"This was the voice of moderation until 13 Sept, 2025"
by publius It’s hard to explain just how silly I think the media’s manic obsessive focus on Jeremiah Wright has been. I’m not a big fan of the guy, but neither do I feel the need for ostentatious Maoist denunciations to show tmy bipartisan street cred. He should simply be ignored — there’s no reason … Read more
by hilzoy I do stuff like this: “Drug and medical device companies should be banned from offering free food, gifts, travel and ghost-writing services to doctors, staff members and students in all 129 of the nation’s medical colleges, an influential college association has concluded. The proposed ban is the result of a two-year effort by … Read more
by hilzoy Since I have this quaint idea that I should decide who to vote for based on my best judgment about who would — oh, I know this will sound hopelessly naive, but: who will do the best job, I love it when thoughtful people who know what they’re talking about actually survey the … Read more
by publius The international food crisis is extremely disturbing. And it pushes what was once a profoundly stupid ethanol policy into the realm of immoral. But anyway, today’s Post provides a list of organizations that are helping fight hunger if you want to do something to help. On an aside, I’m a fairly recent new … Read more
by hilzoy From the NYT: “Next month, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemeni who was once a driver for Osama bin Laden, could become the first detainee to be tried for war crimes in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. By now, he should be busily working on his defense. But his lawyers say he cannot. They say Mr. … Read more
by hilzoy Quote Of The Day: “U.S. Congressional candidate Tony Zirkle is facing criticism from one of his primary opponents, and a host of people on the Internet, for speaking at an event over the weekend that celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday. Zirkle confirmed to The News-Dispatch on Monday he spoke Sunday in Chicago at a … Read more
by hilzoy Watch this video. It was made by the father of a soldier just back from a 15 month tour in Afghanistan, and it shows the conditions that soldier and his unit have to live in now that they are home. It’s appalling. The worst is probably the guy standing in what looks like … Read more
by hilzoy It’s National Malaria Day. Harold Pollack points out that for a mere $10, you can buy a bed net that will save a kid’s life, and keep on saving it for four years. I think that’s a pretty good deal. (Here’s a good story on efforts to eradicate malaria — its focus is … Read more
by hilzoy Steve Benen asks: what if a Democrat had said this? “Talk show host Rush Limbaugh is sparking controversy again after he made comments calling for riots in Denver during the Democratic National Convention this summer. He said the riots would ensure a Democrat is not elected as president, and his listeners have a … Read more
by hilzoy The Republicans successfully filibustered the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act yesterday: “Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a measure intended to overturn a Supreme Court decision limiting pay discrimination suits in a politically charged vote certain to be replayed in the presidential and Congressional campaigns. By a vote of 56 to 42, the Senate … Read more