Karl Rove, the former GOP political Golden Boy who can still talk a good game but increasingly seems unable to play a good one, has swallowed the baited hook. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin may not be many things (a viable candidate who could win a national election, a deep political thinker, a running mate who greatly helped Sen. John McCain in 2008, Fox News' most popular … [Read more...] about It’s Sarah Palin Versus Karl Rove (UPDATE)
Help the Working Poor
The Connecticut Senate should pass the bill to increase the minimum wage to $9.75 by Jan. 1, 2015. The increase would be a boon to low-income workers and help reinvigorate a stagnant economy. Critics of minimum wage increases point to textbook economics: if you increase the price of something (in this case labor) demand for that product goes down and you get less employment. … [Read more...] about Help the Working Poor
The Disposable Citizen
Several years ago, the American educator Henry Giroux moved to Canada to take the Global Television Network Chair in English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. From there he has continued to write about the land of his birth. His criticisms have been clear-eyed and stark. Writing yesterday about Paul Ryan's proposed budget, Giroux had this to … [Read more...] about The Disposable Citizen
After Infallibility: A Blog for the Former Pope?
As a magazine editor, I once negotiated for weeks with the Vatican to publish a Christmas message for women bylined by the Pope. That memory stirs speculation about any public afterlife for the first former Pontiff in modern history. Now that the white smoke has risen, must Benedict XVI retreat into total silence and meditation? His Twitter account has been closed, but … [Read more...] about After Infallibility: A Blog for the Former Pope?
CPAC Conservatives Choose Rand Paul for President: Poll
US conservatives choose Rand Paul for president: poll (via AFP) Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP/FileUS Senator Rand Paul arrives to address the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) March 14, 2013 in Maryland. US conservative activists picked Tea Party favorite Paul as their choice to become the 2016 Republican presidential nominee.US conservative… … [Read more...] about CPAC Conservatives Choose Rand Paul for President: Poll
If cities were stocks, you’d want to short Phoenix
One of the centers of conservative ideology is Arizona's valley of the sun, Phoenix. Climate Change denial is the norm in the Phoenix are but William deBuys explains that it could also become one of the first Climate Change ghost towns. Of course, it’s an easy city to pick on. The nation’s 13th largest metropolitan area (nudging out Detroit) crams 4.3 million people into … [Read more...] about If cities were stocks, you’d want to short Phoenix
Unhappy Meal (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 Unhappy Meal (Cartoon)
Swiss Tourist ‘Gang-Raped in India’
Swiss tourist gang-raped in India: police (via AFP) /AFP/FileA Indian policeman patrols Ganjbasoda in Madhya Pradesh state on January 15, 2003. A Swiss female tourist was gang-raped in Madhya Pradesh -- the latest victim of sexual violence against women in the South Asian nation.A Swiss female tourist was gang-raped in rural central India, police said… … [Read more...] about Swiss Tourist ‘Gang-Raped in India’
Maryland Is Latest To Abolish Death Penalty
Following on the heels of New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Illinois and Connecticut, Maryland has become the sixth state in the last six years to abolish the death penalty. Following earlier State Senate approval the Maryland House of Delegates on Friday voted by a strong 82-56 vote to do away with the state’s death penalty in favor of life in prison without the possibility … [Read more...] about Maryland Is Latest To Abolish Death Penalty
Report: House GOP Would Need $5.7 Trillion in Tax Hikes to Offset Ryan Rate Cuts
To many GOPers, Paul Ryan is a kind of mantra, whether what he says adds up or doesn't. It increasingly is clear his budget doesn't add up: House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) fiscal plan promises to balance the federal budget in 10 years, make major cuts in income tax rates for both individuals and corporations, and raise the same amount of revenue as current … [Read more...] about Report: House GOP Would Need $5.7 Trillion in Tax Hikes to Offset Ryan Rate Cuts
New Pope’s Control/Obama’s Old Chaos
What would that clichéd anthropologist from another planet make of the doings on ours this week? One gaggle of aging men selects an infallible leader for multitudes while another hobbles the choice of millions into political impotence. As Barack Obama expresses hope that new Pontiff will have “a tremendous and positive impact on the world,” he admits discouragement about … [Read more...] about New Pope’s Control/Obama’s Old Chaos
What Rob Portman Teaches Republicans if They’re Watching. (But They’re Not.)
The web is chuck-full of Americans who have noticed, as you and I did, that Rob Portman's "acceptance" of gay marriage was as much a sign of godawful narcissism as anything. Funny, we were all thinking, at his age it still took a personal experience to wake him up to the suffering and frustration of many right in front of his eyes for years. Here's part of Matt Yglesias's … [Read more...] about What Rob Portman Teaches Republicans if They’re Watching. (But They’re Not.)
Bloomberg Weighs In (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 Bloomberg Weighs In (Cartoon)
I Should be Happy About the Drone Debate, But I’m Not
During my junior year of college I was interning at a news show and we were filming a bit on 47th street when a young Pakistani man walked up to me. He said that he and some friends were holding a vigil for those who had died in a recent drone killing, and wanted to know how to get press coverage. I didn’t know the number, but a co-worker did, and gave it to him. I was in a … [Read more...] about I Should be Happy About the Drone Debate, But I’m Not
Behind the Historic Shift in Poverty
Behind the historic shift in poverty (via The Christian Science Monitor) Customers shop in a shoe store in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the economy is booming with a rising middle class. (Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor ) The share of the world’s people living in extreme poverty has fallen by half – from 43 percent in 1990 to 21 percent in 2010… … [Read more...] about Behind the Historic Shift in Poverty
In Sadness, I Refute Pope’s Judgementalness About World Religions
My father from the Old Country used to say, the first things said by the new groom to his bride would set the tone for their entire marriage. Therefor, it was advised that the groom who had never been a groom before, praise his bride with sincerity for works well done, for beauty that is inextinguishable, for her kindness of touch, for her foresight and … [Read more...] about In Sadness, I Refute Pope’s Judgementalness About World Religions
What CPAC Teaches Us about the Republican Worldview (Guest Voice)
What CPAC teaches us about the Republican worldview (via GlobalPost) Analysis: The conservative gathering projects a strictly America-centric view of the world. Jean MacKenzie BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. â?? â??We donâ??t need a new idea,â? said Sen. Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida. â??The idea is called America, and it still works.â? Rubio was one of… … [Read more...] about What CPAC Teaches Us about the Republican Worldview (Guest Voice)
Defense Update in Images and in a Few Words
It is the weekend and time again to dedicate a few words, and images, to our troops. Usually there is a “theme.” This time, just my favorite images. (“So there...”) But seriously, I hope you like them and, more important, I hope you’ll spend a few minutes thinking of our troops. Personal privilege: I love the C-130 Hercules, the “workhorse” of the Air Force, an … [Read more...] about Defense Update in Images and in a Few Words
CPAC GOP Branding Damage: Participant Defends Slavery as Good (UPDATED)
If there is "rebranding" going on in the GOP, the imagery that's going out now is not exactly what Republicans who talked about rebranding had in mind. It is a bit of a disaster when someone seemingly longs for the days of slavery and desegration. Not the best way to attract African-American voters -- and moderates and independents -- don't you think? But here's the polemical … [Read more...] about CPAC GOP Branding Damage: Participant Defends Slavery as Good (UPDATED)
People Will Try to Steal Anything These Days
People will try to steal anything these days. And I mean anything. … [Read more...] about People Will Try to Steal Anything These Days