Boy, this guy can’t catch a break, even when he does the right thing.  Or almost the right thing.  And who cares if Obama's recent ephiphany was just to shake the money tree for campaign contributions from Mrs. Buttersworth Democrats (their counterpart to “Log Cabi… Read full post »

 The The story so far - Chase Manhattan Bank (ticker symbol JPM) loses $2 billion in  just 2 months in the addmittedly difficult Jeopardy category "Euro Debt Crisis".  

President Obama, behind in the polls, then says “Aha!  Here’s a campaign issue to help… Read full post »

Dear Mr President –

Thanks for your announcement yesterday that although you were always in favor of equal rights for gays, you’re even more in favor of it now.   Well done.   It’s a mark of statesmanship and open mindedness when one can take… Read full post »

For your tireless work to convince politicians at all levels, not just president Obama, that gay marriage is not a political favor to be withheld by obsterperous public officals, or decried by those who feel their personal religion should inform our nation's secular public policy.

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My dad used to tell me that I “had all the answers, but no conception of the problem”.  (To which I would snark under my breath “What’s your problem, dad?”)

Even though I rock watching jeopardy at 7pm weeknights, munching on brie and asiago… Read full post »

Kahlid Sheikh Mohammed is having his day in court.  Nearly four years after promising to close Gitmo, the Obama administration is finally holding KSM’s trial . . . at Gitmo.  Is this a great country, or what?  From the start I’ve continuously posted that no on… Read full post »

French pollsters were right – voters rejected Nicolas Sarcophagus, and installed Francoise Hollande as their brand spanking new president.   Oh, and he’s a socialist, which is sure to gladden the hearts of those who believe Obama is a tool of Wall Street, LOL.

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If you’ve been following the case of Chen Guangchen – the blind Chinese activist who sought refuge in the US embassy, then was induced to return to his captors, then (3rd time's the charm) declared “I want to come to America” – you’re probably w… Read full post »

(Full disclosure – many of my posts are snide and cynical attacks on those who hold power failing to do the right thing. I have eschewed any satire for this update on Chen Guangchen)

The media is full of it this morning.  By that I mean finger pointing and sca… Read full post »

(disclaimer – the following report contains both true facts and BA’s own opinions, which are clearly marked)

Fact - Earlier today blind dissident Chen Guangchen was escorted out of American embassy in Bejing by the US Ambassador, after receiving assurances that Mr. Che… Read full post »

At the "In and Out Burger", Encino, California.  Singing gospel with a Pentecostal choir in Mussel Shoals, Alabama.  At the Bride Mart in Queef, Pakistan. 

On this, the 1st anniversary of Bin Laden’s reported death, the sightings still pour in, many of his lo… Read full post »

If yesterday is any indication of the kind of campaign Mitt Romney intends to run, Obama is certain to retake the White House.

Mitt rushed to the microphones to decry . . . (drumroll) . . . not the unemployment rate; not the tsunami of forclosures; not the deficit .… Read full post »

. . . and the Ambassador asks: “Where’s the dalai lama?”

“He was shot by gun a that didn't make any noise” the dissident replies.  “But at least he didn’t get captured and sent to that mental hospital where they’re holding Liu X… Read full post »

At last – some good news out of Global Warming.  “Giant Shrimp”  I kid you not – these things are a foot long, and are now taking over the gulf of Mexico.

I was ready to attribute the appearance of giant shrimp to the BP oil spill, much as Godzill… Read full post »

Just in time to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Marlon Brando film of the same name, we are seeing the return of the Ugly American.  The location has shifted (mostly to latin america) and the names have changed, but the plot is essentially unchanged. 

It didn&rs… Read full post »

Like most Open Salon posters, I’m no friend of mega-banks which took huge TARP baliouts and then raised fees 10 ways from Sunday.  Or who backtracked and cancelled those fees after public outrage.  The usual suspects – Citibank, Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo… Read full post »

The Arizona immigration law – which requires state and local cops to stop and harass anyone who looks mexican –  is probably going to be struck down by those awful right wing supreme court judges.   And that’s a good thing.

Set aside for a mo… Read full post »

Mitt Romney is now campaigning with telegenic but little known Florida senator Marco Rubio at his side.  And a few days earlier, during an interview on a network talking head show, Rubio made a gaffe along the lines of “after I’m vice president”.   … Read full post »

Let me be the first to say it out loud:  2012 is shaping up to be the worst US Presidential election a generation.   Worst, in terms of candidates who understand what Americans want, or how to lead . . .

Let’s take Romney first, the man who – inste… Read full post »

Let me sum up what is apparently happening.

Anders Brevik asserts wholeheartedly that he is NOT insane.

He affirms with equal fervor that he did, indeed, try to blow up parliament, and then scurried along to a summer camp to gun down 77 unarmed kids with his cache… Read full post »

10 – Ann Romney held a press conference to apologize to DNC consultant Hilary Rosen for raising 5 sons, surviving cancer AND muscular dystrophy, plus serving on the boards of 3 charitable organizations without pay, Ann admitted she knew her actions were wrong, and promised never t… Read full post »

Mitt Romney, true to form, is still unable to boil down his campaign message to something more cogent than 59 different economic proposals (for real) and a collection of assorted whines that collectively amount to  “mom the media always liked you best”.  … Read full post »

(Full disclosure – BA believes in most cases women who engage in prostitution do so not by choice or for the thrill of it, but from a lack of other reasonable employment options.  And that prostitution should be safe, legal, and rare.)

That said, WTF is up wit… Read full post »

Or just luckier?  

I would not have predicted that Bashar Assad could have lasted as long as he has.  In fact, I predicted the exact opposite 4 or 5 months ago.   Mea culpa – I apologize for my naïve belief that the world would be outraged at h… Read full post »

Alert – this is a current event question.   Not some theoretical rumination.

First the good news:  North Korea’s ICBM-test-masquerading-as-a-space-mission blew up about 90 seconds after launch.   And that’s a good thing - for those who li… Read full post »