As I wrote here: One of the most interesting and exciting assignments during my U.S. Air Force career was my tour of duty at the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) complex some 1,400 feet beneath granite Cheyenne Mountain, south of Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the height of the Cold War. The assignment was interesting and exciting not only because we were … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS: NORAD Goes High-Tech to Track Santa
The Fruitcake Chronicles
(The Following is a re-post of The Fruitcake Chronicles. I first published this six installment short story in the Auburn Reporter Newspaper. Like a good fruitcake, I regift it every year. Merry Christmas!) The Fruitcake Chronicles: An Old Fashioned Christmas (Part 1 of 6) “Sir, I’m not going to ask you again. Put the fruitcake down and step away from the Santa.” … [Read more...] about The Fruitcake Chronicles
Egypt’s Progress
Guest post by Ali Ezzatyar Approaching the one-year anniversary of the Arab spring, it's very easy to forget that the events of 2011 would have been unthinkable last Christmas. Browse through the op-ed pages of every major newspaper or foreign policy journal, or the title of any of the books that were being published on the region this time last year: not a single clear, … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Progress
A video representation of the race to be the 2012 Republican nominee for president. Why Santorum? Why not? Every other sensible prediction I and many others have made has gone down in ruins -- like the Hindenburg, if you will: It'll be Romney. Republicans like establishment types, he's got money and organization, and he's next in line for a party that likes clean … [Read more...] about
German Banks Discover ‘Freedom’ to Ditch their American Customers (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
Is the Internal Revenue Service suborning European Banks to keep tabs on their American customers? According to this editorial from Germany's Financial Times Deutschland, a number of German Banks have 'understandably' decided to drop their U.S. customers due to the expense of complying with IRS data provisions and for fear of being on the wrong side of the American tax … [Read more...] about German Banks Discover ‘Freedom’ to Ditch their American Customers (Financial Times Deutschland, Germany)
“Take Heaven, Take Peace, Take Joy”
I can’t gift-wrap this, but it’s the closest thing to a Christmas treasure that I have to share. Decades ago, I published it twice in different magazines. Eric Sevareid was a gifted writer who spent most of his life as a radio and TV journalist working with Edward R. Murrow during World War II as part of “a band of brothers” and later at CBS-TV in its glory days. He was a … [Read more...] about “Take Heaven, Take Peace, Take Joy”
We Bought a Zoo Review (Cameron Crowe’s Not So Family Film)
We Bought a Zoo is a film that has little to do with its title. It's not about the zany misadventures of a family trying to run their own zoo. Instead, it's about a father dealing with the recent tragic death of his dearly loved spouse. It's about heart broken kids trying to exist in a world where their mother is no longer able to comfort them. We Bought a Zoo is about … [Read more...] about We Bought a Zoo Review (Cameron Crowe’s Not So Family Film)
Newt
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Newt
How Boehner Told Members Payroll Tax Extension December 2011 Battle Was Over
TPM's Brian Beutler gives us details on how a politically trapped House Speaker John Boehner told House Republicans that he felt it was time that the payroll tax extension battle of December 11 was over: In a conference call with House Republicans early Thursday evening, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) took no questions after making it clear to his members that the game was up … [Read more...] about How Boehner Told Members Payroll Tax Extension December 2011 Battle Was Over
Grand Old Party, Fit to a ‘T”
WASHINGTON -- Finally. After a year of artful camouflage and concealment, Republicans let us glimpse the rift between establishment pragmatists and tea party ideologues. There may be hope for the republic after all. Forty Republican senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, joined Democrats in voting for compromise legislation providing a two-month extension … [Read more...] about Grand Old Party, Fit to a ‘T”
Quote of the Day: On Boehner Bombing
Our political Quote of the Day comes from The Christian Science Monitor which gives this take on how the payroll tax exemption battle: In the end, carrying on the fight was a losing proposition for a party that took back the House in 2011 on a pledge never to raise taxes. And – in a new development – Democrats learned to say, "No." The deal marks a capitulation by the … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Boehner Bombing
BREAKING: House GOP “Crumple” (UPDATES)
UPDATE II: In a Capitol Hill news conference, Mr. Boehner announced the “deal.” The New York Times reports: Bowing under intense pressure from members of their own party to end the politically damaging impasse over a payroll tax holiday, House Republican leaders agreed Thursday to accept a temporary extension of the tax cut, beating a hasty retreat from a … [Read more...] about BREAKING: House GOP “Crumple” (UPDATES)
Breaking News: Deal Pending On Payroll Tax Cut
According to CNN there is a deal to resolve the impass on the payroll tax cut. Details are sketchy but the House GOP has a conference call scheduled for 5pm EST/2pm PST. Since the Senate is out of town the deal would presumably be for the House to pass the 2 month cut for now and then work on a full extension later. … [Read more...] about Breaking News: Deal Pending On Payroll Tax Cut
(UPDATE II) This Just In: Barack Obama Kills Osama Bin Laden, Ron Paul Kills Iowa Caucuses
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S MAN OF THE YEAR Barring a major development, this will be my last post of 2011, and I thought I would go out with a bang as well as a bit of back patting. While the Democrats and President Obama have not always covered themselves in glory, the bang is a one-word description of the historic mess that the Republican Party has made of things during the … [Read more...] about (UPDATE II) This Just In: Barack Obama Kills Osama Bin Laden, Ron Paul Kills Iowa Caucuses
McConnell Seemingly Undercuts Boehner and Says Pass Payroll Tax Cut Extension Already (UPDATED)
Over the past few days many pundits have noted the deafening silence of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was instrumental in coming up with the bipartisan payroll tax extension passed overwhelmingly by the Senate -- and rejected by the Tea Party-influenced Republican House. Today Speaker of the House John Boehner held a press conference where he essentially said they … [Read more...] about McConnell Seemingly Undercuts Boehner and Says Pass Payroll Tax Cut Extension Already (UPDATED)
Video Animation on House Republicans Refuse to Pass Payroll Tax Extension
Here's a video animation take from Taiwan's Next Media Animation on the House GOP refusing to pass the payroll tax extension: … [Read more...] about Video Animation on House Republicans Refuse to Pass Payroll Tax Extension
The Interview You Can Bet the White House Watched
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com WASHINGTON - This is where I tell you that national polls don't mean much, then I cite national polls. It's a snapshot in time moment that reveals that 1979 feeling is still with us. It's also why Mitt Romney remains the best person to give Pres. Obama a serious headache, with two excerpts from the Chris Wallace interview … [Read more...] about The Interview You Can Bet the White House Watched
Tax The Rich, Tax The Rich, Tax The Rich, Tax The Rich…
Democratic Party pols used to understand the obvious. If there were an issue that most people, most voters, held dear, and if it fell within the party's own traditional policy parameters, these pols used to beat it to death and win elections with it. That was the way it was in the old days. Now these pols have been Obama-ed. They think deeply. They wallow in the depths of … [Read more...] about Tax The Rich, Tax The Rich, Tax The Rich, Tax The Rich…
Ron Paul Cuts Off CNN Interview When Pressed About Incendiary Old Newsletters
CNN's Gloria Borger asked Rep. Ron Paul some tough questions about some old newsletters that had some extremist and racist assertions -- newsletters that were under his name but he says he did not write. Paul cut the interview short (not quite walking out since he said good bye and had his body mike taken off him. She was pressing him as to whether he read the disavowed … [Read more...] about Ron Paul Cuts Off CNN Interview When Pressed About Incendiary Old Newsletters
Boehner the Red Faced Reindeer
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Boehner the Red Faced Reindeer