When former Bush speechwriter (and former columnist for TheWeek.com) David Frum announced he was ending his popular blog on The Daily Beast, he left a checklist for conservative reformers to ponder and follow. Frum, who has been critical of conservative icons such as Rush Limbaugh and "the conservative entertainment complex," has fueled a debate over the tone, content, and … [Read more...] about Can conservative reformers succeed?
Our Spammed Spurned, Silver-Tongued Fans
We have had too many stories recently on too many troubling, serious issues.
Here is one perhaps tilting too far the other way. Oh well…
Writers are human. They like to be patted on the back for their work -- especially if they feel they have poured their heart and soul into their creation.
While TMV readers are generally quite generous with their compliments and … [Read more...] about Our Spammed Spurned, Silver-Tongued Fans
The bipartisan assault on privacy (Guest Voice)
The bipartisan assault on privacy (via NewsWorks) National Interest Dick [email protected] June 7, 2013 By Dick Polman Nobody should be shocked to learn that the secretive National Security Agency is routinely collecting our phone records (known in the lingo as "telaphony metadata"), or that it's routinely tracking our Internet… … [Read more...] about The bipartisan assault on privacy (Guest Voice)
Bob Dole Republicans (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 Bob Dole Republicans (Cartoon)
Surveillance state USA: Brave not-so-new world
Surveillance state USA: Brave not-so-new world (via GlobalPost) Analysis: Shocking revelations that the government is monitoring phone and internet records is old news to many. Critics say â??Welcome to the Bush-Obama era.â?? Jean MacKenzie Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect yet more revelations of domestic surveillance. BUZZARDS BAY, Mass… … [Read more...] about Surveillance state USA: Brave not-so-new world
Obama All Buggy (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 Obama All Buggy (Cartoon)
Liberty or Death or Something in Between
When it comes to privacy vs. security, are the only choices Glenn Greenwald and Lindsey Graham, two egomaniacal lawyers with no sense of balance? Thanks to his latest hue and cry, TV talking heads are belaboring Greenwald’s “discovery” that “The National Security Agency is currently collecting the telephone records of millions of US customers of Verizon, one of America's … [Read more...] about Liberty or Death or Something in Between
Another NSA Whistleblower Steps Up: US Monitors Private Internet Communication, Too
Updated: 10:00 am Friday Pacific Has the dam of silence broken at NSA? In the space of a day we've learned that the NSA collects call logs on every phone call in the U.S. that runs via Verizon (and probably every other carrier) and that NSA taps into the servers of at least nine major Internet companies to monitor email, audio and video chats, photos and logs. That's real … [Read more...] about Another NSA Whistleblower Steps Up: US Monitors Private Internet Communication, Too
Iraq’s Latest al-Qaeda ‘Bombshell’ (Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates)
Puzzled as I am about why this story hasn't gotten more attention, I post this editorial from the Khaleej Times of the United Arab Emirates for your examination. So - after America invaded and occupied Iraq for nearly a decade and spent a trillion or so dollars - if one includes long term car and treatment of the wounded, ostensibly to deprive it of "WMDs," Baghdad has … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Latest al-Qaeda ‘Bombshell’ (Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates)
Quie and Stafford True Republican Treasures
Historic Tidbit: "We want you to visit our State of Excitement often. Come again and again. But, for heaven’s sake, don’t move here to live.” Oregon Republican Governor Tom McCall in the late 1960's, concerned about population growth. By Scott Crass There was once a very respected Republican politician from Minnesota who served in Congress and became Governor, and there … [Read more...] about Quie and Stafford True Republican Treasures
GREAT Middle School Anti-Bullying Film: Trey the Movie. A Bullyproof production
I recently had the enormous pleasure of being interviewed by Beatrice Petelo, an 8th grade student at High Tech Middle School in San Diego, located on a former Naval facility. She wanted to talk to me about my life's path and decisions as part of an assigned project. And since I was someone trained in journalism who wrote for newspapers overseas, then worked on two U.S. … [Read more...] about GREAT Middle School Anti-Bullying Film: Trey the Movie. A Bullyproof production
What is Man?
This is the fifth post in the series Why Everything You Know about Your “Self” Is Wrong. The series explores how our understanding of selfhood affects our sense of individuality, our interpersonal relationships, and our politics. “What Is Man?” is the title of a little book by Mark Twain. He held it back for twenty years because he knew the public would hate it. The “what” … [Read more...] about What is Man?
House votes to defund Obama’s ‘administrative amnesty’ for immigrants
What was that again about how the Republican Party needs to reach out to the country's growing Latino population? It turns out House Republicans want to reach out, all right: The House voted Thursday morning to defund President Obama's orders that allow officials to focus deportation efforts on illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes. Republicans have … [Read more...] about House votes to defund Obama’s ‘administrative amnesty’ for immigrants
White House defends phone sweep amid uproar
White House defends phone sweep amid uproar (via AFP) The White House insisted Thursday it must use every tool to protect Americans against terrorism, after revelations about a vast spy agency sweep of domestic phone records sparked a political backlash. A civil liberties group branded the program, authorized by a top secret court order, as "beyond Orwellian… … [Read more...] about White House defends phone sweep amid uproar
The Moment Of Horror: Full CBS News Coverage Robert Kennedy Assassination June 5, 1968 (VIDEO)
On June 5, 1968 Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles following his just having declared victory in the California Democratic Primary. CBS's raw footage coverage of that night conveys the joys and horror of that night -- and the second most horrifying moment, after the moment when RFK was shot. It's when news of Kennedy's death quickly started filtering to the … [Read more...] about The Moment Of Horror: Full CBS News Coverage Robert Kennedy Assassination June 5, 1968 (VIDEO)
Obama’s season of challenge
WASHINGTON -- What is President Obama fighting for? What is the point of his second term? His ability to answer these questions in a compelling way will have more to do with his success or failure than all the Republican congressional investigations combined. Up to now, support for the president has held up in the face of the GOP offensive thanks to an improving economy … [Read more...] about Obama’s season of challenge
Clown wins lawsuit over mag’s drug addict jibe
Clown wins lawsuit over mag's drug addict jibe (via AFP) A clown won a lawsuit against the South African edition of men's magazine FHM after the publication printed his picture with a report likening jesters to cross-dressing drug addicts. FHM used in its December 2007 issue a stock image of Puddles the Clown alongside an article branding clowns "grown men… … [Read more...] about Clown wins lawsuit over mag’s drug addict jibe
Onc more time: Climate change is fueling monster tornadoes (Guest Voice)
Onc more time: Climate change is fueling monster tornadoes (via Red Green & Blue) Two weeks ago, climate deniers accused me of being an anti-science moron for asserting that climate change was going to give us bigger, more destructive tornadoes, like the one that smashed through Norman, Oklahoma. Well, I’m back, with back-up. In my corner: Bill Nye, the Science Guy. … [Read more...] about Onc more time: Climate change is fueling monster tornadoes (Guest Voice)
Big Banks Now A Branch Of Government: Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant, Learns The Truth
(When Mr. B. enters the Goldman Sachs washroom for his regular morning visit, he finds washroom attendant Selig Cartwright waiting expectantly...) What is it, Selig? You look pensive. Is there something you want to tell me? No, sir. Something I want to ask you. Do you vote, Mr. B? Of course, I vote, Selig. It's every American's duty. We need to elect the best possible … [Read more...] about Big Banks Now A Branch Of Government: Selig Cartwright, Goldman Sachs Washroom Attendant, Learns The Truth
Former VP Al Gore Calls NSA Secret Blanket Surveillance “Obscenely Outrageous”
Tweet of the Day: Former Vice President Al Gore is seething about the NSA spying on Verizon customers' with a secret court order for daily records, calling the practice "Obscenely outrageous." In digital era, privacy must be a priority. Is it just me, or is secret blanket surveillance obscenely outrageous? ow.ly/lKS13— Al Gore (@algore) June 6, 2013 This comes as … [Read more...] about Former VP Al Gore Calls NSA Secret Blanket Surveillance “Obscenely Outrageous”