UPDATE: Although we missed many of the events surrounding the International Fleet Review, we arrived just in time to catch the parade through downtown Sydney by Navy contingents representing 60 ships, 17 countries, several generations and many historical naval battles. Here are some images. The crew of the USS Chosin marching through downtown … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) Sydney’s Population Explodes – for a Week and for Good Reason
Quote of the Day: Obama finally speaks his mind
Our political Quote of the Day comes from Esquire's political blogger Charles P. Pierce on President Barack Obama's quickly-called press conference where Obama spoke quite bluntly about there being no conditions to lift the Republican House engineered government shut down -- and the new Republican threat to left American fall into debt default: Yeah, I'm a little nervous … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Obama finally speaks his mind
End Times (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoons is licensed by Cagle Cartoons to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction of this cartoon is strictly prohibited. . … [Read more...] about End Times (Cartoon)
The incredible shrinking country called America (Guest Voice)
The incredible shrinking country called America (via GlobalPost) Enlarge BOSTON — Well here's an amazingly horrific statistic: Fifty-four percent of Republicans polled by the Pew Research Center this week believe the United States government can "go past the deadline for raising the debt limit without major economic… … [Read more...] about The incredible shrinking country called America (Guest Voice)
Marilyn Monroe plastic surgery files to be sold
Marilyn Monroe plastic surgery files to be sold (via AFP) Medical files proving that screen icon Marilyn Monroe underwent cosmetic surgery including on her nose and chin are to be sold at auction next month, auctioneers said Tuesday. The files going under the hammer include X-rays of the "Some Like It Hot"… … [Read more...] about Marilyn Monroe plastic surgery files to be sold
UN expert criticizes torture in American prisons
In a stinging condemnation, an independent international expert on torture accused US prison authorities of going “far beyond what is acceptable under international human rights law”. “Keeping Albert Woodfox in solitary confinement for more than four decades clearly amounts to torture and it should be lifted immediately,” he said in a statement. Woodfox is one of the “Albama … [Read more...] about UN expert criticizes torture in American prisons
James Baldwin re Boehner, Culberson, Koch Bro’s & Cump.
James Baldwin too, in his time was called 'a darky', an 'n', a 'm-fng coon', 'ouighter be 'taken out.' Strong and loud attempts were made to bar his words, his works, for no reason other than some hated down to their bony bones that anyone black would dare to walk as a human being with ideas and hopes and insights and preferences, that anyone black would rise to power and be … [Read more...] about James Baldwin re Boehner, Culberson, Koch Bro’s & Cump.
The Biggest Question of the Government Shutdown: Will the U.S. Default?
If you've been confident the U.S. will not default on its debt on October 17th, you may want to reconsider. When the government shutdown began early last week, most Americans were sure the government would not allow the shutdown to cause a default. Even now, most of us still don't see debt default as a real threat. We're sure that despite political differences, Congress and … [Read more...] about The Biggest Question of the Government Shutdown: Will the U.S. Default?
US default would be ‘worse’ than shutdown: Obama
US default would be 'worse' than shutdown: Obama (via AFP) Failure to raise the US debt ceiling would cause the United States to default on its bills and would be "dramatically worse" than the current shutdown, President Barack Obama warned Tuesday. "As soon as Congress votes to reopen the government, it's… … [Read more...] about US default would be ‘worse’ than shutdown: Obama
The reality of the Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON -- While Republicans were throwing their silly tantrum, Obamacare became a fact. There is no turning back. The point of no return was reached when millions of people crashed the websites of the new Affordable Care Act exchanges trying to buy health insurance. Republicans can fight rear-guard battles if they want, but last Tuesday they lost the war. All they … [Read more...] about The reality of the Affordable Care Act
Are We Heading Toward a Constitutional Crisis?
The roots of our Constitutional system of government lay deep in the Western political tradition. But as for the architecture of our government, no philosopher exerted greater influence upon the Constitutional convention than Baron de Montesquieu. His Spirit of the Laws, published in 1748, held the attention of James Madison and others in 1787 as they sought a new governing … [Read more...] about Are We Heading Toward a Constitutional Crisis?
Boehner: ‘I’m Not Drawing Any Lines in the Sand’ (VIDEO)
Boehner: 'I'm Not Drawing Any Lines in the Sand' (via AP Video) As partial shutdown of the federal government enters its second week with no end in sight, House Speaker John Boehner says he is willing to negotiate budget issues with President Barack Obama without any conditions. (Oct. 8) … [Read more...] about Boehner: ‘I’m Not Drawing Any Lines in the Sand’ (VIDEO)
No Deal Good Enough
Since last week there have been whispers and rumblings that the right wing extremists have no interest in negotiation. They simply don’t trust either Obama or their own leadership to negotiate any deal they will accept. That attitude is now finding its way into public pronouncements. "If it doesn’t have a full delay or defund of Obamacare, I know I and many others will … [Read more...] about No Deal Good Enough
STEM and America’s Future
In the new global economy, science and entrepreneurship will lead the way to new products, manufacturing, and employment. America has no dearth of entrepreneurs and also has the financial companies to back men and women with innovative ideas that have the potential to grow into substantial business. But we lack adequate scientists and engineers to populate our economy, as … [Read more...] about STEM and America’s Future
Hidden Players in DC Doomsday Liar’s Poker
Maureen Dowd offers a Planet of the Apes scenario for 2084 America, while Gail Collins goes the other way in a Frankenstein revival with Ted Cruz as you-know-what. All well and good for reason-strapped observers, but future and past parodies can’t match what the Shutdown is doing now. In South Dakota at Mt. Rushmore, those huge stone heads of Presidents past are averting … [Read more...] about Hidden Players in DC Doomsday Liar’s Poker
The Tea Party Gets Encouragement in the Media
It's not just fringe politicians and Tea Party backed politicians who try to push the idea that not raising the debt ceiling is a harmless thing to do. Two different writers on Forbes, Richard Finger and Jeffrey Dorfman, are both pushing that meme. Dorfman sort of gives away the game of why he's so happy with the idea. Holding Medicare spending to about its fiscal year … [Read more...] about The Tea Party Gets Encouragement in the Media
The foreign toll of America’s political civil war
Whatever else happens, the political civil war between the Congress and President Barack Obama has already damaged US foreign policy and fuelled doubts that American democracy is an appropriate model for others. Some in the US may see as legitimate democratic process the maneuver by an extremist parliamentary minority to force an ignominious default upon the world’s … [Read more...] about The foreign toll of America’s political civil war
New Poll: Republicans Lose Ground vs. Obama in the Shutdown Blame Game (UPDATED)
A new new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds the opposite of what Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz and some conservatives are saying: Republicans are NOT winning the argument on a government shutdown but are losing ground. And they're losing it on several fronts. The Republicans in Congress have lost ground against Barack Obama in blame over the government shutdown, with … [Read more...] about New Poll: Republicans Lose Ground vs. Obama in the Shutdown Blame Game (UPDATED)
Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, a class act!
I am a Vietnam War era veteran. Although I never served in S.E. Asia I knew many who did and lost both relatives and friends in that misbegotten war. To those of us in the United States it was a battle between Communism and Democracy/Capitalism. That was not what it was about to the Vietnamese however. It was always about throwing off the yoke of colonialism - first the … [Read more...] about Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, a class act!
Tea Party Splash-back? Upset donors balk at giving to Republican Party
The Tea Party, the House dominated Tea Party, and the influence of talk show hosts in the Republican party is facing a splash back. There are most assuredly Republicans who don't feel you must be a "RINO" if you feel the Republican House-engineered government shutdown is no problem, or that the danger of a debt default is exaggerated or merely figment of the (not really) … [Read more...] about Tea Party Splash-back? Upset donors balk at giving to Republican Party