Paris, a coalition force military working dog, stands in a tactical vehicle during a patrol stop in Afghanistan's Farah province, Nov. 24, 2012. It has been a while since we have posted about “man’s best friend,” in particular about those “four-legged warriors”: military working dogs. Just to recap some background on these brave and loyal animals: In addition to … [Read more...] about Our Four-Legged Warriors: They Serve, They Sacrifice, They Retire and, Sadly, They Leave Us.
Rubio to Give Response to Obama’s State of the Union
Rubio to give response to Obama's State of the Union (via AFP) US Senator Marco Rubio has been tapped to give the Republican response to President Barack Obama's upcoming State of the Union address, party leaders said Wednesday, boosting his stature as a rising national heavyweight. Rubio, a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Cuba, will … [Read more...] about Rubio to Give Response to Obama’s State of the Union
Perhaps It’s Time To Move
I live in the Portland, OR area and I have been aware of the Cascadia suduction -zone and the associated earthquakes since I took geology in 1964. The Japanese earth quake was a subduction-zone earthquake. Never the less this was a bit disconcerting: Cascadia earthquake, tsunami could cost Oregon economy $32 billion The next great Cascadia subduction-zone earthquake … [Read more...] about Perhaps It’s Time To Move
(UPDATES) Panetta Calls for Cut in Active Duty Military Pay Raises
Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta speaks to college students at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. (DoD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo) Note: Most recent update on the military pay raises follows the update on the Georgetown University address. EXTENDED UPDATE: In extensive remarks today to college students at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., … [Read more...] about (UPDATES) Panetta Calls for Cut in Active Duty Military Pay Raises
America’s ‘Johnny Two Note’ Hate and Minutia Political Culture
Is America unstoppably careening towards hate and minutia-filled politics as it moves further into the 21st century? It certainly seems that way. You'd think that, with all the huge issues facing the country, our politics and media coverage would be overwhelmed in a scramble to present substantive stories, serious argument-crammed think pieces, and intelligent TV coverage … [Read more...] about America’s ‘Johnny Two Note’ Hate and Minutia Political Culture
U.S. Postal Service: Buh Bye Saturday Mail
The U.S. Postal Service has announced that starting soon Saturday mail will be a thing of the past: The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service said Wednesday it will stop delivering mail on Saturdays but continue to disburse packages six days a week, an apparent end-run around an unaccommodating Congress. The service expects the Saturday mail cutback to begin the … [Read more...] about U.S. Postal Service: Buh Bye Saturday Mail
Culture Of The Death Drones And Memories Of bin Laden’s Murder
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?