Thinking about Newt is exhausting—-all those policy reversals, all that profiteering from disguised lobbying, all that adultery while impeaching Clinton, all those crackpot gimmicks posing as intellect. Yet, there are many hands on both sides of the political spectrum to do the heavy lifting of deconstructing him. Maureen Dowd takes a whack at it: “His mind is a jumble, an … [Read more...] about Impeaching Gingrich, Right and Left
On Beyond Ho-Hum Holiday Dinners
If you, like the DF&C and myself, are semi-vegetarians or you are a meat and poultry eater who is weary of the same old-same old holiday dinner staples of ham and turkey, mashed potatoes, yams and cranberry sauce, you might want to consider Bodega Bay Cioppino, Roasted Potatoes With Figs, and Italian Stuffed Zucchini. These dishes have become great cold-weather favorites of … [Read more...] about On Beyond Ho-Hum Holiday Dinners
Former Gingrich Booster, Arianna Huffington, Weighs In
WASHINGTON - So let me get this straight. Flim flam artist, convenient conservative, serial philanderer and cheater, a man who ditches wives when they're sick with cancer or MS, who's a Freddie Mac sponge, K-Street addressee businessman with a loybbist's touch, has won the hearts of enough Iowa evangelical Christians to now have the momentum in that state. These people also … [Read more...] about Former Gingrich Booster, Arianna Huffington, Weighs In
Youth-ism: Prejudice Against Those Younger than 50 years old, for POTUS
All the most media exposed candidates for GOP POTUS are over age 50, some like Newt, only a couple years shy of 70 years of age. Only 11 out of 44 Presidents have been under age 50, tilted strongly toward the aging and the elderly. There's a saying that old dogs in fading power try to diminish and hold power away from the strongest of the dogs... which are not the elderly, … [Read more...] about Youth-ism: Prejudice Against Those Younger than 50 years old, for POTUS
Write It Down!
The day after Phil Gerbyshak linked to this article, I missed an appointment because I forgot to write it down. I should have read the article more carefully. [I blog here.] … [Read more...] about Write It Down!
Zastoi, Putin-Style
It may be a long time before democracy comes to Russia. [I blog here.] … [Read more...] about Zastoi, Putin-Style
Is China’s Rise Inevitable?
Jack Goldstone presents the case here that China, under current trends, cannot become the economic behemoth many expect it to be. And Russia's growth has stagnated. But, he does see growth in the economies of Turkey, Indonesia, and Mexico, as well as Brazil and India, the B and I of the BRIC formulation. He's absolutely right, I think, that innovation doesn't blossom in … [Read more...] about Is China’s Rise Inevitable?
GEORGE WILL …A MUST READ on Newt Gingrich as Bull who Brings His Own China Shop With Him
Look for Newt in coming days to bring up his old ideas in borrowed sequins: WIDEspread orphanages for children, work/labor programs for poor children, "Newt's plan for the improvement of poor people" to the tune of huge amounts of money in the Federal and State budgets that are already overwhelmed... and others of his oddly stentorian-gleeful workhouse-like throwbacks to a … [Read more...] about GEORGE WILL …A MUST READ on Newt Gingrich as Bull who Brings His Own China Shop With Him
China’s Future is Up in the Air
HONG KONG -- China has to find a way to continue its rapid growth without choking to death. Literally. When I landed in Beijing last week, the sky was a brownish miasma through which distant landmarks were only faintly visible. The moment I stepped outside the city's vast international airport, I noticed an acrid hint of burning coal in the all-too-palpable air. The … [Read more...] about China’s Future is Up in the Air
Gingrich Child Labor
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Gingrich Child Labor
At Latin Summit, Hugo Chavez Declares Monroe Doctrine Dead (El Universal, Venezuela)
Will the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States, the new organization that pointedly excludes the U.S. and Canada, prove to be more than a footnote of history? This news item from Venezuela's El Universal, the first of a series of CELAC articles we are working on, covers the opening session of the event, which featured a speech by Venezuela President Hugo Chavez. … [Read more...] about At Latin Summit, Hugo Chavez Declares Monroe Doctrine Dead (El Universal, Venezuela)
Selling the New Nixon – A Clockwork Luntz
Part ii. [part i. is here: 'Selling the New Nixon, part i.'] According to one account, Stanley Kubrick had to fly somewhere and bought a copy of B.F. Skinner's Beyond Freedom and Dignity at an airport for something to read. When he finished, he was apoplectic. Skinner believed that we could obtain "proper" social behavior by conditioning, as they'd proven in rats, and not … [Read more...] about Selling the New Nixon – A Clockwork Luntz
Send in the Clueless, and the Cynics and the Reality Show ‘Stars’
The criticism expressed by the pundits of the slate of Republican presidential wannabes has been quite fierce -- from the Left and from the Right. Judging from the muted, lethargic responses by Republicans -- sometimes even agreement -- including here at TMV, one would think that the GOP, this time, has decided to “Send in the Clueless” -- or at least the “cynics” -- to, … [Read more...] about Send in the Clueless, and the Cynics and the Reality Show ‘Stars’
The GOP’s Rational Reality Show
WASHINGTON -- The contest for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination has been described as a reality show and a circus. But what's happening inside the GOP is quite rational and easily explained. The obvious Republican nominee was Texas Gov. Rick Perry -- obvious because his government-bashing, ideology-mongering, secessionist-flirting persona was a perfect fit for … [Read more...] about The GOP’s Rational Reality Show
Newt’s Kiddie Fun Camp
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Newt’s Kiddie Fun Camp
The Unhappiness In Happy Valley One Month On: Still More Questions Than Answers
One month ago today, the tranquility of a college campus known in more tranquil times as Happy Valley was rocked to its core with the arrest of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky on 40 counts of child molestation and the arrest of the athletic director and a vice president for perjury. After initially dragging its feet, the university's board of trustees … [Read more...] about The Unhappiness In Happy Valley One Month On: Still More Questions Than Answers
Breaking: FOX5 Atlanta Says Cain To Endorse Gingrich
Via Twitter: @fox5atlanta: BREAKING: Sources tell FOX 5 News that Herman Cain will endorse Newt Gingrich Monday for the GOP Presidential Nominee. Updated: 9.30 pm Pacific: News from Politico supports FOX5 Gingrich's camp put a late add of a press conference at 1:45 p.m. on his schedule. And Gingrich just added a media availability to his schedule in New York … [Read more...] about Breaking: FOX5 Atlanta Says Cain To Endorse Gingrich
Marist Poll: Romney Lead Shrinking in New Hampshire
It's pretty clear from press coverage, his poor performance on Fox, and sliding national and Iowa poll numbers that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is no longer the front runner for the 2012 Republican nomination. Romney has been supplanted by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. But the one bright spot for Romney -- his political firewall -- has been New Hampshire, where … [Read more...] about Marist Poll: Romney Lead Shrinking in New Hampshire
Cain and the Death of Shame
Shame is dead or at least comatose as two public figures refuse to retreat into embarrassment over mounting evidence of their sexual misconduct. A would-be leader of the Free World, Herman Cain is surrounded by barbecue, bunting and bands in announcing “suspension” of his campaign after “continued hurt caused on me and my family” by numerous charges of harassing women as … [Read more...] about Cain and the Death of Shame
Putin Suffers Blow In Russian Elections
Early exit polling from Russian parliamentary elections suggests that Russian President to Be Putin and his United Russia political party will win far fewer seats than they have in previous elections. In previous votes United Russia had routinely won a 2/3rds supermajority which allowed Putin to basically govern by decree. The returns this time suggest that United Russian … [Read more...] about Putin Suffers Blow In Russian Elections