Truth Gets Its Boots On

Ken AshfordConstitution, Godstuff, Right Wing and Inept Media, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

The Associated Press sent out a memo today to its writers and editors advising that they should no longer use the phrase "Ground Zero mosque" to describe the controversial Islamic cultural center and former Burlington Coat Center store, located in lower Manhattan two blocks (and out of view) from Ground Zero. While I applaud the Associated Press for its stance, this would … Read More

On Obama’s Sagging Approval Ratings

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, Obama & Administration, Obama Opposition1 Comment

"Democrats in Washington are divided and somewhat puzzled over President Obama's fading popularity", writes Matt Bai at The New York Times today.  He then goes on to explain why he thinks Obama's popularity is lackluster in the middle of his first term: because Obama has too much of a legislator — trying to pass health care, the stimulus, etc. You know, I … Read More

Mission Accomplished

Ken AshfordIraq, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

So with the last combat troops leaving Iraq, I guess now is a good time to reflect on the war itself.  Did the War in Iraq accomplish its goals? Get Saddam? Check. Return Iraq to a stable region, thus stabilizing the Middle East? *Ahem* well, actually… uh…. Find those weapons of mass destruction?  Uh, heh… *cough*… hey, is that a rainbow? At … Read More

Outrage Over Plans To Build Library Next To Sarah Palin

Ken AshfordEducation, Election 2012Leave a Comment

Our British friends laugh at us: PLANS to build a state-of-the-art library next to Republican catastrophe Sarah Palin are causing outrage across mainstream America. Campaigners have described the project as insensitive and a deliberate act of provocation by people with brains. The issue is forming a dividing line in advance of November's mid-term congressional elections with candidates being forced to … Read More

Star Wars Uncut Is Finished

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

The Star Wars Uncut project, in which fans recreated the entire film Star Wars: A New Hope in 15 second chunks, is all edited and finished. They're still tying up some legal loose-ends before it's officially released, but the entire film is available on their website to watch.

Our Stupid Nation

Ken AshfordObama Opposition, PollsLeave a Comment

One in five Americans actually think Obama is a Muslim. UPDATE — Also this zinger: “Among those who say Obama is a Muslim, 60 percent say they learned about his religion from the media.”  Anyone want to guess which media?

Kathleen Parker On Why The “Mosque” Should Be Built

Ken AshfordConstitution, Godstuff, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

She's a conservative, and she's making sense. This is why plans for the mosque near Ground Zero should be allowed to proceed, if that's what these Muslims want. We teach tolerance by being tolerant. We can't insist that our freedom of speech allows us to draw cartoons or produce plays that Muslims find offensive and then demand that they be … Read More

War In Iraq Is Over

Ken AshfordIraq, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Final U.S. combat brigade pulls out of Iraq. By the end of this month, the United States will have six brigades in Iraq, by far its smallest footprint since the 2003 invasion. Those that remain are conventional combat brigades reconfigured slightly and rebranded "advise and assist brigades." The primary mission of those units and the roughly 4,500 U.S. special operations … Read More

How To Get A Soldout House

Ken AshfordElection 2012Leave a Comment

Wow.  The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville?  That's a 3,000 seat venue.  And she's packing the place, I assume… wait, what?  (Hold on please…..) Oh. I see.  Ahem. Slow ticket sales have bumped Sarah Palin's appearance next week in Jacksonville to a smaller venue. "An Evening of Hope with Sarah Palin" was moved from the 2,936-seat Moran … Read More

The Web Is Dead: Wired

Ken AshfordPopular Culture, Science & TechnologyLeave a Comment

Of course, the World Wide Web isn't dead, but it's fast becoming a thing of the past. This might come as a surprise to many, but the opening paragraph of this Wired column explains: You wake up and check your email on your bedside iPad — that’s one app. During breakfast you browse Facebook, Twitter, and The New York Times … Read More

What A Shame

Ken AshfordRight Wing Punditry/Idiocy1 Comment

Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who just couldn't refrain from using the N-word eleven times on her radio show last week (in order to make, according to her, a "philosophical point") is retiring from her radio show. In tribute to "Doctor" Laura, I offer the Sorkin treatment… a classic scene from The West Wing in which the President does a drop-in at a gathering … Read More

Muslims Everywhere

Ken AshfordBloggingLeave a Comment

I wonder how those who oppose the wildly mis-named "Ground Zero Mosque" would feel if they knew that the second-largest owner of Fox News' parent corporation, News Corp., was this guy: