This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about McConnell Says Be Mine
The Siren Song of Third Party Candidates
Hmm. It appears that a group called Americans Elect is making a serious aim to put a third national candidate on the ballot in November. They look fairly well-funded: I get a strong feeling of deja-vu every time this sort of thing comes up. Are these people really so naive? Independent candidates sound sooooooo attractive, until you have to take a close look at one. Then … [Read more...] about The Siren Song of Third Party Candidates
Is Mitt Romney Poised to Lose the Michigan Republican Primary? Poll Suggests: YES.
Make no mistake about it. If former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney loses the Michigan Republican Presidential primary he is in big trouble. It'll be a body blow to his imagery, will likely mean an even greater infusion of money into the candidacy of his chief rival former Sen. Rick Santorum. And no matter how many times he says the word "conservative" or says he was "severely … [Read more...] about Is Mitt Romney Poised to Lose the Michigan Republican Primary? Poll Suggests: YES.
Severely Misguided
Anne Richards, the late Governor of Texas, once said that the man who succeeded her -- George W. Bush -- was born "with a silver foot in his mouth." Mitt Romney suffers from the same disease. Over the weekend, he told the Conservative Political Action Conference that he was a "severely conservative governor." It was an interesting choice of words. And as awkward as the phrase … [Read more...] about Severely Misguided
Reversal for Fortune- Obama and the SuperPACs
The Citizen’s United ruling by the Supreme Court two years ago, equating donations of money with free speech, changed the political landscape for campaign fundraising, fostering the emergence of SuperPACs as the main conduit for wealthy contributors. President Obama’s recent change of heart regarding the pursuit of funds for Democratic SuperPACs to compete with Republican … [Read more...] about Reversal for Fortune- Obama and the SuperPACs
Corporations Are People, Nasty People
Barack Obama takes a step back on campaign finance. “We will not play by two sets of rules,” say his managers, announcing a superPAC to offset Republican money to defeat the President, despite his denunciation of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision that unleashed tons of hard-to-identify funds for negative ads. As Mitt (“Corporations are people”) Romney edges … [Read more...] about Corporations Are People, Nasty People
On ACTA, U.S. Media Turned The Other Way
If you are a U.S. citizen and wondered why back in the fall when the U.S. signed the agreement in Tokyo you didn't hear anything about ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, it might be because U.S. media ignored the event. According to LexisNexis[1], only 13 newspapers covered the story between September 1 and November 1, 2011; the agreement was signed on October 1. … [Read more...] about On ACTA, U.S. Media Turned The Other Way
Mitt Romney Already Has Problems & If He Isn’t Careful That Could Include His Religion
A person's faith should in no way be a disqualifier for the presidency or any other public office. That certainly was true of John F. Kennedy's Catholicism in 1960 and that is true of Mitt Romney's Mormonism in 2012, but there the similarities end because there are aspects of Romney's relationship with the Church of Latter Day Saints that do not necessarily disqualify him but … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Already Has Problems & If He Isn’t Careful That Could Include His Religion
Nazi Baggage Complicates Germany’s New Role as ‘America of Europe’ (Die eit, Germany)
The Nazi legacy is an understandably heavy burden for Germany, even today. This leaves Germans emotionally vulnerable to comparisons to their 20th century forebears. And with the country exercising ever-more influence over its European Union allies, cutting remarks that include such comparisons are blossoming like mushrooms after a spring rain. So how to deal with it? For … [Read more...] about Nazi Baggage Complicates Germany’s New Role as ‘America of Europe’ (Die eit, Germany)
AT&T Doubles Upgrade Fee, Mainstream Media Yawns
This is what happens when competition is, basically, non-existent. On Friday, Engadget reported that AT&T would be doubling its upgrade fee from $18 to $36. Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee. This fee isn't unique … [Read more...] about AT&T Doubles Upgrade Fee, Mainstream Media Yawns
Movie and DVD Review: “Murder By Proxy: How America Went Postal”
The phrase "going postal" has become part of American culture since those awful days in the early to mid-80s when there were news accounts of mass murders at American post offices -- murders usually committed by employees or former employees. Wikipedia even has an entry on the expression "going postal" -- which explains: "The expression derives from a series of incidents … [Read more...] about Movie and DVD Review: “Murder By Proxy: How America Went Postal”
Why Import Engineers? (Guest Voice)
Why Import Engineers? Study Shows U.S. Has Engineering Surplus; Why the Pressure to Import More? by Joe Guzzardi Earlier this week, a live online video chat featured President Obama and Jennifer Weddel, the wife of an unemployed engineer whose husband has been out of a job for three years. Weddel asked the president: "Why does the government continue to extend H-1B visas … [Read more...] about Why Import Engineers? (Guest Voice)
Contraception and the Cost of Culture Wars
WASHINGTON -- Politicized culture wars are debilitating because they almost always require partisans to denigrate the moral legitimacy of their opponents, and sometimes to deny their very humanity. It's often not enough to defeat a foe. Satisfaction only comes from an adversary's humiliation. One other thing about culture wars: One side typically has absolutely no … [Read more...] about Contraception and the Cost of Culture Wars
Obama Cupid
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama Cupid
Guilty Until Proven Innocent Is Bad Law; We Need A Little Sunshine
Over in Europe, thousands of citizens are protesting, and government leaders are backpedaling (the EU signed the treaty), the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Negotiations over ACTA began in the Bush White House and were ratified by Obama. Last October, the U.S. joined Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Morocco, and Singapore in signing the agreement … [Read more...] about Guilty Until Proven Innocent Is Bad Law; We Need A Little Sunshine
Danger Zone For GOP: Poll Finds 52% Say GOP Agenda In Congress Is Extreme
The news that GOPers in Congress will soon move to try and make it so any employer (not just a religious organization) can deny women birth control coverage will likely not help how Republicans in Congress are faring. Just keep the newest push in mind when you read this poll: While positive ratings for Congress remain at an all-time low, more voters than ever see the … [Read more...] about Danger Zone For GOP: Poll Finds 52% Say GOP Agenda In Congress Is Extreme
The Republican Party Declares a New War
Just declared: the Republican Party's war against contraception. … [Read more...] about The Republican Party Declares a New War
We Are All Greeks Today — Or Soon May Be
In recent years, in the wake of some nasty bit of bullying by Russia or China, some American politicians sought to show empathy for the victims with phrases like: "We're all Georgians today" or "We're all Weegers today." Such statements were doubtless well-meant, but they never resonated with most Americans. There are few historical, cultural, political or economic links … [Read more...] about We Are All Greeks Today — Or Soon May Be
Department of Sour Grapes: Santorum Suggests Romney Rigged CPAC Poll
File this in your Department of Sour Grapes file. Former Sen. Rick Santorum is suggesting that former Massaschusetts Gov. Mitt Romney may have rigged it so he won the CPAC straw poll vote: Rick Santorum suggested on Sunday that Mitt Romney's campaign may have rigged a straw poll of conservative activists by paying the entrance fee for supporters. Romney beat Santorum by … [Read more...] about Department of Sour Grapes: Santorum Suggests Romney Rigged CPAC Poll
Santorum and the Bishops
I have thought all along that the recent birth control flap had little to do with birth control. The Republicans and tea party crows are opposed to it because it comes from Obama. The Catholic hierarchy is opposed to it because it is a threat to their power - the power to control women and sex. Over at Balloon Juice recovering Catholic Dennis G. has some great insight. The … [Read more...] about Santorum and the Bishops