As more videos surface in the NYPD pepper-spray incident, we might expect a heightening of tensions in the war on photography in NYC. Morgan Leigh Manning, " What war on photographers, you ask? Less than Picture Perfect: The Legal Relationship between Photographers' Rights and Law Enforcement," Tennessee Law Review, Vol. 78, p. 105, 2010. Abstract: Threats to national … [Read more...] about Status Report on the War on Photography
Quote of the Day: It’s Too Late in the Political Game For Chris Christie to Run for President
SECAUCUS, New Jersey -- The New York TV market is flowing with early morning show reports about New York Gov. Chris Christie's comment last night at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in which he said he isn't running by pointing to previous statements but which left the door open just a bit for him to run if he wanted. The New York Fox station's anchor is (of course) the … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: It’s Too Late in the Political Game For Chris Christie to Run for President
Alternative Energy In America Is A Promise Delayed, But Not Failed
The check from Metropolitan Edison arrived, as it always does, at mid-month. You see, we don't pay our local utility for electricity. It pays us for the surplus electricity we generate from the 20 photovoltaic cells on our south-facing roof, which is more than enough to light our house, run our appliances and heat our water. The installation of the system was not cheap, … [Read more...] about Alternative Energy In America Is A Promise Delayed, But Not Failed
What Do Moderates Want? (Guest Voice)
What Do Moderates Want? by Rick Bayan Fairness. It all boils down to fairness. For me at least, being a moderate is about being fair, playing fair, and doing our damndest to ensure that society and its government are fair to those who dwell within it. I like the idea of fairness as the foundation of any moderate movement. Fairness is a childlike principle; all kids seem … [Read more...] about What Do Moderates Want? (Guest Voice)
American Politics Jumps the Whale
Forget about jumping the shark. Our politics did that a long time ago. Now it has jumped the whale: No, this is not an Onion article or a report on a SNL skit. Yes, a heckler did seriously call Barack Obama the "antichrist" before the Secret Service removed him. You can't lower the bar. We're way below the bar. … [Read more...] about American Politics Jumps the Whale
Martin Frost Describes Perry to a Texas T
Since Rick Perry stepped out of the protective shade provided by the beautiful Texas Live Oak trees onto the harsh, unforgiving light of the national stage, much has been said and written about his obvious unpreparedness---perhaps inability---to face the scrutiny of the national electorate or even of a relatively friendly and forgiving Republican audience. But while some may … [Read more...] about Martin Frost Describes Perry to a Texas T
Report: Chris Christie Poised to Say “No” to Republican Presidential Nomination Run
SECAUCUS, New Jersey -- Here in New Jersey there's one presence you can't avoid when you look at the local newspapers: Governor Chris Christie. And unlike in the past a lot of the stories now on the front pages are about the political melodrama now unfolding: will he or won't he? Is he poised to cannonball himself into the 2012 Republican nomination battle? A series of reports … [Read more...] about Report: Chris Christie Poised to Say “No” to Republican Presidential Nomination Run
A Rick Perry History Lesson
The Rickster remembers: There was a time in the history of this country when people were afraid to go out in public. You go back to Boston in the 1770s and people had to disguise themselves... They were afraid that they'd be persecuted for sending the message about unfair taxation. Matthew Yglesias corrects: Contrary to Perry’s assertion, nobody was “afraid to walk around in … [Read more...] about A Rick Perry History Lesson
You’ve Got to Be Kidding!
You've Got to Be Kidding! by Robert A. Levine Congressman Eric Cantor is the poster child for everything that’s wrong with Washington. A rigid right-wing ideologue in a Republican leadership role, he considers compromise a dirty word and has made it nearly impossible to get any deals done with the Democrats. Cantor is also the antithesis of the “compassionate … [Read more...] about You’ve Got to Be Kidding!
Michael Jackson’s Doctor: Michael Jackson Caused His Own Death
It may not be the trial of the (young) century, but the trial of the late "King of Pop" singer Michael Jackson's doctor has now begun -- and it promises to have media coverage galore. The opening salvo by Dr. Conrad Murray's lawyer: Jackson was responsible for his own death: A lawyer for Dr. Conrad Murray, who is charged in the death of Michael Jackson, says the pop … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson’s Doctor: Michael Jackson Caused His Own Death
Not Seeing The Trees For The Forest
Paul Krugman's analysis of the European Debt Crisis, in this morning's New York Times, should be required reading -- not just for the movers and shakers in Europe, but for our own so called wise men. Krugman's critics on the right accuse him of fiscal hysteria. But his analysis is clear eyed and, therefore, gloomy: Think of it this way: private demand in the debtor … [Read more...] about Not Seeing The Trees For The Forest
Saudi Suffrage
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Saudi Suffrage
Quote of the Day: Our Politics Has Become Ideological Blood Sport
In many of my posts here and in my Cagle column I've noted that our politics has now evolved into a kind of ideological professional wrestling, where policies have become in a way secondary to each side seeing their political sports team win, defeating the other side, giving high fives. But it wasn't always this way and CNN's John Avlon has a must-read column on the issue. … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Our Politics Has Become Ideological Blood Sport
Chinese Media Should ‘Calm Down’ Over U.S. Ambassador Locke (Global Times, People’s Republic of China)
It seems that mild-mannered, coach-class flying U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke is making life uncomfortable for Beijing's coddled, cloistered senior officials. In this thin-skinned editorial from the state-controlled Global Times, the Beijing regime criticizes Chinese media fawning over the new U.S. envoy, thereby exposing its own discomfort over the more extravagant … [Read more...] about Chinese Media Should ‘Calm Down’ Over U.S. Ambassador Locke (Global Times, People’s Republic of China)
Making Book on Palin
As deadlines near for filing to get on the ballot, the most peculiar Republican candidate of them all is running (or not) true to form-—in all directions. The chief of Sarah Palin’s PAC is panhandling supporters by telling them time is “running out,” that “someone must save our nation from this road to European socialism” and she is “on the verge of making her decision of … [Read more...] about Making Book on Palin
Calling Chris Christie
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Calling Chris Christie
It’s Past Time for the L.A. Times to fire Andrew Malcolm
Seriously. Having somewhat rescaled the credibility cliff back to some degree of better journalism, the struggling LA Times was once more embarrassed by its most partisan hack, over the most trivial of issues, broadly hinting at anti-Semitism. Seriously. Malcolm in the muddle Here's that "cut to the chase" moment: … [Read more...] about It’s Past Time for the L.A. Times to fire Andrew Malcolm
They’re For Life Except When They’re Against It: Observations On Today’s GOP
I am still having a difficult time getting my head around this, but it appears that today's Republican Party is adamantly against abortions for the unborn, adamantly against health care for the newborn if their mother chooses not to have an abortion and lacks insurance, adamantly for letting an adult with serious health issues die if they lack insurance, and adamantly for … [Read more...] about They’re For Life Except When They’re Against It: Observations On Today’s GOP
Heat Increases On Chris Christie To Enter GOP Race
In yet another sign of the deep dissatisfaction with the Republican presidential field, a group of wealthy New York area donors is leaning hard on Chris Christie to throw his hat into the ring. The New Jersey governor has repeatedly said he is not interested in seeking the nomination and would have until the end of October to join the race, but the pressure on him was ramped … [Read more...] about Heat Increases On Chris Christie To Enter GOP Race
Stop E-Mail Overload: Send Less, Say Less
Chris Anderson's take on the cause of email overload: E-mail is easier to create than to respond to. This seems counterintuitive — after all, it’s quicker to read than to write. But reading a message is just the start. It may contain a hard-to-answer question, such as “What are your thoughts on this?” Or a link to a Web page. Or an attachment. And it may be copied to a dozen … [Read more...] about Stop E-Mail Overload: Send Less, Say Less