With reference to “That Mutiny on the Gingrich,” (not mine) and quoting Matt Lewis at the Daily Caller, the Peach Pundit has more to say about the Gingrich Mutiny-Perry 2012 connection: Two separate and reliable sources in Texas tell me serious preparations are being made for Governor Rick Perry, 61, to seek the Republican nomination for president. Dave Carney and … [Read more...] about ‘That Mutiny on the Gingrich’
Weiner Wrap, with Barbara Walters
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy WASHINGTON - The elite D.C. media, new media, talking heads, gleeful Republicans, and spineless Democrats all weighed in... and then New Yorkers had their say, including Barbara Walters. According to the one-day poll, conducted Wednesday, just 33 percent of voters in New York's Ninth Congressional … [Read more...] about Weiner Wrap, with Barbara Walters
In Defense Of Sarah Palin
Today is the day of the great Palin Email Dump. Reporters and pundits will pour over as many words as they can read hoping to find something scandalous, salacious, controversial or at least interesting. Their findings and interpretations will flood the media and the blogosphere for days. Was that Anthony Weiner I just heard breathing a sigh of relief? Much of what has … [Read more...] about In Defense Of Sarah Palin
Pentagon Papers’ 11 Secret Words
When a top-secret Defense Department analysis of the Vietnam War, which caused a legal uproar 40 years ago, was recently made public, the government said it was keeping 11 words secret, then changed its mind and published the 7000 pages in full. Now a guessing game is vexing the even the leaker, Daniel Ellsberg, and the lead author of the report, Leslie Gelb, who can’t find … [Read more...] about Pentagon Papers’ 11 Secret Words
Google Attack on China Due to Failing Business and Hostile Western Media (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Like most politicians, China's capitalist/communists are convinced that recent news coverage involving hacked Gmail accounts and the arrest of artist/democracy activist Ai Weiwei mean only one thing: Beijing needs better public relations. According to this editorial from China's state-run Huanqiu, China suffers a negative public image because it has allowed a hostile Western … [Read more...] about Google Attack on China Due to Failing Business and Hostile Western Media (Huanqiu, People’s Republic of China)
Vehicular Flight Is A Violent Felony (Sykes v. U. S.)
Sometimes cases don’t need to turn the world of constitutional jurisprudence on its ear to be worth a read. Sykes v. U. S. is one of those. It’s really pretty straight forward, mostly statutory interpretation. Sykes was convicted of possessing a firearm during the commission of a crime. Under the Armed Career Criminal Act [ACCA], that results in a sentence enhancement of … [Read more...] about Vehicular Flight Is A Violent Felony (Sykes v. U. S.)
Sarah Palin’s Most Disastrous Year
Sarah Palin practices politics as lap dance, and we're the suckers who pay the price. Members of our jaded national press corps eagerly stuff hundred dollar bills into her g-string, even as they wink at one another to show that they don't take her seriously. ~ JOE McGINNISS In the greatest political anti-climax since Newt Gingrich's latest president run collapsed, the … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Most Disastrous Year
Crowdsourcing the Palin Emails
The second Sarah Palin email dump, "e-mails Ms. Palin sent as governor, mostly using private accounts, you" is less than an hour away. The first, dated from January 2007 to September 24, 2008 that were copied to, directed to, or from Todd Palin and seven members of then Governor Sarah Palin's staff, including Governor Palin, is available here. Taking a page from the … [Read more...] about Crowdsourcing the Palin Emails
Implosion: Newt Gingrich’s Train Wreck of a Campaign
I never thought The Newt ever had a realistic shot at the Republican presidential nomination, for a variety of reasons that I'll get to shortly. But I thought he'd be in the race at least through the early primaries, if only to reinforce the Gingrich brand that has been so profitable to him. Actually, I'm not sure if I thought that. Given that there's really no good reason … [Read more...] about Implosion: Newt Gingrich’s Train Wreck of a Campaign
A Tough Update on Gabrielle Giffords
E. J. Montini in The Arizona Republic on Giffords' return to Congress: Is she ready to do that? No. Is she close? No. [...] "The only firm timetable is the legal timetable, and that is May of 2012, when petitions are due for re-election," [Pia Carusone, Giffords' chief of staff] said. "That's a firm timetable. Short of that, we'd love to know today what her life … [Read more...] about A Tough Update on Gabrielle Giffords
A Newer World
I have to admit that there have been times in the last few years when I have been deeply saddened by the cynicism of young people. I also have to admit, however, that their cynicism was -- or is -- entirely understandable. They have grown up in an age in which the institutions and the elites who dominate their world have failed them utterly. I write this as someone who taught … [Read more...] about A Newer World
Texas’ Perry, Possible Presidential Candidate, Embraces Anti-Gay Group
Let's just get something straight. For all the sound and fury on the right, two of its biggest issues -- gay marriage and abortion -- are now in the "approved" column for a majority of Americans. For all the sound and fury from the right, the opinions about the abortion issue have remained fairly steady for years, while gay marriage has surged ahead in … [Read more...] about Texas’ Perry, Possible Presidential Candidate, Embraces Anti-Gay Group
The Coming Crisis in the Middle East (Guest Voice)
The Coming Crisis in the Middle East by Barry Rubin The gap between dominant Western perceptions of the Middle East and the region's reality is dangerously wide. While the "Arab Spring" is celebrated as an advance for moderation and democracy, in fact the advance is going to revolutionary Islamists. Developments in Turkey and Egypt especially threaten to plunge the Middle … [Read more...] about The Coming Crisis in the Middle East (Guest Voice)
Quote of the Day: The Impact of Newt Gingrich’s Implosion on the Republican Presidential Race
Our political Quote of the Day comes from the Los Angeles Times' Andrew Malcolm who analyzes the impact of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's implosion on the race for the 2012 Presidential nomination: The real import of Thursday's aide walkout from Newt Gingrich's flailing presidential campaign has little to do with the former House speaker himself. It's like a … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: The Impact of Newt Gingrich’s Implosion on the Republican Presidential Race
Weapon of Mass Distraction
Anthony Weiner’s penis has dominated the news longer now than the death of Osama bin Laden in a media world more transfixed by texting antics of a horny Congressman than the demise of a mass murderer who changed the world. When I was teaching journalism, that would have been unthinkable. In those benighted days, sex scandals lasted a few days and headline writers went back … [Read more...] about Weapon of Mass Distraction
What’s Next for Newt Gingrich?
In a political development that was shocking -- and in a way was not -- all of Newt Gingrich's campaign top campaign staff quit. What's next for Newt Gingrich? What's behind what TMV coblogger Dorian de Wind has called "Mutiny on the Gingrich?" Here's the take of one of my favorite pundits, The Huffington Post's Howard Fineman, who has excellent sources: Visit msnbc.com for … [Read more...] about What’s Next for Newt Gingrich?
Huffington Post Website Surpasses New York Times Website In Unique Visitors
Yet another sign of the growing important of the "new media": The Huffington Post, now married to AOL, has a website getting more unique visitors than The New York Times: The Huffington Post received more traffic than the website of The New York Times in May, the first time it has surpassed NYTimes.com in unique visitors, tracking firm comScore said Thursday. ComScore … [Read more...] about Huffington Post Website Surpasses New York Times Website In Unique Visitors
Santorum on Climate Change (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Santorum on Climate Change (Cartoon)
Risks of a Debt Default Spiral in Europe Starting with Greece
Current signs are that European efforts to save Greece from defaulting on its debt will be too feeble to prevent new financial tensions. They may grow into a global crisis equal to or worse than the fall of 2008. The latest indication came today from the European Central Bank’s blunt refusal to back a German plan to force creditors to take a haircut (accept less than 100 … [Read more...] about Risks of a Debt Default Spiral in Europe Starting with Greece
Mutiny on the ‘Gingrich’
Fellow contributor Patrick Edaburn has just reported on the breaking news that Newt Gingrich’s Presidential campaign top staffers have resigned en masse. (Other news sources call this an “implosion” of his campaign---the end.) While Edaburn gives a couple of possible reasons for this collapse---a badly timed two-week Greek vacation and a possible Perry run---the media is … [Read more...] about Mutiny on the ‘Gingrich’