Nimble Books LLC » U.S. & Local Politics

We are all exotics now

wfz-admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:16:07 +0000

I like the fact that this sense of the word is becoming more widely used. We are all exotics now.

In his state, he’s an exotic: An Indian-American who is a devout Catholic and a Rhodes scholar, [ Louisiana Governor Bobby ] Jindal reflects the academic bent of his mother and father, rather than the bloodline of Louisiana politicians or planters.

via A Defining Moment For Jindal — And GOP’s Future? : NPR.

McCain: You Can’t Have My Helicopter! Obama: Ok.

wfz-admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:01:32 +0000

It’s an amazing coincidence that McCain singled out the one program that directly affects the day-to-day personal life
of the person who was elected President.

And, McCain noted, “your helicopter is now going to cost as much as Air Force One. I don’t think that there’s any more graphic demonstration of how good ideas have — have cost taxpayers an enormous amount of money.”

Said Obama, “I’ve already talked to (Defense Secretary Robert) Gates about a thorough review of the helicopter situation.”

Added the president, to laughter, “the helicopter I have now seems perfectly adequate to me. Of course, I’ve never had a helicopter before. So, you know, maybe — maybe I’ve been deprived and I didn’t know it.But I think it is a — it is an — an example of the procurement process gone amuck, and — and we’re going to have to fix it.”

via Obama Beats McCain Again – The Plank .

Curricular monocultures: dumb, dumb, dub.

wfz-admin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:43:44 +0000

I have had a copy of this cool book sitting around my home office for a year or so until I learned this past week that a son’s friend wants to learn algebra this summer (a year ahead of the curriculum). I mailed it off to him. It’ll be interesting to see what he makes of it.

I am really proud of O’Reilly for extending innovative learning techniques to the secondary curriculum. Why aren’t there hundreds of competing textbooks like this? We have curricular monocultures instead of competing diversity. Dumb, dumb, dub.* Why not let the American system do what it does best?** decentralize schools, let them innovate focused on results.

Having trouble understanding algebra? Do algebraic concepts, equations, and logic just make your head spin? We have great news: Head First Algebra is designed for you. Full of engaging stories and practical, real-world explanations, this book will help you learn everything from natural numbers and exponents to solving systems of equations and graphing polynomials.

Along the way, you’ll go beyond solving hundreds of repetitive problems, and actually use what you learn to make real-life decisions. Does it make sense to buy two years of insurance on a car that depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot? Can you really afford an XBox 360 and a new iPhone? Learn how to put algebra to work for you, and nail your class exams along the way.

via Amazon.com: Head First Algebra: A Learner’s Guide to Algebra I (Brain-Friendly Guides): Tracey Pilone, Dan Pilone: Books.

*(I meant to write “dumb,” but this works, too.)

** Create billion-dollar bailouts for firms managed by billion-dollar bozos?

Obama is antidumb

wfz-admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:07:15 +0000

Op-Ed Columnist – Gail Collins – Obama’s Flip-Flopping – Op-Ed – NYTimes.com

But if you look at the political fights he’s picked throughout his political career, the main theme is not any ideology. It’s that he hates stupidity. “I don’t oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war,” he said in 2002 in his big speech against the invasion of Iraq. He did not, you will notice, say he was against unilateral military action or pre-emptive attacks or nation-building. He was antidumb.

Very shrewd of Gail Collins. This is one nuance I didn’t pick up in my Obama book. I think she’s absolutely right.

Obama’s Kidgate

wfz-admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:31:11 +0000

Children Seen, and Heard – The Caucus – Politics – New York Times Blog

On Wednesday morning, in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show, Matt Lauer asked Mr. Obama whether he had made the right call in granting interviews with the girls. Mr. Obama said: “I think we got carried away in the moment. We were having a birthday party and everybody’s laughing and I didn’t catch it quickly enough … We wouldn’t do it again, and we won’t be doing it again.”

It’s absolutely ridiculous that he should feel the need to apologize for something so innocuous.

full text paperback from Amazon>District of Columbia et al. v. Heller: Supreme Court Establishes an Individual Right to Bear Arms Under the Second Amendment

wfz-admin — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:05:28 +0000

District of Columbia et al. v. Heller: Supreme Court Establishes an Individual Right to Bear Arms

The full text is available now in paperback at the link above.

McCain/Condi?

wfz-admin — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:21:55 +0000

Condiment: Comment: The New Yorker

If McCain really wants to have it all—to refurbish his maverick image without having to flip-flop on the panderings that have tarnished it; to galvanize the attention of the press, the nation, and the world; to make a bold play for the center without seriously alienating “the base”—then he can avail himself of a highly interesting option: Condoleezza Rice.

Someone who is actually qualified to be President. I am getting tired of reading about governors who don’t have foreign policy experience. They have got to have some overseas seasoning before they are qualfiied to sit in the big chair.

Dick Morris on Hillary’s red phone ad

wfz-admin — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:12:39 +0000

TheHill.com – It’s over

Suggestion for Obama:

The next time Hillary uses the recycled red phone ad, counter with one of your own. When the phone rings in the middle of the night, have a woman’s voice, with a flat Midwestern accent, answer it and say, “Hold on” into the receiver. Then she should shout, “Bill! It’s for you!”

Dick Morris is a chumbucket, but a smart one.

Hillary Mathematically Out of It

wfz-admin — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:36:10 +0000

Hillary’s Math Problem | Newsweek Politics: Campaign 2008 | Newsweek.com

Hillary Clinton may be poised for a big night tonight, with wins in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island. Clinton aides say this will be the beginning of her comeback against Barack Obama. There’s only one problem with this analysis: they can’t count.

I’m no good at math either, but with the help of Slate’s Delegate Calculator I’ve scoped out the rest of the primaries, and even if you assume huge Hillary wins from here on out, the numbers don’t look good for Clinton. In order to show how deep a hole she’s in, I’ve given her the benefit of the doubt every week for the rest of the primaries.

I love definitive articles like this one. Tip of the hat to Jonathan Alter.

Richard Armitage mans up about foolishly leaking Plame’s name

wfz-admin — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:31:26 +0000

Although the admission was shrouded within a thicket of denial, I’m glad to see that Richard Armitage is man enough to admit that leaking Valerie Plame’s name to Robert Novak was foolish.

Armitage says he was ‘foolish’ to leak CIA agent’s name – CNN.com

However, that doesn’t take away from what Mrs. Plame said. It was foolish, yes.”