WASHINGTON -- Don't feel sorry for John Boehner. His party and his country may be losers in this absurd crisis, but he clearly intends to come out a winner. It's tempting to sympathize with the House speaker, putative ringmaster of an unruly and at times incoherent Republican majority that delights in thinking the unthinkable. How do you handle someone like Rep. Ted … [Read more...] about Boehner in the catbird’s seat
Behind the Numbers (Guest Voice)
Behind the numbers by K.E. Moore “It’s okay, daddy. You don’t have to get me a birthday cake. I know you have to save the money.” It was spring of this year when I heard these words, high pitched, consoling, and almost cheerful, come out of the mouth of my then six year old daughter. We were in the middle of a discount bread store a few blocks from my apartment, a … [Read more...] about Behind the Numbers (Guest Voice)
Ayn Nation Under God Special Shutdown Edition
Special Government Shutdown Edition! I told you that when the Ayn Rand philosophy is applied to governance, tragedy ensues. And so it has. Here is the new introduction to the special edition: … [Read more...] about Ayn Nation Under God Special Shutdown Edition
Shocking NBC/WSJ poll: Shutdown decimates GOP as Obamacare popularity INCREASES
The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll is a virtual, brutal punch in the gut to the Republican Party. Not only does it show that by a whopping margin Americans blame the Republicans for the shutdown, but it shows that since the Tea Party Republicans engineered government shutdown and the serious threat to hurl the United States into debt default Obamacare has grown MORE … [Read more...] about Shocking NBC/WSJ poll: Shutdown decimates GOP as Obamacare popularity INCREASES
(Not So) Solid Ice
While the U.S. government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis are taking up virtually all the media attention other things are happening and should be pointed out. Despite contextually questionable claims by climate change deniers that Arctic ice increased by 29% (Initial figures published on the NSIDC on their web site were incorrect. Rose initially claimed a 60% increase.) from … [Read more...] about (Not So) Solid Ice
The most memorable guest stars from “The Office” (Guest Voice)
The most memorable guest stars from "The Office" by Frank Caldwell Despite its big-name star in Steve Carell, "The Office" rarely brought in many truly big name guest stars. The low-key, documentary-style atmosphere of the show likely wouldn’t have tolerated the cognitive dissonance, anyway. But there were some notable pop-ins from Hollywood's greatest: The Best: … [Read more...] about The most memorable guest stars from “The Office” (Guest Voice)
Some new things in the works for TMV
If you read TMV, you've probably noted some new names as cobloggers. TMV hopes to be adding some additional TMVers in coming months so stay tuned. And you'll notice that we love cartoons. TMV will be soon joined by a new TMV Cartoonist. Plus, everything isn't politics and we all need entertainment so we'll be adding some entertainment news. Some will be written by … [Read more...] about Some new things in the works for TMV
The Government Shutdown is Bad for Science Too
Some things you just can't put on hold until you get back from your forced vacation without consequences. Consider lab mice. In these days of advancing genetic research and searching for secrets at the most fundamental levels of biology they aren't just like your white mice at the local pet store. NPR has a piece on the consequences to science of scientists having to leave … [Read more...] about The Government Shutdown is Bad for Science Too
Actor James Woods Calls Obama a ‘True Abomination’ and Blames Him for Government Shutdown
Actor James Woods doesn't expect to ever work again in Hollywood after calling President Obama "an abomination" during a Twitter rant. He won't have to remind me twice never to patronize any movie he appears in. Then again, can't remember too many hit movies he had, so never mind. I won't have to go out of my way not to watch him on the big screen. I guess he didn't see the … [Read more...] about Actor James Woods Calls Obama a ‘True Abomination’ and Blames Him for Government Shutdown
MUST READ Quotes of the Day: Republicans, shut down negotiations and the conservative media (UPDATED)
Our first must-read special Quote of the Day comes from Andrew Sullivan on the efforts by conservative Republicans to win by government shutdown or threat of throwing the United States into another recession via debt limit default what they have not won at the ballot box, by working to create broad coalitions in Congress, or in the courts: But the issue now is the … [Read more...] about MUST READ Quotes of the Day: Republicans, shut down negotiations and the conservative media (UPDATED)
Combating Hyper Partisanship Requires Changes To The System And Courage
Historic Quote: "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." Mark Twain. What is there to say about the shutdown that hasn’t already been said? Disgusting. Disingenuous. Heinous. Inexcusable. The dysfunction of Washington is falling on the backs of the poor and the vulnerable. It's heinous enough that much of Washington is furloughed. But when … [Read more...] about Combating Hyper Partisanship Requires Changes To The System And Courage
Shutdown at Independence Hall: a Political Ghost Story
"You there!," a muffled voice called out from behind the bushes. "Come hither, sir, will you?"Let me set the scene for you: an October afternoon in stately old Philadelphia, chilly and prematurely darkening, with heavy gray clouds hanging over the spire of Independence Hall.Like the rest of the National Park system, the building that birthed the United States stood closed and … [Read more...] about Shutdown at Independence Hall: a Political Ghost Story
Republican offer: 6 week debt limit deal but government remains closed until Obamacare ironed out
The Republicans are offering a deal to the White House that will either be a face-saving way to declare a partial victory -- or a no starter. But it is a form of positive movement. They're proposing to raise the debt limit for six weeks but keep the government shut down. As the Huffington Post said in a recent headline, Republicans are offering to "release one hostage." Will … [Read more...] about Republican offer: 6 week debt limit deal but government remains closed until Obamacare ironed out
Taliban angry over Malala’s prize vows to try and kill her again
Malala has done 'nothing' to earn rights prize: Taliban (via AFP) The Pakistani Taliban Thursday said teenage activist Malala Yousafzai had done "nothing" to deserve a prestigious EU rights award and vowed to try again to kill her. The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov human rights prize to the 16-year-old,… … [Read more...] about Taliban angry over Malala’s prize vows to try and kill her again
What’s wrong with the GOP?
Major trouble is brewing for the Republican Party's dominant Tea Party faction and for the GOP itself. The Tea Partiers' clout in this government shutdown showdown, and in positioning the Republican Party to threaten an economy-destroying debt-limit default, has effectively replaced the GOP's much-hyped re-branding with negative brand reaffirmation. A host of polls show the … [Read more...] about What’s wrong with the GOP?
Can Political Liars Be Scared Straight?
Fact-checking, a new study suggests, can be an effective club to bat down political lies. Who knew? Experimenting on 1100 legislators in nine states, political scientists at the New America Foundation found fewer subsequent fibs by those who were warned about the existence of PolitiFact, which checks on their veracity: “Politicians who lie put their reputations and careers … [Read more...] about Can Political Liars Be Scared Straight?
UPDATE: Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan kidnapped- and returned
from the Guardian: UPDATE The Libyan prime minister, Ali Zeidan, has called for calm after being released by rebels who kidnapped him in the early hours of Thursday morning. "Libyans need wisdom … not escalation … to deal with this situation," he said during a televised cabinet meeting in which he thanked those rebels who helped in his release and urged them to join the … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan kidnapped- and returned
The heartbreak of extremism
WASHINGTON -- Seeing our government and our creditworthiness held hostage to the demands of a right-wing minority is infuriating. It's also heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking because the only thing keeping our country from being its growing, innovative and successful self is genuinely and unnecessarily stupid politics. The United States emerged from a horrific … [Read more...] about The heartbreak of extremism
Quote of the Day: The real Republican divide
Our political Quote of the Day comes from "Morning Joe's" Joe Scarborough who, in an opinion piece in Politico, writes about "The real Republican divide." And he nails it: Forget the GOP divide between tea party members and establishment Republicans. If you want to see where the fault line runs in the Party of Lincoln look at the difference between Washington Republicans … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The real Republican divide
That offensive Washington Redskins name (Guest Cartoonist)
That offensive Washington Redskins name by Mike Peters OF RELATED INTEREST: --Redskins Owner Says He Won’t Change Team Name --Are Washington ‘Redskins’ doomed? NFL’s resistance to change showing cracks. --Tribe seeks to force NFL Redskins name change --Check out some possible new designs for the possibly renamed Washington Redskins Mike Peters is recognized as … [Read more...] about That offensive Washington Redskins name (Guest Cartoonist)