Cross-posted to Random Fate. — Joe Gandelman, of The Moderate Voice, who is kind enough to allow me to post here, has written of his opposition to the apparent rebranding by the current Administration of President George W. Bush of the so-called “Global War on Terror”. Gandelman writes: The idea that this battle is more than just military, is a sound one. But I thought that just a few months ago conservative commentators were up in arms about the BBC and Reuters refusing to use...

For the spouse who has everything, here’s a GREAT anniversary gift for you: MANSA (INDIA): From celebrity toenails to fart machines, e-bay probably can’t get stranger. But reality just did. Malsinghwala, a tiny village in Punjab’s Mansa district, has put itself up for auction. Lock, stock and barrel, or rather tractor, states a resolution passed unanimously by residents. A ride through this nondescript village in the Malwa region, though a bit bumpy, does nothing to indicate that...

Former President Jimmy Carter has blasted Guantanamo — and you can almost hear the ghost of the late Ronald Reagan saying “There you go again…” Carter — one of the 20th century’s least successful Presidents and 20th century’s most successful and most socially constructive (literally) ex-Presidents — has bedeviled literally EVERY President who followed him (and that includes Democrat Bill Clinton) with his outspokenness and blunt criticism of U.S...

These aren’t happy times for the U.S. Airline industry. Many airlines are struggling. But, quiet and with little fanfare, one airline has taken a unique approach to cut its costs and improve it services: it has used the expertise of its own employees. And it’s showing results.

Several more facts need to be addressed regarding the story of gay rights billboards being rejected in Georgia, previously pointed out by TMV here. 1) The company in question owns nearly every billboard in the state [This was written in the Gay Orbit post, but was not found in the article linked. For the purposes of the post, I assume it's true--David] 2) The company justified its decision because “We just didn’t feel the copy was right for those markets. These are the markets we do business...

Greetings from Helena, Montana! TMV’s posts will start late today (due to three shows yesterday plus a local TV interview). Due to logistics (a long drive) TMV’s own posting may be limited today. However, our co-bloggers may have some things to say today…so stay tuned. And TMV will post in the morning — and then at the very end of the afternoon. So do check back often…

READ THIS and let us know if it doesn’t make YOUR BLOOD BOIL. You would not have seen this kind of silliness coupled with an almost unimaginably weird viewpoint even 10 years ago. Our hope: the mother will find herself a lawyer and see if there is a big, fat lawsuit she can file against those bringing charges against her son. Charges dropped or not: the fact they were brought means someone needs to be asked to move on by his/her boss or by the voters ASAP.

A company that controls many billboards in Georgia is smack, dab in the middle of a controversy since it won’t allow one particular message to be shown. Is this justified? READ IT YOURSELF HERE. Now, putting aside personal views on social issues, putting aside partisanship, putting aside liberal/conservative/moderate ideology — is this message inflammatory? If so, how?

STOP THE PRESSES! Larry King has gotten beaten by Nancy Grace!! But, no, we’re not talking about a physical beating. The rising CNN Headline News host has gotten more ratings than CNN’s longtime (and we do mean loooooooooooooongtime) king King. Why should this matter? TV Newser has the ratings details and notes that it’s being suggested that Grace is being groomed to replace King. If that happens it’ll be a fascinating shift: from a journalistic standpoint, the affable...

Spain is facing a press controversy that Barcepundit says is akin to the Rovegate. READ THE DETAILS HERE but he makes a good point: Once again we seem to see an instance where outrage is being limited only to those with whom one side disagrees. This scandal also involves some press leaks…a court….an order issued to a leading newspaper. Also, the biggest political controversies in the United States (if you exclude almost every issue Bill Frist has been involved in the past year) still...

After reading some of John Roberts’ memos from the White House counsel’s office in the early 1980s, I have thoughts on him beyond his heartthrob status: I like him. Forget that he’s generally conservative, but apparently not a rigid ideologue, or particularly polarizing. He blames the Supreme Court for its own bitchiness in the 1980s: In early 1983, Mr. Roberts was asked to analyze a proposal pushed by Warren E. Burger, then the chief justice, to create a new, national-level...

In many cities now throughout the United States health experts are saying mosquitos truly bite — in more ways than one. The problem: there are increasing fears that the West Nile virus is popping up all over the United States. You can see the acclerating number of cases being reported across the U.S.A In San Diego County, the Union Tribune notes, two dead birds have been diagnosed with the disease so far this year. And two people reportedly contracted it last year. and health officials want...

It sounds like Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld needs to get some New York City lawyers skilled in taking landlords to court out to Uzbekistan ASAP: Uzbekistan formally evicted the United States yesterday from a military base that has served as a hub for combat and humanitarian missions to Afghanistan since shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Pentagon and State Department officials said yesterday. In a highly unusual move, the notice of eviction from Karshi-Khanabad air base, known as...

A little way below Joe suggests that Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf may be getting tougher on Pakistan-bred terror by kicking foreigners out of the country’s madrassas. While that is indeed a good sign even if it leaves possible Pakistani terrorists-in-training free, a couple other stories have come out this past week suggesting that Musharraf may be somewhat complicit in letting terrorists destabilize Afghanistan and India. Paul Watson’s LA Times article has received the most...

A new Gallup poll continues to suggest these are troubled days for President George Bush: PRINCETON, NJ — A new Gallup Poll finds a decline in George W. Bush’s job approval rating. After standing at 49% approval in the prior two CNN/USA Today/Gallup polls conducted this month, now just 44% of Americans say they approve of Bush, a new low mark for the president. The poll also shows a drop in Bush’s favorable rating to 48%, which is the first time it has dropped below 50% since Gallup...

In his latest ostensible “get tough on extremism” move, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is booting some 1,400 foreigners out of madrassas, or religious schools — but only time will tell if it’s more of a a p.r. move or a move that has a long-range impact in the war on terror. Some details via the BBC: “Any (foreigners) in the madrassas - even dual nationality holders - will leave Pakistan,” Gen Musharraf said. This is the latest in a series of measures the...

TMV’s former news outlet The Christian Science Monitor (he was its Special Correspondent in Madrid, Spain from 1975-1978, reporting on the immediate post-Franco era, Spain’s move to democracy and thbe Basque region)has a great roundup on the Bush administration’s attempt to rename the “global war on terror.” It begins:”What’s in a name? Would the “war on terrorism” with a new brand be just as effective?” It then gives you a comphensive but...

I ponder that very question after reading a conservative reinterpretation of Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax.” *For those of you who don’t know, “Crit” is shorthand for “Critical Theorist,” a branch of leftwing scholarship that is post-modern and post-liberal, and, among many positions (not all of which are believed by all members), believe in the indeterminacy of texts, refuse to believe there are abtract, neutral principles “out there” that can...

I’ve come across two must-reads on the situation in Iraq, one by Fred Kaplan at Slate and one by David Ignatius at The Washington Post. Check them out. At The Reaction, I highlight key passages and offer some additional commentary.

…by needless patisan attacks can be found at my weblog Random Fate.