This just in from investors.com's Andrew Malcolm: in case you've been wondering why it took so long, the 2016 Presidential campaign has begun: We were going to post a fictitious tweet today, poking fun at America's modern penchant for perpetual presidential campaigns. It would have said something facetious like, with only 1,454 days left until the 2016 presidential … [Read more...] about “Good” News! The 2016 Presidential Campaign Has STARTED
MSNBC Gains Ground on Fox News
First, it seemed like we were heading into a new news and political era when CNN, the network that pioneered 24/7 cable news and rigorously stuck to traditional, stand-back anchoring and news casts fell far behind Fox News - a network that wedded talk radio and overt partisanship to news. And now here's a new twist: left-leaning MSNBC is quickly gaining round on Fox … [Read more...] about MSNBC Gains Ground on Fox News
2012 Veterans Day in Images
Veterans Day may be over, but the images of our veterans will be with us for a long time: President Barack Obama and Army Sgt. 1st Class Chad Stackpole lay a wreath to mark Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Nov. 11, 2012. Stackpole, sergeant of the guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is assigned to the 3rd U.S. … [Read more...] about 2012 Veterans Day in Images
Courts Provide Obama a Chance to Leave his Mark
Courts provide Obama a chance to leave his mark (via AFP) As US President Barack Obama dives into his second term and looks to build his legacy, his appointments of federal judges, especially to the Supreme Court, appear certain to make a lasting impact. Over the next four years, the Democratic president will have the opportunity to pull a largely … [Read more...] about Courts Provide Obama a Chance to Leave his Mark
Boehner and McConnell: Amnesia Victims
The Speaker of the House and Senate Minority Leader are still posing for pictures nobody is taking. In answer to the President’s Weekly Address, John Boehner huffs, “If there was a mandate in this election, it was a mandate to work together to do what’s in the best interest of our country.” To the sympathetic Wall Street Journal, Mitch McConnell croaks, “We won't agree to … [Read more...] about Boehner and McConnell: Amnesia Victims
Obama’s Opportunity to Show Bipartisanship
President Obama’s reelection presents him with an unparalleled opportunity to show the country that he is serious about bipartisanship. He will never run for election again and does not have to cater to his base. Multiple resignations from important cabinet and sub-cabinet posts are expected to occur as he moves into his second term. Why not use this opportunity to appoint … [Read more...] about Obama’s Opportunity to Show Bipartisanship
Income Tax Debates
Now that the election is over attention is being drawn to the debate over future tax policy and whether or not cuts will remain in place or be eliminated and so on. This has lead to each side citing statistics to support their side of the debate but the problem is that the figures are not exactly accurate. For example, those who support keeping the tax cuts in place cite … [Read more...] about Income Tax Debates
Dr. E. on Conservative Eric Erickson’s Pre-Election Analyses: Romney Won’t Win
See Gandelman's article here detailing Eric Erickson's... pretty accurate set of insights prior to election outcome that sent the harpoons straight to the broadside of the whale, predicting that Romney would not win the election. It is bad luck to not heed useful warnings about one's own family going down the wrong path. Ask Oedipus. Looking back at Erickson's … [Read more...] about Dr. E. on Conservative Eric Erickson’s Pre-Election Analyses: Romney Won’t Win
GOP Turns Sure Victory into Defeat (Guest Voice)
GOP Turns Sure Victory into Defeat by Michael Reagan Wait until next year -- 2016, that is. That's what disappointed Republican spinners kept saying Tuesday night as they watched Mitt Romney's hopes crash and burn in swing state after swing state. How many times did I hear a Republican talk about how their party's deep bench of future all-stars will return it to … [Read more...] about GOP Turns Sure Victory into Defeat (Guest Voice)
Eric Ericson’s Big (Deserved) “I Told You So” on His Predictions Last Year About Mitt Romney
Is conservative pundit Eric Erickson the right's Nate Silver? Unless you've been on Mars -- or in the Twilight Zone with Donald Trump -- you know about how the New York Times' stats maven Nate Silver triumphed over several weeks of conservative demonization to predict the election results to the extent that he belongs on this page. But Erickson -- a co-founder of the … [Read more...] about Eric Ericson’s Big (Deserved) “I Told You So” on His Predictions Last Year About Mitt Romney
If Demographics Is Destiny — And It Is — The GOP Is Screwed Unless It Changes: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
The Republican Party as it exists today in all its extremist glory will never win another presidential election. If that reality is to change -- and it must change, Democratic schadenfreude aside, because there must be a viable two-party system -- then the GOP's long slog back toward the political mainstream should begin by partnering with President Obama to prevent … [Read more...] about If Demographics Is Destiny — And It Is — The GOP Is Screwed Unless It Changes: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
Social Isolation Disrupts Brain’s ‘White Matter’ Formation – Key to Brain ‘Plasticity’, MS and Mood Disorders (Guest Voice)
Social Isolation Disrupts Brain’s ‘White Matter’ Formation – Key to Brain ‘Plasticity’, MS and Mood Disorders (via Planetsave) There are three general types of brain tissue: grey matter (the dendrite component of neurons), white matter (the axon component of neurons) and glial matter (crucial cells that “support” and nourish … [Read more...] about Social Isolation Disrupts Brain’s ‘White Matter’ Formation – Key to Brain ‘Plasticity’, MS and Mood Disorders (Guest Voice)
South-East Europe faces ‘disturbing’ rise in human trafficking
South-East Europe faces 'disturbing' rise in human trafficking (via AFP) Government officials and NGOs this week warned against a 'disturbing' rise in human trafficking in South-East Europe with minors increasingly becoming a target for criminals. "We see an increase of human trafficking in South-Eastern Europe for different purposes, not only for sexual … [Read more...] about South-East Europe faces ‘disturbing’ rise in human trafficking
Obama Shouldn’t Back Down
WASHINGTON -- It is said after every election that the victors should put politics aside and work for the good of the country. If President Obama believed this pious nonsense, he would put his second term in jeopardy. Asking politicians to ignore politics is like insisting that professional hockey players switch to basketball. In a system with national elections every … [Read more...] about Obama Shouldn’t Back Down
The Romney Legacy
Gary Wills compares Romney to other men who have lost the presidency and the comparison is brutal. What differentiates Romney from the likes of Goldwater, McGovern, Carter, Kerry and Dukakis? They didn't sacrifice their principles and disavow earlier convictions to get the nomination. As a result they continued to play a part on the U.S. and world scene. Unlike Romney: None … [Read more...] about The Romney Legacy
GOP Shifting? Bill Kristol Says Not End of World If GOP Lets Millionaires be Taxed More
The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol has an excellent record of signalling a Republican Party shift -- and whether this is due to his suggestions or him articulating sentiment he sees about to shift is another question. So when he talks, many pundits listen. And he's now saying Republicans shouldn't be falling on their swords to defend millionaires from being taxed more on Fox … [Read more...] about GOP Shifting? Bill Kristol Says Not End of World If GOP Lets Millionaires be Taxed More
Veterans Day: The Highest Recognition
I run this image each year at TMV, for instead of describing military war service from the outside, this iconic photo describes something most have few words for. As in Corinthians... 'but the greatest of these... prophesying, speaking with the angels, even the power to move mountains, to say Mountain, move! and the Mountain moves... nonetheless of all of those powerful powers, … [Read more...] about Veterans Day: The Highest Recognition
Is the Death of Newspapers the End of Good Citizenship? (Guest Voice)
Is the death of newspapers the end of good citizenship? (via The Christian Science Monitor) One Saturday in June, the Pinstripe Brass Band played a traditional jazz funeral in the lakeside Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. When "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" gave way to a livelier tune, dozens of mourners danced. But there was no coffin. Black frosting on a … [Read more...] about Is the Death of Newspapers the End of Good Citizenship? (Guest Voice)
Veterans Day 2012: In Honor, In Hope For All the Wounded
Some are still missing. As we know, there are many ways to be missing. Some are here but have not yet been completely 'found.' As we know, there are many ways to be found and to find oneself again. Some are still hoping to find or be found. As we know, there are many ways to 'come home again.' May it be so for all, those waiting, those on their way. The loved … [Read more...] about Veterans Day 2012: In Honor, In Hope For All the Wounded
Sad Finale to Petraeus’ “Fatal Attraction”
So it all turns out to be the script of a bad movie. Instead of a boiling a bunny rabbit, a jealous woman sends steaming e-mails that bring the FBI into the plot and bring down a straying man. “The collapse of the impressive career of CIA Director David H. Petraeus,” reports the Washington Post, “was triggered when a woman with whom he was having an affair sent threatening … [Read more...] about Sad Finale to Petraeus’ “Fatal Attraction”