Front and center at the New York Times today is a report on the extent to which corporations control state legislatures through the"non-profit" American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC, which has been weaving its web for years and gotten a lot of attention in the blogosphere for at least two years, is now the focus of mainstream media thanks to the depredations of … [Read more...] about Major Media Now Investigating ALEC
New Romney Spokesman Reportedly Scrubs Past Politically Offensive Tweets
Hey, you, too, can rewrite your personal history by omission: just delete your Tweets and no one will notice. Except in this hyper-partisan, hyper political new media age (oh, and it's an election year, in case you didn't know): they do and they will. It turns out that Mitt Romney's new spokesman according to the Huffington Post has apparently scrubbed his Tweets of politically … [Read more...] about New Romney Spokesman Reportedly Scrubs Past Politically Offensive Tweets
France Heads to the Polls: Will Nicolas Sarkozy Survive?
France heads to the polls today -- with French President Nicolas Sarkozy facing a big political challenge: Voters were turning out Sunday in solid numbers for the first round of France's presidential election, with conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy's political career on the line amid frustration over his personal style and inability to turn around a stagnant French … [Read more...] about France Heads to the Polls: Will Nicolas Sarkozy Survive?
Secret Service
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Secret Service
Delayed Postings Today
I normally post a lot on Sunday but I'm at a motel in Barstow, CA right now where the internet disconnects every 5 minutes. I will not post until later this afternoon due to this (from somewhere else). Keep checking with TMV since other TMV writers will likely be posting today. … [Read more...] about Delayed Postings Today
5 Reasons You Read Enumerated Blogs
1. You can’t help it. 2. I mean you literally can’t not read them. 3. Even when you realize it is a bad list, you still read hoping it will get better. 4. Once you are half way in, you have to finish. 5. Click here to read 5 more reasons. Doug Bursch Blogs at Fairlyspiritual.org. He tweets Fairlyspiritual. … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons You Read Enumerated Blogs
Chuck Colson, Major Watergate Scandal Figure Who Became Respected Evangelical Leader, Dead at 80
It's now a cliche that when people to go prison they suddenly find religion. And the religion lasts while they're in prison -- then, in many cases, the newly found religion magically evaporates if they get out and go on to live post-prison lives. But not with Chuck Colson, who during the Nixon presidency was considered one of the Nixon's most utterly ruthless operatives, a man … [Read more...] about Chuck Colson, Major Watergate Scandal Figure Who Became Respected Evangelical Leader, Dead at 80
An Earth Day Apology
Tomorrow is Earth day. Did you notice? The New York Times didn't mention the fact in today's edition of the paper. Neither did the Wall Street Journal. Nor did the Los Angeles Times, though it did have a short piece about German environmentalists and nuclear power in their coutry. Come Earth Day itself, of course, some notice of the natural environment will be on view. … [Read more...] about An Earth Day Apology
Deficits
O'Neill said he tried to warn Vice President Dick Cheney that growing budget deficits-expected to top $500 billion this fiscal year alone-posed a threat to the economy. Cheney cut him off. "You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don't matter," he said, according to excerpts. Cheney continued: "We won the midterms (congressional elections). This is our due." A month later, … [Read more...] about Deficits
Romney’s Next “False Self” Coming Up
After morphing into a Tea Party zealot to win nomination, the GOP choice is in the kind of tricky transition described by JFK while running against Nixon in 1960: “It must be hard getting up every morning trying to decide who you’re going to be that day. Nixon lost then but won eight years later by virtually erasing himself to edge out disorganized Democrats. Covering his … [Read more...] about Romney’s Next “False Self” Coming Up
Disney Movie Chief Rich Ross Steps Down
If you thought Jimmy Carter was a flop as President, then read about how the science fiction film John Carter was a flop for Disney. So much so that the flop of super hyped and super money losing flick is credited with playing a big role in the major show biz story of the day: that Disney movie chief Rich Ross is stepping down. Here's a good summary from … [Read more...] about Disney Movie Chief Rich Ross Steps Down
I’m Big Bird and I Don’t Approve This Message: Court Overturns Public Broadcast Ban on Political Ads (Guest Voice)
I’m Big Bird and I Don’t Approve This Message Court Overturns Public Broadcast Ban on Political Ads by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about how the media giants who own your local commercial television and radio stations have been striking like startled rattlesnakes at an FCC proposal that would shed a light on who’s buying our elections. … [Read more...] about I’m Big Bird and I Don’t Approve This Message: Court Overturns Public Broadcast Ban on Political Ads (Guest Voice)
Remember the Bush/Air National Guard Stories?
Joe Hagan of New York Magazine has written a megareport for Texas Monthly on what is coming out now about George W. Bush's alleged flight training -- well, about his record with the National Guard and all the investigations that ended in Dan Rather being fired by CBS. If you're not a big defender of Bush, you'll be glad to know the story turns out to be close to what we … [Read more...] about Remember the Bush/Air National Guard Stories?
Jeb Bush: Romney Better Get Ready For “Most Negative Campaign in Modern Times”
Former Florida Jeb Bush is to many independents the leading, respectable antiTea Party Republican, even though he has not broken with it. He's closer to an "old school" Republican who believed in aggregating interests (versus aggravating and excluding some of them) and he maintains appeal among independent and Latino voters -- two groups that presumptive Republican Presidential … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush: Romney Better Get Ready For “Most Negative Campaign in Modern Times”
Ted Nugent Endorses Romney
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Older Drivers: Should They Be Tested? (Guest Voice)
Older Drivers: Should They Be Tested? Tyrades! By Danny Tyree Some call it profiling. Some call it discrimination. Some call it stereotyping. Some call it "Grandma, you can't keep ripping off my metropolitan phonebook in order to see over the steering wheel!" Whatever one's gut reaction to the issue of older drivers, the aging of the vast Baby Boom generation demands … [Read more...] about Older Drivers: Should They Be Tested? (Guest Voice)
BP’s Sick Gulf Fish
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The Reasons Rick Santorum Hasn’t Endorsed Mitt Romney Yet
Why hasn't conservative GOPer former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum -- the strongest anti-Romney, who seemed poised to possibly get the nomination until he couldn't stop talking and undermined his own surge -- endorsed presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney yet? There had even been some (highly) speculative reports that there could be ticket with Santorum and … [Read more...] about The Reasons Rick Santorum Hasn’t Endorsed Mitt Romney Yet
Remember
I did this drawing today in commemoration of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. … [Read more...] about Remember
Why do Latin America Leaders Want to Follow Fidel Castro? (La Prensa, Nicaragua)
Finally, in Nicaragua of all places, we have found a Latin American newspaper that agrees with the U.S. position of excluding Cuba from the Summit of the Americas. Can it be argued that Latin America governments, even right-of-center democracies like Colombia, are jealous of the absolute power wielded by totalitarian regimes like Cuba's? This editorial from Nicaragua's La … [Read more...] about Why do Latin America Leaders Want to Follow Fidel Castro? (La Prensa, Nicaragua)