I am opposed to picking any Democratic Senator for the VP slot. We need all of them in the Senate that we can get.

If Obama is elected, that's one senate seat lost (at least potentially lost). Given the Republican opposition tactics, we need as many as possible.

Posted at June 4, 2008 11:48 AM in response to Obama Needs To Make VP Choice by End of June

Calm down - this concept is not new. For several decades there has been a classification UCNI, which stands for Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information. Congress set this up - I think sometime in the 1980s. Oddly enough, the penalty for violating this is greater than for violating some of the classified stuff.

And, before discussing any UCNI with others, you are indeed required to tell the other person that it is UCNI - just like discussing any classified stuff.

UCNI can be revealed to certain uncleared people (I forget the rules), and one is required to inform them of this fact, and summarize the penalties for violation. I have seen this done - really upset the meeting attendees.

Posted at May 19, 2008 3:57 PM in response to Today's Must Read

That makes sense to me. The whole tax policy is upside down. We should tax investment-type income at 40% and tax salary-type income at 15%. ;-)

Posted at March 26, 2008 6:27 PM in response to The Lost Decade

I think I disagree with points 4 and 5. There seems to be an assumption that if the money wasn't spent on Iraq, it would have been spent usefully in the US. I think this assumption is false. It's borrowed money, so we simply would not have borrowed and spent it.

It would have been a good idea to borrow and spend - the only reason I know of to borrow money is for capital improvements. But, as country, we almost never do it.

With the Republics in charge for six years, and having a block in the Senate, there has been no hope of spending money to improve the infrastructure.

Posted at March 15, 2008 1:25 AM in response to The Iraq Recession

I seem to recall that when Rocky Flats was decommissioned, they found a lot of Plutonium in the vent system. Does anyone know the details? In particular, how many people got radiation (or, in the case of Pu, chemical) poisoning?

That might give us a clue as to the potential for a building HVAC system used to spread radiation.

Posted at December 3, 2007 2:47 PM in response to No Defense is Perfect

"When in panic, or in doubt,
Run in circles, scream and shout!"

Posted at July 11, 2007 1:58 PM in response to Terrorist Crock of Crap, Part Deux

When John F. Kennedy was killed, many on the right (particularly big business) celebrated - I was a young adult at the time and heard them on the radio.

When Robert Kennedy was killed, ditto.

When Martin King was killed, ditto.

It hasn't changed much, has it?

Posted at April 24, 2007 1:11 PM in response to Right Celebrates Tragic Death of The Great David Halberstam

I think that there are two ways out.

1. Every American should have the same health insurance (and for that matter the same retirement package) as Congress, for the same rates. Too costly, you say? Well, how about going the other way - Congress has to use the same system for the same costs as the rest of us.

2. Somewhat more seriously - how about extending Medicare a bit at a time? The first year, go to age 60, a couple of years later to 55 and so forth. At the same time, start Medicare from birth up - say up to age 5 the first year, then to 10 a couple of years late. In a few years - maybe a decade - these will meet in the middle.

Now, current Medicare has one good feature and one bad. The good one: people can buy Medigap insurance that supplements Medicare. The bad one: it doesn't cost enough. That is, tax money supplements Medicare insurance payments. But, as the system extends to more and more people, you could move gradually towards a fully (or more fully) funded system. Perhaps some tax support could be kept, especially for those unable to afford premiums.

Oh yes, fold part D into regular Medicare, treating drugs just like any other medical care.

Oh yes second, put Congresspeople into the new system immediately.

Posted at April 10, 2007 4:35 PM in response to Thinking Big -- And Thinking Realistically

Actually I didn't. I was merely pointing out, in my clumsy manner, that right wing joy at the personal tragedy of liberals has a long history.

Next time I will be more explicit.

Posted at March 24, 2007 5:01 PM in response to Right Joyful and Vicious at Elizabeth Edwards Cancer Recurrence

On November 22, 1963, I was sitting in my office working when the announcement ran through the place. Like most of the country, I spent the next week or so deeply shocked.

During those days, there were a few that actually celebrated Jack Kennedy's murder. Some were businessmen, some politicians. As one said on the radio, "Serves that Communist right!"

'Nuff said?

Posted at March 23, 2007 8:49 PM in response to Right Joyful and Vicious at Elizabeth Edwards Cancer Recurrence