tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348038202012-02-16T06:25:24.044-08:00A blog about my travels, experiences, and political views, especially the latter.The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.comBlogger2951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-18472532835237142882012-02-10T16:04:00.000-08:002012-02-10T16:26:00.357-08:00

A young man in the Republic of Cameroon, Jean-Claude Roger Mbede, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment after being convicted of being a homosexual, Amnesty International reports. According to his lawyer Alice Nkom, police arrested Mbede because they considered his hair style to be too feminine.My Gut Reaction: So the only safe way to go through Cameroon is to wear a crew cut?Analysis:

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-41349888634473456402012-02-07T13:10:00.000-08:002012-02-08T07:46:46.018-08:00

On Youtube, I just discovered what is arguably the stupidest pro-life video I have ever seen. It doesn't just have fanatical religiousity or implicit misogyny. The whole reasoning of the video is flawed.Here it is:My Gut Reaction: FAIL!Analysis: There is so much wrong with this video it is difficult to know where to begin. First, the video argues that the financial crisis is due to a lack of

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-91742751619304763512012-02-06T08:34:00.000-08:002012-02-06T09:19:21.018-08:00

In the midst of growing violence, Egypt's rulers are cracking down on organizations committed to fostering democracy in the country. They are planning to try forty-three foreign employees of international NGOs for illegally working with Egyptian democracy activists. Among those groups whose offices have been raided are the International Republican Institute, which is loosely affiliated with

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-3601051393878613002012-02-03T08:24:00.000-08:002012-02-03T09:25:32.757-08:00

Village fishermen in Sierra Leone are facing a new threat in addition to rough seas, as foreign fishing trawlers have begun illegally fishing in their waters. The trawlers have depopulated the local fish, and there have even been incidents of small canoes, called kru, getting swamped with fishermen drowning. As the BBC reports, these incursions are endangering the livelihood of villages in Sierra

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-67201475887952224482012-02-02T17:51:00.000-08:002012-02-02T18:37:18.812-08:00

The Stranger, an alt-weekly in Seattle, has published an article by Brendan Kiley about a creepy megachurch in their area. The Mars Hill Church has gained a reputation for completely controlling the lives of its members and for essentially stalking people who try to leave. Former members describe incidents of Mars Hill leaders contacting their new churches and even the parents of people they were

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-57942390826608787272012-01-31T14:06:00.000-08:002012-01-31T14:08:32.362-08:00

I do not know what is sadder: the fact that some conservative commentator was so stupid they felt the need to pick a fight with the Muppets, the fact that we need the bloody Muppets to speak truth to power against Fox News, or the fact that some conservative blogger will probably go berserk over this video.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-91406080538077009392012-01-30T08:22:00.000-08:002012-01-30T09:21:08.736-08:00

In Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer, Electronic Intifada writer Ali Abunimah published an op-ed defended a conference by the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement (BDS) at the University of Pennsylvania. His essay was part of a debate with Former CIA Chief R. James Woolsey and Jonathan Schanzer over the conference. Woolsey and Schanzer object to the conference as promoting hate of Israel.My Gut

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-79656877194685603522012-01-19T18:38:00.000-08:002012-01-19T18:48:51.670-08:00

TJ, otherwise known as the Amazing Atheist, is usually a bit abrasive for my taste, but here he is spot on.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-81875205961052604642012-01-19T17:57:00.000-08:002012-01-19T18:28:07.491-08:00

For the past hour or two, I have been engaged in a comment war on the Christus Vincit blog. Those who have read my last post will remember that the writer of this blog posted a statement to the effect that Jessica Ahlquist, the Rhode Island high school student, had the threats she has been receiving coming to her.To be fair, the author states in a response comment that he does not condone death

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-74728555401380833832012-01-19T13:14:00.000-08:002012-01-19T15:30:41.863-08:00

Two Rhode Island State Representatives have disgraced themselves by personally attacking a sixteen year old girl on talk radio and Twitter. The girl in question, Jessica Ahlquist, had had the temerity to challenge the presence of a prayer banner in a public school. In a court case, the judge unsurprisingly ruled that long-established legal precedents barred the presence of the banner in public

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-47743982391583116352012-01-11T07:56:00.000-08:002012-01-11T08:46:05.864-08:00

A recent article on Yahoo News brings up a surprising fact about Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum's family background. Apparently, Santorum's antecedents in Italy were, and still are, ardent communists. They fled to the United States from Italy in the wake of persecution by Mussolini's government. His current relatives express disgust at Santorum's rhetoric.My Gut Reaction: It

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-62495788969618710732012-01-06T20:19:00.001-08:002012-01-06T21:34:26.491-08:00

In a recent post on his CNN blog, television commentator Fareed Zakaria suggests that the recent hysteria drummed up by Republicans such as Mitt Romney about Iran, along with concerns over its intentions in the Strait of Hormuz, may be exaggerated. Far from a strong enemy, the Iranian regime may be facing internal strife and economic weakness.My Gut Reaction: It's about time someone had the guts

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-81488381378121039242011-07-14T12:18:00.000-07:002011-07-14T12:58:15.059-07:00

One of the more infamous proselytizers of evangelical Christianity is Jack T. Chick, producer of a series of cartoon pamphlets geared towards conversion. His tracts generally focus on people confronted with the choice of converting to Christianity. Chick and his artists meet out prosperity and salvation to those who choose his brand of Protestant Christianity, and destruction and hell fire to

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-30887175433913004972011-07-13T15:03:00.000-07:002011-07-13T17:25:34.278-07:00

As the clock marches on, it has become increasingly clear that the Republicans are hell-bent on using the debt ceiling as a means to push their fiscal and political program on the United States. Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has admitted as much of the Republican refusal to play along, stating that "It's a political strategy-it's not a policy strategy."My Gut Reaction: People willing

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-10565108655499235922011-07-11T20:22:00.000-07:002011-07-11T21:43:30.169-07:00

Negotiations over raising the United States's debt ceiling have reached a virtual standstill, as the Republicans remain intransigent over raising revenue. In particular, they oppose closing tax loopholes for rich people such as hedge fund managers. One major Tea Party leader, Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, has expressed a willingness to cause major disruptions to the American economy rather

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-60560227712167095612011-07-02T19:47:00.000-07:002011-07-02T21:04:44.676-07:00

Over the past 24 hours, I have been disappointed to witness an explosion of genuinely stupid rhetoric on the liberal blogosphere as various commentators strain to find some other explanation for the developments in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case other than that the accusations are false. The result is a display of ideological and intellectual contortionism worthy of a circus.My Gut Reaction:

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-4545153550959357102011-07-01T07:36:00.000-07:002011-07-01T08:19:50.546-07:00

Prosecutors in New York City have acknowledged that the rape case against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is about to collapse, as evidence has emerged casting serious doubt of the trustworthiness of his accuser, a hotel maid from Guinea. Investigators from the District Attorney's Office cast doubt on her accusations.My Gut Reaction: They couldn't have figured this out before they filed

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-75878844052768645302011-06-30T09:26:00.000-07:002011-06-30T10:34:42.877-07:00

On CNN.com today, William Bennett has published an alarmist diatribe warning against the "dangers" of drug legalization. He warns that legalization will turn our youth into a mass of drug addicted zombies, leading to increases in crime and psychosis. A new marijuana legalization bill, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, occasioned his alarm.My Gut Reaction: Perhaps we should ask Mr.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-23066541772295232182011-01-27T21:09:00.000-08:002011-01-27T21:44:19.047-08:00

As Ben Smith reports on his Politico blog, Republican and Tea Party Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky has called for the ending of foreign aid to Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, arguing on CNN's Wolf Blitzer that continued American aid would only be "funding an arms race on both sides."My Gut Reaction: Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.Analysis: Rand Paul's statements cannot be

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-84762176432324767622011-01-22T23:13:00.000-08:002011-01-23T00:23:41.418-08:00

In his column in this Sunday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jack Kelly tries to argue that the real source of violent rhetoric in the United States today is the liberal movement. He tries to link just about every major shooting or terror incident of the past two years to liberal ideology.My Gut Reaction: According to the website SourceWatch, Kelly makes much of the fact that he served in the Marines

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-42991514960130525362011-01-22T21:04:00.000-08:002011-01-22T21:23:10.473-08:00

A Virginia teenager, Gulet Mohamed, has finally returned to the United States after being held in Kuwait for a month due to the fact that he was on the no-fly list. Government officials had apparently placed him on the list because he had visited Yemen and Somalia. Mohamed is of Somali descent, and alleges that he was tortured by Kuwaiti authorities while in that country.My Gut Reaction: Proud of

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-68509386386982237582011-01-20T14:57:00.000-08:002011-01-20T15:27:50.097-08:00

Today, I am going to be posting about a news story that I have an indirect connection to. The video store that I go to, Dreaming Ant Video, was raided yesterday evening, apparently in connection with a false press release that was sent out to mock the Fraternal Order of Police. They seized Dreaming Ant's business computer, as well as the wireless servers of Crazy Mocha, the coffee shop Dreaming

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-67328432845130332822011-01-11T11:51:00.000-08:002011-01-11T12:11:12.147-08:00

As Ben Smith reports on his Politico blog, Governor Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island has banned state employees from spending their work time talking on talk radio. His decision, obviously spurred by the Tuscon rampage, argues that state employees giving interviews on talk radio would constitute supporting ratings and profit driven programming.My Gut Reaction: This is a very stupid idea.Analysis:

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-71695152940202029472011-01-10T21:06:00.000-08:002011-01-10T21:46:13.713-08:00

This past Saturday's massacre in Arizona, which severely wounded Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, has sparked a great deal of debate over civil discourse in American politics. This evening's episode of Nightline, although posing as an objective newscast, argued that it was simply a matter of an insane person which had nothing to do with politics. Provocations such as Sarah Palin literally

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-4672987267430753542010-06-03T13:12:00.000-07:002010-06-03T14:34:13.952-07:00

Yesterday, in the Cumbria secion of Great Britain, mass shooter Derrick Bird killed twelve people and injured twenty-five more. As the BBC reports,authorities have yet to be able to determine a motive, though reports indicate the shooter had been having familial problems.My Gut Reaction: Am I the only one who's noticed that Great Britain experiences these events every five or ten years or so,

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-23631436588911309672010-05-30T10:27:00.000-07:002010-05-30T11:13:46.675-07:00

New York Times journalist Lynn Hirschberg published an inflammatory piece in the NYT Weekend Magazine last week on the Tamil pop star M.I.A. Hirschberg, in a piece largely derivative of Tom Wolfe, condemns M.I.A.'s support for armed resistance by oppressed minorities, obsessing at rather boring length over the fact that M.I.A. isn't poor herself.M.I.A., for her part, has struck back in quite

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-42090991376767412862010-05-28T20:39:00.000-07:002010-05-28T21:29:51.679-07:00

A recent blog post by the animal rights group In Defense of Animals (IDA) complains that the nation of Zimbabwe is planning to sell baby elephants to North Korea. In the face of two countries that continually engage in human rights abuses, the most this group can find to complain about is an elephant.My Gut Reaction: One cannot help but wonder whether IDA, upon learning that Nazi Germany was

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-78437771601417409432010-05-25T20:19:00.000-07:002010-05-25T20:42:28.546-07:00

According to BBC News, Jamaican authorities are trying to restore order in the capital city of Kingston after bloody clashes with forces loyal to drug lord Christopher "Dudus" Coke. Among the inhabitants of Kingston slums such as the Tivoli Gardens area, Coke is seen as a Robin Hood figure and defender of the people.My Gut Reaction: When will we ever learn?Analysis: This round of violence started

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-65316450264147500422010-03-21T17:50:00.000-07:002010-03-21T19:00:12.226-07:00

This past week, the education board down in Texas decided to revise their text books in order to make them better reflect their conservative values. These revisions included the dropping of certain historical topics and the substitutions of others. According to an article in the Seattle Times, some choice changes included limiting discussion of Thomas Jefferson because of his secular views and

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-5734352304782235252010-02-26T12:41:00.000-08:002010-02-26T12:58:02.205-08:00

Representatives from the Center for Inquiry and the Council for Secular Humanism participated today in a conference at the White House. As the Center for Inquiry reports, the topics that were discussed with White House officials included preventing religiously motivated abuse of children and ending the preaching of evangelical Christianity in the military, including discrimination against

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-19069738666262900532010-02-21T17:57:00.000-08:002010-02-21T18:01:29.661-08:00

Andrew Sullivan has a post about a particularly comic young Republican named Ryan Sorba. Sorba's specialty is mixing psuedo-intellectual blather with threats of physical violence against those who disagree with him. He apparently made a big splash at CPAC. Read more here.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-59141940477983168582009-11-23T16:41:00.000-08:002009-11-23T17:03:00.981-08:00

This weekend, there unfolded yet another example of interference by the Catholic hierarchy in the political affairs of the United States. This time, the culprit is Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, who is trying to get Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of Sen. Ted Kennedy, to endorse abortion restrictions in the health care bill. Apparently, as early as 2007, Bishop Tobin attempted to

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-24659579511635810962009-11-09T12:43:00.000-08:002009-11-09T13:59:06.664-08:00

The 2009 Health Care Reform Bill recently passed by Congress contained a rather interesting rider courtesy of Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak. Rep. Stupak attached and successfully passed an amendment to the bill which bars any form of federal funding for abortion through the health care funds. It would not only bar direct funding for abortion, but also any affordability payment to an insurance

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-480705358077391502009-11-03T07:13:00.000-08:002009-11-03T07:15:41.862-08:00

From Bradley Burston of Ha'aretz:"The fears of Israelis are real. The grievances of the Palestinians are just. If both peoples have one trait in common, it is that they cannot be bludgeoned, bribed, or sweet-talked into supporting a policy which favors only one side."

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-58763776605551769922009-11-02T11:00:00.000-08:002009-11-02T11:06:43.790-08:00

Apparently, next week's Fox NFL pre-game show will be held in Afghanistan, so that the brutality of combat can be melded with the action of sports.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-22798993698203386022009-11-01T21:35:00.000-08:002009-11-01T22:09:45.282-08:00

An article by the Ha'aretz writer Gideon Levy, republished by the Common Dreams website, contains some interesting advice for the United States government. Levy argues that the Obama Administration needs to take a tougher diplomatic line with the Israeli government, suggesting the use of sanctions to end the growth of settlements.My Gut Reaction: It's kind of pathetic that we need an Israeli

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-49338588259265908832009-10-30T14:39:00.000-07:002009-10-30T14:40:42.463-07:00

On Americans:"One thing they're not good at is thinking about the future."

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-18622531196300218292009-10-30T13:18:00.000-07:002009-10-30T13:40:19.888-07:00

Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network has sent parents an urgent warning on their children's Halloween candy. As Americans United for the Separation of Church and State reports, CBN columnist Kimberly Daniels has written an online column claiming that Halloween candy may have been contaminated with demons by witches.My Gut Reaction: As my father puts it, the Taliban has nothing on Pat

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-38922078007539071722009-10-30T07:56:00.000-07:002009-10-30T07:59:48.893-07:00

Browsing through Amazon.com yesterday, I happened to notice an advertisement for Sarah Palin's new book, Going Rogue. The price has already been cut by twenty dollars.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-52791918046870678652009-10-29T20:09:00.000-07:002009-10-29T20:23:25.960-07:00

Randall Terry, Operation Rescue founder and patron saint of the anti-abortion movement, has done yet another service for us pro-choicers. He is calling for the burning in effigy of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid because he seems to think health care reform is a conspiracy to kill all the babies in America.The blogger and commenters at the blog linked above are all trying to dissociate themselves and

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-86300815481923888942009-09-22T13:48:00.000-07:002009-09-22T14:10:00.559-07:00

In a comment on the blog Victim's Voice, run by Stephen Flatlow, a commentor calling herself Shana Maydel has accused me of anti-semitism. My post, which criticized the activities of organizations such as the ADL and AIPAC for being uncritically supportive of Israel. To Maydel, this comment was apparently tantamount to alleging that Jews control the government and the media, something which I do

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-54312828668877301972009-09-21T14:33:00.000-07:002009-09-21T15:02:20.032-07:00

According to a news posting on the Carnal Nation website, the fanatical anti-abortion organization Operation Rescue may be on its last legs. The organization sent a message to its supporters recently saying that it is severely lacking in funds. The funding shortage may be partially due to the murder of Dr. George Tiller, in which the organization is indirectly implicated.My Gut Reaction: If it's

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-30845600035239388832009-09-21T13:55:00.000-07:002009-09-21T14:31:11.398-07:00

The usual one man gang of panic-mongers is at it again. Stephen Flatlow of the Victim's Voice Blog is in his usual state of borderline paranoia at the recent set of terror arrests. He is so worked up that he takes issue with anyone raising questions about what is happening, including a few snipes at the Muslim advocacy group CAIR (Council for American Islamic Relations) for pointing at that this

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-26091444012257565892009-09-11T12:51:00.000-07:002009-09-11T13:09:05.438-07:00

Eight years after September 11, 2001, I feel the time has come to reconsider that date's place in history. In our memory, it has gained a significance far beyond what it actually has, out of proportion to the number of people that died and the overall effects on the world.To many Americans, 9 / 11 has become an epochal moment, a day of terror and atrocity that is beyond anything they have

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-72357053342385722392009-09-10T09:51:00.000-07:002009-09-10T10:13:39.962-07:00

The behavior of congressional and Senate Republicans during last night's prime time speech by President Obama was genuinely embarrassing. From the idiot from South Carolina to Republican senators leaving early to "avoid the rush," the Republicans fully humiliated themselves, acting like small children.My Gut Reaction: President Obama should have laid down the law.Analysis: President Obama should

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-2038296340520337232009-09-08T14:23:00.000-07:002009-09-08T14:52:10.056-07:00

As Ben Smith reports on his Politico blog, some Jewish Democrats, although certainly not all, are taking offense at Jimmy Carter's willingness to make even a mild critique of Israeli policy. Elliot Abrams, an Iran-Contra indictee, and Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council whine about the former President's willingness to point out how big a contribution Israeli

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-81927669874168138892009-09-08T13:42:00.000-07:002009-09-08T13:43:09.618-07:00

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-57478043046546031752009-09-04T08:07:00.000-07:002009-09-04T08:25:42.001-07:00

1. Tell them you used to be a Catholic, but are no longer.2. Explain to them why you are no longer a Catholic.3. Explain to them why a full grown woman might have more rights than a zygote.\4. Discuss why you might be reluctant to send children to schools with track records of protecting pedophiles.5. Suggest that the Church's limits on debate in Catholic colleges are actually a stifling of

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-39937854583415885392009-09-02T15:07:00.000-07:002009-09-02T15:29:04.383-07:00

The usual gang of idiots at The Lair of the Catholic Cavement apparently have a beef with surfers or people who like going to the beach. In a screed against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, they complain about the diocese's effort to reach out to non-traditional religious communities among the surfer crowd, whom the blogger denounces as pagans and heretics.This hostility from ultra-orthodox

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-72292042829623156082009-09-01T14:38:00.000-07:002009-09-01T14:57:15.887-07:00

According to Amnesty International, there are roughly one thousand people on death row in the country of Iraq. They are currently being held by the Iraqi Ministry of Justice, with some alleging that they were tortured to give false confessions. Iraq's current government has admitted to carrying out executions in secret.My Gut Reaction: Ah, Iraq, that beacon of freedom in the Middle East.Analysis:

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-82388087353150746252009-08-31T15:09:00.000-07:002009-08-31T15:10:53.717-07:00

OK, folks, the video below is definitely for mature audiences and the not easily offended, but it is hilarious.Thanks to Pharyngula for posting this.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-22296330952207173492009-08-31T14:36:00.000-07:002009-08-31T14:55:51.666-07:00

Steven L. Anderson (I refuse to call him Reverend) of the Faithful Word Baptist Church seems to be one of the more dangerous rising fanatics in the Republican fold. Not only has he prayed for the death of President Obama, with one of his congregation, Chris Broughton, turning up at an Obama rally with a gun, but he also considers homosexuals to be predators who should be stoned to death, as is

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-89094174486602943532009-08-28T08:37:00.000-07:002009-08-28T08:54:08.808-07:00

An article on Yahoo News documents the conspicuous lack of reaction from Pope Benedict XVI to the death of Senator Ted Kennedy, in spite of receiving a letter from the Senator via President Obama. The article implies this silence is a result of Kennedy's liberal stance on abortion, which one Vatican official commented was in defiance of the Church's Magisterium (teaching authority.)My Gut

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-5863689766284295892009-08-25T19:05:00.000-07:002009-08-25T19:35:01.813-07:00

The University I am currently attending has announced an aggressive policy aimed at combatting the spread of swine flu. This policy has included altering aspects of freshman orientation to limit the spread of the disease, and placing students who live in dormatories in isolation if they are suspected of having the disease. Essentially, they are treating this as the second coming of the Black

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-44004192734241922742009-08-19T08:20:00.000-07:002009-08-19T08:47:34.763-07:00

My Gut Reaction: Right on, BarneyAnalysis: The above video is an example of how liberal Democrats and the Administration should deal with the extremist opposition that has arisen to health care reform. There is no point in attempting to debate someone who believes that President Obama is like Hitler, or who argues in spite of all evidence that there will be death panels included in health care

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-34700949451916860632009-08-17T10:15:00.000-07:002009-08-17T10:18:29.235-07:00

One Indian, One Normal - Watch more Funny VideosThis has to be one of the most humorously disturbing videos I have ever looked at. I am not totally certain whether it is real or a put on. Long story made short: Two girls invite a new Indian friend to their house, insult her race, then try to convert her to born again Christianity when they find out she's a Hindu.Thanks to Christian Pwnage for

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-14703588896868038162009-08-11T15:24:00.000-07:002009-08-11T15:31:32.882-07:00

Orly Taitz, the Russian immigrant who believes that President Obama was born in Kenya, turns out to have a very diverse selection of conspiracy theories that she is promoting. Esquire writer Jonathan Richardson, excerpted on Ben Smith's Politico blog, reveals that she believes in conspiracies including a killer bird flu vaccine, a plan to set up labor camps in the United States, and a conspiracy

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-59972723898837373902009-08-05T17:47:00.000-07:002009-08-05T18:08:10.627-07:00

Well, we've had another mass shooting in the Pittsburgh area, this time by a disgruntled computer programmer who hated women.Again. Just a few months after three police officers were killed by another wack job in Pittsburgh proper.Am I the only one who finds this a grotesque reflection on the state of our society, and above all on our government's irrational unwillingness to engage in gun control

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-74340167398087316162009-08-04T15:39:00.000-07:002009-08-04T16:03:53.710-07:00

This afternoon, while I was in my local drug store, I noticed that in the P.M. edition of the local conservative paper, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review had a headline on its front page claiming that former President Bill Clinton was "begging" in North Korea for the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two journalists jailed in North Korea on in all likelihood trumped up charges of violating their

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-68982763790644819822009-07-27T16:37:00.000-07:002009-07-27T16:45:40.786-07:00

Christopher Hitchens provides a highly intelligent analysis of the Henry Louis Gates fiasco, in his usual grand style. He convincingly argues that the issue is not race, but abuse of power. A must read for anyone who wants to understand what happened.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-70890244576961434962009-07-19T13:31:00.000-07:002009-07-19T13:57:03.036-07:00

An article from Politico.com and linked on Yahoo News notes that President Obama is beginning to strike back at Republican intransigence against the stimulus and health care reform. He has begun issuing statements through the Democratic National Committee condemning the behavior of Republican leader Congressman Eric Cantor, and Cabinet Secretaries have called the governors of states such as

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-41954704118674380302009-07-17T12:59:00.000-07:002009-07-17T13:11:45.990-07:00

On the Alternet website, food writer Ari LeVaux complains that the Silk soymilk company has switched its supplies from American organic farmers to Chinese farmers. LeVaux argues that this move harms American organic farmers, while risking imports of reduced quality.My Gut Reaction: Oh, boo-hoo.Analysis: LeVaux seems to believe that the Silk company is a charity rather than a business. He whines

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-26123357029552843652009-07-16T13:10:00.000-07:002009-07-16T15:37:11.799-07:00

According to NPR, NASA has admitted that it in all likelihood accidentally deleted the original magnetic tapes of the Apollo 11 landing and moonwalk. Apparently, they unwittingly used the tapes to record feeds from one of their numerous satellites.My Gut Reaction: Somebody f###ed up.Analysis: This, sadly, is part of the process of historical remembering. All too often, prime historical documents

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-77770486626524065322009-07-15T12:23:00.000-07:002009-07-15T13:08:14.327-07:00

Well, the Sotomayor hearings are pushing into their third day, with a rather circus-like atmosphere granted by the presence of anti-abortion fanatic Randall Terry, who has commissioned protestors to disrupt the hearings. He is ordering these actions despite the fact that Sotomayor has remained mum about her abortion views.Judge Sotomayor herself is trying to keep her hand of cards as close as

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-51472114613250015252009-07-08T14:46:00.000-07:002009-07-08T15:31:03.623-07:00

Over the past week, I have been commenting on a blog called The Victim's Voice. The blog, maintained by Mr. Stephen M. Flatlow, who lost his daughter in a terrorist attack, is largely an apologia for Israel. The majority of the posts, at least that I've seen, focus on defending Israel against accusations of imperialism and racism.Unfortunately, this defense at times translates into opposition to

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-73110261923135909682009-07-06T14:14:00.001-07:002009-07-06T14:40:57.329-07:00

An article in today's Washington Post examines the phenomenon of former government and congressional employees going to work as lobbyists for health care companies in the upcoming health care debate. These new lobbyists include former employees of prominent senators such as Democrat Max Baucus and Republican Charles E. Grassley, as well as former lawmakers such as Dick Armey and Dick Gephardt,

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-17601403999537475782009-07-06T13:28:00.000-07:002009-07-06T13:51:57.368-07:00

Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on a July 4th "tea party" (herefore to be known as Hickapalooza) held in Schenley Park, near Carnegie Mellon University. The party was meant to protest all forms of government intervention, ranging from taxes on cigarettes to health care reform. Above all, the "party" sought to condemn the policies of President Obama, with at least one sign calling

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-34587510385057930562009-07-05T11:55:00.000-07:002009-07-05T12:13:29.854-07:00

Tana Ganeva, writing on the Alternet website, provides a great deal of evidence to suggest that Sarah Palin, soon to be ex-governor of Alaska, may have resigned her post in order to escape one of several public scandals, ranging from things that cropped up during her vice-presidential campaign, to one or two new ones. Particularly of note are Gov. Palin's dealings with an Alaskan contractor,

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-80646957613370130572009-07-03T13:48:00.000-07:002009-07-03T13:59:11.323-07:00

WashingtonPost.com has reported that Sarah Palin is planning to resign at the end of this month, apparently to prepare for a Presidential bid. The move comes as a surprise to members of her own party.Analysis: Something seems fishy here. Why would she resign three years before the election? It could mean something bad is brewing in Alaska, and Gov. Palin wants to keep clear of it. Not necessarily

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-31375076217995643672009-07-03T12:47:00.000-07:002009-07-03T13:01:00.435-07:00

An article in The Progressive magazine, as well as a blog post on the Mondoweiss blog document the suppression of a Palestinian literary festival by the Israeli army. The Palestinian Festival of Literature, a celebration of Palestinian writing and arts, was deemed subversive by government officials.My Gut Reaction: It's rather unwise to suppress literary festivals when you promote yourself to

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-67372479223519556852009-07-02T16:32:00.000-07:002009-07-02T16:43:11.907-07:00

Greg Grandin of The Nation, in an article excerpted on the Upside Down World website, warns that the U. S. State Department may be considering exploiting the coup in Honduras to pressure President in Exile Manuel Zelaya to adopt policies that would serve American economic interests. As he notes, the State Department has refused to refer to what has happened in Honduras as a coup.My Gut Reaction:

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-89761707357128233542009-07-02T12:39:00.000-07:002009-07-02T14:23:04.454-07:00

Pittsburgh-area U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan has done it again, trampling on other people's freedoms to advance her own moral agenda. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, Rob Zicari and Janet Romano, the heads of the now defunct Extreme Associates, a pornography production company, have both been sentenced to a year in prison after being prosecuted for five years by Buchanan.Their company

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-74495714098257204422009-07-01T15:20:00.000-07:002009-07-01T15:49:00.494-07:00

An article on Yahoo News describes the increasing isolation of the new military regime in Honduras, with the nation under threat of suspension from the Organization of American States (OAS)and the United States recognizing Manuel Zelaya as the legitimate ruler of the country. Zelaya intends to return to the country in three days, in spite of threats by coup leader Roberto Micheletti. (I refuse to

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-57558717547116283632009-06-21T09:10:00.001-07:002009-06-21T09:11:00.266-07:00

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-3946992513500822792009-06-16T06:23:00.000-07:002009-06-16T06:32:58.580-07:00

By now, most readers of this blog will be aware that the results of the Iranian election have generated massive unrest in that country. The likelihood is that this unrest is in response to a genuine attempt to steal the Iranian election. As Juan Cole demonstrates in a posting to his blog, Ahmadinejad almost certainly lost the Iranian election when one combines the supporters of his opponents with

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-48614119935637033692009-06-07T07:28:00.000-07:002009-06-07T07:43:44.342-07:00

A letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer this Sunday suggested that the murder of abortionist George Tiller should receive less attention than the killing of Pvt. William Long outside of a recruitment center a day or so later. This letter is nothing more than an attempt to distract from one of the main problems facing this country-the continued threat of religious fanatics to civic society and

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-31942520921136210042009-06-05T08:57:00.000-07:002009-06-05T09:10:56.439-07:00

This week's murder of abortionist George Tiller reveals the true face of the anti-abortion movement. As Dr. Marty Klein points out on the Carnal Nation website, pro-lifers such as Bill O'Reilly had repeatedly referred to Dr. Tiller as a baby killer on his daily news program with millions of viewers. Similarly, fanatic Randall Terry referred to Tiller as a "mass murderer" in an act of faux

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-85729900335449518142009-05-27T13:41:00.000-07:002009-05-27T15:15:29.504-07:00

A comment by another blogger, Stephen M. Flatow, has led me to examine why I support the Palestinian cause in the first place. Contrary to what Flatow seems to assume, opposition to Israeli policy does not necessarily imply anti-Semitism or opposition to Israel's existence. A deeper examination of my motivations will make this evident.Perhaps the deepest roots of my support for the Palestinian

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-46883017532534383402009-05-26T13:15:00.000-07:002009-05-26T13:27:57.428-07:00

The Nation's Robert Dreyfuss reveals the alleged plot against synagogues in New York may not have been as great a threat as politicians and law enforcement officials are alleging. As his article demonstrates, the informant at the center of the plot was apparently an identity theft suspect recruited by the FBI to infiltrate potential terrorist groups.However, the informant went beyond infiltrating

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-78829406187787637762009-05-26T12:19:00.000-07:002009-05-26T12:35:24.118-07:00

In a disturbing report by writer Jeremy Scahill, we learn that a former Army Colonel, Ralph Peters, has published an article endorsing the killing of journalists who do not subscribe to official American explanations of events. He claims in the Journal of International Security Affairs that the media have played a prime role in defeating America in Vietnam, and creating difficulties in Iraq. (

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-10631137748002789432009-05-25T09:00:00.000-07:002009-05-25T09:24:51.606-07:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to witness a performance of the controversial new play Seven Jewish Children by Caryl Churchill, produced at a local Unitarian Universalist Church on Morewood Ave. I found it to be a genuinely moving performance, with excellent acting by students from the University of Pittsburgh. The play focuses on the experience of Jewish children ranging from the time of the

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-68254822766709219492009-05-23T13:36:00.000-07:002009-05-23T14:09:50.998-07:00

A follow up to the previous blog entry:Megan McArdle has posted Edmund Andrews response, issued to PBS, but refuses to acknowledge its significance, carping that it wasn't issued to her. As Andrews explains, the first bankruptcy stemmed from the activities of her first husband, and was filed jointly with him because of legal reasons. The second stemmed from a loan from her sister, whose idea of

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-82462278998511682622009-05-21T15:52:00.000-07:002009-05-22T13:34:19.702-07:00

The Atlantic Magazine blogger Megan McArdle has just received a new, one time only award from this blog:ECONO-FASCIST OF THE WEEK!!!What has Ms. McArdle done to deserve this prestigious award? Her capping achievement is a blatant attempt to smear the wife of Edmund L. Andrews, a New York Times writer who has written a book, as well as an NYT Sunday Magazine article, regarding his financial

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-46186452520968050412009-05-21T10:04:00.000-07:002009-05-21T10:19:46.098-07:00

I had a letter published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today attacking a recent article by the paper's religious columnist, Ann Rodgers. The article was a poorly thought out critique of the new movie Angels and Demons, accusing it of bigotary against Catholics. Rodgers haplessly attempts to portray the Catholic Church as benevolent and undeserving of suspicion.Really, Ms. Rodgers, were you

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-8633497857640213882009-04-04T11:01:00.000-07:002009-04-04T11:07:54.217-07:00

Rather eerily, given my post of this morning, a shoot out broke out in the East End of Pittsburgh, in the neighborhood called Stanton Heights, killing three police officers. We express our condolences.This only goes to show just how deep a problem this is. We have two mass shootings, in two different parts of the country, within twenty-four hours of each other. This is not just a local issue; it

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-25306975397910604982009-04-04T06:27:00.000-07:002009-04-04T06:41:16.206-07:00

Yesterday, we had yet another bloodbath courtesy of some maniac with a gun. This time it was a Vietnamese immigrant who was pissed off over the fact that he couldn't learn English. His nuanced response: to kill a group of his fellow immigrants.When the hell are we going to wake up, America? I'm all for liberty, but allowing every maniac in the country to amass their own personal armory is just

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-38607437768239614322009-02-23T06:33:00.000-08:002009-02-23T06:48:51.630-08:00

Have any of you seen the classic 1970s movie Network? Paddy Chafesky's satirical prophecy has finally come true, albeit in Great Britain.Disgraced British reality tv star Jade Goody has found a way to restore her good graces with the British media, after a scandal over her racially harassing actress Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother. She is literally going to die for good ratings. (Shades of

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-31225118227028333962009-02-22T12:26:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:28:59.284-08:00

I found a funny post on Sen. Roland Burris's ethics issues. It's on a local Pittsburgh blog, the Angry Drunk Bureaucrat, and can be seen here.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-39245020992108369192009-02-22T11:06:00.000-08:002009-02-22T12:16:33.015-08:00

If you want to see the embodiment of Catholic fanaticism and dogma, look no further than the YouTube channel RosaryFilms. This channel's videos, nearly 700 so far, are ranting endorsements of various Roman Catholic dogmas. Most prominent, and glaringly stupid, are the denunciations of abortion. For example, one video notes the percentage of prostitutes who are pro-choice:That's right, folks. No

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-56921189555877542112009-02-19T10:12:00.000-08:002009-02-19T10:21:35.388-08:00

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently dropped hints that the Obama Administration is considering weakening or dropping sanctions against the state of Myanmar. Her argument is that sanctions have not worked, and have only harmed the people of Burma.Can we all say appeasement?This is what I was afraid of when Secretary Clinton was first named to this post. Her record on human rights has been

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-90043687769321701382009-01-19T12:30:00.000-08:002009-01-19T12:31:51.112-08:00

Below is a skit Saturday Night Live did in 2000 about the future of the Bush Presidency. The one thing that is so interesting about it is how accurate it is.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-17217111121972740172009-01-10T10:44:00.000-08:002009-01-10T10:48:23.520-08:00

According to NPR Planet Money podcast, the United States is or will be looking at a deficit of $1.2 trillion dollars due to the bail out and other expenses. Yes, that's trillion. With a T. Not good...(Note: the above post is actually funny is you imagine it being delivered by Stewie from Family Guy.)

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-54985705622685968472008-12-02T09:29:00.001-08:002008-12-02T09:30:25.314-08:00

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish blog for posting this.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-75124097808623537922008-11-29T13:09:00.000-08:002008-11-29T13:22:22.779-08:00

As an article on Time.com notes, the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai signal a shift in Islamist terrorist tactics from suicide bombings to guerrilla warfare style tactics such as those being practiced in Iraq and Afghanistan.This brings up a rather disturbing point. In the build-up to the Iraq War, some opponents warned that Iraq could turn into a training ground for terrorists, where they

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-71872130822534757882008-11-29T10:15:00.000-08:002008-11-29T10:18:31.575-08:00

A Wal-Mart worker was trampled to death yesterday in a stamped at a New York-area Wal-Mart store. Police cite a lack of security for dealing with the crowd as a contributing factor in the death.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-8635065812836638422008-11-25T13:22:00.000-08:002008-11-25T13:44:17.224-08:00

The recent bailout of Citigroup while the automakers are left hanging is a testament to the warped priorities of financial experts both left and right wing. As Robert Reich points out, Citigroup has little real effect on the economy, while the collapse of General Motors and other Big Three automakers could trigger a massive economic collapse. The other major difference is that while a Citigroup

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-75463205394712255382008-11-19T09:00:00.000-08:002008-11-19T09:04:53.381-08:00

Matthew Yglesias notes that National Review Online blogger Andrew McCarthy claims the Iraqi people are "ingrates" because they are not happy about the presence of American troops. Written in the context of an article about the recent Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), he claims the Iraqis are too friendly to Tehran and too interested in prosecuting American soldiers.Gee, maybe we should have

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-35720241413158916332008-11-18T13:58:00.000-08:002008-11-18T14:02:59.431-08:00

On Hardball with Chris Matthews, Christopher Hitchens lays out a devastating indictment against Sen. Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. The conflicts of interest and lack of experience she will bring will potentially undermine President Obama's foreign policy, and badly serve our nation.The only good side I can see to all this is that it will leave her in a position where she cannot harm

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-40981070884626593572008-11-17T13:17:00.000-08:002008-11-17T13:19:48.665-08:00

Embedded video from CNN VideoA Catholic priest in the Carolinas has told his parishioners that they should repent before receiving Communion if they voted for President Obama. If he wants to go that deep into politics and civil society, let him set aside a portion of his weekly collections for taxes to support said civil society.

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34803820.post-11873560041759395292008-11-16T12:55:00.001-08:002008-11-16T13:03:18.723-08:00

President-elect Obama gave a weekly address yesterday highlighting the nation's economic difficulties, embedded above. It rings with his typical confidence, but also with a realization of the great challenges faced by the American economy.As Juan Cole points out, we are still in the rough as long as President Bush is in office. There is always the possibility that he could further screw things up

The Expatriatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11762488684043664889noreply@blogger.com0