The latest news from one of our favorite talk shows (TMV has even appeared on it but, despite that, it has built a listenership!): SUBJECT2DISCUSSION is the news and comment program with bloggers and other journalists and activists of note. Starting this Wednesday October 5, the program is on an hour later 7pm PT to 9pm PT LIVE on http://www.LVROCKS.com click on LISTEN and click on CAM/CHAT. In the first hour legendary broadcaster and founder of The Wake Up America Foundation Mr. Mark Edwards will...

Cross-posted to Random Fate. — There is a lot being written on the rationale of President George W. Bush in nominating Harriet Miers for Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. However, I find the reaction by many on the right-wing more interesting than the futile attempts to divine any underlying motivations or machiavellian strategies President Bush and his evil genius, Karl Rove, may have. I commented in an earlier post at Random Fate, “What to think? (an encore edition)”...

We’ve heard George Bush called many names by people on the right and left but not usually “You Harry Truman you!” — and if you live long enough, anything can happen…so read this: What kind of president picks both John Roberts and Harriet Miers? They look like the ultimate odd couple. Roberts is not a Bush crony, he has a résumé to die for, and everyone who knows him says he’s unbelievably smart. Miers is more than a crony but certainly not less–Fred...

Pat Buchanan needs to buy THIS.

Dave Pell offers one of the most interesting theories yet on why George Bush picked Harriet Miers for Sandra O’Connor’s seat — angering his loyal conservative base: To coin a phrase: It’s the campaign, Stupid. I’ve never bought the idea that Bush, well educated and a son of power and privilege, ever really bought the message he pitched to the base. Think Cheney and Bush are really anti-gay? Think Yale’s Bush is really against the evil academic elite? It’s...

Here’s a MUST LISTEN AUDIO for people of all ideologies. Rush Limbaugh gets it from a caller who says “I’m done with you” and accuses him of supporting “lock step” George Bush. Listen closely and you’ll see: the guy doesn’t hang up. It sounds as if Rush — who is not a host who can adeptly handles people who strongly disagree with him on the air — dumps the guy. (At one point he asks if the guy hung up and he says he didn’t…Rush...

What has been suspected for some time is now being formally acknowledged: former Mayor Rudy Giuliani says he’s considering whether to run for President in 2008: COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Sunday he will contemplate next year whether to run for president in 2008. “I will be considering it next year,” Giuliani said during a visit to Denmark. But he added that playing with the idea of running for the Republican nomination for president...

Just reminder (one we’ll do every week) to explore the weblogs of our always independent co-bloggers. Each week we’ll remind you to look at one of them (as we hope you do each day). Look at the CONTACT list in the left hand corner of the site and you’ll see the listing of our co-bloggers. Our newest co-blogger is Canada’s Michael Stickings, so we’ll start at the bottom of the listing with him and work our way up with a different blogger each week. TMV is a huge fan of...

But did she say that much? Watch the video and decide.

The high cost of gas has finally hit the airlines where it hurts most — in the pocketbook — and now some of them are cutting flights. The Houston Chronicle: American Airlines, citing skyrocketing fuel costs, said Friday it would cut some flights, and Houston-based Continental is likely to do the same. At the same time, several major airlines were hoping a fare increase instituted this week would stick. American Airlines said Friday it would temporarily cut 15 daily flights from its two...

Our periodic linkfest from various sites reflecting different viewpoints. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the views of TMV or its co-bloggers. Some of these linked posts were delayed in appearing on this site, due to us not doing this feature at an earlier date as planned. THE NEWS YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR is right here. Judith Miller Testified Today In The Plame Leak Case and Digby in a must read asks whether she’s a journalist or a political activist. Miller Part II: And Kevin...

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has offered an interesting thesis: he says the temporary resignation of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and the political firestorm over the adminstration’s response to Hurricane Katrina could eventually work to the GOP’s advantage: The climate of political scandal over congressional Republicans “could be the trigger that liberates people to say what they want” on matters of fiscal discipline and other reform issues, Gingrich said Thursday....

Bill Bennett, the talking head who made a career out of talking and writing on virtue, has stepped in it again — in a controversy not quite as damaging as his past gambling mini-scandal but that may further shrink the number of people who find his commentary credible — and his post-controversy comments are sure to make him even more controversial. First, what’s going on: Democratic lawmakers and civil rights leaders denounced conservative commentator William J. Bennett yesterday...

The White House and President George Bush responded to Hurricane Rita a lot more effectively than to Hurricane Katrina — and you can see it in the latest poll numbers: WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush’s standing with the public improved over the previous week as he made a highly visible effort to manage the consequences of the second major hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast in a month, a new poll out Thursday found. Bush’s job approval rating in the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup...

It’s now official crunch time with the news that jailed New York Times reporter Judith Miller has been freed and will testify in the Valerie Plame leak case — freed from a confidentiality agreement by her reputed source…Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, “Scooter” Libby. The case becomes touchier for the Bush administration since White House political guru Karl Rove is already under the microscope in this probe that raises the (as yet unsubstantiated)...

Speaking of Tom DeLay, the (now former) House Majority Leader was, as you all know by now, indicted yesterday on charges of criminal conspiracy: A Texas grand jury indicted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) yesterday on a charge of criminally conspiring with two political associates to inject illegal corporate contributions into 2002 state elections that helped the Republican Party reorder the congressional map in Texas and cement its control of the House in Washington. The indictment forced...

Rita has hit the U.S. Coast — if not as mind-boggling as originally feared, fearsome nonetheless with top winds of 100 mph/ According to CNN, Rita has now become a Category 2 storm (winds 96-110 mph). And right now predictions are that the storm’s force will be slowing down over the next 24 hours. MSNBC reports: BEAUMONT, Texas – Hurricane Rita plowed into the Gulf Coast early Saturday, lashing Texas and Louisiana with driving rain, threatening to flood low-lying regions and knocking...

100 years from now students of communications may study THIS VIDEO posted on Crooks And Liars showing a battle royal between anti-war Phil Donahue and war supporter Bill O’Reilly as a debate showing two people who know to perfectly use early 21st century television as a communications/entertainment form. Let’s just aside any ideology for one moment (which is impossible in 21st century America, we know) — seriously. What’s truly fascinating is to watch these two guys who...

Arlen Specter told GWB that it would be best NOT to nominate Justice O’Connor’s replacement right now, that O’Connor had agreed to stay for this year. Cross-posted at Julien’s List, hat tip to AMERICAblog.

The Dark Wraith uses his own blog, the Dark Wraith Forums, to discuss economics, but posts some political items to Big Brass Blog: DW: New York Mayor Repudiates John Roberts

Sebastian Mallaby in the Washington Post: It’s hard to say what’s worse: The incompetence of the administration’s initial hurricane response or the cowardice of its follow-up. Faced with a small hit to his ratings, the president who once boasted of ignoring polls is rushing to spend billions of other people’s dollars on saving his political skin. His philosophy is, “It’s going to cost whatever it costs.” That phrase should be the title of some future history...

Indiana State Museum Exhibit on LOTR (Lord of the Rings)

Guess whose brand of Christian: PBS RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY: Correspondent Lucky Severson visits one of several law schools that have been established by religious conservatives to train their own cadre of Christian lawyers… Cross-posted at Julien’s List:

Conservative Politics and Moderate Religion Last week’s (9/08/05) Speaking of Faith public radio program: Statesman and Episcopal priest, John Danforth, has emerged as a cautionary Republican voice. He speaks about the values that have helped him navigate the line between private faith and public life and his current concerns about religion in his own party and in the world… Cross-posted at Julien’s List:

Because I remember the same thing from the State of Indiana: A TOLEDO BLADE INVESTIGATION: Political contributors get Ohio Department of Transportation contracts As the race for Ohio governor heats up, candidates will scour the state and country looking for the cash to fuel their campaigns. And if history is a guide, those candidates have a rich well to tap — the dozens of engineering and design firms that work for the Ohio Department of Transportation… Cross-posted at Julien’s...