Beijing is angry today with the U.S. Department of Education. The Department's infraction?: Removing a quote of China's late leader Mao Zedung from its Web site. According to this editorial from China's state-run Huanqiu, the knee-jerk removal of the quote, at the behest of Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, shows that far from being the world's leading advocate of free expression, … [Read more...] about Disrespect for Mao Exposes Truth about U.S. ‘Free Speech’ (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Rebranding Problems: Gallup Poll Finds Americans Believe GOP “Unwilling to Compromise”
Republican rebranding will not be easy. A new Gallup Poll finds a wide range of voters -- even rank-and-file Republicans -- believe Republicans are unwilling to compromise. The Democrats remain saddled with the longtime criticism, that they spend too much. But this suggests a rockier road ahead for GOPes then Dems: As Republican leaders openly scrutinize their party after … [Read more...] about Rebranding Problems: Gallup Poll Finds Americans Believe GOP “Unwilling to Compromise”
North Korea Wants to Have Its (Nuclear) Cake and Eat It Too
This is no cruel April Fools joke. One of the world’s poorest and least developed countries, a nation where, according to the U.N., two-thirds of its people face regular food shortages and a nation that, nevertheless, spends an inordinate percentage of its Gross National Product on its military -- in particular in the development of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver … [Read more...] about North Korea Wants to Have Its (Nuclear) Cake and Eat It Too
Occupy Wall Street And The Tea Party — Coming Together at Last?
Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive senator from Vermont, is introducing a bill this week that would break up the Too-Big-To-Fail banks. It would require Treasury Secretary Lew to compile a list of these institutions within 90 days, and after that a year to actually cut them down to a size small enough so that their failures would not require the government to once again bail … [Read more...] about Occupy Wall Street And The Tea Party — Coming Together at Last?
Daily papers transform Myanmar news stands
Daily papers transform Myanmar news stands (via AFP) Privately owned daily newspapers hit Myanmar's streets Monday for the first time in decades under new freedoms that represent a revolution for a media industry which was shackled under military rule. Four Burmese-language titles -- The Voice, The Golden Fresh Land, The Union and The Standard Time --… … [Read more...] about Daily papers transform Myanmar news stands
The War on Victoria’s Secret
Mothers and fathers across America are declaring war on Victoria's Secret. Cindy Chafin, leader of the Mommy Lobby said, "We really want [our daughters] to be innocent and young as long as possible… and [Victoria’s Secret is] not helping that.” Last week a the internet was ablaze with an open letter written by a pastor who fears that a new line of undergarments from Victoria’s … [Read more...] about The War on Victoria’s Secret
Stockman’s Nightmare
David Stockman is in the Slough of Despond. Writing in this weekend's New York Times, Ronald Reagan's former budget chief argued that it was Sundown in America: So the Main Street economy is failing while Washington is piling a soaring debt burden on our descendants, unable to rein in either the warfare state or the welfare state or raise the taxes needed to pay the … [Read more...] about Stockman’s Nightmare
Bitter Scalia Leaves U.S.
Breaking News via investigative reporter Andrew Borowitz: WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Justice Antonin Scalia dropped a bombshell on the Supreme Court today, announcing his decision to resign from the Court “effective immediately” and leave the United States forever. Calling this week “by far the worst week of my life,” Justice Scalia lashed out at his … [Read more...] about Bitter Scalia Leaves U.S.
Hope’s Opening Day
WASHINGTON -- The obligations of religious toleration and pluralism require all who care not a bit about baseball to accept that Opening Day is more than the beginning of a sports season. It is a great religious festival. It can't be an accident that baseball always starts around the time of both Easter and Passover and thus "elicits a sense of renewal." For the … [Read more...] about Hope’s Opening Day
Google takes Easter heat over Cesar Chavez doodle
Google takes Easter heat over Cesar Chavez doodle (via The Christian Science Monitor) Cesar Chavez Google doodle. Critics say the image Sunday should have had something to do with Easter.(Google) Google is taking heat for its Easter Sunday doodle – that cartoon modification of its logo that changes from day to day. Today, the middle letter is a round portrait of the late … [Read more...] about Google takes Easter heat over Cesar Chavez doodle
A ‘Hummingbird’ Flew in Afghanistan
As a native of Ecuador, a country with an amazing profusion of hummingbirds, or colibrís (135 species have been recorded in Ecuador, one of the largest number of species of hummingbirds in the world), I grew up admiring these precious little creatures for their beauty, delicateness and agility. During a recent trip to Ecuador, I once again had the pleasure of watching … [Read more...] about A ‘Hummingbird’ Flew in Afghanistan
Ex-Reagan Budget Director Stockman Says George W. Bush’s Policies Bankrupted Country
Ex-Reagan Budget Director David Stockman does not mince words: he says George W. Bush's policies bankrupt the country (so look for him to be attacked on talk radio and on Fox News in an attempt to discredit him). The Huffington Post: A former adviser of Ronald Reagan has some choice words for George W. Bush. David Stockman, Reagan’s budget director from 1981 to 1985, … [Read more...] about Ex-Reagan Budget Director Stockman Says George W. Bush’s Policies Bankrupted Country
Religion: A Natural Part of the Human Species
I long ago came to the conclusion that religious/spiritual belief is as much a part of human nature as the desire for sex or to eat good food; that for all the banging around religion gets, trying to beat it out of people is like trying to beat the desire to procreate out of them. Yes, some people have no desire to procreate, but they are a minority and likely always will be. … [Read more...] about Religion: A Natural Part of the Human Species
Cartoonists Look at Easter 2013 (Easter Cartoons)
Here's a collection of cartoonists' views of Easter 2013: Easter Sequester Easter 2013 Easter Eggs: Sequ-Easter Bunny Easter egg hunt with uncle Sam and Kim Jong Un LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: These copyrighted cartoons are licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top … [Read more...] about Cartoonists Look at Easter 2013 (Easter Cartoons)
Book Review: Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent by E.J. Dionne Jr
If there is a book out there that is REQUIRED READING for moderates, centrists and independent voters -- voters fed up with increasing hyperpartisanship and wondering if there is something deeper going on in America -- E.J. Dionne' Jr's Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent is it. Yes, there is indeed something going on -- a major … [Read more...] about Book Review: Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent by E.J. Dionne Jr
US prosecutor murdered with wife in Texas
US prosecutor murdered with wife in Texas (via AFP) A Texas district attorney and his wife were found dead in their home -- the second murder of a US prosecutor in the same office in less than two months, sparking fears of a larger plot. In January, Kaufman County assistant district attorney Mark Hasse, 57, reportedly investigating the white supremacist… … [Read more...] about US prosecutor murdered with wife in Texas
Sunday Sermon: Cornel West
Because of the gay marriage debate, the right-wing fundamentalist Christians are in the public sphere again, preaching the theology of exclusion. Granted that many theologians (Tutu, Bell, Gomes, Creech, Greenberg) and many denominations (Episcopalian, Lutheran, Presbyterian) don't consider homosexuality to be a sin at all, it seems like the whole issue takes away from the most … [Read more...] about Sunday Sermon: Cornel West
A Bad Week For Canadian Oil: Exxon Pegasus Pipeline Bursts In Arkansas, Train Hauling Oil Derails In Minessota
Updated 31 March, 12:55 pm Pacific Tiny Mayflower, AR (population, 1,631; location, 20 miles northwest of Little Rock, AR) may find itself at the center of a debate about Canadian tar sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline after the Exxon Pegagsus pipeline ruptured on Friday. The major spill was Canadian Wabasca Heavy crude from Alberta. The Canadian Energy Pipeline … [Read more...] about A Bad Week For Canadian Oil: Exxon Pegasus Pipeline Bursts In Arkansas, Train Hauling Oil Derails In Minessota
Spring Is Here and ‘Apologitis’ Is in the Air
Spring is here and love is in the air, but so is pollen here in Texas and apologies abounding all across this land. It is good to hear apologies, but when there are many apologies, there must also be a lot of not-so-nice things that people feel they have to apologize for. Last week must have been one for the record books when it comes to apologies. Here are just a … [Read more...] about Spring Is Here and ‘Apologitis’ Is in the Air
Chances of Republicans taking the Senate in 2014
Republicans need to pick up six seats to retake the majority they lost in 2006, and recent history suggests that the task is doable, if difficult. More concerning for Republicans, however, is whether they will again have to endure nasty primaries that produce either triumphant insurgents with limited appeal or establishment survivors who underperform with conservative voters in … [Read more...] about Chances of Republicans taking the Senate in 2014