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)
Bilderbergers and the Ugly Truth: There’s No One in Control (Tages Anzeiger, Switzerland)
Is there a shadowy group of men and women, who behind closed doors decide the course of human events and even history? For Switzerland's Tages Anzeiger, columnist Markus Diem Meier writes that the truth is likely far more frightening: no one can can control global events, and even the Bilderbergers, who just ended their annual meeting, are shaped by rather than shapers of … [Read more...] about Bilderbergers and the Ugly Truth: There’s No One in Control (Tages Anzeiger, Switzerland)
Tina Fey’s Bossypants Keeps You at a Hairy Arm’s Distance
The best part of Tina Fey's Bossypants is the cover. Which says more about the strength of the cover than the weakness of the book. Bossypants was a good airplane read, but unlike my flight to Columbus, Ohio, when finished I was left wanting more. This is the part of the review where I talk about how I've always been a big fan of Tina Fey, even before she became popular. … [Read more...] about Tina Fey’s Bossypants Keeps You at a Hairy Arm’s Distance
On Debate Day, Mitt Romney’s Powerful Economic Ad
WASHINGTON - This morning I had an exchange with Politico's Jonathan Martin on Twitter about this subject. He asked a good question: If we play webvid for free, is it an "ad"? He also suggested calling it a "video press released." It's my contention that in new media today, the number of people who can view it makes it an ad. But I don't trumpet most ads, with this … [Read more...] about On Debate Day, Mitt Romney’s Powerful Economic Ad
Obama Wants To Extend Payroll Tax Cut
Imagine my surprise that the President wants to extend the payroll tax cut into 2012. I haven't checked my archives but I am pretty sure I called that one back when they first passed the cut. The only question is whether Obama really wants to extend the cut or if he wants to use this as a political ploy to block GOP proposals he opposes. My guess is in the end both sides … [Read more...] about Obama Wants To Extend Payroll Tax Cut
China Hacking (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licsened to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about China Hacking (Cartoon)
Joe Scarborough Loses Patience With RNC Chairman Over Anthony Weiner Scandal
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough made it clear he has lost patience with how his party is exploiting the scandal over Anthony Weiner, even though he does not condone it. This morning he told the RNC Chairman to shut up on the scandal: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about Joe Scarborough Loses Patience With RNC Chairman Over Anthony Weiner Scandal
Anthony Weiner, Hypocrite (Guest Voice)
Anthony Weiner, Hypocrite by Michael Reagan As many as 300,000 children are taken from their homes every year from neglect and abuse. In light of that, it is a blight on America even to think or to know that a member of the Congress of the United States has been sending e-mail tweets to young women he doesn't even know -- taking advantage of them for his own apparent … [Read more...] about Anthony Weiner, Hypocrite (Guest Voice)
Gridlocking the Lives of the Jobless
WASHINGTON -- Welcome to the miserable world of no-way-out politics. The economy needs another jolt, but Congress is in gridlock. Democrats, or most of them, realize that their political futures and the well-being of millions of households hang on whether unemployment can be brought down. Yet Republicans have the capacity to block even the smallest steps forward. … [Read more...] about Gridlocking the Lives of the Jobless
I Approve These Messages
It's a not-so-widely acknowledged fact that lots of tea partiers actually can't stand one another. That's true of the leaders of Tea Party Patriots and Tea Party Express, two of the movement's most influential groups. ...Chris Good, Atlantic But that's not the whole story, according to Good. Mitt Romney's candidacy is already dividing activists, and the sniping … [Read more...] about I Approve These Messages
The Mormon Question (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about The Mormon Question (Cartoon)
Gallup Poll: Romney Widens His Republican Support
As news about the economy worsens and President Barack Obama's polls start to steadily sink, a new Gallup Poll indicates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's stock has risen significantly among Republicans: Republicans' support for Mitt Romney as their party's 2012 presidential nominee has increased significantly to 24%, compared with 17% in late May. As a result, … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Romney Widens His Republican Support
Weiner, Palin: More Than We Want to Know
Life is too short to read Sarah Palin’s 24,000 e-mails or even all the media blather about them, and sanity too precious to delve into Anthony Weiner’s last refuge from getting out of Congress and our faces Weiner, says his spokesperson, “departed this morning to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person.” Good idea, says Nancy … [Read more...] about Weiner, Palin: More Than We Want to Know
Arctic Noir: Why Scandinavian Murder Mysteries Are Hot — And Deservedly So
JULIA ORMOND AS SMILLA My appetite for great murder mysteries is never sated. For me they are like eating popcorn and a welcome escape from the heavier foods that make up my literary diet such as historical tracts, biographies and scientific tomes. Over the years, I've read my way through the great murder mystery writers -- Dashielle Hammett, Raymond Chandler, … [Read more...] about Arctic Noir: Why Scandinavian Murder Mysteries Are Hot — And Deservedly So
Politics, Mental Health and America’s Obsession With Sex
America is unforgiving about mental illness and its politicians. Well, maybe it's the media that are unforgiving. Or the opposition. Exhibit A: Thomas Eagleton, whose disclosure of depression cost him the vice presidential slot: Eagleton divulged that "on three occasions in my life, I have voluntarily gone into hospitals as result of nervous exhaustion and fatigue." He … [Read more...] about Politics, Mental Health and America’s Obsession With Sex
Warning: When Gender Parity is Legislated, Voting For Female Candidates Based Solely on Gender Is Mistake
Christiane Amanpour hosted an excellent roundtable this morning on This Week that explored the following observation: You'd be hard-pressed to find a sex scandal involving a female politician these days, which begs the question, what if there were more women in politics and in positions of power? Would they change the way business is done from Wall Street to Washington and … [Read more...] about Warning: When Gender Parity is Legislated, Voting For Female Candidates Based Solely on Gender Is Mistake
Anthony Weiner’s Necessary Lies: Let’s Get Honest About Deceit
I believed Anthony Weiner even as everyone else saw through his whopper of a lie. Now we can all agree that his actions were smarmy. The emerging consensus is he should resign or he'll be redistricted out even as we must also know that on the scale of slimy behavior by politicians, Weiner's offenses are no greater -- or even far less offensive -- than those of Arnold, John, … [Read more...] about Anthony Weiner’s Necessary Lies: Let’s Get Honest About Deceit
Bachmann-Palin: Twilight of the Female Republican Gods? (News, Switzerland)
With Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann being seen by some as serious contenders for the presidency, are Republicans running the risk of damaging the chances of future Republican women seeking America's highest office? For Switzerland's News, columnist Patrik Etschmayer writes that the historic, history-related gaffes of both Palin and Bachmann may weigh very heavily on the … [Read more...] about Bachmann-Palin: Twilight of the Female Republican Gods? (News, Switzerland)
Peeping Tommys and Non-Thomists
We need to define our terms, here. [Note: there are a very few "bad" and uncomfortable words contained herein, and if such words cause you grief, please read no further. ~ HW] The Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli, 1486 Allow me to make a very late addition to Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary: Erotic, n.: MY sexual fantasies. Perversion, n.: YOUR sexual … [Read more...] about Peeping Tommys and Non-Thomists
A New Kind of Immigration in Alabama
As a native of Alabama, I'm accustomed to seeing my home state get in the national news for less than positive reasons. We've done it again with passage of a tough new illegal immigration law. In today's Birmingham News, see my latest editorial cartoon on what happens next in Alabama. … [Read more...] about A New Kind of Immigration in Alabama