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)
Moody’s Analytics Predicts Unemployment ‘Definitively Below 8%’ by Year’s End
WASHINGTON - The unemployment rate is down to 8.1%. Only 115,000 jobs were added. Partisans start your engines, though no one can spin the teen unemployment numbers, which are disastrous. In April, teenagers had a 24.9 percent unemployment rate, compared with a 7.5 percent for adult men and 7.4 percent among adult women. - ABC News There's also reports revealing large … [Read more...] about Moody’s Analytics Predicts Unemployment ‘Definitively Below 8%’ by Year’s End
Warrior Games: A Competition for Our Disabled Military, an Inspiration for All of Us
(Photo by Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes) A large color photo on the front page of the May 2 Stars and Stripes caught my attention and stirred my emotions. The photo was of members of the Marines and Air Force sitting volleyball teams in action during the 2012 Warrior Games at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Except for the fact that the players sit while they … [Read more...] about Warrior Games: A Competition for Our Disabled Military, an Inspiration for All of Us
Tea Party Gathering Steam: Lugar Poised for Big Defeat?
It sounds as if the Tea Party movement continues to gather steam within the Republican Party: a new poll suggests that Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar could be headed for a big defeat at the hands of a Tea Party challenger: Embattled Indiana Republican Sen. Dick Lugar has fallen behind his Tea Party challenger in a new poll that finds the veteran legislator in … [Read more...] about Tea Party Gathering Steam: Lugar Poised for Big Defeat?
George Zimmerman’s Story Apparently Gets More Weird
George Zimmerman's account of the night when he wound up shooting Skittles-armed teenager Trayvon Martin has now gotten more weird. He apparently has now said Martin was circling his SUV and he was in fear of his life. The account (or what is seeping out since the original reports) keeps seemingly changing. It almost sounds like when this is over Zimmerman could have a … [Read more...] about George Zimmerman’s Story Apparently Gets More Weird