More responsible Republicans are now starting to flee. Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, the rancher who refused to pay grazing fees, suggested he'd violently resist if the feds showed up to try and coerce him or touch his land or property, made comments in a New York Times interview that even one of cows would look at and say: "Those comments are racist!" (UPDATE: Bundy is … [Read more...] about Cliven Bundy wonders if blacks were ‘better off as slaves’: Republican supporters start fleeing (UPDATED)
New CBO Report Shows Medicaid Expansion Is A Better Deal For The States Than Previously Predicted
The trend continues. We have seen predictions regarding costs and benefits of the Affordable Care Act and then receive further data which shows that Obamacare is working even better than expected. The latest news comes from a new Congressional Budget Office report on Medicaid expansion. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates released last week show that health reform’s … [Read more...] about New CBO Report Shows Medicaid Expansion Is A Better Deal For The States Than Previously Predicted
Mary Poppins: The Prototype
For the majority of my life I have straight up ignored what many critics call ‘classic Disney’ movies. With the exception of Bambi, I had never fallen in love with any Disney film that was made before 1991. But lately, I have made an effort to watch the golden oldies from Disney and the majority of the time I have been left utterly awe-struck. My wife bought me Cinderella … [Read more...] about Mary Poppins: The Prototype
U Is For Underdog
Today we are to the letter U and I thought I would go lightly with Underdog, a childhood favorite of many. As much as we enjoy our cartoons when we are young I suspect in many ways we enjoy them more as adults, or at least the memory of them. For me there is still that memory of Saturday morning cartoons... Super Friends and Scooby Doo, The Laffalympics and others. So … [Read more...] about U Is For Underdog
The Retro World of Vladimir Putin
So much for the hope that a new, democratic, non-confrontational Russia would emerge in the 21st century -- hopes that began on Nov. 9, 1989 when Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev took up President Ronald Reagan's challenge and tore down that 30-year-old Berlin wall. Increasingly, some pundits, analysts and policy makers face a tough choice. Should they say Russian … [Read more...] about The Retro World of Vladimir Putin
Choice and affirmative action
One of the great things about being a "liberal" is that you get to choose what to believe in. Oh, I know: in the '60's and '70's, many liberals didn't like other liberals making up their own minds about key issues. The embrace of "choice" often didn't include unorthodox beliefs. Affirmative action may one of the hangovers of that era. Coming back to America from a long … [Read more...] about Choice and affirmative action
A Dilemma We Shouldn’t Be Facing In 2014
[facebook] A Dilemma We Shouldn’t Be Facing In 2014 By Victoria Turecamo Earlier this month the Paycheck Fairness Act failed to acquire the necessary votes to pass through the U.S. Senate. Supporters emphasized this act was just one more step towards giving women the tools they need to ensure they are being fairly compensated for their work, while opponents attacked the … [Read more...] about A Dilemma We Shouldn’t Be Facing In 2014
Tennessee Governor Blanton The Most Mischievous of “Mischief Makers”
Historic Tidbit: As he was carrying out his ill-fated pardons, Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton summoned Secretary of State Gentry Crowell to his office to witness his signature. In doing so, he noted that what he was doing "takes guts." Crowell replied, "Yeah, well, some people have more guts than brains." My first volume of "Statesmen and Mischief Makers," features … [Read more...] about Tennessee Governor Blanton The Most Mischievous of “Mischief Makers”
Setback: Rand Paul Disses Ronald Reagan on Video (Video)
Republicans running for President can be forgiven many sins -- but dissing conservative icon Ronald Reagan is not one of them. Mother Jones' David Corn -- who seems to be making a career of revealing bits of video damaging to politicians' carefully crafted images -- now reveals a video where the usually Reagan-praising Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul criticizes him and (perhaps a … [Read more...] about Setback: Rand Paul Disses Ronald Reagan on Video (Video)
Russia hints at armed ‘response’ if Ukraine interests attacked
Russia hints at armed 'response' if Ukraine interests attacked (via AFP) Russia said on Wednesday that it will strike back if its "legitimate interests" in Ukraine are attacked, raising the stakes in the Cold War-like duel with the United States over the former Soviet republic's future. NATO responded by cautioning against… … [Read more...] about Russia hints at armed ‘response’ if Ukraine interests attacked
Poll shows GOP winning Senate hardly a slam dunk
I've often noted here on TMV that just like clockwork you can expect something out of partisans when polls come out: (1)if they like the poll they'll tout it, scream it and headline it, and, (2)if the poll brings bad news or isn't what they want to hear, they will try to discredit it. The usual (tiresome) way is to go on and on about the methodology. Now, if the poll was in … [Read more...] about Poll shows GOP winning Senate hardly a slam dunk
Under A Blood Red Sky
The World Is Yours, Kids! Cookie Monsters Eat Biscuits now: The View From The Virgin Islands By John McCarthy TMV Columnist On the eve of the blood moon, 31-year-old Steffen Lange was arrested for distributing neo-Nazi leaflets in a Brandenburg school. Easily not the first time a far-right activist in Germany has tried to recruit youngsters to the racist … [Read more...] about Under A Blood Red Sky
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to Sign Controversial Gun Bill Into Law
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is set to sign into law a controversial gun bill that will greatly expand where one can pack heat. Of course, oblivious to many is that the controversial "Stand Your Ground" law is expanded in this bill. Still, Gov. Deal is touting bill as having "significant positive changes." But for whom? House Bill 60 allows Georgians to legally carry firearms in … [Read more...] about Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to Sign Controversial Gun Bill Into Law
The Paranoia Paradox: Sometimes They Actually Are Out To Get Us
The debate over Joe McCarthy just won't die. The conventional narrative is that he was unmitigated evil, a nasty label to be pasted on political opponents to tarnish them beyond repair. The revisionist narrative, emerging right on cue 60 years later, is the McCarthy was an unsung hero, the only person who truly understood the threat America was under during the early years of … [Read more...] about The Paranoia Paradox: Sometimes They Actually Are Out To Get Us
Ukraine Crisis: U.S. Moves Troops into Baltic Region
As the diplomatic agreement reached last week to calm things down in Ukraine unravels, the U.S. is sending about 600 ground troops to Eastern Europe to “strengthen NATO's defense plans and capabilities, and to demonstrate our continued commitment to collective defense in reinforcing our NATO allies in Central and Eastern Europe," says Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John … [Read more...] about Ukraine Crisis: U.S. Moves Troops into Baltic Region
The Downside of Democracy (5)
There are so many negative aspects of democracy that it is difficult to focus on one particular problem as being responsible for the failure of democratic elections to produce good government. However, virtually all of the problems with the democratic process result from one aspect that appears to be resistant to correction- the unwillingness of the electorate to study the … [Read more...] about The Downside of Democracy (5)
A Jamaican-Style Black Bean Recipe To Die For
Kiko's House, my home blog, can now certainly be considered middle aged. After all, it has been eight and a half years since it toddled into the blogosphere. One of the things of which I am most proud is that on an average day nearly half of all visitors to the blog are as a result of Google searches for a particular topic of interest. The leading search topic by far is … [Read more...] about A Jamaican-Style Black Bean Recipe To Die For
T Is For Tip O’Neill
Although I do not agree with much of what he stood for politically, I do find Thomas “Tip” O’Neill to be one of the best sources for good political stories and analogies. He is of course famous for adopting the mantra ‘all politics is local’ But for me a story he used to tell about his first campaign is telling to all candidates in 2014 (as well as the rest of us). … [Read more...] about T Is For Tip O’Neill
Cartoon: After Earth Day Doldrums
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: After Earth Day Doldrums
Israel and U.S. tussle over tourist visas
Israel and U.S. tussle over tourist visas By Donald Harrison SAN DIEGO—Anyone who has flown to Israel has experienced the tough, pointed questioning that Israeli security officers will ask tourists about why they are going to Israel, who they are going to see, what their business is, and so forth. The questioning is intense, blunt, and intended to screen out anyone who may … [Read more...] about Israel and U.S. tussle over tourist visas