As Mitt Romney takes another step to the nomination and gains momentum, the question of personal chemistry comes to the fore. Would Americans elect a president they viscerally dislike? In a Slate piece titled “Romney is Kerry. Maybe Gore,” Jacob Weisberg argues: “Romney strongly resembles two similarly unloved Democratic nominees from the recent past, Al Gore and John … [Read more...] about Mitt, Gore, Kerry: Hail to the Stiff?
Multi Billion Dollar Election Sinkhole
As I was pondering the elections this weekend I could not help but reflect that the Presidential race alone is expected to spend upwards of a one or two billion dollars. Add in the Congressional races and you get to perhaps three billion or more. And what will the result of all that spending be ? The most likely outcome is pretty much status quo. President Obama is … [Read more...] about Multi Billion Dollar Election Sinkhole
Romney’s Gaffe About The Poor Masks Unpleasant Realities About America
Mitt Romney's gaffe about poor people has triggered an overdue if likely short-lived debate about America's underclass. Speaking to CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien after his victory in the Florida Republican primary, Romney blurted out, "I’m not concerned about the very poor." Taken in context, the remark wasn't quite what it seemed to be because the candidate, in another of … [Read more...] about Romney’s Gaffe About The Poor Masks Unpleasant Realities About America
America’s Young People Turn Against ‘Patriotic Bravado’ (Gazeta, Russia)
Are young people in America less stridently nationalistic than their predecessors? Columnist Fyodor Lukyanov of Russia's Gazeta, citing recent Pew Research Center polling data, asserts in this detailed evaluation of U.S. public attitudes, that there is a declining tendency on the part of the U.S. population to believe in American exceptionalism, and concludes that U.S. foreign … [Read more...] about America’s Young People Turn Against ‘Patriotic Bravado’ (Gazeta, Russia)
New Legendary 2012 Super Bowl Commercial Ad: Honda’s “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” Updated as “Matthews Day Off”
One of the most anticipated and commented upon 2012 Super Bowl commercials was Honda's which kind of updated "Ferris Beuller's Day Off". Here's the Honda explanation on You Tube: To celebrate the launch of the all-new 2012 CR-V, Honda brought Ferris Bueller's Day Off back in a big game commercial. We cast Matthew Broderick as himself, skipping out on a day of acting work … [Read more...] about New Legendary 2012 Super Bowl Commercial Ad: Honda’s “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” Updated as “Matthews Day Off”
The Citizens United Catastrophe
WASHINGTON -- We have seen the world created by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and it doesn't work. Oh, yes, it works nicely for the wealthiest and most powerful people in the country, especially if they want to shroud their efforts to influence politics behind shell corporations. It just doesn't happen to work if you think we are a democracy and not a … [Read more...] about The Citizens United Catastrophe
Take Back the Republican Party (Guest Voice)
Take Back the Republican Party by Linda Gibson It’s time for the grownups among us to quit indulging the tantrums of the political 2-year-olds in the Republican Party hollering “No!” unless they get their way. One way to accomplish this would be for Democrats, Independents, Greens, Libertarians and moderates of all kinds to join the Republican Party. Take it back from … [Read more...] about Take Back the Republican Party (Guest Voice)
TIPS Is Alive and Well In The Obama Administration, Just Under A New Name
Update: The material appears to have been developed with grants from DOJ, not directly by DOJ. Ten years ago, the Bush Administration pushed a new program, Terrorism Information and Prevention System (Operation TIPS), designed to entice Americans to snitch on their neighbors. From Reason magazine: TIPS in essence deputizes 1 million Americans in 10 cities as … [Read more...] about TIPS Is Alive and Well In The Obama Administration, Just Under A New Name
Newt Gingrich Debates
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich Debates
Afghanistan: ‘The Most Terrible of All Defeats’ (Le Jeudi, Luxembourg)
How should we characterize the impending end of Western military operations in Afghanistan? Was it a painful defeat, a hard-won success, or something in between? Columnist Danièle Fonck of Luxembourg's Le Jeudi writes that nothing worthwhile has been gained by the Afghanistan invasion, and the soldiers who died - whether Westerners want to admit it to themselves or not - did so … [Read more...] about Afghanistan: ‘The Most Terrible of All Defeats’ (Le Jeudi, Luxembourg)
Roll Call Ratings
For those starting to follow the campaign beyond the race for the White House, this is a nice guide to the current state of affairs. … [Read more...] about Roll Call Ratings
Superbow(e)l
I have seen every single Superbowl ever played, going back to Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers. I remember quite well the empty seats in the Los Angeles Coliseum. And believe me, Madonna was perfect for this thing called the Superbowl, although it bears little resemblance to what I remember. Football game, blah, blah, blah. No, what I am talking about -- … [Read more...] about Superbow(e)l
Dick Armey: Gingrich Taking “Second Rate Campaign and Turning it Into a First Rate Vendetta”
How much work does former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have to win over conservatives and Tea Party members as a viable Anti-Romney option? I'd say a ton of work: Freedom Works chairman and former Rep. Dick Armey (R-Texas) blasted Newt Gingrich for his continued tough attacks on Mitt Romney saying Gingrich was carrying out a vendetta against the Republican … [Read more...] about Dick Armey: Gingrich Taking “Second Rate Campaign and Turning it Into a First Rate Vendetta”
NBC’s Masterful “Brotherhood of Man” Super Bowl Promo Commercial Ad
NBC scored a media touchdown with its Super Bowl ad -- a promo for its shows, using the show-stopping song from the smash Broadway Musica "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" called "The Brotherhood of Man." It is witty, fun, slick, smart -- and will rank as one of the best ever: < /center> Here's an abridged version of the show stopper as performed by the … [Read more...] about NBC’s Masterful “Brotherhood of Man” Super Bowl Promo Commercial Ad
Take A Look at Videos of the Five Most Controversial Super Bowl Commercials Ads (Includes VIDEO ROUNDUP 2007 through 2011)
Chances are if you (among the millions) watch the Super Bowl today you're going to see one ad that turns out to be highly controverial. The Hill: Super Bowl advertisements have a long history of attracting political controversies, and this year is no different. While the match-up between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants will be country’s focus on Sunday, … [Read more...] about Take A Look at Videos of the Five Most Controversial Super Bowl Commercials Ads (Includes VIDEO ROUNDUP 2007 through 2011)
Playing Politics with Women’s Bodies
For a women’s magazine editor of half a century ago, the Planned Parenthood-Komen Foundation ugly furor recalls the time from introduction of the Pill when women, no matter what their circumstances, were without safe, reliable birth control and, before Roe v. Wade, had the choice of bearing unwanted children or being butchered by back-alley abortions. From the start, those … [Read more...] about Playing Politics with Women’s Bodies
The GOP Soap Opera (Guest Voice)
The GOP Soap Opera Raging Moderate, by Will Durst It's been more exciting than a zip-line over crocodile-infested streams watching the Republican reality TV show currently playing across the nation. Specifically talking about their grueling marathon gladiator contest where the last person voted off the island becomes Red American Idol and wins the opportunity to oppose … [Read more...] about The GOP Soap Opera (Guest Voice)
Romney Wins Big in Nevada Republican Caucuses: Gingrich Candidacy Continues to Shrink
Pundits had been predicting it would happen but you can't obscure the real impact: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won big in the Nevada caucauses yesterday -- further consolidating his candidacy, after a gaffe-peppered week adding to the positive image of someone who's on a political roll, while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's candidacy continues to shrink in terms … [Read more...] about Romney Wins Big in Nevada Republican Caucuses: Gingrich Candidacy Continues to Shrink
Children Freezing to Death: Another Horrific Side of the Afghanistan War
By now most readers know my (changed) position on the Afghanistan War. I have expressed concern among other about rampant corruption and backstabbing at the highest levels in the Afghanistan government, incompetence of and disloyalty among its military and police and continuing human rights violations. I have mourned our casualties and fretted about our huge financial … [Read more...] about Children Freezing to Death: Another Horrific Side of the Afghanistan War
Understanding The Eurozone Collapse
How Europe Has Evolved From A Democracy To A Bankocracy And Why Austerity Will Lead To Chaos Via Zerohedge … [Read more...] about Understanding The Eurozone Collapse