The most frightening thing about sending Romney/Ryan to the White House is foreign policy. This became obvious in the speeches by McCain, Rice and Ryan. It was the same saber rattling that got us into so much trouble during the Bush years. John McCain: We are now being tested by an array of threats that are more complex, more numerous, and just as deeply and deadly as I … [Read more...] about Republican Foreign Policy – A Return to the Bush years
Paul Ryan’s Very Red Meat
When I came home from World War II, someone persuaded me to attend a Communist lecture where the speaker listed everything wrong in America from high prices to flat feet, then proclaimed, “All this, of course, is a result of the capitalist system.” Listening to the GOP VP nominee last night brought back the same sensation that caused my brain to slam shut back then, but with … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan’s Very Red Meat
Image vs. Reality at the GOP Convention
Give those Republicans some due credit: they've been putting on the kind of show that would have done Ziegfeld proud. Saddled with a vanilla nominee in Mitt Romney, they've been firing up their base with a multi-megawatt display of passion and purpose. And not only their base: the Republicans have jettisoned their dowdy image as the party of aging white guys; they've produced … [Read more...] about Image vs. Reality at the GOP Convention
The Para-What? (Updated)
The 2012 U.S. and Great Britain Paralympics basketball teams show sportsmanship following their final opportunity to scrimmage at the University of East London before the start of Paralympics game play in London, England, Aug. 29. --Scroll down for some great words by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-- I have seen very little coverage of the 2012 London … [Read more...] about The Para-What? (Updated)
Knocking It Out of the Park
Yeah, I agree. The best convention coverage is coming from Charlie Pearce's blog at Esquire*. He rings all bells, most days. Sample: ... I think it was when he went to tears, one dab at each eye, while talking about his mother, that it became extraordinarily clear to me that there's a lot of old Dick Nixon in young Paul Ryan, the zombie-eyed granny-starver from … [Read more...] about Knocking It Out of the Park
What if China Stumbles?
Economic storm clouds continue to form around the world. The problems in Europe threaten not only Europe, but the rest of the world economies too. Even the countries that weathered the 2008 storm relatively easily, such as Brazil and China, are now developing symptoms of economic distress. Following a several month stay teaching and traveling in some of the major cities in … [Read more...] about What if China Stumbles?
Paul Ryan and Condi Rice Bring It
Paul Ryan didn't disappoint last night with his speech to the GOP Convention. He came across as young, smart, and ready to lead. He had so many great lines, but probably the key was this about Medicare: "Mitt Romney and I know the difference between protecting a program and raiding it. Ladies and gentlemen, our nation needs this debate. We want this debate. We will win this … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan and Condi Rice Bring It
Paul Ryan Arrives
WASHINGTON - The heir to Ronald Reagan has arrived and he's being fact checked. As we learned from Pres. Obama, as well as Pres. Bill Clinton, a deep emotional connection can take a politician a long way. We'll see if Paul Ryan has what it takes to maintain that tie, because he's no Sarah Palin. Taylor Marsh, a veteran political analyst and former Huffington Post … [Read more...] about Paul Ryan Arrives
Gallup Poll Editors: Mitt Romney’s Strengths and Weaknessses
The editors of the Gallup Pull have taken a long, hard look at the Republican's new Presidential nominee Mitt Romney and find a mixed bag as he prepares to deliver what many predict will be the speech of his political life at the Republican convention tonight in Tampa. Two key findings: his likability is up somewhat but it still could be a factor that could cost him the … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll Editors: Mitt Romney’s Strengths and Weaknessses
‘Ignorant’ Romney Policies Will Result in ‘Direct Confrontation’ (China Daily, People’s Republic of China)
Beijing either doesn't know that expressing criticism of a U.S. presidential nominee is likely to help him win - or it knows and is intentionally doing so. This editorial from China's state-controlled China Daily asserts that Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is out of his depth when it comes to foreign policy - and that if Romney's China plans were implemented, … [Read more...] about ‘Ignorant’ Romney Policies Will Result in ‘Direct Confrontation’ (China Daily, People’s Republic of China)
Condoleezza Rice at the Republican Convention: A REAL Major Political Star Is Born? (Video of full speech)
So far at the Republican convention, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is now considered to have flopped in his speech, Ann Romney delivered as expected and Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan hurled partisan red meat, sparked immediate controversy with the accuracy of his confidently-stated assertions, and tried to woo independent voters. But if there is someone who is now … [Read more...] about Condoleezza Rice at the Republican Convention: A REAL Major Political Star Is Born? (Video of full speech)
Romney Ryan and Rand (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 Romney Ryan and Rand (Cartoon)
Ryan Speech Reaction (With Video of Full Speech)
Paul Ryan has just finished addressing the GOP convention as he formally accepted the nomination for Vice President. Personally I wasn't real taken with the speech. It was ok but it struck me as pretty standard cookie cutter kind of rhetoric, but then that seems to be pretty much the norm these days. Most of the speeches this week have been so and I suspect most speeches … [Read more...] about Ryan Speech Reaction (With Video of Full Speech)
Ron Paul Won
In all fields of human endeavor, winning by cheating is losing. In a competition, when someone cheats, he gets disqualified. The disqualification does not make the runner-up the winner. Rather, it reveals that the man who appeared to be the runner-up had in fact been the winner all along. In the race for the GOP nomination for president, therefore, Ron Paul won. As … [Read more...] about Ron Paul Won
When Mortals Claim to Converse With God
The New York Times on Wednesday carries an analysis of how certain words and phrases have been used by speakers at the Republican National Convention. There were 62 mentions of “God” in the speeches. Compared to the 148 mentions of “Romney,” God came out relatively good, unlike the phrase “middle class” that was mentioned only four times. Rick Santorum referred to God … [Read more...] about When Mortals Claim to Converse With God
Ryan and the P90X Republicans
TAMPA, Fla. -- Paul Ryan is known for his devotion to a fitness regime called P90X, which involves "working out 6-7 days per week, with each workout lasting about 1-1½ hours," according to WebMD. The website adds that "the workouts are so rigorous that you're asked to take a fitness test before ordering the P90X system, to see whether you're up to the challenge." Gov. … [Read more...] about Ryan and the P90X Republicans
Teleprompter Hilarity (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 Teleprompter Hilarity (Cartoon)
As Isaac Approaches, the Military and FEMA Prepare (Updates)
Soldiers travel through flooded waters on Washington Street in Ocean Springs, Miss. The soldiers, assigned to 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery, are some of the 1,500 Mississippi National Guardsmen responding to Hurricane Isaac. Soldiers in a Humvee travel through a storm surge to assist Hancock County sheriff deputies make contact with civilians stranded near … [Read more...] about As Isaac Approaches, the Military and FEMA Prepare (Updates)
Still Searching for Romney
After a night devoted to bringing him into focus, the newly minted Republican candidate remains gauzier than ever, hidden behind speeches of his closest rival, a wound-up keynoter and even his loving wife. Rick Santorum leads off with the usual stump turn about his own family as if he were accepting the nomination, only to remember finally that he lost and embrace the winner … [Read more...] about Still Searching for Romney
Literally Smoke and Mirrors
If there is any clear metaphor for the Republican party in this toxic year, it is this: A fat man standing in front of a background of moving smoke, telling America how it has to go on a diet. Metaphor? More like the entire point of the convention. As noted earlier today, the Romney campaign has decided to throw out those pesky "facts" altogether. After all, what do facts … [Read more...] about Literally Smoke and Mirrors