Tag: New York Times

Speaking in Ireland this week, President Obama stated that Catholic schools were divisive: “If towns remain divided–if Catholics have their schools and buildings and Protestants have theirs, if we can’t see ourselves in one another and fear or resentment are

In a dramatic sign that the American economy is being largely propelled by Federal Reserve pumping of the dollar, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sold off 206 points on indications by Fed Chair Ben Bernanke that by the end of

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who will be leaving office at the end of this month after eight long years of not working for the city, said on Tuesday that he wants to take his talents to Sacramento. “I want

On Wednesday, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis placed the blame for Chicago’s failing schools right where it belongs: on “rich white people.” Speaking to a luncheon on education reform, Lewis said that Chicago is the most segregated city in

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education approved plans to spend $30 million to buy iPads for students. The teachers union is unhappy with the decision because they think the money would be best spent on

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted 11-1 to fight the scourge of plastic bags at grocery stores. The new plastic bag ban will prohibit stores that sell perishable foods from handing out plastic grocery bags. Paper bags will

Internal Revenue Service director of rulings and agreements Holly Paz explained that the IRS simply used “tea party” as shorthand for politically-involved groups in profiling non-profit applicants. She said that when tax agents in Cincinnati referred to tea party groups

Even as reports break about the size and scope of the National Security Agency’s vast data storage center in Utah, new details are emerging about a second massive NSA center in San Antonio, Texas. According to the Houston Chronicle, “Satellite

On Monday, National Security Agency surveillance leaker Edward Snowden blasted former Vice President Dick Cheney while claiming that the government’s blanket surveillance has achieved little in terms of stopping terrorism. “It’s important to bear in mind I’m being called a

NSA leaker Edward Snowden blasted Congress’ willingness to sign off on massive federal surveillance of American citizens in an online interview with The Guardian (UK) on Monday. He said “there was no single moment” that made him want to leak

On Monday, NSA leaker Edward Snowden told The Guardian (UK) that he was not a spy for the Chinese government. “Ask yourself: if I were a Chinese spy, why wouldn’t I have flown directly into Beijing?” Snowden wrote on The

Speaking at the Princeton University graduation in June, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spelled out his political philosophy: from each according to his luck, to each according to his need.  He explained that meritocracies were inherently unfair, and that those

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, appearing on Fox News Sunday, said that he believed National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden was a “traitor” and perhaps a spy for the Chinese government. “I think he has committed crimes in effect by

On Father’s Day weekend, President Obama issued his usual radio and internet address, in which he talked about his own father’s absence, talked about the heroism of single parents, and lamented the plight of put-upon gay dads. “I never really

In 2009, as the Obama administration pressed through its version of the auto bailout, creditors of companies like General Motors were squeezed into accepting repayments of just pennies on the dollar. The deal was supposed to save Detroit. Instead, creditors