The execution in Georgia of Troy Davis, who many both in and out of the United States believe to have been innocent of the murder charges against him, has once again highlighted the global opprobrium associated with America's continuing use of the death penalty. According to French philosopher Daniel Salvatore Schiffer, writing for Le Nouvel Observateur, the fact that President … [Read more...] about Troy Davis Execution a ‘Stain’ on Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize (Le Nouvel Observateur, France)
In ATL Today: For Such A Time As This
I'll be in Atlanta this afternoon on a panel after the screening of my video, For Such A Time As This, at the 24th annual Out on Film Festival. The documentary short tells the story of out proud lesbian Baptist preacher, Genie Hargrove, who was ordained the Southern Baptist minister of her rural Georgia church in 2004. My partner, Doug Keith, and I interviewed Genie for … [Read more...] about In ATL Today: For Such A Time As This
Aulaqi’s Killing Sanctioned by Secret U.S. Memo
I've often said that at times the left becomes how it is caricatured by the right and at times the right becomes how it is caricatured by the left. Sometimes left and right seemingly blend. That's what seems to be occurring in the controversy over the targeting and drone killing of U.S. born terrorist Anwar al-Aulaqi in Yemen. To hear Republican conservatives tell it, it was a … [Read more...] about Aulaqi’s Killing Sanctioned by Secret U.S. Memo
Media Distortion: Newspapers Rarely Mention Suicides (Guest Voice)
Media Distortion: Newspapers Rarely Mention Suicides by Tina Dupuy I asked a reporter at Unnamed Major Metropolitan Newspaper why they don't cover suicides. Why is it that traditionally in the press there's a veil of silence draped over taking your own life? He said it's because they don't want to encourage the behavior. The concern is if they report on it, others will … [Read more...] about Media Distortion: Newspapers Rarely Mention Suicides (Guest Voice)
A Country For Old Men
On Tuesday, at the Museum of Civilization, David Frum argued in favour of the proposition that Pierre Trudeau was "Canada's most disastrous prime minister:" Pierre Trudeau was a spending fool. He believed in a state-led economy, and the longer he lasted in office, the more statist he became. The Foreign Investment Review Agency was succeeded by Petro-Canada. … [Read more...] about A Country For Old Men
Bad-Mouthing Empathy and Altruism
Today’s subject is how complicated it is to be a good person in today’s world. David Brooks offers deep-think about the “empathy craze,” citing research that “Empathy makes you more aware of other people’s suffering, but it’s not clear it actually motivates you to take moral action or prevents you from taking immoral action.” Half a century ago, Mike Nichols and Elaine … [Read more...] about Bad-Mouthing Empathy and Altruism
Mitt Romney Throws America’s Allies Under Bus for Political Gain
Mitt Romney Throws America's Allies Under Bus for Political Gain by David Solimini and Benjamin Lowe This week, Mitt Romney clumsily waded into the discussion of Israel and Palestine. By calling for a wholesale re-evaluation of relations with dozens of countries, he called more than his own judgment into question. Strong alliances are an essential element of American … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney Throws America’s Allies Under Bus for Political Gain
Misguided China Bashing
As economic troubles around the world continue to mount there is increasing pressure upon politicians to do something forceful to revive their economies while deflecting criticism from themselves. One traditional method has always been to blame foreigners for one’s domestic troubles. In the 1980s the US blamed Japan and worried that its economic strength would soon lead to a … [Read more...] about Misguided China Bashing
Christie Makes a Splash
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Christie Makes a Splash
How the GOP Presidential Race is Romney’s to Lose
I wrote recently that the GOP presidential race has become, with Rick Perry's recent collapse, Mitt Romney's race to lose. Romney may not have a high ceiling, but his (more) conservative opposition is divided and, unless some other candidate steps up to unite the anti-Romney vote (as many suspected Perry would do, and as it seemed he was in fact going to do given his early … [Read more...] about How the GOP Presidential Race is Romney’s to Lose
Their Terrorists and Ours
Osama bin Laden used to brag about making Americans so paranoid about terror attacks that just raising an al Qaeda flag would panic us into self-damage without any effort on his part. His legacy comes back in headlines about the arrest of a 26-year-old Massachusetts man, who has been working for months with FBI sting agents to prepare attacks on the Capitol and Pentagon with … [Read more...] about Their Terrorists and Ours
Girl Talk’s Gregg Gillis: NOT A DJ
"I don't collect vinyl. I have a small collection. I'd say none of it is prized." That's Gregg Gillis speaking in episode 4 of Hulu's, A Day in the Life, from documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. The quote comes as a series of interviewers repeatedly and mistakenly ask the musician about his career as a DJ: I never play with DJs; I never really associated with DJ culture. I … [Read more...] about Girl Talk’s Gregg Gillis: NOT A DJ
Now THIS Sounds Serious: New Jersey Newspaper Reports Christie Seriously Thinking of Running
The national political melodrama over whether New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will jump into what many consider to be the tepid 2012 Republican Presidential nomination race sounds like it could indeed...really...no joking...not kidding...end with him NOT becoming the Republican version of Mario "Hamlet" Cuomo, who pondered whether to run for President so long that his political … [Read more...] about Now THIS Sounds Serious: New Jersey Newspaper Reports Christie Seriously Thinking of Running
Are U.S. Oil and Insurance Companies Dealing in Collusion? (Guest Voice)
Are U.S. Oil and Insurance Companies Dealing in Collusion? by John T. Johnson, III I've got a question for the politicians we have elected to protect our best interests. Are major U.S. oil companies and insurance companies involved in collusion? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "collusion" as: a secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or … [Read more...] about Are U.S. Oil and Insurance Companies Dealing in Collusion? (Guest Voice)
Wild Cards
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Wild Cards
Confirmed: U.S.-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki Who Emailed Fort Hood Shooter Hassan Killed in Yemen
Another major victory on the anti-terrorism front: it has been confirmed that American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has been killed in Yemen and, CNN reports, this is now confirmed by American officials. He was pitchforked into the headlines this year in a major story when it was revealed that he exchanged emails with accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal … [Read more...] about Confirmed: U.S.-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki Who Emailed Fort Hood Shooter Hassan Killed in Yemen
Why American Spectator Gets It Wrong On Obama
Poking around the net I found this gem in which Peter Ferrara declares that the GOP is going to sweep to a historic victory in 2012. Now I am certainly not going to deny that both the President and the Congress have low approval ratings and that anything is theoretically possible next year. Then again it is theoretically possible that I could win the lottery and retire to an … [Read more...] about Why American Spectator Gets It Wrong On Obama
Scandal Widens: State Legislators, Illegal Immigrants, and Private Prisons
It's been bad enough in Arizona and other parts of the US. Now we find that other countries have turned prisons over to the "detention-industrial complex," the same companies operating prisons in the US. This is Blackwater behind bars, operating a for-profit, often careless and cruel business that depends to a great extent on the detention of immigrants. As we learned about … [Read more...] about Scandal Widens: State Legislators, Illegal Immigrants, and Private Prisons
Nader Just Won’t Learn
Nader Just Won't Learn by Peter Funt Despite nagging evidence to the contrary, Ralph Nader is basically a smart guy. Certainly he's aware of the damage he wrought in 2000 by taking enough votes from Al Gore to hand the presidency to George W. Bush. So, you would assume he would never again gamble with the nation's highest office. But Nader is back, telling anyone with a … [Read more...] about Nader Just Won’t Learn
National Review Examines Obama and Electoral College
An interesting article that takes a look at how the new 2012 electoral college impacts things. New Republic is hardly a right wing rag so the conclusions are interesting. … [Read more...] about National Review Examines Obama and Electoral College