On the bottom floor of the United States Capitol’s new underground visitors’ center, there is a secure room where the House Intelligence Committee maintains highly classified files. One of those files is titled “Finding, Discussion and Narrative Regarding Certain Sensitive National Security Matters.” It is twenty-eight pages long. In 2002, the Administration of George W. Bush … [Read more...] about But does America want the truth about 9/11?
Chuck Todd Lifts Long-Suffering ‘Meet The Press’
"Meet the Press" saw a ratings jump with the debut of moderator Chuck Todd. NBC News Chuck Todd is off to a good start, but he has a long way go to reverse the fortunes of “Meet the Press.” The goateed journalist, who was NBC News’ chief White House correspondent and remains its political director, made… … [Read more...] about Chuck Todd Lifts Long-Suffering ‘Meet The Press’
The Middle Class And The Emerging Democratic Majority
Steven L. Schweizer looks at realignment between the parties. For the most part, what he is describing coincides with topics I have discussed before. In the past 40 years, the industrial economy has evolved into an information economy. This economic change has transformed the middle and lower classes, culminating in a partisan realignment in the middle class. If there is an … [Read more...] about The Middle Class And The Emerging Democratic Majority
The Weak Sisters of Europe
Europe refuses to remember its history. Perhaps it’s because that might entail doing something to prevent history from repeating itself. The Russian “invasion” of Ukraine with the goal of the eastern Ukrainian states achieving independence and becoming part of a greater Russia is reminiscent of Hitler’s grab of the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia in 1938. Hitler’s pretext was … [Read more...] about The Weak Sisters of Europe
Infographic: Which Apple Smartphone Model Had The Most Improvements?
Which Apple Smartphone model had the most improvements? Financesonline.com shows us in this infographic: … [Read more...] about Infographic: Which Apple Smartphone Model Had The Most Improvements?
What Will Obama’s Speech On ISIS Address?
For the past two weeks, President Obama and other senior U.S. administration officials have been putting together an international coalition to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but have revealed few details about how that coalition will function. Obama said in an interview with MSNBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that he would finally… … [Read more...] about What Will Obama’s Speech On ISIS Address?
Cartoon: ISIS
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: ISIS
Rescuing Foley and Sotloff
A real, and clever, attempt was made to find and rescue the two American captives of ISIS in Syria. It is described by Nicholas Schmidle in the New Yorker. The [FBI] agents hoped that the European former hostages could help them find these missing Americans. The agents listened as the former hostages relived their ordeals—recalling where they had been detained and how … [Read more...] about Rescuing Foley and Sotloff
Cartoon: NFL What
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: NFL What
Bombs, boots and bluster won’t work
WASHINGTON -- President Obama's strategy against the Islamic State may be hard to pin down -- maddeningly so, some complain -- but it is likely to work far better than anything his bellicose critics advocate. Perhaps the president will eliminate any confusion when he addresses the nation Wednesday, but I doubt it. Based on what he told NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the … [Read more...] about Bombs, boots and bluster won’t work
Ravens terminate Ray Rice after video surfaces of him knocking out then-fiancee (With TMZ Video)
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens are standing by Ray Rice no longer. The team announced Monday afternoon that it has terminated the contract of the 27-year-old running back on the same day a new video surfaced showing him striking his then-fiancee. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that Rice has now been suspended indefinitely. Those decisions come… … [Read more...] about Ravens terminate Ray Rice after video surfaces of him knocking out then-fiancee (With TMZ Video)
Pet Bloging
In the early days of blogging Friday was a day to do pet blogging. As near as I can tell this has rarely been the case at TMV. When I was growing up we had both a cat and a dog and I must admit I never bonded with either of them. After at returning from 3 years in Germany I volunteered at the local Zoo's raptor program. It was strange, I had a way with birds and even those … [Read more...] about Pet Bloging
What To Do and Not To Do about ISIL
[icopyright one button toolbar] I have seldom seen such a dichotomy both in what Americans perceive to be the threat posed by ISIL and in the range of actions armchair generals, real generals, politicians, military experts and pundits say we should take against ISIL. The threat is viewed all the way from being “strictly local, of no concern to Americans,” to “America and … [Read more...] about What To Do and Not To Do about ISIL
What Makes People Join ISIS?
When Andre Poulin, a Canadian who converted to Islam, first appeared on YouTube in Syria last year, he said his family didn’t understand why he had moved to the country to fight with other jihadists against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. Allah, he said during his video message, had pulled him to Syria. Poulin was just one… … [Read more...] about What Makes People Join ISIS?
Islamic State Barbarism Ignites Long-Absent Muslim Soul Searching (Die Zeit, Germany)
Since September 11, a continuing concern in the West has been the perception of a lack of Muslim introspection over the use of Islam as a fulcrum for terrorism. Now, with the emergence of the Islamic State, the most bestial, immoral and nihilistic band of terrorists the modern world has ever known, such a dialogue among the Muslim intelligentsia and average people alike appears … [Read more...] about Islamic State Barbarism Ignites Long-Absent Muslim Soul Searching (Die Zeit, Germany)
GOPers Running Left?
Bill Scher notes how several GOP Senate candidates are running left on right-leaning Real Clear Politics. Several Republican candidates in the year's most competitive Senate races have begun their fall sprint to Election Day, not by embracing Tea Party-fueled conservatism but by defensively tacking leftward.[icopyright one button toolbar] Why are these … [Read more...] about GOPers Running Left?
In Comedy You Must Keep Getting Better (Gene Perret Guest Voice)
In Comedy You Must Keep Getting Better by Gene Perret We all miss Joan Rivers. She was a funny lady. Her material was often brilliant and always delivered with gusto – sometimes savage gusto – but she was passionate about her comedy each time she stepped into the spotlight. This wasn’t by accident. Joan was a dedicated professional comedian who worked hard at her craft. … [Read more...] about In Comedy You Must Keep Getting Better (Gene Perret Guest Voice)
When moderates fight back
WASHINGTON -- The missing component in the machinery of American politics has been moderate-to-liberal Republicanism, and the gears of government are grinding very loudly. You wonder if Kansas and Alaska have come up with a solution to this problem. In Kansas, Democrat Chad Taylor shook up the Senate race by dropping out last week, giving an independent candidate, Greg … [Read more...] about When moderates fight back
Is Barack Obama Being Judged Too Harshly On Foreign Policy? Yes and No.
In the ceaseless sturm und drang over Barack Obama's foreign policy and the U.S.'s response to the many conflicts abroad, two important questions are not being asked: Isn't the world different than it was even 10 years ago, let alone 50 years ago, and isn't it unfair to judge the president without taking that into account? The answer is both yes and no. Yes, … [Read more...] about Is Barack Obama Being Judged Too Harshly On Foreign Policy? Yes and No.
Before Off the Wall
Show me a modern day pop or R’n’B artist who wasn’t influenced by Michael Jackson? I can’t think of a single soul. For better or for worse, Michael’s impact on music can still be felt today in the music industry. Artists are still dressing like Michael, they’re still singing like Michael, they’re still dancing like Michael and they’re still making videos like … [Read more...] about Before Off the Wall