During election year each side talks as if the world will end if they lose. The words of this song are important to remember during election year: … [Read more...] about Something to Remember During Election Year
2012 Veepstakes (Guest Voice)
2012 Veepstakes Raging Moderate, by Will Durst Since Gov. Romney has sewn up the nomination tighter than one of Chris Christie's old suits, the only remaining Republican election drama is which name the Bairn of Bain Capital intends to place on the bottom of his bumper sticker. Yes, friends, it's once again time to play that quadrennial game sensation sweeping the nation: … [Read more...] about 2012 Veepstakes (Guest Voice)
Young Barack’s Carnal Composites
The magazine that puts Capital Letters on everything and everyone, Vanity Fair, now enters Uncharted Territory in Obamanalysis...the President's delicacy about former girlfriends in his own two memoirs by conflating his experiences with them into "composites." Obamographer David Maraniss teases out from the diaries and letters of one in New York and another in Chicago … [Read more...] about Young Barack’s Carnal Composites
Turmoil at Guantanamo Trial of 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Others: Really a Surprise?
Did anybody seriously think that at the Guantanamo trial of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others the merciless Al Qaeda terrorists who planned an executed the quintessential "high concept" bloody publicity stunt would go quietly into the judicial night -- and their own likely executions? If so, they are not seriously thinking that anymore. The trial got off to a … [Read more...] about Turmoil at Guantanamo Trial of 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Others: Really a Surprise?
Home, Home on Derange
It ought to be enough to know that, since "the liberal media" is going to distort the 'truth,' it's OK to distort your 'truth' up front, so that you can 'balance' the bias. Logically, whatever the truth or falsity of your premise (that there IS a 'liberal media' and it will 'slant' the news in a 'liberal' direction), it is indisputable that YOU are biased, and, therefore … [Read more...] about Home, Home on Derange
Lack of Mutual Sino-U.S. Military Trust a Major Threat (Global Times, People’s Republic of China)
Is Washington encouraging the Philippines and Vietnam to challenge China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea? In this at times conciliatory and at other times peppery editorial from the state-run Global Times, which reads like a summary of what the U.S. and China have been discussing since Friday, Beijing unambiguously warns Washington not to try to make up for its … [Read more...] about Lack of Mutual Sino-U.S. Military Trust a Major Threat (Global Times, People’s Republic of China)
Election Factor to Consider? New Libertarian Nominee Gary Johnson Swipes Hard at Romney and Republicans
Is there a new factor to pencil in when analyzing the upcoming 2012 Presidential election? Third parties in America have tended to boil down to Quixotic ventures because the American political system is so stacked -- rigged, actually -- against them. But Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson just got the Libertarian Party's nomination -- and he has come out swinging at the … [Read more...] about Election Factor to Consider? New Libertarian Nominee Gary Johnson Swipes Hard at Romney and Republicans
Fox News’ Juan Williams Is a Bit Nostaligic for NPR
Fox News' Juan Williams left NPR amid a great deal of controversy (see TMV posts here, here, here and here) -- controversy that clearly reflected bitter feelings on both sides. Now it sounds as if Juan Williams is feeling some regrets. Jim Romenesko quoting an interview in Capital New York: Fox News political analyst Juan Williams misses working for NPR “big … [Read more...] about Fox News’ Juan Williams Is a Bit Nostaligic for NPR
Additional Thoughts on the Chen Guangcheng Episode.
China watchers and non-watchers have differing opinions on China’s decision to let activist Chen Guangcheng apply to leave China for the United States, on the trustworthiness of the Chinese government and on the pros and cons of Chen’s acceptance of such an opportunity. Here’s a roundup. Andrew Jacobs at the New York Times says China’s decision wasn’t a major concession … [Read more...] about Additional Thoughts on the Chen Guangcheng Episode.
Obama OFFICIALLY Launches Re-Election Campaign: Get Ready for a Rough One
It's been unofficially on -- BOY has it been unofficially on. But now it's official: President Barack Obama has formally launched his re-election campaign and it confirms the growing belief that this campaign will be a rough and tough (and perhaps silly) one. He gave a preview today: The gloves are off. Opening what is likely to be a bitter and grueling election, … [Read more...] about Obama OFFICIALLY Launches Re-Election Campaign: Get Ready for a Rough One
This Just In: A Mouth Spray That’ll Get You Drunk
Who needs to lift those heavy glasses anymore to get drunk? Now there's a mouth spray to do it quicker and with less effort. … [Read more...] about This Just In: A Mouth Spray That’ll Get You Drunk
Destroying the California Dream (Guest Voice)
Destroying the California Dream by Michael Reagan Cuba is a one-party state. North Korea is a one-party state. California is a one-party state. I'm not trying to draw any false parallels. But I've noticed bad things happen when one political party has complete control of a government for too long, whether it's the Communist Party that's wrecked Cuba for 50 years or … [Read more...] about Destroying the California Dream (Guest Voice)
Rupert and Wendy Magoo
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Rupert and Wendy Magoo
“Supermoon” to Light Up Sky Tonight
Tonight will be a night to remember. A night of a Supermoon. Newsy.com reports: … [Read more...] about “Supermoon” to Light Up Sky Tonight
Wrapped in the Flag
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Wrapped in the Flag
Liz Cheney: Poised to Run For Political Office?
Is there another high profile Cheney in America's elected political life's future? It sounds that way: Liz Cheney has been making the rounds at Wyoming political events this spring and her desire to move back to the state has Republicans from Cheyenne to Washington buzzing about a potential future campaign. With little fanfare, Cheney, a former State Department official … [Read more...] about Liz Cheney: Poised to Run For Political Office?
A Good Weekend Read
When I was young I used to read a series of books called “The People’s Alamanac” and “The Book Of Lists”. Each book offered hundreds, if not thousands of interesting factoids. These books came to mind when I grabbed another from my shelves this week. Have you ever had a moment where you wondered about the things that are part of our everyday lives ? Why do forks … [Read more...] about A Good Weekend Read
Reflecting on Ryan and Rand
I read Ayn Rand (We The Living, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged) in high school and was a devotee until my late 20s. I sometimes think of that period as being the early adult equivalent of the terrible twos: just say "no" to the values and political philosophy of your parents. For the past decade or so I've wondered aloud how America's "Christian" and "family values" … [Read more...] about Reflecting on Ryan and Rand
China Relents on Chinese Dissident
There has been a flurry of accusations that the Obama administration botched the case of blind Chinese dissident lawyer Chen Guangcheng when he was, for all practical purposes, “handed over” to the Chinese earlier this week without concrete assurances that he would not be prosecuted, persecuted, or worse. Chen, who has protested China’s laws on forced abortions and … [Read more...] about China Relents on Chinese Dissident
Pakistan and America: Preparing for a Timely ‘Divorce’ (Le Monde, France)
What are the ramifications of what now appears to be the irreconcilable relationship between the United States and Pakistan? Le Monde columnist Frédéric Bobin, in this very European examination of all that has gone wrong between the two nations, writes that an unsettling future awaits the United States, Pakistan and all of of South Asia, thanks largely to 'annus horribilis … [Read more...] about Pakistan and America: Preparing for a Timely ‘Divorce’ (Le Monde, France)