People who are resentful that Mitt Romney is filthy rich are missing the point. Like many an American before him, he saw an opportunity to cash in and has done so on a grand scale. Nothing wrong with that, but how grand we don't know because of Romney's refusal to come clean about his wealth while sending out a top surrogate today to go off on President Obama about smoking … [Read more...] about A Might Cry Went Up As Willard Mitt Romney Approached The Podium: ‘438! 438! 438!’
Political Ads Turn Nasty. Whoopee!
I'd only planned to review the political TV ads offered up by Super-PACs, thinking they would be where the real fun stuff would appear. No reviewer worth his Bushmills, however, could possibly ignore ads currently coming from the parties' own campaigns. My reviewing cup already runneth over, and it's only July! A new Obama campaign attack ad, for example, focusing on … [Read more...] about Political Ads Turn Nasty. Whoopee!
Immigration Politics Now Favors Moderates
Not that long ago the immigration extremists of the far right basked in the glory of victories like Arizona’s SB 1070. Their chest pounding drowned out those of us who were pointing out the influence of the eugenics movement and involvement of white supremacists in the legislative process. Those who argued for a humane middle ground were shouted down in the near mob-like … [Read more...] about Immigration Politics Now Favors Moderates
Jon Stewart, Food Stamp Gutting, and HBO’s “Newsroom”
Ep. 3: Preview WASHINGTON - The "award" I'm about to give is a nod to HBO's new series created by Aaron Sorkin, "Newsroom," and the idealist notion in the 24/7 media orgasma era that ratings don't have to drive content. What you're about to read is the story of a nation rotting due to the inability to place priorities above political greed and ideological corruption, with … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart, Food Stamp Gutting, and HBO’s “Newsroom”
Sheila Bair: We Are Better Off Having Dodd-Frank
Sheila Bair was appointed by President George W. Bush to chair the FDIC in 2006. After leaving the post last year, she formed a new group of financial experts to monitor and encourage regulatory reform of U.S. capital markets focused on systemic risk. Talking to Bill Moyers last week, she says Dodd-Frank is a good thing: We are better off having it than not having it... A lot … [Read more...] about Sheila Bair: We Are Better Off Having Dodd-Frank
People, Not Policy
On last Sunday's talk shows, Ed Gillespie claimed that Mitt Romney had retired "retroactively" from Bain Capital. In response, Dana Milbank wrote in the Washington Post: Retroactive retirement! It was a brilliant formulation, perhaps the greatest addition to the political lexicon since “no controlling legal authority.” And it raised tantalizing possibilities: If … [Read more...] about People, Not Policy
Book Review – The Trust
It's not easy writing a review for a mystery novel and The Trust by Norb Vonnegut is no exception. I can't say too much without being a spoiler but I'll try. Successful investment manager Grove O'Rourke receives a mysterious call from his wealthy mentor, Palmer Kincaid and suspects something is wrong. The next day Kincaid's body washes ashore an apparent accidental drowning … [Read more...] about Book Review – The Trust
How About Obama and Romney Singing Together?
And now we have polarizing candidate singing ads. Perhaps in an attempt to defuse polarization, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney can do a duet. Just imagine them doing something like this: … [Read more...] about How About Obama and Romney Singing Together?
Mittbeth
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 Mittbeth
The Problem of Inflexibility (Guest Voice)
The Problem of Inflexibility by Tyler G. Grant The defection of Jonathan Krohn -- the young conservative who wowed the conservative nation - - from the conservative right wing towards a more moderate or left wing political stance may have little effect on the current U.S. political climate, but the reaction to his positions from evangelical Christians and right wingers … [Read more...] about The Problem of Inflexibility (Guest Voice)
Problem of His Own Making
WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney has every right to cloak his personal and professional finances in secrecy -- and voters have every right to assume he has something embarrassing to hide. If this seems unfair, Romney has only himself to blame. Through a series of miscalculations, Romney has managed to turn what should have been a minor hiccup into what may be a defining … [Read more...] about Problem of His Own Making
Video Animation: US The Anger Over U.S. Olympic Uniforms Made in China:
Here's the view from Taiwan's Next Media Animation on the anger of U.S. politicians over U.S. Olympic uniforms made in China: … [Read more...] about Video Animation: US The Anger Over U.S. Olympic Uniforms Made in China:
Olympic ‘Hypocrite’ Harry Reid Should ‘Burn His Own Wardrobe’ (Xinhua, People’s Republic of China)
Are U.S. Congress member violating the Olympic spirit and expressing ‘narrow-minded nationalism and ignorance’ with their near-hysterical reaction to news that Team USA has uniforms made in China? This editorial from China’s state-run Xinhua points out that if Harry Reid and his Congressional colleagues are so angry about China-made products, they should start burning their … [Read more...] about Olympic ‘Hypocrite’ Harry Reid Should ‘Burn His Own Wardrobe’ (Xinhua, People’s Republic of China)
The Presidential War of Songs (UPDATES)
UPDATE II: Readers who wanted to enjoy listening to Obama sing “Let’s Stay Toghether” in Romney’s attack ad below will be disappointed. Apparently the Romney campaign has run into a copyright problem with BMG_Rights_Management, according to the Huffington Post. Readers who try to watch Obama sing (and Romney’s allegations) are greeted with a message that says “This … [Read more...] about The Presidential War of Songs (UPDATES)
Russia Opposition Must ‘Learn to Swim’ – Not Write to U.S. State Department (Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia)
Is it mistaken and/or unpatriotic for the Russian opposition to seek the help of the U.S. State Department and Congress with its struggle against Putin's Kremlin? For Russia's Moskovskij Komsomolets, Mikhail Rostovsky verbally spanks Russia's 'liberal opposition' for not doing its own 'dirty work' and complaining to the U.S. State Department about Kremlin officials who belong … [Read more...] about Russia Opposition Must ‘Learn to Swim’ – Not Write to U.S. State Department (Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia)
Is Obama Doomed Now That Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez Have Quit American Idol?
Here’s the thesis: pop culture is a predictive indicator of election results. Specifically, the more pop culture remains unchanged, the better for the incumbent. The more sea changes in pop culture,…and so on. Well, what could be a greater sea change in pop culture than American Idol losing its two celebrity judge stars, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez? After the … [Read more...] about Is Obama Doomed Now That Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez Have Quit American Idol?
A Foundation for a Beautiful Friendship
[This is the 12th in the series Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship.] Live your life as if there are no miracles and everything is a miracle. -Albert Einstein The Miraculous The allure of mystery points directly to the nature of reality as open and infinite. It offers a foretaste of our real power within that reality as its discoverer and knower. But … [Read more...] about A Foundation for a Beautiful Friendship
Quote of the Day: David Frum on “Mitt Romney’s Painfully Bad Week”
Although the partisan choir will say Mitt Romney delivered a just peachy speech to the NAACP and that he has now laid to rest the Bain Capital issue, many analysts in both parties and no parties don't quite see it that way. GOPer David Frum, who often will criticize his own party, notes that it was a painfully bad week for Romney -- and he puts it into a larger context in his … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: David Frum on “Mitt Romney’s Painfully Bad Week”
California Without Republicans
An interesting view of how a one party state works out. … [Read more...] about California Without Republicans
Note To Mitt Romney: Real Conservatives Take Personal Responsibility
The big campaign flap these days concerns Mitt Romney's relationship with Bain Capital after 1999. He was listed in official documents as the company's CEO and sole owner for several years after 1999 until 2002, years in which some company activities caused job losses and outsourcing. But he claims that since he wasn't actually active in company management in these years, he … [Read more...] about Note To Mitt Romney: Real Conservatives Take Personal Responsibility