It's all eyes on Texas Governor Rick Perry in tonights GOP debate. Perry: the Texas Governor who conservative admirers consider a kind of George Bush who could get conservatism "right" -- and who some liberals now define by using the punch line "he' George Bush without brains." But no matter what people think of Perry this is agreed: he is a smart politician, an underestimated … [Read more...] about Tonight It’s All Eyes on Rick Perry in the Republican Debate
Obama’s Dialogue of the Deaf With Congress
Lawmakers return to Washington to deal with deficits and unemployment, bringing with them little personal experience of either with House Tea Party freshmen making up one-fifth of this year’s list of Congress’ 50 Richest Members. Among those considering the President’s proposals for job creation will be multi-millionaire car dealers and other entrepreneurs swept into office … [Read more...] about Obama’s Dialogue of the Deaf With Congress
Courtesy Of The GOP, Jim Crow Is Back In A National Voter Suppression Campaign
Our democracy is under siege from an enemy so small it could be hiding anywhere. ~ STEPHEN COLBERT Having stolen the 2000 presidential election courtesy of the Supreme Court, the Republican Party is gearing up to try to steal the 2012 election by suppressing the voters who helped elect Barack Obama in 2008. They are, not coincidentally, the traditional enemies of the party … [Read more...] about Courtesy Of The GOP, Jim Crow Is Back In A National Voter Suppression Campaign
Never Forget September 11, 2001 (Guest Voice)
NOTE: This was supposed to have a Guest Voice byline. We regret the error. Never Forget September 11, 2001 by Susan Stamper Brown Recently, I was reminded of the value of freedom while attending a military retirement ceremony in Washington D.C. Driving down the hill after the ceremony, my soul was stirred as my eyes caught a glimpse of the late-summer sun reflecting … [Read more...] about Never Forget September 11, 2001 (Guest Voice)
Republican Leading In NY-9 ?
I don't really expect the GOP to pull this out, but it is interesting the race is even close. … [Read more...] about Republican Leading In NY-9 ?
Talk Is Cheap (Guest Voice)
And so Labor Day has passed, and soon Barack Obama will give his landmark address on job creation. He was, as you probably know, going to give his speech on Wednesday — but, as usual, someone in this White House failed to do the most basic of legwork, which would have quickly revealed that a debate between the Republican presidential candidates had been scheduled for that … [Read more...] about Talk Is Cheap (Guest Voice)
Barack Obama: A Weakened Compromiser or Caver?
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — As you enter this city of 58,566 two hours from the Colorado-Utah border you can swear you almost see facial images in the red rock and gorges carved and gouged by Mother Nature. This is Colorado, with hundreds of clay stone caves, where caving is popular. Wait, that face on the stone near a cave. Isn’t it Barack Obama’s? Whoever would have thought … [Read more...] about Barack Obama: A Weakened Compromiser or Caver?
Top Two Open Primaries and Other Extreme Remedies for the Extreme Ills of American Democracy
From The Hankster: Open Primaries and Other Extreme Remedies for the Extreme Ills of American Democracy Drastic times call for drastic measures." This phrase comes to mind for me when I read pleas for political "moderation." (The phrase goes back to the Latin 'extremis malis extrema remedia' - 'extreme remedies for extreme ills.' -- Speaking of which, see The Debt Crisis: … [Read more...] about Top Two Open Primaries and Other Extreme Remedies for the Extreme Ills of American Democracy
Obama vs. Perry in 2012? America Deserves Better, Much Better
America is in crisis. Economic. Political. Stature within the world community. And the presidential election in 2012 that will select a leader to meet these multi-faceted and increasingly frightening challenges seems at present to pit sitting President Obama against Republican Governor Rick Perry. The former has shown himself to be weak and vacillating, a man without a clear … [Read more...] about Obama vs. Perry in 2012? America Deserves Better, Much Better
California Prisons: Decades In Solitary
I'm pretty tough on crime but this seems to be a bit extreme to me. In most prisons the concept of solitary confinement (aka the hole) is common for dealing with real troublesome inmates. While in solitary you are usually kept isolated and alone for about 23 hours a day with an hour for shower and outside contact. Conditions vary but often in solitary you have no TV or … [Read more...] about California Prisons: Decades In Solitary
Hoffa Controversy
I'm assuming most of you have heard the story by now, but just in case you haven't... At a Labor Day rally yesterday Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa declared that they were 'at war' with the Tea Party and that union members should 'take the SOB's out'. (context, he did say at the polls) Now I think his language was ill advised but I'm not going to take the leap that he was … [Read more...] about Hoffa Controversy
Reducing The Number Of American Time Zones
Anyone who lives on one of our coasts and engages in cross continental business with those on the other coast understands the problem. Those who travel regularly from coast to coast know the difficulties that come with resetting biological clocks to accommodate a three hour time difference. Is it time for the United States to consider reducing the number of time zones, at … [Read more...] about Reducing The Number Of American Time Zones
Poll: Pessmism About Country Soars as Obama’s Polls Plunge
Here's the bad news and the bad news for President Barack Obama, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll: The bad news is that pessimism about the country has soared to the highest level in three years. And the bad news is that his poll numbers are continuing their steady journey south: Public pessimism about the direction of the country has jumped to its … [Read more...] about Poll: Pessmism About Country Soars as Obama’s Polls Plunge
Obama’s Panhandlers
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Obama’s Panhandlers
Google Rolls Out Suggested User List For Plus
It's Twitter all over again. While you were enjoying your Labor Day holiday weekend, Google rolled out a list of 100 or so suggested folks to circle. Erh, follow. If you have already set up a G+ profile, finding these recommendations is not straightforward. For example, it doesn't show as an option when you visit your Circles tab and click "find people." I don't know … [Read more...] about Google Rolls Out Suggested User List For Plus
Ten Years After The 9/11 Attacks, The Greatest Cover-Up In U.S. History Still Holds
Ten years after the 9/11 catastrophe, the Bush administration cover-up of why the terrorist attacks were carried out despite the White House, CIA and FBI being repeatedly warned of them still holds. Not only has the final word not come out about this malfeasance of enormous and arguably criminal proportions, hardly any word about it has. The mainstream media has been … [Read more...] about Ten Years After The 9/11 Attacks, The Greatest Cover-Up In U.S. History Still Holds
Bitter Old Man
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Bitter Old Man
Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: Jane Goodall Live
Coming soon (September 27) at a theater perhaps near you: famed chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall Live. That's an item for TMV because any time over the past five years when I've written about anything referring to Jane Goodall I've received many emails and we've had comments indicating many TMV readers are interested in and admire Jane Goodall. And, on a personal level, I … [Read more...] about Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: Jane Goodall Live
Texas Burning
Texas has been heavily affected this summer by sweltering heat and severe drought. We have broken nearly every record in both categories, and Austin, Texas, has endured 80 days with triple digit temperatures this year---another record. We have also had our share of wildfires which have already cost a tremendous amount in lives, human suffering and material destruction and … [Read more...] about Texas Burning
Hard Work: A Labor Day Memory
At 16, I have a summer job as a shipping clerk, standing at a table, wrapping cartons. More and more keep appearing, and soon I am swimming against a cardboard tide that threatens to swamp me if I stop pulling brown paper off a huge roll and wrestling it around packages. By noon, I am getting the hang of it and I eat a sandwich in a kind of dreamy stupor. But when I start … [Read more...] about Hard Work: A Labor Day Memory