Megan McArdle reports on the Greek crisis and the likelihood that there will be real trouble much more quickly than many expect. If EU economic policy were a soap opera--and apparently, it is--Greece would be the sultry, irresponsible beauty in a tumultuous love-hate relationship with rigid, authoritarian Germany. Obviously after years of tumultuous breakups and … [Read more...] about Greece: Bracing Ourselves for Financial Trouble
Have and Have Not Nation (Guest Voice)
Have and have-not nation by Eugene Robinson WASHINGTON -- The hard-right conservatives who dominate the Republican Party claim to despise the redistribution of wealth, but secretly they love it -- as long as the process involves depriving the poor and middle class to benefit the rich, not the other way around. That is precisely what has been happening, as … [Read more...] about Have and Have Not Nation (Guest Voice)
Cain Unable to Explain
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Cain Unable to Explain
Jon Corzine: Equal Opportunity Screw-Up
Jon Corzine was lousy as governor of New Jersey and now it turns out he's lousy as a Wall Street executive. Corzine's MF Global (which a friend attuned to the financial markets calls MotherF***** Global because of all of its bad investments) filed for bankruptcy this week following massive losses tied to its investments in foreign debt and its failure to close the deal of … [Read more...] about Jon Corzine: Equal Opportunity Screw-Up
Quote of the Day: Maureen Dowd on Herman Cain
Our political Quote of the Day comes from one of my favorite modern columnists (who is same quality as many legendary columnists of the past) Marueen Dowd. On Herman Cain and his scandal: We have the starchy guy — tall, handsome, intelligent and rich, with a baronial estate — who’s hard to warm up to. And we have the spontaneous guy, who’s charming and easy to warm up to — … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Maureen Dowd on Herman Cain
Pre-Cain Scandal Gallup Poll: Cain Only Candidate to Improve Image
A new Gallup poll could be bittersweet news to former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, who is now enmeshed in a sexual harrassment scandal: it shows him as the only candidate whose image has improved. But the poll was taken before The Politico's famous article about 1990s sexual harrassment allegations broke: Herman Cain is the only candidate whose Positive Intensity … [Read more...] about Pre-Cain Scandal Gallup Poll: Cain Only Candidate to Improve Image
On Guy Fawkes Day, Join A Credit Union
That's the idea behind Bank Transfer Day, organized by California citizen-activist Kristen Christian. No she doesn't work for a credit union. No, she's not part of Anonymous or OccupyWallStreet. Her motivation? The response of Bank of America et al to a rule finalized this summer that would restrict banks to a maximum of 21¢ per debit-card transaction. In response, the banks … [Read more...] about On Guy Fawkes Day, Join A Credit Union
Julian Assange of WikiLeaks loses appeal. Will be extradited to Sweden to face charges
You know, 40 years ago, an entire decade might go by without a sexual accusation or scandal. Profumo, anyone. And nowadays, it seems like, well, only a day or two and there's another 'wide stance' or another batch party hired dancer claim, or another this that or the other claim regarding body parts. And using those body parts, whether words from mouth, or bird from south, … [Read more...] about Julian Assange of WikiLeaks loses appeal. Will be extradited to Sweden to face charges
The Dead Hand That Rocks The Cradle
These are starving children. And this is a dead congressman. … [Read more...] about The Dead Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Obama’s Cowardly Non-Stand On Marijuana
YES, THAT'S WHO YOU THINK IT IS I wrote the other day that support for the legalization of marijuana is higher than support for Barack Obama with nearly half of all adult Americans in favor of ending the criminal penalties for personal use that further overcrowd our prisons. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Shortly after taking office, the new president -- himself a … [Read more...] about Obama’s Cowardly Non-Stand On Marijuana
(UPDATED) The ‘Grand Bargain’ That Is Not To Be: Another Chapter In GOP Obstructionism
BENEDICT ARNOLD WOULD APPLAUD TODAY'S REPUBLICANS As loaded as the word traitor and all that it connotes is, I can now say without qualification but with considerable sadness that the never ending Republican obstructionism in Congress has reached traitorous levels. Recall that it was a healthy (pardon the term) majority of congressional Republicans who reached across the … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) The ‘Grand Bargain’ That Is Not To Be: Another Chapter In GOP Obstructionism
(UPDATED) Cain Throws Gasoline On The Sexual Harrassment Allegation Fire
Say what you will about Herman Cain, but he sure knows how to keep a negative story alive. When Politico broke a story on Sunday that the presumptive (and astonishing) frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination had been the target of sexual harassment allegations by two woman employees of the National Restaurant Association when he was the organization's … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Cain Throws Gasoline On The Sexual Harrassment Allegation Fire
Herman Cain — It’s not the Harassment Allegation, it’s the Stupid Obfuscation (UPDATES)
I don’t think anyone would describe Pulitzer Prize Winner for Commentary Kathleen Parker as a Liberal. A member of the Washington Post Writers Group, she describes herself politically as "slightly to the right of center." Sharon Grisby, deputy editorial page editor, The Dallas Morning News, has described her writing and her journalistic talents as follows: In a … [Read more...] about Herman Cain — It’s not the Harassment Allegation, it’s the Stupid Obfuscation (UPDATES)
Herman Cain’s Conflicting Accounts
Here's a video that shows Herman Cain's conflicting accounts in the sexual harassment controversy: … [Read more...] about Herman Cain’s Conflicting Accounts
Tea Party Losing Steam? Snowe’s Re-Election Now Looking Safer
Is the Tea Party starting to lose some steam? A new poll from Public Policy Polling indicates Maine's Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe's re-election prospects are looking brighter: Olympia Snowe's prospects for winning the Republican nomination for another term as Senator from Maine are looking the best they have in two years, in what could be a sign of Tea Party fever … [Read more...] about Tea Party Losing Steam? Snowe’s Re-Election Now Looking Safer
The Crisis in Greece Threatens European and American Economies
The crisis in Greece is threatening the European and American economies. Read Andrew Sullivan's solid roundup HERE. Also be sure to read The Christian Science Monitor's take on the crisis. … [Read more...] about The Crisis in Greece Threatens European and American Economies
University of Missouri Study: Blogs’ Political Ferocity is National Polarizing Force
A new University of Missouri study finds that the political ferocity of weblogs has become a national polarizing force. Here's the press release in full: A University of Missouri study of recent political blogs indicates politics are getting nastier due to digital media, which are segmenting people into polarized interest groups. The researcher recommends a balanced … [Read more...] about University of Missouri Study: Blogs’ Political Ferocity is National Polarizing Force
The Ultimate Irony
I have long felt that modern conservatives lack a sense of irony. I can think of no credible explanation for this impediment. Perhaps it is genetic. But, as Paul Krugman points out in Monday's New York Times, whether they're aware of it or not, their irony is showing. Krugman credits Barney Frank with a phrase which accurately describes them -- "weaponized Keynesians." … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Irony
Herman Cain Falls Into America’s Political Sinkhole
RIDGE, M d. — I started my journey to Fredericksburg, Virginia after a bowl of exquisite spicy crab soup at Courtney's Seafood Restaurant here in Ridge, on the southernmost tip of Maryland's western shore. Then I ran into a problem: Route 234 was closed due to a sinkhole. So I took the detour but discovered it was also blocked off due to a traffic matter. So after two hours I … [Read more...] about Herman Cain Falls Into America’s Political Sinkhole
Book Review Notes Posted By Mistake
Due to a technical error, book review notes of Don Lemon's book "Transparent" were on TMV. They have been removed. The actual review will appear in the next few days. We regret the error. … [Read more...] about Book Review Notes Posted By Mistake