So much for pundit's prognostications of a massive repudiation of the Republican Party and Tea Partiers in particular in the Virginia governor's race. Democrat Terry McAuliffe defeated far right Tea Partier Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli but not with a margin anywhere as many predicted. The result? It's unlikely to be seen as a massive repudiation of the Tea … [Read more...] about No blowout: McAuliffe squeaks through victory in Virginia Governor’s race
Five years in, Obama morphs into Bush poll numbers
Yep. It has finally happened: President Barack Obama's poll numbers -- and popularity -- have morphed into President George W. Bush's. There are a host of reasons why, and partisans will choose the one that fits their agenda and bias. But Yahoo gives us the facts: When President Obama first ran for the White House in 2008, it was with the promise to turn the page on the … [Read more...] about Five years in, Obama morphs into Bush poll numbers
Is Unemployment in Juan Williams’ Future?
I would think that defending Obamacare while employed by Fox News might lead there. … [Read more...] about Is Unemployment in Juan Williams’ Future?
Christie easily wins New Jersey re-election: Virginia Governor’s race too close to call
CNN and other news organizations are now calling the New Jersey Governor's race an easy and impressive win for GOPer Chris Christie -- but the emerging narrative of Virginia's Governor's office being taken by a Democrat due to backlash against the Tea Party has not yet happened: the Virginia race is being called too close to call: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has won … [Read more...] about Christie easily wins New Jersey re-election: Virginia Governor’s race too close to call
Gerson on GOP Reality
Former Bush staffer Michael Gerson lays out the reality of his party in The Washington Post. Tea party candidates — recall Sharron Angle, Christine O’Donnell, Richard Mourdock and Todd Akin — often lose winnable races. Tea party primary challenges, and the fear of them, encourage a harsher ideological tone among sitting Republican legislators, undermining their … [Read more...] about Gerson on GOP Reality
Live election 2013 election results
TMV will have posts throughout the evening on today's political races. For a great page giving live election results GO HERE. … [Read more...] about Live election 2013 election results
All eyes are on races in New Jersey and Virginia tonight
Contests in Virginia, New Jersey are highlight of off-year election (via PBS News Hour) By: Terence Burlij and Christina Bellantoni Voters line up at a polling station at Spring Hill Elementary School in McLean, Virginia Tuesday. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty ImagesThe polls are open. The closing arguments have been made. And by the end of… … [Read more...] about All eyes are on races in New Jersey and Virginia tonight
Tidbits from Down Under – Part 2
FORWARD: A New York Times review of Bill Bryson’s 2000 book, Down Under, says about Australia (and about Bryson) [i]: It is the driest, flattest, hottest, most infertile and climatically aggressive of all the inhabited continents and still Australia teems with life -- a large portion of it quite deadly. In fact, Australia has more things that can kill you in a very … [Read more...] about Tidbits from Down Under – Part 2
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford refuses to resign after admitting smoked crack cocaine (Video)
If someone once said about Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, "What is he? On crack?" they answer would be yes -- there was a time he was. And up until today he repeatedly denied it. Today, he admitted it, but won't resign: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said Tuesday he won't resign, hours after admitting he smoked crack cocaine, probably "in one of my drunken stupors." "I was elected to … [Read more...] about Toronto Mayor Rob Ford refuses to resign after admitting smoked crack cocaine (Video)
Facebook Flirting: “Oh, To Be 80 Again”
Is Facebook trying to tell me something? In my “Find Friends” section, more and more names of sixtyish-and-older actresses keep appearing and I am reminded of the legendary Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ remark at 90 as a beautiful woman passed by, “Oh, to be 80 again!” Following the lead of my teen-aged grandson who counts his age in half-years, I am only 89.5 … [Read more...] about Facebook Flirting: “Oh, To Be 80 Again”
Romney apologizes to Christie over “Double Down” leak
When candidates being considered for vetting as a Vice Presidential nominee on a ticket give their info to an interested Presidential nominee, it's supposed to be confidential. Supposed to be: someone in the camp of unsuccessful 2012 Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney gifted a batch of opposition research on New Jersey Gov. Christ Christie to the to the authors of … [Read more...] about Romney apologizes to Christie over “Double Down” leak
John Kerry May Bring Happy NSA Surprise for Poles (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
Will anything worthwhile emerge from Secretary of State Kerry's brief visit to Poland today? Even if little of value can be gleaned from the Polish Foreign Ministry's official press release, Gazeta Wyborcza columnist Mariusz Zawadzki jests that Poles hankering for visa-free travel to America may receive an unexpected bonus for having all of their phone calls spied upon by the … [Read more...] about John Kerry May Bring Happy NSA Surprise for Poles (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
Too Much Information
Some things are just too “precious”, as in funny/ironic/stupefying, to let pass. Take, for example, the comment of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on admitting to smoking crack cocaine. Said Ford: "Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine... probably in one of my drunken stupors." … [Read more...] about Too Much Information
The House That Time Forgot
Courtesy of Mental Floss this is a pretty cool article about a house lost in time. … [Read more...] about The House That Time Forgot
New York votes for new mayor after Bloomberg
New York votes for new mayor after Bloomberg (via AFP) New Yorkers went to the polls Tuesday to elect a new mayor, with progressive Democrat Bill de Blasio tipped for a landslide victory to replace billionaire Michael Bloomberg. The 52-year-old public advocate and his black formerly lesbian wife promise… … [Read more...] about New York votes for new mayor after Bloomberg
Ten Essential Witnesses for Investigating NSA Surveillance in Germany (Der Spiegel, Germany)
Given the history of German-American relations since the end of World War II, it is more than surreal to read this article by Der Spiegel columnist Veit Medick, which treats NSA surveillance - perhaps rightly - as a crime that must be investigated and rooted out. It would appear that Germany is preparing to investigate NSA spying and German complicity with it with customary … [Read more...] about Ten Essential Witnesses for Investigating NSA Surveillance in Germany (Der Spiegel, Germany)
Is It Time For Two Chinas ?
One of the more interesting oddities of world politics has been the long going debate over the dueling governments of the Peoples Republic of China (aka Mainland China) and the Republic of China (aka Taiwan). For those not entirely familiar with the history I’ll offer a brief review. For much of the first half of the 20th century the nation of China was embroiled in a civil … [Read more...] about Is It Time For Two Chinas ?
Health Insurers Horror Stories and Hope
Whatever happened to rational argument? Foolish question no doubt in the Age of Media Mayhem, but the debate over Obamacare is hitting new lows in inhuman discourse. Today’s special is a Wall Street Journal OpEd by a California woman: “You Also Can't Keep Your Doctor: I had great cancer doctors and health insurance. My plan was cancelled. Now I worry how long I'll … [Read more...] about Health Insurers Horror Stories and Hope
End of the road (Guest Voice)
End of the road (via The Economist) FOR a country as wealthy as America, the dilapidated state of its infrastructure sure is a sorry sight. Three weeks of motoring around Spain—an economic basket-case by comparison, with over twice the unemployment and less than two-thirds the per-capita… … [Read more...] about End of the road (Guest Voice)
New poll finds grim political environment with worries for both parties
New poll finds grim political environment with worries for both parties (via The Christian Science Monitor) Celinda Lake (l.) and Ed Goeas speak at a Monitor-sponsored breakfast for reporters on Nov. 4 in Washington, DC. (Michael Bonfigli/The Christian Science Monitor) The political environment is grim as the US heads into the 2013 elections on Tuesday, with… … [Read more...] about New poll finds grim political environment with worries for both parties