Where's the Outrage?

Wednesday News Roundup

• There was a terrible shooting in Alabama in which 10 people, including the gunman, died. Victims ranged in age from 18 months to 74 years old. As usual, the news is searching for an answer or a reason, when in fact there are no adequate answers or reasons.
• There seems to be an increasing war between Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and Jim Cramer, CNBC financial analyst. Monday, on Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough wanted to stand up for Jim Cramer. I’m not sure why. I have a problem with financial analysts who tell us on Monday that the company is solid when by Friday the company is filing for bankruptcy. In my opinion, this means that the financial analyst is not really analyzing anything but is, instead, a financial cheerleader. Joe Scarborough is so far out in left field on this issue that I’m not sure he’s in the same stadium.
• President Barack Obama has introduced new earmark guidelines. Look for John McCain to say that these guidelines have not gone far enough.  Wouldn’t it be up to the Senate to write its own rules?
• Veteran reporter Seymour Hersh stated that Bush had a squad of CIA killers.  “Under President Bush’s authority, they’ve been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving. That’s been going on, in the name of all of us.” Now that gets my attention.
• Merrill Lynch is being asked to pay a fine of $7 million for leaving a phone off the hook. From what amounts to insider trading some daytraders made a whopping $8,000. Really? Bernie Madoff was able to rip off investors for over $50 billion. Allen Stanford was able to abscond with $8 billion. The SEC is chasing down an $8,000 scandal? Please.
• If there’s one country that has nuclear weapons in which we need and pray for stability that would be Pakistan. I spoke with the Center for American Progress’s Brian Katulis about the complex political issues in Pakistan, yesterday (great interview). There is a large protest that is organizing in Islamabad, which could be a huge problem. (An interactive map of our predator air strikes can be found here.)
• A new photo has been found from 1865 which is now thought to be the last photograph taken of Abe Lincoln before his assassination. Although this is a neat photograph in front of the White House, it is very blurry. If experts say that is Abraham Lincoln, I guess I’ll believe them.
• Maureen Dowd has written the first thoughtful column that I have read of hers in maybe two or three years. She basically applauds Michelle Obama for being comfortable in her own skin. What Maureen doesn’t mention is that you have to be comfortable with who you are in order to be a successful black woman who is in her 40s.
• Robin Givens is back in the news, now an expert at domestic violence. Just because you’ve been a victim does not mean you’re an expert. I’ve been in a car crash, as have most Americans, but I don’t think that makes us experts on car crash technology, geometry or prevention. Domestic violence is a serious problem in the United States and around the world. We need real experts to discuss the Chris Brown and Rihanna problem. There are issues of self-esteem, cultural pressures and, quite possibly, instincts. I’m not sure how a gloss-over by Robin Givens is really helpful.

Tags: Domestic Issues, Obama administration, Pakistan, The Daily Show // View Comments