After several depressing stories coming out of Afghanistan, this one certainly deserves telling and should make us feel proud. It is about Sgt. Dennis Weichel Jr., 29, a Providence, Rhode Island guardsman, who recently deployed to Afghanistan and who was serving with the 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 56th Troop Command, in Laghman Province, in northeast … [Read more...] about An American’s Selflessness and Heroism in Afghanistan
Iran, Iraq and Our ‘Common Enemy’ (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
Are reports that Iranian influence in Iraq is growing by the day, true? According to columnist Abdullah al-Etabi of Iraq's Sotal Iraq, the Iraqi people find the assertions of Iranian President Ahmadinejad that the two countries have a 'common enemy' offensive, and he painstakingly outlines why Iran and Iraq do not share a common enemy, and the many ways in which the interests … [Read more...] about Iran, Iraq and Our ‘Common Enemy’ (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
Promised Day Brigade Asserts Released Hostage Was U.S. Soldier (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
The murky story about the American kidnapped by an Iraqi militia loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtad al-Sadr has yet to breath its last breath. Is Washington too embarrassed to admit that the man taken captive last year and released last week by The Promised Day Brigade, Randy Michael Hultz, is an American soldier? According to this news item from Iraq's Sotal Iraq, the Brigade, … [Read more...] about Promised Day Brigade Asserts Released Hostage Was U.S. Soldier (Sotal Iraq, Iraq)
The Political Obituary of Newt Gingrich? (UPDATED)
When a friend caught iconic comedian W.C. Fields reading a Bible shortly before his death, he asked Fields what he was doing. “I’m looking for loopholes,” Fields replied. In recent weeks, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — one of American politics’ most colorful and unlikeable political figures — has seemed like someone frantically looking for loopholes as he slides to the … [Read more...] about The Political Obituary of Newt Gingrich? (UPDATED)
If the Health Law Is Struck Down…
Obama-the-constitutional-law professor is said, by reporters, to be fascinated by the Supreme Court's discussion -- sitting in Air Force One on his return to the US, glued to the Court's arguments. Obama-the-president knows, the Times points out, that "there will be substantial political fallout no matter how the court rules." And not just for the Obama administration. … [Read more...] about If the Health Law Is Struck Down…
Florida Stand Your Ground Law Threatened
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduc tion prohibited. … [Read more...] about Florida Stand Your Ground Law Threatened
Romney’s Hilarious Joke Bombs
Mitt Romney might leave the standup to Jay Leno, David Letterman and the other comedians and late night talk show hosts. He told what he felt was a really humorous story....about his father closing a factory. And most people did not find it funny. Democrats found it instructive and some on "Morning Joe" found it dismaying. Morning Joe excerpt: … [Read more...] about Romney’s Hilarious Joke Bombs
Activist Judges On Trial
WASHINGTON -- Three days of Supreme Court arguments over the health care law demonstrated for all to see that conservative justices are prepared to act as an alternative legislature, diving deeply into policy details as if they were members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Senator, excuse me, Justice Samuel Alito quoted Congressional Budget … [Read more...] about Activist Judges On Trial
I Hate Spring
I hate spring. I hate it because it means the end of an exciting basketball season and the start of a dreadfully long and intensely dull baseball season. I hate it because it means summer reruns, which now begin long before summer arrives. Most of all, I hate spring because its most distinctive and wide spread characteristic is the reawakening of plant lust. Don’t get me … [Read more...] about I Hate Spring
The “Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction, Prevention and Return Act” (UPDATE)
UPDATE: Please read the text of H.R.1940, “SEAN AND DAVID GOLDMAN INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION, PREVENTION AND RETURN ACT” here == Original Post: By the time I started writing (in February 2009) about “the unbelievably tragic—and exasperating—story of an American father’s brave fight to bring his son home, an 8-year old boy who is being held in Brazil in … [Read more...] about The “Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction, Prevention and Return Act” (UPDATE)
(UPDATE) Awarding the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Peralta Is “Preserving the Integrity of the Process”
UPDATE: I will let Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is one of the staunchest supporters for rightfully awarding the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Peralta, provide an update on this story: The fact that Paralta was denied the Medal of Honor in the first place is as much of an injustice as it is a disservice to the men and … [Read more...] about (UPDATE) Awarding the Medal of Honor to Sgt. Peralta Is “Preserving the Integrity of the Process”
Beyond the Mandate Muddle
The Supreme Court marathon is more proof of how American health care, with or without reform, is in the hands of the wrong people—-the for-profit insurance industry that siphons off one out of every three dollars for overhead and profit. Now largely forgotten in the inside-baseball legal arguments is that, in 2008, it was Barack Obama who opposed the mandate that Hillary … [Read more...] about Beyond the Mandate Muddle
New Trayvon Martin Surveillance Video: Video on Night of Killing Shows No Zimmerman Injuries
ABC News has obtained a surveillance video of George Zimmerman taken the night after he killed 17 year old Trayvon Martin with a gun. Martin was armed with Skittles and an iced tea. Zimmerman's defense is that Martin injured him and the police report talks about Zimmerman's injuries. None appear in this video: video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player ABC's … [Read more...] about New Trayvon Martin Surveillance Video: Video on Night of Killing Shows No Zimmerman Injuries
Look at Me: I Took on the Big, Bad New York Times (UPDATES)
UPDATE III: The same newspaper that was attacked by Senator Santorum -- through one of its reporters -- says this morning that “taking heed of criticism, Santorum tones down attacks.” Meet a “more subdued Santorum” here. Will his new-found mellowness be too little, too late? UPDATE II: And one more nail in the coffin: According to the WaPo, "U.S. Sen. Marco … [Read more...] about Look at Me: I Took on the Big, Bad New York Times (UPDATES)
Half Billion Dollar Lottery.. What Would You Do ?
Word out that the mega millions lotto drawing for this Friday will be in the area of half a billion dollars. Of course the odds are that there will be a number of winners on Friday but just for the fun of it... What if you won the whole ball of wax ? What would you do ? Just for reference, if you were to take the lump sum payment you'd get around 360 million and … [Read more...] about Half Billion Dollar Lottery.. What Would You Do ?
Putting the ‘cad’ in and taking the ‘bra’ off of ‘Abracadabra’
NPR's "Morning Edition" has been trumpeting their series on the gazillionaires who are funding the presidential stakes, thus far. But, under attack from Congress, they must, of course, bend over backwards to be "balanced." Penny Nance was on NPR this morning Never mind that there are, according to their own reporting "More than two dozen people or groups have donated at … [Read more...] about Putting the ‘cad’ in and taking the ‘bra’ off of ‘Abracadabra’
Pictures and Prejudice in the Trayvon Martin Case
The news went viral nearly a month after the killing: a black teenager shot dead at night while wearing a hoodie. Happens all the time, right? Just one of those sad facts of contemporary life in America. Nothing to see here, folks... move on, please... please move on. But America didn't move on. Trayvon Martin has become world-famous in death, something he never could have … [Read more...] about Pictures and Prejudice in the Trayvon Martin Case
U.S. President Has ‘Misperception’ About ‘Peaceful’ Satellite Launch (Korean Central News Agency, North Korea)
Could it be that global concern over North Korea’s upcoming launch of a rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead is just a great big misunderstanding? According to this surprisingly conciliatory news item from the state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry insists that the launch, which it maintains is for peaceful purposes, was not part of the … [Read more...] about U.S. President Has ‘Misperception’ About ‘Peaceful’ Satellite Launch (Korean Central News Agency, North Korea)
America’s Lunatic Fringe Runs Romney’s Republican Asylum (Le Figaro, France)
Have the most extreme elements on the political landscape - once considered beyond the embrace of polite society - taken control of the Republican Party? According to columnist Jean-Sébastian Stehli of France's Le Figaro, the conspiracy theorists who once shouted themselves hoarse about fluoridated water being a communist mind-control plot and government implantation of chips … [Read more...] about America’s Lunatic Fringe Runs Romney’s Republican Asylum (Le Figaro, France)
Health Insurance Mandate Confusions
As I listen to the discussion this week concerning the Supreme Court arguments on the constitutionality of the health insurance mandate, a couple of confusions seem apparent in the arguments some are making. Supporters of the mandate are arguing that the product of health care is unique because everybody has to buy it. This argument obscures an important point: the … [Read more...] about Health Insurance Mandate Confusions