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
Incorrigible Romney
Last week, Garry Wills -- who has made a career of evaluating America's presidents and would be presidents -- asked in the New York Review of Books: What lessons will Romney have to teach his party? The art of crawling uselessly? How to contemn 47 percent of Americans less privileged and beautiful than his family? How to repudiate the past while damaging the future? … [Read more...] about Incorrigible Romney
Humans, Bright and Dull, Both
"Fifteen hundred years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was flat. And fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow." Agent K in Men in Black … [Read more...] about Humans, Bright and Dull, Both
Touching Reunion Between Marine And His Brother
As one person observed, if you can watch this without crying you aren't a real man. The video was posted earlier in 2012 but has since gone viral. It shows a reunion between a college basketball player (Myers Leonard) and his brother, US Marine Bailey, who served 2 combat tours. This was a surprise reunion after two years and Myers reaction is … [Read more...] about Touching Reunion Between Marine And His Brother
Second Thoughts on ‘Those Pesky Demographics’? (Updates)
UPDATE II: The New York Times has now confirmed that President Obama received the overwhelming support from those Americans who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. To be more precise, exit polls “showed that 76 percent of voters who identified as gay supported Mr. Obama last week, and that 22 percent supported Mr. Romney." R. Clarke Cooper, the executive director of … [Read more...] about Second Thoughts on ‘Those Pesky Demographics’? (Updates)
Ryan in Denial, Where’s Romney?
Nothing ages as fast as a defeated presidential ticket (pace McCain/Palin), but the expiration date on this year’s losers has arrived faster than usual. As Barack Obama starts to shuffle a second-term Cabinet, Paul Ryan emerges from the GOP rubble to blame turnout in “urban areas” for the defeat rather than his ideas on the Budget and Medicare. “When we watched Virginia … [Read more...] about Ryan in Denial, Where’s Romney?