In an early scene of the movie The Contender, President Jackson Evans (played by Jeff Bridges) tells Virginia Governor Jack Hathaway (played by William Petersen) that he, the governor, is the future of the Democratic Party... and always will be. (It's one of my favorite movie lines ever, one that has broad application: "You're the future of [insert organization name]. And … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush Is Not The Future Of The Republican Party
Quote of the Day: The Feeling Grows That Obama May be One Term President
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza who notes that the perception has started to grow that Barack Obama may be a one-term President: It has been a Junius Horribilis for President Obama. Job growth has stalled, the Democrats have been humiliated in Wisconsin, the attorney general is facing a contempt-of-Congress citation, talks … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The Feeling Grows That Obama May be One Term President
Defense Update: George H. W. Bush/ USS George H.W. Bush (UPDATE)
UPDATE: Happy 88th birthday, Mr. President. Original Post: Whatever one may think politically of George H. W. Bush -- or for that matter of the Bush dynasty in general -- kudos to Bush 41 who, at almost 90, continues to celebrate life with gusto and tenaciousness. As Robert Stein notes, “George H. W. Bush turns 88 this week with a family clambake in Kennebunkport, … [Read more...] about Defense Update: George H. W. Bush/ USS George H.W. Bush (UPDATE)
Jeb Bush Off Message? Says Neither Reagan or George H. W. Bush Could Be Nominated by Republicans Today
Was former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush off message for presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, or was he indicating he knows he will never get the nomination so he let it all hang out -- or was the laying the groundwork for picking up the pieces if Romney loses and the Tea Party movement and the party's talk radio political culture are blamed for chasing away independent voters, … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush Off Message? Says Neither Reagan or George H. W. Bush Could Be Nominated by Republicans Today
Guerilla Files Exposed: ‘CIA Funding for the Dalai Lama’ (La Repubblica, Italy)
How much did the Dalai Lama know about CIA funding of the Tibetan resistance to Chinese occupation of Tibet? The question is not new, but according to this account from Italy's La Repubblica, German investigative reporters have uncovered a 'secret dossier' which confirms that the Dalai Lama was intimately involved with these plans - and that the level of funding for the Tibetan … [Read more...] about Guerilla Files Exposed: ‘CIA Funding for the Dalai Lama’ (La Repubblica, Italy)
Frank “Sam Drucker” Cady Dies
Another veteran character actor has passed away. If you grew up watching reruns of Green Acres or Beverly Hillbillies, Sam Drucker was a familiar face and one that will be missed … [Read more...] about Frank “Sam Drucker” Cady Dies
A Progressive’s Complaint
An angry group of oldsters, who were furious about Wall Street and a big government in cahoots with The Street, made themselves known as the Tea Party. Right-wing money came forth, the oldsters accepted it happily, they changed their tune to exclude Wall Street from their anger, and now they pretty much run the Republican Party. An angry group of young people, who were … [Read more...] about A Progressive’s Complaint
Bush 41 in the Age of Anxiety
George H. W. Bush turns 88 this week with a family clambake in Kennebunkport, an HBO special and, despite Parkinson ravages, plans to skydive again at 90. His biographer calls him “a lion...he embodies the story of postwar American power.” A contemporary can only wish him well while marveling at what has happened to America and its people during our lifetimes since World War … [Read more...] about Bush 41 in the Age of Anxiety
Ex-Governor Calls Charges He Worked with Drug Cartels a ‘Desperate’ Campaign Stunt (El Universal, Mexico)
The Mexico presidential campaign is heating up - and the U.S., one way or another, is a central focus of attention. According to this news item from Mexico's El Universal, Tomás Yarrington, the former governor of Tamaulipas, a state that abuts Texas, is being accused of protecting the notorious Gulf Cartel, taking millions in bribes, laundering his ill-gotten gain in both … [Read more...] about Ex-Governor Calls Charges He Worked with Drug Cartels a ‘Desperate’ Campaign Stunt (El Universal, Mexico)
Bashar Assad Paints Syria
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Bashar Assad Paints Syria
Commerce Secretary John Bryson Investigated in California Hit and Run: UPDATED Is Said to Have Had Seizure
[NOTE: Due to being offline all day, this is being dated late.] There's now an explanation for why Commerce Secretary John Bryson got into several accidents in California, in one of the more bizarre stories of the year involving a political figure: he apparently had a seizure: It began Saturday afternoon at a railroad crossing in a run-down commercial neighborhood in … [Read more...] about Commerce Secretary John Bryson Investigated in California Hit and Run: UPDATED Is Said to Have Had Seizure
‘Report From 20 Paws Ranch’ Back Next Week
Lots going on, but you won't read or hear about it in The New York Times or on CNN. Nesting season is nearly over at the mountain retreat, aka 20 Paws Ranch, and we have a slew of goldfinch, bluebird, catbird, robin and crow fledglings. And the hummingbirds are back with a vengeance, going through a pint of sugar water every couple of days. All the bird activity means … [Read more...] about ‘Report From 20 Paws Ranch’ Back Next Week
Government Is the Solution
WASHINGTON -- Why don't Democrats just say it? They really believe in active government and think it does good and valuable things. One of those valuable things is that government creates jobs -- yes, really -- and also the conditions under which more jobs can be created. You probably read that and thought: But don't Democrats and liberals say this all the time? … [Read more...] about Government Is the Solution
Spanish Rescue Package Will Further Bleed Taxpayers
Spain’s hapless tax payers, already bleeding from rising unemployment and falling economic growth, had another burden thrust upon them today when their government acquiesced under duress to a €100 billion rescue package for Spanish banks. The money will come from funds set up by its Eurozone partners and the European Central Bank (ECB) in exchange for first preference for … [Read more...] about Spanish Rescue Package Will Further Bleed Taxpayers
Defense Update
What some of our troops were doing last week: Airmen with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing prepare a U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron for an airlift mission at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Bagram provides tactical airlift support every day to ground forces operating in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Raymond … [Read more...] about Defense Update
Obama’s Problem: Week Revealed His Weaknesses
Earlier in the week I wrote this column that contrasts 2008 and with 2012. ABC's World News notes how this week revealed Obama's 2012 weaknesses and contrasts with 2008. The key question will be: will this be a turning point for Obama's re-election campaign or the kind of rough patch that he faced in his nomination battle with Hillary Clinton where he seemed on the descent but … [Read more...] about Obama’s Problem: Week Revealed His Weaknesses
Campaign Ad Video: Romney Campaign Uses Obama’s “The Private Sector Is Doing Fine” Bungle in Ad
On Friday President Barack Obama handed the Romney campaign an early Chistmas gift by saying "the private sector is doing fine" in a press conference. Some have compared this to George W. Bush's "Mission Accomplished" banner on the Iraq war (let the "false equivalency" wars begin). But one thing is for sure: it was a major campaign stumble and gave Republicans a sound bite they … [Read more...] about Campaign Ad Video: Romney Campaign Uses Obama’s “The Private Sector Is Doing Fine” Bungle in Ad
Obama Campaign Asks Its Supporters to Grade It
In terms of a serious question, you'd call it a loaded question. In comedy, you call it a set up line. But, call it what you will, after a truly disastrous political week, the Obama campaign has really...truly...honestly..not joking...asked its supporters to grade it. They're asking for an overall grade, not just for the past week or two (when the grade would have to be F or … [Read more...] about Obama Campaign Asks Its Supporters to Grade It
Where the Polls Are
Two polls given top billing at The Hill yesterday -- Fox and Gallup -- show Obama and Romney to be even -- uh, deadlocked. Not really deadlocked though. Romney maybe, but Obama's popularity continues to give him an advantage. Obama continues to be seen more favorably than his Republican challenger, with 54 percent of those surveyed saying they have a positive … [Read more...] about Where the Polls Are
Another Take On Wisconsin
Scott Walker's victory in Wisconsin was not good for unions -- in the United States, or here in Canada. And, as Canadian journalist Tony Burman writes: This was a campaign that was bought and sold like a piece of meat, the latest shameful unraveling of once-proud American democratic traditions. In fabled, progressive Wisconsin, this election was ultimate proof that … [Read more...] about Another Take On Wisconsin