Bob Herbert has some sharp words about "data and reality":
Older workers who are jobless are caught in a particularly precarious state of affairs. As the report put it:
"We are witnessing the birth of a new class — the involuntarily retired. Many of those over age 50 believe they will not work again at a full-time ‘real’ job commensurate with their education and training. More than one-quarter say they expect to retire earlier than they want, which has long-term consequences for themselves and society. Many will file for Social Security as soon as they are eligible, despite the fact that they would receive greater benefits if they were able to delay retiring for a few years." ...
The zealots reading the economic tea leaves see brighter days ahead. They can afford to be sanguine. They’re working.
Meryl Comer and Chris Mooney suggest fixing the economy the scientific way:
Without ramping up our investments in science and research — a matter barely on the public's radar in a country where 65% of the citizens can't name a living scientist and another 18% try but get it wrong — we'll be hobbled in trying to fix our long-term economic problems. That's because science creates jobs, and it can also reduce healthcare costs related to the aging of the population.
Former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson has some terrible advice for the President:
Social Security restructuring is not the obvious choice for Obama, but it is the smart one. It is achievable. It would invest Republican leaders in a constructive national enterprise.
Cal Thomas takes his (yawn) 3,517th poke at the (ha-ha) liberal media.
Stephanie Grace takes a gander at how her state will be dealing with what nine other states have in store for them in 2011, losing a seat in Congress:
Now that Louisiana has gotten official word that it will lose a U.S. House seat before the next election, it's possible that one of the state's incumbents will develop a sudden urge to pursue other endeavors and step aside gracefully. More likely, we're about to witness a high-stakes game of musical chairs, with seven incumbents vying for only six seats.
The first round of the game starts well before the election when the state Legislature redraws congressional district boundaries, in effect deciding who will get a district to himself and who will have to fight for survival against a current colleague. So the first round of speculation centers not on who can beat whom, but who can convince, pressure or sweet-talk state lawmakers into watching their backs.
The Toledo Blade editorial board addresses losing two seats in its state:
When a new Congress takes office next month, Ohio's House delegation will consist of 13 Republicans and five Democrats. Despite the GOP sweep in last month's election, no one would seriously argue that that ratio accurately reflects the partisan strength and preferences of voters in the state.
At the very least, next year's redistricting should not make that imbalance even worse by targeting the few remaining Democratic districts for elimination or consolidation from the start of the process.
And the Houston Chronicle editorial board ponders how gaining four seats will go down in Texas:
Early handicapping suggests that two may go to high-growth Republican-dominated areas such as west Houston, while the other two will be drawn to reflect the overwhelming demographic reality of the new Texas: huge and continuing growth among the state's Hispanic population.
The final outcome on district lines is likely to await the results of a special session of the Texas Legislature, or perhaps even a court battle.
In the "The Babbitt of the Bobos," Chris Lehman asks: "Is David Brooks America’s most misguided pundit?"
Retired Navy Commander Beth R. Coye offers thanks for the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell":
In 1960, I joined the Navy and -- to my surprise -- within six months was in a relationship with another woman, a naval officer. From that time until this past weekend, a little grey cloud has hovered over my head, symbolizing to me that I and other gay military members, including retirees, are not part of the military family because of our sexual orientation.
[Last] Saturday ... I awoke at 5:45 a.m. with great anticipation, knowing that the Senate would vote on Don' t Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) repeal.
An hour later, I was listening to my senator, Ron Wyden (D-OR), speak with great passion from the Senate floor, telling his colleagues, "I don't care who you love...If you love this country enough to risk your life, you shouldn't have to hide who you are." ...
After the vote, I got a call from Sen. Wyden. The call was emotional. I cried. He told me how important this vote was for him and for all Americans.
Miguel Perez has some tough words about Hugo Chavez.
Jon Wiener picks the top 10 Nixon quotes from tapes released this year from the National Archives put the former President on the front page briefly:
- On the standoff at Wounded Knee with Native American militants: "I think we ought to move tanks, the whole goddamned thing. Put a division in there, if necessary, It's time for action on it. If some Indians get shot, that's too goddamned bad. If some Americans get shot, that's too bad, too."
Helen Mirren says: "The world must stop ignoring the victims of the Lord's Resistance Army."