GOP presidential candidate Santorum made the wrong kind of headlines a few weeks ago when he spouted the wrong kind of information on euthanasia in the Netherlands. Among the claims he made were these: That 10 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands are due to euthanasia. That half of those deaths -- or five percent of all deaths in the Netherlands -- are people who … [Read more...] about Euthanasia in the Netherlands: The Real Story
Watching The Titanic
Today I would like to suggest movies for your enjoyment. Most of us have seen the James Cameron epic and I am certainly not going to deny the special effects wizardry of the film, and it does make an effort to tell the history. But in my humble opinion it is more of an romance/drama that happens to involve the Titanic rather than the story of the Titanic with some … [Read more...] about Watching The Titanic
“Mad Men” Retro Swipe at Romneys
“Mad Men” makes news with a passing dig at Mitt Romney’s dad (calling the elder "a clown") but, for serious fans, the growing question is what’s happening to the show’s core character, the creative but mercurial, lusty but haunted, sexually greedy but sensitive Don Draper? We could be in “Answered Prayers” territory here, Truman Capote’s never-finished novel of that era … [Read more...] about “Mad Men” Retro Swipe at Romneys
Santorum’s Gaffes: The Netherlands, Puerto Rico and now California
First, Rick Santorum displayed his ignorance and managed to insult an entire country when falsely claiming that in the Netherlands euthanasia makes up ten percent of all deaths, and that forced euthanasia accounts for five percent of all deaths there. Santorum also said that people are euthanized involuntarily because they are old or sick and further claimed that elderly … [Read more...] about Santorum’s Gaffes: The Netherlands, Puerto Rico and now California
A Streetcar Named Reform
Updated below. Oh My Gosh! There's been a HOSTILE TAKEOVER of the GOP. So imagine the shock when conservative justices repeatedly spouted views closely resembling the tweets and talking points issued by organizations of the sort funded by the Koch brothers. Don’t take it from me. Charles Fried, solicitor general for Ronald Reagan, told The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein that … [Read more...] about A Streetcar Named Reform
Bend Over & Spread ‘Em: It’s Now The Law In This Great Land Of Ours
Your daughter is arrested for walking the family dog off its leash at a county park. She is taken into custody and before being jailed is strip searched. A guard instructs your daughter to disrobe. Her mouth, vagina and anus are then inspected for contraband while other guards leer at her and make jokes about how she trims her pubic hair. Your son is arrested while … [Read more...] about Bend Over & Spread ‘Em: It’s Now The Law In This Great Land Of Ours
Why a Wisconsin Win Could Finally, Definitively Seal It for Romney
Watch Wisconsin. That's the gist of a Christian Science Monitor report which notes that if Mitt Romney does as well as expected in the Wisconsin primary this could finally, decisively, definitively wrap up the 2012 Republican nomination for the former Massachusetts Governor. The reasons why: While Rick Santorum's campaign isn't a goner, even if he loses, Wisconsin … [Read more...] about Why a Wisconsin Win Could Finally, Definitively Seal It for Romney
Quote of the Day: Conservatives Still Highly Skeptical of Romney
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz who notes the continued, deeply felt skepticism towards and lack of enthusiasm over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney among conservatives. Kurtz outlines conservative bigwigs who aren't really sold on Romney's conservative credentials, conservative bloggers, conservative talk show hosts -- a collection … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Conservatives Still Highly Skeptical of Romney
He’ll Still Be the Mitt We Know
WASHINGTON -- The problem for Mitt Romney, assuming he eventually wins the GOP nomination, is that a general election campaign isn't really like an Etch a Sketch. Alas, traces from the primaries linger. The ghost image that remains will be of a strikingly uninspiring standard-bearer who deadened the Republican Party's great passion into a sense of duty. Voters will … [Read more...] about He’ll Still Be the Mitt We Know
April Surprise for GOP: “Sluts Vote”
A sign held up by a young woman during protests in the contraception kerfuffle last month over Rush Limbaugh’s remarks is reflected now in a swing states poll showing the President roaring ahead of Mitt Romney, almost entirely on a surge of support by women under 50. In February, fewer than half supported Obama. Now more than six in 10 do while Romney's number is down by 14 … [Read more...] about April Surprise for GOP: “Sluts Vote”
Iran-Israel Nukes Conflict: Of Rogue Leaders & Rogue States: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
Entire forests have been denuded in recent weeks as pundits speculate whether Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has been bluffing about launching air strikes against Iran's nascent nuclear program. If ever an important issue needed a time out this is it, and talks between Iran and the U.S. and five other major powers scheduled to begin next week could provide just that … [Read more...] about Iran-Israel Nukes Conflict: Of Rogue Leaders & Rogue States: Report From 20 Paws Ranch
The Misery of the ‘Electoral Circus’ (Le Monde, France)
Is 'universal suffrage' as it is practiced today a sham? For France's Le Monde, philosopher Jean Salem asserts that the popular vote, rather than being a kind of panacea for rule by the people, gives the dynastic transfer of power a patina of legitimacy in the world's old and new democracies. For Le Monde, philosopher at the University of Paris I-Panthéon-Sorbonne Jean … [Read more...] about The Misery of the ‘Electoral Circus’ (Le Monde, France)
Republican War on Women Killing Romney
WASHINGTON - The 2010 midterm elections brought gains for Republicans they hadn’t seen in decades. In fact, they evened the score with women. So, what did Republicans do? They breathed new energy into their war on women that's been waging since the Supreme Court settled Griswold. With a lot of inspiration from the Stupak Amendment, Republicans began forcing unwanted … [Read more...] about Republican War on Women Killing Romney
Holding Their Noses for Mitt
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Holding Their Noses for Mitt
A Tax Season Poem Dedicated To Representative Paul Ryan
I post this poem every year at tax season time. This year I'm dedicating it to Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the Tea Party's tax man in Congress, who actually seems to take the silly, satirical notions in this verse seriously. This one's for you, Paul. Keep making the shade of Ayn Rand proud... A Tax Season Poem Dedicated To Representative Paul Ryan Ollie Wendell Holmes … [Read more...] about A Tax Season Poem Dedicated To Representative Paul Ryan
Geraldo Rivera Apologizes to Trayvon Martin’s Parents Over Hoodie Remark
Last month we ran this post on TMV joining the chorus of critics dismayed over Fox News' Geraldo Rivera's comment that 17 year old Trayvon Martin's killing by George Zimmerman could be partly blamed by the fact the teen with the Skittles and iced tea was wearing a hoodied. Rivera took a lot of heat on that (one of his sons said he was ashamed of his Dad) and apologized -- and … [Read more...] about Geraldo Rivera Apologizes to Trayvon Martin’s Parents Over Hoodie Remark
After The A.C.A.- Are There Answers?
If the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is overturned by the Supreme Court, which now seems probable, how can health care costs be controlled and care provided to the one sixth of Americans who have no insurance? A bipartisan solution to the problem appears to be impossible. Evidence for this is reinforced by the fact that the individual mandate provision of the ACA, which originally … [Read more...] about After The A.C.A.- Are There Answers?
The Right’s Stealthy Coup (Guest Voice)
WASHINGTON -- Right before our eyes, American conservatism is becoming something very different from what it once was. Yet this transformation is happening by stealth because moderates are too afraid to acknowledge what all their senses tell them. Last week's Supreme Court oral arguments on health care were the most dramatic example of how radical tea partyism has … [Read more...] about The Right’s Stealthy Coup (Guest Voice)
Great Musical Performances: “I Believe” from The Book of Mormon
Once in a while there is a song in American musical theater that "has it all." And it's not easy getting it all. A song in a musical can have great melody, but trite lyrics. Or the lyrics can be good but the melody is poor or thin (my main complaint with the recent works of the highly popular Stephen Sondheim). Or the lyrics and the melody are great but performance is weak or … [Read more...] about Great Musical Performances: “I Believe” from The Book of Mormon
Quote of the Day: “Obama’s Very Own Kennedy Moment”?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the Financial Times' Edward Luce who (like Democratic strategist James Carville) suggests that if the health law is struck down by the Supreme Court it could wind up being a plus to Barack Obama's re-eelction campaign. Here's part of what he says: The U.S. Supreme Court deserves a vote of thanks. For three gripping days last week … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: “Obama’s Very Own Kennedy Moment”?