How do you take the measure of a man's life? By the standard usually applied to George McGovern, he was one of America's biggest losers. After all, in 1972, he lost 49 of 50 states. But, when I was finishing a masters degree at the University of North Carolina in the summer of 1974 -- when Richard Nixon resigned the presidency -- I began each day passing by a car which bore … [Read more...] about George McGovern
Why I Am Voting for Mitt Romney (Update)
UPDATE: Even though this piece was posted as “Comedy” elsewhere, I was amazed at the number of readers -- from both sides -- who took my reasons for voting for Mr. Romney (even on Nov. 7!) seriously. One of my reasons for voting for Romney was that "While our nation was in the depths of an economic and financial crisis, Romney had the clairvoyance and business instinct to … [Read more...] about Why I Am Voting for Mitt Romney (Update)
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s ‘Reasoned Decision’ in the Lance Armstrong Case (Updates).
UPDATE IV: Lance Armstrong Stripped of His Seven Tour de France Titles for Doping The International Cycling Union just announced that it will not appeal the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s ruling to bar Lance Armstrong for life from Olympic sports for doping and for playing an instrumental role in the team-wide doping on his Tour de France-winning cycling … [Read more...] about U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s ‘Reasoned Decision’ in the Lance Armstrong Case (Updates).
50 Years Ago Tonight: Cuban Missile Crisis
Imagine the psychic shock of 9/11 multiplied a hundredfold. Add an imminent nuclear exchange to kill millions after only minutes of warning. Take away the Internet, cable news and other sources of instant information. That’s how the Cuban Missile Crisis struck Americans half a century ago this week, 13 days of helpless huddling in a dark cave awaiting global … [Read more...] about 50 Years Ago Tonight: Cuban Missile Crisis
Contrasting Obama & Romney On Foreign Policy: Restraint Versus Bellicosity: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
There are plenty of reasons why Mitt Romney would be a lousy president, but the biggest is that he is a hothead and a dullard. This was on display when, flying in the face of protocol and common sense, he excoriated President Obama for being soft on terrorism mere hours after the U.S. ambassador to Libya was slain in Bengazi last month. And then did the same thing all over … [Read more...] about Contrasting Obama & Romney On Foreign Policy: Restraint Versus Bellicosity: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
The Not-So-Hidden Obama Agenda
WASHINGTON -- Everywhere you turn, President Obama is accused of not offering a clear second-term agenda. It's not surprising that Republicans say it, but you also hear it from quarters sympathetic to the president. But how true is the charge? The president does lack a crisp, here's-my-plan set of sound bites. What's less obvious is whether this should matter … [Read more...] about The Not-So-Hidden Obama Agenda
Quote of the Day: Should Obama and Democrats Now Freak Out?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from one of the most-level headed analysts in any media, Marc Ambinder, who now writes The Compass blog on the great news weekly The Week. In a column titled "Not an October Surprise" he contends the race was always expected to narrow and also points to polls in swing states suggesting that it should not be freak out time for the Democrats … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Should Obama and Democrats Now Freak Out?
Requiem for the Last American Liberal
“I wanted to run for the presidency in the worst possible way,” George McGovern joked after his lopsided 1972 defeat, “and I did.” Yet the man who died yesterday at 90 deserves a better epitaph than that. He lost a disastrous election as the last traditionally liberal Democrat to run for the White House, but his story encompasses much more. He was at the cusp of change in … [Read more...] about Requiem for the Last American Liberal
Three Dead in Wisconsin Day Spa Shooting
Three dead in US day spa shooting (via AFP) Three people were killed and four others injured after a gunman burst into a day spa in the midwestern US state of Wisconsin and opened fire Sunday, police said. The man also left behind what appears to be an improvised explosive device, which has prevented police from searching the entire two-story… … [Read more...] about Three Dead in Wisconsin Day Spa Shooting
World’s Biggest School Gives Indian Kids Lessons for Life
World's biggest school gives Indian kids lessons for life (via AFP) The first day in class for any new pupil can be an overwhelming experience, so imagine arriving for lessons as one of 40,000 pupils on the roll-call of the world's biggest school. The latest edition of Guinness World Records awards the title to the City Montessori School in the Indian city of … [Read more...] about World’s Biggest School Gives Indian Kids Lessons for Life
NBC/WSJ poll: Obama Romney Presidential Race Now a Tie
The NBC/WSJ poll finds the 2012 Presidential race between President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is now a tie doing into the third -- and some think pivotal -- Presidential debate on Monday: Heading into Monday's final debate and with just over two weeks until Election Day, President Barack Obama and Republican … [Read more...] about NBC/WSJ poll: Obama Romney Presidential Race Now a Tie
The Year Was 1972
The Year was 1972. I had just become a civilian after three years in the military. While I was never in Vietnam I knew many who were and the impact it had on their lives. Friends and relatives had been killed in SE Asia and nearly everyone had known for some time that the war could not be won but thousands had died anyway. I voted for George McGovern that year. My second … [Read more...] about The Year Was 1972
Benghazi Reveals Voter Gullibility on Foreign Policy
WASHINGTON - This is an example of what happens when you have circus performers like Darrell Issa running "oversight" committees that are actually predicated on politics instead of fact-finding. You also end up exposing allies through choosing a hyper partisan witch-hunting lens that has the sole goal of damaging President Obama's reelection chances. Democrats have their own … [Read more...] about Benghazi Reveals Voter Gullibility on Foreign Policy
A Limerick Look At The Stock Market
Beware an October surprise That wipes out the recent stock rise You may think you got fat And then with a splat Your holdings are trimmed down to size. This Christmas it’s widely supposed Consumers won’t keep wallets closed But if ‘sted of spending They choose credit mending Then retail profits get hosed. So much of the world’s needed oil Is in lands that to us … [Read more...] about A Limerick Look At The Stock Market
Taliban Backlash (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 Taliban Backlash (Cartoon)
Former US Presidential Candidate McGovern Dies
Former US presidential candidate McGovern dies (via AFP) Former US senator George McGovern, a liberal icon who vowed to end the Vietnam War but lost a landslide presidential election to Richard Nixon in 1972, died early Sunday at the age of 90. The family said in a statement that the liberal standard-bearer died at about 5:15 am (1015 GMT) at the Dougherty… … [Read more...] about Former US Presidential Candidate McGovern Dies
Republicans Freaking Out Over Gloria Allred’s Rumored “October Surprise” Though She Won’t Confirm Or Deny
Gee, I never thought Gloria Allred would interject herself in the presidential election, but she is rumored to have an "October Surprise" that will probably call a press conference to slam Mitt Romney with some "epic" revelation. A disgruntled maid or handyman? Or a mistress? Allred is rumored to be preparing to reveal some secret or scandal to torpedo Mitt Romney's chances at … [Read more...] about Republicans Freaking Out Over Gloria Allred’s Rumored “October Surprise” Though She Won’t Confirm Or Deny
Okinawans will ‘Spew Magma’ Over Crimes of U.S. Forces (Okinawa Times, Japan)
{EDITOR'S NOTE: The original cross-post incorrectly quoted this Japanese editorial as saying that two U.S. Marines had been arrested, when it should have said two U.S. sailors. It also stated that Okinawa had been returned to Japanese control last year. In fact, it was returned in 1974. This post on TMV has now been corrected. It's the policy of TMV to correct errors. We regret … [Read more...] about Okinawans will ‘Spew Magma’ Over Crimes of U.S. Forces (Okinawa Times, Japan)
Obama the Choice of Voters Who Read
Newspaper endorsements have never elected a president and count for even less today, but those straws in the wind are beginning to blow Barack Obama’s way. As the President charges his rival with “Romnesia” on the campaign trail, he takes a lead in editorial backing. Says the Denver Post: “From running to the far right on immigration and women's health in the primary and … [Read more...] about Obama the Choice of Voters Who Read
A Brief History of Puns: Be Warned!
The first recorded pun was not recorded. Which pleased everyone involved including future historians. Sadly, like many destructive forces, military specialists began to study and utilize puns to gain strategic advantage over their adversaries. The most notable instance of pun militarization can be seen in the tactics of Alexander the Grape whose raison d’être was the use of … [Read more...] about A Brief History of Puns: Be Warned!