It's the Friday before a three-day weekend. You know what THAT means. … [Read more...] about Friday Night PR Lights
Section 4 of the 14th Amendment VS The Debt Limit
There has been a lot of talk recently that if congress fails to increase the debt limit Obama should simply tell the Treasury Secretary to ignore it because it's unconstitutional. Doug Mataconis has a good post on the pros and cons of this argument here. As James Joyner points out Tim Geithner made that very argument yesterday. I see this as a sign that the administration … [Read more...] about Section 4 of the 14th Amendment VS The Debt Limit
Splitscreen: A Love Story (Shot on a Camera-Phone)
So beautifully shot and edited it's hard to believe this short film was shot entirely on a cell phone. The video won the Nokia Shorts 2011 mini-movie contest, and earned director JW Griffiths a $10,000 prize. See also, The Making Of... … [Read more...] about Splitscreen: A Love Story (Shot on a Camera-Phone)
Thank You, Mark Halperin
The Daily ShowGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook WASHINGTON - I was not incensed by Mark Halperin's man part moment. I wish Barack Obama would show up and be "kind of a...--". So it's telling when Pres. Obama is forced to make the Democratic case, a darling in the traditional media food chain blows all decorum on … [Read more...] about Thank You, Mark Halperin
The (Flawed) Certainty of Talking Heads on TV
At the outset let me say it: I have long been a big fan of Mark Halperin as talking head, blogger and writer. Even so, his indefinite suspension is dredging up all kinds of partisan reactions. Some Dems wrongly suggest he was put on suspension because he offended Barack Obama. Some Repubs wrongly suggest that MSNBC allows that kind of language on its broadcasts all along and … [Read more...] about The (Flawed) Certainty of Talking Heads on TV
Waterloo Sunset
Waterloo Sunset by David Goodloe I love music, all kinds of music. I guess that is to be expected. I was raised with the sounds of music filling the house. My mother loved folk music. My father loved Middle Eastern music. They both loved classical music and bluegrass. In that environment, as I say, I developed a fondness for all kinds of music. I liked the music … [Read more...] about Waterloo Sunset
Clown of the Month Club
A new calendar page brings another GOP candidate as Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan arrives. He plays a star-spangled guitar, wants to repeal health care reform and is backing a $3500 annual tax deduction for pet owners. The Republican race is looking like one of those old mail-order book clubs that thrive on negative option. Once you sign up and send a buck for the … [Read more...] about Clown of the Month Club
Cash-Strapped California Goes After Internet Sales
It's July 1, the first day that a new California law will require online retailers like Amazon and Overstock.com to collect sales taxes on purchases by California citizens. The real victim is not the California consumer, however, but California affiliate businesses: Many of about 25,000 affiliates in California, especially larger ones with dozens of employees, are likely … [Read more...] about Cash-Strapped California Goes After Internet Sales
Must See Nixonland
Must See Nixonland TV John Cook, over on Gawker, has a bombshell, of sorts, having unearthed documents from the Nixon Library that has Roger Ailes laying out the blueprint for Faux News, decades ahead of time. Roger Ailes’ Secret Nixon-Era Blueprint for Fox News Republican media strategist Roger Ailes launched Fox News Channel in 1996, ostensibly as a "fair and … [Read more...] about Must See Nixonland
Quote of the Day: Is Obama Too Weak for the Presidency?
Our political Quote of the Day comes from David Frum, the former assistant to President George Bush, who has often broken with modern-day conservatives. He looks at the debt ceiling crisis and President Barack Obama's comments on it and wonders if Obama is out of his league in terms of toughness: How lame is this answer? Let’s count the ways. 1) The stuff about … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Is Obama Too Weak for the Presidency?
DSK May Have Told the Truth After All
The New York Times: The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials. Although forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual … [Read more...] about DSK May Have Told the Truth After All
Stephen Colbert Got His Super PAC
Narrowly. The vote was 5 to 1 in favor, but the ads can run only during his show. Colbert's is the nation's 114th SuperPAC. So what's a SuperPAC? It's a consequence of the "Citizens United" Supreme Court decision which gave corporations, unions and individuals the right to give unlimited cash to outside groups to campaign for or against candidates. With it Colbert … [Read more...] about Stephen Colbert Got His Super PAC
Defending the Supremely Powerful
WASHINGTON -- The United States Supreme Court now sees its central task as comforting the already comfortable and afflicting those already afflicted. If you are a large corporation or a political candidate backed by lots of private money, be assured that the court's conservative majority will be there for you, solicitous of your needs and ready to swat away those pesky … [Read more...] about Defending the Supremely Powerful
California Internet Sales Tax (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. EDITORS's NOTE:I'm based in CA and today Amazon yesterday sent me this regretful notice of cancellation: Hello, For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of California residents. Unfortunately, a potential new law that may be signed by … [Read more...] about California Internet Sales Tax (Cartoon)
MSNBC Suspends Time’s Mark Halperin for Calling Obama a “Dick” On Morning Joe (UPDATED)
Boy, it's hard to adhere to "newspaper standards" these days when reporting on...our politics and even how mainstream reporters have tossed out dignity for accessibilty. One of my absolute favorite writers, commentators and bloggers is Time's Mark Halperin, who does the must-read site The Page for Time, co authored the great book Game Change, and is on one of the best cable … [Read more...] about MSNBC Suspends Time’s Mark Halperin for Calling Obama a “Dick” On Morning Joe (UPDATED)
Has Obama Been Playing Possum?
Many progressives, including this writer, have been very angry with the President about his passive responses to Republican initiatives. He has often appeared to take the attitude: "You guys tell me what you want and I'll go along with a few modifications in order to appear middle-of-the-road." That's how it has looked to a lot of us, especially when it came to budget and … [Read more...] about Has Obama Been Playing Possum?
Adult Supervision
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Adult Supervision
Bachmann Trail Blazes New Path for Conservative Women on Feminism
WASHINGTON - I've been waiting for this particular moment for a long time. The Hillary effect continues to produce political opportunities for women to break out, regardless of whether Michele Bachmann can rival Clinton's 18 million cracks, though she's on a course to be the first Republican female to win the caucus state of Iowa, much to T-Paw's chagrin. Bachmann told me in … [Read more...] about Bachmann Trail Blazes New Path for Conservative Women on Feminism
Grownup Time Again in Washington?
Barack Obama’s press conference ends up being an effort to put aside childish games and restore government to an adult level on national issues. “Call me naïve,” he tells reporters. “But my expectation is that leaders are going to lead.” At one point, he contrasts Congress’ dealing with the debt limit to the way his daughters do their homework a day early, not waiting … [Read more...] about Grownup Time Again in Washington?
Google Plus, Scarcity and Sharing
Looking for a signal that our economy has moved from scarcity to abundance? Look no further than the launch of Google+ and compare it to the sister app, Wave, launched less than two years ago. In October 2009, Google launched a not-quite-ready for prime time product. There was a virtual stampede for invitations, which were doled out slowly and in small amounts. Less than a … [Read more...] about Google Plus, Scarcity and Sharing