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
‘Take Our Country Back,’ Again — Still
Last night, at the Republican National Convention, after ignoring, even contradicting, Ann Romney’s message of love, during a self-centered, self-serving rant (he used the word “I” more than 36 times) mostly focused on how he took New Jersey back, Gov. Chris Christie announced that Republicans “are taking our country back.” I remember those words well from the 2010 … [Read more...] about ‘Take Our Country Back,’ Again — Still
What Did They Avoid Talking About at the Republican Convention?
What did they avoid talking about at the Republican convention? Maybe that's worth worrying about. Maybe that's a measure of what a Romney/Ryan White House would bring us. Let's take a look at the New York Times word-count chart and see what got fifty mentions or fewer -- in other words, which the losers were... Tax, 48 American dream, 36 Debt, … [Read more...] about What Did They Avoid Talking About at the Republican Convention?
Two RNC Attendees Ejected After Throwing Nuts at Black CNN Camera Operator, Saying “That’s How We Feed Animals”
CNN reports that two people were removed from the Republican National Convention yesterday for throwing nuts at a black CNN camerawoman, saying "This is how we feed animals." CNN won't disclose the name of the camerawoman. When Mitt Romney hangs around birthers like Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio and Donald Trump, as well as crack his own birther joke, then you embolden … [Read more...] about Two RNC Attendees Ejected After Throwing Nuts at Black CNN Camera Operator, Saying “That’s How We Feed Animals”
Former VP Dan Quayle’s Son, Rep. Ben Quayle, Becomes First Freshman House Republican to Lose Seat in Primary Over Redistricting
Arizona Tea Party darling Rep. Ben Quayle is the first Freshman Republican to lose his seat in what has been characterized as a bitterly contested primary between he and Rep. Dave Schweikert. Ben Quayle, the son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, becomes the 8th House member to lose to a fellow lawmaker as a result of redistricting. He's the 12th overall member to lose a … [Read more...] about Former VP Dan Quayle’s Son, Rep. Ben Quayle, Becomes First Freshman House Republican to Lose Seat in Primary Over Redistricting
The Best Headline Of The Campaign Season
Want to understand contemporary American politics? It's all summed up in a headline found on today's Bloomberg website — "Donors Invest Millions in Romney for Billions in Returns." Are these donors believers in the official Republican small government line? Please. Spare me. They don't care how big or small is the overall government. They only care about how government … [Read more...] about The Best Headline Of The Campaign Season
High Concept Branding: “Hitler” Clothing Sells in India (and Jewish Groups Seek Name Change)
Picking a memorable"high concept" name in business can cement a product's brand name in customers' minds. In India, a men's clothing store has chosen a name that people won't forget: "Hitler" clothing. And Jewish groups are not pleased: A men’s clothing store in India is being asked to change its name after the chosen 'Hitler' unsurprisingly upset the local … [Read more...] about High Concept Branding: “Hitler” Clothing Sells in India (and Jewish Groups Seek Name Change)
Candidates Temporarily Silent on Immigrants in the US: The Hall of Shame
Dear Brave Souls... This is a story about a time when politicians went silent about their fear or and hatred of immigrants but were plotting in private about what to do about the 'asian scum' that had come to America. Soon, they suddenly unleashed a barrage of punitive and inhumane measures against a huge group of innocents. It had been pre-planned but judiciously kept from the … [Read more...] about Candidates Temporarily Silent on Immigrants in the US: The Hall of Shame
Mitt Gets the Nomination (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 Mitt Gets the Nomination (Cartoon)
The Women Who Truly Rock The Future World To Life: Stand Up South Africans
she is poor beyond poor, uneducated, naive, she has children, she has had a blood transfusion, she has had an unfaithful mate... she has children... she is HIV AIDS positive. She did not realize her mate was HIV positive. She has children, and she lives for them. She is a woman of many names. She lives in many villages. She has children. She takes her medicine to stay alive … [Read more...] about The Women Who Truly Rock The Future World To Life: Stand Up South Africans
Let the Elders Die: Governments Talk Game, Hold Drills, But No Precise Plans for the Vulnerable Most Anywhere
In Japan, Fukushima plant went kaplooey and contaminated air and water in 2011. The USA and other 'civilized' countries of the world, make no mention of how tens of thousands of elderly in Japan were abandoned in hospitals and homes in the exclusion area. WHere are the stories by MSM, where are the stories of how the US and other countries went in to save the vulnerable and … [Read more...] about Let the Elders Die: Governments Talk Game, Hold Drills, But No Precise Plans for the Vulnerable Most Anywhere
Libya-Egypt: Families Drown. Death First, Gov’t Helps Only After Death…
from AFP Cairo: The Forgotten of the World ought be front page news daily... but I listen across the blogosphere hearing people crowing and toasting each other reminiscent of Berlin night life, the parties of celebration going on while the Dutch, thousands were deported to Poland and the death camps every week. So across the world, and particularly in the US at present with … [Read more...] about Libya-Egypt: Families Drown. Death First, Gov’t Helps Only After Death…
Ann Romney Rocks The GOP Convention
Yesterday was pretty exciting stuff at the GOP convention. First we had Ron Paul supporters creating all kinds of havoc during the roll call vote. Maine delegates lost a voice vote to seat more of their delegates. There were many upset about a rule change, but a compromise was reached. .................... I hope you didn't miss Mia Love, candidate for Congress in Utah, … [Read more...] about Ann Romney Rocks The GOP Convention
GOP and Its Hard Right Turn on Women’s Issues
Delegates to the 2012 GOP convention in Miami adopted a political platform on Tuesday endorsed by the National Rifle Association, "FreedomWorks, an advocacy group associated with the Tea Party movement," and Phyllis Schlafly, who described it as “[maybe] the best one ever adopted.” What did they say about abortion? [W]e assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that … [Read more...] about GOP and Its Hard Right Turn on Women’s Issues
News Media Faces Bigger Challenges This Election Year
PUEBLO, Colo. -- Welcome to election year, when each party's candidates will be pilloried by partisans, but the consistent target of the most tiresome cliches will be the news media. Yes, that mean, old news media that conservatives call the "liberal news media." Yes, that mean, old news media that some liberals insist isn't a "liberal news media," but rather a part of the … [Read more...] about News Media Faces Bigger Challenges This Election Year
Romney Cactus (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 Cactus (Cartoon)
Video: Ann Romney’s Speech to the Republican Convention: A Game Changer or Not?
Republican hopes have been riding high that the speech by Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney's wife Ann Romney would help Romney make up for some problems he has with women voters, and display a more human side of the nominee. Partisan reaction will be predictable (on most websites you know what they'll say before they say it). Here's an interesting reaction from … [Read more...] about Video: Ann Romney’s Speech to the Republican Convention: A Game Changer or Not?
Party Conventions
My old conservative friend Ed Morrissey thinks it's time to get rid of political conventions. Now Ed and I rarely agree on any thing but in this case we do. Ed: The quadrennial national conventions hearken back to bygone days of American elections. Conventions have been romanticized in films like The Best Man, in which Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson slugged it out for the … [Read more...] about Party Conventions
Chris Christie Wows GOP Convention
I suspect there are a lot of liberals out there (and not a few people inside the Obama campaign) who are breathing a sigh of relief that this was a keynote speech rather than an acceptance speech. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie blew the delegates away with a well delivered speech that may well have been the opening salvo of the 2016 campaign. He reminds me in many ways … [Read more...] about Chris Christie Wows GOP Convention
Three Things Independents Can Do To Make a Difference in 2012
What are the three things that independents can do to make a critical difference that the future is calling for? Jackie Salit speaks about the independent movement and her new book Independents Rising (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) at Lenora Fulani's 'Interviews With a Black Independent', a monthly series coming to you from the Harlem State Office Building. For more … [Read more...] about Three Things Independents Can Do To Make a Difference in 2012