tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22759278295875103912012-01-05T22:01:18.146-06:00One American's perspective on policy, politics, history and current world events.Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.comBlogger1741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-61129367160620524712009-10-24T13:15:00.002-05:002009-10-24T13:22:40.046-05:00

I'm still here! Hoping to revive Beyond Me after the new year...Thanks if you still stop by!***I wanted to make sure that as many people as possible noticed this article by David Brooks. There is at least one area in which the Obama Administration is doing tremendous things: education. I've been fortunate to work closely on this effort over the past few months - and based on my personal

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-54851416394723948932009-05-18T21:23:00.008-05:002009-05-19T22:57:06.008-05:00

Today I read the recent speech President Obama delivered at Notre Dame. I wanted to pass it on to those of you that missed it and call out a few passages that spoke to me.I was going to try to provide some commentary as well, but after a few reads, I've decided just to call out some of my favorite parts and let you reflect on your own. And hopefully, you'll read the whole thing. You can find it

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-40711906669138395332009-04-24T11:28:00.003-05:002009-04-25T21:54:00.563-05:00

In Wednesday's New York Times, Thomas Friedman cites a new study by a respected global consulting firm that actually attempts to quantify the impact of our under-performing public education system on the national GDP.The numbers are pretty striking:If America had closed the international achievement gap between 1983 and 1998 and had raised its performance to the level of such nations as Finland

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-77017420851928014822009-03-04T13:45:00.004-06:002009-03-04T13:50:52.169-06:00

Don't miss Thomas Friedman's article in the NYT today.The entire brief article is worth a read, but here is my favorite paragraph:This problem is more complicated than anything you can imagine. We are coming off a 20-year credit binge. As a country, too many of us stopped making money by making “stuff” and started making money from money — consumers making money out of rising home prices and

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-41720527091618804822009-02-18T19:41:00.003-06:002009-03-05T11:09:53.915-06:00

Wow - a full month since my last post! Thanks to any one that still drops by from time to time.I found an interesting link that was quick to pass on and may be interesting to some of you as we are all trying to learn a little more about economics these days.A link to quick post by Greg Mankiw that outlines 14 easy to understand but important economic questions on which almost all economists agree

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-80447960290867668552009-01-18T22:11:00.005-06:002009-01-18T22:30:07.744-06:00

A few days ago, I found some very important remarks embedded in a Washington Post essay arguing that liberals should finally give George W. Bush credit for the surge.The argument was somewhat compelling although I think fully exploring the issue requires closer to a thousand pages than a thousand words.The surge and George W. Bush's role aside, the author, Peter Beinart, made a very important

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-26924967778005133092009-01-14T09:02:00.002-06:002009-01-14T09:09:03.613-06:00

The New York Times ran an incredibly story today about the terror that has been inflicted on young females in Afghanistan that have been trying to attend school following the overthrow of the Taliban.I'm going to include the first few lines of the article below, but if you need an uplifting story of courage or a bit of perspective on the challenges our society faces relative to others, you should

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-83878229223091033732009-01-07T12:52:00.003-06:002009-01-07T12:59:30.504-06:00

This morning, President-Elect Obama introduced his selection to fill a new position created by his new Administration: The Government Chief Performance Officer.This is one of those ideas that makes you wonder why it wasn't done two or three decades ago.Basically, the new Performance Officer, who will report directly the President (giving her real power), will be in charge of developing and

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-70018037563167455642009-01-03T22:03:00.003-06:002009-01-04T23:13:05.225-06:00

Peggy Noonan, writing in the Wall Street Journal about the possible appointment of Caroline Kennedy to the U.S. Senate, made some general remarks about the effects of nepotism on our political system.I found some of it quite insightful so I want to cite a bit of the essay here.People who've seen politics up close when young tend to be embarrassed to be in politics. This is because they have seen

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-37293056549486439882008-12-30T10:35:00.005-06:002008-12-30T10:57:37.086-06:00

The Bush Administration made some fateful decisions about NASA's future shortly after it arrived in 2001 - most notably the decision to cancel major components of the International Space Station.It seems as though The Obama Administration will be in a position to make even more important decisions regarding the future of the space program over the next few years. The Space Shuttle is scheduled

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-60694089213497302452008-12-28T15:16:00.004-06:002008-12-30T10:35:41.125-06:00

If you've never read anything by Dave Barry, you're missing out.The Washington Post published a fairly long but very amusing piece by Barry today that is good for a few laughs. You can read the whole thing here.It's a great satirical overview of the events of 2008. Here's a sample:Barack Obama, having secured North and South America, flies to Germany without using an airplane and gives a major

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-37695780774143996932008-12-04T15:44:00.003-06:002008-12-04T15:53:17.373-06:00

Noticed this little story on CNN.com and thought I would pass it on.Nothing too profound here, just thought it might be nice to promote a short story about generosity hidden amidst the raw politics, economic distress and warfare that has dominated the news lately.Here are the highlights:Virginia businessman Earl Stafford has spent $1 million to give hundreds of poverty-stricken and terminally ill

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-13789417312150172762008-12-01T16:55:00.003-06:002008-12-02T10:58:11.502-06:00

Okay - so I'm not sure that the former IBM CEO is the best choice for the job, but he published an excellent essay on reforming the American public education system today in the Wall Street Journal. I recommend it to all of you that are passionate about education reform.At the very least, I hope the President-Elect nominates someone with a similar vision and a comparable record of effective

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-90983433912980551862008-11-24T13:19:00.007-06:002008-12-02T11:03:23.134-06:00

Thanks to any of you that are still checking in here from time to time. Life has kept me from writing the last few weeks but I hope to be posting more often for the foreseeable future. There certainly is a lot to talk about!***Despite my lack of writing, I have still been keeping up with current events - particularly the debate over giving GM, Ford and Chrysler another $25 billion dollars.I guess

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-78411634377137683532008-11-05T07:18:00.005-06:002008-11-05T13:48:32.527-06:00

I'd love to hear what some of you think about last night and/or what you expect for the next four years.Say as much or little as you'd like. Multiple paragraphs or mere statements like "I'm happy" or "I'm disappointed" are welcome - whatever you'd like. I know that some that read this blog are highly skeptical of Obama - your perspective is welcome and very valuable.If I can't talk you into

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-84234812769063831372008-11-04T22:05:00.002-06:002008-11-04T22:28:13.738-06:00

I am almost overwhelmed with tonight's results.I am overwhelmed by the thought that in my parents' lifetime, African Americans were, in many parts of the country, not able to attend the same schools, use the same restrooms or share the same water fountains.Many will be disappointed by the result of this election... but I think it is impossible to argue that it does not demonstrate America's

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-85682738619698224512008-11-01T15:29:00.006-05:002008-11-01T15:57:57.229-05:00

Another fascinating and insightful article by David Brooks. I recommend the whole thing - you can read it here.His thesis:....there are four steps to every decision. First, you perceive a situation. Then you think of possible courses of action. Then you calculate which course is in your best interest. Then you take the action.Over the past few centuries, public policy analysts have assumed that

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-18839326427820874422008-10-31T21:18:00.005-05:002008-11-01T15:23:13.652-05:00

Yesterday, I stood in line today for 45 minutes to cast my vote for President of the United States.I had some time to think while I was waiting and a few things occurred to me as the line muddled along.First of all, it was incredible to see the lines for early voting. People of all ages, economic status and races were in line - and none of them seemed overly annoyed by the wait. It made me happy

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-28189277289378073302008-10-15T08:44:00.004-05:002008-10-15T09:04:22.709-05:00

Killer quote from the son of conservative icon William F. Buckley who just left the National Review after endorsing Barack Obama:While I regret [leaving the conservative National Review], I am not in mourning, for I no longer have any clear idea what, exactly, the modern conservative movement stands for. Eight years of “conservative” government has brought us a doubled national debt, ruinous

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-75929101586727468662008-10-13T16:51:00.002-05:002008-10-13T17:01:25.278-05:00

Picking up on a thought at the end of my last post.... Remarks from Barack Obama yesterday:"Part of the reason this crisis occurred is that everyone was living beyond their means – from Wall Street to Washington to even some on Main Street. CEOs got greedy. Politicians spent money they didn't have. Lenders tricked people into buying homes they couldn't afford and some folks knew they couldn't

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-34479240154906969932008-10-12T20:21:00.002-05:002008-10-12T20:45:53.470-05:00

I haven't had the time to write a solid post on the historic economic events that have unfolded the past couple of weeks. I've been closely monitoring a variety of news sources to pass on insightful articles but have found few I felt worth forwarding - until now.Fareed Zakaria, writing in Newsweek, has produced a marvelous 10 minute essay that explains - in very straightforward language - the

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-15359843300518192442008-09-30T00:14:00.002-05:002008-09-30T00:23:13.872-05:00

Despite its gridlock on Monday, Congress did manage to prove $25 billion in loans to America auto-makers this weekend. This is the first such measure since the government helped Chrysler in 1980. I just thought someone should mention it.As for the $700 billion bill that failed to pass on Monday... I just don't know what to say right now. I'm stunned that it failed to pass. That being said, I'm

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-15803660807620309222008-09-25T14:42:00.009-05:002008-09-25T18:08:33.545-05:00

The American public and media are right to be focusing on the current economic crisis and the resulting debate but unfortunately, the rest of our challenges cannot be put on hold.Nor, unfortunately, can new ones be stalled from emerging.Today, American and Pakistani troops exchanged fire along the Afghan-Pakistani border.Earlier this week, North Korea threatened to restart it's nuclear weapons

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-11142911120872156962008-09-24T14:20:00.003-05:002008-09-24T14:44:20.765-05:00

New stations including CNN and CBS are reporting that John McCain is asking Barack Obama to agree to postponing the presidential debate scheduled for this Friday night. McCain is going to continue his campaign through tomorrow afternoon at which time he wants to suspend it to "focus on the economy". This would include "postponing" the debate this Friday night.This is a terrible idea.A better one

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-62092002889327654692008-09-24T00:11:00.003-05:002008-09-24T01:10:22.758-05:00

Ok - another post on the bailout proposal. I've been reading more commentary from journalists, economists and even the Treasury Departments website.Two emerging thoughts and a summary perspective:First thought:The more I think about it, the more outraged I become that the Bush Administration has asked the American people to give $700 billion to Henry Paulson with absolutely no ability to

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-36108538290249809862008-09-23T13:07:00.006-05:002008-09-23T16:26:24.764-05:00

In my quest to learn more about the $700 billion bailout plan Congress and the President are currently debating, I've found another useful article to pass on.The article is not anywhere near all its title claims it to be ("The Wall Street Bailout Plan, Explained"), but if you're interested in a perspective on any of the following questions, you can get one here.Q. The bailout program being

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-19716560564725451452008-09-22T16:56:00.002-05:002008-09-23T14:53:20.404-05:00

Paul Krugman published a very strong opinion piece in the New York Times today that outlines the reasons for the economic crisis and comments on the appropriate response. I'm usually hesitant to promote Krugman in this blog because (despite his strong reputation as an economist) I feel that his essays are often a little less objective than they should be. That being said, I'm with him this

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-58553918707370004532008-09-22T12:54:00.002-05:002008-09-22T13:32:45.886-05:00

Very few people understand the causes and implications of the economic events of the last few weeks, but many are starting to realize that we have just witnessed some hugely important and historic economic events. As I mentioned in my last post, I'm still trying to get up to speed on all this and it's proving difficult even given my experience in business and economics.I've found two articles so

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-42178806527655195742008-09-20T18:00:00.003-05:002008-09-20T18:16:17.875-05:00

It might be surprising that I haven't said a word about the economic developments this week but the truth is, I am still trying to get my head around it. Despite a bunch of very relevant education in business and economics the last few years, I'm still finding it difficult to feel confident that I understand the causes and the proposed solutions well enough to think aloud about it.So instead,

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-60547109095328879332008-09-10T17:05:00.004-05:002008-09-10T17:26:00.439-05:00

This post is written primarly for any conservative or undecided voters.I don't feel the need to try to maintain a balanced or dispassionate perspective when I hear garbage like this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVLQhRiEXZsIn the above 30 second ad, John McCain accuses Barack Obama of fighting to achieve "comprehensive sex education for kindergartners". McCain calls this Obama's "one

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-58362886998805760832008-09-05T14:59:00.008-05:002008-09-06T10:02:58.466-05:00

You might be surprised that I haven't commented on either of the conventions over the last couple weeks. I've watched every day of both conventions (or at least TiVo'd and caught up) and the sheer volume of rhetoric has left me grasping for where to begin. I've also wanted to give myself a bit of time to cool down because both sides provoked a range of emotions that I didn't want to overly

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-82259191699279006362008-08-26T16:54:00.005-05:002008-08-26T18:42:08.287-05:00

If you haven’t seen the new television ads being run by longtime oilman T. Boone Pickens, I encourage you to take 60 seconds to check it out.In a single brief ad, Pickens lays out an intelligent and easy to understand plan to break America’s dependence on oil. You can read the whole plan here (and I encourage you to do so – it’s an easy read), but here it is in a nutshell:1. Establish wind power

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-50699669441725452142008-08-21T12:24:00.004-05:002008-08-21T17:35:34.922-05:00

I certainly don’t agree with Barack Obama on everything. That being said, when Obama speaks about his overarching political worldview, I often feel like my mind is being read. This is one of the reasons that I have become such a strong supporter of his campaign.Today, Andrew Sullivan’s blog posted a quote from Obama that appears in the latest issue of Time.I was always suspicious of dogma, and

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-75916937970407329302008-08-20T00:26:00.006-05:002008-08-20T01:02:24.336-05:00

My posts have obviously been few and far between lately. There are several reasons for this, but I must admit that my absence has been partially due to a sense of disgust at the current state of the Presidential campaign and the dominating effect it has had on the media's coverage of the various policy debates. It's made me want to take an extended break from it all - and I think that is a bad

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-44882969479696164702008-08-11T12:21:00.003-05:002008-08-11T12:34:33.187-05:00

The Olympics have distracted much of the world from the war that has erupted in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. I've been trying to study the issue, but the divided news coverage and my lack of background knowledge on the factors driving the conflict make me uncomfortable making any statements of my own.That being said, it seems like a far too important event to not comment on. Needless to

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-83532278855619719292008-08-04T20:31:00.010-05:002008-09-06T10:10:17.991-05:00

Energy policy is getting the attention it deserves in the current Presidential campaign. Unfortunately, most of the rhetoric is not sufficiently serious. That being said, some good ideas are being floated, even if they are being dismissed for political reasons.Barack Obama, like John McCain, has supported specific energy policy ideas that I object to including subsidizing corn-based ethanol and,

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-80927172069365373942008-07-30T21:42:00.004-05:002008-09-06T10:16:49.821-05:00

Scientist's working in the U.K. have just completed a tremendously successful round of human trials on a new drug that halts the progression of Alzheimer's.Needless to say, if this drug makes it to market it 4 or 5 years, it could save countless families from tremendous suffering. You can read a short article here that will tell you more about the drug and the evidence supporting its

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-5377065705003420002008-07-17T15:25:00.001-05:002008-07-30T21:48:56.614-05:00

Sorry for the dry spell here - I just realized that I didn't mention that I wouldn't be writing much (if anything) in July. I'm currently hanging out in Costa Rica in self imposed exile from politics/current events (and several other things). Please drop in again late this month or early in August!Jared

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-36567264215706167342008-07-05T23:35:00.003-05:002008-07-05T23:54:21.956-05:00

Everyone has agreed for the last thirty years that energy independence is a worthwhile goal.There is some debate over why we have not achieved it yet, but the most common or persuasive argument is perhaps that it is simply "not yet technologically feasible". Politicians and energy company executives call for "increased investment in R&D" but set no meaningful goals or benchmarks - and therefore

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-65644757145379135172008-07-03T23:32:00.001-05:002008-07-05T23:55:22.785-05:00

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. John AdamsI'm not sure that any other

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-22264041956077603752008-06-26T16:43:00.003-05:002008-06-26T16:51:34.411-05:00

George Will, writing in today's Washington Post, seems to have identified a no-brainer action that Congress should take immediately:Two-thirds of doctoral candidates in science and engineering in U.S. universities are foreign-born. But only 140,000 employment-based green cards are available annually, and 1 million educated professionals are waiting -- often five or more years -- for cards.

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-30296796246392469142008-06-24T17:12:00.009-05:002008-06-25T11:22:47.017-05:00

For any of you that think gas prices will ever come back down significantly OR not continue to increase for a long time, consider some powerful yet simple facts about the American demand and willingness to pay for gasoline:Gasoline prices are 36% higher today than they were a year ago, but American consumption last week was only 2.7% lower than the corresponding week last year.We can guess about

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-49565053682832555012008-06-19T15:08:00.005-05:002008-06-19T15:51:52.967-05:00

My previous post on cancer research reminded me of an article that I read a while back about the tiny number of "scientists" in Congress. Even applying the loosest definition of the word, there are only 30 scientists out of 535 Senators and Representatives.This is not a surprising fact, nor does it necessarily have to be a problematic one. A strong and curious mind can quickly be brought up to

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-67899173721974848562008-06-18T20:35:00.005-05:002008-06-18T20:48:28.119-05:00

I ran into an extraordinary article today that discusses the potential of specific types of cloning technology to fight cancer. The basic idea is to find a sample of the small percentage of cells in a person's immune system that attack cancer cells, clone them in large numbers and then re-inject them into the body. This therapy is powerful and innovative due to the fact that few immune system

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-71842886139005112322008-06-16T07:53:00.003-05:002008-06-16T08:14:39.352-05:00

I read these remarks on fatherhood this morning and wanted to share them. I want to say clearly that these are NOT my words, but I do not want to cite the source.Whether it be in business, government or just every day conversations, the speaker is too often dramatically more important than the validity of the content s/he is delivering. This is a topic that we should all evaluate strictly on

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-39001782499173605682008-06-11T22:56:00.005-05:002008-06-13T12:48:22.821-05:00

In 2000, one of George W. Bush's central campaign promises was to cut taxes. Prior to 9/11, when the federal budget was running a substantial surplus, this was a respectable idea.However, after it became necessary to invade Afghanistan, history would have suggested that these tax cuts be scaled back or eliminated. Actually, if Bush and the Republican Congress had followed the example of every

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-43427953735276161702008-06-06T09:44:00.005-05:002008-06-06T09:52:59.848-05:00

David Brooks has rapidly become on of my favorite thinkers over the last couple years.Today he published an essay in the New York Times in which he ponders the value of a leader truly coming to terms with his/her greatest weaknesses (before gaining power). He considers this idea through the lens of Abraham Lincoln's experience.I recommend the entire short essay (it's here), but wanted to quote

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-13352538000115278402008-06-06T09:21:00.004-05:002008-06-06T09:27:30.416-05:00

Another departure from politics...Click here for an absolutely breathtaking picture of a sunset on Mars. I'm guessing it was taken by the new probe that landed last month.Incredible.

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-5083624258346172552008-06-04T10:22:00.003-05:002008-06-04T10:56:28.717-05:00

Last night, Barack Obama became the first African American to ever clinch the nomination of a major American political party.Please forget - for just a moment - whether you intend to vote for Obama or not.Instead, remember that barely more than a generation ago, in many parts of this country, African Americans were not allowed to share the same restrooms or water fountains with Caucasians. In

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-27372345033152987132008-05-26T09:17:00.004-05:002008-05-26T15:46:03.516-05:00

As a politics junkie, I have to make it a point to step back every so often and remember the important and/or interesting things that are happening elsewhere.NASA just successfully landed a new probe on Mars called Phoenix. You can read about the mission here, but I've copied a few key paragraphs below.I'm a big fan of the space program, but even for those of you that are not, I think things like

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-51678195656185199622008-05-22T18:03:00.002-05:002008-05-22T18:18:54.723-05:00

I'm going to comment soon on the talking versus appeasement question that President Bush recently raised with his speech before the Israeli Knesset last week. But first, I want to recommend an article that speaks to the related (but different) question of the risks associated with high level diplomacy with adversaries.First, let me say that I with those that say the United States should be

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-73074602017714854802008-05-16T15:33:00.004-05:002008-05-16T15:37:43.518-05:00

I found this 90 second video on another blog (Andrew Sullivan's) and wanted to pass it along.Save it for the next time you lose faith in your ability to achieve your goals.I'm confident that it will pick you back up...

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-70354288267974461692008-05-15T11:05:00.004-05:002008-05-15T11:21:55.492-05:00

Policy speeches usually don't get enough attention in the mainstream media, but CNN covered one by John McCain today that I thought was worth passing on.I'm not going to provide much commentary here. I think some of his goals are laudable and achievable. Others I think are too vague to discuss in any detail. And a few, like claiming there will not be another terrorist attack on American soil, are

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-59745631041905672102008-05-13T15:00:00.004-05:002008-05-13T15:10:29.470-05:00

Lance Armstrong published an important Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal today - you can read it here (subscription required).Three of my close friends, all in their 20's, have been diagnosed with cancer in the last 12 months - one just this last week. I also have an aunt that survived breast cancer.I would imagine that every reader of this post has a loved one that has fought or is fighting the

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-44145777997897325542008-05-10T18:50:00.006-05:002008-05-13T13:40:27.461-05:00

Last year, I wrote a post about the plans for the 1964 Presidential campaign.John F. Kennedy and Barry Goldwater were reportedly discussing the possibility of traveling the country together in a series of direct debates in front of the American people. (Lyndon Johnson did not pursue this idea after Kennedy was assassinated).CNN revealed today that representatives of the McCain campaign have been

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-64538198744813835182008-05-09T14:17:00.003-05:002008-05-09T14:55:32.418-05:00

Kudos to John McCain for making climate change a non-trival part of his Presidential campaign despite the minimal benefit it will garner with his party's base.McCain has probably been the most vigorous Republican voice in the Senate for taking action on this issue- even going so far as to co-sponsor legislation with Democrat Joe Lieberman.Fortunately, it would seem that regardless of who we elect

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-32913189199844996512008-05-08T15:35:00.004-05:002008-05-08T15:44:14.892-05:00

By now, hopefully you've heard of the catastrophic cyclone in Myanmar. More than 100,000 people are believed to be dead.If you want to help, the Washington Post has provided a single page with a concise list of quick and easy links to assistance organizations that would benefit from your support.I also found a blog that shows a before and after photo from a NASA satellite that shows the Burmese

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-81785496771933274912008-05-08T13:57:00.004-05:002008-05-08T14:18:14.159-05:00

If you care about foreign affairs (including, but not limited to Iraq), you've probably had to work pretty hard lately to find some fresh news.The media has been intensely obsessed with the Presidential race the past few weeks - particularly with a small subset of issues of relatively low importance including gas tax proposals that will never become law, flag pins and incendiary

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-4773681558531149192008-05-05T13:42:00.004-05:002008-05-08T14:17:54.024-05:00

I found several pieces of wisdom and insight from Thomas Friedman yesterday in a great 3 minute essay.He ventures into politics a bit with a (fully justified) swipe at President Bush's post 9/11 energy policy and a plug for Barack Obama's ability to motivate the youth in this country...but he ends with a substantive note that, for me, inspired real hope because it is confirmed by what I have seen

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-49400898883712284862008-05-04T19:31:00.003-05:002008-05-05T13:58:45.962-05:00

The New York Times published 9 essays on Iraq today. Each piece discusses a major problem in Iraq and proposes steps to address it.It is an interesting group of authors. They range from young ex-military officers that have served in the war to former political appointees that were involved in the initial months of the occupation.If you want to learn more about our struggle in Iraq and what we

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-27057464340452583182008-05-03T11:39:00.007-05:002008-05-08T14:17:05.702-05:00

Yesterday, in a brilliant essay, David Brooks of the New York Times discussed the politics of globalization and the limits of the current paradigm being pushed by politicians (primarily the Democrats).In addition, he discusses a notion that the world is in the midst of a "skills revolution". Here is a core section of his article:We’re moving into a more demanding cognitive age. In order to thrive

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-38946737029183752392008-05-02T09:32:00.009-05:002008-05-02T10:49:59.811-05:00

In recent days, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have appeared on major Fox News programs. Apparently this has caused quite a stir in some far left circles.For example, Markos Moulitsas, the founder of the very liberal blog Daily Kos, remarked that "Democrats are being idiotic by going on [Fox News]". Moulitsas and others have previously urged Democrats to boycott Fox News - presumably to

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-56572473411618671562008-05-01T22:31:00.006-05:002008-05-08T14:19:01.335-05:00

It's now been five years since President Bush announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq.Whether or not you support the continuation of our efforts in Iraq, all Americans should be aware of the price we have paid so far.Although I do not support a draft, the fact that we have an all-volunteer military means that many (if not most) Americans have no direct connection to anyone serving in

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-84635478326659789792008-04-30T11:39:00.003-05:002008-04-30T11:57:13.988-05:00

Along with education, energy policy is arguably the most important strategic domestic issue because of its impact on so many other areas. The well-being of our economy, our national security, and our environmental future are all directly linked to where we acquire our fuels and how we generate our electricity. Of course, I've written this before, but it's worth saying again. And again.Thomas

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-50361793304652520962008-04-30T09:30:00.003-05:002008-04-30T09:40:05.289-05:00

Last November, I posted a brief note and link about a "Post-Iraq G.I. Bill" being co-sponsored by Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Chuck Hagel (R- NE).I noticed an article today that provides an update on the bill. The piece focuses more on politics than policy (apparently John McCain and Webb disagree on some major implementation details), but it still manages to provide an update on the bill.Here

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-37930703750841419752008-04-29T15:30:00.004-05:002008-04-29T16:01:39.763-05:00

A few days ago, I said that Barack Obama would have an obligation to speak out against his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, if he had heard him spread some of his wilder and totally unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.Yesterday, Wright restated some of these claims, including one that the United States government is responsible for spreading the AIDS virus.This time, he spoke to a national audience.Today

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-9966708706753170822008-04-28T10:44:00.002-05:002008-04-28T10:53:24.069-05:00

In today's New York Times, Elizabeth Edwards rails against the maddening lack of substance in the mainstream media's coverage of the Presidential election.Sadly, the article doesn't offer any solutions, but it's a rant I agreed with (and felt a little better after reading) , so I thought I would pass it on.It seems to me that the coverage has gotten even worse in the last month or so. I've

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-39081210322344845762008-04-26T10:01:00.004-05:002008-04-26T10:13:22.285-05:00

A Canadian bank predicts the price of oil will rise to $150/barrel by 2010 and $225/barrel by 2012.It's only one opinion, but there are some simple facts in the article that make the prediction seem plausible (for example the dramatic increase in car sales in Russia and China).The 60 second article is here.I won't make a personal prediction about how fast oil prices will grow, but I think that

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-24523500944197204432008-04-25T14:03:00.009-05:002008-05-08T14:19:46.006-05:00

The New York Times published a good article to commemorate the 25th anniversary of what is arguably the most important government document in the history of education reform.The article takes 7 or 8 minutes to read, but it provides a useful partial overview of the history of education reform in the United States. It also (barely) begins to explore the relationship between the effectiveness of a

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-70714845376464202008-04-23T12:57:00.004-05:002008-04-23T13:04:43.301-05:00

Every citizen has an obligation to proactively speak out against ignorance like this regardless of whether it supports their politics or not.(That would include, for example, Barack Obama if he personally heard some of his pastor's wilder conspiracy theories)

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-22385603696369222382008-04-23T12:03:00.003-05:002008-04-23T12:25:25.521-05:00

In response to a comment on a recent post, I mentioned that our efforts in Bosnia might provide valuable lessons for how to proceed in Iraq and possibly, even a model or vision of "success".Richard Holbrooke, a former UN Ambassador, compares Iraq and Bosnia in the Washington Post today.The article does not really analyze the prospects for "success" in Iraq, but it does provide a useful framework

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-89606724955565985702008-04-22T07:13:00.004-05:002008-04-22T07:19:56.674-05:00

We've barely heard a peep from the Presidential candidates about their plans to improve our public education system. In my opinion, there should be at least one full debate devoted entirely to this topic once the general election begins.Bob Herbert wrote this 3 minute piece in the New York Times that shows how bad we are failing our young people today and the consequences that might have for

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-73078687927002512592008-04-08T16:18:00.003-05:002008-05-08T14:20:20.764-05:00

David Brooks, one of my favorite Op-Ed writers (due to his sharp and relatively fair mind), wrote a thought provoking piece in today's New York Times. I strongly recommend the entire thing (all 3 minutes worth).Steve, I still owe you a description of "success", but I think Brooks offers a partial version near the end:Iraq will look like a lot of places in the world: a series of cold and fragile

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-76283673509176448832008-04-07T12:08:00.003-05:002008-04-07T12:23:08.789-05:00

The "debate" on national security and international relations has collapsed in recent years to Iraq and Iran with a dash of North Korea, Pakistan and Russia.For those of you interested in the future of international relations and national security strategy, Henry Kissinger provides a refreshingly sophisticated essay in today's Washington Post outlining three major forces that will shape global

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-32763140448523742272008-04-03T15:58:00.005-05:002008-04-03T16:42:51.959-05:00

I was surprised today that President Bush won critical European support for the missile defense system his administration has championed.The more I think about our list of national security concerns, the further investing in the missile defense falls on my priority list.Here's why:Even the greatest proponents of our missile defense systems admit that no foreseeable system could shield us from a

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-28653089511975229582008-04-03T12:32:00.005-05:002008-04-03T12:40:51.891-05:00

I've written about the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) on here before but here is another fairly concise article that talks about some of the most common misperceptions associated with this law. It will soon be up for re-authorization.In the process of discussing the bill, the article also provides a little more context on the broader public education system in this country.Hopefully education

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-27286363596124500892008-04-02T14:05:00.009-05:002008-04-02T18:44:06.602-05:00

Tragically, Iraq has become a tremendously political issue.Many senior Democrats have staked a firm position that the vast majority of American combat troops need to be withdrawn as quickly as logistically possible. On the other end of the spectrum, many Republicans have equated withdrawal with "surrendering" to al-Qaeda. Many journalists and other "experts" have become equally invested in one

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-77662518629354934302008-04-01T16:03:00.004-05:002008-05-08T14:21:28.101-05:00

The Washington Post has recently printed an exchanged between a long-time Clinton political advisor, James Carville, and the Governor of Mexico and former Clinton Cabinet Member, Bill Richardson.Carville was recently compelled to compare Bill Richardson to Judas Iscariot after he endorsed Clinton's opponent.If you want to read the entire exchange you can find Mr. Carville's remarks here and Gov.

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-21606766752669439572008-04-01T11:56:00.005-05:002008-04-01T16:28:49.546-05:00

I agree that the 2nd Amendment allows individuals (not just militias) to own guns but we desperately need to combat the political climate that treats the mere discussion of any restrictions as an attempt to repeal the right altogether.For instance, I'd have a hard time being convinced that the joker responsible for this 7 year old should continue to have a right to his weapons and I'd be

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-26992287904401133052008-03-19T10:08:00.006-05:002008-03-27T10:28:04.929-05:00

Yesterday, Barack Obama gave a speech that I believe every American should hear.If you plan to vote in this election, or influence someone who will, you owe it to yourself to listen to his remarks. It is rare that an American politician speaks so honestly and thoughtfully about such a politically dangerous topic. For that reason, I believe this speech is worthwhile for any voter, regardless of

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-17591159070021804742008-03-16T18:09:00.002-05:002008-03-16T18:31:29.099-05:00

I found an excellent (and pretty entertaining) tutorial on the mortgage crisis that I thought I would recommend to those of you that are interested. Even for those of you that are not struggling with one of these loans, the spillover effects seem increasingly likely to impact us all. This was made clear this week with the collapse of the nation's fifth largest securities firm, Bear Stearns.

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-78428367508833502632008-03-16T12:41:00.006-05:002008-03-16T13:51:50.085-05:00

A close and exceptionally intelligent friend of mine recently returned from a visit to Iran and shared some thoughts that I wanted to quote directly here:The [Iranian] people are nothing like we (Americans in general) think they are. Everyone I meet is very excited when I tell them I am American. Without fail, they always smile and they all tell me that they want to visit my country and that I

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-85343285777463651472008-03-08T09:39:00.005-06:002008-03-10T15:40:23.151-05:00

Most people know that when you tax something, whether it be a good, a service, or an event, you usually see less of it in the economy.For this reason, some people are advocating a carbon tax to lower greenhouse gas emissions and to curb the use of foreign oil.I'm undecided if I like this idea more than a cap-and-trade scheme, but I still wanted to highlight one idea related to the implementation

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-79813780365266885442008-03-08T00:42:00.002-06:002008-03-08T00:47:53.532-06:00

....Frank Buckles, the last surviving World War I vet, was born. After driving an ambulance during the Great War, he later found himself as a POW for 39 months during the SECOND World War. Talk about living history...You can read more a little more about him here.

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-40804600684606764122008-03-07T09:03:00.003-06:002008-06-09T09:29:44.144-05:00

...Karl Rove...on the epic Democratic Primary fight:Remember: It has only been eight weeks since Iowans voted in the first contest of the season, though it seems like a geological age has passed. There are now seven weeks until Pennsylvania, nine weeks until North Carolina and Indiana, and 10 weeks until West Virginia. Imagine how many twists and turns are possible.I haven't written much on this

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-22040238563440137722008-03-06T12:08:00.004-06:002008-03-06T12:28:21.584-06:00

Apparently, Southwest Airlines knowingly flew 70 airplanes that were very clearly designated as "unsafe" due to missing mandatory safety inspections. By law, these planes are supposed to be grounded until the inspections are complete.If true, this is absolutely outrageous. Not only was the conduct of Southwest Airlines reprehensible, but equally intolerable was the failure of the FAA to enforce

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-15861366915271290242008-02-28T15:22:00.005-06:002008-06-28T21:20:45.790-05:00

A stunning and depressing fact:..As of January 1 [2008], 1,596,127 people [are] in state and federal prisons and 723,131 [are] in local jails -- a total 2,319,258 out of almost 230 million American adults....the United States is the world's incarceration leader, far ahead of more populous China with 1.5 million people behind bars. It said the U.S. also is the leader in inmates per capita (750 per

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-85978293955394919322008-02-27T17:23:00.002-06:002008-02-27T17:40:55.439-06:00

Late last year, the President signed the first significant piece of energy reform in decades. I wrote about it here if you are interested.I previously ranted about this legislation, despite its net positive effect, because it did not include a repeal of subsidies for American oil companies. Today however, with oil at the highest price it has ever been, the House of Representatives passed a bill

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-78213826030322142182008-02-27T13:30:00.004-06:002008-02-27T13:42:42.945-06:00

Wow - I've been negligent of my blog lately. Apologies to any one out there that still drops by from time to time.I've actually been working on a number of essays, but obviously haven't closed any of them out sufficiently to post. I also have to admit being totally consumed by the ongoing Presidential election. We are really witnessing a pretty historic race on the Democratic side.From now on ,

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-3198863849578862452008-02-07T15:23:00.000-06:002008-02-11T14:54:13.917-06:00

Mitt Romney ended his presidential campaign today. In the closing marks of his campaign, he said the following:“If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestallthe launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Sen. Clinton orObama would win,” he said. "And in this time of war, I simply cannot let mycampaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.”So

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-86974186847080722312008-01-30T12:07:00.000-06:002008-01-30T12:25:38.229-06:00

CNN.com published an excellent summary of the delegate system for any of you that are interested. You can read the whole thing in 5 to 10 minutes. It explains how delegates are awarded in each party, what "super-delegates" are and how a candidate wins their support. (Make sure to click each of the three tabs: "The Math", "Who are the delegates" and "Winning delegates").Some of you may be

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-55487016963158163962008-01-24T13:37:00.001-06:002008-02-27T13:46:13.852-06:00

I count myself among those that believe that voting is not only a privilege, but also an obligation.Nevertheless, I understand why many people believe that their vote is largely insignificant in the general presidential election - particularly if they are in a non-competitive (i.e. overwhelmingly partisan state). In the general election, the winner of a state wins every single vote in the

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-5139423414357892502008-01-20T11:03:00.000-06:002008-01-20T11:39:08.778-06:00

There has been a big debate in this Presidential election about the importance of experience. This debate is a little absurd. Of course experience is important - and tremendously so. The real debate should not be "is experience necessary - yes or no". The debate should be about which experiences (not only professional, but also personal) meaningfully contribute to the development of great

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-12110000701279828182008-01-17T14:56:00.000-06:002008-01-17T15:45:40.841-06:00

With the war in Iraq continuing, the Presidential election in full swing and the economy becoming more and more worrisome, it may seem a little odd for me to write on public education right now. But I like to use this blog to raise issues that are very important but not sexy enough to get the attention they deserve in the mainstream media. So here goes...Shortly after taking office in 2001,

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-54461058249364138382008-01-16T19:11:00.001-06:002008-01-17T14:35:24.396-06:00

It was announced this week that the United States will sell $20 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia over the next 10 years. The package includes "advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades to its fighters and new naval vessels". (If you are interested, you can read more about the deal here).Congress must approve this deal before the sale can go forward. I hope that they do not.The Bush

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-13403044971040117042008-01-04T13:32:00.001-06:002008-01-04T14:23:41.403-06:00

Regardless of who you support in the current Presidential election, I think we saw a couple things last night in Iowa that are quite special. I don't pretend that my personal observations here are insightful or original... but I still wanted to record them as they make me feel just a little bit better about the state of the country - or more precisely - the direction it is heading.1. A black man

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-13151160089667521672007-12-30T01:16:00.000-06:002007-12-30T01:29:11.397-06:00

This article caught my eye and I thought I would flag it for any of you that want to add even more complexity to the current Presidential race. If you are unsatisfied with the current candidates - or your favorite candidate's chances - this article might even provide a little hope.Apparently there is a group of fairly prominent current and former politicians meeting in the near future to discuss

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-81039658952250302512007-12-14T10:18:00.000-06:002007-12-22T02:50:21.960-06:00

I have no doubt that some of my more politically savvy readers will tell me that I am crazy and/or foolish at the end of this post. Perhaps this is a bad idea, but I want to provoke a debate... so here goes:In theory, it takes only 51 votes for a bill to pass the United States Senate.However, Senate Rule 22 allows unlimited debate on any issue if one or more Senators are so inclined. And whereas

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-19036437761705616722007-12-07T13:35:00.001-06:002007-12-08T09:50:13.299-06:00

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed the most meaningful piece of energy legislation in decades. Based on a previous post, I am obliged to give credit to Speaker Nancy Pelosi for passing this bill. Well done!Today, however, that effort was stalled in the U.S. Senate thanks to a filibuster and the promise of a veto from President Bush.I have long prided myself on being a

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275927829587510391.post-65592601471399053002007-12-04T12:07:00.000-06:002007-12-08T09:55:12.725-06:00

A National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) was released yesterday that claims Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003. This is report represents the collective opinion of U.S. intelligence services.Iran must still be viewed with a great deal of skepticism and we should retain a defensive posture. This can and should be done in a respectful way.Nevertheless, this report is extremely

Jaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10208662198827344349noreply@blogger.com1