Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy WASHINGTON - Barack Obama has gone so far right channeling his inner Republican, especially on big presidential decisions like war and military, but including his timidity on economic issues that borrow from the Republican model, that he's actually set himself up to be challenged from the left by … [Read more...] about Jon Huntsman: Unlikely Incoming on Foreign Policy
More Bad Gingrich News: He Inflated His Online Resume
The hits are now coming faster for Newt Gingrich than with guests on The Jerry Springer Show. According to The Huffington Post, he has touted an honorific professorship in an inaccurate way: Not many Republicans play up their academic credentials. Count former House Speaker and struggling presidential candidate Newt Gingrich as one of the few who do. But has Gingrich … [Read more...] about More Bad Gingrich News: He Inflated His Online Resume
Making Sense Of Wal-Mart v. Dukes
Two days ago the U. S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes . In the time since, there has been a good deal of reaction and more than a little overreaction. In reality this is one of those cases that is less than meets the eye. Three women who believed they had gender discrimination claims against Wal-Mart initiated a lawsuit. They attempted … [Read more...] about Making Sense Of Wal-Mart v. Dukes
Around the Sphere Blog Roundup
Our linkfest taking you to websites of varying viewpoints. Links do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of TMV or its many writers. Sarah Palin Quits Again: This time her bus tour. Hey, if the media were losing interest then why go on a non-political vacation with her family (especially when the media including Chris Matthews now seems fascinated with Michele Bachman and … [Read more...] about Around the Sphere Blog Roundup
More Desperate Than Ever For A Plausible Third Party Presidential Contender
Only three things need be said about a serious third party contender for the presidency in 2012. First, this person could win. Second, the issues that would let this person win are obvious. Third, money need not keep such a candidate from running. About the first thing. President Obama is not liked by most of the people who elected him in 2008 and not respected by those who … [Read more...] about More Desperate Than Ever For A Plausible Third Party Presidential Contender
Obama Likely to Call for 10K Cut in Troops From Afghanistan in Speech Today
Is America's seemingly unending nightmare of the loooooooong war in Afghanistan now drawing to an end? If news reports are correct, President Barack Obama today will take the first substantive step -- according to a few reports against the advice of some military advisors -- by announcing a two-phased withdrawal of an initial 10,000 forces with a total of some 30,000 over the … [Read more...] about Obama Likely to Call for 10K Cut in Troops From Afghanistan in Speech Today
Not Your Father’s GOP (Cartoon)
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U.S.-Listed China Firms are Ruining China’s Reputation (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Given what we're used to from China's state-controlled media, this article about the behavior of Chinese firms listed on U.S. stock exchanges stands out for being remarkably frank about the misbehavior of China's corporations. Are law-breaking Chinese firms getting themselves listed on U.S. stock exchanges to reap rewards from the good reputation developed by their more … [Read more...] about U.S.-Listed China Firms are Ruining China’s Reputation (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Remembering George Carlin (1937-2008)
Three years ago on June 22nd, American comedian, social critic, actor and author George Carlin died at the age of 71 from heart failure at a Santa Monica, CA hospital. He had a wickedly twisted yet objective take on life, politics, religion, and the English language. He understood the darker side of human nature and was always ready to explain life to his audiences from his … [Read more...] about Remembering George Carlin (1937-2008)
Some Thoughts On DADT
While the topic of marriage equality has dominated the media the last few days the issue of DADT remains important and I came across some comments that I thought worth sharing "Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution is pretty simple. It says, ‘Raise an army.’ It says absolutely nothing about race, color, creed, sexual orientation." How dare we, then, exclude a group of … [Read more...] about Some Thoughts On DADT
A Good Way to Announce a Presidential Candidacy
Jon Huntsman, a guy with an impressive resume, announced on Tuesday that he is running for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Whether the former governor of Utah and ambassador to China stands a chance is only a guess. But, if you believe that civility should infuse the process by which we elect a president in the United States, his announcement speech ought to … [Read more...] about A Good Way to Announce a Presidential Candidacy
Two Medals of Honor–Both Deserved, One Denied
I have bemoaned the fact that so very few Medals of Honor were being awarded to our deserving heroes, both during the peak of our fighting in Iraq and during the entire first seven years of the Afghanistan War. While nearly 250 of our troops received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War, only four heroes were so recognized for actions in Iraq during the Bush … [Read more...] about Two Medals of Honor–Both Deserved, One Denied
Drawdown Day, Afghanistan
No matter what the President announces tomorrow on Drawdown Day, nobody will be happy with his decision, especially if, in Obama tradition, it is a measured move. That will neither satisfy the growing bipartisan desire to get out completely or the McCainiacs who see every Middle East conflict as an outpost for defending American liberty. Yet... How do we keep fighting in … [Read more...] about Drawdown Day, Afghanistan
More Gingrich Bad News: He Had Second Line of Credit At Tiffney’s
Yes, I do think that Newt Gingrich's campaign will go down as one of the worst - if not the worst -- in American political history. It now turns out he had a SECOND whopping line of credit at the jewlery store Tiffany's. Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign acknowledged today that Gingrich had a second line of credit at high-end jewelry store Tiffany's for as much as $1 … [Read more...] about More Gingrich Bad News: He Had Second Line of Credit At Tiffney’s
America’s Rejection Of Evolution Reflected In Miss U.S.A. Pageant
Update: @JoshRoseneau has a very good followup (July) at @SciAm: http://is.gd/AN1HHh In 1925, Tennessee prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools (The Butler Act). John Scopes, a high school biology teacher, was convicted of violating the law, and his trial highlighted the divide between "science" and fundamentalist (literalist) religion. (It was the first … [Read more...] about America’s Rejection Of Evolution Reflected In Miss U.S.A. Pageant
Wal-Mart Decision (Cartoon)
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Cognitive Dissidents
Hassan I Sabbah, the first Grandmaster of the cult later called "assassins" is reputed to have said: Nothing is true, all things are permitted. Which is a very convenient and logical formulation: destroy facts and truth, and anything can be justified. Traditionally we in the West have viewed this with extreme suspicion -- for reasons which ought to be obvious to the … [Read more...] about Cognitive Dissidents
Olbermann Launches ‘Countdown’ on Current
WASHINGTON - Nobody was tougher on Keith Olbermann during the '08 primaries, whose sexist commentary on Clinton knew no bounds. But at our house, we're moving to a new media provider for many reasons, with the bonus being Olbermann and we're paying for a higher tier to get Current and Keith, because he's carried by our new carrier, though we won't have it for a couple of weeks. … [Read more...] about Olbermann Launches ‘Countdown’ on Current
Newt Gingrich’s Campaign Fundraisers Quit
The AP reports that Newt Gingrich's two top fundraisers have quit and the campaign is $1 million in debt. Apart from this now going down as one of the worst, most incompetent campaigns ever, many Democrats, Republicans and independents who don't like Gingrich's demagogic style of politics can't help but thinking it's a bit of poetic justice. On the other hand, you would … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich’s Campaign Fundraisers Quit
Will Liberals Blow the 2012 Election?
Is 2012 shaping up as yet another year when liberal Democrats will teach their party “a lesson,” sit on their hands and help elect a Republican President? These little lessons haven’t worked out too well for Democrats. It cost them a Supreme Court majority, a like-minded bureaucracy, control of the national dialogue and the shaping of key national political assumptions. … [Read more...] about Will Liberals Blow the 2012 Election?