Fifty years ago, when an Eisenhower speechwriter wrote a tell-all about his White House time, JFK was disgusted. “I hope,” he told aides, “nobody here is writing that kind of book.” Nobody did. What would he have made of today’s politicians being bared 24/7, not only by books but tapes, videos, open mics and constant leaks of staff with an eye out for their own … [Read more...] about Naked Politics: Are Only the Shameless Fit to Run?
GOP Backer Adelson Accused of Commandeering Israel’s Media Market
GOP backer Adelson accused of commandeering Israel's media market (via The Christian Science Monitor) Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson grabbed the spotlight in the US earlier this year for making multi-million dollar campaign contributions to Republican presidential candidates on the bet that their policies would better jibe with those of Israeli Prime Minister … [Read more...] about GOP Backer Adelson Accused of Commandeering Israel’s Media Market
Romney-Ryan Campaign Kicks Off 3-day Ohio Bus Tour
Romney-Ryan campaign kicks off 3-day Ohio bus tour (via AFP) Mitt Romney's running mate Paul Ryan rolled out Monday on a three-day bus tour across Ohio, a battleground state seen as critically important for the Republican ticket's White House hopes. Trailing President Barack Obama in national polls as well as in most swing states after a difficult week, … [Read more...] about Romney-Ryan Campaign Kicks Off 3-day Ohio Bus Tour
POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Poll: Obama Takes 3 Point Lead Over Romney
As we've often noted here, polls are see-saws or, another comparison, snapshots in time that can change as starkly as a scene a minute later. But the latest POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Poll has some good news for President Barack Obama, bad news for Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, and a warning flag for those who suggest the race is somehow … [Read more...] about POLITICO/George Washington University Battleground Poll: Obama Takes 3 Point Lead Over Romney
Doing What’s Right For America- Not So Hard
We keep hearing about the fiscal cliff and how hard it will to attack the deficits and national debt, yet keep the economy growing. This is because of the painful choices that lie ahead for our political leaders that they are reluctant to consider. We also hear how our political parties are controlled by their fringes and won’t compromise on ideologically based positions. If … [Read more...] about Doing What’s Right For America- Not So Hard
Report: Voting Laws May Disenfranchise 10 Million Hispanic U.S. Citizens: Study
The prospect that a very large number of American citizens who just happened to vote for Democratic candidates in 2008 will be prevented from voting on election day 2012 looms large. How large? A new report says that voting laws designed to prevent widespread voting fraud that by all accounts has not happened in past elections could disenfranchise 10 million Hispanic American … [Read more...] about Report: Voting Laws May Disenfranchise 10 Million Hispanic U.S. Citizens: Study
‘Military Option’ Poses Threat to Global Economy (Handelsblatt, Germany)
How damaging would another war in the Middle East be, not only in terms of human life, but damage to the global economy? Columnist Dietmar Neurer of German business daily Handelsblatt reveals a jittery atmosphere among German economists and banking officials, who express concern about the ramifications of war and talk of war on the global economic climate. For Handelsblatt … [Read more...] about ‘Military Option’ Poses Threat to Global Economy (Handelsblatt, Germany)
Why Mitt’s Tax Returns Are VERY Important
In January of this year the Republicans had not yet selected a presidential candidate. Mitt Romney was widely expected to be the ultimate choice, however, and on January 19 Floyd Norris in The New York Times wrote an interesting piece based on that expectation. It was headlined: "Unearned, and Untaxed Unequally." It still makes very interesting reading today. Here's a … [Read more...] about Why Mitt’s Tax Returns Are VERY Important
Florida Turning Toward Obama?
It's kind of looking that way, according to a report in The Hill, though it's a squeaker. The new Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times poll released late Sunday finds Obama topping Romney by 1 point with 48 percent support among likely voters to 47, an edge well within the survey’s 3.5 percent margin of error. Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, … [Read more...] about Florida Turning Toward Obama?
Fox News and Possible Romney Bounce (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 Fox News and Possible Romney Bounce (Cartoon)
CNN Finally Does The Right Thing With The Story Of Ambassador Stevens and His Diary (Update!)
Here is the shocking story I hope you didn't miss. CNN’s Anderson Cooper reported on Wednesday night that U.S. Ambassador Stevens, who was killed in the 9-11 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, had been worried about the security threats, the ever growing Islamic extremism, and al-Qaeda's presence in Libya. Anderson reported that Stevens thought he might be on a hit list. Finally on … [Read more...] about CNN Finally Does The Right Thing With The Story Of Ambassador Stevens and His Diary (Update!)
Was True In Election 2008 and It Is Still True, I Am Sorry To Say
If they'd lived to see the GOP trainwreck in election 2008 and 2012, the Old School Conservatives would be twirling in their coffins. My dad, who passed about 15 years ago, was born in 1910 in Hungary and lived through the early 20th century world war and it's aftermath before he was able to struggle to come to Ah-meer-eekah. He was a conservative Independent all his life, … [Read more...] about Was True In Election 2008 and It Is Still True, I Am Sorry To Say
GOP Commits Voter Fraud to Block “Voter Fraud”
To win reelection, Barack Obama will have to overcome “the worst thing that has happened to our democratic election system since the late nineteenth century, when legislatures in southern states systematically negated the voting rights blacks had won in the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution.” That’s the considered opinion of Elizabeth Drew, whose award-winning … [Read more...] about GOP Commits Voter Fraud to Block “Voter Fraud”
Thriller ‘Homeland’ Dethrones ‘Mad Men’ at Emmys
Thriller 'Homeland' dethrones 'Mad Men' at Emmys (via AFP) Spy thriller "Homeland" won best TV drama at the Emmy awards, ending a four-year unbroken run for retro cult show "Mad Men", while "Modern Family" was named best comedy for the third straight year. Election campaign film "Game Change", about John McCain's Republican running mate Sarah Palin's … [Read more...] about Thriller ‘Homeland’ Dethrones ‘Mad Men’ at Emmys
Lesson Unlearned: The Prophet Transcends All Films or Cartoons (Le Monde, France)
Why are so many people across the Muslim world behaving violently, when The Prophet Muhammad, who they claim to revere, would condemn the murder and destruction being committed in his name? For France's Le Monde, author Tahar Ben Jelloun writes that most Muslims have come of age under regimes that have found it in their interests to paint individual liberty as a violation of … [Read more...] about Lesson Unlearned: The Prophet Transcends All Films or Cartoons (Le Monde, France)
Random Musings On The Autumnal Equinox & The Hapless Mitt Romney: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
Sandy Hook is the most unusual of New Jersey's many fine beaches. This is because the Staten Island skyline is a mere 20 miles away and behind it loom lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Then there is the experience of floating in the ocean on one's back beyond the breakers while taking in the Statue of Liberty and looking skyward at a Lufthansa Airbus making its approach … [Read more...] about Random Musings On The Autumnal Equinox & The Hapless Mitt Romney: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
Book Review: The Candidate: What it Takes to Win – and Hold – the White House by Samuel L. Popkin
There's a new political Bible out -- a political book that like the religious Bible is crammed with wisdom and rules that if followed offer a better (political) life. And you can bet your Granny's seat at a slot machine that both Camp Obama and Camp Romney are studying it. But are they following it? What more can you say about the credibility, solidness and critical … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Candidate: What it Takes to Win – and Hold – the White House by Samuel L. Popkin
Can This Election Settle Anything?
WASHINGTON -- The most important issue in the 2012 campaign barely gets discussed: How will we govern ourselves after the election is over? Elections are supposed to decide things. The voters render a verdict on what direction they want the country to take and set the framework within which both parties work. President Obama's time in office, however, has … [Read more...] about Can This Election Settle Anything?
Politicians While Eating Photos: NEVER a Pretty Sight (Photo Gallery)
I don't care who it is. Photos over the years of political candidates eating never shows their best side. They're all over the media -- and they're seldom lovely. To wit: This new AP photo of Obama inhaling a sausage: Vice President Joe Biden eating: OOPS! Wrong photo: Mitt Romney eats pork on a stick: An image that has been widely used on the … [Read more...] about Politicians While Eating Photos: NEVER a Pretty Sight (Photo Gallery)
Obama Brushes Off Israeli Pressure Over Iran
Obama brushes off Israeli pressure over Iran (via AFP) President Barack Obama likened Israeli pressure on him to draw a line in the sand over Iran's nuclear ambitions as noise he tries to ignore, according to remarks aired Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently urged the United States to establish what he called a "red line" regarding… … [Read more...] about Obama Brushes Off Israeli Pressure Over Iran