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
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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
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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
By Opposing U.S. on Drugs, President Santos Shows ‘Guts’ (Semana, Colombia)
Calls for the legalization of drugs are coming from the strangest places these days - like from the president of the world's leading cocaine exporter. Columnist Antonio Caballero of Colombia's Semana writes that while he may be 'the most submissive servant of the United States among world leaders,' Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has done something not even Washington's … [Read more...] about By Opposing U.S. on Drugs, President Santos Shows ‘Guts’ (Semana, Colombia)
Secret Federal Reserve Loans Of $7.8 Trillion Yield $13 Billion To Banks
It's been slightly more than three years since President George W. Bush signed the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) into law (October 2008). TARP authorized $700 billion to bail out the financial sector, a Congressional effort to forestall another Great Depression. Most American think TARP was too large and that the money was wasted. Unfortunately for President Obama, … [Read more...] about Secret Federal Reserve Loans Of $7.8 Trillion Yield $13 Billion To Banks
Herman Cain — George Will Tells it like it Is
Staunch Conservative George Will has not been a shrinking violet when it comes to showing his disdain for pizza-king-turned-presidential-pretender Herman Cain. But this morning, on ABC's This Week with Christiane Amanpour, he held nothing back. After comparing Santorum favorably to Cain, Will launched right into the GOP presidential campaign process and specifically into … [Read more...] about Herman Cain — George Will Tells it like it Is
Reid To Offer Compromise on Payroll Tax Cut
Word coming out this morning that Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) will offer a compromise proposal to extend the payroll tax cut. Details have not been released but it is likely the compromise would be a mix of the two failed proposals from last week. Now whether the GOP will accept the compromise or not remains to be seen though in the end neither party wants to be seen as … [Read more...] about Reid To Offer Compromise on Payroll Tax Cut
Newt Gingrich’s Baggage Problem
If you don't believe Newt Gingrich has baggage that will surely chip away at his polling numbers if he gets the Republican Presidential nomination -- which I increasingly feel he can do -- then just read Maureen Dowd, who effectively catalogs it in her newest masterful-as-usual column. The reality is that in politics baggage does count to a certain extent because it can … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich’s Baggage Problem
For Herman Cain: His Run Was Net Plus for His Brand
I agree with those who say that, in the end, Herman Cain has helped his brand: he'll probably sell more books, get higher speaking fees and most likely wind up with a national radio talk show or a big fat contract at Fox News, perhaps if Roger Ailes finally boots out the political star who disappointed and frustrated him, Sarah Palin, when her contract is up: Rob Frankel, … [Read more...] about For Herman Cain: His Run Was Net Plus for His Brand
Entertainment Generational Change: Universal Studios Orlando Florida to Close Jaws Attraction
Add Universal Studio Florida's Bruce the shark to the ranks of the unemployed. In a sign of the passing of a generation of entertainment, Universal Studios Orlando will close the famous Jaws attraction as new blockbusters, news films with lots of buzz supplant a past blockbuster. Bruce will soon sleep with the fishes: Jaws, the classic Universal Studios Florida ride in … [Read more...] about Entertainment Generational Change: Universal Studios Orlando Florida to Close Jaws Attraction
It’s Not the Mormonism, It’s Mitt
WASHINGTON - There's been a lot of writing and questions about why Mitt Romney can't break out with his Republican base, which has spawned the rise of Newt Gingrich. Quite a few question or call it all being about Romney's Mormonism. Now, there's no doubt there are some religious bigots who won't vote for him because of it. But that's the minority, in my opinion. The real … [Read more...] about It’s Not the Mormonism, It’s Mitt