Being an NPR addict, I’ve had an earful and then some of debate on the economic stimulus package — ask a question about money, and suddenly it seems like everyone’s an expert. I’ll make no such claims here, but I’ll still add my own two cents to the ongoing debate:
(1) Some Republicans in the [...]

There are many “common” phrases used in the world of international politics that we use often put probably don’t fully understand — One of these for me is the term, “Japan passing.” According to the Economist, this phrase has two meanings: (1) that world’s second biggest economy was being passed by in a fast-changing [...]

I’ll leave the election commentary to the professionals (mainly because I’m happy with the results and don’t have much to add to what’s already been said), and instead offer one realization that came to me today. More people voted in Washington, DC than the whole of Alaska (try DC = 225,224 vs. Alaska = [...]

I think it’s despicable to say that there’s a “real America” and the rest of America. It’s divisive, hateful, and completely against the ideals that America tries to stand for. It’s equally dangerous to say that those people who don’t hold the same social/religious views as you are less “patriotic.” Haven’t [...]

One of the advantages/disadvantages of living in the United States is that the world tends to take an interest in your “internal domestic affairs.” Several well-known publications in connecting with international polling companies have surveyed global citizens asking who they would vote for. Some of the results are as follows:

Foreign Policy/Gallup: Electoral Map [...]

Below, Palin tries to discuss the bailout package, Russia, the “bridge to nowhere,” the Supreme Court, (not) reading the media, domestic oil. We should all be scared, and I don’t think I can cringe hard enough. She doesn’t even admit when she’s out of her league. It’s complete and utter BS. [...]

I’ve tried to keep this blog more-or-less politically neutral (i.e. not writing about my own political leanings), but I fear that as we near election day, this is going to be increasingly difficult to keep up. First, perhaps I’m hopelessly naive, but I’d like to think that politicians (especially those running for our country’s [...]

Perhaps against my better judgment I put my life on hold for one evening (no studying, no gym, barely any email) and watched the vice presidential candidates’ debate. By way of disclaimer, I’m not a swing voter, and if you handed me a ballot today I’d mark my choice without a moment’s hesitation. [...]

According to Japanese press, Construction and Transport Minister Nariaki Nakayama “intends to resign from his post to take responsibility for a series of verbal gaffes he has made since his appointment last week.” Nakayama came under fire for calling the nation’s biggest teachers union a “cancer” in the education system as well as previously [...]

After months of foot-tapping and nail-biting (wait, who are we kidding), Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda has finally reshuffled his cabinet — that’s the terms for giving under-performing/unpopular ministers the boot. Media has dubbed the move a “last ditch” effort on Fukuda’s part to improve his public approval ratings, but that is of course assuming [...]

As a native Washingtonian, it’s easy for me to say, with an air of boredom and disdain, “I hate politics.” But it’s impossible to deny that I do have some interest in the topic… after all, for better or worse, politics does make the world go-round. Here’s a little round-up of some recent [...]