I think I now know what purgatory is. When I die if I go to purgatory it will consist of being stuck in a room with a phone trying to get a human being when I call up Time Warner Cable. It would mean getting recordings and being told to punch keys that will not let you get a human being. For eternity. Forever. And that is close to what my experience has been … [Read more...] about The Horrors of Trying to Get Through To Time Warner Cable
Jon Stewart’s Challenge to Ron Paul
During the recent interview of Congressman Paul with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show, Jon asked Ron a question that gets to the crux of the divide between progressive Liberalism and libertarianism. Jon's question was: Does the failure of government to protect adequately make it a failure of government having that responsibility? Does their inability to do it effectively … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart’s Challenge to Ron Paul
For Progressives, A Transaction Tax Could Be A Really, Really Big Issue
The other day the president of the European Commission gave a speech before the European Parliament calling for a transaction tax on stock, bond and derivative trades. The very considerable sums generated by such a tax will be needed to help refinance banks after Greece defaults, which just about everyone now understands will happen soon. The Obama Administration, however, … [Read more...] about For Progressives, A Transaction Tax Could Be A Really, Really Big Issue
Department of “He’s Gotta Be Kidding”
From the Department of "He's Gotta Be Kidding": Rudy Giuliani is(again) considering whether to jump into the race for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination. The report also suggests Guiliani is inflicted with the same aliment as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, with some of his top people suggesting he may run and others say nah there's nothing to it. But some activity … [Read more...] about Department of “He’s Gotta Be Kidding”
The Collapse of American Criminal Justice
From a Salon excerpt of the new book, The Collapse of American Criminal Justice, by William J. Stuntz: There are three keys to the system's dysfunction, each of which has deep historical roots but all of which took hold in the last sixty years. First, the rule of law collapsed. To a degree that had not been true in America's past, official discretion rather than legal doctrine … [Read more...] about The Collapse of American Criminal Justice
NJ Gov. Chris Christie Isn’t Ready for Prime Time Nor for the Presidency, So Why the Hoopla?
NJ Gov. Chris Christie is not ready for prime time, much less the presidency of the U.S., despite the adulation being heaped on him by the top Republicans, who want to see him challenge President Barack Obama in 2012. The word is that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is seriously considering a bid for the White House. Really? I don't know why there's so much interest in … [Read more...] about NJ Gov. Chris Christie Isn’t Ready for Prime Time Nor for the Presidency, So Why the Hoopla?
Flattery Works: New York Post Says Christie Really Really (This Time Really) Poised to Enter Republican Race
The New York Post now reports that after GOPers all but getting on their knees and pleading with him to run for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination New York Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is poised to announce he'll run next week. After months of hedging, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is giving serious thought to jumping into the ring for a GOP presidential run -- and … [Read more...] about Flattery Works: New York Post Says Christie Really Really (This Time Really) Poised to Enter Republican Race
Amazon Fire Is The Future of The Book
Nicholas Carr is beyond words: With the Fire, as with its its whizzy-gizmo predecessors, the iPad and the Nook Color, we are seeing the e-book begin to assume its true aesthetic, which would seem to be far closer to the aesthetic of the web than to that of the printed page: text embedded in a welter of functions and features, a symphony of intrusive beeps. Even the more … [Read more...] about Amazon Fire Is The Future of The Book
Deadline for GOP Politics of Resentment
As Chris Christie dithers at stage left, the candidate-filing curtain is coming down on Republicans with no one but Mitt Romney and hapless Jon Huntsman standing between them and nomination of a possibly suicidal candidate for next year. Only 100 days away from the first primaries, 2012 is shaping up to be the year in which the GOP has to decide what kind of Change is more … [Read more...] about Deadline for GOP Politics of Resentment
Sarah Won’t Sue Joe & You Can Bank On It
I have been fond of saying over the years that "discovery is a bitch," that is that the pre-trial phase of a lawsuit in which each party can obtain evidence from the other, can be more important -- and damaging -- than the trial itself. Which is precisely why, to my knowledge, Sarah Palin has never made good on her threats to sue adversaries real and imagined. Palin has … [Read more...] about Sarah Won’t Sue Joe & You Can Bank On It
Why They Hate Warren Buffet
WASHINGTON -- Maybe only a really, really rich guy can credibly make the case for why the wealthy should be asked to pay more in taxes. You can't accuse a big capitalist of "class warfare." That's why the right wing despises Warren Buffett and is trying so hard to shut him up. Militant conservatives are effective because they are absolutely shameless. Many of the same … [Read more...] about Why They Hate Warren Buffet
America’s Pakistan Problem
As America moves into the 21s century it faces an increasingly vexing problem: what’s it to do about Pakistan? Is it friend or foe or an unacceptable combination of both? Is giving it sensitive information a national security risk? Does it have freelancing elements working against American interests? Or are these elements not really freelancing? Is it playing a double game? Is … [Read more...] about America’s Pakistan Problem
Time’s Mark Halperin Does MSNBC Analysis from Airplane Bathroom
TV Newser reports that Times' Mark Halperin scored a historic broadcast first: he did his analysis for MSNBC from an airplane bathroom. GO HERE to see their post and the video (its such a scoop that we prefer you go to their site). I REFUSE to make any immature jokes about how I would think the analysis would be done by a lab after he uses the bathroom. No jokes about … [Read more...] about Time’s Mark Halperin Does MSNBC Analysis from Airplane Bathroom
Poll: Romney, Cain Rising, Perry Falling
Amid the clamor for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie among GOPers, a new poll finds some cause and effect: Texas Gov. Rick Perry -- the one who was supposed to come in the race and blow everyone else away (sort of like Fred Thompson and Rudy Guiliani were once supposed to do) is sagging in the polls while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is rising -- with former … [Read more...] about Poll: Romney, Cain Rising, Perry Falling
2012 GOP Race: Will Florida Cause ‘Total Chaos’?
Florida is thinking of moving its primary to January. Will that set off a chain reaction among other states trying to adjust their schedules and cause total chaos? Go HERE for a roundup. … [Read more...] about 2012 GOP Race: Will Florida Cause ‘Total Chaos’?
Chris Christie Teases
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Chris Christie Teases
Rick Perry Apologizes for Calling GOP Critics of Education for Immigrant Kids Heartless
Texas Governor Rick Perry is in full apology mode -- and for once this isn't a GOPer apologizing for saying something that didn't conform to a view mouthed by Rush Limbaugh. In this case he is apologizing profusely via the conservative website Newsmax.com for calling critics of education for immigrant children in Texas "heartless." You can almost hear him say: "I'm sorry! I'm … [Read more...] about Rick Perry Apologizes for Calling GOP Critics of Education for Immigrant Kids Heartless
The Sport of Kings
I just finished tuning out NPR's "Talk of Nation" listening to these educated boobs talking about the GOP horserace in the primaries. And, oddly, the actual picture came into sharp focus entirely outside the perception of the pundits, and even Mike Huckabee's former campaign manager. And as they started getting into the weeds of presidential campaign financing, I realized that … [Read more...] about The Sport of Kings
This Just In: This is the Republican Party’s Love Song to Chris Christie
THIS JUST IN! Here is the love song sung by the Republican Party to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (sung here actually by a young Elvis Presley). The lyrics fit: … [Read more...] about This Just In: This is the Republican Party’s Love Song to Chris Christie
Pepper Spray (continued): Kelly Says Internal Affairs Will Investigate/[more video] What Do You Think of the Evidence?
Yet another video, uploaded last night, "shows Bologna getting trigger-happy with the spray, just moments after the first incident, simply in an effort to get some kids to scram." Watch: A short while ago Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Internal Affairs will look into the incident. But he seems to be signaling very little credibility to the video evidence: “I don’t know … [Read more...] about Pepper Spray (continued): Kelly Says Internal Affairs Will Investigate/[more video] What Do You Think of the Evidence?