Tag: written by profwhat
Featured Diary: Obama's "Team of Rivals" Cabinet: Genius, or Disaster?
profwhat.
Posted to Politics on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 06:07:18 PM EST (promoted from Diaries by port1080). RSS.
As Obama's picks for his new cabinet are rolled out, many are comparing his choices to Abraham Lincoln's so-called "Team of Rivals" cabinet--a cabinet that included four of Lincoln's political opponents. In a well-regarded book by that name, Doris Kearns Goodwin argues that Lincoln's selection of that cabinet showed political genius. Obama cited that book during his campaign, and suggested that he, too, would select a "team of rivals" cabinet. Post-election, he has indicated that at least one Republican will be in his cabinet, possibly the existing Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and the possible nomination of Hillary Clinton has been well-leaked. But is this smart?
(13 comments, 269 words in story) Full Story
Detroit's Hot 2009 Model: The Federal Bailout
profwhat.
Posted to Business on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 12:37:22 PM EST (promoted by DEMachina). RSS.
General Motors is worth about as much as it was in 1948, Ford just had its worst month of auto sales since the end of World War II, and Chrysler barely even exists anymore. Times are bad for the U.S. auto industry; so bad that G.M. has bluntly stated it may run out of money before the end of the year, placing its ability to "continue as a going concern" at serious risk. GM says its last best hope is a federal bailout, and Democratic leaders -- including President-elect Obama -- seem to be listening.
(19 comments, 156 words in story) Full Story
Campaign 2008: First Debate [Breaking News]
profwhat.
Posted to Politics on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 10:30:21 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
The first real debate of the 2008 campaign is over. The candidates began discussing the current economic crisis, and then moved to foreign policy.
(59 comments, 103 words in story) Full Story
GM Unveils Electric "Chevrolet Volt"
profwhat.
Posted to Business on Fri Sep 19, 2008 at 06:37:00 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
For a cool $48,000, General Motors will sell you a car that can do 0-60 in about 9 seconds, and hit a top speed of 150 MPH. Sound overpriced? Did I mention it's the new electric Chevrolet Volt?
(38 comments, 277 words in story) Full Story
Campaign 2008: McCain and Obama Tied
profwhat.
Posted to Politics on Fri Sep 12, 2008 at 06:24:44 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
The conventions are over, the nominees are set, and we're in the middle of one of the most thrilling U.S. presidential elections in a generation. After leading John McCain in the polls for months, the convention bounces have left both candidates roughly tied.
(38 comments, 148 words in story) Full Story
Campaign 2008: This Time, It's Canada's Turn
profwhat.
Posted to Politics on Thu Sep 11, 2008 at 08:46:43 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called for a new federal election on October 14. Polls indicate Canadians are currently disposed to keep Harper's Conservative Party in power, although support for Stéphane Dion and his Liberal Party is growing in key ridings.
(4 comments, 112 words in story) Full Story
Why Did Iraq Violence Fall?
profwhat.
Posted to Etcetera on Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 08:01:00 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
During the summer of 2007, attacks on U.S. forces fell from a high of 1,550 a week to below 800 a week, and civilian fell approximately 75 percent during 2007. Conventional Washington wisdom is that the surge of troops into Iraq and associated changes in military strategy caused this fall in violence, although others point to the Anbar Awakening. Bob Woodward's new book raises a mysterious third explanation: "a series of top-secret operations" that allowed U.S. Special Forces to "locate, target and kill key individuals."
(26 comments, 253 words in story) Full Story
U.N. to World: Stop Eating Meat
profwhat.
Posted to SciTech on Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 06:43:20 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
"A red-meat-eater in a Prius is probably hurting the environment more than a vegan in a Hummer." So observes the Los Angeles Times editorial board in summarizing the conclusions of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri recently called on the world to forgo eating meat at least one day a week in order to reduce global carbon emissions.
(44 comments, 215 words in story) Full Story
Olbermann and Matthews Nixed from MSNBC News Coverage
profwhat.
Posted to Media on Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 03:47:50 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
MSNBC will no longer use popular hosts Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews to anchor election news coverage, citing complaints about bias by the two on-air personalities. Instead, David Gregory will host election coverage, and call upon Olbermann and Matthews as commentators.
(6 comments, 278 words in story) Full Story
Campaign 2008: Republicans in St. Paul
profwhat.
Posted to Politics on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 07:51:51 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
And you thought the Republican National Convention would be boring this year! It began with a hurricane, forcing the cancellation of all major activity; continued through a withering speech by Democrat/Independent Joe Lieberman, a surprisingly strong speech by Sarah Palin, and is scheduled to finish with McCain's acceptance speech tonight.
(102 comments, 92 words in story) Full Story
Google Re-Re-Ignites the Browser Wars
profwhat.
Posted to Business on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 03:13:25 AM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.
Meeting a need that no one realized they had, Google has unleashed a new web browser upon the world: Chrome. It offers a clean interface, really fast performance, crash protection, fast performance, an Opera-like "speed dial," and also, did I mention, fast performance.
(20 comments, 303 words in story) Full Story
Oregon Judge Grabs Jurors Off Sidewalk
profwhat.
Posted to Legal on Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 06:44:16 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Dislike jury duty? Then don't walk near courthouses in Oregon. A judge in Eugene, Oregon, facing a shortage of jurors, ordered a sheriff's deputies to walk outside the courthouse, onto a busy downtown street, and "summon the first 10 to 12 people you see" to serve as jurors.
(34 comments, 127 words in story) Full Story
