Global Markets Rally as US Announces Deal to Avoid Fiscal Cliff by Joao Peixe The New Year has passed and with it the fiscal cliff, and miraculously, despite all of the fear mongering and warnings of economic doom, the US is still standing. This is due, quite obviously, to the fact that on Tuesday US lawmakers managed to approve a last minute scheme to prevent the huge … [Read more...] about Global Markets Rally as US Announces Deal to Avoid Fiscal Cliff (Guest Voice)
Fiscal Scheme Deal Raises Taxes on 77% of Americans
WASHINGTON - It's a fool's errand trusting President Obama, Democrats or Republicans, which is why I haven't for a very long time. It's 2013, the year of austerity, which didn't work in Europe and won't work here either, but our politicians are too ignorant to learn the lessons. We have been subjected to a White House negotiating process that violates every standard of … [Read more...] about Fiscal Scheme Deal Raises Taxes on 77% of Americans
Two Military ‘Firsts’ Represented at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (Updated)
UPDATE: Fiesta Parades Float has graciously provided an artist’s rendering of the “Canines with Courage” float (above) discussed in this article. Also added, at the end of the article, is a description of the float along with a link to how you can donate to the United States Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. ==== Original Post: This New Year’s … [Read more...] about Two Military ‘Firsts’ Represented at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (Updated)
How Obama Won and Lost in ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal
How Obama won and lost in 'fiscal cliff' deal (via The Christian Science Monitor) On balance, President Obama came out a winner in the last-minute “fiscal cliff” deal that averted income-tax hikes on most Americans and postponed deep federal spending cuts. Had the deal not passed Congress, both the White House and bipartisan leaders on Capitol Hill would … [Read more...] about How Obama Won and Lost in ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal
Al Jazeera Buys Current TV From Al Gore
News just breaking this afternoon that Al-Jazeera, the Arab language news network has purchased Current TV from Al Gore and his partners. The move will likely give the network, which has attracted controversy, access to the US market. "Current Media was built based on a few key goals: To give voice to those who are not typically heard; to speak truth to power; to … [Read more...] about Al Jazeera Buys Current TV From Al Gore
Any Questions?
This from the Harvard Business Review's Daily Stat. Draw your own conclusions. JANUARY 2, 2013 Fatal Heart Attacks Decline When Workplaces Go Smoke-Free U.S. states that impose … [Read more...] about Any Questions?
Chris Christie Calls House Republicans ‘Disappointing And Disgusting To Watch’ For Not Voting on Hurricane Sandy Aid (Video)
It's safe to say that the Republican Party now has a mega-branding problem. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie now joins a growing chorus of GOPers from East Coast states impacted by Hurricane Sandy who are ripping into House Republicans and beset House Speaker John Boehner in particular for failing to approve crucially needed aid for victims of Hurricane Sandy. As we've often … [Read more...] about Chris Christie Calls House Republicans ‘Disappointing And Disgusting To Watch’ For Not Voting on Hurricane Sandy Aid (Video)
Patti Page Dies At 85
She died yesterday at the age of 85 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ek3eCbfqp0 … [Read more...] about Patti Page Dies At 85
Andrew Sullivan Shows Why He’s Authentically Independent: He’s Leaving The Daily Dish to Go Independent
A short note here since Doug Mataconis fills us in better than I can HERE. It's no secret that many of us here at TMV have enjoyed reading and linking to Andrew Sullivan since he has been an independent spirit and thinker. And now he reaffirms why he is a must read for many TMV writers and readers. He's giving up his big corporate spot at The Daily Beast (one of the best big … [Read more...] about Andrew Sullivan Shows Why He’s Authentically Independent: He’s Leaving The Daily Dish to Go Independent
Why We Never Take the Deficit Seriously
With passage of the Fiscal Cliff legislation in the House of Representatives, the predictable grumbling from self-declared "deficit hawks", especially those in the Tea Party, has begun. Cries of cowardice and hypocrisy abound. Why did Congress avoid the "hard choices"? Where is the leadership? Didn't Obama claim he would cut the deficit in half when he first … [Read more...] about Why We Never Take the Deficit Seriously
N.J. Congressmen Furious that Sandy Relief Package was Not Voted On
N.J. Congressmen furious that Sandy relief package was not voted on (via NJ.com) The fiscal cliff averted, New Jersey’s members of the House of Representatives waited on the Congressional floor Monday night for the Hurricane Sandy aid bill to come through as they had expected. But instead, word filtered through the House that the bill would not be voted on at all. … [Read more...] about N.J. Congressmen Furious that Sandy Relief Package was Not Voted On
Twelve Predictions for 2013
Here are my predictions for 2013: 1. Efforts by moderates or traditional conservatives to improve the Republican Party's outreach and branding will suffer due to the continued clout of the Tea Party, far-right House Republicans and talk show hosts who will make sure the party appeals mostly to its existing choir. A politically damaging GOP internal war will heat up. 2. … [Read more...] about Twelve Predictions for 2013
House Speaker John Boehner Reportedly Told Harry Reid “Go F*** Yourself” Over Dictatorship Comment
House Speaker John Boehner (House Squeaker) reportedly told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to "go f*** yourself" steps from the Oval Office after Reid said the House was running a dictatorship. Um, where's the same level of outrage that was recently directed as UN Ambassador Susan Rice for allegedly giving Richard Holbrooke the middle finger? Oh, I'm sorry, there's a … [Read more...] about House Speaker John Boehner Reportedly Told Harry Reid “Go F*** Yourself” Over Dictatorship Comment
The Skinny On Barack Obama: Campaigns Brilliantly, Governs Badly
From almost the first days after Barack Obama was elected in 2008, Republicans had the measure of the man. They saw he didn't feel strongly about core Democratic economic principles. Even more important from their perspective, he was easily rolled. All Republicans need do was take hard stands, show an unwillingness to give ground, and President Obama would cave. Running for … [Read more...] about The Skinny On Barack Obama: Campaigns Brilliantly, Governs Badly
Dance Of The Dunes, The Biggest Lesson To Be Learned From Superstorm Sandy: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
An iconic Sandy-damaged house in dune-free Union Beach, New Jersey I was a beach baby, a fortunate child who spent much of each summer at the Delaware shore. I was able to swim in the ocean by age three, mindful of big breakers and undertows because of a father who had been a lifeguard. And had met my mother when she introduced herself to a ruggedly handsome man atop … [Read more...] about Dance Of The Dunes, The Biggest Lesson To Be Learned From Superstorm Sandy: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
BREAKING: House Approves Bipartisan Senate Fiscal Cliff Deal: Most Republicans Vote Against It
And so it ends a day of high political drama (go HERE and HERE for recap) with an up and down House vote: a partial resolution of the country's fiscal cliff dilemma with a compromise that many in both parties consider lousy -- but it keeps the U.S. from tumbling off the fiscal cliff. It was an action President Barack Obama, in an appearance shortly after the vote, praised for … [Read more...] about BREAKING: House Approves Bipartisan Senate Fiscal Cliff Deal: Most Republicans Vote Against It
House Republicans Back Off Political Cliff and Will Allow Vote On Senate Fiscal Cliff Compromise
It earlier appeared House Republicans were fully prepared to shove themselves, their party and the country off the fiscal cliff. But they pondered the political realities -- and gazed into a likely political abyss -- and will now allow a vote on the bipartisan Senate fiscal cliff deal brokered by Vice President Joe Biden. The Huffington Post reports: Subdued House … [Read more...] about House Republicans Back Off Political Cliff and Will Allow Vote On Senate Fiscal Cliff Compromise
Congress: Govern
In the early chapters of their book, The Three Roosevelts: Patrician Leaders Who Transformed America, James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn explain how Theodore Roosevelt came to be the first Rooseveltian "traitor to his class," by descending from the lofty heights of inherited social position and entering the rough world of elective politics. According to Burns and Dunn, the … [Read more...] about Congress: Govern
House Republicans: Poised to Push U.S. Off Fiscal Cliff and GOP Off Political Cliff? (UPDATED)
Here we go again. Only the economic and political impact may be greater this time. The unthinkable thinkable is about to happen: it's 2013 and already deja vu. Conservative House Republicans, championed by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), seem poised to effectively reject the Senate's bipartisan fiscal cliff deal which will hurl the U.S. off the fiscal cliff -- and … [Read more...] about House Republicans: Poised to Push U.S. Off Fiscal Cliff and GOP Off Political Cliff? (UPDATED)
IT’S 2013. WHO CARES?
The start of each new calendar year is full of positive dribble, and too much happy well-wishing and irrational optimism. I’ve heard this endless "crapola" for over 50 years. Why do so many people engage in such perennial delusional thoughts and willful denials of reality? I’m not going to wish anyone a happy and prosperous 2013. An individual's success or failure (be it … [Read more...] about IT’S 2013. WHO CARES?