Update II: María Conchita Alonso was to perform next month at the Brava Theater Center in San Francisco’s Mission District in a Spanish-language version of “The Vagina Monologues.” The show producer, Eliana Lopez, wife of San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, has told KPIX5, “We really cannot have her in the show, unfortunately.” Lopez said Alonso abruptly resigned … [Read more...] about (Updates) Lost and Gained in Political Translation
It’s the Infrastructure, Stupid!
Joe Conason urges Democrats to promote a jobs program repairing our long-neglected infrastructure in The National Memo. Considering how incessantly all politicians blather about jobs and how badly we need them, it is remarkable how little most of them actually do to increase employment. Much of what they’ve done in Washington over the past few years has achieved precisely the … [Read more...] about It’s the Infrastructure, Stupid!
Gallup Poll: Priority of and Dissatisfaction with NSA Surveillance
I was glued to the TV this morning -- as I assume many of our readers were -- as the president announced changes to be made to NSA surveillance activities, especially in the collection of phone records. I have also been very interested during the past few months in the issue of national security vs. privacy rights, as I know most of our readers have been. That is why I was … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Priority of and Dissatisfaction with NSA Surveillance
Popcorn and Guns (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/popcorn-and-guns/ Copyright 2014 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Popcorn and Guns (Cartoon)
Obama’s NSA Reforms: Half A Loaf
It is said that half a loaf is better than none. More on that in a bit. Before the President’s presentation on NSA reforms, I wrote down a number of issues, each of which could be answered yes, no, or limited. Here is my list, with the short answers. More in depth comes after. 1. Appointment/Confirmation of FISA judges by someone other than Chief Justice: … [Read more...] about Obama’s NSA Reforms: Half A Loaf
On My Writing…
This is a sort-of, kind-of, what-the-hell follow-up to my anguished post earlier this week on the realization that there are “just too many words” that have lost all meaning and value. I ask forgiveness from the editors and readers of TMV for more of my (Omphaloskepsis)navel contemplations. I decided to review some of my prior posts from TMV (a mistake). I started … [Read more...] about On My Writing…
Chris Christie’s Bridgegate Defense (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon)
Chris Christie's Bridgegate Defense by Joe Gandelman OF RELATED INTEREST: --Romneyworld buzzes over Chris Christie troubles --Christie takes scandal damage test with election fundraising --Christie's Florida trip will test impact of scandal --CNN exclusive: Port Authority job created for Christie ally, source says Mike Peters is recognized as one of our … [Read more...] about Chris Christie’s Bridgegate Defense (Guest Cartoonist Cartoon)
Truth and Justice Eluded Former Tyco Execs Kozlowski and Swartz (Guest Voice)
Truth and Justice Eluded Former Tyco Execs Kozlowski and Swartz By Catherine S. Neal, Esq., Author of Taking Down the Lion: The Triumphant Rise and Tragic Fall of Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski Over the past two decades, our addiction to cell phones ended our need for public pay phones. As a result, there are no more telephone booths. For those of us who grew up watching "The … [Read more...] about Truth and Justice Eluded Former Tyco Execs Kozlowski and Swartz (Guest Voice)
Obama to Call for Overhaul of NSA’s Bulk Data Collection Program
The New York Times: President Obama will require intelligence agencies to obtain permission from a secret court before tapping into a vast database of telephone data, but he will leave the data in the hands of the government for now, an administration official said. Mr. Obama, in a much-anticipated speech on Friday morning, plans to pull back the government’s wide net of … [Read more...] about Obama to Call for Overhaul of NSA’s Bulk Data Collection Program
A Weekend Thought On Love
From the wisdom of Kahlil Gibran Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, I am in the heart of God.” And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your … [Read more...] about A Weekend Thought On Love
Unaided Unemployment (Cartoon)
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 Unaided Unemployment (Cartoon)
JC Penney in big trouble? Closing 33 stores and laying off 2000 employees
Is retailing icon JC Penney in big trouble and unable to reverse the trend? The once-booming retail giant founded by James Cash Penny in 1902 has been struggling for the past few years and tried a variety of marketing strategies to adapt -- and some proved disastrous. Now comes news that it's closing 33 stores and laying off 2000 employees. Is this natural adaptation, or a grim … [Read more...] about JC Penney in big trouble? Closing 33 stores and laying off 2000 employees
Lessons of Benghazi
WASHINGTON -- The bipartisan report on Benghazi released Wednesday by the Senate Intelligence Committee should finally convince conspiracy theorists of the obvious: There is no there there. Administration officials did not orchestrate any kind of attempt, politically motivated or otherwise, to deceive the American people. In their public statements, including the … [Read more...] about Lessons of Benghazi
Ezra Klein on GOP Poverty Fighting
Ezra Klein separates GOP rhetoric from reality on anti-poverty policy in Bloomberg News. There’s a simple way to tell whether the Republican Party’s newfound commitment to fighting poverty is more than rhetoric: Follow the money. Follow the trail in the party’s recent budgets and what you find, hidden between appendix tables, are deep cuts to programs for the poor. That’s … [Read more...] about Ezra Klein on GOP Poverty Fighting
A Personal Post
It's been a long year. One year ago on Saturday the 18th of January will be the one year anniversary of my Mother's passing. As some of you know I was her 24/7 caregiver during the last few years. It was a sacrifice to be sure but worth it. She passed away peacefully in her own house which is what she wanted. The last three months I did have some help in the form of … [Read more...] about A Personal Post
Goodbye To Reuben Kincaid And The Professor
Two icons of classic television have passed away today. Russell Johnson aka the Professor on Gilligan's Island has died at age 89 Although he was best known for that role he was also a long time character actor in Westerns. As the Professor he was often asked why he couldn't repair the boat. His stock response was "If you were stranded on a desert island with … [Read more...] about Goodbye To Reuben Kincaid And The Professor
Why I Shall Become an American
Sometime toward the end of this year, I shall become an American citizen. A few of my European friends look confused when they realize that I go around the world expounding the importance of liberty – and yet choose to live in the USA. They are thinking, of course, of all the obvious stuff, like the abuses against privacy by the NSA; the killing of innocents in … [Read more...] about Why I Shall Become an American
Execution outrage? Ohio killer took 15 minutes to die with new drug mix
Capital punishment has long been a controversial issue -- and it's about to get much more controversial: an Ohio killer was executed using a somewhat unusual mix of drugs and he took 15 minutes to die. And they reportedly weren't silent, non-eventful moments. Get ready to see the issues of what to do with convicted murders and how to do executions come to the forefront once … [Read more...] about Execution outrage? Ohio killer took 15 minutes to die with new drug mix
Supreme Court Indecisive on Abortion Buffer Zones
Whether you're Pro-Choice or believe abortion should be outlawed, you're probably aware of the protests routinely held outside abortion clinics. Some of these protests are fairly passive — protesters will simply hold up signs and picket outside the building. However, these peaceful protests can quickly escalate to verbal and even physical abuse. Critics may shame patients and … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Indecisive on Abortion Buffer Zones
NSA Spying – The Economic Fallout
Most of the discussion about NSA surveillance practices has rightfully centered around the juxtaposition of security, privacy and other civil liberties. In the heat, and only rarely light, of that dispute over competing values, other interests may be overlooked. Among those other interests are the American brand in the world and the economic impact on private American … [Read more...] about NSA Spying – The Economic Fallout