The planet has gone around the sun six times since my blog, Kiko's House, baby-walked onto the scene, and the inexhaustible supply of rich material keeps coming in torrents, making practically every day an adventure in bathos, pathos, mythos and . . . uh, hathos. Herewith some posts from the past 12 months, many of which were cross-posted at The Moderate Voice, in which I … [Read more...] about Yet Another Year Shot To Hell: The Best Of The Worst Of 2011
Newt and the Revenge of the Base
WASHINGTON -- It is one of the true delights of a bizarrely entertaining Republican presidential contest to watch the apoplectic fear and loathing of so many GOP establishmentarians toward Newt Gingrich. They treat him as an alien body whose approach to politics they have always rejected. In fact, Gingrich's rise is the revenge of a Republican base that takes seriously … [Read more...] about Newt and the Revenge of the Base
Kim Jong-Il Dies
Breaking news that North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Il has died at the age of 69. Early word is that he died of a heart attack aboard one of his luxury trains while on a 'tour'. South Korean forces and US forces in South Korea are on high alert. Given that in the past North Korea has dealt with crisis situations by launching missiles and staging attacks on South Korean … [Read more...] about Kim Jong-Il Dies
They’ll Do It My Way (The Poem)
Before doing his present number with a Payroll Tax extension, Eric Cantor, the Tea Party's man in Congress, almost brought about a government default in support of the same underlying issue: Taxes are off the table. Period. We can thus easily visualize him doing this karaoke in the style of Frank Sinatra... They'll Do It My Way And now, though crises loom, I hold one … [Read more...] about They’ll Do It My Way (The Poem)
‘How do You Ask a Man to Be the Last Man to Die’ in the Iraq War?
This morning, I -- probably along with millions of other Americans -- received this short e-mail from President Obama: Early this morning, the last of our troops left Iraq. As we honor and reflect on the sacrifices that millions of men and women made for this war, I wanted to make sure you heard the news. Bringing this war to a responsible end was a cause that … [Read more...] about ‘How do You Ask a Man to Be the Last Man to Die’ in the Iraq War?
Bob Dole Endorses Mitt Romney in Iowa Newpaper Ad
Former Kansas Senator and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole has endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the 2012 Republican nomination. The question now becomes: will Dole's endorsement prove to be political Viagra for Romney? Former Kansas Senator and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole endorsed Mitt Romney Sunday in an advertisement in the state’s … [Read more...] about Bob Dole Endorses Mitt Romney in Iowa Newpaper Ad
Why George Will was Right About Newt
WASHINGTON - Never once did I buy into the notion of a Newt nomination. As a writer on politics going back into the '90s, although I thought he'd have his moment, Mr. Gingrich simply isn't what he pretended to be. Thanks to Ron Paul, but especially Michele Bachmann's political vivisection of his record, the plummet is now in full swing. But it was George Will's "Newt Gingrich … [Read more...] about Why George Will was Right About Newt
Vaclav Havel Dies
Vaclav Havel, the leader of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia during the late 1980's has died at the age of 75. Havel is credited not only with inspiring the revolt which led to the collapse of Communism in his own country but also with helping to start the dominos falling all across Eastern Europe. He was for decades a leader of the underground opposition in the … [Read more...] about Vaclav Havel Dies
The Brilliance of Boardwalk Empire’s Finale
Boardwalk Empire season II finale has to rank as one of if not THE rpt THE best end-of-the-season episode I have ever seen. Since it'll be out in DVD soon (season one is yet to emerge) I won't spoil it. But if you have seen it or really want to know GO HERE. This show started off slow and started to build but has now begun to look like "another Soporanos" in terms of its … [Read more...] about The Brilliance of Boardwalk Empire’s Finale
How Can Israel Please the American Government, Media, and “Experts”? It Can’t (Guest Voice)
How Can Israel Please the American Government, Media, and “Experts”? It Can’t by Barry Rubin There is a constant effort—especially by the anti-Israel left–to portray those who express mainstream Israeli public opinion and the views of professional analysts as “right-wing” or “Likudnik.” This leads me to wonder what one would have to say to please these people. What would … [Read more...] about How Can Israel Please the American Government, Media, and “Experts”? It Can’t (Guest Voice)
Goodbye Gingrich?
His opponents sound like Occupy Wall Street protesters as the SEC files charges against six top executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who seem not to have profited from Newt Gingrich’s $1.6 million of advice as a historian. The indictments could be a harpoon to bring down the GOP’s white-haired whale, sharpening attacks on his self-enrichment with court cases rather than … [Read more...] about Goodbye Gingrich?
Voter, Do Not Spare the Rod
Like starry-eyed, irresponsible parents, we voters are guilty of elevating our adored candidates to a place where they can wreak havoc. In his latest column, Frank Bruni does a number on our past choices... and the current crew. All presidential candidates, he writes, have their share of self-regard. The latest? Well... Newt! Over the years he has directly or … [Read more...] about Voter, Do Not Spare the Rod
Greeted with Flowers
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Greeted with Flowers
Bring Him Home Christmas Video
A sweet Christmas video, and thankfully some of our brave troops are coming home … [Read more...] about Bring Him Home Christmas Video
How Now, Brown Cloud: What Smog Hath Wrought (Guest Voice)
How Now, Brown Cloud: What Smog Hath Wrought by Michael Winship Have you heard about the great brown cloud? No, it’s not a new nickname for Donald Trump (his cloud is more an intergalactic nimbus of Aqua Velva and Tang), or the ominous menace in a new Stephen King novel. It’s almost as nasty, though . The Atmospheric Brown Cloud, formerly known as the Asian … [Read more...] about How Now, Brown Cloud: What Smog Hath Wrought (Guest Voice)
A Predator Drone in the USA Could be Spying On You (Guest Voice)
A Predator Drone in the USA Could be Spying On You by Floyd and Mary Beth Brown Americans are familiar with unmanned spy drones providing surveillance of Iranian nuclear complexes and Taliban armed militants combating American troops along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Now the Obama administration has quietly authorized Predator Drone use by law enforcement … [Read more...] about A Predator Drone in the USA Could be Spying On You (Guest Voice)
Occupy Chanukah and Christmas (Guest Voice)
Occupy Chanukah and Christmas by Michael Lerner Chanukah was the first recorded national liberation struggle against Greek imperialism, and Christmas celebrates the birth of a hoped-for messiah to free the Jewish people from Roman imperialism. The symbolism of a homeless couple giving birth in a manger surrounded by animals because the more comfortable people have not … [Read more...] about Occupy Chanukah and Christmas (Guest Voice)
Powerful Des Moines Register Endorses Romney for GOP Caucus
Newspaper endorsements don't have the impact they used to -- and some never had the impact that journalists and editorial writers claimed -- but the Des Moines Register remains a highly respected newspaper both in terms of its reporting, thoughtfulness, and editorial writing. It's endorsement does carry some weight -- and it has just endorsed Mitt Romney for the GOP … [Read more...] about Powerful Des Moines Register Endorses Romney for GOP Caucus
Photography Without Silver
Photography has certainly changed. Just a few short years ago much of the silver mined went into photographic film and paper. Today most of the world camera makers don't even make film cameras. Point and shoot cameras have resolution that you could only get with large format cameras like the Hasselblad. I have been a photographer for over 40 of my 65 years but I retired my … [Read more...] about Photography Without Silver
Newt Gingrich Polls Are Going South: Nationally and in Iowa (Second Post)
It now seems as if there's a good chance Newt Gingrich will be the latest in the group of anti-Romneys to flame out. It's always instructive to follow Barack Obama's daily tracking poll but the numbers Gallup now has for Gingrich compared to Mitt Romney and others suggest a campaign on the descent. He is now only four points ahead of Romney among GOPers. He'll need that massive … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich Polls Are Going South: Nationally and in Iowa (Second Post)