One morning in late September 2011, a group of American drones took off from an airstrip the C.I.A. had built in the remote southern expanse of Saudi Arabia. The drones crossed the border into Yemen, and were soon hovering over a group of trucks clustered in a desert patch of Jawf Province, a region of the impoverished country once renowned for breeding Arabian horses. A … [Read more...] about The New York Times: ‘How a U.S. Citizen Came to Be in America’s Cross Hairs’
Gun Legislation Getting Holstered on Capitol Hill
Gun legislation getting holstered on Capitol Hill (via AFP) Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP/FileSenate Judiciary Committee members (L-R) US Senators Orrin Hatch, ranking member Chuck Grassley, Chairman Patrick Leahy, Dianne Feinstein and Charles Schumer on Capitol Hill, January 30, 2013. The committee considered four pieces of gun control legislation on March… … [Read more...] about Gun Legislation Getting Holstered on Capitol Hill
‘Women’s History Month’: Women in the Air Force
I am sure readers have noticed the unusual number of stories about women during the past two weeks. One of the reasons -- in addition to women just meriting “equal coverage” -- is the fact that March is “Women’s History Month.” According to the Library of Congress: Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress...authorized … [Read more...] about ‘Women’s History Month’: Women in the Air Force
Why Not Arm The Students, Too?
South Dakota has just enacted a law that lets teachers carry guns in their classrooms. Not a bad idea. Sure, the chances of a crazed gunman coming to a school in the state and doing the horrible things done recently in Connecticut are...well...infinitesimal. And there are so many better and safer ways to protect students against such a happening than arming teachers. But … [Read more...] about Why Not Arm The Students, Too?
Paul Exploits Filibuster With Inaccurate Fund-raising Letter
Mother Jone's David Corn reports that Senator Rand Paul didn't waste one iota of time: he quickly exploited his political-star-turning use of the old time talking filibuster into a fundraising letter peppered with inaccuracies. Lest you have any doubt: Paul has his hat in the ring for 2016 -- and I'm betting he will find lots of response not just among libertarians others in … [Read more...] about Paul Exploits Filibuster With Inaccurate Fund-raising Letter
Ruthless Crime Gangs Global Wildlife Trade
Ruthless crime gangs driving global wildlife trade (via AFP) James Morgan/WWF/AFP/FileA veterinary team takes blood samples to trace the DNA of one of 16 tiger cubs seized from smugglers on October 26, 2012 in Thailand, in a photo obtained on December 12, 2012 from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).Ruthless and heavily armed "criminal syndicates" linked to drug… … [Read more...] about Ruthless Crime Gangs Global Wildlife Trade
(Update) Chuck Hagel in Afghanistan – Thanks Troops, ‘Assesses’ Operations
UPDATE: The American Forces Press Service reports that while Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was in a briefing at a NATO International Security Assistance Force facility in Kabul, Afghanistan, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside the Afghan Defense Ministry killing nine and injuring 14. Later in the day during a visit to Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, … [Read more...] about (Update) Chuck Hagel in Afghanistan – Thanks Troops, ‘Assesses’ Operations
The Case Against “Inception”
Christopher Nolan – there isn’t a director out there that I'd single out for over hyped fan-boy praise more than this guy. I genuinely love him. He’s made films that I attribute to my raging love of cinema. The very first time I watched Memento, I was so shocked and inspired by what I had just seen that I instantly replayed the film. The Prestige, a criminally underrated … [Read more...] about The Case Against “Inception”
McCain Continues Blasting Conservative Tea Party Grassroots Favorites
The Huffington Post has a fascinating post about how Arizona Sen. John McCain seems now to be returning to his maverick roots. If you've been on Mars the past 15 years here's a quick primer: McCain once upon a time seemed a true "maverick," an independent thinker who'd veer towards both parties and be extremely critical of his own. He wasn't beloved by other GOPers when he … [Read more...] about McCain Continues Blasting Conservative Tea Party Grassroots Favorites
John Brennan Confirmed as CIA Director
John Brennan confirmed as CIA director (via AFP) Saul Loeb/AFP/FileJohn Brennan, US President Barack Obama's nominee to be director of the CIA, during his confirmation hearing on February 7, 2013 before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. The US Senate on Thursday confirmed counterterrorism expert Brennan to be the next… … [Read more...] about John Brennan Confirmed as CIA Director
Levin’s Retirement Means Opportunities For Both Sides
Historic Tidbit: 1958 was a very Democratic year nationwide. In fact, only one Democratic member of Congress lost her seat. It was Congresswoman Coya Knutson of Minnesota. Her husband had written a famous"Coya Come Home"letter to local newspapers asking her to make his breakfast again. Knutson,the first female Congressperson from Minnesota did go home,but managed to get the … [Read more...] about Levin’s Retirement Means Opportunities For Both Sides
North Korea Steps up Rhetoric: How Far Will it Push?
North Korea steps up rhetoric: How far will it push? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Copyright ImageClick to View South Korean armored vehicles move during an exercise near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom in Jeokseong, South Korea, Friday. North Korea grabbed international headlines yesterday by threatening to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against both South Korea … [Read more...] about North Korea Steps up Rhetoric: How Far Will it Push?
Carl Levin: A Man of Soundness, Not Soundbites
The end of an era is upon us in Michigan. Carl Levin, the state's senior Senator who with his older brother Sandy made the Levin name a powerhouse on Capitol Hill (in squash and in policy) has announced his retirement. Levin's departure marks the end of a long career which was defined by decency and collegiality. If Senators had three year terms, Levin probably would've gone … [Read more...] about Carl Levin: A Man of Soundness, Not Soundbites
Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. Let Freedom Ring In The GOP
Via Jim Geraghty Morning Jolt, Philip Klein gives us a concise explanation of why Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster was so effective: A lot of the outpouring of conservative support for Paul's filibuster on Obama's drone policy went beyond the libertarian and anti-interventionist blocs of the movement who were also deeply troubled by Bush era counter-terrorism policies. Even those … [Read more...] about Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. Let Freedom Ring In The GOP
(UPDATE) Republicans Eating Their Own for Breakfast, Lunch — and Dinner
UPDATE: And the feeding frenzy continues, becoming almost “circular” now -- you know, the snake swallowing its own tail. Except that the snake now appears to have developed multiple heads, and multiple tails, all trying to swallow each other. The Washington Post refers to a Huffington Post interview where McCain refers to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Sen. Ted Cruz … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) Republicans Eating Their Own for Breakfast, Lunch — and Dinner
Nine Reasons Why Rand Paul’s Filibuster Resonated So Widely
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul's old fashioned, talking filibuster was a come out of left right field instantly popular media and social media happening. In 13 hours he "branded" himself sufficienty different from the GOP pack so that it's clear if he wants it he'll be a 2016 GOP Presidential primary contender. A sampling of Tweets, Facebook posts, and blog and news stories found that … [Read more...] about Nine Reasons Why Rand Paul’s Filibuster Resonated So Widely
Average North Korean ‘Shocked’ at Rodman’s ‘Gangster’ Appearance (Daily North Korea, South Korea)
Kim Jong-un may have enjoyed hosting Dennis Rodman and a number of Harlem Globetrotters, but it appears that the average person in the country found the display perhaps more unsettling than Westerners did. And it just may be decades of anti-capitalist, anti-American propaganda that are to blame. According to this news item from the Daily North Korea, a publication in the … [Read more...] about Average North Korean ‘Shocked’ at Rodman’s ‘Gangster’ Appearance (Daily North Korea, South Korea)
Cardinals to Choose Pope (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 Cardinals to Choose Pope (Cartoon)
Quote of the Day: A Consequential Week as 2016 Positioning Begins
Our political Quote of the Day comes from NBC's First Read, which notes two things (1)it was a very consequential week, and, (2) that revving sound you hear are candidates zooming into position to run for the Oval Office in 2016: *** A consequential week: A year from now, we could look back on this first full week in March as being a pretty significant week in American … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: A Consequential Week as 2016 Positioning Begins
Rand Paul Talks the Talk
WASHINGTON -- Rand Paul was right. There, I said it. The Republican senator from Kentucky, whom I've ridiculed as an archconservative kook -- because that's basically what he is -- was right to call attention to the growing use of drone aircraft in "targeted killings" by staging a nearly 13-hour filibuster on the Senate floor. Paul did it the old-fashioned way, … [Read more...] about Rand Paul Talks the Talk