Some things are totally predictable. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west. The tides will go out after coming in. The Yankees will always have more to spend on talent that their rivals. Something else is totally predicable. After Wall Street sharpies have rigged the stock market to rise in ways that generate undeserved profits for themselves for a long enough … [Read more...] about A Flagrantly Overbought Stock Market — Time For The Small Investor to Play Chump Again
Why Chuck Hagel Is Being Attacked
I just watched a bit of Chuck Hagel's confirmation hearings on TV and saw Senator John McCain in full, aggressive tone, attack mode. Why? John Avlon nails it in a CNN post offering reality checks for Hagel's critics: The final reality check relates to the conservative senators who have criticized their former colleague. In 2006, John McCain said he'd be "honored to have … [Read more...] about Why Chuck Hagel Is Being Attacked
Obama’s Pentagon Pick Chuck Hagel Faces Critics at Senate Hearing
Obama's Pentagon pick faces critics at Senate hearing (via AFP) The Vietnam War veteran picked to lead the Pentagon, Chuck Hagel, sought to reassure lawmakers Thursday that he was ready to back military action if necessary against Iran or other adversaries. Facing tough questions from some senators at his confirmation hearing, Hagel said in his opening … [Read more...] about Obama’s Pentagon Pick Chuck Hagel Faces Critics at Senate Hearing
New York Times Attacked by Chinese Hackers (Guest Voice)
New York Times attacked by Chinese hackers (via The Inquirer) NEW YORK NEWSPAPER OF RECORD the New York Times reports that it has been the victim of a prolonged cyber attack by Chinese hackers. The company has been under attack for four months, but so far it is winning the battle. According to a report published yesterday on the New York Times website the … [Read more...] about New York Times Attacked by Chinese Hackers (Guest Voice)
Quote of the Day: the Contrast Between John Kerry and Al Gore
NBC's First Read gives us our political Quote of the Day with this contrast between to men who ran for President and lost, John Kerry and Al Gore: *** John Kerry and Al Gore -- two different paths: In the past week, we’ve seen a confluence of events surrounding the last two defeated Democratic presidential nominees. John Kerry, who lost the 2004 election, overwhelmingly … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: the Contrast Between John Kerry and Al Gore
Hats off to Algeria for Rejecting U.S. Meddling in Hostage Crisis (Echorouk al-Yawm, Algeria)
Why is it that Algeria didn't avail itself of help from the U.S. secret services in dealing with and tracking down terrorists who raided an Algerian gas facility, took 600 hostages, and left scores dead? Listening to FOX News, one might have thought this was due a desire by the Obama Administration to remain aloof. Not so, according to columnist Saleh Awad of Algeria's Echorouk … [Read more...] about Hats off to Algeria for Rejecting U.S. Meddling in Hostage Crisis (Echorouk al-Yawm, Algeria)
Lost in Their Own Wilderness
WASHINGTON -- Republicans shouldn't worry that President Obama is trying to destroy the GOP. Why would he bother? The party's leaders are doing a pretty good job of it themselves. As they try to understand why the party lost an election it was confident of winning -- and why it keeps losing budget showdowns in Congress -- Republican grandees are asking the wrong … [Read more...] about Lost in Their Own Wilderness
Republicans and Immigration Pinata (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 Republicans and Immigration Pinata (Cartoon)
Israel strike on Syria ‘unacceptable’: Russia
Israel strike on Syria 'unacceptable': Russia (via AFP) Russia warned on Thursday that any air strike against its ally Syria would be "unacceptable," as Israel maintained a strict silence on claims it had bombed Syrian targets. Russia's foreign ministry said it was "deeply concerned" after Damascus claimed a military research centre had come under Israeli… … [Read more...] about Israel strike on Syria ‘unacceptable’: Russia
Hero School Bus Driver Shot Dead by Kidnapper
I hold my head, I hold my head... credible threat not taken credibly. Armed man, known menace, boards children-filled school bus. News media across the nation reports as per AP, A gunman holed up in a bunker with a 6-year-old hostage kept law officers at bay Wednesday in an all-night, all-day standoff that began when he killed a school bus driver and dragged the boy … [Read more...] about Hero School Bus Driver Shot Dead by Kidnapper
Girl Who Performed for Obama Shot Dead in Chicago
Girl who performed for Obama shot dead in Chicago (via AFP) A 15-year-old girl who performed at President Barack Obama's inauguration last week was shot dead in Chicago by a gunman who opened fire on a group of kids hanging out in a park, police said Wednesday. "It is believed that the offender mistook the group for gang members and fired at them," Chicago… … [Read more...] about Girl Who Performed for Obama Shot Dead in Chicago
Fox News Ratings Hit 12 Year Low
Bad News for Fox News, good news for MSNBC: Fox News is on the decline and MSNBC is on the ascent. Fox News had its worst ratings since 2001 in January, according to the latest figures. The network had a 12-year low in the coveted 25-54 demographic in primetime and fell to its lowest total day ratings since 2008, a press release from rival cable channel MSNBC stated on … [Read more...] about Fox News Ratings Hit 12 Year Low
Sen. Dick Durban Tells NRA’s Wayne LaPierre He “Misses the Point Entirely” on Background Checks (Video)
There were fireworks at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence today when Democrat and gun control advocate Illinois Sen. Dick Durban decided to puncture one of the key talking points delivered by NRA bigwig Wayne LaPierre. The bottom line on LaPierre and the NRA's position on gun regulation is: Just Say No To Any New Laws or Regulation. And that includes what … [Read more...] about Sen. Dick Durban Tells NRA’s Wayne LaPierre He “Misses the Point Entirely” on Background Checks (Video)
VIDEO: Gabby Giffords’ Moving Call for Congress to Act on Gun Control
Ex-lawmaker and shooting victim Gabrielle Giffords' testimony from Congress will long be shown by those who feel it's critical to have more extensive gun regulation. You can read about it HERE -- but here is the VIDEO so you can watch it for yourself: And here is some of the testimony by her husband, Mark Kelly: … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Gabby Giffords’ Moving Call for Congress to Act on Gun Control
That “Presidential Grub” is Resilient Stuff
Ann Althouse makes it plain that she thinks departing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was shooting less than straight when she said that isn't presently inclined to run for the presidency in 2016. Althouse asked her readers to "assess the degree of [baloney]" (my translation) in Clinton's statement. But I don't think one can assess Clinton too much blame for being … [Read more...] about That “Presidential Grub” is Resilient Stuff
Weaning Away from Smoking and Shooting
As politicians in Washington slow-dance to the Second Amendment, elsewhere in American culture a different music about gun control is being heard. On the Daily Show, sportscaster Bob Costas tells Jon Stewart about the uproar over his mild comments linking gun use to football violence, while a New York Times business columnist fills his space with 15 shooting death reports … [Read more...] about Weaning Away from Smoking and Shooting
Sign of Death for Assault Weapons Ban: Reid Declines to Endorse It
You might title retitle this story from The Hill "The NRA Wins Again": Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday declined to voice support for Democratic legislation that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips. Reid said he would bring gun-violence legislation to the floor and open it to a lengthy amendment process. But he declined to … [Read more...] about Sign of Death for Assault Weapons Ban: Reid Declines to Endorse It
Gabby Giffords to Senate: ‘You Must Act’ on Gun Violence
Gabby Giffords to Senate: 'You must act' on gun violence (via AFP) Ex-lawmaker and shooting victim Gabrielle Giffords made a brief but impassioned appeal in Congress Wednesday, telling lawmakers "you must act" to find ways to reduce gun violence. "Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying," Giffords, a former congresswoman who was shot in the head … [Read more...] about Gabby Giffords to Senate: ‘You Must Act’ on Gun Violence
A Harbinger or Not? U.S. Economy Contracts
A seeming setback for the recovery: the U.S economy has contracted: U.S. economic momentum screeched to a halt in the final months of 2012, as businesses pared back inventories and government spending fell sharply, while lawmakers struggled to reach a deal on tax increases and budget cuts. The nation's gross domestic product shrank for the first time in three and a … [Read more...] about A Harbinger or Not? U.S. Economy Contracts
Water Bubble in Space
Via NASA: NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, Expedition 34 commander, watches a water bubble float freely between him and the camera, showing his image refracted, in the Unity node of the International Space Station. … [Read more...] about Water Bubble in Space