Unless you haven't turned on your television and computer for the past week, you've probably heard about the fire that ravaged a large part of the boardwalk in Seaside Park, New Jersey. This fire, which started around 2 p.m. in the afternoon of September 12, destroyed most of Seaside Park’s commercial boardwalk before firefighters were able to put it out. Initially, some people … [Read more...] about How it Happened: Updates on the Devastating New Jersey Boardwalk Fire
Dilma Postpones Her U.S. State Visit; Saves Face for Both Sides (Folha, Brazil)
Brazil President Dilma Rousseff has taken a dramatic step in protest of NSA spying against her country, canceling a coveted state visit to the United States pending a more thorough explanation and apologies. This editorial from Brazil's Folha calls the step 'reasonable and innocuous' - and a way to avoid the embarrassment of having more revelations of espionage emerge while … [Read more...] about Dilma Postpones Her U.S. State Visit; Saves Face for Both Sides (Folha, Brazil)
New 2016 Poll: Hillary and Two Dark Horses
A new CNN poll is fascinating for what it reveals—-and doesn’t. No surprise that Hillary Clinton is favored by a whopping 65 percent of Democrats with Joe Biden way back at 10. Expectedly too, Republicans are in a gaggle with Chris Christie (17), Paul Ryan (16), Rand Paul (13), Jeb Bush (10) and Marco Rubio (9). At this point, name recognition counts heavily, but just below … [Read more...] about New 2016 Poll: Hillary and Two Dark Horses
This time it hits home
WASHINGTON -- Washington was under siege on Monday, with SWAT teams racing through the streets and military helicopters circling overhead. Not immediately threatened, however, was the complacency that allows our elected officials to argue endlessly about the threats we face rather than work together to lessen them. "We are confronting yet another mass shooting," … [Read more...] about This time it hits home
Penis-bite rugby player vows to fight ban (Guest Voice)
Penis-bite rugby player vows to fight ban (via AFP) Bad boy Australian rugby league player Anthony Watts on Wednesday denied he bit an opponent on the penis and vowed to fight an eight-match ban. The 27-year-old was suspended last week by the Gold Coast Rugby League over claims he bit an opposition player… … [Read more...] about Penis-bite rugby player vows to fight ban (Guest Voice)
Voters’ Message: Consequences for Sex Scandals
So much for voters being poised to show that they don't care about sex scandals anymore. Forget about former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford's surprise May election to the House of Representatives despite the sex scandal stemming from his lie about hiking on the "Appalachian trail" rather than being in Latin America visiting his girlfriend. This year voters made … [Read more...] about Voters’ Message: Consequences for Sex Scandals
Boehner close to defining moment: will risk government shutdown over Obamacare
It sounds as if House Speaker John Boehner and the Republican Party are within centimers of a move that will forever define it in the eyes of those who are not far right conservatives, Rush Limbaugh fans, members of the Tea Party, or writers for conservative weblogs: according to Talking Points Memo Boehner may in effect go along with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and set things in … [Read more...] about Boehner close to defining moment: will risk government shutdown over Obamacare
‘Mad Men’ final season to be split in two
'Mad Men' final season to be split in two (via AFP) The final season of award-winning US television show "Mad Men" will be split in two, airing in 2014 and 2015, the cable channel that broadcasts it said Tuesday. In an announcement days before this year's Emmy awards, AMC said it hoped to increase ratings… … [Read more...] about ‘Mad Men’ final season to be split in two
Did the rich win the Great Recession?
Did the rich win the Great Recession? The answer is...YES. … [Read more...] about Did the rich win the Great Recession?
Washington Navy Yard: A Time to Honor and Mourn
While the speculation, recrimination, rationalization and many other “ations” have already started in the wake of yet another horrific massacre in America yesterday, perhaps today is a day to honor, mourn and remember. The President issued the following Proclamation honoring the victims of the tragedy at the Washington Navy Yard HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY AT THE … [Read more...] about Washington Navy Yard: A Time to Honor and Mourn
Pentagon orders global security review after base shootings
Pentagon orders global security review after base shootings (via AFP) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel plans to order a review of security at US military bases worldwide after a contractor gunned down 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard, a Pentagon official said Tuesday. The move came as the Pentagon mourned the victims… … [Read more...] about Pentagon orders global security review after base shootings
Vetting military contractors: How did Navy Yard gunman get in?
The questions are now flying about how the shooter at the Washington Navy Yard ever got in despite having a batch of glaring red flags: The shooter at the Washington Navy Yard had a "pattern of misconduct" as a Navy reservist, had sporadic run-ins with the law, and had contacted two Veterans Administration hospitals for apparent psychological issues, sources have told … [Read more...] about Vetting military contractors: How did Navy Yard gunman get in?
Bullets Fly, NRA-Loving Lawmakers Hide
When the shooting started in Washington, there was no hesitation in the Capitol two miles away: Both houses shut down with no debate about Second Amendment rights. In the face of possibly imminent danger to themselves, gung-ho NRA-loving lawmakers did the equivalent of hiding under their desks. Now we face the usual ritual that follows random gun massacres: counting the dead … [Read more...] about Bullets Fly, NRA-Loving Lawmakers Hide
Head of Oregon Republican Party: Send Me Your Urine (Guest Voice)
Head of Oregon Republican Party: Send Me Your Urine (via Foolocracy) Art Robinson is a bright guy. There’s no doubt about that. He was appointed to the faculty of the University of California, San Diego, upon receiving his Ph.D. He also worked with Linus Pauling at the Linus Pauling Institute. Eventually, the two had… … [Read more...] about Head of Oregon Republican Party: Send Me Your Urine (Guest Voice)
Quote of the Day: the lessons of the Navy Yard shootings
Our political Quote of the Day comes from a Washington Post editorial on the Navy yard shootings. It begins: FOR ALL the unknowns about Monday’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, there was a nauseating familiarity to the unfolding events: the witness accounts of chaos and fear; the plea from officials for the public’s help; the number of dead revised upward and … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: the lessons of the Navy Yard shootings
Despite obesity, much of Mexico goes hungry (Guest Voice)
Despite obesity, much of Mexico goes hungry (via GlobalPost) EL CARMEN TEQUEXQUITLA, Mexico — Juana Alvarez stood in line with a dozen other mothers in the cramped aisle of a grocery store, waiting for the government handout that keeps her children from going hungry. Alvarez's husband walked out, she said,… … [Read more...] about Despite obesity, much of Mexico goes hungry (Guest Voice)
Shooting at Navy yard (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 Shooting at Navy yard (Cartoon)
Navy Yard shooting: What to do about attacks on US military at home?
Navy Yard shooting: What to do about attacks on US military at home? (+video) (via The Christian Science Monitor) Navy Yard workers, evacuated after the shooting, are reunited with loved ones at a makeshift Red Cross shelter at the Nationals Park baseball stadium near the affected naval installation in Washington, September 16, 2013. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Countless… … [Read more...] about Navy Yard shooting: What to do about attacks on US military at home?
TMV’s Featured Stories Glitch
Due to a technical glitch today and yours truly being offline all day due to extensive airline travel, the big story of the day about the Washington D.C. shootings was not always on top. It has been rectified so all of TMV's posts are now in their proper order. … [Read more...] about TMV’s Featured Stories Glitch
1 Shooter Dead, 13 Victims Dead at Washington Navy Yard (UPDATED)
UPDATE: bio info on shooter: Aaron Alexis, suspected gunman, grew up in Brooklyn with his mother, Sarah, and father, Anthony Alexis, according to his aunt Helen Weeks. from WaPo “We haven’t seen him for years,” Weeks said of her nephew in a telephone interview. “I know he was in the military. He served abroad. I think he was doing some kind of computer work.” Alexis … [Read more...] about 1 Shooter Dead, 13 Victims Dead at Washington Navy Yard (UPDATED)