Where's the Outrage?Where's the Outrage?Progressive, thoughtful commentary on politics, music and sports. As a trauma surgeon my view of life is unique and critical. Articles
What?s going on: News Round up
2008-05-20 03:39:00 Monday’s News Follow up story on Al Qaeda members who were associated with the USS Cole bombing were walking around free in Yemeni. Well, a Yemeni judge has picked up Jaber Elbaneh and thrown him in jail. I’m not sure what that means or how long he will stay there but that’s a good ... More About: Round Up , Round
McCain and his love affair with lobbyists
2008-05-19 22:11:00 I guess that all affairs must end some time. It is sad and painful when you get found out. Well, it appears that John McCain and his Maverick image were found with a couple of lobbyists. This is the same John McCain who “boldly” fought for campaign finance reform. If you listen to the news, one might believe that McCain hated lobbyists when in fact the opposite was true. McCain got in trouble with lobbyists over 20 years ago as part of the Ketting five. The NYT reported that John McCain may have had an affair with a lobbyist but that wasn’t the important part of that article, the take home message was that John McCain remains very close to a number of lobbyists. Well, Newsweek, among other new outlets, reported that McCain’s close ties to several lobbyists need to be cut. It looks bad for the Maverick image. McCain’s campaign is packed with Lobbyists . (more later) —————&mdash ;– From Newsweek: Stung by the n... More About: Love , Affair
Kennedy update
2008-05-19 18:47:00 We have been basically waiting for Senator Ted Kennedy ’s doctors to tell us something. The Boston Globe has a very nice story that sums up that we know nothing. The most common cause of seizures in the elderly would tumor, alcohol withdrawal, stroke and arteriovenous malformations (AVM). This is not a complete list but it is what I can remember from my days in medical school. What I would like to do is to go on TV and get paid for saying nothing like this MD in this clip. More About: Update
Clear Communication In A Complex World Is Excellent
2008-05-19 17:00:00 I recently listened to a song called Mamavtu by a singer named Susheela Raman that has the following lyrics— Saraswati you who reside in the temple of Kamakoti rescue me bearing lotus and veena in your beautiful hands you give truth to speech your feet are worshipped by Emperors and kings your eyes are as wild as Rajiva flowers and your beauty bewitches. Garlanded with gems you fulfill the desires of the good Indra himself bows down before you I, Vasudeva, am your servant for you are the divine word in its essence. I like these lyrics for two reasons. The first reason is that they are clear and direct. The ability to communicate in a clear and direct fashion in a complex world is excellent.  Communicating in such a way is something we all have the ability to do with the application of some discipline and thought. The most complex, simple and important things are always within the grasp of all people. Direct communication is a complex, simple and important thing. ... More About: Communication , World , Complex , Clear , Excellent
Ironman - plenty of fun
2008-05-19 06:24:00 Ironman wasn’t my favorite comic. Heck, it wasn’t even a successful Saturday morning cartoon. But the movie, on the other hand, was fun. The acting was outstanding. Robert Downey, Jr. really carries a movie that isn’t written that well. The writing just could have been tighter but back to the acting. How did they get Gwyneth Paltrow to play this role? She is marvelous. This is one of the best comic book movies. More About: Ironman , Plenty
The Power of Change
2008-05-19 06:00:00 70,000 people gather in Portland to hear Barack Obama. Nope there was no typo. It wasn’t the 700 folks that gather to hear John McCain or the 7,000 folks that gather to hear popular political figures. Instead, it was 70,000!!! Wow! From WaPo: Sen. Barack Obama has seen his share of large crowds over the last 15 months, but his campaign said they have not approached the numbers gathered along the waterfront here right now. The campaign, citing figures from Duane Bray, battalion chief of Portland Fire & Rescue, estimated that 75,000 people are watching him speak. The scene suggests this is not an exaggeration. The sea of heads stretches for half a mile along the grassy embankment, while others watch from kayaks and power boats bobbing on the Willamette River. More hug the rails of the steel bridge that stretches across the water and crowds are even watching from jetties on the opposite shore. More About: Power , Change
Kennedy Update
2008-05-18 04:02:00 We really don’t know any more than we did 6 or 7 hours ago. Neither the WaPo, NYT or Boston Globe really have anything new. Senator Edward Kennedy had a seizure this morning. He was transported to Mass. General Hospital in Boston where tests are being run. The Senator is reportedly awake and interactive. That’s about it. More About: Update
Senator Kennedy Airlifted to Hospital
2008-05-17 19:29:00 Senator Kennedy , 76 years-old and very overweight, was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital . As far as I can tell, no one really has a handle on what is going on. The news media is reporting that he has symptoms of a stroke. I pray for his speedy recovery. Update from the Boston Globe: Doctors believe that Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts suffered a seizure at his home in Hyannis Port this morning, then a second seizure as he was being transported by helicopter from Cape Cod Hospital to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, according to an official briefed on the situation. His condition was unclear early this afternoon, as a special police security detail gathered at Mass. General. Kennedy family members were called this morning and told to rush to Boston, according to sources. Update II Statement from Senator Kennedy’s office: “It appears that Senator Kennedy experienced a seizure this morning,” a statement released by his office in Was... More About: Senator
The Errington Thompson Show 5-17-08
2008-05-17 19:12:00 Today’s show is full of extra special goodness. I have Glenn Greenwald as my special guest. We discuss his book, Great American Hypocrites. This is a great interview. Also, I cover President Bush’s attack on Senator Barack Obama, plus his “sacrifice” of golf for the troops. More About: Show , Thompson
Kylie Minogue: Come Into my World
2008-05-17 05:50:00 Everyone dance. More About: World , Kylie Minogue , Kylie , Minogue
Obama Confronts Bush and McCain
2008-05-17 05:37:00 Straight and to the point, Senator Barack Obama directly responded to President Bush ’s appeasement comment and then turned to Senator John McCain. Obama correctly stated that McCain has offered to differentiate between himself and George Bush on foreign policy. Below are Obama’s remarks in South Dakota. From the Washington Post: “If George Bush and John McCain want to have a debate about protecting America, that is a debate I will have anytime, any place,” he said to a cheering crowd. “George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for.” Obama then launched into list of grievances, including a war fought on the premise of uprooting weapons of mass destruction that were never found, the failure to catch Osama Bin Laden and turning Iran into the “greatest beneficiary” of the Iraq war. “That’s the Bush-McCain record on protecting this country,” Obama said. “Those are the failed policies that John McCain wants to...
O’Reilly Needs a Variety Show
2008-05-17 02:42:00 I just don’t think that this news thing is working out for Bill O’Reilly . I thought that O’Reilly’s personal low was when he reported on Hanna Montana’s “racy photos.” That was news? Now he does a segment on the DailyKos, where I have been nearly every day for the past week or so. There have been some great stuff posted, but O’Reilly found someone who posted something about Jenna Bush’s wedding. Is this news? Really? Currently on DailyKos there are posting on Obama firing back on McCain over foreign policy. That seems to be a relevant topic. There is a posting on Harry Reid and the Democrats winning the fight over FEC appointments. Finally, there is a article about Senator John McCain’s campaign being flush with lobbyists. The best part of Bill’s segment is that he interview’s internet “expert” Mary Katherine Ham. An internet expert? What the heck is that? Does she work for Google? S... More About: Show , Variety
What is Bush Up To?
2008-05-16 16:32:00 I’m not sure where to go with Bush ’s statement about the dangers of appeasement in the Israeli Knesset. I’m surprised that President Bush didn’t get booed. Wasn’t it the Bush administration that pushed Israel into a fight with Hezbollah? Using the same logic that got us bogged down in Iraq, the Bush administration pushed and prodded Israel into attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon. In my opinion, it was Israel’s worst defeat in its history. So, why didn’t the Knesset give Bush the Bronx cheer that he deserved? Maybe they were just too polite. On the other hand, could Bush be deflecting attention from Senator John McCain and his lack of thoughtful foreign policy? McCain has had about as many positions as you can on Iraq. Bush has had only one- one bad position, but only one. Keith Olbermann and Rachael Maddow tackle this issue.
All You Can Eat
2008-05-16 05:49:00 The Houston Astros baseball team has introduced “All You Can Eat” Thursdays. On Thursday home games you can pay $35 and, in addition to a seat, get unlimited hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, soda and water. Maybe this is being done in response to concern by the team that the rise in gas prices will hurt attendance this year. Another option my hometown Astros could consider is allowing fans to bring their own food in the stadium. This would lower the cost of going to a game. Other teams allow outside food. In any case, this new offer is disgusting. Meanwhile, much of the world is being impacted by increases in the price of food. I’m not suggesting we poison the world with stadium food. Or that a person eating a meal of four hot dogs and three trays of nachos is denying a hungry person in Cameroon a meal of hot dogs and nachos. But what if the Astros donated $1 from each ticket on All You Can Eat Day to world food relief efforts? This would at least acknowledge th...
Finally, Some Gonads
2008-05-16 02:59:00 The House defeated a $162 billion proposal to fund the Iraq War thru 2009. A coalition of Democrats and insightful Republicans (is that an oxymoron?) who read the tea leaves in Mississippi and are trying to distance themselves from a President who is losing popularity by the second. More About: Finally
President Bush Jumping into Presidential Election?
2008-05-16 02:32:00 President George W. Bush was addressing the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) today. Bush said: “Some seem to believe we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.’ We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.” Somebody please help me. Who said anything about appeasement? Pat Buchanan pointed out that the Bush administration negotiated with Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi. He gave up his nuclear ambitions. We tried the hard line with North Korea and they made more nuclear weapons during the Bush administration than in their history. We tried the hard line against Iran and they a... More About: President , Presidential , President Bush , Election
What’s Going On: News Round Up
2008-05-15 22:17:00 I guess the biggest news from yesterday was John Edwards’ endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. Edwards gave a GREAT speech. Nothing but ugly news is coming out of China. More and more pictures showing terrible destruction. I haven’t read any estimates of property damage but the death total continues to rise. There is significant damage to several dams which have put several cities in more danger. Cindy McCain sold off over $2 million in Sudanese investments. But, I prefer not to beat up Ms. McCain for being rich or even inheriting huge sums of money. On the other hand, I don’t mind beating up Senator John McCain for having the most incoherent Iraq policy. Just three months ago, McCain accused those who wanted to pull out of Iraq of not understanding military principles. I guess he doesn’t understand those same principles. Today, his campaign announced a plan to have most troops home by 2013. If I didn’t know better, I would say that this looks... More About: News , Round Up , Round
Countdown - Special Comment
2008-05-15 06:28:00 It has been a little while since Keith Olbermann has had a Special Comment . Keith Olbermann has 4 major points. George Bush gave an interview yesterday to Politico.com and the users of Yahoo. The Election of a Democratic President could emboldened the enemy - this of course is nonsense. It is fear-mongering. ... More About: Al Qaeda , Countdown
John Edwards gives Obama a huge endorsement
2008-05-15 05:45:00 Senator John Edwards states in a passionate speak from Grand Rapids, Michigan, “The reason that I’m here tonight is because the Democratic voters in America have made their choice and so have I.” “This election is about taking down those walls of the past so that we can see what’s possible.” Obama . Nothing ... More About: Huge
Edwards to endorse Obama
2008-05-15 00:45:00 It is important for Barack Obama to shake off West Virginia and the best medicine would be a primary victory. The second best medicine would be a major endorsement like John Edwards . ———- From MSNBC: Democrat John Edwards is endorsing former rival Barack Obama, fresh signs of the party establishment embracing the likely nominee even as ...
What going on - News Round Up
2008-05-14 18:47:00 I’m going to try to do a daily report of the major items but I have this day job that might prevent me from doing this daily. In case you missed it, all of those high tech computer geeks who were laughing at those guys who programmed video games, aren’t laughing any more. Grand Theft ... More About: News , Round Up , Round
Maybe Hillary victory isn?t as impressive as it first looked
2008-05-14 05:27:00 On the DailyKos Kubla000 had this take on Hillary Clinton’s victory: When you’re down 179 Delegates total, there is NO TIME For Momentum or Symbolism. Despite what the media is telling you, Hillary Clinton tonight Failed in West Virginia. Why, you may ask, is kubla000 saying Hillary Clinton has lost West Virginia… Simply: Hillary tonight underperformed Obama’s ... More About: Victory , Election 2008 , Impressive
George Will and his questions for Barack Obama
2008-05-14 04:45:00 Just because you use big words and talk slowly doesn’t mean that you are right. William Buckley was one of those slow talkers but somehow I could tolerate him. I have little tolerance for George Will. His stature just shouts, “I’m smarter than you.” I don’t know. He may be ... More About: Questions , Barack Obama , Barack , Obama
West Virginia
2008-05-14 03:58:00 My mother always told me if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all. I don’t have a comment on West Virginia . More About: Election 2008
Oops, I didn?t mean ?Great Whore?
2008-05-14 00:40:00 I have misspoken many times in the past and I promise that I’ll do it again in the future because I’m not perfect. I do try to chose my words carefully especially if I’m talking to someone who is recording me. It only makes sense. I have never called someone an idiot ... More About: Great , Whore
Bill Moyers on Countdown
2008-05-13 23:55:00 The Bill Moyers Journal is one of the television shows that I tape every week. I love his take on different subjects including the media, Iraq, the US attorney scandal and earmarks. He had Keith Olbermann on a couple of months ago. Now, it is Olbermann’s turn to have Bill on. ... More About: Television , Countdown
$63 to fill up
2008-05-13 04:40:00 I just was robbed at the gas station. $63 was sucked out of my wallet. This is a crime. This isn’t market forces. It is oil company greed. Where’s the Outrage!!!! More About: Big Oil , Fill
True test of patriotism
2008-05-13 03:56:00 Barack Obama has been slammed for not wearing a label pin. The right wing smear machine has asked why Barack Obama will not salute the flag. Of course, these questions and statements are designed to cast doubt in the minds of those who aren’t sure about a Democrat who is a Black man. ... More About: Patriotism , True , Test
Drowning in Debt - Clinton campaign
2008-05-12 19:14:00 Although looking at my checkbook this post could be about me, it isn’t. It is about a woman who wants to seek the highest office in the land but can’t balance her checkbook. How do you rack up $20 million in debt and ask the American people to vote for you as president? Maybe I’m ... More About: Campaign , Debt , Clinton
Books On Being Black In America In 1900
More articles from this author:2008-05-12 18:52:00 I’ve recently read, or am in the process of reading, three books about being Black in America in the years leading up to and following 1900. A book I’ve finished is Sport Of The Gods by Paul Laurence Dunbar. (Drawing above.) This is a novel. It is the story of a black family in New York City at the beginning of ... More About: Books , History , Jack Johnson 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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