Introducing him to flog a new book, Stephen Colbert admiringly cites the days when Henry Kissinger chased women in his “Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac” days, an arresting contrast to the fate of Anthony Weiner for pursuing similar urges in our time. In fact, by all accounts, Kissinger actually netted some of his quarry (“When I’m boring, they think it’s their fault”) … [Read more...] about Kissinger: A Weiner of His Time
U.S. Finally Admits to Infiltration By Drug Cartels (La Jornada, Mexico)
Unbeknownst to much of the U.S. public, the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection admitted last week to 95 cases of corruption within his agency related to drug trafficking, undocumented immigrants and money laundering by organized crime groups in Mexico. In other words, U.S. customs officials are being bribed. According to this editorial from Mexico's La Jornada, this is … [Read more...] about U.S. Finally Admits to Infiltration By Drug Cartels (La Jornada, Mexico)
Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Collective Bargaining Law
The court voted 4-3 to uphold the law and was very critical of the lower court ruling. This particular case centered on whether the legislature violated the open meetings law which requires 24 hours notice of votes on a law. This law was passed with only 2 hours notice. The court based the decision on the fact that the 24 hour law is held to apply to regular committee … [Read more...] about Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Collective Bargaining Law
Quote of the Day: GOP Debate Didn’t Satisfy Moderates
Our political Quote of the Day comes from one of my favorite former officials and present pundits, CNN's David Gergen, who thinks the seven GOPers at last night's debate in New Hampshire played well to the Republican Party but may not have played well to the country at large. And, in particular, he believes moderate independents ended the night feeling more ignored than … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: GOP Debate Didn’t Satisfy Moderates
Court Upholds Prop 8 Ruling
A federal judge has upheldJudge Walker's ruling striking down Proposition 8, rejecting a challenge that claimed the ruling was invalid because Walker is gay and thus could theoretically benefit from the ruling. This was hardly an unexpected ruling, I've spoken with supporters of Proposition 8 who agreed that this was a pretty weak argument. If a gay judge cannot rule on same … [Read more...] about Court Upholds Prop 8 Ruling
The Republicans’ New Hampshire Debate and the 2012 Conservative Political Opportunity
Back in the 1983, before he ran up a half-million dollars jewelry tab at Tiffany’s, an up and coming Republican politician named Newt Gingrich founded the “Conservative Opportunity Society.” It’s now clear that 2012 could be a conservative opportunity year for Republicans. Will the party seize this opportunity — or blow it? So much for the conventional wisdom that nailing … [Read more...] about The Republicans’ New Hampshire Debate and the 2012 Conservative Political Opportunity
It’s Ideas, Not Money, That’s The Real Mother’s Milk of Politics
Sometimes a simple phrase sticks in politicians' minds like duct tape and guides their actions no matter how misguided the phrase or how intrinsically destructive. Such a phrase is Tip O'Neill's famous throwaway line that "money is the mother's milk of politics," which suggests that money is what always separates winners from losers, and thus what always must shape policy … [Read more...] about It’s Ideas, Not Money, That’s The Real Mother’s Milk of Politics
US Bankruptcy Court Finds DOMA Invalid
A ruling from the US Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California has found that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional because it prevents same sex couples from filing a joint petition for bankruptcy. Section 3 prohibits the federal government from recognizing same sex marriages and thus prevents same sex couples from filing joint tax … [Read more...] about US Bankruptcy Court Finds DOMA Invalid
GOP Debate More Proof Of Why Obama Will Win Re-Election
Lots of ink and electrons being spilled on the GOP debate but to me it is just further proof that President Obama is likely to win re-election in 2012. You can toss back and forth which of the GOP contenders did better but the fact is nobody turned in a stellar performance. One of the keys to winning an election is connecting with the voters and that is the one area in which … [Read more...] about GOP Debate More Proof Of Why Obama Will Win Re-Election
Bank Of America Hindered Mortgage Probe
Not exactly stunning news. According to a review by the Federal Housing Administration the bank 'significantly hindered' the investigation into problems with mortgages by failing to provide information, refusing access to employees, etc. Wow, a big corporation does something potentially crooked and then fails to cooperate with those looking into whether they did something … [Read more...] about Bank Of America Hindered Mortgage Probe
Tim Pawlenty, the Biggest Loser **UPDATED**
WASHINGTON - Tim Pawlenty has fled the building. No, strike that. He's fled New Hampshire. After having crafted "Obamneycare" and leveled the charge on Mitt Romney this past Sunday, T-Paw went mushy when asked about it last night by CNN's John King. Or maybe he's already hedging for the veep spot? Nah, nobody believes that one. Pawlenty simply went yellow. Politico runs … [Read more...] about Tim Pawlenty, the Biggest Loser **UPDATED**
Legislative Ethics And The First Amendment (NV Ethics Comm. V. Carrigan)
Nevada, like most states, has ethics requirements for legislators. Among those ethics requirements are recusal rules. In the case of Nevada, those rules prevent a legislator from voting on, or advocating for or against, legislation if “…a reasonable person in his situation would be materially affected by...his commitment in a private capacity to the interests of … [Read more...] about Legislative Ethics And The First Amendment (NV Ethics Comm. V. Carrigan)
Government Gray Hats Lying About Security
Robert X. Cringely wonders why data security systems are proprietary and secret. If 1024- or 2048-bit codes take a thousand years to crack, isn’t encryption, combined with a limit on login attempts, good enough? He suggests it's the U.S. government that doesn't want us to have really secure networks: The government is more interested in snooping in on the rest of the world’s … [Read more...] about Government Gray Hats Lying About Security
Fame: Sarah and the Seven Dwarves
In the wake of Weiner and on the tide of Palin e-mails and Facebook posts, we swim in a world where fame is so uncoupled from achievement that a Republican presidential debate could well be titled “Sarah and the Seven Dwarves,” with a non-candidate’s image hovering over the politicians vying for attention. Seventy years ago, Americans were riveted by a book ironically … [Read more...] about Fame: Sarah and the Seven Dwarves
Unsold Hot Dogs (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Unsold Hot Dogs (Cartoon)
Arguing With Heffernan: No, Weiner Is Not An “Advanced Twitter Player”
Just because Virginia Heffernan writes that Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) is "a skilled and even advanced Twitter player" doesn't make it so. Weiner on Twitter was like an amateur pianist on an improv tear. He posted sometimes dozens of times a day, trying out the conventions of Twitter as if he were practicing themes and variations. He especially liked the hashtag and @-reply … [Read more...] about Arguing With Heffernan: No, Weiner Is Not An “Advanced Twitter Player”
It’s all about demand
Even the inventor of supply side economics, Ludwig von Mises, admitted it was a scam before he died but it is still a conservative mantra. As we have seen it is indeed a scam - the wealthy don't create jobs - customers create jobs. The chart below via David Frium shows us why there is no recovery. George HW Bush was right before he was wrong - Reaganomics is "Voodoo … [Read more...] about It’s all about demand
And It’s Bachmann With The Win
It's possible no one else will say it, but US Rep. and now Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann got major earned media tonight at the New Hampshire primary debate because she announced that she's officially entering the presidential primary competition. Why else was it her night? (If you missed the debate, I live-blogged it all here and so did Joe Gandelman, … [Read more...] about And It’s Bachmann With The Win
Oh, Well, It’s Just A Rounding Error
U.S. Defense officials still cannot say what happened to $6.6 billion, sent by the planeload in cash and intended for Iraq's reconstruction after the start of the war. The auditors are closing the books on the U.S. airlift of $12 billion (via C-130 Hercules cargo planes) sent to Iraq at the start of the Iraq War. The loss of $6.6 billion is being called a "mystery" … [Read more...] about Oh, Well, It’s Just A Rounding Error
Live Blogging: The Republican 2012 Presidential Candidates New Hampshire Debate on CNN (UPDATED WITH FINAL THOUGHTS)
The polls show former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney moving up as Republicans increasingly conclude they want to above all find someone who they feel can beat Presidential Barack Obama. The mission of the other candidates: make their case and cut Romney down to size. Here are a few quick impressions from this independent voter. All times here are PST. MY CONCLUSIONS AFTER … [Read more...] about Live Blogging: The Republican 2012 Presidential Candidates New Hampshire Debate on CNN (UPDATED WITH FINAL THOUGHTS)