When Osama bin Laden was killed at his compound in Pakistan many rejoiced at his death. My view was contrary as I wrote in what I believe was my most unpopular post in my time at TMV. In that piece I accused the Obama administration of having murdered bin Laden. The piece also predicted that the dark philosophy of murder-as-problem-solving would be advanced beyond that … [Read more...] about Culture Of The Death Drones And Memories Of bin Laden’s Murder
Hillary, The New Website
WASINGTON - HillaryClinton.com, the 2008 site, now directs people to "Click here to reach the office of Hillary Clinton." The second run to become the first female president in U.S. history... awaits. At least many hope so. It's not a coronation. As I've written before, many a Democratic man people have voted for had fewer credentials and a resume of less heft than … [Read more...] about Hillary, The New Website
The Republican Base Problem
The Republican Party has a base problem that may have already cost them control of the Senate. There was Todd Akin and Richard Murdoch in 2012 - Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell in 2010 who were able to win primaries but unable to win general elections because they were just- well crazy. Establishment Republicans are trying to stop the bleeding but they have a problem in … [Read more...] about The Republican Base Problem
Fox News Boots Dick Morris
Fox News has booted Dick Morris, arguably the worst pundit since the time of Moses: Fox News has decided not to renew its contract with political commentator and pollster Dick Morris, an industry official tells POLITICO's Mike Allen. Morris, who was on contract with Fox News throughout the 2012 presidential campaign, had not appeared on the network for almost three … [Read more...] about Fox News Boots Dick Morris
Constitution Thursday Updates
As I've previously mentioned I am involved in another web site where we write on the US Constitution. We've added some updates recently and I would encourage you to check them out. … [Read more...] about Constitution Thursday Updates
Patriotism at Super Bowl 47: Rush Limbaugh Cannot Be Right
A couple of days before the Super Bowl I expressed my disagreement with Washington Post opinion writer Tricia Jenkins’ claim that sports games “have become stages for large-scale patriotic theater” featuring “militaristic rituals” -- a left-over from when such “rituals” were “deliberately designed to promote unity during times of crisis,” habits that have “stuck around far … [Read more...] about Patriotism at Super Bowl 47: Rush Limbaugh Cannot Be Right
Chris Christie Does His Schitck with CBS’ David Letterman (Video)
One of the key tools in the media age is being able to not just be on TV, but look relaxed on TV and be someone the camera seemingly loves (as someone who has paid to have videos shot in my other incarnation and over the years been on MSNBC and CNN as a talking head the camera can't make up its mind about ME). New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is someone the camera loves and you … [Read more...] about Chris Christie Does His Schitck with CBS’ David Letterman (Video)
US Memo Gives Broad Legal Rationale for Targeted Killings
US memo gives broad legal rationale for targeted killings (via AFP) A newly revealed Justice Department memo finds that US citizens believed to be senior Al-Qaeda operators may lawfully be killed, even if no intelligence shows they are actively plotting an attack. The disclosure by NBC News, which posted a link to the white paper on its web page, comes amid … [Read more...] about US Memo Gives Broad Legal Rationale for Targeted Killings
Less Frequent Elections and Term Limits = Better Congress
Congress has consistently low public approval ratings because citizens perceive the institution as a highly politicized body that gets little important legislation enacted. One of the reasons is that elections every two years to choose members of Congress (MOC), as mandated in Article One of the Constitution, are too frequent, negatively impacting the functioning of the … [Read more...] about Less Frequent Elections and Term Limits = Better Congress
On Guns, Unfinished Business
WASHINGTON -- The moment that most deserves to be remembered from Sunday's thrilling Super Bowl came before the game, when Jennifer Hudson joined students from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in singing "America the Beautiful." It was a heart-rending elegy for the fallen -- and a stirring call to action. The brave students, in khakis and white polo shirts, survived the … [Read more...] about On Guns, Unfinished Business
Quote of the Day: Jay Rosen on Newsroom “Traditionalists” and Changing Journalism
Our Quote of the Day comes from NYU's Jay Rosen, a journalism professor who never fails to make many think about media issues who might not normally seriously think about media issues -- or who might considering seriously thinking about media issues. He has this MUST READ post on the tensions between media traditionalists the new media. Here's his headline: Look, … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Jay Rosen on Newsroom “Traditionalists” and Changing Journalism
Can Vigilante Justice Save Mexico?
Can vigilante justice save Mexico? (via GlobalPost) With law and order stretched thin in Mexico, citizen posses have stepped up, rounding up accused drug dealers and other criminals. Dudley Althaus AYUTLA DE LOS LIBRES, Mexico â?? For almost a month now, hundreds of masked men wielding old shotguns, rifles, revolvers and machetes have claimed to… … [Read more...] about Can Vigilante Justice Save Mexico?
Do Super Bowl Commercials Drive People (Especially Kids) to Drink? (Video)
Do Super Bowl commercials drive people to drink -- particularly kidsSan Diego's Dr. Michael Mantell discusses on his TV appearance on San Diego's CW 6: … [Read more...] about Do Super Bowl Commercials Drive People (Especially Kids) to Drink? (Video)
Is Former Republican Party South Carolina Bigwig Trying to Provoke Twitter?
Is a former Republican Party bigwig from South Carolina trying to provoke Twitter by doing Tweets that cannot be confused with thoughtful discussion -- and in fact will bring him charges of racism? Is he perhaps trying to set himself up as a conservative political martyr?GO HERE AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. NOTE: My own view is that American politics and media "success" (hits, … [Read more...] about Is Former Republican Party South Carolina Bigwig Trying to Provoke Twitter?
Power Outage (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 Power Outage (Cartoon)
Gallup Poll: Hispanics’ Approval of Obama 70%, Up 12 Pts. Since August
A new Gallup Poll finds President Barack Obama's stock is rising among Hispanic voters when compared to August, although down a bit from last month: In January, 70% of Hispanics approved of the job President Barack Obama was doing, down slightly from 75% in December. However, the January measure still represents an increase of 12 percentage points since last August, just … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Hispanics’ Approval of Obama 70%, Up 12 Pts. Since August
Richard the GOP (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 Richard the GOP (Cartoon)
Alabama Hostage Situation Ends with Child Safe, Kidnapper Dead
Alabama hostage situation ends with child safe, kidnapper dead (via NJ.com) Seven days after an Alabama man killed a school bus driver, stole a child and held him in a bunker, the situation has been resolved and the child is free, according to a report on AL.com. Law enforcement officials confirmed to AL.com that 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes was dead, but declined … [Read more...] about Alabama Hostage Situation Ends with Child Safe, Kidnapper Dead
Tagg Romney Says “No Thanks” to Those Floating His Name for Senate for Massachusetts
Tagg Romney has flatly said: "Tagg -- I'm not it." It'll be a Romney-less election in April to fill now-Secretary of Defense John Kerry's senate seat after all. Trial balloons trying to get losing Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney's wife Ann to enter the fray fizzled. And you could say that a Boston Herald report flatly saying he was seriously considering entering … [Read more...] about Tagg Romney Says “No Thanks” to Those Floating His Name for Senate for Massachusetts
I’m Back
This is kind of a follow up to John's excellent post at Middle Earth Journal. About 2 weeks ago my my 90 year old mother died. She had been in home hospice for over 2 months. I had a caregiver come in 5 hours a day but for the rest of the time I was her caregiver. Those caregivers were not covered by medicare and it cost my sister and I about $12,000 for those two months. … [Read more...] about I’m Back