Archive: January 2006
Global Warming Heats Up
Some predict that global warming will be the key issue of 2006, spanning the world and crossing socio-economic lines to confront us with the dillema of human impact on planet earth. Whether the issue will froth over so pervasively remains to be seen, but already articles citing dire facts and concerns voiced by commentators have gotten readers heated up over the issue. In response to David Ingatius's column Is It Warm in Here?, Editorial & Opinion Talk participants take sides., "It could be warm. Is that bad," asks Gmasters? He sees no cause for alarm, viewing the cyclic course of nature as marked by ups and downs that balance out in the end....
By Lindsay Howerton | January 19, 2006; 12:55 PM ET | Comments (8)
Gore v. Bush, Again...
Former vice president Al Gore took swipes at President Bush over the administration's use of undisclosed and unapproved wiretaps, accusing President Bush of breaking the law in the process. The White House hit back via spokesman Scott McClellan, who called Gore a hypocrite on national security and lambasted organizations that filed court cases over the wiretaps. Well, the whole thing has got Politics Talk readers in a dither, with almost 300 responses in the past 24 hours. This ought to be fun. Just like McLellan, Truthdr pilloried Gore, saying "If this guy is all the Democrats have they are in sorry shape, almost as sorry as the Republicans. I love it when he gets loud and starts shaking his finger at folks." But Rangman wasn't buying that. He asks Truthdr, "So you don't like Gore. How about his message? Do you even care that this administration is using the consitution...
By Lindsay Howerton | January 18, 2006; 12:51 PM ET | Comments (4)
Assisted Suicide Law Upheld
News that the Supreme Court upheld Oregon's assisted suicide law has readers alternately rejoicing and hanging their heads in grief. Individual liberty was what was really upheld with this decision, writes kpharmer. "The federal government has no business inserting itself into the private end-of-life decisions of our citizens. This gives me some hope that other federal attempts to curtail individual liberty will be quashed."...
By Lindsay Howerton | January 17, 2006; 1:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
The Year Ahead
Optimism? Pessimism? What are readers expecting 2006 to bring? washingtonpost.com Forum Intern Eve Chen sought opinions on the year ahead in our Question of the Week. Readers' thoughts represent quite a range of views. GAT2005 says that the Democrats will make news for continuing to be a disorganized, uninspired lot who suffer a, "...lack of vision.." and create an, "...alienating impact" due to "Far-Left Extremists." If it weren't for the almost total lack of interest in the Alito hearings right now, I might believe Gat was on to something. Let's see what the other prognosticators have to say....
By Lindsay Howerton | January 13, 2006; 1:47 PM ET | Email a Comment
Aw, That Vick!
Ex-Virginia Tech football star Marcus Vick may have nothing to worry about as he coasts into pro ball, writes John Feinstein in a Post Op-Ed column today, but Vick's freewheeling habits are a detriment to the sport, says Feinstein, and just the kind of behavior that coaches and parents have to guard against in rearing a new generation of athletes. NYRunner10 argues that we can't look at Vick and other troubled athletes within the context of pro-ball alone. "Perhaps the atheletes are only reflecting the abysmal morality of the society in which they live?" NYRunner is not alone. The whole conversation thread is cynical....
By Lindsay Howerton | January 11, 2006; 2:27 PM ET | Email a Comment
Lobbying Scandal May Prompt Reform
The Post reports that in the wake of the scandal surrounding Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Congress may be looking to tighten up the ship by enacting tougher laws on lobbyists' access to lawmakers. Readers wonder whether all the noise will produce real regulations, or simply a round of outrage followed by feckless policies. TRCAVE isn't convinced that the long-running Abramoff scandal will bring real change to the way Congress does business. After quoting House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's (R-Ill.) statements that the time for reform is at hand, TRCAve asks incredulously, "Now is the time for action? NOW is the time for action?" He wonders where Congress has been all these months....
By Lindsay Howerton | January 9, 2006; 12:45 PM ET | Comments (4)
Back to the Grind
Post writer and blogger Joel Achenbach advises us that its finally time to get back to work after a long year-end holiday. I guess he hasn't heard of epiphany and the Twelve Days of Christmas. By my count, we can slack off till Friday. I think the readers might be on my side. LP writes, "I would be back to work after my two weeks vacation, but have contracted just about the worst stomach bug imaginable and the only place safe for me to hang around right now is cyberspace. Work will have to wait. But welcome back anyway, boss...." Those pre and post vacation bugs are so poorly timed...cough cough, wink wink. Disparaging the work celebrations take, Reader prefers pointless holidays, like New Year's Day. "...There's a lot of work involved in creating that Christmas experience. But New Year's Day is great, no obligations...This year was extra good because...
By Lindsay Howerton | January 3, 2006; 1:35 PM ET | Comments (27)
