Should Japan be allowed to have a national military again? Confronted with territorial claims by a more assertive China and a nuclear-armed North Korea, Japan's new prime minister Shinzo Abe has made amending the Constitution to make possible a national military one of his central goals. The document, imposed by the United States after World War II, is almost impossible to … [Read more...] about Imposed 66 Years Ago, the Time Has Come to Revise Our ‘Pacific Constitution’ (Iwate Nippo Shimbun, Japan)
Chinese Planned to Kill Drug Lord With Drone
Here is a story that may provide additional “ammunition” -- no pun intended -- to those who are concerned about the use of drones to target and take out human beings, whether terrorists or criminals. The article also provides a glimpse into how China is rapidly improving both its “Beidu” global navigation system -- a key part of any remotely controlled attack drone system … [Read more...] about Chinese Planned to Kill Drug Lord With Drone
Sex Scandal Rehab: Petraeus Too Valuable to Lose
As a former governor tries to wash himself clean in South Carolina, David Petraeus surfaces briefly to underscore what was lost in last year’s media circus, a much more able and honorable public figure. Mark Sanford has to explain away deception and misuse of public funds, while the former General is still serving time in publicity purgatory for one large misstep, more … [Read more...] about Sex Scandal Rehab: Petraeus Too Valuable to Lose
Police Dogs And The 4th Amendment
The United States Supreme Court has issued a unanimous ruling on the issue of drug sniffing police dogs and the 4th amendment. The decision reversed a ruling from the Florida Supreme Court in the case of Florida v. Harris. The defendant in the case was a man named Clayton Harris of Blountstown, Florida. On June 24, 2006 he was driving in his truck when a canine officer … [Read more...] about Police Dogs And The 4th Amendment
The Tea Party’s Ghost
WASHINGTON -- The deficit that should concern us most right now has to do with time, not money. Money can be recouped. Time just disappears. And time is what Washington is wasting now on an utterly artificial crisis driven not by economics but by ideology, partisan interest and an obsession over a word -- "sequester" -- that means nothing to most Americans. Here … [Read more...] about The Tea Party’s Ghost
Poll: Obama Rising, Republicans Tumbling
As the clock ticks louder and louder on the sequester (man-made) crisis in Washington, a new poll finds that President Barack Obama's numbers are rising and the Republican's numbers are tumbling: President Barack Obama enters the latest budget showdown with Congress with his highest job- approval rating in three years and public support for his economic message, while his … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Rising, Republicans Tumbling
Citizens United Revised … Upward?
Is the Supreme Court about to remove all limits on campaign contributions? The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a challenge to federal campaign contribution limits, setting the stage for what may turn out to be the most important federal campaign finance case since the court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United, which struck down limits on independent campaign … [Read more...] about Citizens United Revised … Upward?
Maddow’s ‘Hubris’ and Bush’s Hubris
A long-time reader reminded me that I was going to watch Rachel Maddow's documentary "Hubris [{long subtitle]" based on the eponymous book David Corn and Michael Isikoff, and wondered what I'd think. Little Green Footballs has it neatly segmented to watch from the MSNBC feed. Long-time readers might also note that I've been writing about this since before I ever blogged. … [Read more...] about Maddow’s ‘Hubris’ and Bush’s Hubris
Armstrong Refuses to Cooperate with USADA
Armstrong refuses to cooperate with USADA (via AFP) Lance Armstrong said Wednesday that he will not cooperate with a US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation into dope cheats in cycling but would be willing to help other anti-doping inquiries. The move greatly diminishes Armstrong's chances of having his life ban from World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA… … [Read more...] about Armstrong Refuses to Cooperate with USADA
Ship of Fools (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 Ship of Fools (Cartoon)
Michelle Obama releases new White House portrait
Michelle Obama releases new White House portrait (via NJ.com) Michelle Obama released her official White House portrait today, and it's hard to miss the photo's most prominent feature: her bangs. The 49-year-old fashion-forward first lady debuted the bangs in January, sending the Internet into a frenzy. She recently told TV host Rachael Ray that the bangs were… … [Read more...] about Michelle Obama releases new White House portrait
Woman Denied Massage Because Of Her Weight
This is one of those stories that turns out to not be quite what you think it would be. A woman goes to a spa and wants to get a massage but she is turned down because the owner says she is too fat and could break the table. She gets upset and there is tons of media coverage. The reasonable conclusion most of us would reach is that the woman must have weighed hundreds of … [Read more...] about Woman Denied Massage Because Of Her Weight
Southern Baptists Urge Boy Scouts To Retain Ban On Gays
Not exactly surprising news that a group as intolerant of opposing views as the Southern Baptists would urge the Boy Scouts to retain the ban on gays in the organization. While I accept the right of anyone to hold differing views on an issue I find this position particularly upsetting. Remember that we are not talking about passing a resolution which would force units to … [Read more...] about Southern Baptists Urge Boy Scouts To Retain Ban On Gays
Jesse Jackson Jr. Could Face 4-5 Years In Prison
Based on his repeated admissions of guilt a judge today found Jesse Jackson Jr guilty of a variety of charges stemming from misuse of his campaign funds. The general guidelines for these offenses would lead to a sentence between 47 and 57 months but the final decision is in the discretion of the judge and could be longer or shorter than that. A sad end for a once … [Read more...] about Jesse Jackson Jr. Could Face 4-5 Years In Prison
Did a New York Daily News’ Reporter’s Tongue in Cheek Question Start Reported Hagel “Friends of Hamas”Rumor?
Did a New York Daily New reporter's tongue in cheek question start a reported rumor that beset Secretary of Defense nominee former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel may have taken "Friends of Hamas" money? It sure sounds that way, although the website that was reporting this (alleged) revelation is still standing by its story. Talking Points Memo has this (and look below since … [Read more...] about Did a New York Daily News’ Reporter’s Tongue in Cheek Question Start Reported Hagel “Friends of Hamas”Rumor?
Great Scott! For Legendary PA Pol, Not At Winning Votes
With Ted Kennedy (Washington Post photo) Historic Fact: In 1865, there was a Michigan Congressman who voted for 13th Amendment named Charles Upson, who represented Kalamazoo. One of his successors has an eerily similarly sounding name Fred Upton. He holds a descendant of the Upson seat that also encompasses Kalamazoo. Of course, Michigan had just six House seats in the … [Read more...] about Great Scott! For Legendary PA Pol, Not At Winning Votes
Why Pay Wages To Workers When Work Itself Is A Wage?
You listen to debates these days about why we should or shouldn't raise the federal minimum wage and you might get the idea that this argument is about the economic benefits or drawbacks of doing so. That's not actually the case on the Republicans' side of the argument. Yes, Republicans describe the negative economic consequences they claim might come about if the federal … [Read more...] about Why Pay Wages To Workers When Work Itself Is A Wage?
US, China Trade Charges on Cyberattacks
US, China trade charges on cyberattacks (via AFP) The United States and China traded charges over cyberattacks after a security firm alleged that Beijing controled hackers who have penetrated the US government, companies and media. The US firm Mandiant said cyberattacks had been traced back to a non-descript, 12-story building on the outskirts of… … [Read more...] about US, China Trade Charges on Cyberattacks
Confronting My Own Sexism: Up In The Air
Again, my weekly blog is here. … Back when I was at University, there was this TV show my best friend introduced me to - The Dead Zone. It was about a teacher who got into a car accident and was comatose for X amount of years. When he regained his consciousness, he finds out that he has superpowers – when he touches people, he can see past/future events. There was … [Read more...] about Confronting My Own Sexism: Up In The Air
The Blame Game
Probably the latest dumbest thing Congressional Republicans have done was to a) blame Obama for the sequester, b) pronounce the sequester a disaster, and c) leave town while refusing to do anything about the sequester. Already defeated at the polls on November, Republican numbers are sinking. The general public has caught on: the Republicans are largely responsible for the … [Read more...] about The Blame Game