Contrary to the narrative in the West, in Beijing's alternate reality, Russia and China are the real heroes of the Syria story. According to this editorial from China’s state-controlled Global Times, only Russia and China stand in the way of an even more horrific conflict brought on by selfish Western determination to remake the Middle East in its own image. The Global Times … [Read more...] about U.S. and West ‘Morally Accountable’ for Syria Massacre (Global Times, China)
Election Year 2012: Politics Imitates TV Art?
The 2012 campaign season is shaping up as a possible "transformational" election, but not the kind that Barack Obama and many Democrats had in mind. It's a year when, if Democrats don't get their act together ASAP, they could suffer a trifecta of losses that will trigger further erosion of threatened New Deal and Great Society legacies and fulfill many conservatives' longtime … [Read more...] about Election Year 2012: Politics Imitates TV Art?
Happy Birthday, Mr. President
Today, John F. Kennedy would have been 95 years old. Speaking at the University of Wyoming fieldhouse I heard him speak at the University of Wyoming when I was in second grade. Here is that speech, from 1963. He was assassinated fifty-eight days later in Dallas, Texas. I had met Senator Gale McGee on a few occasions, by that time. Here is what I heard: … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday, Mr. President
Romney Political Best Bud Trump Revives Birther Charges on CNN With a Vengeance
In his speech to the 1988 Democratic convention, Rev. Jesse Jackson declared "keep hope alive." On CNN today, presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney's best political bud Donald Trump in essence argued keep birtherism alive. In what will likely be shown for years as a classic interview on CNN, Trump refused to acknowledge facts as facts, inaccurately stated … [Read more...] about Romney Political Best Bud Trump Revives Birther Charges on CNN With a Vengeance
It’s Mitt
In the least surprising news of the week, Mitt Romney has officially clinched the Republican Nomination for President. CNN, Fox and MSNBC have all made their projections. This of course will not have much impact on the views of hard core Ron Paul supporters, who continue to cling to the theory that Paul will somehow overcome the realities of math (something Mike Huckabee … [Read more...] about It’s Mitt
Mitt Palling Around with Donald
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Mitt Palling Around with Donald
More Evidence Of The Major Media Dumb-Down
Recently I came across a study conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University about which media informs its audience best (and worst) when it comes to domestic news. Fox News did not fare well in this study — to put it mildly. Here's a snippet to ponder: "The study concludes that media sources have a significant impact on the number of questions that people were able to answer … [Read more...] about More Evidence Of The Major Media Dumb-Down
How Obama Can Win
The prevailing (in the constantly shifting) conventional wisdom is that President Barack Obama is not in the best of shape in his re-election bid and that it'll be a close race. So what should he do to win? Andrew Sullivan has these suggestions HERE. … [Read more...] about How Obama Can Win
Pants on Fire Romney
WASHINGTON -- There are those who tell the truth. There are those who distort the truth. And then there's Mitt Romney. Every political campaign exaggerates and dissembles. This practice may not be admirable -- it's surely one reason so many Americans are disenchanted with politics -- but it's something we've all come to expect. Candidates claim the right to make any … [Read more...] about Pants on Fire Romney
I Will Continue to Call Our Fighting Men and Women ‘Heroes’ (UPDATED)
I have not said anything about the brouhaha sparked by MSNBC's Chris Hayes on Sunday when he said that he felt "uncomfortable" describing those members of our armed forces killed in action as “heroes.” I have not said anything because I have been too busy remembering, honoring and writing about those heroes. (Mr. Hayes has apologized since.) But now that Memorial Day … [Read more...] about I Will Continue to Call Our Fighting Men and Women ‘Heroes’ (UPDATED)
Is Judicial Activism from the Right Alright?
For decades conservatives have been assailing the courts for judicial activism, claiming the bench has been shaping or creating laws that override or ignore the intent of state legislatures, Congress and the Constitution. With judicial activism, the courts thwart the power of elected bodies to legislate, by ruling laws unconstitutional. This is the antithesis of judicial … [Read more...] about Is Judicial Activism from the Right Alright?
Democrats Do Web Video Ad on Mitt Romney’s Embracing Birther Donald Trump’s Support (VIDEO)
The Democrats have put up a new ad focusing on presumptive nominee Mitt Romney's embracing the support of the country's most famous birther, Donald Trump. The Team Obama ad contrasts Romney's response with the response of Arizona Sen. John McCain in 2008: MSNBC's First Read poses these questions: *** Playing the Trump card: Here's a little thought exercise: What if a … [Read more...] about Democrats Do Web Video Ad on Mitt Romney’s Embracing Birther Donald Trump’s Support (VIDEO)
UN Says Most of 108 Syria Massacre Victims Were Summarily Executed Not Killed In Artillery Fire
So much for the Syrian government's cover story in the Houla killings that took 108 lives and shocked the world with images of scores of dead children lying side by side: the UN says most victims were summarily executed...period: Most of the 108 victims of the Houla killings in Syria were executed, the United Nations said Tuesday – an announcement that triggered a … [Read more...] about UN Says Most of 108 Syria Massacre Victims Were Summarily Executed Not Killed In Artillery Fire
Book Review: The Hillary Effect by Taylor Marsh
When "The Hillary Effect" came out in December you could have bet that it would have been just one more of these quickie political books that seem to be a collection of uninspired recycled reporting notes, or reworded blog posts, except this time it would focus on the ill-fated Presidential nomination campaign of Hillary Clinton, American history's first Presidential primary … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Hillary Effect by Taylor Marsh
Assad of Syria
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Assad of Syria
The Banish Cable Television Revolution Is Being Televised: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
Frank "The Fixer" Tagliano is a former New York mafiosi and restaurant owner who after testifying against his mob boss joins the witness protection program. Intrigued by Lillehammer after watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, he is relocated by the FBI to the picturesque town in northern Norway under the assumed name of Giovanni "Johnny" Henriksen. That is the outlandish … [Read more...] about The Banish Cable Television Revolution Is Being Televised: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
We Shouldn’t Take Hillary’s No for Her Answer
“I think that there will be an election that will elect a woman.” - Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton WASHINGTON - George Washington didn't exactly jump at the chance to lead our nation after being asked either. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that women like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as people like myself, aren't taking Hillary's no for an answer. I'm not comparing … [Read more...] about We Shouldn’t Take Hillary’s No for Her Answer
The Truth Hurts
Chris Hayes poked the monkey this Memorial Day weekend when he suggested that the valor and heroism of US troops was being used to justify war. Doug Mataconis objected to the timing but really never condemded the message. Doug's post generated a really great comments thread which is worth checking out. I am a veteran and was not at all offended by Hayes' comments. … [Read more...] about The Truth Hurts
The Real Cost of War, ‘Interactively’
One more reminder of the meaning of Memorial Day and, I promise, I’ll say no more today. In honor of our fallen troops, CNN.com has created an amazing interactive "Home & Away map" which includes information about all of the men and women who have died in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars since 2001. It is a stunning, interactive map where you can learn where our heroes lived … [Read more...] about The Real Cost of War, ‘Interactively’
Syria: a slow retreat from the abyss
At long last, the Syrian tragedy may make a credible start to moving away from the precipice. In an unexpected move Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Holland decided today to work closely with Russia to end the bloody suppression of the Syrian people. This is significant because Syrian President Bashar Assad is a Russian protégé in the … [Read more...] about Syria: a slow retreat from the abyss