Some of you may have noticed that the Taliban has engaged in a terror attack on Kabul, Afghanistan's Intercontinental Hotel. They just don't seem interested in cooperating with the Afghan government or any Western entity. This attack may or may not be over. Apparently helicopters just shot terrorists on the hotel roof. Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Gunmen and suicide … [Read more...] about Taliban Thumbs Its Nose At West
Will Andrew Cuomo Run for President in 2016?
Will Andrew Cuomo run for President in 2016? The conventional wisdom is suggesting just that, due to the New York Governor's leadership in achieving his state's same sex marriage law – an achievement that turned Cuomo into the political Justin Bieber of Democratic Party liberals. The narrative took on such a frenzied life that the New York Post reported Cuomo ordered his … [Read more...] about Will Andrew Cuomo Run for President in 2016?
Once Again Degrading Free Speech In The Service Of Buying Elections
Campaign spending has long been a slippery slope, and finding a balance between private and public interests and wealthy benefactors and nickel-dime contributors has been difficult. But the goal -- trying to mitigate the impact of big bucks on election campaigns -- has been a worthy one. And one that the Roberts Supreme Court has once again determined to be less worthy than … [Read more...] about Once Again Degrading Free Speech In The Service Of Buying Elections
Free Speech: The Means Tested Constitutional Right
Imagining that the founding fathers intended that free speech be a commodity to be bought and sold like ham hocks has never resonated with my understanding of the Constitution. It’s true that five current members of the U. S. Supreme Court disagree with me and insist that speech is a market item that comes with a price tag attached. Those with the cash in pocket to pony up … [Read more...] about Free Speech: The Means Tested Constitutional Right
Quote of the Day: How Michele Bachmann Differs from Sarah Palin
Our political Quote of the Day comes via Morning Joe from the host of the same name Joe Scarborough who notes the differences between Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann. Mediaite has this quote where Scarborough notes how Bachmann has upped her game since hiring veteran GOP consultant Ed Rollins: “When she doesn’t have the trainer in the corner she swings wildly, like Mike … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: How Michele Bachmann Differs from Sarah Palin
Black Folks and the “I Hope… The Wince”
You see a crime story on the television, newspaper, or via the Internet: Brutal beating caught on tape; gay teen says assault was a hate crime And, if you're black, many times you immediately think, "I hope they aren't black". Not the victim but rather the perpetrators of the crime. Then you find out that they are black and then you wince. In countless households, … [Read more...] about Black Folks and the “I Hope… The Wince”
Bachmann Shows, Asserts No Fear – of Media or Sarah Palin
In the clip below from this morning's TODAY show, U.S. Representative from Minnesota and Republican primary candidate for president, Michele Bachmann, shows how to handle being asked if she fears being "palinized" (in the video at about the four minute mark). In my opinion, as someone who has run for office, anyone who "fears being palinized" should not be running for office … [Read more...] about Bachmann Shows, Asserts No Fear – of Media or Sarah Palin
Weiners in the News
Weiners in the News: There are good weiners. And bad Weiners. … [Read more...] about Weiners in the News
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Makes First Public Crowd Appearance In Houston
Although the medical jury is still out as to whether she will ever recover enough to serve again in Congress, there's yet another tidbit of good news about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords: she made her first public appearance in front of a crowd and she wowed them: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords made her first public appearance in front of a crowd since being shot in the head Jan. 8, … [Read more...] about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Makes First Public Crowd Appearance In Houston
The Circus of the Social Classes (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about The Circus of the Social Classes (Cartoon)
Three Summer Reading Picks
Jeff Shaara writes about Americans at war. His Civil War books were justly praised, his World War II efforts equally well received. The latest (and last) in his World War II series, The Final Storm, deals with the 1945 invasion of Okinawa, the last major land battle in the U.S. Pacific War against Japan before A-bombs brought an end to the conflict. Shaara's use of made-up … [Read more...] about Three Summer Reading Picks
Europe Does Not Need American Protection Anymore
NATO does very good work every day, but it is "a bit of an anachronism." 9/11 has accelerated the divergence of European and American geostrategic interests. Europe does not need American protection anymore, with the exception of the nuclear guarantee, says Nick Witney, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He gave an excellent and … [Read more...] about Europe Does Not Need American Protection Anymore
Deficit Debate: Air-Cooling a Desert
As the President prepares to confront Mitch McConnell and John Boehner on the deficit, an irresistible image arrives for the absurdity of those deliberations. Among the endless laundry list of government expenditures to be evaluated is $20.2 billion, an item larger than the entire N.A.S.A. budget, scheduled to go for air-conditioning in Afghanistan and Iraq next year. … [Read more...] about Deficit Debate: Air-Cooling a Desert
Sarah Who?
WASHINGTON - So, the Hillary effect continues to pave the way for women, bringing forth the first serious right-wing conservative candidate with a worthy resume, Michele Bachmann, who has announced her candidacy in Iowa. A meeting was immediately called by the GOP Establishment to figure out what to do about This Woman. I'm joking on that last one, but I bet phone calls have … [Read more...] about Sarah Who?
Afghanistan War: Criminal Waste of American Tax-Payers’ Money
The Obama administration had at least the guts to justify the continued squandering of public money on the so-called war-on-terror in Afghanistan by formally handing over the foreign policy to the CIA and the Pentagon with a seemingly "limitless budget".(see here). But why is the American media quiet on the cost of war that is crippling US economy --- such as the U.S. … [Read more...] about Afghanistan War: Criminal Waste of American Tax-Payers’ Money
“Partisan” Fight Over Debt Ceiling Inside One Party
Yup. It's Boehner v. Cantor, according to Juan Williams. Both men are pretty bad (and pretty good examples of GOP quality). This time Cantor has the edge on nastiness, but Boehner is the one getting crushed. This battle is Republican versus Republican. It features John Boehner (R-Ohio), the Speaker of the House on one side, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor … [Read more...] about “Partisan” Fight Over Debt Ceiling Inside One Party
Bin Laden Thinking About Changing Al Qaeda’s Name: Now That Would Have Been Some Marketing Meeting!
Now That Would Have Been Some Marketing Meeting! WOW! If this marketing meeting had taken place, about the only thing that could rival it would be Lenny Bruce's "Religion Inc." Seems the former Big Cheese of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, was fretting that his creation of terrorism and murder was losing its' marketing punch. Osama wanted new name for al-Qaida to … [Read more...] about Bin Laden Thinking About Changing Al Qaeda’s Name: Now That Would Have Been Some Marketing Meeting!
Defying Stereotypes : America’s Got Talent
The tweet read "Susan Boyle moment." I trusted the sender, so I clicked ... and was treated to the spectacle of American talent judges being as dismissive (nonverbally) as those British ones had been. This singer, however, is male, black and from America's backwater to top all backwaters: West (by-god) Virginia. And for 10 years, the 36-year-old has made his living washing … [Read more...] about Defying Stereotypes : America’s Got Talent
Blagojevich on Freedom (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Blagojevich on Freedom (Cartoon)
Judge Blocks Georgia Immigration Law
”HB 87 is state regulation of immigration. Section 8 attempts an end-run – not around federal criminal law – but around federal statutes defining the role of state and local officers in immigration enforcement….[B]oth the United States government and several foreign nations have expressed concern about the international relations impact of HB 87. “In reference to HB 87, … [Read more...] about Judge Blocks Georgia Immigration Law