There are different opinions floating around these days concerning the tenure of Tim Geithner as Secretary of the Treasury. The official view of the Obama Administration, in which Geithner has been a part, is that his prudence, wisdom, and incisiveness helped save the world financial system from going into free fall after the 2007 market plunge. The view of critics on both … [Read more...] about The Tim Geithner Story: Wall Street Man Meets Rube Goldberg World Economy
U.S. Air Force Transports French Troops to Mali
French soldiers march to a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in Istres, France, Jan. 21, 2013. The United States agreed to airlift French troops and equipment into the African nation of Mali. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Richardson) Although temporarily off the U.S. front pages because of the Algerian hostage crisis, the French military intervention in … [Read more...] about U.S. Air Force Transports French Troops to Mali
The People Egypt’s Revolution Left Behind (Guest Voice)
The people Egypt's revolution left behind (via The Christian Science Monitor) For a video of an Egyptian activist describing his own experience of the revolution and the two years since, please scroll to bottom of the story. Amr Esmat guides his tuk tuk through a rutted dirt street between brick buildings so close together that they almost entirely block the … [Read more...] about The People Egypt’s Revolution Left Behind (Guest Voice)
Egypt Protesters Torch Brotherhood Party HQ: AFP
Egypt protesters torch Brotherhood party HQ: AFP (via AFP) Egyptian protesters on Friday set fire to the Muslim Brotherhood party headquarters in the canal city of Ismailiya, an AFP reporter said. Black smoke could be seen coming out of the windows of the apartment housing the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) offices, as Egyptians staged nationwide rallies… … [Read more...] about Egypt Protesters Torch Brotherhood Party HQ: AFP
Why VAWA must be rewritten
Child advocate Laurie A. Couture has a must-read article on why the so-called "Violence Against Women Act" is a grievous piece of legislation that desperately needs to be rewritten from the ground up. To quote some of the more salient parts: I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a children’s rights advocate and former social worker. I have worked with children of all … [Read more...] about Why VAWA must be rewritten
The ‘Active-Shooter’ Phenomenon
A team of 50th Security Forces Squadron Airmen clears a room in the shoot house during an active-shooter response live training scenario, as part of its annual training program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes) It is a sad sign of the times that in America, people -- even children -- have to worry about being caught in a situation where a person … [Read more...] about The ‘Active-Shooter’ Phenomenon
Bad Ballad: Battle of Labor Board Appointments
Recess appointments declared unconstitutional by a federal appeals court unanimously agreeing on a law point, that Prez Obama violated the Constitution last year by appointing three members to the National Labor Relations Board while the Senate not 'technically' in recess, allegedly circumventing Senate Republicans who had held up his picks for months. Likely to cause new … [Read more...] about Bad Ballad: Battle of Labor Board Appointments
Appeals Court: President Obama’s Labor Panel Appointments Unconstitutional
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit ruled that President Obama violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate to fill vacancies on the National Labor Relations Board last year. Obama claims he acted properly because the Senate was away for the holidays. But the court says the Senate technically stayed in session when lawmakers gaveled in and out every few … [Read more...] about Appeals Court: President Obama’s Labor Panel Appointments Unconstitutional
Former FL Rep. Allen West Dismisses Women in Combat as a ‘Social Experiment’
Former Rep. Allen West, who was voted out of office after one term in the U.S. Congress, is giving his two cents on Defense Department's decision to allow women to serve in combat on the front line, reversing a 1994 policy. West tweet: "Women in combat billets, another misconceived lib vision of fairness and equality." Other conservatives have voiced similar opinions. Um, this … [Read more...] about Former FL Rep. Allen West Dismisses Women in Combat as a ‘Social Experiment’
Video Animation: Women in Combat
Taiwan's Next Media Animation's latest take: on women in combat. … [Read more...] about Video Animation: Women in Combat
The Truth is You’re Still a Jerk Lance (Guest Voice)
The Truth is You're Still a Jerk, Lance by Tina Dupuy I'm a marathon runner. A few years ago my coach was diagnosed with cancer. The first thing his ragged team of runners did was sign him up with Livestrong. Through the course of his treatment he would show up to track with his yellow beanie warming his chemo-ravaged bald head. He proudly wore the iconic wristband to every … [Read more...] about The Truth is You’re Still a Jerk Lance (Guest Voice)
Obama, Clinton to Give Joint TV interview
Obama, Clinton to give joint TV interview (via AFP) US President Barack Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will sit down Friday for a joint television interview, US broadcaster CBS announced. The interview will be aired Sunday evening on the "60 Minutes" show, the channel said. Clinton, the top US diplomat during Obama's first term… … [Read more...] about Obama, Clinton to Give Joint TV interview
Questions that Need Asking
WASHINGTON -- Republicans wanted nothing more than to summon Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Capitol Hill and grill her about the tragic fiasco in Benghazi. Sadly for them, they got their wish. Clinton's smooth and confident performance at Wednesday's Senate and House committee hearings was fun to watch. When her would-be inquisitors asked serious questions, she … [Read more...] about Questions that Need Asking
Is It About To Be Illegal To Unlock Your Cellphone?
Remember, if it sounds too awful to be true, then 99.9% of the time ... it's not true. Or not completely true. And that's the case with this headline, which made its way 'round the net on Thursday. The story popped up in a Facebook conversation on a different subject. Then I wandered over to Techmeme, where I made this screen capture. But there is a germ of truth in the … [Read more...] about Is It About To Be Illegal To Unlock Your Cellphone?
Women in Combat (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 Women in Combat (Cartoon)
Sen. Feinstein introduces Assault Weapons Ban (Unlikely to Pass)
Caliornia's Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced a major assault weapons ban -- but all indications from pundits and politicos is that it doesn't have a chance of passing in its present incarnation or in the present political climate where the National Rifle Association still controls a large number of votes in Congress: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and a group of … [Read more...] about Sen. Feinstein introduces Assault Weapons Ban (Unlikely to Pass)
Te’o Admits Briefly Lied in Girlfriend Hoax
Te'o admits briefly lied in girlfriend hoax (via AFP) Collegiate American football star Manti Te'o said in an interview that he was not part of creating the elaborate hoax of a fictional girlfriend but briefly lied about the situation. Te'o, a 21-year-old linebacker of Samoan ancestry, sparked Notre Dame into the US college gridiron title game, was runner… … [Read more...] about Te’o Admits Briefly Lied in Girlfriend Hoax
Women in Combat: It Is ‘Official’
Today, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, signed a memo to lift the ban on women in military combat operations during a press conference at the Pentagon. Shown above is Army Lt. Col. Tamatha Patterson looking on during the signing. (DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church) The following are the remarks … [Read more...] about Women in Combat: It Is ‘Official’
Hillary’s Tour de Force on the Hill
"I'm not sure she had rehearsed for that type of question," Johnson told BuzzFeed Wednesday afternoon, after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. "I think she just decided before she was going to describe emotionally the four dead Americans, the heroes, and use that as her trump card to get out of the questions. It was a good way of getting out of really having to … [Read more...] about Hillary’s Tour de Force on the Hill
The Real Danger We Risk Overlooking
In a word, the danger posed by recent and future action on the part of state legislatures dominated by Republicans is serious and growing. Brad Plumer lays it out. In most states, presidential elections are fairly simple. Whichever candidate garners the most votes wins all of that state’s electoral votes. There are two tiny exceptions (Maine and Nebraska), but that’s … [Read more...] about The Real Danger We Risk Overlooking