On a top 10 list that somehow included twerker Miley Cyrus, Time Magazine has opted to recognize someone as Person of the Year who has captured the attention and in many cases won the hearts of people all over the world -- regardless of their religion: Pope Frances. But given how our political culture is now All Politics all the time, Time is now under fire for not … [Read more...] about Pope Francis is Time’s Person of the Year (with video and roundup)
What the budget deal means for the economy
Progress: there's a budget deal brokered by Democratic Senator Patty Murray and Republican Congressman Paul Ryan. Stalemate? There are rumblings from House Republicans that they don't like any parts in it that might signify "caving" (the 21st century word for "compromising" used by the Republican right and Democratic left) to Democrats. But even if it passes, is it a fix -- … [Read more...] about What the budget deal means for the economy
How Good Does the Economy Have to Get?
Numbers improve, but the President gets no credit. So deeply is the anti-Obama narrative embedded in the debate over income inequality that, even with better numbers, 61 percent of Americans continue to be negative about the economy--a majority at all age and income levels, most independents and 80 percent of Republicans. Only among Democrats, people with a postgraduate … [Read more...] about How Good Does the Economy Have to Get?
Update: (We Have a Winner) What to Do with 20 Words You’ve Never Heard of – and You Have too much Time on Your Hands
BREAKING UPDATE: Continuing with an attempt to “lighten up,” I am happy to announce that we have a winner in our unofficial, unsanctioned, unrequited challenge to use the 20 “forgotten words that should be brought back” in a small essay. Since there was only one submission, it was relatively easy to pick a winner and I did not even have to involve our editors. Having … [Read more...] about Update: (We Have a Winner) What to Do with 20 Words You’ve Never Heard of – and You Have too much Time on Your Hands
Thoughts On Immigration
It seems like these days all we have are problems that seem to evade a solution. Immigration is probably near the top of the list when it comes to such an issue. I certainly recognize that there are two sides to the debate and that both sides do have some very valid points. On the one hand there are many problems associated with illegal immigration, not the least of which is … [Read more...] about Thoughts On Immigration
2013: A Year of Ironies
If 2013 was a year of ups and downs, it was also a year peppered with ironies. Here are just a few: 1. Two liberal talkers go over the line and bite the dust. Conservative talkers have long been the political "shock jocks," who pushed the envelope so far it fell off the table from where it was just a few years ago. Authentic "untouchable" Rush Limbaugh's frequently … [Read more...] about 2013: A Year of Ironies
The growing fury of the Congressional far right
If we are going to get a deal to replace the sequester, which looks likely, perhaps one key reason may be as follows: This time, the incentives favor Republicans showing they can enter into the basic give and take of governing. With GOP Rep. Paul Ryan close to a deal with Dem Senator Patty Murray that would lift spending levels to just over $1 trillion in fiscal 2014 and … [Read more...] about The growing fury of the Congressional far right
News Reports, Studies, Research and Cop-Outs (Reader Guest Voice)
News Reports, Studies, Research and Cop-Outs by Peter W. Johnson I recently wrote a letter of complaint to the Editor of a newspaper who insisted I give proof of my claim that early voting, and absentee voting, largely consists of demographic groups who would normally tend to vote for Democrats (especially in critical swing states). This, even though this Editor had … [Read more...] about News Reports, Studies, Research and Cop-Outs (Reader Guest Voice)
Through The Looking Glass (Guest Voice)
Through the Looking Glass by Peter Funt What compromises must we make when it comes to our security on the one hand, and our privacy on the other? Personally, I'm far less concerned about being tracked by the National Security Agency than I am about being monitored by, say, Google. According to the latest headlines, the NSA is gathering cellphone records from around … [Read more...] about Through The Looking Glass (Guest Voice)
One view of Bobby Jindal (Reader Guest Voice)
From an early age I began to understand Louisiana a lot like South Carolina had many intricate minds, athletes, and musical inspirations. Ranging from Percy Miller to Bob Livingston. And today in the political world people are questioning the antics of Governor Bobby Jindal. What is Jindal stirring up? I do not know but I know it should not be bitter. But his adrenaline and … [Read more...] about One view of Bobby Jindal (Reader Guest Voice)
Netanyahu skips Mandela memorial. Israelis say ‘are you kidding?’ (Guest Voice)
Netanyahu skips Mandela memorial. Israelis say 'are you kidding?' (via The Christian Science Monitor) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Nov. 17. Fresh off a series of scandals over his high-flying lifestyle and expensive habits, the prime minister said Monday he would skip Nelson Mandela’s funeral… … [Read more...] about Netanyahu skips Mandela memorial. Israelis say ‘are you kidding?’ (Guest Voice)
We’ll Hate You for Christmas
Two weeks and one day until Christmas in this "Christian" country with its "Christian" agenda and all its oppressed Republican "Christians." And what do these fine "Christians" see this cold morning? [emphasis added] Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro Shake Hands at Nelson Mandela Memorial ABC News President Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro today at a … [Read more...] about We’ll Hate You for Christmas
GOP Rumsfeld Shakes Saddam Hussein’s Hand/ More
Political calvary arriving? Ex-Clinton Aide Podesta to join Obama
Is the first member of the Democratic Party political calvary galloping in to try and rescue President Obama's second term so Obama doesn't only shore up public support, but administers and strategizes in a way that helps him and his sagging party? It sounds that way: President Obama, after a rocky year that leaves him at the lowest ebb of his presidency, is bringing into … [Read more...] about Political calvary arriving? Ex-Clinton Aide Podesta to join Obama
Obama Urges World: Act on Mandela Legacy (Video)
Obama Urges World: Act on Mandela Legacy (via AP Video) President Obama spoke of former South African President Nelson Mandela's legacy of making peace by getting them to trust each other. Obama spoke at the memorial for Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Dec. 10) … [Read more...] about Obama Urges World: Act on Mandela Legacy (Video)
Nelson Mandela Memorial: Right Wing Freak-Out Over Obama and Raul Castro’s Handshake
#MandelaMemorial: The right wing is freaking out over President Obama shaking the hand of Cuban leader Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, Tuesday morning. Um, exactly what was President Obama supposed to do? Be rude? Isn't the essence of Nelson Mandela the very reason both men attended the ceremony? Obama stopped to shake Castro's hand as he … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Memorial: Right Wing Freak-Out Over Obama and Raul Castro’s Handshake
Gerson Gets It
Former Bush staffer Michael Gerson on Pope Francis in The Washington Post. Some American conservatives, issuing a different sort of papal bull, have accused the pope of “pure Marxism” and being “the Catholic Church’s Obama.” In the process, they are demonstrating how ideology can become a consuming substitute for faith. Defenders of market economics — and I count myself one — … [Read more...] about Gerson Gets It
Time announces Person of the Year top ten finalists
Time magazine has announced its top ten finalists for its Person of the Year. Now it has to twerk..I mean, tweek, the list. Actually Miley Cyrus is one of the finalists: Bashar Assad, President of Syria Jeff Bezos, Amazon Founder Ted Cruz, Texas Senator Miley Cyrus, Singer Pope Francis, Leader of the Catholic Church Barack Obama, President of the United … [Read more...] about Time announces Person of the Year top ten finalists
What Netanyahu Is Made Of
Now admittedly the left of center Israeli newspaper Haaretz rarely has anything good to say about Bibi Netanyahu. But they really take him to task for not attending Nelson Mandela's funeral. Nixing Mandela funeral as too costly, Bibi shows world what he's truly made of In his eleventh-hour decision against attending the funeral of Nelson Mandela, Benjamin Netanyahu proved … [Read more...] about What Netanyahu Is Made Of
Don’t blame religion for poltical violence
I haven't posted at TMV for a while, which is a shame, because it is where I got started writing earlier this year. I'm posting today because another TMV blogger enjoyed an article I wrote for Salon that is published below. The piece has sparked a great and fascinating (for me) debate. You can read my ripostes here, here, here and here. Religion has once again become the … [Read more...] about Don’t blame religion for poltical violence