal consumption expenditures increased $52.0 billion or 0.5 percent. Consumers continue to lead economic growth, and this should continue. Gasoline prices rose 10 percent in May, and consumers are borrowing more to maintain spending habits. However, spending is moderating a bit as consumers save more. Those savings should find their way into the stock market, and that will be good for stock prices. Why China Won't Revalue
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/28/2007
An undervalued yuan offers Beijing great advantages but imposes significant costs on the U.S. economy. That is not likely to change anytime soon, because those costs are not apparent to many Americans feasting on cheap imports, and President Bush and the Congress lack the courage to act effectively. Become a Middle East Expert/Make Big Bucks/Astound Your Friends
Prof. Barry Rubin - 6/27/2007
Dear Career Counselor: I am in bad shape. I cannot get a job or support myself. I want to be rich and famous and powerful but I have no idea what to do. Can you suggest a powerful, prestigious, high-paying field where I need do no study or training? Signed, Destitute and Dumb. The Affair of the Vanishing Content
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 6/27/2007
"Digitized information, especially on the Internet, has such rapid turnover these days that total loss is the norm. Civilization is developing severe amnesia as a result; indeed it may have become too amnesiac already to notice the problem properly."
(Stewart Brand, President, The Long Now Foundation )http://www.archive.org/ Short Selling and Volatility
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 6/26/2007
Short selling involves the sale of securities borrowed from brokers who, in turn, usually borrow them from third party investors. The short seller pays a negotiated fee for the privilege and has to "cover" her position: to re-acquire the securities she had sold and return them to the lender (again via the broker). This allows her to bet on the decline of stocks she deems overvalued and to benefit if she is proven right: she sells the securities at a high price and re-acquires them once their prices have, indeed, tanked. Can Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Figures be Trusted?
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 6/24/2007
The formula to calculate GDP is this: GDP (Gross Domestic Product) = Consumption + investment + government expenditure + net exports (exports minus imports) = Wages + rents + interest + profits + non-income charges + net foreign factor income earned. The Flaws of the Western Man
Fjordman - 6/21/2007
There are two different camps among those concerned with the problems of the modern West: Those who ascribe them to a powerful and influential minority who champion certain ideologies, and those who ascribe them to a lack of cultural confidence and structural, religious and metaphysical problems in the West in general. I personally see some evidence to support both these explanations. Moderation in Core Rate Should Comfort Investors, Push Up Stocks
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/21/2007
Friday, the Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.7 percent in May, thanks in large measure to rising energy and food prices. This was higher than expected but moderation in the core rate of inflation should comfort investors. Energy prices rose 5.4 percent in May after rising 2.4 percent in April. Tight refining capacity and scattered emergency closures have run down inventories. Gasoline supplies will remain tight and prices will likely continue head up further. U.S. Records $193 Billion First Quarter Current Account Deficit Taxing Growth
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/20/2007
Friday, the Commerce Department reported the first quarter current account deficit was $192.6 billion, up from $187.9 billion in the fourth quarter. The deficit was 5.7 percent of GDP. The consensus forecast was $203 billion, and my published forecast was 195.8. The current account is the broadest measure of the U.S. trade balance. In addition to trade in goods and services, it includes income received from U.S. investments abroad less payments to foreigners on their investments in the United States. Maps of Cyberspace
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 6/19/2007
"Cyberspace. A consensual hallucination experienced daily by billions of legitimate operators, in every nation, by children being taught mathematical concepts... A graphical representation of data abstracted from the banks of every computer in the human system. Unthinkablecomplexity. Lines of light ranged in the non-space of the mind, clusters and constellations of data. Like city lights, receding..."
- (WilliamGibson, "Neuromancer", 1984, page 51) Where Should Bush Drop His Bombs Next?
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 6/18/2007
After Iraq, what next? The plainest answer to that question is that much depends on how the war on Iraq and Afghanistan proceeds. But after years of bombing, the campaign it seems is merely in its early stages because of America's inability to win any war dating back to its confrontation with Vietnam. There is no Saddam in Iraq, and no Taliban regime in Afghanistan, but so far, it is more striking how little has happened in the war than how much more is expected of America and its allies. No Change in Federal Reserve Policy Likely, Stocks Poised to Rise
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/17/2007
Thursday, the Labor Department reported the Producer Price Index rose 0.9 percent in May, after rising 0.7 percent in April. For May, the consensus forecast was 0.6 percent, and my published forecast was 0.8 percent. Energy prices rose 4.1 percent, after rising 3.4 percent in April. Food prices fell 0.2 percent in May after rising 0.4 percent in April. Core producer prices "producer prices less food and energy" rose 0.2 percent in May after no change in April. Driver's Licenses to Illegals: Threat to National Security
Joe Armendariz - 6/17/2007
Californians are getting ready for another debate over illegal Mexican immigration, including the most recent fight over demands that driver's licenses be issued to illegal immigrants. Because of the power of the Mexican lobby in California and the support they get from liberal Democrats, anything can happen now that California's state legislature is back in session. Aztlan - End Of The American Dream
Fjordman - 6/17/2007
In March 2005, US President Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Mexican President Vicente Fox announced the establishment of the “Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.” This was meant to implement a common border-facilitation strategy to improve the “flow of people and cargo at our shared borders.” More Idiocy By Both Parties In Congress
Ross Kaminsky - 6/16/2007
Although most of the legislative attention in the news is on the war funding bill about to be vetoed by President Bush, back in their offices and conference rooms our elected representatives are hard at work trying to curtail our liberty in every facet of our lives, leaving me to wonder why anybody other than union members (or other societal sponges) and the religious right would vote for any of these people. Canada's No-Fly List Which Takes Off This Summer Provides False Sense Of Security
Faisal Kutty - 6/16/2007
"Nothing personal sir, but your packages are not allowed on passenger airlines," said a United Parcel Service customer service agent, sitting in an American call centre. She was explaining to me that my package could not be delivered on an "early a.m." basis from Toronto to Peterborough. I was interrogating the agent about why this was so, since I had been using UPS without any problems since starting my practice in 1996. Initially reluctant, the agent eventually confessed that when my account number was entered into their system, the "Flight Guardian" software flashed a red signal. Bush, Osama and Iraq
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 6/15/2007
In 1991, when the American- led coalition force drove Iraq ’s ramshackle army out of Kuwait, it could have easily brought Saddam Hussein on his knees by invading Iraq . But American troops chased Iraqi forces from Kuwait back into Iraq and left Saddam Hussein untouched. Why America left the dictator untouched? Probably because, Senior Bush was worried that Iraq might descend into the land of chaos, mayhem and anarchy or that America might be left with a permanent mess there upon its victory. The case for bombing Iran
David Harris - 6/14/2007
When the United States strikes Iran - as it will - the result will be a disaster, but a disaster that cannot be avoided. Today, Iran's radical Islamist military, security and intelligence machine reflects the extremism of its history and entrenched masters. It has made Iran an engine of global instability and menace. For Iran today is on the verge of grasping the nuclear club, even as it remains an ungovernable influence in the international community. Deja Googled
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 6/13/2007
The Internet may have started as the fervent brainchild of DARPA, the US defence agency - but it quickly evolved into a network of computers at the service of a community. Academics around the world used it to communicate, compare results, compute, interact and flame each other. The ethos of the community as content-creator, source of information, fount of emotional sustenance, peer group, and social substitute is well embedded in the very fabric of the Net. Millions of members in free, advertising or subscription financed, mega-sites such as Geocities, AOL, Yahoo and Tripod generate more bits... Lebanese Army needs Canada's urgent help and support
Elias Bejjani - 6/12/2007
Open letter to Peter Gordon MacKay Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency from Elias Bejjani of the Lebanese Canadian Coordinating Council. Oil, China and Autos Push Up Deficit
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/12/2007
Last week, the Commerce Department reported the April deficit on trade in goods and services was $58.5 billion. This was down from the $62.4 billion deficit in March and well below the consensus forecast, which was $64.0 billion. Protection of U.S. Population a Must
Kamala Sarup - 6/5/2007
The U.S. is obligated to defend its people and its democracy, so doing it directly defends the people and interests of the U.S. democracy. Since Middle East is of vital importance to the U.S., it follows that the US will protect the countries like Israel and many other countries do provide significant of value to the U.S., so the U.S. will spread democracy. Ruling by Hon. Frank Iacobucci to rebalance national security and individual rights
Naresh Raghubeer and David Harris - 6/4/2007
The Canadian Coalition for Democracies welcomes Hon. Frank Iacobucci’s ruling of 31 May 2007, concerning his mandate as Commissioner of the Internal Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin. (See “Ruling on Terms of Reference and Procedure”) Economy Adds 157,000 Jobs in May, Personal Income Down But Spending Up
Prof. Peter Morici - 6/2/2007
Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy added 157,000 payroll jobs in May, up from 80,000 in April. In the first quarter, the economy added 496,000 payroll jobs, or about 165,000 jobs per month, and the economy is not on track to equal that pace in the second quarter. Do We Need Religion? Part 1
Wolfgang Bruno - 6/2/2007
Ali Sina is the Iranian ex-Muslim behind the website www.faithfreedom.org. Along with other former Muslims such as Ibn Warraq, Sina is spearheading what may be the first organized movement of ex-Muslims in Islamic history, made possible during the past ten to fifteen years by Muslim immigration to the West and the growth of the Internet. Publishing rational criticism of Islam, reaching hundreds of thousands of people and potentially hundreds of millions of people across the world, has never been done before until a few years ago. This is also part of the inspiration for my own suggestion of cr... Destroying Our Culture
Fjordman - 6/1/2007
One of the bloggers who read this essay stated that “Stuff like this makes me think the f***ing Jihadis ought to just destroy our culture.” OK, but what if that was the intention? I know there is some debate about just how influential radical Leftism and cultural Marxism are in weakening the West. Many observers believe this weakness is mainly caused by a general Western loss of self-confidence, an idea — widely shared even by many so-called right-wingers — that non-discrimination in all walks of life is not just the highest, but the only virtue, and finally, Western guilt for slavery, colonia... How the Wealth Grows - Introduction to Economics
Dimitri Kolb - 6/1/2007
Everybody loves economists. They are really nice guys, they predicted and brought to life everything we have. Were would we be now without economists? At best, we would suffer from darkness, cold and hunger in the middle of dark, dark ages. But suddenly came the economist and said: "Let it be market". And everything appeared itself in front of astonished people. The Invisible Hand of the Market - that it was. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jim Gilchrist of Minuteman Project on Immigration, Terror, Elections
David Storobin, Esq. - 5/31/2007
Today I spoke to Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minuteman Project. The most striking part of the interview was how mild his views on immigration truly were. The man has been vilified by most of the Left and even much of the Right, including the White House. He’s supposed to be an immigrant-hating vigilante who dreams of dead Mexicans at night. Instead, he’s an intelligent, mild-mannered person with very reasonable proposals that include supporting a limited H1b temporary visa program for skilled workers and about 200,000 legal immigrants annually. We also covered the War of Terror, U.S. Presidential elections, and the Minuteman Project dispute, among other issues. From the Land of the Free to North American Union?
Fjordman - 5/31/2007
I mentioned earlier my theory that US authorities and politicians on both sides, including the Bush administration, are doing so little to uphold US border controls with Mexico because they have already decided that the border is scheduled for demolition anyway, in favor of a North American Union. I was accused of paranoia by some, but I am increasingly certain that this interpretation is correct after reading about the European Union. Many powerful elitists do in fact view the European bloc as a success, and are adopting similar tactics of gradually abandoning border controls by bureaucratic and administrative decisions, with little or no public debate. Media Finally Discovers Racially-Charged Knoxville Horror Case
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 5/30/2007
The mainstream media (MSM) is finally starting, ever so modestly, to report on Tennessee’s Knoxville Horror, even as far from the crime scene as Denver! (A tip o’ the hat to Modern Tribalist.) On May 17, Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner announced that the four defendants charged with having kidnapped, robbed, gang-raped, mu... Thou Shalt Not Lie: Teaching Creationism and Evolution
Iqbal Latif - 5/29/2007
School children who see the exhibits in the Creation Museum in Kentucky will be confused when they learn in school that the universe is 14 billion years old rather than 6,000. Those who believe God created the heavens and the Earth in six days about 6,000 years ago say their views are finally being represented by the Christian creators of the 27 million $ sprawling museum. Why Socialists Must Side with Islamic Fundamentalism - The Jimmy Carter Case
Peter Fruchter - 5/28/2007
Jimmy Carter seems like a gentle man. Gentle as a wheeze. But the response to his recent “Palestine Peace Not Apartheid” book hasn’t been. It’s been anything but gentle. It’s been outrage. Some now say he’s anti-semitic. Which is unwarranted, and worse – irrelevant. The issues contested concern Israel – and Islamic fundamentalism. Not Judaism. Not the Jewish – or Masonic or Templar or Protestant – conspiracy. Not any more. Since the creation of Israel, it’s what goes on in the Middle-East getting voted most likely to enflame Armageddon. Alabamastan? Military Training Camp for Islamists in Alabama Immediately Before 9/11
Andrew Green - 5/28/2007
London has become known as Londonistan in intelligence and anti-Islamist circles. Recently, however, we came across an archive of an Islamist web site with known links to al-Qaida, advertising "The Ultimate Jihad Challenge", a two-week fire arms course where Muslims would be taught "practical" skills and "class theory is kept to a minimum." This is a British organization. But rather than training their "forces" in the United Kingdom, they organized a military camp in Marion, Alabama. Visit To Canada By China's Commerce Minister Bo Xilai
David Harris - 5/28/2007
Ottawa, Canada - The Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD) is concerned about the entry into Canada of China's Commerce Minister, Bo Xilai on Monday May 28th, 2007. There are serious allegations about Bo Xilai regarding torture and crimes against humanity. These concerns have been brought to the attention of Canadian government officials, the RCMP and the Department of Justice's Interdepartmental Operations Group of Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity & War Crimes Program. Creating the Online Infidel Library
Wolfgang Bruno - 5/25/2007
Fatima Houda-Pepin, raised a Muslim and active in the struggle against the use of sharia in Canada, warns that the public should make an effort to get to know those in the Muslim community who are lobbying for application of Shari‘a: “One of the strengths of Islamists is that they know you very well. They know our history, they know our culture, they know our justice system.” The reason why so many Westerners reacted with defeatism and despair over the Muhammad cartoons affair is because we are mentally on the defensive. We are reacting more than acting, waiting passively for the next Islamic ... The Fight against Jihad: Dealing with India and China
Wolfgang Bruno - 5/24/2007
The most important task in the fight against Islamic Jihad is to reunite the West in the defense of its own civilization, which can only happen by derailing Europe’s path to Eurabia. Raphael Israeli has suggested an Alliance of Western and Democratic States, at the center of which will be the US, Canada, Israel, Australia and Western Europe. This system may sidetrack the chaotic situation in the UN today, where Islamic countries and dictatorships have too much influence. It would probably also presuppose scrapping the EU in its present form. This alliance should maintain amiable relations with... Defeating Defeatism - The End of the Phony War
Wolfgang Bruno - 5/23/2007
I have stated before that we in the West need to face down our internal enemies, the twin trolls of Denial and Defeatism, before we can have any chance of dealing with Islam. Yes, the Islamic threat is very real and could lead to a cataclysmic world war unless stopped. No, it’s not too late to win this. Not yet. Writer Mark Steyn does a good job at devouring the former troll, but insists on feeding the latter. As Lawrence Auster demonstrates, Steyn continues to claim that we have in fact already lost, and must settle for "a Muslim majority world.” He talks as if he is the Churchill of our age,... Why Senator Leahy Was Targeted With Anthrax
Ross E. Getman, Esq. - 5/22/2007
Senator Leahy recently emphasized to Attorney General Gonzales that he wanted to know why he was targeted with letters containing anthrax. He wanted justice for the postal workers who died handling the letter addressed to him. Attorney General Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee: "Senator, Director Mueller, I believe, has offered to get the chairman a briefing. And we're waiting to try to accommodate the chairman's schedule to make that happen. We understand the frustration and the concern that exists with respect to the length of time. This is a very complicated investigation. I kn... GOP Debate: Did Ron Paul Crown Guiliani Our Next President?
Ryan Mauro - 5/21/2007
Today, I'll be offering my thoughts on the Republican debate on Fox News tonight. First thoughts: My hat is off to the moderators, who posed very good questions to the candidates. It was truly interesting to see all the candidates operate under pressure. U.S. Policy Toward Iran and Russia
David J. Jonsson - 5/20/2007
After September 11, Bush explained that the attacks showed that the friend of your enemy is also your enemy. As he put it last September, “America makes no distinction between those who commit acts of terror, and those that harbor and support them, because they’re equally guilty of murder.” Growth Picking Up and Outlook for Stocks Remains Strong
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/18/2007
Wednesday, the Commerce Department reported 1.528 new homes were started in April. Separately, the Federal Reserve reported industrial production rose 0.7 percent, with manufacturing posting a robust 0.5 percent. The latter figure followed a 0.6 percent gain in March. Gasoline Headed for $4.00 a Gallon, But Good News for Stocks
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/17/2007
Tuesoday, the Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent in April, thanks in large measure to rising energy and food prices. The consensus forecast was 0.5 percent. This better than expected inflation report should give stocks a lift. Bush's Emissions
Ross Kaminsky - 5/17/2007
President Bush is not and never has been a “conservative” using the traditional limited-government sense of the word. He is a big-government radical who wants to use government for his ends in a way that is little different from Teddy Kennedy’s modus operandi, just with social conservative rather than socialist ideology behind it. In my view President Bush has been a disaster, except for his immediate response to 9/11 and his first term tax cuts. Yesterday, President Bush gave a press conference in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling that the EPA has authority to regulate vehicle emiss... The Newspaper Cemetery
Naseem Javed - 5/16/2007
Despite all denials, newspapers all over the world are simply dying. The gravity of the problem is not that the competing media like TV or Internet are at play it’s rather that the public all over the world prefers moving pictures in the palms of their hands over deciphering or reading between the lines of nicely arranged words spread out on a paper blanket. Cerberus Acquisition of Chrysler Makes Little Sense
Prof. Peter Morici - 5/16/2007
Cerberus will acquire control of the Chrysler Group from DaimlerChrysler by paying $7.4 billion for 80.1 percent of Chrysler Group and assume the North American automaker's pension and health care liabilities. Daimler would retain 19.9 percent ownership. This arrangement fails to address Chrysler's fundamental competitiveness problems on three fronts. Immigration Day - Illegal Aliens and the Media March Together
Prof. Nicholas Stix - 5/15/2007
They want your job, your property, and your country. And they have powerful accomplices. On May 1, Americans again saw thousands – but at least this time, not millions – of federal criminals take to the streets, demanding recognition of their “right” to continue committing crimes. The criminals were supposedly also simultaneously “boycotting America,” though they had a most peculiar way of going about a boycott. The Difference Between Free Speech and Hate Speech
David Storobin, Esq. - 5/15/2007
Leftist lawyer Gloria Allred likes to say that there’s a difference between “free speech” and “hate speech” – the former being protected by the U.S. Constitution, while the latter must be criminalized. Such slogans are easy to make, but where must the line be drawn? Is free speech a radical version of what we like, while hate speech is anything we oppose? What Future for US - Europe Relations?
Fjordman - 5/12/2 | 
