AIKEN, S.C. -- Members of the tea party insisted they were turning the GOP into a populist, anti-establishment bastion. Social conservatives have long argued that values and morals matter more than money. Yet in the end, the corporate and economically conservative wing of the Republican Party always seems to win. Thus was Mitt Romney so confident of victory in … [Read more...] about So Much for a Populist GOP
Newt Gingrich’s Big (Possibly Very Bad) Day
Today is a big day for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, indeed.Will it be a big, bad day? First, today is the big South Carolina CNN debate -- a true "make or break" debate since polls now show Gingrich coming on strong against front-runner former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (who is still 10 points ahead in one poll). New and old media punditry have been buzzing with … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich’s Big (Possibly Very Bad) Day
Holy Cow! Americans Are Eating Less Meat
I stopped eating meat about 15 years ago not on philosophical grounds or because I embraced a vegetarian or (heaven forbid) vegan diet, but because meat was expensive and I realized that I felt better without it. And so except for the very occasional greasy Philadelphia-style cheese steak with fried onions and mushrooms, I have become a so-called flexitarian with a diet that is … [Read more...] about Holy Cow! Americans Are Eating Less Meat
Romney Road Trip
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Romney Road Trip
Book Review: Peter Tomsen’s ‘Wars Of Afghanistan,’ Imperial Fecklessness & Pakistani Evil
Pakistan bankrolled the Taliban, who destroyed the Buddhas of Banyan There is an old Afghan folk tale that portrays a foreigner balancing two connected trays attached to the handheld weighing device used in South Asian bazaaars. The foreigner carefully loads one tray and then the other with frogs. Just as he puts the last few frogs on one tray and then the other, some frogs … [Read more...] about Book Review: Peter Tomsen’s ‘Wars Of Afghanistan,’ Imperial Fecklessness & Pakistani Evil
But The Swing Set Bothered Clinton
Perhaps the best opportunity to kill Osama bin Laden prior to the 9/11 attacks came in 1998 when credible intelligence placed the terrorist leader at Tarnak Farm (image above), a compound on the arid plains near Kandahar in Afghanistan. With the aid of real-time video imagery transmitted by a Predator drone, U.S. intelligence agents half way around the world were able to … [Read more...] about But The Swing Set Bothered Clinton
Associated Press Independence in Doubt after ‘Deal’ with North Korean Regime (The Daily North Korea, South Korea)
Has the North Korean regime 'played' one of the Western World's leading news agencies? Cho Jong-ik of South Korea's Daily North Korea reports on concerns about the announcement that North Korea has given the Associated Press permission to become the first Western outlet ever permitted to open an office in Pyongyang. For the Daily North Korea, reporter Cho Jong-ik writes in … [Read more...] about Associated Press Independence in Doubt after ‘Deal’ with North Korean Regime (The Daily North Korea, South Korea)
Euroland Looks for Scapegoats: U.S. Credit Rating Agencies (Die Welt, Germany)
Are America's 'big three' credit agencies at fault for wrongly downgrading Eurozone debt at the worst possible time - or are European leaders just looking for someone else to blame for their troubles? According to this editorial from Germany's Die Welt, the blame for the mess in Europe rests squarely on the shoulders of European officials who would rather tell their … [Read more...] about Euroland Looks for Scapegoats: U.S. Credit Rating Agencies (Die Welt, Germany)
Downton Abbey Is Downright Brilliant
For those who have not yet discovered it, Downtown Abbey is an absolutely wonderful British produced miniseris along the lines of Upstairs Downstairs. It is set in the early 20th century at an English estate and follows the lives of the upper class family and the servants. Season (or should I say Series) Two is now airing on PBS. There are many great reasons to watch this … [Read more...] about Downton Abbey Is Downright Brilliant
PIPA & SOPA: Why Be Concerned; Reaction Round-Up
An excellent 11-minute documentary explaining how the bills would work, who's behind them and why we should be concerned from New Left Media. Meanwhile, protest works. A spokeswoman for Google confirmed that 4.5 million people added their names to the company's anti-SOPA petition today. A total of 103,785 people signed We the People petitions asking the Obama … [Read more...] about PIPA & SOPA: Why Be Concerned; Reaction Round-Up
Drudge: ABC News Holding “Bombshell” Interview with Gingrich’s Ex-Wife Until After South Carolina Primary (UPDATED)
File this in the "here we go again" file. Are we about to see another Drudge Report exclusive that will reconfigure the political horizon? Matt Drudge has a screeching headline on his site with an "exclusive" about a "civil war" raging at ABC over when to air a supposedly explosive interview with Marianne Gingrich, one of the former House Speaker's wives. Here's some of what … [Read more...] about Drudge: ABC News Holding “Bombshell” Interview with Gingrich’s Ex-Wife Until After South Carolina Primary (UPDATED)
European Court Says UK Cannot Deport Terror Suspect
A European court (the Court On Human Rights) has ruled that the United Kingdom cannot deport a terror suspect to Jordan because the evidence against him might have been obtained via torture. This means that they will either have to charge him in the UK or release him. The suspect in question, Abu Qatada has been a leading spokesman for Al Qaeda and the UK wanted to deport … [Read more...] about European Court Says UK Cannot Deport Terror Suspect
CNN/Time Poll: South Carolina Race Tightens as Gingrich Gains Ground
A new CNN/Time Poll finds the Republican primary race in South Carolina is tightening: former Massachusetts Gov. Romney is staying about where he was while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is gaining ground: With three days to go until the first-in-the south primary, Mitt Romney remains in the lead in the Palmetto State, but according to a new poll, his advantage over … [Read more...] about CNN/Time Poll: South Carolina Race Tightens as Gingrich Gains Ground
Fox Asks Rick Perry: “When Did You Stop Beating Your Wife?”
There is no question as to how utterly uniformed Rick Perry’s remarks about Turkey were Monday night in South Carolina. Calling one of our staunchest NATO partners a country that is being ruled by “Islamic terrorists” is not really the savviest thing one would expect from a presidential candidate. But perhaps we are being too rough on the Texas governor. Here’s the … [Read more...] about Fox Asks Rick Perry: “When Did You Stop Beating Your Wife?”
Did Rick Santorum Really Win Iowa?
Did Rick Santorum really win Iowa? The allegation has been leaking out for days now, but there are growing rumblings that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney may not have won -- which means he didn't make history by winning Iowa and New Hampshire. Here's part of John Avlon's must-read-in-full post on The Daily Beast: Did Rick Santorum win the Iowa caucus? That’s what … [Read more...] about Did Rick Santorum Really Win Iowa?
How to Get Ahead in Hollywood
Just look under the Hollywood sign. … [Read more...] about How to Get Ahead in Hollywood
For Obama, Romney Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving While Gingrich Is Just Plain Old Racist
For the Obama re-election campaign, Mitt Romney is the gift that keeps on giving. At least so far. Never mind that the former Massachusetts governor is supposed to be the un-Obama, a man who has the expertise to turn around the economy by creating jobs while reducing the federal budget deficit. Today, three days before the South Carolina primary, which will validate … [Read more...] about For Obama, Romney Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving While Gingrich Is Just Plain Old Racist
GQ’s Top 25 Most Powerful in DC Includes 1.5 Women and a Lot of White Guys
GQ's Top 25 Power People in DC? One and a half women. One and a half. And a whole lotta white guys. Here's the full list of 50 from Mike Allen's Politico Playbook: FIRST LOOK – GQ’s “The 50 Most Powerful People in Washington (People with the last names Obama and Biden not included,” by Reid Cherlin, Rob Fischer, Jason Horowitz and Jason Zengerle: 1) Eric Cantor 2) Mitch … [Read more...] about GQ’s Top 25 Most Powerful in DC Includes 1.5 Women and a Lot of White Guys
Repo Men, Two Cheers for Capitalism, And My Hope For Conservatism
I have for some time now been dismayed as I watched a conservative movement I once respected, and considered myself a student and sometime sympathizer of, apparently become adrift in a haze of "free market" rhetoric that was more style than substance, more twitch than thought. I remember well one such "conservative" who went utterly ballistic on me not too long ago when I noted … [Read more...] about Repo Men, Two Cheers for Capitalism, And My Hope For Conservatism
What We’ve Learned in the Presidential Campaign So Far
HOBBS, N.M. -- You learn something new every day. In driving around the country, I've learned that oil companies reserve large numbers of motel rooms in this city and others so that oil rig workers have places to stay. In some cities it's almost impossible to get a hotel room. You have to carefully plan in advance. That's also the story of the months leading up to the 2012 … [Read more...] about What We’ve Learned in the Presidential Campaign So Far