I immigrated to the United States when I was 17. Ever since then, I have been a “taker.” I have taken advantage of all the opportunities this great country has offered me and continues to offer all its residents, including immigrants like me. I took up residence in this beautiful country and took a job that paid me the fabulous amount of one dollar an hour. Yes, I was … [Read more...] about I Am a ‘Taker’ — and Proud of It
Good Bye (For Now) Twinkies: Hostess Is Going Out of Business
Good bye (for now) Twinkies, that delicious and tempting, nearly addictive packaged cream-filled cake snack of generations that makes you say "good bye" to your diet as you eat one after another. Its parent company Hostess is going out of business. And if Twinkies are sweet, the debate over why the party's over for Hostess is bitter, indeed: Hostess, the makers of … [Read more...] about Good Bye (For Now) Twinkies: Hostess Is Going Out of Business
‘The Onion’: Economy Devastated By Newton-John/Travolta Christmas LP
Too funny! John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John Christmas Album Plunges Nation Into Double-Dip Recession [I blog here.] … [Read more...] about ‘The Onion’: Economy Devastated By Newton-John/Travolta Christmas LP
The Sins of General David Petraeus
I was long in awe of General David Petraeus, and the only thing that begins to mitigate how blind I was to his true character is that there are journalists with far more credibility than myself -- chief among them Tom Ricks -- who also were taken in and played by him like a cheap violin. As the now disgraced CIA director returns to Capitol Hill today for more testimony on … [Read more...] about The Sins of General David Petraeus
Jealous Lover and Dad Luck Brought Down CIA chief
Jealous lover and bad luck brought down CIA chief (via AFP) It was an unlikely chain of events involving a jealous lover, a Florida socialite and an over-zealous FBI agent that led CIA chief David Petraeus to resign over an extramarital affair. The Petraeus scandal has had more twists and turns than a Hollywood thriller as different characters have been … [Read more...] about Jealous Lover and Dad Luck Brought Down CIA chief
Quote of the Day: the Republicans Try to Rebuild Despite Comments of Mitt Romney
Our political Quote of the day comes from NBC's First Read which notes how the Republican Party is seriously pondering how to rebuild -- despite the backward looking and downright backward comments of unsuccessful GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who basically says Obama won because he bribed key Democratic constituencies with free stuff: *** Rebuilding time: As … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: the Republicans Try to Rebuild Despite Comments of Mitt Romney
Bull Moose! Reviving Progressive Conservatism (Guest Voice)
Bull Moose! Reviving Progressive Conservatism by Michael Stafford The great American conservative thinker Russell Kirk once observed that some disasters are so catastrophic they require a re-examination of first principles. On Election Day, the Republican Party suffered such an existential shock. The corporate wing of the GOP was decisively rejected by the voters because … [Read more...] about Bull Moose! Reviving Progressive Conservatism (Guest Voice)
Petraeus on holiday in Papua (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 Petraeus on holiday in Papua (Cartoon)
McCain/Graham: Weird Attack from Long Ago
As GOP governors call for a new tone in Washington, two very old voices are back with a vengeance. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, the Senate’s odd couple, reprise ancient roles in a blatant attempt to sidetrack Susan Rice’s nomination as Secretary of State and, in the process, enrage Barack Obama as well as remind long-time observers what political piss-ants they have both … [Read more...] about McCain/Graham: Weird Attack from Long Ago
The GOP’s Listening Problem
WASHINGTON -- I know it's early, but I have a sinking feeling the Republican Party is taking all the wrong lessons from last week's election. Short-term, that's a boon for Democrats. Long-term, it's a problem for the country. The GOP should be listening to reasonable voices such as that of Newt Gingrich. Yes, I used the words "reasonable" and "Gingrich" in the same … [Read more...] about The GOP’s Listening Problem
Afghaniscandal (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 Afghaniscandal (Cartoon)
Libya Hearings: Will Political Vitriol Squelch Effort to Improve Security?
Libya hearings: Will political vitriol squelch effort to improve security? (via The Christian Science Monitor) Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle say they want to get to the bottom of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, so that lessons can be learned – and performance improved – concerning the mitigation of risks involved in carrying … [Read more...] about Libya Hearings: Will Political Vitriol Squelch Effort to Improve Security?
Petraeus Knew Quickly Who was Behind Libya Attack: Report
Petraeus knew quickly who was behind Libya attack: report (via AFP) Former CIA director David Petraeus is to tell lawmakers he knew "almost immediately" after the attack on a US mission in Libya that Al-Qaeda linked Ansar al-Sharia was to blame, CNN reported Thursday. Petraeus, who stepped down last week amid revelations that he had an affair with his 40-year-old … [Read more...] about Petraeus Knew Quickly Who was Behind Libya Attack: Report
5 ‘Gifts’ Mitt Romney Gave America (UPDATED)
The National Journal's Ron Fournier uses unsuccessful Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's bitter claim to donors that he lost because President Barack Obama offered a slew of tempting "gifts" to key constituencies to look at the five "gifts" Romney gave America. It's worth looking at them here: 1) The race card. It arrived by air, not mail, but it was … [Read more...] about 5 ‘Gifts’ Mitt Romney Gave America (UPDATED)
Israel Presses Gaza Assault as Rocket Panics Tel Aviv
Israel presses Gaza assault as rocket panics Tel Aviv (via AFP) Militants defied a major Israeli bombing campaign across Gaza on Thursday, firing off volleys of rockets which killed three Israelis and sparked panic in Tel Aviv. As Palestinian deaths from relentless air strikes rose to 19, Defence Minister Ehud Barak gave the go-ahead for 30,000 reservists to … [Read more...] about Israel Presses Gaza Assault as Rocket Panics Tel Aviv
Moneyball, the 2012 Campaign, and the Limits of Political Sabermetrics
My wife and I watched the film, Moneyball a few nights back and while I was bothered by the unnecessary profanity, it was overall, good. It's not just about baseball. Moneyball tells the story of how general manager, Billy Beane of the Oakland Athletics, stood up against the conventional wisdom of his profession and eventually experienced vindication. The feel-good formula … [Read more...] about Moneyball, the 2012 Campaign, and the Limits of Political Sabermetrics
Newt Gingrich Outclowns Stephen Colbert
The Muses, said S. J. Perelman, are a tough buck, and only the most shameless can make sure the bucks never stop for them. Take Newt Gingrich...please. Disgraced, defeated and dismally wrong on Election Night, he nonetheless pops up on the Colbert Report to flog a ghost-written tome about George Washington and trade bon mots with the host. Among Gingrich’s gems is a … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich Outclowns Stephen Colbert
Jindal Quickly Rejects Romney’s Claim Obama Won because of Free Stuff “Gifts” to Key Constituencies (UPDATE 3)
Call it a quick slapdown -- and an indication of a likely split within the Republican Party between those who want to continue to use the rhetoric used in the 2012 Presidential election and those who feel it's time for a major change. Yesterday defeated Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney got much attention and raised some eyebrows by basically re-affirming what he … [Read more...] about Jindal Quickly Rejects Romney’s Claim Obama Won because of Free Stuff “Gifts” to Key Constituencies (UPDATE 3)
China Unveils New Leadership With Xi at Helm
China unveils new leadership with Xi at helm (via AFP) China's all-powerful Communist Party on Thursday unveiled a new seven-man leadership council steered by Xi Jinping to take command of the world's number two economy for the next decade. After striding out in Beijing's Great Hall of the People as the party's new general-secretary, succeeding President… … [Read more...] about China Unveils New Leadership With Xi at Helm
Petraeus to Testify as US Lawmakers Probe Benghazi
Petraeus to testify as US lawmakers probe Benghazi (via AFP) US lawmakers are set to hold hearings about the deadly September 11 assault on the mission in Benghazi, with disgraced former spy chief David Petraeus expected to testify as early as Thursday. The White House has mounting questions over the attack in Libya that killed four Americans, including a … [Read more...] about Petraeus to Testify as US Lawmakers Probe Benghazi