Tunisians going to the polls in the first post Arab Spring elections by Roni Drukan Tunisia is where the Arab Spring revolt began. It is also the first country to go through elections post its Arab Spring revolution. And who is about to win a land slide victory in this election? The Islamist party of course. Tunisians will vote Sunday for a constituent assembly that will … [Read more...] about Tunisians Going to the Polls in the First Post Arab Spring Elections (Guest Voice)
Quote of the Day: Does Mitt Romney Have the GOP Presidential Nomination Wrapped Up?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the Christian Science Monitor's Brad Knickerbocker, who raises the question of whether despite the new and old media political horse race coverage, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney doesn't really have the Republican presidential nomination wrapped up: One by one, Mitt Romney's GOP rivals have taken runs at him, trumpeting his … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Does Mitt Romney Have the GOP Presidential Nomination Wrapped Up?
Naomi Wolf, Occupy Wall Street, and Oppression (Guest Voice)
Naomi Wolf, Occupy Wall Street and Oppression by Mark Nuckols While visiting Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, I open the Yahoo webpage and read the headline news that Naomi Wolf has been arrested by New York City police for defending the rights of anti-Wall street protesters. I can easily imagine Wolf frantically trying to bait the cops into arresting her so that she can get … [Read more...] about Naomi Wolf, Occupy Wall Street, and Oppression (Guest Voice)
Obama’s Military & Foreign Policy Successes: How Did He Do It?
In three short years, President Obama has been able to do what President Bush could not do in eight: Destroy the leadership of Al Qaeda, get the last U.S. troops out of Iraq, and assist in toppling two Middle Eastern dictators. Were it not for the albatross of Afghanistan bequeathed by his predecessor, Obama would pretty much have a clean sweep. So how did he do it? It … [Read more...] about Obama’s Military & Foreign Policy Successes: How Did He Do It?
Perry, Cain and Flat Earth Government
WASHINGTON -- It's one of the strangest things in our politics: The only "big" ideas Republicans and conservatives seem to offer these days revolve around novel and sometimes bizarre ways of cutting taxes on rich people. Given all the attention that Herman Cain's nonsensical and regressive 9-9-9 tax plan has received, the Republican debates should have as their … [Read more...] about Perry, Cain and Flat Earth Government
A Code Talker’s ‘Journey to War and Back’
A little more than a year ago, I wrote an article about a subject that I found fascinating: "The World War II Navajo Code Talkers." It started with a reference to the great, 2002 movie “Windtalkers,” about the use of Native Americans, such as the Navajos, during World War II in the Pacific Theater by the U.S. intelligence services to transmit secret messages using “codes” … [Read more...] about A Code Talker’s ‘Journey to War and Back’
Iraq and Multiple Choice Mitt
Mitt Romney has once again proved he has no ideology or substance with this: President Obama’s astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq has unnecessarily put at risk the victories that were won through the blood and sacrifice of thousands of American men and women,” Romney wrote. “The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a … [Read more...] about Iraq and Multiple Choice Mitt
Turkey Recovering From Massive Quake
Sadly this isn't getting as much coverage as it should (including here at TMV) … [Read more...] about Turkey Recovering From Massive Quake
The Slow and Maybe Inevitable Convergence of Tea and Occupy
There it is in black and white and in the Washington Post: a certain relationship is growing between the new Occupy movement and the tea party movement, or at least among the foot soldiers of the Tea Party Movement BC -- Before Corporate interests bought it out. Although many organizers of the two populist efforts view their counterparts from the other end of the … [Read more...] about The Slow and Maybe Inevitable Convergence of Tea and Occupy
Mitt’s Pursuit of Futility
Mitt Romney's pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination has cost him a great deal -- a great deal of money, a great deal of time, and a great deal of integrity. At the last candidates' debate in Nevada, he was in everybody's sights. His health care plan -- which served as the model for Obamcare -- was pilloried. Mitt walked away from it. He once favoured abortion. … [Read more...] about Mitt’s Pursuit of Futility
Quote of the Day: Barack Obama Shouldn’t Use Bush’s Re-Election Strategy
Our political Quote fo the Day comes from The Daily Beast's John Avlon who says Barack Obama should not try and use George W. Bush's re-election strategy. Here's how he begins his piece: The buzz is that President Obama is going to use Bush-Cheney ’04 as his re-elect model. This is a bad idea on at least five different levels. He then elaborates on these five levels, … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Barack Obama Shouldn’t Use Bush’s Re-Election Strategy
Wearing My Debate Fatigues (Guest Voice)
Wearing My Debate Fatigues by Will Durst Time to sound the alarm on an ominous political epidemic sweeping the nation today. A feverish America finds itself larynx-deep in the throes of a severe case of debate fatigue, as evidenced by the most recent gathering of GOP candidates in Nevada -- which by any unofficial tally should count as the 367th debate in the past four … [Read more...] about Wearing My Debate Fatigues (Guest Voice)
Rick Perry Pulls Out All (Sleazy) Stops
Now he's morphing into a birther. And, puh-leaze, spare me the comments saying that is not what his quote is all about. (The bar of soap in my hotel room in West Long Branch, NJ just read that link, turned to me and said, "Anyone can see he's trying to position himself now as a birther.") … [Read more...] about Rick Perry Pulls Out All (Sleazy) Stops
Occupy Hell
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Occupy Hell
George Will On Richard Lugar
George Will has a good column in the WaPo today about Richard Lugar facing a primary challenge from the right wing of the party (though he should know they are Hoosiers, not Indianans). As Will points out, Lugar's record is pretty mainstream Republican and is hardly one of a 'RINO' type, assuming there is such a thing (my comment not his). Lugar is one of the finest … [Read more...] about George Will On Richard Lugar
New Chapter for “Profiles in Courage”
Eric Cantor is a rising Washington star, as JFK was when he published his 1955 best seller about political fortitude. But sadly Cantor doesn’t have a stylish collaborator like Ted Sorensen, and his turgid essay on American success was scheduled for more turbulent times, producing a chapter to qualify for “Profiles in Caution.” At the Wharton School of Business yesterday, the … [Read more...] about New Chapter for “Profiles in Courage”
The Marco Rubio Myth vs. Truth
WASHINGTON - Anyone in the public arena knows how this works. It's unsurprising that the Washington Post decided to dig into the details, especially as the 2012 election season unfolds. Regardless of Sen. Rubio's denial he wants to be vice president, the fact remains that he is seen by many, especially in the media, to be a rising star. For good reason, especially as we … [Read more...] about The Marco Rubio Myth vs. Truth
Jindal Wins, GOP Heading For Sweep in Louisiana
Governor Bobby Jindal of Lousiana was easily re-elected tonight with about 67% of the vote. The GOP also appears to be headed for a sweep of the rest of the statewide races, indeed in several cases the contest was between two Republicans as the Democrats did not field any candidates. The Republicans also appear likely to retain control of both houses of the … [Read more...] about Jindal Wins, GOP Heading For Sweep in Louisiana
Saudi Crown Prince Dies
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia has died at the age of 80 to 85 depending on what source you follow. Prince Sultan bin Abdel Aziz was successor to the current monarch King Abdullah who is himself in his late 80's and in poor health. Sultan was part of a faction of the ruling family which had fought reforms promoted by Abdullah (minor as they may be by our standards). … [Read more...] about Saudi Crown Prince Dies
The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street Natural Enemies? No! Natural Allies
A headline in today's New York Times reads: "Occupy Wall Street Not Like Us, Tea Party Says." The subhead then goes on to read: "Where Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party differ is in where they place the blame." Nonsense. The Tea Party blames government for the country's present economic problems. The Occupiers blame the heavies in the financial community. But these … [Read more...] about The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street Natural Enemies? No! Natural Allies