Hamburg, Germany: Preventive Detention Controversy Splits Politicians and City Residents A ruling in spring 2011 by the German Constitutional Court enables dangerous criminals in preventive detention to return to living “a normal life”. And that includes having a place to stay, becoming part of a new neighbourhood. German politicians now have a burden on their hands and … [Read more...] about Hamburg, Germany: Preventive Detention Controversy Splits Politicians and City Residents (Guest Voice)
(UPDATED) Yet Again, No Accountability For Marines In Iraq
Frank Wuterich arrives at court with lawyer Neal Puckett Iraqis are reacting with outrage -- and appropriately so -- that the ringleader of the 2005 Haditha massacre that left 24 of their countrymen dead received no jail time and merely a reduction in rank to private as part of a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to a single count of dereliction of duty. "This is not … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Yet Again, No Accountability For Marines In Iraq
Newt Wants His Claque Back
In the wake of a relatively brisk, civilized debate, ringmaster Gingrich is complaining about losing his rabble-rousing rights. Reacting to NBC’s control of the kind of whooping and cheering that went on in South Carolina, Newt’s morning-after regret is that “I wish in retrospect I’d protested when Brian Williams took them out of it because I think it’s wrong. And I think he … [Read more...] about Newt Wants His Claque Back
Leader
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Leader
(UPDATED) State Of The Union: A President Who Finally Has The Wind At His Back
For the first time in his presidency, Barack Obama was able to deliver a State of the Union address last night with the economic and political winds at his back as the lingering aftershocks of the recession ebb and Republican infighting diminishes the party's chances of taking back the White House. Obama's approval ratings are identical to those of the Great Conservative … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) State Of The Union: A President Who Finally Has The Wind At His Back
A Star Turn For The Buffett Rule Poster Lady
DEBBIE BOSANEK (LEFT) BEFORE THE SPEECH Debbie Bosanek, secretary to mega-investor Warren Buffett, had stayed out of the limelight despite being the poster lady for President Obama's tax proposals, but she took a star turn last night as she sat with first lady Michelle Obama during the State of the Union Speech. Bosanek, who has worked for Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway for … [Read more...] about A Star Turn For The Buffett Rule Poster Lady
The Not So Great News From The Googleplex
And What It Means To You Google, the "don't be evil" company, is slipping and sliding along a fibre optic cable that terminates in Dante's inferno. According to The Guardian: US regulators are reportedly looking into whether Google manipulates its search results to favour its own products and have expanded the investigation to include Google+. That's a far cry from the … [Read more...] about The Not So Great News From The Googleplex
The Best Moment Of SOTU
Easily the best moment of the night as the chamber gives Congresswoman Giffords a well deserved standing ovation. http://youtu.be/tMprdAbMEz8 Fellow Arizona Congressmen Grijavala (a liberal Democrat) and Flake (a conservative Republican) led her into the chamber and helped her stand when she wanted to applaud the President. Perhaps the most touching story though was of … [Read more...] about The Best Moment Of SOTU
Not Exactly Mr. Congeniality
WASHINGTON -- When the polls closed in South Carolina on Saturday, I happened to be in a Charleston hotel lobby where elegantly dressed couples were filing past on their way to a black-tie event. A woman stopped and asked whether I had heard anything about the results. "Newt's winning big," I said. The woman's face fell. "But if Newt wins," she lamented, "then … [Read more...] about Not Exactly Mr. Congeniality
Live-Blogging SOTU 2012
If you're interested in my liberal take on Obama's speech, see here. Suffice it to say that while I generally agree with most of his various policy proposals, I think it's by far the worst State of the Union address he's given. There's no vision, no philosophy, nothing. Expect possibly for populist economic nationalism. And that's just delusional, a clear refusal to see how … [Read more...] about Live-Blogging SOTU 2012
Live Blogging and Live Video Streaming: President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address
LIVE STREAMING VIDEO OF STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH BELOW: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Here is some live blogging of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. This will not be as extensive as the live blogging we do here on primary debates. The first part will give you a CNN summary. Live blogging is underneath. A … [Read more...] about Live Blogging and Live Video Streaming: President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address
Newt Race Baits
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VIDEO: State of the Union Addresses: Meaningless Rhetoric from Both Parties?
TMV Assistant Editor Pat Edaburn wrote HERE about his growing conclusions that State of the Union addresses are increasingly meaningless. He is not alone in that perception: Public Notice/Bankrupting America now has a video that calls out Presidents of both parties for making empty promises during their State of the Union addresses on fiscal discipline. There are partisans … [Read more...] about VIDEO: State of the Union Addresses: Meaningless Rhetoric from Both Parties?
Gingrich’s Debate Bravura and Bravado: Just Sitcom? (UPDATED)
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?