WASHINGTON -- American politics reached a pivot point this week. A new story line will now define how voters and the media see what's going on. Since Election Day in 2010, the prevailing narrative has been about a resurgent conservatism, a president on the defensive, big government under attack, the deficit as the dominant issue, and the tea party as the political … [Read more...] about The Week Politics Changed
US-China Policy Makes US Look Weaker
The US is the largest economy in the world. Sure China may be number two, but when you consider it in per capita terms the US is near the top and China is closer to 100 in rank. The US has the most integrated market, its labor force is highly skilled and flexible, it has innovative entrepreneurs that are the envy of the world, it has a smoothly functioning and reliant legal … [Read more...] about US-China Policy Makes US Look Weaker
Despite War on Terror Mistakes, Japan Needs U.S. More than Ever (Isen Shimbun, Japan)
How worried are Japanese about the rise of China? Hiroshi Kawamoto form Japan's Isen Shimbun, after closely examining what he considers the calamitous decade of U.S. behavior since 9-11, warns that closer ties to America is the only strategy that has any hope of preserving Japanese prosperity. For Japan's Isen Shimbun, Hiroshi Kawamoto writes in part: Trying to return … [Read more...] about Despite War on Terror Mistakes, Japan Needs U.S. More than Ever (Isen Shimbun, Japan)
Steve Jobs Dies
Apple has confirmed that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died at the age of 56. Not entirely shocking news given his long illness, but he is now in a better place. And he certainly changed this world before he left. And here is a little humor I am sure he enjoyed … [Read more...] about Steve Jobs Dies
It’s Official: Sarah Palin Won’t Run For President
It's now official what many people had predicted: former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has ended her political tease -- which helped her promote books and raise money for her political groups -- and has formally announced that she is not going to run for the 2012 Republican nomination: Sarah Palin is not running for president. Ms. Palin, the former governor of Alaska, ended … [Read more...] about It’s Official: Sarah Palin Won’t Run For President
Video Animation: Can Herman Cain Deliver for the GOP?
Another timely animation from Taiwan's Next Media Animation: Can Herman Cain deliver for the GOP? … [Read more...] about Video Animation: Can Herman Cain Deliver for the GOP?
96 Year Old Tennessee Woman, Dorothy Cooper, Denied Free Photo ID because She Didn’t Have Her Marriage Certificate
Dorothy Cooper, a retired domestic worker who lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., was denied a free voter ID because she did not have her marriage certificate, despite showing the clerk at the Cherokee Boulevard Driver Service Center, a rent receipt, a copy of her lease, her voter registration card and her birth certificate. Did I neglect to mention Dorothy Cooper is black? Well, she … [Read more...] about 96 Year Old Tennessee Woman, Dorothy Cooper, Denied Free Photo ID because She Didn’t Have Her Marriage Certificate
‘Occupy Wall Street’ Demonstrations Could Spread – and Spark Backlash
Was that a long ago-echo in my ears? The other day I caught video of a big protest with demonstrators shouting, “The whole world is watching!” as police approached. Wasn’t that chant from 1968 when Chicago Mayor Richard Daley unleashed his police on anti-war demonstrators at the ill-fated Democratic convention? In the same video, some chanted “Un pueblo unido jamas sera … [Read more...] about ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Demonstrations Could Spread – and Spark Backlash
Maureen Dowd’s Fun House Mirrors
Love her or hate her, Maureen Dowd certainly knows how to put things into political/partisan perspective---take your pick. Her eagerly anticipated post-mortem of Chris Christie’s equally eagerly awaited “I have told you before, I am telling you now, ‘the answer was never anything but no’ announcement” will not disappoint fans or foes. From the opening paragraph of her … [Read more...] about Maureen Dowd’s Fun House Mirrors
Believe it or Not, Life on Earth is Getting Better (Diario Decuyo, Argentina)
Is the state of the world really as dire as world leaders who recently spoke at the U.N. General Assembly would lead us to believe? Have we all gotten carried away with gloom and doom? For Argentina's Diario Decuyo, columnist Andrés Oppenheimer cites a recent report that asserts things are on the upswing almost everywhere, from life expectancy to education levels to the number … [Read more...] about Believe it or Not, Life on Earth is Getting Better (Diario Decuyo, Argentina)
Today is World Teachers’ Day
Why do public school teachers have such a bad reputation in the US and get little pay? That's one of the things I don't get. It's quite different over here. The job is well paid and respected by most folks. As a country with little natural resources, Germany depends on innovation and a smart work force. Education is good for democracy, happiness etc. The children are our … [Read more...] about Today is World Teachers’ Day
Gravity, Dark Matter, and Dancing with the Stars
Astrophysicists Saul Perlmutter, Adam Riess, and Brian Schmidt were recently awarded the Nobel Prize for their work concerning the universe and everything in it. Their recent research has contributed greatly to the discovery that the universe is not only expanding, but actually speeding up. The reasons for the Universe's expansion and increased acceleration are less … [Read more...] about Gravity, Dark Matter, and Dancing with the Stars
Chris Christie’s Fateful Decision & The Collision of Conventional Wisdoms
There was a collision of conventional political wisdoms yesterday as Chris Christie announced that he would not seek the 2012 Republican presidential nomination and neither bode well for the political future of the New Jersey governor. One wisdom is that political celebrity is a fickle and fleeting thing in America today and he probably blew his only opportunity try the Oval … [Read more...] about Chris Christie’s Fateful Decision & The Collision of Conventional Wisdoms
American Underdogs Start Barking
A majority now see Barack Obama as a one-term president and he calls himself the “underdog,” but social networks may be changing the political landscape for 2012 in a way that the new medium of television did during the “youthquake” of the 1960s. What started as a small disorganized rally on Wall Street three weeks ago is spreading to Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and … [Read more...] about American Underdogs Start Barking
Sisyphus
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Sisyphus
Relief in Democraticpartyland: Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin Wins West Virginia Governorship
Democrats can take at least a partial deep breath this morning: Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin won the race for West Virginia Governor. If he had lost experts agreed that it would be interpreted as one way: that President Barack Obama was utterly politically toxic and Democrats who'd like to be elected in 2012 might start looking for ways to keep their distance from … [Read more...] about Relief in Democraticpartyland: Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin Wins West Virginia Governorship
It Slices and Dices
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about It Slices and Dices
Quote of the Day: It’s Now or Never for Mitt Romney
Our political Quote of the Day is from The Politico's John Martin, Maggie Haberman and Ben Smith who say this is former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's moment and if he doesn't seize it it will be gone: If Mitt Romney can’t start locking up the GOP nomination now, he may never be able to. The former Massachusetts governor’s charmed path toward the presidential … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: It’s Now or Never for Mitt Romney
iPhone
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about iPhone
This Is Not Yet Another Column About Sarah Palin
With time running out for Sarah Palin to decide whether to enter the fray for the Republican presidential nomination, much has been made of her hold over a fanatical if diminishing fan base while very little has been made of her hold over a supplicant and unquestioning press. That, of course, is because the press isn't about to put on a hair shirt and flail itself with birch … [Read more...] about This Is Not Yet Another Column About Sarah Palin