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It just gets crazier and crazier.

Times haven't changed.

Some seem surprised that Wall Street's outrageous behavior continues unabated, which is about as insightful as saying they never saw the meltdown coming. Astronomical compensation, uber-risky investment behavior, and sales of new, more exotic investment instruments is still in vogue in Gordon Geckoland.

A Rose By Any Other Name Or Speak No Evil, See No Evil, Hear No Evil Things have been a little quiet on the healthcare debate front over the past day or two, but the 800 pound gorilla is still in the room and is still very much alive and well. During this short lull I wanted to take a look at the critical public option piece for the program, and the fact that it is apparently losing its luster with many on the near left as a it remains a huge impediment to any legislation having a chance of being passed. And not getting something passed will doom the democrats in mid-term elections...

Now that we've covered the legal and strategic angles of U.S. waterbording policy, it is now time to explore the political ramifications, or, in the words of Chris Matthews: "let's talk turkey".

Is waterboarding ever ethically or morally admissible? St. Augustine Just War and ticking-time bomb theory vs. violating American values, religious principles and the moral imperative.

It's a coming-of-age story, you see. It's about a representative who has come of age from the voting booths of a town to accept the responsibilities of performing rousing debates on the floors of Congress with the interest of a constituency in mind while adhering to house rules. Don't fear, I'm not describing a remake of the "Cider House Rules" replacing the doctor with a Congressional representative. No, I'm describing the latest shock-and-awe disorderly behavior by a representative of a member of the 111th Congress. Enter Joe Wilson, a Congressional representative from South Carolina. In the aftermath of inappropriate timing, will the enforcement of ethical standards be abdicated in the US while many see that taking precautions in keeping the public trust in Congress is still the responsibility of everyone sitting in that room?

Wilson apologized to Obama's brain, Rahm Emmanuel, which is almost as bad as facing the wrath of the Twinkie-in-Chief, but the apology was a non-apology. Wilson said, in essence, "I'm sorry I called that black fella a liar in front of God and everybody, but I swear on my 240,000 healthcare lobby dollars that he IS a liar...and a socialist, grandma killer to boot!"

It is a very strange world when comedy and satire have become a respected medium for debate.

As a Palestinian-American, award-winning journalist Ray Hanania has had a unique and rare life experience growing up on the Southwest Side of Chicago, which is dominated by Irish, Polish, and Italian working class, where many people think that every Arab is a potential terrorist. But what is even more interesting about Mr. Hanania is the fact that he is married to a Jew.

Story from the Onion - especially useful as a link when posting to Tribe.net.

One of the biggest elephants in the Afghan war room is General Stanley McChrystal, head honcho on the ground. McChrystal's no dummy. He's shown himself to be a capable leader (minus his involvement in the despicable Pat Tillman affair), but he may suffer from what many people who can walk on water do - extreme irritation when his advice is questioned.

Barack Obama's receiving the Nobel Peace Prize should surprise and astonish exactly nobody. The prize committee has long since abandoned any pretense of being anything other than a leftist political body determined to undermine any and all actions by the United States or other democratic bodies who deign to defend themselves against murderous aggressors. This is the same committee that awarded the very same prize to the gangster Yasser Arafat, and frankly admitted that bestowing the award on Jimmy Carter was "a kick in the leg" to George W. Bush.

For the second time, a General has publicly questioned the policies of his Commander-in-Chief. This time, the Marine Corps Commandant is displeased with Obama's desire to abandon Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Whether you agree with DADT or not, generals should not take their criticisms public.

To the GOP everything can be solved by lower taxes and more corporate incentives. And yes, the upper middle class and the elite wealthy all benefit nicely… but it DOES NOT TRICKLE DOWN! The poor are still getting poorer, the lower middle class is still struggling along with the poor to hold jobs and keep health insurance.

Healthcare: At The Best 50% Approval, Now 38% Nothing means more to politicians than the polls. Polls are the lifeblood that let them know what they should be for, what they should be against and what they should stay away from. If some action is in the best interest of national security, but the polls say that public opinion is against it, most, not all, politicians will be swayed. This, despite the fact that popular opinion is not a reliable gauge of right and wrong, particularly when it comes down to facts that only politicians may be privy to...