A few days ago I did a post on Romney's foreign policy. If it looks familiar it should - his foreign policy advisors are mostly retreads from the Bush/Cheney administration. Today there are a couple of new posts from people to the right of me on Romney's militaristic foreign policy. From Daniel Larison we have: Romney’s Campaign Dislikes the Neoconservative … [Read more...] about Romney – Bush Redux
God Bless America. God Save the Queen.
By happy coincidence, I am in the country of my birth, England, during the Diamond Jubilee weekend of Queen Elizabeth II. I will enjoy a little tinge of British pride when I see the flags a-flying and the Queen a-waving -- a feeling not entirely dissimilar from that American pride I get when I pick up my Constitution or watch our nation's best and greatest speak with … [Read more...] about God Bless America. God Save the Queen.
Doc Watson, 1923-2012
Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson was born on March 23, 1923 in the hills of North Carolina. Stony Fork and Deep Gap to be more specific, if you know where those places are. Blinded by an infection before he was one year old, Watson earned the money for his first guitar by chopping wood with his brother and selling it to a tannery. It wasn’t his first musical instrument. That had … [Read more...] about Doc Watson, 1923-2012
Former Congressman Artur Davis Switches Parties
Former Alabama Congressman and unsuccessful 2010 candidate for Governor Artur Davis has announced that he is switching parties and may run for Congress from Virginia, where he now resides. Davis was a rising star in the Democratic party and a leader in the Blue Dog coalition. He lost the 2010 primary after being attacked as too conservative. Although I generally find a … [Read more...] about Former Congressman Artur Davis Switches Parties
Jon Stewart Responds to Fox News’ Roger Aisles Claim that He Once Admitted He Was a Socialist
Fox News maven Roger Aisles recently said that Comedy Central's Jon Stewart had told him in a bar that he was a Socialist. Jon Stewart returned from vacation with this answer for Aisles: The Daily ShowGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart Responds to Fox News’ Roger Aisles Claim that He Once Admitted He Was a Socialist
Republicans Plan $1 Billion Push to Win White House and Congress
The Politico reports that Republican Super PACs plan to spend $1 billion during campaign 2012 to take back the White House and the Congress, an effort which will include a specially focused operation by the Koch brothers, and if the GOPers reach their goals they'll outspend the Democrats two to one: Republican super PACs and other outside groups shaped by a loose network … [Read more...] about Republicans Plan $1 Billion Push to Win White House and Congress
America’s ‘Unamerican’ Ethnic Neurosis (El Diario Exterior, Spain)
Why is it that people in the United States, the land where 'all men are created equal,' the land where 'constitutional patriotism' was born, have been pulling their hair out over an issue that appears nowhere in the Constitution or the Federalist Papers? For Spain's Diario Exterior, columnist Carlos Alberto Montaner examines one of the most vexing issues in the U.S. today, and … [Read more...] about America’s ‘Unamerican’ Ethnic Neurosis (El Diario Exterior, Spain)
The Morphs are Coming
Ever thought of turning a seemingly crazy idea in to a successful business venture? Here’s one example. It might have seemed improbable that a skin-tight all-coverage spandex suit in lurid colors would be a choice of dress for some people. But a recent trend is conquering Europe and proving the opposite. What are we talking about? The Morphsuit. No, it isn’t about people … [Read more...] about The Morphs are Coming
Obama’s Macho Deficit
Mitt Romney has a 14-point Gallup lead among veterans in an otherwise close contest for the presidency, a demographic aberration more understandable to one of them after Monday’s experience in a Memorial Day parade. I was in one of those custom-made 1970s Pontiac convertibles, outfitted for Elvis and other rock stars with bull’s horns on the front bumper, rifles and handguns … [Read more...] about Obama’s Macho Deficit
U.S. and West ‘Morally Accountable’ for Syria Massacre (Global Times, China)
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?