WASHINGTON -- Here are the two great campaign mysteries at midsummer: Why does Mitt Romney appear to be getting so much traction from ripping a few of President Obama's words out of context? And why aren't Romney and other Republicans moving to the political center as the election approaches? Both mysteries point to an important fact about the 2012 campaign: For … [Read more...] about Romney and the Go-for-Broke Election
Entertainers In Their Prime and at the End: Frank Sinatra
I've always been fascinated at watching the evolution of enteratainers: how the looked in their prime and how they looked and performed at the ends or later parts of their lives. This is the first in an occasional series. Some evolve and adapt. Others simply lose their gift. Here's Frank Sinatra at the top of his game in 1966 doing Witchcraft -- with a notably unPC … [Read more...] about Entertainers In Their Prime and at the End: Frank Sinatra
Defense (Olympics) Update Nr. 3 (Updated with Today’s Results)
Sandra Uptagrafft. A former National Guardsman, the 41-year-old Singapore-native became a member of the National All-Guard International Pistol Team in 1992 and then was recruited to active service as a shooter/small arms instructor at the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit from 1992-95. Her husband, Eric, who is also a competitive shooter is also participating in this year’s … [Read more...] about Defense (Olympics) Update Nr. 3 (Updated with Today’s Results)
Defense (Olympic) Update Nr. 4: Race Walking
About.com Track and Field describes race walking as follows: Race walkers are the penguins of the Olympic Games - to the untrained eye, their movements just don't look right. But race walkers - with their arms pumping, hips swiveling and legs barely restraining themselves from breaking into a trot - know what they're doing. These long-distance striders are constantly … [Read more...] about Defense (Olympic) Update Nr. 4: Race Walking
Dick Cheney Says ‘Mistake’ Sarah Palin Picked as John McCain’s Running Mate
Former vice president Dick Cheney told ABC News it was a mistake for Sen. John McCain to have picked Sarah Palin as a running mate four years ago. Um, it was also a mistake for George W. Bush to have picked him as a running mate as well. He said he has given Mitt Romney advice, though he won't say what that advice is. “That one,” Cheney said, “I don’t think was well … [Read more...] about Dick Cheney Says ‘Mistake’ Sarah Palin Picked as John McCain’s Running Mate
Mitt Romney Insults Former Israeli Opposition Leader Shelly Yacimovich, Abruptly Cancels Previously Planned Meeting
#RomneyShambles: Well, it turns out Mitt Romney's Israeli trip wasn't without controversy, since he abruptly cancelled a previously scheduled meeting with former opposition leader Shelly Yacimovich. Some in the Israeli press are saying this came about under pressure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Not to be offensive to any one, I didn't realize Mitt Romney was taking … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Insults Former Israeli Opposition Leader Shelly Yacimovich, Abruptly Cancels Previously Planned Meeting
Scoring Mitt’s Olympic Trials
The spirit of Olympic competitiveness raises unexpected patriotic fervor to protect Mitt Romney from Brits who have been bashing him so joyfully. He is, after all, our boob and they have no leftover colonial right to exercise their snobbery so freely at his “blunders and clangers.” What if he did say on arrival that the state of preparedness was “disconcerting?” Does that … [Read more...] about Scoring Mitt’s Olympic Trials
Corporate Shareholders Are Slave Owners!
You can own property, but you can't own other people. Those who do own other people are slave owners. Those who are owned are slaves. Corporations are people, 'persons' or 'natural persons' as they are usually referred to in court. They are owned by corporate share owners. Corporations are therefore slaves and must be liberated. And doing so is the great civil rights issue … [Read more...] about Corporate Shareholders Are Slave Owners!
Romney Breaks Agreement with Media: Bans Media From Covering Jerusalem Fundraiser UPDATE: Abruptly Changes Its Mind
I again ask who is in charge of the Romney campaign when it comes to imagery. The good news for Romney supporters: the campaign has abruptly changed its mind and will honor the agree with the media and allow reporters inside of a Jerusalem fund raiser. The bad news: this is yet another unncessary, distracting, negative story that did not have to happen on Romney foreign trip. … [Read more...] about Romney Breaks Agreement with Media: Bans Media From Covering Jerusalem Fundraiser UPDATE: Abruptly Changes Its Mind
The Moral Arc of the Universe
[This is the 18th in the series Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship.] The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. – Martin Luther King Jr. One reading of the human story emphasizes war, domination, pillage, rape, slavery, colonization, and exploitation. Wealth and leisure for the few and a subsistence living for the many. To the extent … [Read more...] about The Moral Arc of the Universe
Defense (Olympics) Update Nr. 2 (Updated)
(Today's results at bottom) I know we were all proud to watch Team USA enter the London Olympic Stadium last night. And weren’t the opening ceremonies just wonderful -- typical and delightfully British? I looked for our military Olympians but could not discern them. Perhaps some of our readers did. Nevertheless, they were there and they will be there through the next … [Read more...] about Defense (Olympics) Update Nr. 2 (Updated)
Caldwell Idaho Billboard Comparing Obama to Aurora Shooter James Holmes Goes Too Far
The Ralph Smeed Foundation erects billboard comparing President Obama to Aurora shooter James Holmes. It is reprehensible and goes too far, but plays into the right wing's scare tactics to get voters nervous enough to vote for Mitt Romney. The group said the billboard, which is located on Franklin Road, is meant to draw attention to military men and women dying overseas, KBOI2 … [Read more...] about Caldwell Idaho Billboard Comparing Obama to Aurora Shooter James Holmes Goes Too Far
Chick-Fil-A’s Vice President of Public Relations Dies
A truly sad story. My former San Diego Union colleague (a great writer, reporter and editor who no longer works at the paper) Greg Gross posted an item about Chick-Fil-A's VP of Public Relations, Don Perry, dying with Greg's comment that this was for those who think PR is a cushy job. And it most assuredly isn't. Just think about what it would be like to defend the … [Read more...] about Chick-Fil-A’s Vice President of Public Relations Dies
U.S. Gun Control: the View from Abroad (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 U.S. Gun Control: the View from Abroad (Cartoon)
New Question: Should Joe Paterno Remain in the Hall of Fame?
The inevitable question is now surfacing: Built into the by-laws of most sports Halls of Fame is something called a "character clause." It's a loosely-defined metric meant to gauge whether a potential Hall of Famers' off-the-field conduct should prevent an athlete or coach from being honored. The rules use words like integrity, sportsmanship and community to … [Read more...] about New Question: Should Joe Paterno Remain in the Hall of Fame?
Disgraced Florida GOP Chair Claims Party Endorsed Voter Supression
According to Salon, former Florida Republican Party chairman Jim Greer has claimed in a sworn deposition that the GOP implemented a "systemic effort to suppress the black vote." He also called some party officials "whack-a-do, right-wing crazies." Why was Greer being deposed? In 2010, he was charged with criminal fraud, money laundering and felony corruption. From the … [Read more...] about Disgraced Florida GOP Chair Claims Party Endorsed Voter Supression
Orchid
Not much to say so how about an Orchid: … [Read more...] about Orchid
Romney in London: The Diplomat (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 in London: The Diplomat (Cartoon)
U.S.-China Olympic Uniform Spat Reflects America’s ‘Hidden Strength’ (La Stampa, Italy)
Was there something missing from the frustrated rhetoric of U.S. lawmakers, who appeared so shocked that Team USA's Olympic uniforms were made in China? La Stampa columnist Gianni Riotta writes that the 'moral of the tale' is that, like their China-made uniforms, Team USA, 'comprised of an interweaving of distant cultures,' reflects the very basis of American strength. For … [Read more...] about U.S.-China Olympic Uniform Spat Reflects America’s ‘Hidden Strength’ (La Stampa, Italy)
When Love Trumps Job: Ed Schultz Leaves Shows to Care for Ailing Wife (AUDIO of Announcement)
Radio and cable progressive talker Ed Schultz vanished from the airwaves and he went on his show to explain why. And at times it was tough: his wife has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and he plans to be off the air "for a while" since his focus is his wife, who has also worked with him on his show all these years. Here's the audio segment: … [Read more...] about When Love Trumps Job: Ed Schultz Leaves Shows to Care for Ailing Wife (AUDIO of Announcement)