Yes, we're definitely now getting a sense that newly elected Pope Francis is not just like newly elected President Jimmy Carter, who wore a sweater and carried his luggage for a little while and then seemingly forgot about it. You get a sense what we're seeing is the way he operates and is with this story about him personally calling a kiosk in Buenos Aires to halt his … [Read more...] about Pope Personally Calls Buenos Aires Kiosk to Stop Newspaper Order
GOP Autopsy an Important Starting Point (Guest Voice)
GOP Autopsy an Important Starting Point by Carl Golden The good news is the national Republican Party has conducted a fairly comprehensive self-examination in an attempt to broaden its appeal and avoid descending into irrelevancy. The bad news is the national Republican Party has conducted a fairly comprehensive self-examination in an attempt to broaden its appeal and … [Read more...] about GOP Autopsy an Important Starting Point (Guest Voice)
Musharraf Vows to ‘Save’ Pakistan on Return from Exile
Musharraf vows to 'save' Pakistan on return from exile (via AFP) Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf returned home on Sunday after more than four years in exile, defying a Taliban death threat and vowing to risk his life to "save" the country. "I have come back home today. Where are those who used to say I would never come back?" the former dictator… … [Read more...] about Musharraf Vows to ‘Save’ Pakistan on Return from Exile
Cyprus Still Locked in Negotiations in Last-Ditch Effort to Avoid Bankruptcy
Cyprus still locked in negotiations in last-ditch effort to avoid bankruptcy (via The Christian Science Monitor) Cyprus officials and international representatives were caught up in tortuous negotiations late into the night Saturday as they sought to forge a plan to raise the money the island nation needs to qualify for a bailout package. Failure would mean Cyprus could … [Read more...] about Cyprus Still Locked in Negotiations in Last-Ditch Effort to Avoid Bankruptcy
Black Hole Sun…
A black hole and a red dwarf are orbiting each other... [insert joke here] But seriously, this is a cool story. They've found a black hole and a red dwarf sun orbiting each other at a dizzying [snerk!] speed of once every 2.4 hours. The video at the link there is obviously a computer animation not the real thing but it's still bloody awesome that we're finding things like … [Read more...] about Black Hole Sun…
For Himself and Palestine, Obama Must Now take Historic Risk (Al Hayat Al Jadidah, Palestinian Territories)
Not all the voices coming out of the Palestinian Territories are downcast after Barack Obama's first trip to the region as president. For Al Hayat Al Jadidah in the Palestinian Territories, columnist Yehiah Rabah writes that the visit, more than just a photo-op and repetition of well-known policies, put the U.S. president in a position to do what no other has done before: stand … [Read more...] about For Himself and Palestine, Obama Must Now take Historic Risk (Al Hayat Al Jadidah, Palestinian Territories)
Quote of the Day: The GOP’s Bachmann Problem
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the New York Time's Charles Blow who, in a superb column about Republican over the top, demonizing and hateful rhetoric -- this time turned on OTHER Republicans -- notes this about the Queen of Inaccurate Political Charges, Rep Michele Bachmann: Last year The Washington Post quoted Jim Drinkard, who oversees fact-checking at The … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The GOP’s Bachmann Problem
Russian Billionaire in Exile Boris Berezovsky Commits Suicide – The First Cyprus Casualty?
Russian Billionaire in Exile Boris Berezovsky Commits Suicide – The First Cyprus Casualty? (via Market Shadows) Courtesy of ZeroHedge. View original post here. Submitted by Tyler Durden. Just your ordinary run of the mill Russian billionaire oligarch in exile who had so much money he was terminally depressed… or just the opposite, and the first tragic casualty of the … [Read more...] about Russian Billionaire in Exile Boris Berezovsky Commits Suicide – The First Cyprus Casualty?
Jay Leno’s Ungracious, Slow, Painful Late Night Exit
Is there anything more painful than what is now shaping up as Jay Leno's forced exit from NBC? There are three bottom lines: 1. Leno is being put out to pasture from late Night due to a (long-overdue) generation shift in a franchise that reached its peak during the days of Johnny Carson and has been in decline in terms of status and its role in American culture ever since. 2. … [Read more...] about Jay Leno’s Ungracious, Slow, Painful Late Night Exit
Defense Update: The Best of the Best in Images
Each week, the U.S. Air Force publishes a set of photographs called “Air Force Week in Photos.” These photos are normally superb, depicting our Air Force and other Services’ men and women in action around the world. This week the set of photos -- 56 of them -- is “extra superb” as the photos represent the winners from the 2012 Military Photography of the Year … [Read more...] about Defense Update: The Best of the Best in Images
Banking at Heart of Cyprus Economic Collapse
Banking at heart of Cyprus economic collapse (via AFP) The Cyprus banking sector, which has driven prosperity on the Mediterranean island for two decades, has in the end been the trigger for the collapse of the country's economy due to its exposure to the Greek debt crisis. "Unfortunately we took a wrong decision to accept (in 2012) a haircut" on Greek… … [Read more...] about Banking at Heart of Cyprus Economic Collapse
HISTORIC MEETING: Two Popes Meet (Video)
This is truly a wonderful, historic story. The meeting of two Popes: Pope Francis and his predecessor Benedict embraced today in a historic meeting of two popes at Castel Gandolfo. The men met on the helipad at the papal summer retreat, before praying together in the chapel. Benedict offered Francis the kneeler traditionally used by the pope when he prays. But Francis … [Read more...] about HISTORIC MEETING: Two Popes Meet (Video)
The GOP Autopsy (Guest Voice)
The GOP Autopsy Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Normally you don't expect to see the words "Republicans" and "introspection" right next to each other. Like supermodel and barbecue. Physicist and polka. Gazelle and ophthalmology. You catch my drift. But that's exactly what happened last week, when the Republican Party released a 100-page report detailing why their last … [Read more...] about The GOP Autopsy (Guest Voice)
Democrats New Budget (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 Democrats New Budget (Cartoon)
Presidential Deceptions on Iraq Led US to Abandon Core Values (Guest Voice)
Presidential deceptions on Iraq led US to abandon core values (via GlobalPost) Commentary: Torture and killing innocents with drones continue to haunt Americans. Alan Gilbert DENVER, Colo. â?? In 2002 and early 2003, the Bush administration rolled out a campaign to promote an invasion of Iraq. Condoleezza Riceâ??s statement, the â??smoking gun might be a mushroom cloud… … [Read more...] about Presidential Deceptions on Iraq Led US to Abandon Core Values (Guest Voice)
Rembrandt Republican Autopsy (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. 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 Rembrandt Republican Autopsy (Cartoon)
If the Republicans are all but Dead, are the Dems also in Trouble?
If the Republicans are all but dead, are the Dems also in trouble? Kevin Drum does a nice job on the state of our two main political parties, including the possibility that the Republican party's near-death experience and/or possible death. Thing is, he reminds us, none of this means the American voter is about to switch to all-Dem all the time. So are the Republicans … [Read more...] about If the Republicans are all but Dead, are the Dems also in Trouble?
Schoolkids Grill Chris Christie on His Political Ambitions (VIDEO)
Everybody is grilling New Jersey Chris Christie about his political ambitions. And I mean everybody: Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about Schoolkids Grill Chris Christie on His Political Ambitions (VIDEO)
Senate Approves Budget, its First Since 2009
US Senate approves budget, its first since 2009 (via AFP) The US Senate reached a milestone early Saturday when it overcame partisan gridlock to approve its first budget resolution in four years, setting up a political duel with the Republican-held House. The sweeping plan for fiscal year 2014, the first budget blueprint passed by the Democrat-led Senate… … [Read more...] about Senate Approves Budget, its First Since 2009
New Song, New Singers (Guest Voice)
New Song, New Singers by Michael Reagan I love talk radio; I love Fox News. If it weren't for the arrival of their strong conservative voices, Americans would still have nothing to listen to but the one-sided news and opinions of the left-liberals who run the mainstream New York-D.C. media. But I'm frustrated. Talk radio and Fox are getting so boring, so … [Read more...] about New Song, New Singers (Guest Voice)