Does the Syria crisis show that the United States under Barack Obama has begun a historic retrenchment back to North America? For Lebanon's L'Orient Le Jour, columnist Antoine Courban warns Europe that if it fails to fill the vacuum of American withdrawal, it will end up being what geography intended before the rise of ancient Rome: 'an extension - a peninsula - of Eurasia.' … [Read more...] about U.S. Isolationism: A Grave for Europe in Damascus? (L’Orient Le Jour, Lebanon)
Budget Extremists Unforeseen by America’s Founding Fathers (Polityka, Poland)
Can the U.S. Congress pull things together before a superpower becomes a super deadbeat? For Poland's Polityka, columnist Cezary Kowanda writes that when America's founders thought up 'checks and balances,' they had no idea that Congress would one day be inhabited by people averse to compromise even in the face of disaster. For Polityka, Cezary Kowanda starts out this … [Read more...] about Budget Extremists Unforeseen by America’s Founding Fathers (Polityka, Poland)
Trolls of the Patent Variety
One of the greatest threats to many tech startups are the trolls. Not the comments trolls but the patent trolls. Vermont Public Radio reports on a bipartisan effort to do something about them and hopefully make it possible for people who actually work in technology to develop new services and technologies. Cross posted at The DemiGeek … [Read more...] about Trolls of the Patent Variety
It’s not Boehner’s Dilemma, It’s His Ego
Ezra Klein tackles the question of why Boehner is powerless against the Tea Party faction in an interview with Robert Costa. It comes down to his desire to keep the job of Speaker no matter what. There's a lot to the interview in terms of how things have worked out inside the Republican Party and why, including a decline in the power the party organization has over its members. … [Read more...] about It’s not Boehner’s Dilemma, It’s His Ego
A Murder of Crows
Republican House Leadership Certainly not a pride of lions. Perhaps a congress of salamanders. Listen: Holding Firm Robert Costa / National Review The same question keeps popping up: why doesn't Speaker John Boehner just pass a “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government? It's a ubiquitous query at the Capitol, and it was asked many times this afternoon as … [Read more...] about A Murder of Crows
The Truth: ‘Americans Love Obamacare’
OK, that headline at the Los Angeles Times might be an overstatement. How about Americans like Obamacare? Would you accept Americans like the Affordable Care Act? While the LA Times maintains that the (honest) truth is: “The American public loves Obamacare, with as many as 88% in favor, according to one survey,” I would settle for the latter, “Americans like the … [Read more...] about The Truth: ‘Americans Love Obamacare’
Jim DeMint, backstage maestro of mayhem Government shutdown (Guest Voice)
Jim DeMint, backstage maestro of mayhem Government shutdown by the numbers Jim DeMint, backstage maestro of mayhem Environmental groups sue regulators to protect Delaware River fish from energy facilities Philly Office of Transportation celebrates five years of forward movement Excitement, indifference surround 'launch' of health care marketplace in Philly Inmates, victims' … [Read more...] about Jim DeMint, backstage maestro of mayhem Government shutdown (Guest Voice)
Top lawmakers to meet Obama to talk about shutdown
Top lawmakers to meet Obama for US shutdown talks (via AFP) President Barack Obama on Wednesday called congressional leaders to a White House meeting on resolving the US government shutdown, but prospects for a quick solution seemed bleak, with neither side giving ground. The White House is squaring off with… … [Read more...] about Top lawmakers to meet Obama to talk about shutdown
Slamfu’s Home Run
a comment from one of TMV commenters on fabulously rich man Boehner's nah nah nah about monuments being shut down, Boehner screeching: your fault, you you you bad, you you you President you. [whilst children go without food via WIC programs, children have no education and care via Headstart, Native persons having health clinics fatefully narrowed in services. The list is LONG … [Read more...] about Slamfu’s Home Run
Head-Start Programs Shut Down by John Abney Culberson’s Reckless Disregard of Children
Only one of literally millions of examples of Culberson's cruelty toward children since the shutdown: HeadStart programs not only care for and educate the young, whilst giving full weight for the children-- especially the ones who are not, were not and will not be educated and cared for like Culberson's child via Cadillac means, but rather just plain, but meaningful supports, … [Read more...] about Head-Start Programs Shut Down by John Abney Culberson’s Reckless Disregard of Children
John Boehner Accuses President Obama of Turning Back on Veterans
House Speaker John Boehner sent out a press release accusing President Obama of turning his back on veterans as war memorials are closed. Is this a joke? John Boehner and his GOP extremists have turned their backs on 800,000 federal workers. Talk about nerve. John Boehner and the Republicans, including the RNC, which offered to pay to keep the war memorials open for 30 days, … [Read more...] about John Boehner Accuses President Obama of Turning Back on Veterans
Wall Street Looks Strong Despite Shutdown
On Tuesday, October 1, the U.S. government shut down for the first time in 17 years. Many feared that the shutdown would immediately have a negative impact on the economy, though so far the stock market appears to be in good shape. Near the end of the day on Tuesday, the S & P 500 was up 0.57%, while Dow Jones was up around 0.25% and Nasdaq up almost a full percent. Though … [Read more...] about Wall Street Looks Strong Despite Shutdown
What U.S. media are ignoring in government shutdown coverage
Forty years ago, Congress got tired of the President refusing to spend money that it had allocated. The President at the time: Republican Richard Nixon, who was a little pre-occupied with Watergate. In frustration, Congress passed the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (introduced in 1973) which governs the procedures for adopting a budget resolution. It also established … [Read more...] about What U.S. media are ignoring in government shutdown coverage
Tom Clancy Dies
Author Tom Clancy has died at the age of 66. I remember first discovering him back in the 90's and I have always enjoyed his writing. He will be missed … [Read more...] about Tom Clancy Dies
Greatest Generation Crashes Tea Party Shutdown
One thing about the Greatest Generation: When we needed to overrun an enemy position, we seldom hesitated. Remnants of our troops did it again in Washington yesterday, crashing barricades set up by the government shutdown and occupying the position. The image tickles me. As all national parks remain closed by Tea Party insurgents in the House of Representatives, 91 … [Read more...] about Greatest Generation Crashes Tea Party Shutdown
Warning to Brazil Lawmakers Before Meeting with Edward Snowden (Estadao, Brazil)
As the recent opening of the U.N. General Assembly demonstrates, quite a few nations continue to publicly fume over unrestrained NSA surveillance. At the head of the pack is Brazil, which is seeking global legislation to reduce U.S. Web dominance and is pressing Washington for guarantees that spying on Brazilian leaders, civilians and corporations will end. Meanwhile, … [Read more...] about Warning to Brazil Lawmakers Before Meeting with Edward Snowden (Estadao, Brazil)
What “Breaking Bad” Reveals About Now
Thanks to one son and two grandsons, I was whizzing through seasons of “Breaking Bad” on Netflix as millions savored the finale last weekend and now carry on a philosophical debate over its power and meaning. Partial ignorance may not be bliss, but still under the spell of multiple episodes, I venture to join the discussion. Is Walter White more than a logical successor … [Read more...] about What “Breaking Bad” Reveals About Now
Will this woman please run for President?
It is time to end the debate about whether the Affordable Care Act should exist and whether it should be funded. Congress voted for this law. President Obama signed this law. The Supreme Court upheld this law. The President ran for reelection on this law. In fact, his opponent said he would repeal it – and his opponent lost by five million votes. Sen. Elizabeth Warren … [Read more...] about Will this woman please run for President?
The Republican Party Breaking Bad
GILROY, Calif. -- You can smell it as soon as you drive into town. Gilroy calls itself the "Garlic Capital of the World," due to its big garlic crop and its top-of-the line Gilroy Garlic Festival, which features authentic garlic ice cream. At first you can't pinpoint what the smell is; but it's a strong smell, but not a totally unpleasant one. Then there is the city's wonderful … [Read more...] about The Republican Party Breaking Bad
Quote of the Day: Andrew Sullivan says it’s “nullification” not shutdown by “the Nullification Party”
Our political Quote of the Day is from a blunt post by Andrew Sullivan (a favorite of many of us here at TMV) who says the House Republican engineered shutdown is not a shutdown but a "nullification" attempt. Some key quotes of this post, which must be read in full: But there is something more here. How does one party that has lost two presidential elections and a Supreme … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Andrew Sullivan says it’s “nullification” not shutdown by “the Nullification Party”