From Nate Silver's Five Thirty Eight, with this lede from new research by Christopher Stout and Reuben Kline, both political scientists: Looking at Senate and Gubernatorial candidates from 1989 to 2008 (more than 200 elections in over 40 states), we analyze the accuracy of pre-election polls for almost the complete universe of female candidates and a matched sample of white … [Read more...] about Do Cultural Conservatives Pull Punches When Polled on Women Candidates?
The Zero Cost Job Stimulus the White House Should Be Pursuing and The Reason Why General Electric Pays No U.S. Corporate Income Taxes (Guest Voice)
The Zero Cost Job Stimulus the White House Should Be Pursuing AND The Reason Why General Electric Pays No U.S. Corporate Income Taxes by Johnny Byrd How many times in the past year have you heard someone in the political sphere make reference to the fact that General Electric pays no U.S. income taxes as proof that the U.S. corporate tax system is broken? Plenty. I’ve … [Read more...] about The Zero Cost Job Stimulus the White House Should Be Pursuing and The Reason Why General Electric Pays No U.S. Corporate Income Taxes (Guest Voice)
(UPDATED) The Republicans Slay Yet Another Sacred Cow
In the latest and perhaps most pungent sign that the inmates have taken over the GOP asylum, leading congressional Republicans are demanding that the Federal Reserve butt out and stop trying to fix the economy. The demand in a letter signed by Senators Mitch McConnell and John Kyl and Representatives John Boehner and Eric Cantor comes as the Fed concludes a two-day meeting … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) The Republicans Slay Yet Another Sacred Cow
Is Rick Perry’s Window Of Opportunity Closing?
Political polls are snapshots in time and the results of poll 14 months before Election Day must be viewed in that context, but the new USA Today/Gallup poll of Republican presidential nomination preferences are bad news for everyone except Mitt Romney, but perhaps especially bad news for Rick Perry. Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich have, for all … [Read more...] about Is Rick Perry’s Window Of Opportunity Closing?
Tax the Rich
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Tax the Rich
How Obama Can Reboot His Presidency
George W. Bush never admitted a mistake. It’s time for his successor to save a crumbling presidency by admitting his own while going head-to-head with Tea Party treason that is subverting his and America’s future. “These guys are playing a different game than the president’s playing,” Vice President Biden tells Democrats about the intransigence of Congressional Republicans. … [Read more...] about How Obama Can Reboot His Presidency
When Socialism Saves Capitalism
WASHINGTON -- Have you noticed that one of the Obama administration's most successful programs is also its most "socialist" initiative? OK, the bailout of General Motors and Chrysler was not socialist in the classic sense: the government was not looking to hold onto the companies over the long run. Their turnaround was accomplished in significant part by tough, … [Read more...] about When Socialism Saves Capitalism
Top Ten Cloves: Things Peyton Manning Might Be Doing While He Recovers From Neck Surgery
Quote of the Day: How Far Should a Party Go to Defeat the Other Party’s President?
Our Quote of the Day is actually one that has been a long time coming in its perfect form...and here it is. Andrew Sullivan on Republicans' to-the-mat campaign against Barack Obama whether it's on the Federal Reserve front or doing speeches about Israel literally hours before Obama has to deliver a delicate one at the UN: Every time you think the ultras in the current GOP … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: How Far Should a Party Go to Defeat the Other Party’s President?
A Just Society?
The phrase was Pierre Trudeau's, and it caught on. Canadians like to think of themselves as citizens of a Just Society. Certainly, they believe, things are better here than in the United States. But, Carol Goar wrote recently, we have been emulating our southern neighbours. In fact, Since the mid-1990s, income inequality has been rising faster in Canada than the U.S. … [Read more...] about A Just Society?
TROY ANTHONY DAVIS EXECUTED
"May God have mercy on your souls. May God bless your souls." -- Troy Davis' last words to his executioners. "I did not personally kill your son, father, brother. I am innocent." -- Troy Davis to victim's family just before execution. Devastating. Not unexpected. SCOTUS rejected the stay. The order read simply: DAVIS, ANTHONY TROY V. HUMPHREY, WARDEN … [Read more...] about TROY ANTHONY DAVIS EXECUTED
Quote of the Day: Rick Perry’s fantasy about Obama, Israel
Rick Perry continues to make a big new and old media splash with his rhetoric. He is having little trouble getting ink, digital coverage or radio/cable buzztime. Our Quote of the Day comes from CNN's John Avlon, who has a must-read column on Perry's comments on Obama and Israel. Many commentators have noted that Perry delivered this hours before President Barack Obama was to … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Rick Perry’s fantasy about Obama, Israel
State of Georgia Delays the Execution of Troy Davis
The State of Georgia has delayed the execution of convicted killer Troy Davis, who was to be executed at 7 p.m. ET, awaiting a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on a request by Davis' lawyers for a stay of execution. Jow Windish will update this story later tonight. … [Read more...] about State of Georgia Delays the Execution of Troy Davis
Thomas W. Benton – Artist/Activist
There are many ways to study history. We have written history but that always reflects the philosophy of the individual writing it and that history and will change over time. Even the memories of those who lived the history changes over time. There is one thing that is constant – the art that was created in response to the world as the present became history. Thanks to … [Read more...] about Thomas W. Benton – Artist/Activist
Did NORAD ‘Conspire’ on 9/11?
FORWARD: The recent 10th anniversary of 9/11 once again gave rise to questions about NORAD's role and performance during the attacks and to the now-familiar conspiracy theories. Hence this writing. === The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was officially established on Sept. 12, 1957, during the Cold War---during the “innocent years.” A couple of … [Read more...] about Did NORAD ‘Conspire’ on 9/11?
Barack Obama and America’s Pretzel Politics
YORK, Pa. — It’s fitting that Pennsylvania is land of the pretzel — where “Pennsylvania Dutch” Swiss and German immigrants introduced the food to America in the 19th century. Citizens of nearby Philadelphia reportedly consume 12 times the national average of the twisted, baked delight. A gas station here has pretzel sandwiches and inexpensive bags of broken pretzels. Both … [Read more...] about Barack Obama and America’s Pretzel Politics
Credit, Debt, Coinage or Barter, Coinage, Credit?
I've only just begun what will no doubt be a long exploration of the ideas put forward by anthropologist (and anarchist) David Graeber, author of Debt: The First 5,000 Years. Graeber supposes that our traditional reading of history, that debt followed barter, is backwards. He posits that debt comes first, here in a much discussed interview with naked capitalism: [W]hat … [Read more...] about Credit, Debt, Coinage or Barter, Coinage, Credit?
Book Review: S.C. Gwynne’s Magisterial ‘Empire Of The Summer Moon’
The desert wind would salt their ruins and there would be nothing, no ghost or scribe, to tell any pilgrim in his passing how it was that people had lived in this place and in this place had died. ~ CORMAC McCARTHY The horses weren't much to look at in comparison to the immense steeds ridden by the royalty and cavalries of England, France and Germany. They were light … [Read more...] about Book Review: S.C. Gwynne’s Magisterial ‘Empire Of The Summer Moon’
Damned if He Does
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Damned if He Does
Jamal Simmons Says “Broadband Technology Can Help Spur Economic Development” & “We’re Moving into a Technologically Driven World” (Guest Voice Interview)
Jamal Simmons Says "Broadband Technology Can Help Spur Economic Development" & "We're Moving into a Technologically Driven World" by Janet Shan Jamal Simmons, co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance, principal at The Raben Group and former strategist for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, continues to make the case for the urgency and importance of broadband … [Read more...] about Jamal Simmons Says “Broadband Technology Can Help Spur Economic Development” & “We’re Moving into a Technologically Driven World” (Guest Voice Interview)