Actually, what if this is the day he handed the nomination to Hillary? I'd back her now just to make sure he pays the price for his thinking he could get away with becoming a sellout when he owes his brief political career to Jeri Ryan's hot body.

Posted at July 3, 2008 7:56 PM in response to Obama Responds To FISA Group On His Web Site

Oh, I see. The Barackistas will not be challenged--public promises and the 4th Amendment be damned.

Posted at July 3, 2008 7:48 PM in response to Obama Responds To FISA Group On His Web Site

Maybe Obama's residual force could attack Iraq in order to address a genocidal act that would occur as a result of our attack (see Kosovo example).

I'm not so convinced that I'm voting for Obama. I might have to come to terms with the fact that I'm a Democrat in state and local politics but no party represents me at the national level. Such is life.

Posted at July 3, 2008 9:57 AM in response to Nader for President!

Hell, yeah, I bet it was easier. As late at the Sixties America was producing close to 50% of the world's GDP and it was shared mostly among white males. You didn't create that situation but you benefitted from it. Some of the tightness today comes from a natural opening up of the workplace and the fact that the rest of the world's economies gained ground. I honestly believe one of the best things we could do today is help smart kids (B or A students) test out of high school up to two years early. That will give them two more years to get degrees and/or work to pay for degrees, start families, etc. It would be a true motivation. But, America is hung up on high school as this idyllic waste-of-time, coming-of-age experience conducted at the snails pace of the lowest-common-denominator students, who could benefit from the extra two years of intensive remediation. I swear the nitwits wasted at least two years of my time in public school. ("I forgot my pencil, Mrs. Jones.") I just hope they went on to sign contracts for lower wages driving forklifts!

Posted at July 2, 2008 4:02 PM in response to A Warning For Young Workers: The Up-Escalator May Be Broken

Don't think we put too much on education? My degree is fine, but after a few years in to my working life it was all about my on-the-job experience. Some fields have very definite skills requirements, but most don't. I reached a point in my career where I figured I could either get a master's degree or wait until I had five years work experience. Since I figured it would take me almost five years to get the next degree, I dropped out of grad school and focused on diversifying my work experience (and starting a family while I waited). It worked. Now, that I've climbed a few steps, I'm surprised by how many people have "made it" with a B.A. or with degrees from entirely unrelated fields. Few kids know what they would want to do with the rest of their lives at the age of 22. I didn't, and I'm glad I didn't rack up debt trying to figure out I didn't want to be a lawyer.

Posted at July 2, 2008 3:49 PM in response to A Warning For Young Workers: The Up-Escalator May Be Broken

I dunno. I'm 37, so I'm right around the age of what you're looking at. I don't think it's that hard to reach whatever level you aspire to. Most kids get too hung up on irreconcileable personal goals when it comes to work/family/lifestyle. They impose a lot of this debt on themselves tilting at windmills. I always provide whatever advice I can to my younger coworkers, and I think most of them appreciate it. (The college career center won't tell them the truth.) It's always better to work in or around a prospering company/industry/region than one in decline. You can *always* find one. I tell them bounce around early--every six months if you have to--until you find a career field/position you like. Liking your job is the key to long-term satisfaction. After that, be competent, ethical, and diligent. Your first six months will define you within the company. Never say no to the first special project (big or small) you're offered. Knock it out of the park, and you'll be promoted at your first annual review, if not sooner. If not, put the experience on your resume while it's still fresh and walk. You've spent too many years honing your skills and cultivating your interests to be insulted. Sell them to someone who will appreciate your worth...and someone will.

Posted at July 2, 2008 12:57 PM in response to A Warning For Young Workers: The Up-Escalator May Be Broken

Congress should devolve this program along with all of its funding to be run by a consortium of the states. I guarantee the governors wouldn't have any trouble resolving these issues. They know where the votes are and they know they will be held accountable for breakdowns in the system. Just ask former Gov. Blanco.

Posted at July 1, 2008 5:10 PM in response to The Score: Physicians 355; Insurers 59: Blood on the Senate Floor

The thing I do't get about this is: Who really cares? There's no evidence evangelicals or Christian conservatives are going to vote for him. If it's about black and liberal churches, he's already got their votes. He can shovel money to them after he's in office. I just think it's a big mistake for him to come out of the gate by mostly A) criticizing his allies like MoveOn.org and Gen. Clark and B) pandering to voters who won't vote for him. Now is the time to give me some red meat to get me fired up. Full-on pander mode shouldn't be in effect until after the convention at the earliest. At this point, I think I'll just focus on local candidates. At least I know what they stand for because I can ask them myself.

Posted at July 1, 2008 3:57 PM in response to Obama Speech: We Can Expand Faith-Based Charities And Separate Church From State

I've always thought that conservatives should be against this. Once the churches get to feeding from the federal trough, they will no longer be able to quietly go along with the GOP's anti-governmental stance. All a Democratic President or Congress will have to do is threaten to cut funding for faith-based programs and say, "Sorry, the GOP tax cuts, deficits, or defense spending left us no choice."

Posted at July 1, 2008 10:23 AM in response to Obama Speech: We Can Expand Faith-Based Charities And Separate Church From State

This is no big deal. Most of the history of American politics has involved this sort of petty extortion. Look back at the governors and senators who have run for President just to lock down their state's delegates so that they could broker them for pork, patronage, and position come convention time. It's a shame that Hillary has brought herself to this level--and the fact that she's doing indicates she has no intention to run for President again. This is a stain on her electoral legacy that she will never wipe away. I think she wants a justiceship so that she can fully indulge her pompous self-righteousness in the lamest branch of the federal government.

Posted at June 25, 2008 5:49 PM in response to Obama Making Private Calls Appealing To Hillary's Top Fundraisers -- And Sometimes Hearing Criticism In Return