Barack Obama started last week playing golf with John Boehner a few days before going on TV to proclaim a foreseeable victory in the Middle East, hoping no one would notice he was wearing handcuffs all the time. Now, with Republicans walking out on debt ceiling talks and the Afghan victory lap clearly a mirage, the President’s chains are inescapably visible. Eric Cantor and … [Read more...] about The Hostage President
Icky-Poo Men
One of the lead articles in the Times today is about the aftermath of Eric Cantor, majority leader, ducking out on his job. Maybe 22% of the country will defend him as a man of principle but -- surprisingly -- this time many in the media seem to have spotted him as a guy who just couldn't do his job. In this article in the Times, reporter Carl Hulse dismissed him as a man who … [Read more...] about Icky-Poo Men
Bachman Virtually Tied With Romney in Iowa Poll
It's clear the Republican Party now has a real elephant race shaping up. On one side: Mitt Romney the by default darling of Republican establishment types who may not be enamored of him but he's the best establishment type Republican candidate that they seem to have so far...and on the other Michele Bachman the darling of the Tea Party movement, the talk radio political culture … [Read more...] about Bachman Virtually Tied With Romney in Iowa Poll
In God We Vote (Guest Voice)
In God We Vote by Peter Funt Mitt Romney's emergence as the early front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, along with Jon Huntsman's recent entry in the race, makes certain that the 2012 campaign will continue the trend of carefully weighing candidates' religious beliefs. Both men will be scrutinized because of their affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ … [Read more...] about In God We Vote (Guest Voice)
America and Afghanistan (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about America and Afghanistan (Cartoon)
Sunday Morning Finger Food
The quote of the week comes from Steve Chapman at Real Clear Politics: The Republican presidential field looks less like an assemblage of candidates than a collection of fatal mistakes and irreparable flaws, with occasional embodiments of one or more of the Seven Deadly Sins. He says this is why someone like Rick Perry could be taken as a serious candidate. From Charles … [Read more...] about Sunday Morning Finger Food
A Timeless Song for Today’s Times
It seems everyone I meet has a story of a challenge or a downright woe. And, because of this, this showstopper from the classic baseball musical Damn Yankees seems a song for our times. Watch and listen to the words -- since they are worth remembering: … [Read more...] about A Timeless Song for Today’s Times
Remember What Happened In Massachusetts! Same Sex Marriage Opponents React
With same sex marriage legal in NY (gay couples can marry there beginning on July 24) it's worth revisiting what happened in Massachusetts. From the November 3, 2005 Daily Show. BRIAN CAMENKER, anti-gay-marriage activist: I could sit here and I could probably, you know, find some way of connecting the dots to gay marriage to all of these [adverse effects] if I had enough … [Read more...] about Remember What Happened In Massachusetts! Same Sex Marriage Opponents React
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Statement on Passage of Same Sex Marriage Act
Here's the statement of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's statement on the passage of the same sex marriage act last night -- a measure that passed due to it picking up some bipartisan support. I've long contended that Cuomo will be someone to watch in the Democratic Party's national future, partially because he doesn't have his father's "ditherer" gene which dithered Mario Cuomo, I … [Read more...] about New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Statement on Passage of Same Sex Marriage Act
Ronald Reagan Would Laugh in Eric Cantor’s Face
WASHINGTON - What amateurs politicians are today. It almost takes the fun out of laughing at them. When Rep. Eric Cantor walked out of budget talks this past week he said it was because “There is not support in the House for a tax increase, and I don’t believe now is the time to raise taxes in light of our current economic situation.” He set Democrats up perfectly: “Cantor … [Read more...] about Ronald Reagan Would Laugh in Eric Cantor’s Face
Scared of a Little Compromise (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Scared of a Little Compromise (Cartoon)
You’re Not Supposed to Be Happy (Guest Voice)
You're Not Supposed to Be Happy by Tina Dupuy The whole idea of a democracy is accepting you'll never fully get your own way in government. Yes, I know we celebrate the imagined rugged individual pulling on his sole-proprietorship bootstraps fully autonomous while enjoying socialized infrastructure and tax subsidies - it's what makes America great....and charmingly … [Read more...] about You’re Not Supposed to Be Happy (Guest Voice)
Fair Use is Fair Only To The Rich
Everything is a Remix. Don't try telling that to famed photographer Jay Maisel. When Andy Baio released a chiptunes tribute to Miles Davis's Kind of Blue, Kind of Bloop, he used a pixellated re-creation of the original's Maisel cover photo. Maisel, who lives in a six-story, 72-room, 35,000-square-foot lower Manhattan Beaux Arts Gilded Age mansion (for $5,000 you can go … [Read more...] about Fair Use is Fair Only To The Rich
The Month of the Hacker
Almost unnoticed -- save for the front page headlines day after day -- the month of June 2011 has turned into the "Month of the Hacker." Major cyber-attacks have been leveled at the Pentagon, CIA, Sony, PBS, CitiGroup, etcetera (hard to keep up, frankly) and, on Thursday, a major leak of sensitive Arizona police information exposed undercover agents, informants, ongoing … [Read more...] about The Month of the Hacker
Gay Divorce
Amid all the celebrating at the Stonewall Inn and elsewhere, the advent of same-sex marriage in New York stirs in the spouse of and co-author of a book by a divorce lawyer memories of how archaic and brutal that state’s divorce laws have always been. It was only a year ago that New York, which now recognizes the inhumanity of denying legitimacy to those who want to share … [Read more...] about Gay Divorce
A Shark Jumps the Surfer (Video)
You've heard about "jumping the shark?" How about a shark jumping the surfer? Watch this video from Florida: … [Read more...] about A Shark Jumps the Surfer (Video)
Empire State Building Went Rainbow Less Than An Hour After Marriage Bill Passage
How? They were ready to flick the switch because the lights had been changed or installed more than six months ago when the building was last seen sporting that fabulous purple and red glow. Not for Gay Pride, which is celebrated in June across the United States, but for a Further show, according to Phish message boards. A rock band founded in 2009 by Bob Weir and Phil … [Read more...] about Empire State Building Went Rainbow Less Than An Hour After Marriage Bill Passage
Peter Falk (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Peter Falk (Cartoon)
NY Newspapers Herald Historic Change In Same Sex Marriage Bill Passage
Poytner: At least 50,000 people watched the vote via live stream from the Senate, according to a tweet from the legislature’s account. Brian Stelter tweeted: “For the record, per TVEyes: NY same-sex marriage vote was covered for 60+ mins by MSNBC & CNN. It was covered for 2 min by Fox News.” As gathered by Poytner from the Newseum: Several New York … [Read more...] about NY Newspapers Herald Historic Change In Same Sex Marriage Bill Passage
Liberation Animation: Non-Aggression Principle
I recently came across an interesting video clip that does a pretty good job at explaining the Non-Aggression Principle, which is the central principle upon which libertarianism is based. The video was created by Dan, who is the creative director of a website called Liberation Animation. If you like the video, feel free to post it on your own blogs (with proper attribution, … [Read more...] about Liberation Animation: Non-Aggression Principle