There are a couple of observations I have been meaning to make about Mr. Gingrich’s “magnificent, bold and fearless” debates performance. On the first observation, New York Times’ David Firestone beat me to the punch and I am glad because he elucidates it much better than I ever could. Firestone ascribes a lot of Gingrich’s “successes” in the two previous South Carolina … [Read more...] about Gingrich’s Debate Bravura and Bravado: Just Sitcom? (UPDATED)
Severe Sanctions on Iran – is it too little and too late?
Iran has been working on its nuclear weapons program for years. The west has been trying to convince Iran to back off its nuclear intentions for years. Through diplomatic efforts and through increasingly severe sanctions, the west has been trying to make its point. But defiant Iran is not getting the point and is refusing to stop its nuclear program. Now Washington and … [Read more...] about Severe Sanctions on Iran – is it too little and too late?
How To Explain The Mitt Romney Conundrum?
It is beyond obvious that the Republican establishment, or what remains of it, is absolutely in shock over the possibility of Newt Gingrich winning the presidential nomination but is not firmly committed to Mitt Romney, the one man many pundits say might give President Obama a run for his money. But how to quantify this? The inestimable Nate Silver writes in The New York … [Read more...] about How To Explain The Mitt Romney Conundrum?
Sticky State of the Disunion
Now that future Presidents Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney have had their say, a person named Barack Obama, who claims to hold the office, will face TV cameras tonight with what purports to be a State of the Union address. Fact-checking of Gingrich and Romney eliminates many of their more stimulating claims, reducing Mr. Obama to such boring proposals as refinancing for … [Read more...] about Sticky State of the Disunion
Greece’s Present Financial Situation Explained (In Rhyme)
A lot of people are confused about the financial mess that Greece is in, and the EU's attempts to rescue the country's finances. But it's really quite simple... Greece's Present Financial Situation Explained (In Rhyme) Banks lend money to banks To lend to banks to lend to Greece Which uses it to pay the debt On bills unmet To banks that lent to banks Who now have … [Read more...] about Greece’s Present Financial Situation Explained (In Rhyme)
(UPDATED) I’ll Have Some Of What Boehner Is Smoking & Other Tales From The GOP Crypt
House Majority Leader John Boehner is under attack from fellow Republicans for capitulating to the White House and his Senate peers on several key deals, under attack from voters for refusing to play ball on legislation to stimulate the economy and create jobs, and faces the prospect that a Newt Gingrich candidacy would jeopardize the GOP's House majority. Yet he blithely … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) I’ll Have Some Of What Boehner Is Smoking & Other Tales From The GOP Crypt
Would Ike Be A Republican Today?
As Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich tear away at each other -- claiming that each benefited mightily from the government they both claim to despise -- Lawrence Martin reminds his readers that there used to be a Republican president who consciously sought a middle way: Dwight Eisenhower, Martin writes, didn’t become a Republican until 1952, the year he campaigned for … [Read more...] about Would Ike Be A Republican Today?
Romney Feeling Deja Vu (Guest Voice)
Romney Feeling Deja Vu by Matt Mackowiak He simply cannot believe it may be happening again. Willard Mitt Romney, born to family with a CEO, Governor one-time Presidential candidate father and U.S. Senate candidate mother, grew up around politics. He's entered into it throughout his career, first in 1994 when giving Ted Kennedy a run for his money, then again in 2002 … [Read more...] about Romney Feeling Deja Vu (Guest Voice)
Mitt Romney
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney
A Possible Path to a Centrist Third Party
Though the Republican primaries and the presidential race now dominate the news, the disgust over governmental dysfunction and disdain for the two current parties remains. Polls have shown approval of the Republicans and Democrats at their lowest levels ever, along with ratings for Congress in the single digits. There is also a lack of enthusiasm for the presidential candidates … [Read more...] about A Possible Path to a Centrist Third Party
Too Many Mitts
During the 1960 campaign, JFK said he felt sorry for Nixon: “It must be hard getting up every morning and having to decide who you’re going to be that day.” Now, Mitt Romney’s authenticity problem is front and center. Wobbling into a belated release of some tax returns for whenever, he is, like Nixon back then, still trying to create a real person Republican voters can … [Read more...] about Too Many Mitts
Washington State Set To Approve Same-Sex Marriage
At the close of Monday's hearing on Washington State's proposed same-sex marriage law, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island) became the 25th Senator to pledge to vote for the bill. In a written statement, she said: I happen to be the 25th [vote] because I insisted on taking this much time to hear from my constituents and to sort it out for myself, to reconcile my … [Read more...] about Washington State Set To Approve Same-Sex Marriage
Live Blogging the NBC/Tampa Times Florida Republican Presidential Primary Debate (FINAL)
Here is live blogging of tonight’s super-high-stakes Florida Republican Presidential Primary debate sponsored by NBC News, the Tampa Bay Times, National Journal and the Florida Council of 100. All attention tonight will be on the increasingly bitter -- and politically crucial -- battle between former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the former front runner, and former House … [Read more...] about Live Blogging the NBC/Tampa Times Florida Republican Presidential Primary Debate (FINAL)
Why Florida Is Not The State To Watch
Florida will be the next state to vote. That will be on January 31st. Watching it will probably be mildly interesting but, barring something unusual, Mitt Romney will likely win it handily. The most important reason is probably that Florida allows early mail-in ballots, and before the surprise in South Carolina, some some 150,000 people had already voted in that primary. Since … [Read more...] about Why Florida Is Not The State To Watch
TMV Will Live Blog Tonight’s NBC Republican Presidential Candidate Debate
Be sure to check in with TMV tonight as we live blog the Republican Presidential debate beginning at 9 p.m. EST. We'll also likely have posts by various TMV writers on their impression of the debate -- and we invite your reaction in comments. … [Read more...] about TMV Will Live Blog Tonight’s NBC Republican Presidential Candidate Debate
Newton Leroy Gingrich: America’s ‘Hypocritical Moralizing Apostle’ (Nachrichten, Austria)
No matter where in world one looks, incredulity and wonder seem to be the reactions people have to the political resurrection of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. In this latest critique, columnist Thomas Spang of Austria's Nachrichten advises Mitt Romney to get off the stick or be swept away by the voter rage being so well-harnessed by Gingrich, who Spang refers to as a … [Read more...] about Newton Leroy Gingrich: America’s ‘Hypocritical Moralizing Apostle’ (Nachrichten, Austria)
Another Sign of our Poison Partisanship: Democratic Operative’s Cat Butchered
How far has partisanship gone? THIS FAR. TRULY reprehensible. And, oh yes: there will be people who will vote AGAINST people who do something like this. And I hope they catch these creeps and prosecute them to the fullest extent of animal cruelty laws. So now people are killing animals -- pets -- to lash out at those with whom they don't agree? … [Read more...] about Another Sign of our Poison Partisanship: Democratic Operative’s Cat Butchered
The Republican Party’s Gingrich Problem
Newt Gingrich’s Biggest Fan
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From Here To Eternity . . . Er, Election Day
Although the calendar says that the November 6 presidential election is nearly 300 days away, it seems more like an eternity. And Mitt Romney, still the putative favorite to win the Republican nomination after surviving a fusillade of negative ads and attacks on his character in South Carolina, surely must hope that voters don't have long memories -- or memories long enough to … [Read more...] about From Here To Eternity . . . Er, Election Day