For years people have talked about "pack journalism," but increasingly our politics is "pack politics." Someone seizes on an attack point, and then it's all over the ideological cable shows, talk show hosts pick it up and run with it as an attack point. And then -- before the people using the attack point know it -- it seemingly has a life of its own. Perceptions are formed -- … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Is the GOP Falling into the Terry Schiavo Trap?
Musings On A Nightmare Scenario: The Likelihood Of Israeli Air Strikes Aginst Iran
There is one scenario that I and others are not taking into account in predicting that President Obama will win -- and possibly win in a landslide -- in November: An Israeli air strike on Iranian nuclear facilities that would plunge the Middle East into war and rupture relations between Washington and Jerusalem. Such a strike is a distinct possibility, according to an … [Read more...] about Musings On A Nightmare Scenario: The Likelihood Of Israeli Air Strikes Aginst Iran
How Rick Santorum Gets to be President
Nate Silver does a very thorough analysis of Obama's chances according to which political groups are targeted the president's campaign strategy and how that strategy could affect the electoral, as distinct from the popular, vote. The whole piece deserves attention, but this passage stands out. ... What if Rick Santorum were to steal the Republican nomination away … [Read more...] about How Rick Santorum Gets to be President
Burning Down the GOP House (Guest Voice)
Burning Down The GOP House by Floyd and Mary Beth Brown The GOP presidential contest is officially out of control. We blame Mitt Romney. While the race has been winnowed down, it is still fluid, and one of four candidates could be chosen to battle against Barack Obama in the fall election. Problem is, once the nominee is chosen he may be so bloodied that he will limp … [Read more...] about Burning Down the GOP House (Guest Voice)
Pay Close Attention to China
Pay close attention to China WASHINGTON -- China, for better or worse, is a serious country. The United States had better start acting like one. I got a glimpse of the future Wednesday in the vast ballroom of a Washington hotel where hundreds of august dignitaries -- and some journalists as well -- gathered at a luncheon in honor of Vice President Xi Jinping, who is … [Read more...] about Pay Close Attention to China
Pat Buchanan: Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish
The late great Molly Ivins commented after Pat Buchanan's keynote address at the 1992 Republican National Convention that "it probably sounded better in the original German." As people given thousands of hours of face time on cable news go, Buchanan was as vile as they come: A virulent homophobe, racist, anti-Semite and apologist for Hitler, who . . . um, was … [Read more...] about Pat Buchanan: Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish
The DISCLOSE Act- Antidote to the SuperPACs?
Most citizens paying attention to the current Republican presidential primaries would agree that the new power of the SuperPACs following the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court two years ago is undermining the democratic process. By allowing unlimited contributions to these organizations by individuals, corporations, unions and other entities, the voices of ordinary … [Read more...] about The DISCLOSE Act- Antidote to the SuperPACs?
Nothing To Envy: North Korea
I've been catching up on my reading and one of the books was so compelling I felt the need to commend it to the TMV crowd. The book is called Nothing To Envy: Ordinary Lives In North Korea by Barbara Demick. We've all heard the stories out of North Korea about the famines or how the average North Korean is shorter than his South Korea brother, but this book takes a new tack … [Read more...] about Nothing To Envy: North Korea
The Song Republican Conservatives Seem to Be Singing
Several polls show former Senator Rick Santorum ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in Romney's home former home state of Michigan. Conservatives seem to be continuing to look for the perfect anti-Romney. They seem to be singing a variation of this song. … [Read more...] about The Song Republican Conservatives Seem to Be Singing
Romney Parodies and Music Videos Now Abound on You Tube
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is starting to get lots of attention on You Tube. We'll post some on Barack Obama and others at later dates. But here's a sampling of some Romney videos, some funny, some critical some favorable. He gets interviewed by a high profile historical international celebrity (this is part of the increasing number of videos featuring this … [Read more...] about Romney Parodies and Music Videos Now Abound on You Tube
The Civil War Sesquicentennial – No Surrender at Fort Donelson
As a historian of the 19th century United States, with a focus primarily on the Civil War era in the Upper and Border South, I've found the sesquicentennial to be an exciting time to help reorient the focus of the Civil War on to the "great middle" between the industrial North and the plantation South. Most of the war was fought in that heartland, including especially … [Read more...] about The Civil War Sesquicentennial – No Surrender at Fort Donelson
Are Republicans Actively Working to Lose Womens’ Votes?
Are Republicans actively working with Barack Obama's senior compaign strategist David Axelrod to lose the votes of many women voters? To be sure, the GOP will always have its die-hard followers, and people of both sexes who will sincerely see things via it's prism. But two tidbits today are not going to enhance the image of some GOPers and their party. For instance, Foster … [Read more...] about Are Republicans Actively Working to Lose Womens’ Votes?
HOW AND WHY MY TMV OPINION POSTS ARE WRITTEN
A reader/commentator on my previous TMV post stated a preference that I include footnotes, references, and citations to outside source materials to justify my various statements of fact. That’s just not going to happen very often because I’m not writing an article for a peer-review scientific, legal or academic forum. In most TMV articles/posts/submissions, these types of … [Read more...] about HOW AND WHY MY TMV OPINION POSTS ARE WRITTEN
The Beck-Shultz Party Game
Those who read my posts know I am pretty easy going when it comes to politics. I don't care if you're a right wing reactionary or a left wing marxist. I don't care if you're brilliant or idiotic. As long as you are reasonably tolerant of other views then I don't really care what you say, that's part of a free society. But I am amazed at the abilities of Glenn Beck and Ed … [Read more...] about The Beck-Shultz Party Game
Disciplining Other People’s Children
Writer comment: For some reason this and some other posts of mine showed up without the ability to comment so I am reposting them in case someone wants to. My local mornng radio show hosts were on break last week and so they broadcast some best of episodes. One involved them discussing the issue of children and family. One of the hosts had gone to Washington DC and was … [Read more...] about Disciplining Other People’s Children
Methotrexate: Yet Another Shortage Of A Lifesaving Drug Because Of Manufacturer Neglect
For me, the drug methotrexate is the difference between discomfort and comfort. For children with certain forms of leukemia, it is the difference between life and death. And yet another cautionary tale about regulation of the profit-greedy American drug industry. Methotrexate has been around for six decades and has long proved to be effective against acute lymphoblastic … [Read more...] about Methotrexate: Yet Another Shortage Of A Lifesaving Drug Because Of Manufacturer Neglect
New Poll: Santorum Ahead of Romney in Michigan
When asked about polls that suggest former Senator Rick Santorum is poised to be Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the upcoming Republican presidential Michigan primary, Romney flatly says: "That won't happen." But the latest poll suggests former Massachusetts Governor whose father served as Michigan my have to repeat it often to be severely convincing: Former Pennsylvania … [Read more...] about New Poll: Santorum Ahead of Romney in Michigan
Nervous Old Guard Republicans
The Republican establishment has its candidate. Mitt Romney. But angry Tea Partiers and social conservatives just won't go along, and keep falling in behind one unelectable candidate after another... Nervous Old Guard Republicans The Republican old guard is nervous, 'Bout groups Rick Santorum would service; These old line conservatives cringe, Viewing nutty ideas from … [Read more...] about Nervous Old Guard Republicans
Secy. Clinton’s Strength at State Seen in Obama Budget
WASHINGTON - It's the Hillary Effect. An event that occurs or when something important is impacted because of Hillary Clinton's presence, her power and strength of persuasion that is built entirely upon purpose. Pres. Obama's 2013 budget... Provides $51.6 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an … [Read more...] about Secy. Clinton’s Strength at State Seen in Obama Budget
(BREAKING) No Thanks To Romney, General Motors Posts Its Largest Profit Ever
CADILLAC 16 CONCEPT CAR If Mitt Romney had gotten his way, General Motors would not be reporting its largest profit ever today. The automaker, which has wrested the title of world's largest back from Toyota, made $7.6 billion in 2011, up 62 percent from 2010. Full-year revenue rose 11 percent to $105 billion. There was one dark cloud: G.M. lost $747 million in Europe, … [Read more...] about (BREAKING) No Thanks To Romney, General Motors Posts Its Largest Profit Ever