http://irregulartimes.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by J. Clifford C. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:26:15 GMT 2010-01-05T07:26:15Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977589847 They say that power corrupts.  I had no idea it could corrupt so quickly. It's less than one month that Barack Obama has been President, and already he's turning into George W. Bush. . . . Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:07:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977589847 J. Clifford C. 2009-02-10T12:07:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977575004 If I have made the title of this article provocative in its challenge to Obama supporters, it is because Obama's most fervent supporters have been shockingly unprovocative in their easy acceptance . . . Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:39:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977575004 J. Clifford C. 2009-01-26T11:39:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977564093 Not everyone here will be able to attend the Inauguration on January 20th, 2009 in person.  However, given that about one out of every 150 Americans is expected to come to Washington D.C. that day, . . . Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:39:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977564093 J. Clifford C. 2009-01-15T17:39:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977493060 If there is any lesson that we have been taught over the last eight years, it's that the people need to be prepared to confront their leaders when they engage in corrupt abuse of power.  For that . . . Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:37:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977493060 J. Clifford C. 2008-10-30T18:37:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977492012 I admit, that title doesn't seem to make sense, but hear me out.  Like many Americans, I am displeased with both alternatives in the presidential election (and in my local congressional race . . . Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:19:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977492012 J. Clifford C. 2008-10-29T18:19:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977451525 Over at Irregular Times , we've been writing about the scandal of the relationship between Sarah Palin and Thomas Muthee , a man whose claim to fame is that he hunts witches. Sarah Palin credits . . . Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:26:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977451525 J. Clifford C. 2008-09-17T18:26:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977445678 A large number of U.S. government officials overseeing oil and gas drilling leases have been caught participating in a massive network of corruption with a number of oil company employees that is at least . . . Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:57:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977445678 J. Clifford C. 2008-09-11T00:57:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977441530 It is now less than two months before Election Day, and the John McCain for President campaign has just announced that Sarah Palin is not ready to talk to reporters.  She isn't ready to hold . . . Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:43:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977441530 J. Clifford C. 2008-09-06T03:43:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977429076 I'm not one of those people who thinks that Barack Obama walks on water.  Obama has made some serious mistakes this year, and I'm not afraid to point that out when it happens. We shouldn't . . . Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:38:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977429076 J. Clifford C. 2008-08-24T11:38:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977343773 It's easy to diagnose the desperation with which the Republican Party regards Barack Obama .  Just look at the character of Republican attacks.  They're at once superficial and ineffective. . . . Mon, 12 May 2008 12:23:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977343773 J. Clifford C. 2008-05-12T12:23:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977329179 Gather readers, I guarantee you that you will not find an anti-Obama nut who is nuttier than Loren Davis.  Let me introduce you. Loren Davis has gotten some attention for being the source cited, . . . Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:01:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977329179 J. Clifford C. 2008-04-22T03:01:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977326874 The great question of the 2008 election, as it stands now near the eve of the Pennsylvania presidential primary , is how long the stalemate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton should go on. . . . Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:46:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977326874 J. Clifford C. 2008-04-18T20:46:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977257657 Alert to all progressive Democrats: You need to know about the 18 Democrats in the US Senate who betrayed your trust yesterday. They voted for the FISA Amendments Act, which makes the terrible Protect . . . Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:35:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977257657 J. Clifford C. 2008-02-13T17:35:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977254034 The still red branches make autumn planted dogwoods February's hope. Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:11:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977254034 J. Clifford C. 2008-02-09T18:11:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977209023 This year, there have been a series of unsettling revelations about a possible connection between Ron Paul and extremist racist ideology.  First, there was the news about the Ron Paul newsletter . . . Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:37:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977209023 J. Clifford C. 2007-12-20T18:37:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977191281 Ever since he was about two years old, my son has been talking about a black dog that he sees bu t nobody else sees. Knowing what I do about the mythology of faerie dogs, I've always listened to . . . Sat, 01 Dec 2007 03:40:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977191281 J. Clifford C. 2007-12-01T03:40:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977190579 I finished reading The Golden Compass last night, and am left feeling a bit confused about what all the hype is about.  Right wing Christian organizations are busy sending around an email declaring . . . Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:11:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977190579 J. Clifford C. 2007-11-30T13:11:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977189419 People who have never actually read the book The Golden Compass have begun forwarding an email around that claims that the book promotes militant atheism.  The emails, which started with a radical . . . Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:00:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977189419 J. Clifford C. 2007-11-29T04:00:52Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977189140 If you've ever been on a church email list, or know somebody who has been, you've probably gotten one of the messages warning you about The Golden Compass - a fantasy book written for young adults . . . Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:00:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977189140 J. Clifford C. 2007-11-28T21:00:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977175561 You may have heard a few weeks ago when the Congressional Budget Office came out with its estimate the the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will cost American taxpayers 2.4 trillion dollars. It's . . . Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:48:49 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977175561 J. Clifford C. 2007-11-13T02:48:49Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977172775 The implications of the indictment on corruption charges of Bernard Kerik, Rudolph Giuliani's longtime political partner, are so clear that I think they can be adequately expressed even in the short . . . Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:57:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977172775 J. Clifford C. 2007-11-10T01:57:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977096361 Trees bending to fit the shape of the wind are still unconvinced at ground. Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:20:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977096361 J. Clifford C. 2007-08-25T00:20:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977080952 Is Osama Bin Laden hiding in your refrigerator? Declare a Code Orange Alert in your icebox! Homeland Security starts at home! When Osama Bin Laden attacked the United States of America on the 11th of . . . Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:21:07 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977080952 J. Clifford C. 2007-08-09T17:21:07Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977080438 Last Saturday night, in a mid-summer, late-evening vote that seemed designed to avoid the scrutiny of the American people, the House of Representatives voted to approve a piece of legislation already approved . . . Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:28:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977080438 J. Clifford C. 2007-08-09T02:28:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977026441 You probably haven't heard about it, but this month, June, is Torture Awareness Month. It's a month during which we're all encouraged to give some attention to the global problem of torture. . . . Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:34:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977026441 J. Clifford C. 2007-06-11T16:34:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977026227 Feathers wet and clumped wings unready for the jump looking to the side. (Inspired by a photograph and haiku by Lisa M.) Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:36:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977026227 J. Clifford C. 2007-06-11T15:36:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976962853 I'm a liberal, and proud to be one, so I'm inclined to think favorably of what Edward R. Murrow did to help confront Senator Joseph McCarthy's oppressive tactics in hunting down people he believed . . . Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:54:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976962853 J. Clifford C. 2007-04-19T12:54:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976952145 There has been a lot of mythology built up around Rudolph Giuliani. Is he a hero? Is he a wise leader? Is he, perhaps, just a guy who got into the limelight by accident? Is he anything more than another . . . Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:28:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976952145 J. Clifford C. 2007-04-07T10:28:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976938125 I have set myself a challenge for writing about the 2008 presidential election season, and to tell the truth, I'm not sure that I will be able to meet it. The challenge: Compile a list of 2,008 . . . Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:05:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976938125 J. Clifford C. 2007-03-22T00:05:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976934194 After a few days of nervous fidgeting around the issue, Senator Barack Obama finally came out speaking clear and clean in response to the outrageous assertions of General Peter Pace. Obama declared, "I . . . Sat, 17 Mar 2007 11:17:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976934194 J. Clifford C. 2007-03-17T11:17:31Z