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
Bachmann VS Palin
Michele Bachmann says Media wants a 'mud wrestling fight' with Palin: Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann claimed Wednesday that the media is rooting for a catfight between her and Sarah Palin. "They want to see two girls come together and have a mud wrestling fight, and I am not going to give that to them," Bachmann told a voter Wednesday who asked about her … [Read more...] about Bachmann VS Palin
Tim Pawlenty’s Neoconservative Spring
WASHINGTON - It's like the ghost of George W. Bush, but with smoother segues. ...and so it begins: Now is not the time to retreat from freedom’s rise. [...] Yet at the same time, we know these revolutions can bring to power forces that are neither democratic nor forward-looking. Just as the people of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria and elsewhere see a chance for a better … [Read more...] about Tim Pawlenty’s Neoconservative Spring
6th Circuit Upholds Affordable Care Act
The critical vote was cast by conservative heavyweight Judge Jeffrey Sutton. You might be reading a lot of coverage that seeks to establish Judge Sutton's conservative bona fides by noting that he was a clerk for Justice Scalia and was appointed by George W. Bush. And those are, indeed, indicators. But let me just say that -- wholly independent of those biographical facts -- … [Read more...] about 6th Circuit Upholds Affordable Care Act
Appeals Court Says Health Care Mandate Valid
In 2-1 vote the US 6th District Court Of Appeals has ruled that the mandate provision of Health Care Reform is valid. As a bit of background, the Commerce Clause gives Congress the power to 'regulate commerce among the several states'. It has been determined that this allows them to regulate any activities with a significant impact on interstate commerce. One of the key … [Read more...] about Appeals Court Says Health Care Mandate Valid
CNN Ratings Are Up But Big Cable Winner Remains Fox
CNN, which continues to position itself in the middle of MSNBC and Fox News (as much in the middle as anyone can in these polarizing sides where audiences crave political controversy and conflict) is seeing its ratings trend up although Fox continues to dominate cable ratings. For the second straight quarter, CNN posted substantial, double-digit growth compared to the same … [Read more...] about CNN Ratings Are Up But Big Cable Winner Remains Fox
Live Video Feed for President Barack Obama’s Press Conference
Here is a live video feed to President Barack Obama's press conference, which is now underway: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy … [Read more...] about Live Video Feed for President Barack Obama’s Press Conference
Is The Debt Ceiling Unconstitutional?
With negotiations to raise the debt ceiling taking water, many are asking the critical question: Is the debt ceiling unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment. That Amendment, at section 4, reads: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law,…shall not be questioned.” Since the current debt, and increases to it, are the result of … [Read more...] about Is The Debt Ceiling Unconstitutional?
Senators Criticize Obama for Tepid Leadership on Debt Ceiling Issue
President Barack Obama is being criticized by some Senators for not being forceful enough on the debt ceiling issue. This has become a recurring theme of the Obama Presidency: that he lags in providing forceful political leadership on some issues and finally snaps into action at the eleven hour after letting his political foes seemingly get the upper hand. His tendency to "lead … [Read more...] about Senators Criticize Obama for Tepid Leadership on Debt Ceiling Issue
Dems and GOP Will Not Move on Budget (Cartoon)
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CBS Poll: Obama’s Ratings Still Under 50 Percent (UPDATED)
A CBS News/New York Times poll finds President Barack Obama's approval ratings below 50 percent -- in the political danger zone with some improvements in some areas that do not change his overall grim appoval rating: President Obama's job approval rating remains just below 50 percent, virtually unchanged from three weeks ago, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll … [Read more...] about CBS Poll: Obama’s Ratings Still Under 50 Percent (UPDATED)
Palin-Bachmann: Iowa Dancing With the Stars
Ballet comes to mind for what GOP divas as doing in the Hawkeye State, a new variation on the graceful duet in which dancers usually make their moves in harmony but in this case as if the other were invisible. La Palin comes into the state on tiptoe for the premiere of an adoring movie about her, cloaked in classic subtlety that sets off equal and opposite images in the eyes … [Read more...] about Palin-Bachmann: Iowa Dancing With the Stars