Ok folks chime in with your quotes Unless you are the one person who has never seen the movie Careful what you wear on a plane. Wynand Mullins of New Zealand told Stuff Magazine that he was asked to remove his T-shirt because other airline passengers found it intimidating. And, yes, we suppose if one weren't familiar with "The Princess Bride," seeing a shirt that … [Read more...] about T-Shirt Leads To Airplane Controversy
The 57th Presidential Inauguration: Our Military March and Dance
The U.S. Marine Corps Band, known as "The President's Own," performs during the 57th Inauguration Day swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. If you enjoyed reading about and seeing the photographs of the roles our military played in the 57th U.S. Presidential Inauguration, you might also like the following photographs. They show various … [Read more...] about The 57th Presidential Inauguration: Our Military March and Dance
Any Thoughts on This Ad?
Let me know in the comments. … [Read more...] about Any Thoughts on This Ad?
McDonalds Sued For Allegedly Not Making Halal Food
Sigh... what happened to common sense. McDonald's and one of its franchise owners agreed to pay $700,000 to members of the Muslim community to settle allegations a Detroit-area restaurant falsely advertised its food as being prepared according to Islamic dietary law. McDonald's and Finley's Management Co. agreed Friday to the tentative settlement, with that money … [Read more...] about McDonalds Sued For Allegedly Not Making Halal Food
Refugees: a Painful and Deepening Wound
Refugees from the Syrian war have swelled to about 664,000 since the uprising began in 2011 while some 147,000 persons have become refugees from Mali since the crisis started in 2012, the UN Refugee Agency estimated today. The outflow from Mali has increased in recent days and could turn into a huge and costly long-term problem like in Syria as the French-led war in Mali … [Read more...] about Refugees: a Painful and Deepening Wound
Influence-Flush U.S. Latinos Must ‘Exploit Unprecedented Moment’ (El Universal, Mexico)
With President Obama at the height of his political and personal power - and his debt to Latinos fresh in everyone's minds, is it time for Mexicans to press the case of the undocumented? This editorial from Mexico's El Universal urges U.S. Latinos, and especially Mexicans, to press for an amnesty for undocumented immigrants now, before the people of the United States forget how … [Read more...] about Influence-Flush U.S. Latinos Must ‘Exploit Unprecedented Moment’ (El Universal, Mexico)
Swearing In (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: The 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 Swearing In (Cartoon)
Senate Leaders Eye More Compromise This Year
Senate leaders eye more compromise this year (via AFP) US Senate leaders put aside their partisan bickering Tuesday as they kicked off the first session of President Barack Obama's second term by seeking to "do things differently" to avoid gridlock. Congress faces tremendous challenges in the year ahead, primarily in the need to address the country's … [Read more...] about Senate Leaders Eye More Compromise This Year
The Last Liberal?
Over at World Affairs Journal, James Kirchick has a remarkable piece on former Senator Joe Lieberman, one that, fair warning, matches my own perceptions as a former campaign volunteer for the Senator perfectly: In January 2004, the New Republic endorsed Joe Lieberman for president. By this time, recriminations against Democrats who had supported the Iraq War (or, in the … [Read more...] about The Last Liberal?
Paul Krugman’s Cloying Tribute To Timidity, Mediocrity And Failure
In yesterday's New York Times, columnist Paul Krugman looked over the Obama presidency to date and found it praiseworthy. And to those progressives who might be profoundly disappointed in this President (and his party) Krugman opined: "...maybe progressives — an ever-worried group — might want to take a brief break from anxiety and savor their real, if limited, … [Read more...] about Paul Krugman’s Cloying Tribute To Timidity, Mediocrity And Failure
Israel Votes in Ballot Seen Producing Swing to Right
Israel votes in ballot seen producing swing to right (via AFP) Israelis voted Tuesday in an election likely to return Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as head of a rightwing coalition that will face the challenges of peacemaking with the Palestinians and Iran's nuclear programme. After a slow start, the pace of voting picked up, with long queues forming … [Read more...] about Israel Votes in Ballot Seen Producing Swing to Right
France’s Risky Return as Player on the Global Stage
France's risky return as player on the global stage (via AFP) It spearheaded the international campaign that led to Moamer Kadhafi's downfall, and now its troops are battling Islamists in Mali. But France's dramatic return as a major player on the international stage carries as much risk as kudos, analysts said. France once had the second biggest colonial … [Read more...] about France’s Risky Return as Player on the Global Stage
How Romney Spent Day One of the New Term
For the aged, waking up every morning comes as a gift. Yesterday had a ribbon on it. The TV screen was a flood of flags, bunting, crowds, Inaugural stands, Lincoln Bibles and all the other patriotic paraphernalia of the day. Best of all was the realization that it was not Mitt Romney being sworn into the Oval Office. After a year of haunting fear that in my final years … [Read more...] about How Romney Spent Day One of the New Term
Surprise! Virginia Republicans Redraw State Senate Districts
On a day that is a holiday for many United States citizens, Republicans in the Commonwealth of Virginia redrew state senate district lines Monday afternoon. The Virginia Senate is tied at 20-20. This move -- redrawing district lines approved in 2011 (pdf) -- is designed to tilt the numbers to 21 Republican-19 Democratic. If signed by Republican Governor Bob McDonnell, the … [Read more...] about Surprise! Virginia Republicans Redraw State Senate Districts
The Relevance of Chuck Hagel’s Combat Service
I have in the past defended Senator Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s choice for Secretary of Defense, against allegations that he is “anti-Semitic,” against attacks for his lack of appetite for “elective” wars, etc. That has been easy because those accusation are either unfounded or -- in the case of Hagel’s reluctance to take our nation into unnecessary wars -- because they … [Read more...] about The Relevance of Chuck Hagel’s Combat Service
A Memory of Senator Proxmire
I watched the Inauguration and Lunch, and await the Parade. I have nothing to add to the festivities, save that it was a great speech. It is also, appropriately, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I have nothing as valuable to add as undoubtedly an army of other, more eloquent writers will say. So I will pass on that. Instead, let me tell a story that only I can tell, though it is a … [Read more...] about A Memory of Senator Proxmire
This Just In!
This just in from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz: WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Congressional Republicans heaped fulsome praise on President Obama’s second Inaugural Address today, saying that it had given them a detailed list of things to thwart over the next four years. “My big fear was that the speech would be full of vague platitudes that wouldn’t be … [Read more...] about This Just In!
The Amazing Grace of It All
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Hussein Obama's second inauguration was every bit as historic as his first -- not because it said so much about the nation's long, bitter, unfinished struggle with issues of race, as was the case four years ago, but because it said so little about the subject. Reflect for a moment: A black man stood on the Capitol steps and took the oath … [Read more...] about The Amazing Grace of It All
State Department Releases Names of American Casualties in Algeria
Victoria Nuland, Spokesperson for the State Department has just issued the following statement: We can now confirm the death of three U.S. citizens in the terrorist attack in Algeria: Victor Lynn Lovelady, Gordon Lee Rowan, and Frederick Buttaccio. We extend our deepest condolences to their families and friends. Out of respect for the families' privacy, we have no … [Read more...] about State Department Releases Names of American Casualties in Algeria
Obama: It’s More Than “…Made for this Moment”
At request from several commenters to augment Obama's recent remark about the American people being 'made for this moment.' The letter below was written in 2001 for people struggling in many ways across the world, and perhaps fills out a bit the idea of being made for a moment-- and to my mind, beyond the moment... well into a complete era. That's my understanding... we are … [Read more...] about Obama: It’s More Than “…Made for this Moment”