In recent years, in the wake of some nasty bit of bullying by Russia or China, some American politicians sought to show empathy for the victims with phrases like: “We’re all Georgians today” or “We’re all Weegers today.” Such statements were doubtless well-meant, but they never resonated with most Americans. There are few historical, cultural, political or economic links...

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza (10 February 2012) WASHINGTON – It was done ugly. But let’s not miss this moment. Let’s also not be seduced into believing Pres. Obama did something he did not. He didn’t force anything on religious institutions or on “all Americans”, as has been claimed on cable, as well as the Wall Street Journal. Let’s also not forget that...

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, still painting Barack Obama as a mere “community organizer” and suggesting Obama is unworthy of Amnerican troops, delivered a speech that galvanized many at the 2012 CPAC convention. She pushed all the hot buttons she does so well: resentments, a warning to the GOP elites to listen to the Tea Party and give them more power within the party, layers of snark and sarcasm...

I was watching C-Span and they aired a brief interview with former House member Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, a fairly liberal Democrat who served in the 1970s. As part of her interview she discussed the fact that she was the first member of Congress to give birth to a child and the first to be granted maternity leave. It struck me that today that would hardly be a big deal, indeed outside of the human nature part...

UPDATE: A wave of unusually severe cold is gripping Europe. But the weather is not the only thing that is chilling over there. Under the headline “A Chilling Verdict in Spain,” the New York Times reports that “The enemies of Judge Baltasar Garzón have finally gotten their way” as Spain’s Supreme Court has found Judge Garzón guilty of misapplying the country’s wiretap law and suspended him from...

The 5th Avenue’s new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! is a wonderfully disconcerting pleasure to enjoy and digest. Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong has referred to Oklahoma! as “. . . truly the quintessential American musical.” The 5th Avenue embraces this truth by weaving a quintessential American tension throughout the production. This...

Bill Day, Cagle Cartoons This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

WASHINGTON – The White House compromise on the contraceptive mandate is set for 12:15 pm EST, sandwiched in between the CPAC speeches of Santorum, Romney and Gingrich. But if you want to know what this debate is about, see Joe Scarborough from yesterday. “… I think women should be deacons as well as men. …But if the federal government, if the Justice Department offers a mandate ordering...

Once again, House Republicans have been unwilling to take a strong stand against insider trading. Though a revised version of the STOCK Act (Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge) was passed yesterday by the House by an overwhelming margin, it was only after Republicans had weakened the bill. In December, Republican Spencer Bachus from Alabama, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee postponed voting...

A touching commentary on the same sex marriage vote in Washington

OK, I have always liked JC Penny and have always shopped there.  But I now have an other reason: It’s nice to see a corporation doing the right thing. Even if they are doing it because they realize the new demographics make it a plus it’s still a plus. It’s a sign of the times. The old order is dying – that’s what scares old white people and the election of Obama was a severe...

As you have seen in the news a number of banks have settled with a number of attorneys general to resolve issues related to the mortgage meltdown mess. Now I am not going to say that a 26 billion dollar plan is nothing but let’s do a little math here. To begin with the reports I am hearing say it will take 1-3 years before anyone starts getting money or modifications, not a big help to those in trouble...

Has the GOP base now turned on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney? A ROUNDUP is here.

WASHINGTON – CPAC is in Washington this weekend. As you can see from the video above, Cal Thomas decided to get even for his friends. It all began when Rachel Maddow said the following this week on her show: “I realize a lot of 60-something male pundits look at this issue & think hmmm… bad politics for Democrats on the Catholic side. There’s another way to look at it.” –...

Tom Walkom writes that, as things stand, not much could have been done to keep the doomed Electro-Motive plant in London. He points out that Bombardier no longer manufactures locomotives in Canada. It buys them from a Catapillar plant in Mexico. The problem lies not so much with Caterpillar or Bombardier, but with the rules of the game. “The real villain,” he writes, “is unrestrained globalization. As...

No they have not managed to extend FB to the world beyond…… yet. But this is a free estate planning tip to all the TMV readers. While many of us plan for our loved ones by setting up a will or trust and leaving them with information about bank accounts and credit cards, one thing we tend to forget is our internet presence. It’s not a pleasant topic, but we’re all gonna go sometime (unless...

Even as a supporter of gay rights this seems a bit of an overreach to me. Were his comments a bit tactless, sure. I can even see how some people could initially find them offensive. But he’s got a pretty good track record on gay rights issues and I think it should be sufficient for him to simply apologize and move on.

WASHINGTON – The discussion started Monday on “Morning Joe,” with Mika Brzezinski reading part of an over the top declarative Peggy Noonan op-ed and getting very exercised about it before she had the facts. “The Peggy Noonan piece left some things out. … But I have to say, the article appears to be very misleading.” – Mika Brzezinski, “Morning Joe” (7 Feburary) Something...

Bill Schorr, Cagle Cartoons Who would ever have thought that by early 2012 with the economy still reeling and resentment and hatred towards President Barack Obama in the GOP at a fever pitch the Republican Party would be suffering a bigger enthusiasm gap than the Democrats. But a new poll finds just that — and it could be a problem for the GOP: The paltry turnout in the Republican Presidential contests...

One of the arguments in defense of the extended 2012 GOP primary is that it will strengthen the eventual nominee for the general election, much as the 2008 primary did for Obama. By airing all the dirty laundry in the spring, preparing the candidates for anticipated general election attacks, and demonstrating an ability to both fight and reach out to lots of voters, an extended primary can certainly bolster...

Republicans are holding a primary in Missouri and cauci in Minnesota and Colorado. Total number of delegates at stake…. zero Importance of tonights vote… well it gives Wolf and Rachel something to do…

WASHINGTON – Some new polling today reveals that Rick Santorum could be in for a very good day. Contemplate that for a moment. Rick Santorum, a perfect example of religious conservatism or fundamentalist Republicanism, take your pick, but he’s certainly not conservative in the actual meaning of the word. That Rick Santorum also believes abortion is done cavalierly and is better left in the shadows...

In this era of unconstrained attack ads and extreme partisan politics, a plague has visited America that increases divisiveness and negativity, generated not by the hand of the Almighty, but through the pockets of the most affluent. This scourge of the SuperPACs has put democracy at risk. A small number of extremely wealthy individuals and corporations, as well as unions and other groups, have been pouring money...

What’s good for the goose ?

It’s a story so painful I can’t write about it. Josh Powell, husband of two-years-missing Utah woman Susan, not only blew up the house with him and his two sons. Details coming out are even more horrific — if that’s possible. And the photo of him with his two trusting young sons sparks a heartbreak that will last my lifetime. Details here.