Here is an interesting look at how a government can go a bit overboard in taxes. Source is the Christian Science Monitor, hardly a right wing rag. The new Sony Playstation 4 will cost $ 399 which works out to around $ 430-440 with taxes, depending on your locality In Brazil the costs are as follows $468 base cost of PS4 upon arrival in Brazil $445 in federal excise … [Read more...] about Brazil And Taxes
Swiss Asylum for Snowden Would Win Points with Berlin (News, Switzerland)
Given the political minefield entailed with giving German asylum to Edward Snowden, should Switzerland step in and offer him safe harbor, giving Berlin easy access to the former NSA analyst without demolishing its ties to Washington? For Switzerland's News, Patrik Etschmayer suggests that such an arrangement would not only be the right thing to do, it would ease German … [Read more...] about Swiss Asylum for Snowden Would Win Points with Berlin (News, Switzerland)
Conservatives Against the Death Penalty
There is a long standing myth that opposition to capital punishment is the bailiwick of liberals and lefties. Ever since my work with former Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR), I’ve known first hand that isn’t the case. Sitting together at a long table on a platform at a luncheon to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease research, all he and I discussed while waiting for the … [Read more...] about Conservatives Against the Death Penalty
Batkid To Save San Francisco (And Win Our Hearts)
I think this is one of the few TMV posts where everyone will agree. A five year old boy struggling with leukemia told the Make A Wish foundation he wanted to be Batkid. And the city of San Francisco is granting that wish, with thousands expected to come to a rally in his honor … [Read more...] about Batkid To Save San Francisco (And Win Our Hearts)
Are Obama’s ratings dipping past the point of no return?
Are Obama's ratings dipping past the point of no return? (via AFP) Barack Obama's second term fumbles have pitched him to record low poll ratings and splintered his credibility with the American people. But has his presidency reached the point of no return? History and opinion poll data suggest that when reelected… … [Read more...] about Are Obama’s ratings dipping past the point of no return?
Obamacare Fumble (Cartoon)
https://politicalgraffiti.wordpress.com/2013/11/15/obamacare-fumble/ Copyright 2013 David Donar. All rights reserved. Copyright Donar, Political Graffiti … [Read more...] about Obamacare Fumble (Cartoon)
For all Their Differences, Obama and Bush Presidencies Becoming One And The Same
Tidbit of the Day: On the day that a new scandal involving a White House Secret Service agent comes to light (an agent left a bullet in the hotel room of a woman he met in a bar at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington), many are talking about how it violates the simple Secret Service creed to not embarrass the President and the White House. Because these days, it's impossible for … [Read more...] about For all Their Differences, Obama and Bush Presidencies Becoming One And The Same
Obamacare’s longterm political damage potential to Democrats — and a concept (UPDATED)
No, it isn't the media trying to whip up a narrative. No, people who write it aren't on the payroll of the Koch Brothers. The fact is that President Barack Obama's rollout of implementation of his health care law has been abysmal and compounded by the huge number of sound bites of him insisting Americans would not lose their present insurance and doctors if they didn't want to. … [Read more...] about Obamacare’s longterm political damage potential to Democrats — and a concept (UPDATED)
Report: CIA Collecting International Money Transfer Data in Bulk
If you are like many immigrants who send money back home frequently to relatives and loved-ones, you'd better realize that the US government, namely the CIA, is collecting money transfer information, under the Patriot Act. Still, is anyone surprised this is going on? Not me. A person familiar with the program said the agency's efforts are an outgrowth of terror … [Read more...] about Report: CIA Collecting International Money Transfer Data in Bulk
How JFK’s Sex Life Damaged His Presidency
He was a Feminist nightmare, sexually voracious and dismissive of women, expecting his wife to be a Stepford mute. John F. Kennedy inherited those attitudes. His father, who sired nine, made a fortune in the stock market, from importing liquor and as a Hollywood mogul, enjoying along the way liaisons with movie stars. On his way to the White House, JFK told my reporter, … [Read more...] about How JFK’s Sex Life Damaged His Presidency
1800 Campaign Ads
An interesting look back at just how nasty things used to be. Everything in the ads was actually said during the campaign. … [Read more...] about 1800 Campaign Ads
(UPDATES) Typhoon Haiyan: Despite Problems, Operation ‘Damayan’ in Full Swing
UPDATE II: As mentioned below, other agencies are also contributing to the aid and relief efforts in the Philippines. One of these is the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Quietly and unheralded, “the Israeli medical mission to the Philippines set up a field hospital in the City of Bogo, at the northern end of Cebu Island, shortly after landing there Thursday morning,” … [Read more...] about (UPDATES) Typhoon Haiyan: Despite Problems, Operation ‘Damayan’ in Full Swing
Contrite but resolute
Contrite, but resolute By EUGENE ROBINSON WASHINGTON -- It was a necessary retreat, but President Obama made clear Thursday that his bottom line remains unchanged: "I'm not going to walk away from 40 million people who have the chance to get health insurance for the first time." The president's pledge should be the nation's bottom line as well. It … [Read more...] about Contrite but resolute
Call the medic (Guest Voice)
Call the medic (via The Economist) IN OBAMACARE'S long list of problems, the most damaging—politically, at least—has nothing to do with the health exchanges. Thousands of Americans (the numbers are imprecise) on the individual market are receiving cancellation notices from their… … [Read more...] about Call the medic (Guest Voice)
In Times of Tyranny, Democracy is Liberty’s Friend
At many times in the history of the Anglo people, the abuses of liberty by Power (capitalized to indicate the official power of the centralized State and those close to it) have produced such resistance by enough normal men and women who felt their lives directly changed by those abuses, that real political change of historic importance was the result. There has probably … [Read more...] about In Times of Tyranny, Democracy is Liberty’s Friend
CBS Benghazi Story, Part II
A couple of days ago I reported on the now debunked CBS 60 Minutes story on the Benghazi attack that resulted in the deaths of 4 Americans. I concentrated on the lies of the independent contractor Dylan Davies. Now McClatchy has found evidence that nearly everything else in the segment was fiction as well. Logan claimed that “it’s now well established that the Americans … [Read more...] about CBS Benghazi Story, Part II
Quote of the day: Obama’s crisis and the GOP
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Daily Beast's Michael Tomasky, who notes the Obamcare problems and how it has hurt Barack Obama and the Democrats. Democrats—especially Obama, but all Democrats—have to take charge of the situation right now. In danger of losing the country’s trust, they must say in essence: “All right, we did screw up Round 1. We’re going to … [Read more...] about Quote of the day: Obama’s crisis and the GOP
Pants hangin’ down (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 Pants hangin’ down (Cartoon)
Obama offers fix for broken health plan promise
Obama to allow extension of health plans (via AFP) President Barack Obama said Thursday that Americans will be allowed to keep canceled health plans for an extra year as he acknowledged a "rough" start to reforms. Obama, however, vowed to push ahead with his overall push to expand US health care coverage… … [Read more...] about Obama offers fix for broken health plan promise
Pushing Pills
As some of you know my mother died at the age of 90 10 months ago. The final 10 years of her life her doctor kept increasing her dose of statins in spite of the fact her cholesterol levels were not increasing. It eventually had a very negative impact on her health. I had a huge argument with her doctor who finally agreed to reduce her statin dose and she was better within … [Read more...] about Pushing Pills