It would be difficult to envision, without the aid of psilocybin, a more vivid sign of the GOP’s dawning recognition of the peril it is now facing. With Democrats having gained a potent hold on the coalition of the ascendant, Republicans find themselves in a situation like the one their rivals met in the wake of the 1988 election: markedly out of step with the country, shackled … [Read more...] about Mushrooms Needed Here
A Spy Tale with Missing Pieces
WASHINGTON -- The one familiar aspect of the David Petraeus scandal is that he had an affair. Everything else about this story is weird. Petraeus, who resigned Friday as director of the CIA, is brilliant, brave, dedicated and accomplished. But he is also vain. Even his most loyal and ardent supporters have to acknowledge the care with which he has always burnished his … [Read more...] about A Spy Tale with Missing Pieces
The Republican War Against Scientific Methodology (Guest Voice)
The Republican War Against Scientific Methodology By Jan Ting A lot of Republicans seemed genuinely surprised that they lost, that Mitt Romney was defeated by President Obama, and that Republicans lost seats in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. They actually thought they were going to win! How could they have believed this? Scientific polling offered … [Read more...] about The Republican War Against Scientific Methodology (Guest Voice)
NY Times in Spotlight as ex-BBC Chief Takes Reins
NY Times in spotlight as ex-BBC chief takes reins (via AFP) Former BBC chief Mark Thompson took the reins Monday at The New York Times Co. amid questions about whether the crisis engulfing the British broadcaster would spill over to the US news organization. Thompson, named in August as the US media firm's president and chief executive, remains on the news… … [Read more...] about NY Times in Spotlight as ex-BBC Chief Takes Reins
GOP Blame Finding (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 GOP Blame Finding (Cartoon)
Anti-virus Legend McAfee Wanted for Murder in Belize
Anti-virus legend McAfee wanted for murder in Belize (via AFP) John McAfee, founder of the eponymous anti-virus company, is on the run for killing another US citizen in a resort town, Belizean police said. Police raided McAfee's mansion on Ambergris Caye, an island off the northeastern coast of Belize, late Sunday to question him about the murder of American … [Read more...] about Anti-virus Legend McAfee Wanted for Murder in Belize
Who Goes to the State Department? How About Richard Lugar?
By many accounts, Senator John Kerry wants to take the place of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she leaves here post soon. But the conventional wisdom, which I find compelling, says that President Obama won't want to put Kerry's seat up for grabs by Republicans in Massachusetts, who would likely nominate Senator Scott Brown as their candidate in a special … [Read more...] about Who Goes to the State Department? How About Richard Lugar?
MSNBC Wins, FNC Loses Ugly
WASHINGTON - The Obama network, aka MSNBC for those in an alternate universe, is annoying, because the American public has learned not to trust anyone because of our media picking sides. However, considering the prowess Fox News had achieved since its founding it's clear something had to be done, so NBC did it. In the election of 2012, MSNBC became absolutely … [Read more...] about MSNBC Wins, FNC Loses Ugly
Please, Oh Please, Not Another Four Years Of A Reasonable President Obama
At the end of a story about the president and his strategy on tax changes in coming weeks and months, this sentence appeared in today's New York Times: "The president did not mention rates on Friday in his first post-election remarks on the budget talks, and people in both parties interpreted that as a sign of his bargaining flexibility." A sign of bargaining flexibility? At … [Read more...] about Please, Oh Please, Not Another Four Years Of A Reasonable President Obama
The Cult of Petraeus
Over at Balloon Juice Bernard Finel explains The Real Sin in the Petraeus Case. Read the entire thing but here is a snippet: Petraeus deliberately sought to woo a range of folks, compromising them with access, and using them in ways that blurred lines of professional integrity. Just as it isn’t clear what Broadwell was in this—a grad student? Reporter? Publicist? Officer? … [Read more...] about The Cult of Petraeus
The “Poopy Head” Presidential Election Campaign?
Was this the "Poopy Head" election campaign? Two things to consider: 1. One of the most powerful members of the Republican Party says it's so: Anti-tax crusader and head of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist told CBS on Monday that President Obama did not deserve a claim to an electoral mandate following his re-election because the candidate Republicans put forth … [Read more...] about The “Poopy Head” Presidential Election Campaign?
Petition Drive Gains Steam Demanding Macy’s Dump Trump
Macy's is caught in the middle of a Dump Trump campaign: A grassroots campaign for Macy’s to end their association with Donald Trump has caught fire. Nearly 400,000 people have added their name to a petition on Signon.org for Macy’s, which exclusively sells Trump’s clothing line and fragrance, to dump the controversial businessman. Trump gained prominence during the … [Read more...] about Petition Drive Gains Steam Demanding Macy’s Dump Trump
Quote(s) of the Day: On the Conservative News Media’s Politically Self-Destructive Alternate Universe
Our political Qutoes of the Day come from David Frum and John Avlon on the conservative news media that many now believe played a major role in helping Republicans lose a White House that a year ago seemed ripe for the partisan picking. The now popular narrative -- I have written about it for literally years -- is that many 21st century conservatives have allowed … [Read more...] about Quote(s) of the Day: On the Conservative News Media’s Politically Self-Destructive Alternate Universe
“Good” News! The 2016 Presidential Campaign Has STARTED
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